Chapter 108
Swish, click.
After shaking off his sword and sheathing it, Callius looked at Esther, whose face seemed oddly flushed and lips slightly upturned, and thought.
'Truly a monstrous talent.'
She had seen Callius properly execute the Silver Flower Severing Sword for the first time today.
Fire Shattering Path.
White Phantom.
And finally, the Flower of the Other Shore.
He had shown everything he could.
Yet Esther had dismantled the technique she was seeing for the first time, evaded everything, and thrust a single sword strike from point-blank range.
The result was a draw.
Of course, if Callius, who possessed many powerful swords, had drawn his swords, the situation would have been different.
But the same was true for Esther.
'If Sullivan dies, Esther will obtain the Phantom Sword in an instant.'
That was a given.
An undeniable truth.
And it must happen in the future.
Only then will Esther rage and grow from Sullivan's death.
She will rise to Master, ascend to Lütz Paladin, establish her position as a saint, and become a powerful figure who threatens the empire.
Right now, the odds of victory are on my side.
But that too is a matter of time.
Esther also grows stronger.
A strange sense of rivalry and jealousy blooms, but I calmly suppress it.
Achieving this much with Callius's body itself has been fortunate so far.
'It's not impossible.'
Callius has come this far.
There's no reason he can't step to even higher realms.
Just chasing Esther, who is called a genius, this far is proof that he hasn't lived his life in vain.
But as much as he has grown.
He had simply momentarily forgotten the fact that Esther was also becoming more complete.
As expected, the difference in talent was long and arduous, and Esther's wall was towering.
'Currently, Esther isn't even a Master.'
Then just how strong are the Masters?
The path of the sword that must still be walked was high and rugged, filled with mist.
But one cannot be gloomy forever.
Having drawn with that Esther, it's right to be satisfied for now.
He had reached a realm that the original Callius could never have achieved.
"That was truly a magnificent match."
Allen said, kneeling on one knee as if moved.
Looking around, the other nobles' expressions had also changed significantly.
They were amazed, and found it hard to believe.
The way they looked at Callius had changed anew.
[Quest Complete]
He was able to properly experience Esther's swordsmanship and completed the quest, so there was nothing to complain about.
His chest had been feeling stuffy ever since coming to the Sword Dance Festival, and thanks to this, it felt refreshed.
"The flow of your techniques was as natural as flowing water. You worked hard."
"You've grown too."
"It's nothing compared to the Count."
Just as she approached with a satisfied expression and was about to say more—
"The Queen of Carpe enters. Everyone, please show proper respect!"
The Queen had appeared.
White hair braided to one side.
A woman whose hair and eyes were both pure white.
The royal with the most traces of the divine remaining.
Clara von Agatha Bright.
It was the entrance of the Queen of Carpe.
"Hmm."
Callius knelt on one knee and paid his respects to the Queen.
The other nobles who had been ungracefully sprawled about also hastily showed their respect.
"It's been a while since I've seen something interesting. Is this your creation?"
The words coming from her small, delicate body carried the dignity of a nation's king and resonated throughout the hall.
Callius slightly raised his head to look at the Queen, then lowered his gaze again.
"I merely fulfilled my duty at the Sword Dance Festival."
Queen Clara.
Callius recalled many thoughts as he looked at the queen of misfortune.
Her death. The royal family she had experienced.
The pressure of the noble faction and her precarious position.
And above all, the tragic end of the prince who should have been her strength.
'I did consider deposing her.'
But it wasn't a very good choice.
After contemplating multiple times, he ultimately concluded that helping her was the best option.
Therefore, Callius had no intention of leaving her fate as it was. As much as he had changed things so far.
He would also change her fate with his own hands.
"I see. Count Zervan's exploits have been reaching my ears frequently these days."
Clack, clack.
As the Queen's footsteps slowly descending the stairs grew closer, Callius's heart pounded for no reason.
They were bastards who deserved to die, but he felt a pricking guilt for killing them so unilaterally.
Just as he was pondering how to make excuses—
The Queen had already approached right in front of him.
"I heard the North successfully repelled the barbarians' invasion once again. And I heard you stood firm at the center of it all. You've done a commendable deed."
"I merely did what had to be done."
"A count who will soon become the lord of the North would have no interest in other territories. And I've also heard you possess many swords. Is that true?"
"It is true."
It seems she intends to give something.
Though he killed them as he pleased, that too was helpful.
"I should bestow a reward, but it's troublesome since you already possess much. Is there anything you desire?"
To think she would ask if there was something he desired.
That was an exceedingly unconventional treatment.
'Is she trying to pull me into the royalist faction?'
But it didn't matter.
It was rather what he had wished for.
The Queen's power must grow stronger.
Only then can he achieve what he desires.
"Yes, I, the subject Zervan, have actually had something I have desired for a long time."
There was much to obtain from the royal family.
Among the relics and swords possessed by the royal family, there were many outstanding ones.
But Callius first thought of one thing.
Something he needed immediately, and would continue to need going forward.
"What is it? Please speak without hesitation."
Callius's gaze fell upon the ring worn on the Queen's finger.
"I desire the White Jade of Bright."
"!!"
The White Jade of Bright.
Not only the ministers but also the nobles gasped.
There were quite a few who sneered as if it was absurd.
"Why do you desire that?"
"I need it desperately."
The Queen asked no more.
She seemed to be pondering.
"This white jade is a treasure of the royal family passed down since the previous generation. You know that, correct?"
I know.
Clara von Agatha Bright.
The White Jade of Bright is a treasure of the royal family.
It is a royal treasure passed down since the first generation, a kind of symbol.
Having asked for such a thing, it was natural for them to be shocked and resistant.
But.
'It is necessary.'
On the thorny path ahead.
The White Jade of Bright is an absolutely indispensable item.
It was also a gamble in a way.
It was also a kind of test in its own right.
'If you want me, you must give up something of equal value.'
It's not Callius who is in a hurry anyway.
The Queen is infinitely precarious.
The choice was hers.
What does a powerless king need? Is it merely a symbolic ring?
Or is it a knight of a promising noble who possesses both roots and martial prowess?
Callius waited quietly.
Just as everyone in the hall held their breath, waiting for the Queen's answer—
Her mouth opened.
"I shall."
Just as he was cheering inwardly—
"Your Majesty!!"
"That must not be!"
"The White Jade of Bright is the symbol of the king! To hand it to a mere subject!!"
"Absurd!"
"That is nonsense!"
Looking at the ministers who protested as if vomiting blood, as if they had been waiting for it, the Queen smiled despite having every right to be angry and replied.
"Can I not do as I please with my own possession? It is but a single ring, so do not worry too much."
"It is not just a ring!"
"I know that better than anyone. Count Zervan?"
"Yes."
"That is something cherished by the previous generation, and cherished by me. I think it is quite excessive. But since you say you need it, I shall grant it. However, it belongs to the royal family. It is an item with tradition, so rather than a gift, I shall lend it. When I step down, you shall pass the Ring of Bright to the next king."
So that's how she handles it.
'Not a bad method.'
A way to draw in the next lord of the North without fully handing it over.
"In return, you must grant me one request at any time. Is that possible?"
"Of course."
As the picture was being finalized, the unconvinced ministers tried to shout out.
"But—"
"I have already made my decision. There are many other matters, so if you truly have complaints, submit a petition."
"Cough……."
Before the ministers could say more, the Queen removed the white jade from her finger and placed it in Callius's palm.
"A pleasant scent comes from the Count. I almost slipped it onto my finger without realizing."
The Queen's smile as she whispered and grinned was truly pure.
But it was a smile that somehow looked sad.
Then, words once again popped out of Callius's mouth of their own accord.
"Your Majesty's smile. I shall protect it."
Startled.
The Queen was surprised, and I was surprised too.
That damn trait was causing trouble again.
"I'll hold you to that, Count."
With the Queen returning to her seat with a smile, the commotion subsided after that, and rewards were distributed.
Those who had achieved merits received titles, and some received territories.
Among them was Xenos, and several other nobles as well.
After the rewards were distributed, the Queen disappeared, apparently busy with work, and afterward many people discussed swords.
Most of them wanted to get close to Callius, but she was now completely the Queen's person.
They couldn't approach her easily.
That was rather fine, so Callius headed to his assigned quarters.
[White Jade of Bright]
Grade: Rare
- A ring passed down in the Bright royal family.
What a shabby description.
Why did he ask for such a measly ring?
There was, of course, a reason.
Callius infused divine power into the white jade set in the ring.
He poured and poured and poured again for a long time.
Lacking divine power, he undid the seal on the bracelet and forcefully poured in all the immense sacred power that had accumulated over time.
Like a bottomless jug, the white jade absorbed an enormous amount of sacred power, and only then did its cracks become disturbed and it broke.
[Ruby of Hetaia]
Grade: Legendary
- The ring of the Hetaia family, who were the rulers of this land before the Bright royal family took their place. A ring of a family that produced demons.
[Noble Spirit]
- Greatly strengthens the wearer's mental fortitude. Repels most mental attacks.
The Queen only cherished it; she wouldn't have known such a secret was hidden within.
Callius immediately put on the ruby.
He wasn't sure exactly, but he felt somehow protected.
He immediately took out that sword from his spatial inventory.
If he wanted to test the ruby, there was nothing better than this right now.
Shring.
As he grasped the Sword of Grief that breathed out pure white coldness, he heard ghostly wails for a moment.
But it was only fleeting.
"It's quiet."
With his greatly strengthened mental fortitude, the hallucinations and auditory hallucinations of grief were completely inaudible.
Now he could use Grief to his heart's content.
Even without Grief, the Ruby of Hetaia was something he absolutely had to possess.
The unique abilities of cursed swords were diverse.
Among them were many mental-type abilities such as hypnosis and sleep.
No matter how strong one was.
In this world, one could die from poison if careless, die in one's sleep, or fall into mental confusion and harm one's own comrades.
In such circumstances, an item with immunity to mental attacks was rare.
'Even if demons appear in the future, I should be able to withstand them to some extent.'
Just obtaining this was a great gain. The Queen's request was a bit bothersome, but it couldn't be helped.
Even taking that into account, the ruby was an item that had to be obtained.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
"……!"
Startled.
An old man's voice was heard.
Startled, Callius hid the ring and stepped back.
Looking at the window, an elderly man was standing with his hands behind his back.
"No, how did you..."
"The window was open, so I came in."
"What..."
The private room Callius was assigned to was on the 3rd floor, yet he spoke as if he was taking a neighborhood stroll.
At a glance, he didn't know who this was.
But he knew one thing.
'This is not someone I can treat carelessly.'
The pure sacred power implicitly felt was no different from that of the saints he had felt from the sacred stones.
Pure white attire and a sword that touched the ground like a cane.
And considering his常识-defying absurd actions as circumstantial evidence.
A person came to mind.
"There is something you must help with. Something only you can do."
He was the pinnacle of the Valterus Order.
Filice du Ebeider Valus.
He was the Pope of the Order.