Chapter 123
Thud!
"Next."
"Ugh!"
The first thing I did upon returning to the mansion was beat up the Sixth Squad.
"Useless bastards. If you can't even endure this much, how can you break the Empire's spear?"
"It's because the captain is too strong!"
"You're just too weak. Next."
Organized in groups of three, the members of the Sixth Squad who faced me in sparring were beaten down and collapsed as soon as they stepped into the ring.
But it wasn't too bad.
It was because the Sixth Squad's skills had finally become somewhat decent.
'At this level, they would be roughly on par with the Golden Lion Knights.'
Originally, the Sixth Squad received many benefits because I was their captain.
Usually, they were assigned simple missions and focused on training.
The Order didn't interfere, to the point where it was safe to call them my personal guard.
It was also because the Pope, who trusted me, and Archbishop Albato, who was appointed as Archbishop, told them not to touch the Sixth Squad.
Hero of the Kingdom.
The Queen's Knight.
Such titles made things comfortable for me.
Not only that, but their skills were improving by leaps and bounds thanks to the cultivation methods and training I provided.
Vice-captains Diego and Joseph had already broken through the lower volume and were aiming for the upper volume.
Of course, I didn't plan to give it to them easily.
I would only give it when I was certain they were my people.
Most of the rest of the Sixth Squad had also obtained the cultivation method and were growing stronger, so there was nothing more I needed to do for them.
If they kept training like this, they would naturally grow stronger.
Of course, the TD potions were also playing a part, so in a way, one could say they were lucky.
Apart from that, the sounds coming out of their mouths couldn't exactly be called pleasant.
Smack! Thwack! Crash!!
"Argh!"
"S-save me!!"
"Aaaargh! I'm dying! I'm dying!!"
Smiling faintly, I beat the Sixth Squad half to death until they were all sprawled out on the ground.
"Weaklings. Rest up."
Leaving the groaning bastards behind, I stepped down from the sparring ring, and Orfin handed me a towel as if he had been waiting.
"You've worked hard."
"Hmm. Has there been progress?"
A quick glance showed that his energy was stable.
It was a completely different appearance from before, when a slight uneasiness lingered around him.
"Yes, it seems the path is finally visible."
"Good. Is the work manageable?"
"Branse was quite versatile. I'm quite surprised that he handled all that work alone. I'm quite amazed."
"Hmm..."
Branse had currently left the mansion.
Cedric, after conversing with the Queen, went to bring the Var tribe of Barbellum at her request, and he took Branse along on that journey.
It was purely because of my request.
'Fists suit Branse better than a sword.'
Since he had absolutely no talent with the sword, it was better for him to become a believer of the Twin Gods.
Cedric was planning to make Branse into a useful guy at my request.
"Now that I think about it, he did a lot of things."
Not only the cleaning and cooking of the mansion, but he also managed everything overall, took care of the supplies the Sixth Squad needed, sometimes even volunteered as my coachman, and served me with utmost devotion.
Of course, when the Northern knights, Rivan, and Rini.
And even Emily came, Branse took care of all of them.
Thinking about it, I don't know how he managed to do all that work alone.
'He was useful.'
I realize it anew now that he's gone.
The work Branse used to do was now being handled by Orfin, Allen, and Aron.
I handed back the towel, went up to the office, and opened the window to take in the entire view at a glance.
On one side, the Sixth Squad was wailing, and on the other side, the children of Kaladi were training.
They were the so-called Zerban trainees.
Left alone, their numbers kept increasing, and a system began to take shape.
A baseless rumor was circulating that the Zerban training camp would send the top three most outstanding individuals to the Royal Academy every year, and before I knew it, it had solidified as truth.
I had no intention of doing that, but it wasn't a bad idea, so I let them be.
Because it wasn't a difficult thing for me.
Pedro was guarding the front gate of the mansion while yawning, Allen was receiving the visiting nobles, and Aron was managing the tribute they sent.
Once the rumor that I was instructing the Queen in swordsmanship spread, various goods were sent from all over even if I just stayed still.
Since more money was always better, I didn't particularly refuse.
Things were proceeding smoothly.
"Gregory and Dexter's group seem to have quite some results, so I should start preparing."
I had taught all the theories of swordsmanship to the Queen. For now, there was nothing more to teach. The Queen had outstanding innate aptitude, but she had no opportunity to experience real combat, so her improvement in skill was slow.
Given the Queen's position, it couldn't be helped.
Therefore, it wasn't a part I should interfere with.
'Esther has also left to find the holy relic.'
Her first mission after becoming a Paladin.
She left to find the holy relic the Order had lost. It seemed she planned to visit the holy sites scattered across each continent.
If it were her, she would find it without difficulty, so I wasn't too worried.
Through this pilgrimage to the holy sites, Esther would join the ranks of the Masters.
"Bishop Milliman also destroyed himself on his own."
The leader of the hardliners.
Milliman's misconduct was exposed by Orkal, and he was imprisoned in the Order's underground prison.
He incited the fight against the Empire in a different way from the Archbishop; with the misguided belief that he was doing it for the Order and the Kingdom, he avoided execution, but he would rot in prison for the rest of his life.
"The rest are things time will solve, so now I just need to do what I have to do."
It was time to leave.
* * *
"Are you really leaving?"
Orfin.
He was looking at me with a constantly worried expression.
The knight who came down from the North for me.
But it couldn't be helped.
"This is not a path I can take anyone along. Before being your master..."
I am a pilgrim.
I must embark on a pilgrimage.
Until I find my sword.
I must rise on an endless pilgrimage, test myself, and endure God's trials.
"My pilgrimage itself is a trial given to me by God and a challenge He recommends. Therefore, I cannot take you with me."
To be honest, it was because I didn't have the leeway to look after them.
I had obtained the Gwangryong Sword, but I had absolutely no reason to make a scabbard for it.
It didn't even suit my taste, and originally, the Gwangryong doesn't need a scabbard.
The heart itself is the scabbard.
Because it was quite a unique sword even among Phantom Swords, there was no reason for it to need one.
Furthermore.
'I haven't decided yet.'
What I should make my sword.
What sword I should put into my soul.
A sword without conviction is weak.
A sword is not just a tool.
I have been in this world all this time and felt such things.
"Where is Emily? At the Academy?"
"I contacted her yesterday, so she should be arriving soon."
"Hmm."
That's fine then.
I checked the last things I needed to take care of and went up to the mansion's office.
There, someone already waiting for me was sitting on the sofa.
"You're here."
"Xenos."
He was from the Eastern family.
Xenos von Gradass.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to give a gift, and to give my greetings."
"A gift?"
"Take it."
He handed a small box from his bosom.
Opening it, there were cookies.
"?"
"Prine's cookies. You said you wanted to eat them. I got them with difficulty."
"Hmm... Was it that obvious?"
"Very much so."
I picked up a cookie and ate it.
Crunch.
Unbelievably crisp for a cookie, it crumbled and melted in my mouth.
The sweetness of the cream spread thinly inside the cookie seemed to coat my tongue.
"Delicious."
As expected of Prine's cookies.
Enough to capture the heart of the kingdom with just a single cookie...
"Hmm?"
Coming to my senses, there were no cookies left in the box.
"...?"
I raised my head and saw Xenos putting a cookie in his mouth and chewing.
Seeing him chewing his mouth with an expressionless face, bafflement rushed in before anger.
"..."
Was it just too absurd?
Even the words, 'Why the hell are you eating that?' didn't come out.
As I stared at him with dumbfounded eyes, the guy slowly turned his head.
"I heard you're leaving."
Is he changing the subject?
I didn't even have the energy to press him, so Calius answered soullessly.
"I have to go."
"Hmm."
Xenos was silent for a while.
He only scratched the bridge of his nose, where the holy mark was engraved.
He seemed to know that what he did was shameful. The guy coughed artificially and continued speaking.
"The Golden Lion told me to pass on his greetings."
"Is he alright?"
"He lost to my younger brother, so the shock must be great. But he will overcome it. Because a lion is not weak."
I had already heard that he lost to Luteon.
Luteon's growth was faster than expected.
But it didn't matter.
Ruon lived, and I also achieved growth equal to it.
Luteon is a genius acknowledged by the Order.
His growth rate was outstanding.
As much time was given to me, time was given to him as well, so it would only be a matter of time before he rose to the ranks of the Masters.
"How long do you plan to be away?"
"Three years."
"Hmm, quite long."
"The Kingdom will be fine."
Rumors were circulating that Gregory and Dexter were already making superb quality cursed swords.
There was no talk of a God-Descending Sword yet, but I didn't mind.
If it was just about fixing a sword, I had no need for it.
'I gave all the hints.'
The rest was for them to figure out.
"The Academy students seem to like you. There were many guys looking forward to your instruction. It means there are many who want to emulate the hero's swordsmanship."
I nodded slowly.
Xenos was telling me to come back quickly now.
Under the pretext of returning from the path of pilgrimage and instructing the Academy students in swordsmanship.
I roughly seemed to know the reason, but I asked anyway.
"Do I smell?"
"A lot."
Xenos's eyes narrowed.
The nose of Gradass smells.
Even smells that cannot be smelled.
"The stench of death is reeking."
"To a knight, death is like a companion. Even more so if one is a pilgrim."
"Don't die. I don't want to associate with a guy who doesn't keep his promises."
"Agreed."
Clasp.
As I shook hands with Xenos, a knock was heard.
"My Lord. Lady Emily..."
Xenos looked at the door and flinched.
And his face turned red.
"?"
And Orfin frowned.
It seemed there was something between the two.
That damn blonde-obsessed tendency must have flared up. But it was none of my business.
"I'm leaving now."
"Yes."
Xenos stayed in place until Calius went out, closing the door with Orfin. Then, with a red face.
"Is this... destiny?"
He spouted nonsense.
* * *
The mansion's dining room.
Emily and Calius sat at opposite ends of the rectangular table.
Slice, slice.
The father and daughter cutting the steak on their plates looked so alike, as if looking in a mirror.
The act of piercing the meat with a fork and putting it into the mouth without any fuss to taste it couldn't look more noble.
The dignity and formality of a noble could be seen.
"Emily."
"Yeah."
Calius put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and spoke.
"I'll be away for a while."
A brief silence.
Emily also put down her tableware.
"...I know. Dad is a pilgrim."
Calius had been worried.
But seeing the look in Emily's eyes, it seemed he didn't need to worry anymore.
He was worried that she might follow him like she did in the North.
But this time, she seemed to fully understand the meaning.
"I'll wait."
Struggling.
The words she answered, weighing every single syllable.
Calius let out a hollow laugh.
It seemed like a child who hated being separated from her parent was trying hard to understand.
He thought she was quite mature, but Emily was still young after all.
"It will take a long time."
"How long...?"
Over three years.
It was a truly long time for a child.
But this was an unavoidable choice.
Calius had to become stronger.
This pilgrimage was different from before.
Extremely dangerous.
But only when danger accompanied could he become stronger.
Because a crisis would become an opportunity.
"Where are you, going?"
"It's a secret."
Emily puffed out her cheeks.
But she didn't ask any further.
Calius smiled faintly, finished his meal, and even had tea with Emily.
The taste of the terrible tea Emily brewed.
I felt like I would miss it quite a bit.
* * *
A damp dawn.
The quiet sky just before sunrise was appropriately dark, and the fog was thick.
Calius brought a horse and mounted it. He was proficient at riding since he had the
He had already said his goodbyes.
Leaving noisily wasn't Calius's personality.
So he intended to leave quietly.
"I will wait."
"Pedro. I leave this place in your hands."
"Leave it to me."
Even if I have to risk my life, absolutely.
Pedro stared at Calius's back as he rode his horse into the fog and disappeared for a long time.
"What will you do now?"
Pedro turned his head and looked at a corner of a tree. Then, the young lady of Zerban slowly walked out from behind it.
He had heard the circumstances well.
She grew up without a father since childhood, and the father she finally met left right away. So she chased after him, but not long after, he leaves again.
For a normal girl, it wouldn't be strange if she held back tears and locked herself away.
But Emily was not like that.
"I'm going to get stronger."
"Pardon?"
"Dad doesn't need to get any stronger, yet he left on a pilgrimage."
It was a valid point.
Calius had already achieved great merit. An ordinary person would have chosen to settle down rather than advance further.
But he left.
Meaning there was a reason to become stronger.
Emily didn't overlook it.
"He's someone who never does useless things."
A person who definitely does what is necessary.
The Calius that Emily saw was that kind of person. If such a person moves, there must be a reason.
"So I'm going to get stronger too."
With those final words, Emily turned her back, holding her sword.
The father and daughter, having begun to walk different paths.
Pedro's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he watched the two figures.