Chapter 86
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Rival Houses
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The Margrave stroked his chin and asked.
“What kind of person is Aint Armian?”
“He is a blade that can fell an ox.”
“To be properly valued by a merchant, I see.”
The highest of compliments.
“You should go to the annex. Katrina has been waiting for you.”
“And how is the Margravine?”
“I have no idea why she’s so fond of you, the man trying to gnaw away at the pillar of our house….”
“Erecting a new pillar and sharing it isn’t gnawing away; it’s called a fair distribution of profits.”
As if he didn’t want to hear any more, the Margrave waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, before that.”
His gaze changed.
“I have yet to receive payment for mobilizing my family’s knights. Nor have I heard how you knew.”
“That is a family business secret, so I cannot tell you.”
Though it was a personal secret, not a family one.
“As you may have guessed, the demonic beasts did not appear naturally; they were summoned by the Vile Breeds. And that summoning requires a sacrifice.”
So, Your Excellency.
“Do you know where the surviving desert tribes are?”
* * *
*Click.*
As I closed the door behind me, I belatedly remembered something I’d forgotten.
‘Ah, I forgot about the mine.’
Well, it probably didn’t matter.
It wasn’t as if I could propose developing a mine in this situation, and I hadn’t yet thought of a suitable offer that would entice the Margrave.
There was still plenty of time.
At the very least, no one was going to snatch the mine away.
Just then, my eyes met a man coming up the stairs.
“Pernyan?”
“Ludger.”
“It seems the Margrave is engaged in some uninteresting business.”
A peculiar glance passed between them.
‘A private meeting with Ludger right after me.’
The fact that he had even made them run into each other was entirely intentional.
‘What happened between Altriark and Schwaben recently?’
He’d heard there was a minor dispute. If so, this was simply a demonstration.
And in the process, the Margrave had used Pernyan.
‘Hmm.’
But he could overlook something like this, considering their past and future relationship.
It was a minor thing, but these minor things accumulated into one giant debt. It was more profitable to let them pile up and cash in all at once.
“Let’s go, Young Master.”
“Right.”
Passing Ludger, Pernyan arrived with Rapelle at another door.
“Come in.”
A voice came from within before Pernyan could even knock. Entering, he saw a woman with her legs crossed, gazing out the window.
Long black hair that fell to her waist, skin faintly tanned by the sun, and blue eyes resembling sapphires.
She was the lady of Altriark, Katrina Altriark.
“Welcome. Coffee? Or tea?”
“Are you making it yourself?”
“You should feel honored. Even those distinguished Electors don’t get to drink tea I’ve brewed myself.”
“I am honored.”
Pernyan sat down across from her.
“You look to be in good spirits. I heard you encountered the Vile Breeds.”
“I’m not bad. The Vile Breeds weren’t as formidable as I thought.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
The coffee the Margravine brewed was exceptionally delicious.
“The aroma is wonderful.”
“It’s the one you gave me. Don’t you remember?”
“You still haven’t finished it all?”
“You know me. I prefer alcohol to things like this.”
“That’s why I brought something. A 55-year-old Orbis, the pride of Friedien.”
Pernyan took a bottle of liquor from his subspace.
“But it seems you’ve grown distant from the Schwabens lately.”
The Margravine asked as she accepted the bottle.
“Why do you think so?”
“The Margrave met with me before Ludger, didn’t he?”
It might seem trivial, but the prestige and hierarchy among nobles were quite strict.
No matter that the Electors had the right to choose the emperor, and that they possessed power and strength rivaling the emperor’s, the emperor was still the emperor.
Normally, the Margrave should have met with Ludger before Pernyan.
“You’re right.”
The Margravine nodded calmly.
“Perhaps it’s because they’ve held the imperial throne three times in a row, but their noses are quite high in the air.”
Just because they weren’t interested in the throne didn’t mean they wanted to act as minions.
“I’m sick to death of hearing that Schwaben wants to solidify its hold on the throne.”
The imperial succession was not hereditary but decided by the votes of the Electors.
It was a structure in which the power of the nobility was bound to grow stronger.
“So don’t ask what you already know. I answered since it seems I used you.”
At the chilling warning veiled in gentleness, Pernyan took an ornate box from his subspace.
“A gift I prepared for the Margravine.”
“Oh my, there’s no need for such things between us.”
Contrary to her words, her hand snatched the box as fast as a hawk swooping down on its prey.
*Click.* A set of magnificent glass bottles was revealed.
“What is this?”
“It’s the new line of cosmetics from Flos.”
Flos was a luxury brand run by the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild.
“This one makes the skin brighter and clearer. This is a perfume that blends with your natural scent to create a more subtle fragrance.”
“And this?”
“A shampoo that makes your hair soft and silky.”
“And this one?”
“This is the product with the effect you so desired.”
“Really?”
The Margravine’s eyes sparkled. She immediately opened the lid, sprayed a little on her palm, and rubbed her hands together.
But there was no dramatic change.
Her hands were still covered in calluses and scars.
“There’s no change at all.”
“You know how it is. Cosmetics don’t show significant changes after just one or two uses. I can’t promise they’ll disappear completely, but by the time you finish that bottle, they should look quite different.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
The Margravine closed the box with a pleased expression.
“Is Emond well?”
“Yes, my brother is doing well. He has established a reputation for himself as a professor.”
“Of course. Whose son do you think he is?”
“How is Alkmion?”
“He’s in Palancia.”
Palancia was one of the seven fortresses of the barrier wall. And on the very front line, at that.
“He must be going through the wringer.”
“One needs to be tempered by hardship in their youth.”
“Alkmion will be entering the Academy next year, I suppose.”
“That’s not for certain. Who knows if he’ll fail for lack of ability?”
“That’s impossible.”
Alkmion, who was considered to have the greatest talent among the Margrave’s descendants?
Of course, he wasn’t entirely without his issues, but failing was out of the question.
“I think he’ll do well.”
“Since you’ll be his senior, I hope you’ll guide him well.”
“Yes.”
The conversation blossomed.
* * *
It is often said that the Academy is the cradle of the Empire.
It was true. Not everyone in the Empire could attend the Academy, but most of those with ability did.
Altriark had many outstanding knights, so naturally, it had many Academy graduates as well.
And many who remained interested in the Academy even after leaving.
“A pleasure to meet you all. My name is Krepin, and I instruct the trainees at the Altriark Knight School.”
Grad entered the annex with a knight named Krepin.
“I have brought Sir Krepin here for sparring. You all know that the purpose of this dispatch is to gain more experience.”
Grad looked around at the focused students and continued.
“Interacting with the knights and mages of your assigned post is also a long-standing tradition of the Academy. It is not mandatory, so only those who wish to participate may do so.”
The Academy was the Empire’s finest educational institution, but it was not the only one.
In particular, the knight schools of Altriark and Bercefe, renowned for their exceptional knights, were said to be comparable to the Academy in terms of knight training.
—You must say you’ll do it.
—The knights of Bercefe and Altriark always live up to their names. Though Bercefe is slightly superior.
—More sparring experience will only benefit you; it will never harm you.
Aint’s thoughts were the same as Gardner’s.
After the battle with Andromalius, he had felt his own shortcomings and had been craving real combat ever since.
That was why he had wanted to be dispatched to Altriark. He probably would have come even without Pernyan’s words.
“I wish to participate.”
Just then, someone raised their hand before Aint could.
It was Ruina.
“Oh, the trainees will be quite pleased to have the chance to spar with the winner of the jousting tournament.”
“I’d like to participate as well.”
“Me too.”
Aint, Almon, Alia, and Verian raised their hands belatedly.
The sparring match was arranged, and they were led to the dueling grounds.
Perhaps because it was a fortress with troops always stationed there, the training ground was vast, and the dueling ground was set up in one corner.
The arrival of the Academy students drew the attention of the knights and soldiers who were training individually.
“Trainees, assemble!”
At Krepin’s shout, about a hundred trainees scattered across the training ground gathered around the dueling area.
“The students from the Academy have graciously offered to spar with you. Any volunteers?”
Without a second of hesitation, every trainee raised their hand.
“Excellent. Who wants to go first?”
“Alberi Pesli of Class 1.”
A man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties raised his hand.
The Altriark Knight School had no grade levels. There were only Classes 1 through 4, divided purely by skill.
“Then, from the Academy, who would like to go first?”
Grad asked, looking at the students, but Alberi Pesli suddenly pointed at Ruina.
“I wish to fight Miss Ruina Bercefe, the winner of the jousting tournament.”
“Hoh. Good spirit. Ruina, your answer?”
“If a challenge has been issued, there is no reason to avoid it.”
Ruina stepped forward.
“The duel will be with blunted steel practice swords.”
The magic barrier artifacts used at the Academy were too expensive for anyone other than the Academy or the Fallenberg family to use for a mere duel.
“Why did you choose me?”
“Just as you, the winner of the jousting tournament, can be considered the Academy’s finest knight, I am the best at the Altriark Knight School. I do not believe the Altriark Knight School is much inferior to the Academy.”
“I see.”
Ruina nodded calmly.
“Do you know what my last name is? It’s Bercefe.”
“I know. That’s part of the reason I chose you.”
“Aura is forbidden! Begin!”
—!
Sparks flew as the practice swords clashed.
Just one exchange. And in that one exchange, the outcome was starkly decided.
“…Kuh!”
As Alberi grunted and took a step back, Ruina instantly closed the distance.
Ruina was a seasoned knight.
And a seasoned knight was a wolf that, having seized an enemy’s opening, would never let go.
——!
—!
Ruina’s sword danced. A point became a line, and the line became a plane, cutting off all of Alberi’s defenses and severing every path of his sword.
One step back became two, and two became three.
Barely blocking, barely dodging, barely enduring—that was all Alberi could do.
*Claaaaang!*
It didn’t take long for Alberi’s sword to be knocked from its master’s hand and sent flying into the air.
“*Gasp, gasp…!*”
In that brief moment, Alberi, drenched in sweat, was a stark contrast to Ruina, whose expression hadn’t changed in the slightest.
*Shk.* Ruina’s steel sword came to rest against Alberi’s neck.
“It’s over.”
It’s a common story.
People always love to rank and order things.
Among the strong, who is the strongest?
The Royal Knights and Archmages partially answered that question.
Though it did raise a new question: who was the strongest between a Royal Knight and an Archmage?
Among the Elector families, which was the greatest?
Everyone pointed to Armian, but it became a hotly debated topic again when the imperial throne changed hands 100 years ago.
Altriark and Bercefe. Bercefe and Altriark were much the same.
All families trained knights, but not all knights were the same, just as not all Electors were the same.
Which of the two knightly houses that stood by the first emperor’s side was stronger had always been a heated topic.
That was why.
Altriark had always been compared to Bercefe.
And Ruina had grown up with those words ringing in her ears until she was sick of them.
Even though their domain had been ravaged by a monster wave.
Even though they had sold the rights of the Golden Bull and their fame was a shadow of its former self.
Even so.
“Next.”
She must not be intimidated by these Altriark bastards.
She must not lose.
If you fight, you must win.
That.
“Is there no one else? It seems Altriark is home to nothing but cowards.”
Is what it means to be a Bercefe.
Ruina’s eyes burned with determination.