Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Investiture Ceremony
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"Estate Lord, Sir Arsen wishes to see you."
"Let him in."
In response to the servant's words, the oiled door opened smoothly without a sound.
Inside the estate lord's office sat the lord in his chair, flanked by two escorting knights behind him, along with the four knights who had joined the Knife Tail hunt.
"Oh, Sir Arsen."
The estate lord greeted him lightly with a raised hand, and Arsen bowed his head in a manner befitting etiquette.
"I'm sorry for being late, my lord. I was so filthy I couldn't enter indoors, so I took a moment to clean up."
"I've heard the story. Come in for now."
Once Arsen stood among the other knights, the estate lord looked at him and spoke.
"I just heard from Sir Zenovia that you delivered the decisive blow against the Knife Tail."
"You're too kind. It was only possible because the other knights created the opening."
From beside the calmly humble Arsen, Zenovia spoke up with a sly smile.
"It was an attack no one could have imagined. Who would have thought to go for the butt..."
Zenovia covered her mouth and let out a soft chuckle, as if even she found it amusing as she said it.
The surrounding knights tried to maintain decorum in the estate lord's presence but couldn't hold back their leaking laughter.
"Now, now, enough of that. In any case, this confirms it. Knights Arsen, Valtan, Isha—the three young knights have proven themselves through the five austerities and seven feats. I hereby declare it so."
In the Belluan territory, there were certain conditions for formally investing knights.
First, one must endure the five austerities: a month without speaking, a fortnight with eyes closed, ten days of fasting, three days praying nonstop at the prayer hall, and standing motionless all day.
This was tied to the indigenous faith in Rha, Belluan's folk religion. It persisted due to the existing knights' sense of vindication—they'd done it, so the new ones must too—backed by their strong support.
Next came establishing the seven feats: hunting designated magic beasts under the supervision of senior knights.
Typically, they'd pit the novice one-on-one against a moderately strong magic beast or have them team up against one too powerful for a single knight.
The Knife Tail they'd just hunted was the final, seventh one assigned.
Together, these twelve trials were called the Twelve Labors. Passing them elevated a knight from a promising youth needing senior escorts for missions to a full-fledged adult knight.
It was a rite of passage for knights alone.
Failing to do so didn't deny knightly treatment, but they were still treated as 'juvenile knights,' creating a clear distinction.
"Preparations are complete, so the investiture ceremony will be held tomorrow."
"Understood, my lord."
"Everyone else, you're dismissed. Sir Arsen, stay a moment."
The other knights left the office, leaving only Arsen, the estate lord, and the two escorts inside.
The estate lord turned to them and said,
"You two, step out for a bit."
"My lord."
"Come now, just for a moment. Do you think Sir Arsen will harm me? It'll be a personal talk, so wait at the end of the corridor."
At the estate lord's firm words, the two knights exchanged awkward glances before exiting the office.
Confirming the door closed, the estate lord spoke.
"First off, congratulations once more. On holding the formal investiture ceremony, that is."
"..."
"Deroy's been bothering you lately, hasn't he?"
It was a sharp question, befitting the territory's ruler.
It was an awkward one to answer, so Arsen simply bowed his head lightly without replying.
At the silent affirmation, the estate lord gave a wry smile and pulled a sheet of parchment from his drawer.
"I know he resents your closeness with Eloise."
"Yes, that's correct."
"It's embarrassing to say this, but I called you because I wanted to tell you not to worry too much about Deroy."
The office fell quiet for a while, filled only with the scratch of the quill on parchment.
Both Arsen and the estate lord maintained silence until the estate lord, as if surrendering, spoke first.
"Deroy is not my heir. It took me a long time to accept that. I plan to pass the estate lordship to Ridat."
Ridat was Deroy's half-brother, far milder in temperament than his jealous older sibling.
Not the wise, charismatic leader type, but at least not the sort who pricked everyone like thorns, making endless enemies. That alone would make him a far better estate lord than Deroy.
"I don't think estate succession is something I should meddle in..."
"Stop pretending to be a fool. If you marry Eloise, you can't easily stay out of this. Once the investiture's done, a wedding wouldn't be out of place at all."
The estate lord finished the document, stamped it with his seal, and flipped it over decisively.
"What I want to say boils down to one thing. If Ridat becomes estate lord, he won't target you specially, so don't get overly ambitious yourself. Be content as the knight who wields great influence over the mage. Can you do that?"
"As a knight of the estate, I will serve as sworn."
The estate lord's gaze pierced Arsen sharply, as if peering into his soul.
Arsen concealed his inner emotions as best he could, showing only the face of an honest, righteous knight, and quietly lowered his eyes.
After staring long and hard, the estate lord closed his eyes and rubbed his face.
"I don't know... I really don't. I've felt it since we first met. You seem at least ten years older than you look. Always hiding your thoughts. Is it because you went through hardships as a child?"
He muttered like a complaint in a weary voice, tapping the armrest.
"Excluding you from the succession game is simple. Just don't tie yourself to Eloise. But how could I do that? I'm a pathetic father who never properly played the role his whole life."
In the estate lord's bitter expression as he mumbled, Arsen felt for the first time like he was seeing Lord Nut's true face.
Gone was the stern yet jovial leader he always showed; instead, there was the face of a tired, worried middle-aged man.
"Remember what I said, and please don't make me regret it. You're dismissed."
"I will, my lord."
As Arsen replied and opened the door to leave, the two knights waiting at the far end of the corridor approached.
"Is the talk over?"
"Yes. You can go back in now."
After confirming the office door closed, Arsen walked slowly, lost in thought.
About himself, Eloise, and the estate's future.
* * *
A large crowd gathered in the open square before the estate hall to celebrate the long-awaited major event.
Not just the estate's retainers, but their families and relatives too, totaling over a few hundred people.
At the center stood the three knights to be formally invested.
"Wow, even after awakening, this is the first time I've felt this nervous."
"Same here."
Arsen nodded along casually as his fellow knights spoke in awed tones.
Personally, he saw the investiture as just another empty ritual, but respecting others' views was an important virtue.
Looking around, some gazed at them with envy, others admiration, and some looked down as if at fledgling chicks.
Today, they were arguably the estate's top superstars.
Shifting his gaze a bit farther, he spotted Luden and Eloise standing at a distance.
Having stared this way, Eloise noticed his look and bounced excitedly, waving both hands.
Arsen grinned and waved back, causing an uproar nearby.
"Oh my, that knight waved at us!"
"He waved at me, dummy."
"But that knight's so handsome."
As the girls' whispers drilled into his ears, Valtan jabbed Arsen's side.
Fortunately, the armor dulled the pain.
"Lucky bastard, stealing every girl's heart in the estate."
"If you're jealous, get handsome."
Valtan scowled genuinely at Arsen's teasing jab.
As he opened his mouth to retort, an administrator emerged from the estate hall first and shouted loudly.
"The estate lord is coming out!"
The three young knights immediately dropped to one knee, and the chattering crowd straightened up to await the lord.
Moments later, the estate lord stepped out from the entrance.
Draped in fine fur cloak befitting the formal event, with a golden circlet on his head.
"I am pleased to see you thus, my people! Today, I declare that these young knights have proven their valor and martial deeds!"
His booming voice echoed, met with cheers and applause from the crowd.
After deeming the mood sufficiently roused, the estate lord raised a hand to quiet them, then stood before the kneeling trio and drew his sword.
Amusingly, being no taller than an average man, the estate lord's standing eye level wasn't much higher than the kneeling knights'.
Thankfully, no one here was so oblivious or bold as to mock it.
"Arsen, son of Lenoc, you have completed the austerities and feats as a knight of this estate, proving yourself."
"Yes, my lord. As you say."
"Thus, in the name of almighty Rha and my father Delos, I swear to be your shelter from storm and wind. Will you faithfully be the shield guarding me and the estate?"
As the sword rested on his shoulder, Arsen glanced up at the estate lord.
The scripted line was supposed to be, "Will you be the sword and spear guarding the estate?"
The altered words implied much.
"I swear it. I, Arsen son of Lenoc, swear to faithfully be naught but the shield guarding the estate."
"So long as I do not betray you."
"So long as I do not betray you, my lord."
"The oath shall hold."
With a faint smile, Lord Nut stepped back and swung his hand hard, slapping Arsen's cheek.
Being bare-handed, it didn't hurt much, but the snap turning his face sideways brought old memories, stinging his heart briefly.
This too was part of the traditional rite.
'Damn.'
He knew it was coming, but it didn't make it feel good.
He felt it now and then—maybe often—that this place's customs could be truly foolish and barbaric.
Afterward, the estate lord extracted oaths from Valtan, Isha, and the other two knights.
Once the formal oaths concluded, he clapped and shouted.
"Now then, eat, drink, and make merry! That's an order from your estate lord!"
As everyone cheered and dove into the festivities, a few young ladies approached Arsen.
"Sir Arsen, nice to meet you. I'm Rinarr. Sir Yutin is my great-uncle."
"Sir Arsen, I'm Alice. Could we talk for a moment?"
"Sir Arsen..."
Arsen flashed polite smiles at the flock, excused himself, and pushed through them.
"Pardon me."
As courteously yet firmly as possible, he made his way to Luden and Eloise.
Those trailing him hesitated at the sight of the two mages and backed off.
Apparently, no girl had the guts to approach someone with mages.
"Pretty girls seeking you, and you come here?"
"The prettiest one's right here."
Eloise pouted at Arsen's cheeky echo of Luden's joke.
Yet her lips twitched upward, betraying her delight.
Eloise demurely lowered her gaze and said something insincere.
"No need to stay? You seemed popular."
"I'm good. Prefer it here."
He wanted to decline the excessive attention anyway, and truthfully, none of those well-dressed girls outshone Eloise.
Eloise fiddled with her earlobe and turned her head.
Arsen knew that was her shy gesture.
As they enjoyed the lighthearted time, Luden frowned and said,
"What's that over there?"
From their spot in the corner of the estate hall grounds, they overlooked the uphill path leading up.
Three lizards ascended the slope, carrying riders.
One was drenched head to toe in blood.
"Someone's hurt."
The trio halted at the entrance, exchanged words with guards, then passed through the gate into the partying crowd.
By now, even the revelers noticed the anomaly and turned to look.
As they drew near, Arsen made out their faces and attire.
One wore patrol soldier garb, face unfamiliar; another was a familiar administrator.
The blood-soaked one had an unknown face, clad in practical magic beast hide.
People parted for them, averse to the gore, letting them reach the estate lord and kneel.
Though at a distance, Arsen's sharp ears caught their words.
The administrator handed over a parchment scroll.
"Urgent dispatch from Illen Citadel, my lord!"
"Hand it over."
The estate lord's face grew grave as he unrolled and read it.
He rerolled it tightly and bellowed.
"Knights! Administrators! Assemble in the conference hall immediately!"
At that one command, the entire square seemed to chill instantly.