Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.54 - The Knight Hates Soybean Powder (4)
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In the storied history of House Ophen, renowned throughout the land for its swordsmanship, there was no doubt that Felicia was the greatest swordsman of them all.
She had racked up countless merits on innumerable battlefields, been granted the title of Sword Master by the War God himself, and become a source of pride for Pendragon, her name known even in foreign lands.
Moreover, considering how few female knights had ever made their mark in history, Felicia was undoubtedly the most prominent among all women knights on the continent.
She had personally proven that a woman could become an outstanding knight, demonstrating that she could be a truly great figure.
Historians were already convinced that her name would endure for thousands—nay, perhaps tens of thousands—of years as that of a legendary female knight.
The first female Aura User in history, and a great swordsman to boot.
...But for all her greatness as a swordswoman.
"You know, I was once called the 'Disgrace of House Ophen' and the 'Most Talentless and Dim-Witted Swordsman'."
"I know. I read the fairy tale."
"Heh heh, how did they describe me in it?"
"...A foolish lady knight."
"Foolish, huh... Heh heh, that's quite the softened version. I had nicknames like 'a wench with a brain worse than a goblin's' too."
"Who the hell...?"
"Ah, calm down. It's all ancient history. Besides, back then, it wasn't exactly an unfair label."
...She really had been a swordsman more useless than a goblin.
"......"
It was a self-deprecating mutter, and Lee Han stayed silent, opting not to react.
From experience, he knew that right now, silently listening was the way to go—not empty reassurances or feigned understanding.
And sure enough.
"Heh heh, thank you. For listening to this old woman's tedious ramblings."
Felicia chuckled softly, grateful for the audience, and Lee Han shrugged it off like it was nothing.
"It's just listening. What's there to thank me for? And as a fan of the fairy tale, hearing your old stories is pretty interesting in its own way."
"...Can we drop the fairy tale talk already?"
"Anyway, keep going. Might as well hear it through to the end now."
"......You're either so earnest or such a tease, I can't tell which...."
Felicia shook her head, exasperated by his response.
Still...
"Fine, then. Stick around till the end of this old woman's tale today. Heh heh."
There was a glimpse of joy in her eyes at having someone who would seriously listen.
...Eighty years ago, Felicia de Ophen had been more than just neglected in House Ophen—she was outright despised as a swordsman.
In Volume 1 of the [Lady Knight Series], it was lightly glossed over as mere hardship and loneliness, but that was not just softened—it was romanticized. The treatment she endured was truly grueling.
"House Ophen was in crisis back then. Frequent wars had tanked the economy, our trading company collapsed, disciples turned their backs... All sorts of bad luck piled up, bringing us to the brink of ruin. And right in the middle of that, a direct descendant with no talent for the sword was born."
House Ophen was one of the rare families in the south where gender didn't matter—the family head could be a man or a woman.
Thus, Felicia, born as the only child without brothers, was all but guaranteed to become family head. The house desperately hoped she'd at least have the makings of an outstanding swordsman, sharp personality be damned.
Of course, they weren't worried at first.
No one carrying Ophen blood had ever lacked talent with the sword.
But...
- Still only at that level?
- W-what? Five years since she picked up a sword, and she still swings basic techniques like that...? Hah! Words fail me.
- ...Maybe she's not really our blood?
Disappointment turned to betrayal.
Absurdity turned to suspicion and doubt.
Despair turned to rage.
The elders of House Ophen back then said things they shouldn't have, things no one should utter.
Felicia's talent was just that abysmal.
Eventually, rumors spread that she wasn't Ophen blood at all, even raising suspicions that her mother had been unfaithful.
...Fortunately, the family head at the time wasn't so delusional or dim as to believe such nonsense, and he punished those who spread it harshly.
- Felicia.
- Yes, Father.
- ...Don't do anything.
- ......
- I'll abandon all expectations of you. How can a fifteen-year-old still have such pathetic swordsmanship...? Sigh! We may need to have more children or scout a side branch for a successor.
- ......
- ...Tch!
Even her own father was so disappointed that his feelings toward her soured.
Honestly, from her perspective, it was an infuriating injustice.
She didn't choose to lack talent, yet the family and everyone treated her harshly and with contempt over something as simple as not being great with swords.
...However, it was also an inevitable product of the era.
"Back then, 'talent' was everything. His late Majesty the Previous King used the talented regardless of status, but even if you were from a famed house, if you lacked talent, you'd never be promoted. So families desperately wanted their children to shine, and if they didn't, they showed their disappointment without restraint."
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
"That's how the era was. Our house was relatively decent, at least. They didn't starve me or kill me for lacking talent."
"There were places that actually did that?"
"In the more extreme cases, yeah. Though those extremists happened to catch the eye of His late Majesty, sparking a bloodbath across the kingdom."
"......"
"No need to curse the Previous King for it. He probably never dreamed civilized nobles would stoop to such barbarism."
"...Hah."
...And so, Felicia's childhood was in an age where being scorned for incompetence was taken for granted—especially for a child of a martial house lacking martial talent, which was grounds for rightful reprimand.
This led many young noble heirs and ladies, disappointed in themselves, to take their own lives.
And amusingly, nobles praised this as 'noble-like' or 'honoring their house's name.'
Better to die than tarnish the family honor, or so the idiocy went.
It was utter nonsense from thick-skulled fools, but...
"Some of the elders seriously advised me to commit seppuku."
"...What happened to that guy?"
"Once I became an Aura User, the fool took his own life. Apparently left a pathetic note about how wrong he'd been... But I forgot his name ages ago, so I didn't care."
"He got off easy."
"Hoho! Thanks for getting mad on my behalf."
"No, really—he got off easy. If he'd been in front of me, I'd have tortured him without letting him die."
"...Kid, I absolutely must never make an enemy of you."
Countless malice had assailed Felicia, and it wasn't an exaggeration to say she'd lived in an environment harsher than hell from childhood.
Anyone else would have crumbled in such a family and ended it all.
Just like those who prattled about upholding honor through death.
"...But I didn't mind the abuse all that much."
"......"
"D-don't look at me like that! It's not like I enjoyed being insulted!"
"...I didn't say anything."
"Your eyes are saying it! Honestly...!"
Despite the endless insults and hellish environment, she never gave up on life.
Why?
Well, nothing special...
"-I just loved the sword too much. To the point of true love."
Felicia de Ophen.
The incompetent deemed rejected by the sword.
The most untalented swordsman in history, a total slacker.
Yet, defying all that, she loved the sword.
It was ironic.
Having been scorned by family and peers for lacking sword talent, it would have been natural to hate it. When efforts yield no results, you hate whatever it is as a matter of course. But Felicia defied that logic, loving the sword purely and chasing after it relentlessly.
Day after day, she never stopped swinging it.
And so, at twenty-three.
An age when most noble ladies were expected to marry, she hadn't even dated—and she suddenly headed to the battlefield.
To complete her own swordsmanship, the dream she'd cherished all her life.
Everyone was convinced she'd be the first to die there.
How could someone with such talent survive?
And yet,
- I-it's Felicia!!
- Run! It's the battlefield demon...!
...It took less than two years for their predictions to be overturned.
Felicia truly lacked talent with the sword, but she was someone who didn't know the meaning of giving up.
Having endured decades of neglect and contempt from her family, as long as she had her sword, she was fine.
In other words, her mental fortitude was unmatched, and she possessed unyielding courage no matter the situation.
Of course, bravery alone doesn't guarantee survival in war, but she had a 'talent' even she didn't know about.
- Felicia, was it? I saw your bravery. I'd love to have someone like you as a comrade.
- At least you're no coward.
- Oh, do you know that young punk Baltar? Word is he's joining our unit. They say the War God recognizes his talent, so I'm looking forward to it.
'Strong Luck.' She was fortunate beyond measure.
She befriended young heroes who hadn't yet made their names, and they became reliable comrades supporting her recklessness.
Thanks to these steadfast allies, she survived tens—nay, hundreds of thousands—of brushes with death, and at some point, she grew strong.
No matter how untalented, if you train with the sword while crossing the line between life and death ten thousand times, you can't help but grow stronger.
By her forties, she stood tall as a renowned knight and powerhouse in the south.
At this point, she could have returned home a hero, laden with achievements and fame, but she didn't.
Instead, what she chose was...
"I figured going back to the family wouldn't lead to progress. What could make someone talentless like me strong? Only grueling trials, pain, fierce battlefields, or the harsh ordeals of nature. I knew it was reckless, but I was convinced those trials would sharpen my sword even further."
So she left the south for the continent at large.
The east, west, and north—everywhere except the center.
She went through a lot.
Nearly died at sea.
Nearly died in the mountains.
Nearly died in forests and volcanoes.
Nearly died to monsters, cold, and natural disasters.
Yet she survived.
And it was then that her adventure partner—and future husband—evaluated her thus:
- Your survival luck is insanely good.
- Sometimes even I marvel at myself.
The undying woman, Felicia.
From then on, the continent called her the 'Immortal Felicia.'
Had she wandered longer, she might have forged even more legends, but she was forced to return home against her will.
Why?
"I had a child."
Her adventures ended with the fruit of love from her husband.
But even after returning, people wouldn't leave her be.
She was already a legendary lady knight whom even the royals couldn't treat lightly.
And so.
- From this day forth, We name thee [Sword Master]. This unique title shall be yours alone, Felicia, and We declare Our royal promise that not even royalty may treat thee lightly.
Receiving the recognition of the great sage-king hailed as a god in human form, she enjoyed a second golden age in her fifties.
She even considered abandoning Ophen castle and asking the War God to help her found a new house...
- ......I'm sorry.
- ......
- I know these words can't repay everything. I know they don't erase your painful years. ...Even so, I beg you on my knees. I offer everything I have. Please, save our house.
- Father...
Her father kneeling and apologizing to his daughter, speaking formally.
Seeing her own blood choose subservience to someone far greater than himself—not as a father to daughter—Felicia felt a whirlwind of emotions.
No resentment? That would be a lie. No hatred for the retainers? Another lie.
No matter how the sword sustained her, these were the people who turned her childhood into hell.
- ...Our names will be struck from the Noble Registry.
- !?
...After such words, she finally returned to the family.
"You're a pushover?"
"Huh?"
"No, why go back? Just go independent and live well."
"...Don't you know what it means for nobles to be erased from the registry?"
"What does it mean?"
"It means losing all honor and authority. Erased from history. It's a punishment harsher than death, imposed on themselves—and just harboring grudges would make me a petty woman."
"Damn, so what if they're pathetic? That's nobles for you, tch tch."
"Ah, no, that's truly harsh—why are you blaming me...?"
...Anyway, Felicia returned and inherited the house, wielding absolute power.
Who could defy a hero who'd made her name across the continent without anyone's help?
In this situation, her battlefield-and-adventure-honed strong luck shone once more.
- A genius! A genius...!
Her son, Iliyad, was a genius of staggering proportions.
House Ophen had never seen such talent in its history. When her five-year-old mastered all basic sword techniques in three months, the family was in an uproar.
Declaring him a prodigy who would surpass even Felicia.
She couldn't hide her admiration and fully agreed.
She was convinced this child would reach the pinnacle.
- My son will surpass even me, for sure!
A child so beloved by the sword.
He'd surely become a great swordsman!
Overflowing with the talent she lacked.
True to those expectations, Iliyad made a name as a swordsman without peers in his teens, and Felicia...
- You can lead the house better than I ever could.
- Mother?
- You're greater than me, so it'll be fine.
......announced her retirement.
"Wait, you handed the family headship to a kid—what age?"
"......"
"Teens? Exactly how old?"
"...Fif... Fifteen."
"......"
"...D-don't look at me like that."
"......"
Lee Han suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck.