Chapter 195
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195
The messenger’s conviction caused Marquis Bernhardt to suppress his rising anger.
The messenger knew better than anyone that if the evidence he spoke of turned out to be a lie, his life alone would not be enough to pay for it. Since he asserted it so firmly without a hint of hesitation, it was highly likely to be the truth.
However, setting that aside, the Marquis’s confusion only deepened.
“Are you saying such a thing is truly possible for a human body?”
He wouldn't have been this surprised if the gate had been cut down with a sword. Throughout history, those of the Sword Saint’s caliber had occasionally achieved such feats.
But to rip a city gate apart with bare hands?
Unless one was a half-giant or a descendant of the dragon from legend, it was an impossible task.
“I can hardly believe it myself. Even now, I find myself wondering if I saw a hallucination. But how can I deny what happened right before my eyes?”
“Hmph.”
A hollow laugh escaped the Marquis’s lips.
Just what kind of man was that Northern upstart?
He knew the boy possessed some degree of martial prowess, but he had assumed his true nature was that of a schemer, much like himself. Yet, when faced with a situation that couldn't be solved with intellect, he had supposedly resolved it with brute force.
It was becoming difficult to pin down the boy’s true identity.
“Hoo, fine. I shall believe you for now.”
Exhaling a long sigh, the Marquis turned his gaze back to the letter and continued reading. Unfortunately, there was nothing pleasant written in it. With every line he read, the Marquis’s expression grew increasingly grim.
—The Duke’s power was at a level impossible for me to gauge. He showed no signs of overexertion while tearing the gate apart; his steps were as light as if he were taking a stroll. Had he set his mind to it, he likely could have blown the gate away with a single punch.
It was an absurd claim.
Even an ordinary city gate required a battering ram to be forced open, yet he spoke of a punch? Did that mean the boy’s fist was more powerful than a standard siege engine?
—Furthermore, the Duke was not the only one possessing such martial might. Though their styles differ, the Sword Saint he brought along also possessed power beyond measure. Even if the Duke lacked such strength, the gate would have been easily sliced apart by the Sword Saint.
The Marquis flinched at the mention of the Sword Saint.
Since Eisen Brightner, there had been only one person called a Sword Saint. It was Felicia, the one known as the first female Sword Saint.
—The mana Felicia Brightner manifested was enough to shred not only the gate but also the walls flanking it. Had she moved her wrist even slightly more, that is likely what would have happened.
“Brightner, he says!”
The Marquis’s anger flared uncontrollably at the sight of the offensive name.
How could he attach the name Brightner to Felicia? She was his own daughter; she should bear the name Roglan. Even if she herself rejected the name, blood could not be denied.
Since he often mentioned this to his retainers, Emil must have known the Marquis’s feelings on the matter. Therefore, choosing to write "Brightner" in the letter was clearly intended as a piece of advice—or a warning—to the Marquis.
—Lord Marquis, regardless of the reason, I failed in my mission, and the responsibility is entirely mine. Since this will bring great hardship upon Your Grace, I will gladly accept any punishment. However, before that, please allow me to say this.
Do not attack Lucian.
Do not provoke Felicia.
And do not plot any more traps.
—The Duke and the Sword Saint are beings capable of changing the tide of a battlefield single-handedly. Unless they are allowed to fade away with the flow of time, attempting to bring them down with petty traps will result in an uncontrollable backlash. Please, let them return in peace and face them as the sovereign of a power...
The Marquis crumpled the letter as soon as he finished the last sentence.
The sense of defeat permeating every word was irritating enough, but to be told not to touch them and just let them go? To suffer such humiliation without dealing a single blow in return?
“...I remember when Sir Emil first came to enter my service. He was a truly magnificent knight. His voice was full of confidence, and his skills were as exceptional as his pride.”
“M-My Lord.”
“But in this letter, I see no trace of that magnificent knight. Only a mangy dog whimpering with its tail between its legs.”
“...!”
Marquis Bernhardt snapped at the terrified messenger in a cold voice.
“Go and tell Sir Emil this: I appreciate the advice, but the counsel of a man paralyzed by fear is worse than no counsel at all.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
The messenger fled across the hallway, disappearing before the Marquis’s wrath could fall upon him.
After burning the loathsome letter, Marquis Bernhardt shouted to the knights lined up outside.
“The guests invited to the banquet will arrive soon! Everyone, prepare to receive them!”
*
The five thousand soldiers Lucian had brought were physically on the verge of collapse.
To catch Marquis Bernhardt off guard, they had marched for dozens of days with only the bare minimum of rest. Had they not been elite soldiers accustomed to lifelong training, they would have collapsed long ago at such a pace. At this point, regardless of dignity or pride, everyone was desperate for rest.
However, unlike their physical fatigue, the soldiers' morale was soaring.
“Long live His Majesty the King!”
“O King of the North! O Descendant of the Dragon!”
“Wait. Isn't the Imperial Family the descendants of the dragon?”
“The Grand Ducal House of Valdek also has Imperial blood!”
“Now that I think about it, you’re right!”
Though they stumbled, the soldiers laughed and chatted incessantly, praising Lucian.
It was the wish of every commoner for the lord they served to be extraordinary. But Lucian had displayed a monstrous level of martial power that went far beyond "extraordinary" right before their eyes. How could those under his command not feel their hearts swell?
Moreover, possessing such might meant they were unlikely to lose. To the soldiers, Lucian’s presence, along with Felicia’s, was as good as a guarantee of victory.
“I still feel like I might be in a dream.”
“Don’t worry. I feel the same. I can’t believe what I saw yesterday.”
“Let me ask you one thing. Is it really possible for a human to enhance their physical body to that extent?”
“It would be possible if one had overflowing mana and a path capable of withstanding that mana.”
“I’m asking because that premise itself is impossible.”
Unlike the soldiers who cheered blindly, the conversation among the knights was more serious. To the eyes of those trained in swordsmanship, the power Lucian had displayed deviated from common sense.
He had used an amount of mana impossible for a human body to contain to enhance his physique far beyond what a human could endure. If any of the knights here tried the same thing, their bodies would have exploded before they could even contain a fraction of that power. The knights could only wonder how Lucian had resolved all those issues.
“Do you doubt where His Majesty’s power came from?”
“S-Sir Felicia!”
The whispering knights were startled by Felicia’s voice. Of all people, they had been overheard by her.
“If you have any guesses, feel free to speak. I am curious to see how far your deductions have gone.”
“W-We apologize! We have shown you a disgraceful side of ourselves as knights!”
“We will never speak of this again, so please forgive...!”
The knights bowed their heads to Felicia, breaking into a cold sweat.
In truth, saying Lucian had done "something a human cannot do" could easily be interpreted in a negative light. If something was impossible for a human, it was naturally associated with supernatural entities like magic or demons. Even if the words were born of pure curiosity, for a knight to harbor such doubts about their sovereign was a grave discourtesy.
However, Felicia spoke calmly, surprisingly showing no sign of anger.
“I am not blaming you; I am asking for your thoughts. Do you truly have no inkling?”
When the expected reprimand didn't come, one of the knights spoke up hesitantly.
“Is it because the Imperial blood is particularly strong in His Majesty? If the Dragon’s Blood has awakened, then that strength would make sense.”
“Close. It is similar, but different.”
“Similar?”
“His Majesty consumed a Dragon’s Heart.”
The knights stared at Felicia with aghast expressions. He hadn't just inherited the blood; he had swallowed the heart of a dragon.
“D-Did he hunt a dragon?”
“For the details, ask the Sons of the Snowfield when we return.”
Felicia left them with those meaningful words and turned away. Sure enough, as soon as she was a short distance away, she could hear the knights erupt into a noisy clamor.
Lucian chuckled as he watched Felicia walk away from the knights, pretending she hadn't heard a thing.
“You did that on purpose, didn't you?”
“Did what, Your Majesty?”
“Not giving them a detailed explanation.”
At Lucian’s words, Felicia nodded slightly and replied.
“I don't know much about politics, but I do know this: even if the same words are spoken, the listener’s reaction changes entirely depending on the speaker’s eloquence.”
“So instead of explaining it yourself, you left it to those from the snowfields?”
“They witnessed the process of Your Majesty gaining and wielding that power firsthand, and they offer you sincere reverence. Rather than me explaining the exact theory, those ordinary men are better suited to spreading the legend.”
“You’re clever.”
“I still have a long way to go compared to Your Majesty.”
“That’s true.”
Lucian shared a light joke and laughed with Felicia. But after a moment, the smile vanished from his face, and he spoke heavily.
“Felicia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You don't have to hold back.”
Felicia flinched at the implicit meaning in his words. When she remained silent, unsure of how to respond, Lucian spoke again.
“Marquis Bernhardt can no longer do anything to us. No matter how much this West is his backyard, it means nothing now that we have entered his very heart. At best, it would be mutual destruction; at worst, only the House of Roglan would be destroyed. The Marquis knows this well.”
In other words, within a certain limit, she could do whatever she wanted. As long as she didn't start an outright massacre, her taking revenge on her old enemies would be something they would just have to endure. Considering they would have to wage war as opposing factions in the future, this was her last chance for personal revenge.
“But...”
Felicia tried to protest Lucian’s words. Even so, excessive provocation was dangerous. If a real war broke out, other lords wouldn't stay idle. As he just said, it might lead to a situation where they had to be prepared for mutual destruction. A multitude of concerns flooded her mind.
However, Lucian’s next words were incredibly sweet.
“Felicia. Don't you want revenge?”
“...!”
Felicia unconsciously clenched her fists.
How could she not want revenge?
In the House of Roglan, everyone knew of Felicia’s talent. But that talent had been thoroughly trampled before it could even sprout. They had snatched the wooden sword from her hand and replaced it with a rag and a broom, mocking her repeatedly, saying those were what suited her. Even now, the mere memory of those times filled her chest with hatred and murderous intent.
“Don't think about political issues or whether you’re causing me trouble. Tell me your pure desire.”
“I...”
“Don't you want revenge?”
At the second question, Felicia squeezed her eyes shut. It was no longer possible to deceive her own heart. The resentment that had built up over a lifetime reacted to Lucian’s voice and burst out.
“I want revenge...!”
Even knowing she might cause trouble for Lucian. Even though her selfishness might spark a war. Even so, she wanted revenge.
At Felicia’s answer, Lucian gave a wide grin.
“Let’s go, then. To get your revenge.”