Chapter 234
Chapter 234
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.52 – A Lady's Heart Sways Like a Reed (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sword Saint Felicia.
She was an extraordinary figure.
Of course, finding an Aura User who wasn't extraordinary would be the harder task, but one indisputable fact was that Felicia had been granted the title of Sword Saint by the late king himself.
Sword Duke.
It was a rank allowed only to her, making her the sole individual in Pendragon—aside from Galahad himself—who could bear the title of duke.
This position stemmed from her past exploits, achievements so impressive that even the late king had been awestruck. Even Galahad of all people respected her accomplishments and treated her accordingly—a testament to just how remarkable she truly was.
However, starting ten years ago, Felicia had vanished from the public eye, leading many to assume she had temporarily retired.
No matter how much of an Aura User she was, she was over ninety years old.
An age where even the mind could grow weary.
Thus, her retirement seemed perfectly natural to the public, and this became the accepted narrative. Some even speculated nobly that she had stepped back to give the younger generation room to shine...
'Turns out it wasn't anything that noble after all, huh?'
Lee Han cleared his throat awkwardly.
Knowing the truth now, it all felt absurd.
Even if he told a third party, they'd probably just curse him out—or worse, no one would believe him.
...That the Sword Saint of all people.
Was just going through her 'second puberty' and couldn't show her face in public...
"Hmph! What nonsense! I've never gone through anything like puberty. My body may be young again, but my mental age is the same as ever. Where do these ridiculous rumors even... Oh? We're short on Elsa sandwiches. Bring a few more."
"Right away, Your Grace."
"Thank you. Oh, and hold the cucumber and carrots. They're tough to chew."
"You must eat them. Don't forget you're still in your growth spurt, Your Grace."
"I-I'm fine..."
"Your Grace."
"Tch..."
"......"
'She looks exactly like she's in that stormy rebellious phase.'
To be precise, her young, vigorous body seemed to be causing emotional instability and a sense of disconnect.
But to outsiders, Felicia's demeanor came off as...
'Young body, but an old fogey's mind?'
Was it just Lee Han's imagination that she looked like a pitiful twenty-something already showing signs of dementia?
"Sigh..."
...No, it wasn't.
Watching Iliad let out a wistful sigh confirmed that Lee Han's impression wasn't far off.
"...I'm sorry, Instructor. I've been terribly rude. Allow me to apologize on my grandmother's behalf."
"No need for apologies. How's your body holding up?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Aside from the stiffness from passing out on the cold dirt floor..."
"...You sure you're okay?"
Arno—no, the real Arno—had returned unscathed, announcing his well-being.
But the moment he emerged and saw his grandmother, he swallowed a groan as if struck by sudden stomach pains, then immediately apologized to Lee Han.
As if the whole scene was painted plain as day.
'Father and son are cut from the same cloth.'
Like father, like son, indeed.
Arno looked utterly exhausted, but the culprit responsible was beaming with a wide grin, welcoming her grandson.
"Grandson dear, you're here?"
"...Greetings, Grandmother."
"Sorry for knocking you out. It wasn't intentional. I didn't have the luxury to hold back—I wanted to see just how much you'd improved."
"......"
"Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...Do you know you have a tell when you lie, Grandmother?"
"!?"
"Father and Elsa know it too, by the way. So please, no lies in front of us. It's obvious."
"Wh-what's this habit of mine? Care to tell me?"
"......"
"Oh, our grandson's gaze is starting to resemble Iliad's. So sharp..."
"Grandmother..."
Arno effortlessly dismantled her superhuman tall tale about not having the spare capacity to hold back, leaving her fidgeting nervously and glancing at him.
In truth, it wasn't even a subtle habit—anyone could tell she was lying.
Yet, despite her youthened body, her maternal instincts toward her bloodline remained. She trembled in fear at the thought of her grandson hating her.
Who would ever peg this woman as an Aura User...?
Moreover, Arno and Iliad's sharp words belied their deep affection for her—their eyes were gentle.
Victims of her daily pranks, yet they remained so kind-hearted. It spoke to their inherently sincere and pure natures.
'What an entertaining family.'
To them, it was just their monotonous daily life, but to outsiders, it was prime sitcom material.
...Unfortunately.
"Don't we have business to discuss now?"
They didn't have the leisure to keep playing along with this sitcom forever.
"Hm."
Felicia smiled slyly at his words.
Mischievously, like a cheeky rascal.
Felicia's dagger.
As she herself had mentioned, it was a dagger she had given to the benefactors who once saved her life. Presenting it at the Oppen household allowed one to request a favor from Felicia herself.
Of course, she wouldn't grant wishes like some genie from a lamp, but the chance to ask something of an Aura User was priceless beyond words.
Sell it at auction, and you could probably fill a swimming pool with gold coins.
"...Just occurred to me, but is it really okay for someone else to use such an important dagger?"
"Of course. As long as it's genuine, who wields it matters not."
"......"
"Heh, besides, Baltar isn't in a position to ask favors of me, is he? That man can handle anything without my help."
"...Fair point."
Baltar Grace didn't seem the type to rely on others' strength.
Not even from peers of equal power.
In that sense, perhaps lending it to others was the proper use.
"So, what favor would you like to ask of me?"
"Well, I don't really have anything to ask..."
And amusingly, the same applied to Lee Han.
He rarely made requests or demands, even of a kingdom's princess.
He'd proposed fair trades boldly, sure.
In short, he had no particular wish to beg for, Aura User or not.
At Lee Han's words...
"Heh, Baltar gave the dagger to someone just like himself."
She chuckled heartily.
"...Don't insult me."
"Being like him is the highest praise among knights."
"It doesn't count for me, at least."
"Ahaha!"
She burst into even louder laughter than before.
As if mocking him by saying this resemblance to Baltar was just like the man himself. Lee Han narrowed his eyes, reading her intent plainly.
She was a woman he just couldn't stand—or rather...
'A yokai. A total yokai.'
"Hey now, no cursing."
"I didn't say anything."
"Tsk, I can hear you cursing in your head."
"......"
"Hey!"
"...Are you really a yokai...?"
For a moment, long tails seemed to sway behind her like an optical illusion.
Fox-like or serpentine, eerie and bewitching...
Clearly a hallucination, yet it suited her so perfectly that...
"If you have no favors to ask, why use the dagger?"
"...That guy told me to come to you first."
"Oh? You don't seem the type to heed others, yet you followed so obediently?"
"I don't ignore adults' advice lightly. Well, unless they're not adult enough to deserve it."
In that regard, Baltar was a decent adult.
He might feel like an enemy at times, but the man never spouted nonsense.
So there had to be a reason for sending him to the Sword Saint.
"He must have thought it'd be helpful to me."
Thus, if Lee Han had a request for Felicia, it would be...
"I'd actually like to ask you what I should request. I know it's presumptuous."
"......"
"If that's offensive, I apologize."
"...No, not offensive at all."
Had Lee Han acted arrogant or haughty, Felicia would have scorned or ignored him as insignificant.
But he remained polite and courteous, even after being tricked twice. He trusted her.
And that trust likely stemmed not from her being the Sword Saint, but purely from...
Swoosh.
'He looked at our grandson and decided?'
Yes, amusingly, he didn't trust the Sword Saint as an individual.
Yet with her grandson by his side, he extended trust to her and the entire Oppen family—because of Arno.
In other words, trusting the student meant trusting the parent too.
Not the Sword Saint title, but the guardian who raised such a student. Had she ever encountered this in her life?
'What an intriguing fellow.'
She had observed him before, through 'scouting.'
His absurd muscle density and unique techniques had piqued even the interest of the Sword Saint Felicia.
But now, this mindset stood out even more.
Valuing a person's inner character and trust over status or wealth—that was commendable.
'Looks like our grandson... found himself a fine master.'
Hehehe.
Laughter bubbled up naturally.
Baltar had sent such an entertaining one, indeed.
Chilling...!
'What the...?'
Lee Han suddenly felt a wave of unease.
Felicia was gazing at him with a sticky, intense stare. An ominous feeling crawled over his skin.
Unintentionally, he'd felt this gaze from certain people before.
Duke Galahad, Grand Duke Lionel, Marquis Tristan, Pendragon's princesses, and such...
'...Why are only these dangerous types coming to mind?'
The more he thought, the more unsettling faces surfaced, his complexion paling—
"Then let's figure it out together."
"...Figure what out?"
"What you're lacking."
"...?"
"Hm, this should do nicely."
Thwack.
"?"
She abruptly picked up a single dry twig.
Pulled haphazardly from the stack of firewood for the stove, it was so brittle it seemed it would snap with the slightest pressure.
"Child, you may use an iron sword. But no unique techniques or Fighting Techniques. Got it?"
"?"
"Oh, and I'll be using 'multiple swords.' Fair enough for a proper fight, no?"
"???"
She spouted incomprehensible words, leaving Lee Han blinking in confusion.
What was she even planning...?
Hummm.
"......"
...Lee Han's mouth fell open like a fool's for a moment.
The sudden turn of events left him utterly dumbfounded.
A sight hard to believe even seeing it with his own eyes.
And proving he wasn't alone in his shock, mouth agape at the unbelievable scene before them...
"...Kunta, looks like you're dreaming too. Twigs are flying around, right?"
"Don't worry. ...You're not the only one dreaming, it seems."
The others stared blankly at the twigs floating in midair.
Hummm!
Firewood—no, swords sharpened to deadly keenness despite their form—drifted through the air, slowly encircling Lee Han.
As if each bore its own will.
"...Sword Control."
[Aerial Sword]
Multiple swords controlled through the air
"Hm? This is [Aerial Sword]."
"What's with that baseless name?"
"M-my late husband named it..."
"...On second thought, it's a great name! I'll call it Aerial Sword from now on!"
Lee Han nodded vigorously.
Yeah, on second thought, it was a cool name.
Sword Control?
What era was that old-fashioned name from...!
'Aerial Sword is the way of the future!!'
Aaah...!