Chapter 66
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66
Everyone’s eyes widened at Felicia’s oath of loyalty.
To ask for nothing but the privilege to serve, refusing any and all rewards—it was a level of devotion that bordered on madness.
While everyone was stunned, it was Lucian’s brothers who felt the greatest shock.
“What on earth is...!”
“Ah... ah...!”
Tristan’s eyes bulged at the utterly unexpected sight, while Joshua stood with his mouth agape, unable to find words. Jordi’s face turned a shade of red so deep it looked ready to burst, his lips bitten so hard they began to bleed.
Amidst his brothers’ internal turmoil, Lucian drew his sword and lightly tapped Felicia’s shoulders.
“Then I, Lucian Valdek, swear that you and I shall go even unto hell together!”
Once the oath between lord and vassal was concluded, Felicia bowed her head deeply and took her place by Lucian’s side.
It was the moment the master of the next Sword Saint was decided.
The knights stared at one another, dumbfounded by the rapid succession of events. In a moment like this, they should have at least feigned a celebration, but they were all too dazed to let out a cheer.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Suddenly, a rhythmic tapping sound drew everyone’s attention.
Several knights were striking their scabbards against the ground, while soldiers rhythmically pounded the shafts of their spears. It was a specific military ritual used on the battlefield to show respect to an opponent worthy of honor.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
It started with only a few, but gradually, other soldiers and knights began to join in. As their numbers grew, the sound intensified, soon shaking the entire surrounding area.
The knights who had been bewildered by the sudden ritual soon realized the reason behind it.
‘These are the men who participated in the suppression of the Krepelt rebellion!’
‘They are paying respects to the Third Young Master, who led them.’
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The vibrations spreading through all of Kelheim felt like a collective roar—a declaration that they, at least, knew Lucian was a man worthy of the future Sword Saint’s loyalty.
As the rhythmic pounding reached its crescendo:
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Long live the Third Young Master!”
“Long live Sir Felicia!”
“Glory to Valdek forever!”
A thunderous cheer erupted, blessing the lord and his new vassal. The soldiers’ ritual had reminded everyone of Lucian’s recent achievements. Even those who were still reeling from the shock found themselves swept up in the fervor, shouting blessings almost instinctively.
Amidst the surrounding cheers, Lucian and Felicia whispered to each other.
“I look forward to serving you, my Lord.”
“As do I.”
—The successor to the Sword Saint is actually a woman!
—And she’s sworn her loyalty to the Third Young Master!
Following the knighting ceremony, these two rumors struck the Valdek territory like a hurricane.
The people were reeling. It was shocking enough that a female knight from the stories had actually appeared, but for her to swear loyalty to the Third Young Master—who was considered nothing more than a rising prospect—was unthinkable.
“How did this happen? The Third Young Master is certainly showing promise, but is he really at a level to handle the Sword Saint’s successor?”
“Could Sir Eisen have intended this? If he’s using his successor to show support for the Third Young Master...”
“Nonsense! How long has it been since he personally stated he wouldn’t involve himself in politics? Why bring up old news?”
“No, but there’s no other way to explain it! She’s already going to be the subject of gossip just for being a woman; why would she settle for him?”
Not only the knights within the House of Valdek but even those from neighboring territories were buzzing over this shocking event. Such was the weight carried by the title of Sword Saint.
Just as all sorts of wild speculations were flying about, the truth began to leak out from within the House of Valdek.
“I heard this recently, but it was actually the Third Young Master who recommended Sir Felicia to Sir Eisen.”
“What? Then what was she doing before that?”
“Apparently, she was the illegitimate daughter of some family. They say the Third Young Master recognized Sir Felicia’s talent while she was being mistreated by her household and brought her in.”
“Hah, now it makes sense. He’s the benefactor who saved her life.”
“Indeed. In that case, it would be unthinkable for her to serve anyone else. A knight lives and dies for the one who recognizes their worth.”
Once the circumstances were revealed, the knights shifted to praising the heartwarming tale of Lucian and Felicia. Even if one possessed world-shaking talent, it would simply vanish into the shadows of history without an opportunity to shine. To a knight obsessed with honor, the grace of someone recognizing their talent and giving them a chance to make a name for themselves was a debt heavier than life itself.
As the truth spread, the idle gossip died down, but now a different group of people began to stir.
‘Regardless of why she swore loyalty to the Third Young Master, she is the next Sword Saint. That symbolism cannot be ignored.’
‘Many knights are captivated by the name of the Sword Saint. Whether out of a competitive spirit or pure awe, knights are bound to flock to a young Sword Saint like moths to a flame.’
‘Furthermore, since she’s a woman, people will come just to test her strength. This is serious. At this rate, a faction will form before we even have a chance to intervene.’
Those who had kept their distance, treating Lucian as a mere prospect, were now feeling a belated sense of urgency. No matter how brilliant his achievements were, it had only been a year; they had thought it too early to invest and had stayed a step back. But if they kept hesitating, a faction would be built around the prestige of the future Sword Saint.
If they waited until enough talent had gathered before trying to squeeze in, their potential gains would be significantly diminished.
‘This won’t do. I must establish at least a minimal connection before it’s too late.’
‘If nothing else, the Third Young Master lacks financial power. I’ll have to start winning his favor bit by bit by sending gifts.’
‘Should I take this chance to switch factions? The amount I’ve invested elsewhere is a waste, but if I can get on the same boat as the future Grand Duke...’
These were not mere hangers-on trying to ride Lucian’s coattails, but real power players capable of moving both military and financial resources.
“Young Master, another gift has arrived.”
“Who sent it?”
“The branch manager of the Lotte Merchant Group.”
“Just shove it in the corner somewhere.”
Lucian waved his hand dismissively without even checking the letter that came with the gift. Hans looked exasperated as he watched another item being added to the massive pile of presents.
“Is it really alright to do this? Shouldn’t you at least send a reply since you received something?”
“A reply for what? They’re only throwing themselves at me because they’re the ones who feel desperate. It’s not like they’re people of such power that it would be troublesome to ignore them. And above all...”
Lucian glanced to his side and spoke with a deep smile.
“I have the dependable future Sword Saint by my side now. Even if those fellows harbor a grudge, I have nothing to fear.”
“You flatter me, my Lord.”
Felicia bowed her head deeply, as if responding to her lord’s trust. Since the knighting ceremony, Lucian had appointed Felicia as his escort knight and kept her by his side constantly. This was both to flaunt his connection with the future Sword Saint to the outside world and to build rapport between lord and vassal.
‘I’m glad Sir Eisen is flexible. Given how urgent her training is, I couldn’t have complained if he’d snatched her away immediately, saying he’d send her back later.’
Lucian let out a silent sigh of relief. Since his lifespan was short, Eisen would naturally want to finish passing down his swordsmanship as soon as possible. However, Eisen had surprisingly accepted Lucian’s proposal without a fuss.
—Do as you wish. A knight leaving their lord’s side immediately after swearing loyalty... even I find that a bizarre thought. It is better to spend a little time dispelling unnecessary misunderstandings before she departs.
Despite having taught Felicia for only a few months, the impatience had completely vanished from Eisen’s face. It was a composure born from the belief that even if he accepted Lucian’s proposal, there would still be plenty of time to pass on everything he knew.
‘What incredible talent. To make Sir Eisen, who has a rough idea of his own remaining lifespan, that relaxed.’
Lucian marveled at Felicia’s talent while feeling a strange sense of joy. That knight of earth-shattering talent was now solely serving him.
Suddenly, the faces of his brothers crossed Lucian’s mind.
“By the way, have you heard anything about my brothers? It’s been a while since the ceremony.”
He could still vividly remember them looking pale with frustration and rage after losing the Sword Saint’s successor. At the time, it looked like they might draw their swords and charge at any moment, yet they had been strangely quiet.
“I’ve only heard rumors, but the First Young Master has apparently gone into seclusion since the ceremony. They say he hasn’t taken a single step out of his room.”
“And the other two?”
“They seem to meet often, but they usually end up arguing and parting ways. I’m not sure what they talk about, though.”
Tristan was holed up in his room from the shock, while Jordi and Joshua were unable to form a proper alliance due to mutual distrust. Lucian gave a wry smile at the unexpected result. He had thought the three of them would immediately form a coalition to drag him down, but instead, they were falling apart.
‘Well, it works out for me.’
Without his brothers’ interference, he could use his time even more productively. Having finished his thoughts, Lucian looked at the pile of gifts and gave Hans an order.
“Send all those gifts to Hugo and have him liquidate them. I’ll need to add that to the funds for buying medicinal herbs.”
“Again? The amount left over from selling the previous gifts is already quite substantial.”
“It’ll run out soon enough anyway. I need to earn diligently while I have the time.”
“At this rate, it seems like it would be better to just find a suitable financial backer...”
“I can’t do that.”
Lucian shook his head with a serious expression at Hans’s suggestion. He couldn't afford to be indebted to anyone else right now.
‘It’s not just a temporary shortage of funds; I have no source of income at all. If I take on a backer now, they might settle in permanently as my financial manager. Once you have an easy way out, you tend to become dependent on it.’
If he wasn't careful, the very lifeblood of his faction—the funding—could fall into the hands of an outsider. Even if they swore loyalty, they would eventually present a bill, demanding guaranteed status and treatment among his retainers in exchange for helping him when he was desperate. Unless it was a trusted confidant, he didn't want to deal with that by bringing in an outsider.
‘At the very least, I must hold the purse strings myself. I’d rather delay forming a faction altogether until I have my own means, rather than relying on others for funding.’
“Understood. Then I will send the gifts to Hugo for disposal.”
Noticing something off in Lucian’s pensive mood, Hans moved quickly. He seemed to realize that his comment had touched upon something his master was concerned about.
“Please do. And Felicia.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Teach me some swordsmanship.”
“...Pardon?”
Felicia’s expression turned bewildered. She looked as if she couldn't understand why he would want to learn from her. Lucian felt a bit awkward at her unexpected reaction.
“Is it that strange to ask you to teach me? There’s nothing odd about wanting to learn from the future Sword Saint.”
“No, but... do you really need to learn from me?”
“I’m learning the Lion Heart Sword, but aside from the technique itself, my actual swordsmanship isn't that great. You know that the level of a technique and an individual’s raw skill are two different things.”
“That is true, but...”
After hesitating for a moment, Felicia spoke her honest thoughts.
“You defeated me, my Lord. With your talent, you must have improved significantly since then.”
“....”
Lucian looked away slightly at Felicia’s words. It seemed he would have to start by clearing up the misunderstanding regarding his "talent."