Chapter 22
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22
Those who learn the sword without a proper master are bound to pick up a bad habit or two.
In Felix’s case, he had a habit of reflexively ducking under a diagonal slash whenever his opponent was larger than him. It was because slipping underneath made it easier to penetrate the opponent’s guard and deliver a swift counterattack.
However, if one uses the same method every time, those around them are bound to catch on.
Lucian, who happened to work with Felix once, had pointed that out after watching him fight.
—I’m truly grateful. If it weren’t for you, I might have been in big trouble later on.
Even though Lucian had criticized a technique Felix had used successfully many times, Felix didn't get offended; instead, he expressed sincere gratitude. Then, he immediately devised several different responses and corrected his swordsmanship so he could switch between them as needed.
At the time, Lucian was so flabbergasted by the sight that he was lost for words.
There were plenty of mercenaries who knew their weaknesses but didn't know how to fix them, yet Felix had perfectly compensated for his in just a few days. Lucian realized that this was what people meant when they spoke of a true genius.
—In return, I’d like to help correct your swordsmanship... if that’s alright?
It was a remark that could have been seen as a grave insult. Offering to correct someone's swordsmanship implied that one's own level was higher than the other's.
However, Lucian had readily accepted Felix’s favor. His self-taught swordsmanship was full of holes anyway, and the person offering to teach him was the genius of the century. If he could receive even a little bit of instruction, he was more than willing to show his skills.
—Your momentum when striking is good, but the problem is that your posture breaks too easily. Instead of putting all your strength into a single sword strike, it would be better to focus on parrying and counterattacking.
Felix pointed out many things, but since they were all issues Lucian had been struggling with, it felt like someone was finally scratching an itch he couldn't reach. From that day on, Lucian’s mess of a sword style finally reached a level that could actually be called a swordsmanship style.
They had only worked together a few times under the same employer, but if it hadn't been for that brief encounter, Lucian would have died on the battlefield long ago.
‘I told him I’d definitely repay the favor once I made it big, but Felix became even more successful, so it just kind of fizzled out.’
Word was that a few years after they parted ways, a Margrave recognized Felix's talent and he was formally knighted. When Lucian heard the news, he felt it was a natural outcome, but he couldn't hide his bitterness. Even though it was years-old news, Lucian’s situation hadn't changed much since then.
Looking back now, it was almost laughable.
‘Actually, it wasn't a natural outcome at all. Recognizing talent, my foot. That Margrave must have been blind.’
To give someone with Felix’s talent a mere knighthood? Even granting him the rank of Baronet and a position as a Royal Guard Knight would have been insufficient, yet the Margrave had lowballed him ridiculously. A man of a Margrave's status couldn't have been ignorant of that fact.
The reason he lowballed him so cheaply despite knowing everything was obvious.
‘Was it because of gender?’
A bitter smile played on Lucian’s lips.
Indeed, unless it was an honorary position, a female knight was something out of a fairy tale. It might be barely possible for a noble lady, but it was out of the question for a commoner woman to be knighted. Felix—no, Felicia—must have been grateful just to be knighted while hiding her gender. After all, she was given the chance to earn merit on the battlefield and rise further, rather than just being kept as a decoration.
In a way, she was as unfortunate as Lucian. Because of her birth, she had to sell her heaven-sent talent for such a pittance.
‘But not anymore.’
In this life, Felicia wouldn't have to sell her talent cheaply. Lucian intended to resolve all the weaknesses she had in her previous life. Though, it would come with the condition that she had to swing her sword by his side.
“Hugo, take this one away.”
“....”
“Hugo? What are you doing?”
“Ah, yes. My apologies. How should we handle her?”
“Bind her so she can’t run wild and keep her under strict surveillance. But treat her well.”
“Understood.”
Hugo ordered the other subordinates to move Felicia. All that remained were the groaning knights on the ground, a maid, and Philip, the son of the Marquis.
His escape route completely blocked, Philip trembled with rage and screamed at Hugo.
“You back-alley trash! You’re selling me out?! Do you think you’ll be safe after daring to betray the House of Roglan?!”
“Young Master!”
The pale-faced knights shouted, but it was too late. Lucian chuckled and looked at Philip.
“The House of Roglan, I see. I was wondering who was behind the attempt to sell drugs in Valdek’s front yard, and it turns out it was you. This saves me the trouble of an interrogation.”
“...!”
“I, Lucian Valdek, third son of Sigmund Valdek, shall apprehend you all by legal right. Do not resist if you don't want things to get ugly.”
Belatedly realizing the situation, Philip’s face turned ashen. Of all people, he had just confessed to the son of Grand Duke Valdek that a Marquis’s house was the mastermind behind the drug trade. No matter what excuse he added now, there was no way out.
“W-Wait. That’s not it. I think there’s been some misunderstanding....”
“Misunderstanding, my ass. Let’s see if you can say that in front of my father. Take them away.”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
The Black Lions approached Philip as he tried to make a late excuse. Realizing there was no way to escape, Philip grit his teeth and shouted.
“Wait! I will go on my own feet!”
“What?”
“No matter what crime I may have committed, I am the fourth son of the House of Roglan! I demand the treatment befitting a prisoner of my status!”
So, now that he was caught, he wanted to hide behind his family name? Lucian chuckled at Philip’s shallow scheme and said, “If you don’t want to go on your own feet, then just be dragged. Or I can personally break your shins for you.”
“....”
At Lucian’s cold reply, Philip tucked his tail.
*
After capturing Philip and his gang, Lucian immediately headed for Kelheim. At the same time, he sent a messenger to Grand Duke Sigmund to inform him of the situation and request a few preparations.
—Please gather the commoners and let them see the criminals being led in. Since the culprit confessed his identity himself, we can let everyone know that this was the work of the House of Roglan.
“That’s a great idea! That fellow Bernhardt will be breaking a sweat trying to talk his way out of this!”
As soon as Grand Duke Sigmund received the suggestion, he burst into laughter and immediately gathered the commoners.
When they nearly reached Kelheim, Philip’s group was flustered to see the crowd gathered like clouds. Their faces would be completely exposed.
“Young Master Lucian! Do you intend to make a spectacle of us?!”
“This is not right! At least let us preserve a minimum of honor!”
“Kill us instead! I’d rather die than suffer this!”
Setting Philip aside, the knights protested vehemently. They hadn't been caught for assassination, but for aiding in the manufacture and sale of drugs. It was an unspeakable disgrace for a knight, and now it was being revealed to the whole world. They became desperate to prevent their family's honor from being tarnished.
However, Lucian only found the knights' attitude ridiculous.
“The moment you aided in the sale of drugs as knights, you lost your honor. You can’t tarnish what doesn't exist, so just keep walking. You’re already rags soaked in gutter water; what does one more speck of dust matter?”
“How dare...!”
“Young Master Lucian!”
At Lucian’s words, the faces of the two knights flushed red with shame. It seemed at least two of them still had a conscience left even after getting involved in such a thing. The rest of the knights were still just fuming, shouting that he had insulted them.
‘Well, if they were in their right minds, they would have refused this job in the first place.’
Sighing, Lucian gave an order to the troops the Grand Duke had sent from the family.
“Seize them so they can’t resist. You may strike them if they resist during the transfer.”
“W-Will that be alright? They are knights, after all.”
“What kind of knights are drug dealers? Don't worry about it and treat them roughly.”
They might harbor individual grudges, but they were just low-ranking knights deployed for a disposable task. Unlike the Marquis’s son, men like these would be easily cut loose. There was no need to overthink it, as there would be no repercussions regardless of how they were treated.
“Let go! Let go of me!”
“You bastards! How dare you lay hands on a knight!”
The knights resisted fiercely, but it was of little use. They were in a state where even standing was difficult due to the wounds inflicted by the Black Lions. Soon, led by the rough hands of the soldiers, the transfer of Philip’s group began.
“Huh, what’s going on? Why is a knight being dragged away by soldiers?”
“I heard they were caught trying to manufacture drugs. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
“What? A knight? Why on earth would a knight get involved in such dirty business?”
“Word is, Marquis Roglan hates His Grace the Grand Duke so much that he did this in secret.”
“And they say that young master being dragged over there is his son?”
“My goodness, he let his own son sell drugs? The Marquis is truly finished.”
As whispers erupted from all sides, Philip trembled with shame. Funnily enough, despite being so insulted, he never once resisted. It seemed he thought enduring the shame in silence was better than being beaten for resisting.
“By the way, I heard it was the Third Young Master who figured out the plan and caught them all.”
“What? That Deer Young Master? That’s impossible!”
“Impossible, my foot. Don't you see the young master leading them at the front?”
“I heard he’s changed since he came back from the brink of death.”
“They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He really is the Grand Duke’s son after all.”
Meanwhile, stories about Lucian were spreading through word of mouth. Lucian suppressed the corners of his mouth from twitching upward and straightened his back to look even better to the commoners. One of the reasons for staging such a grand event was to improve the perception of Lucian.
Rumors always spread from the bottom up. If he didn't actively improve his image now, the infamy of the 'Deer Young Master' might linger for a long time.
“H-His Grace the Grand Duke!”
“It’s His Grace!”
As they neared the entrance to the inner castle, the people bowed in unison amidst a slight commotion. Looking up, Lucian saw Grand Duke Sigmund, who had come out to meet him.
Lucian dismounted, knelt before the Grand Duke, and shouted.
“Lucian Valdek, by my father’s command, has brought Philip Roglan and those who participated in his crimes! They attempted to manufacture and sell drugs, so I ask that you judge them severely!”
At his thunderous voice, the commoners’ eyes widened. That bold young master was the Deer Young Master?
Sensing the shift in the surrounding gaze, the Grand Duke narrowed his eyes.
‘You clever brat. So this was your aim?’
‘It’s a bit of both. Surely you won’t say I can’t even do this much?’
When Lucian winked, a dry laugh escaped the Grand Duke’s mouth. But it was only for a moment; he soon shouted loudly for everyone to hear.
“Truly my son! You have done wonderfully! I shall grant you a reward later, so go and rest your weary body!”
“I shall gladly do so!”
When the usually solemn Grand Duke praised him so loudly, the commoners’ jaws dropped. The Deer Young Master really had changed enough to earn the Grand Duke’s recognition! It was perfect proof that required no further explanation.
Having finished speaking, the Grand Duke patted Lucian on the shoulder as if to commend him and whispered.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Lucian grinned and replied to his father.
“I’m perfectly satisfied.”