Chapter 101
Chapter 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Did I See Wrong?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Did I see wrong?
The ball had ended.
Aren's dancing skills weren't something to mock.
I was terrible at it myself.
I'd stepped on Cecilia's feet who knows how many times.
In the end, right up until the ball concluded, I'd basically been dragged around by Cecilia.
Still.
"That was fun, Halibal."
Cecilia looked utterly satisfied, like something about it had really pleased her.
"Especially cute how you flinched every time you stepped on my foot."
That was a bit much.
"...I'll take that as a compliment."
Alicia approached us then.
"Kukuk. Looks like you two had quite the enjoyable time."
"Oh? Didn't Your Highness have a fun time with Aren too?"
"Don't even get me started. His steps were all over the place. Are all swordsmen like that?"
"Not really."
Cecilia put some genuine pout into her words, but Alicia brushed it off without a care.
"Anyway, good work. The banquet's winding down, so relax and enjoy whatever time's left without any pressure."
With that, Alicia passed by me naturally.
And whispered in my ear.
"We lost him."
"...Pardon?"
Lost him?
The "him" had to be Climude.
I was shocked he'd gotten away, but even more surprised that she'd managed to do something behind the scenes in that short window.
"What happened?"
"After hearing your intel, I assigned Adelin and a decent mage to tail him."
Adelin?
"He used Black Flame, proof of the cult, just like you said. Turned into a monster like Elevber did. He's definitely the bishop."
Talk about decisive. Who'd have thought she'd deploy the Empire's Greatest Sword right here at the banquet hall for an op.
But she lost him?
Something was off. A monsterfied Climude should've been on par with Marias or Elevber.
Even accounting for spawn-time buffs, Adelin wouldn't have let him slip.
"We had him on the ropes, but the moment we looked away, he used a prepped magic circle to escape. Same type as the one from that annex where we fought Elevber before."
"...I see."
"I'm summoning the Lady White Usher tomorrow for a full investigation on that man."
Damn it. At this point, it would've been better not to engage at all.
If we'd just let him go, Climude wouldn't have been sure we—or the Empire—knew his identity.
But now that a fight had broken out in the open, the cult would be on maximum alert.
Reading my concern, Alicia patted my shoulder.
"Don't worry. He won't be moving freely anytime soon."
"Why's that?"
"Because the mage I sent is highly competent. She cast a tracking spell on him right as he bolted. He'll need time to heal anyway, so now we can react to their moves."
If she called the mage competent, she must be top-notch.
Fair enough. That should limit his movements somewhat.
Though it wasn't enough to fully relax.
"Thanks to you, we cleared a major hurdle."
"Quite the opposite. Without you, we wouldn't have even known an enemy had infiltrated the Empire's heart. Remember I owe you one."
Alicia vanished into the crowd after that.
Time to wrap up the banquet as princess.
The moment she was gone, Cecilia—who'd been waiting with her arms crossed—stared at me intently.
"...Another secret chat?"
"Work stuff."
"With the princess?"
"Academy business."
"Won't tell me?"
"I'll fill you in later. Not now."
"...Fine. I'll let it slide this once. Things are about to get busy nonstop anyway."
She wasn't wrong. The ball ending didn't mean the banquet was over.
No, this was when it really kicked off.
Official events were done, but the real purpose—nobles mingling—was just beginning.
Quick-witted commoner students started slipping out one by one as the ball ended.
But as Cecilia's partner, I had to circulate with her, showing our faces to the nobles.
First up: the nobles with Regnar. The imperial faction's core.
"Oh, Lady Cecilia. It's been a while. And this must be the famous Dirge Sword."
"Pleasure to meet you. Halibal Belder."
"He's my partner. Lent me his arm for the night."
"Hahaha! I see why His Excellency rates you so highly. You two look perfect together."
Blatant stares.
Every one of them openly sizing up not the Dirge Sword, but the Ren heir's chosen son-in-law prospect.
Questions focused less on dungeon raids, more on my background.
Of course, I had little to say. The Halibal Belder I knew was an orphan.
Luckily, Cecilia smoothly deflected the tricky ones with smiles.
After imperial greetings, we headed to the noble faction cluster.
Eugene and Senia had already passed through; I spotted faction students and Richard among them.
"Count Regal, Count Dain. Sorry we're late."
"Hoho, no matter. The Sword Heir of Ren gracing us is honor enough."
Two middle-aged men welcomed us.
One with graying blond hair, hawk-like eyes, and a distinctive mustache.
Yustra Regal, head of Count Regal house and noble faction leader.
Name the Empire's top three sword styles: Belhart Style, Ren Sword Forms, and Regal Noble Sword.
As expected of a man who'd created a style, Yustra's strength nearly matched Regnar's.
In the original story, he was a mid-boss in the noble scenario.
Unlike Regnar, whom you never even fought, Yustra was a classic frustrating, off-beat boss—tricky even among them.
At this point, he didn't seem to be plotting civil war yet.
Beside him, a green-haired man who looked like a scheming lackey.
Colin Dain, head of Count Dain house.
Ambitious but lacking talent, he was the jealous number two, a puppet boss, classic pushover character.
"So you're the Dirge Sword."
Yustra eyed me.
"Indeed, no ordinary man."
Different from the imperials' gaze.
Not hostile, but clearly drawing a line.
He tossed a few formal questions my way; once I answered.
"Impressive."
Flat praise, then he changed the subject.
Count Dain was different.
"Richard tells me you're friends."
'Friends?'
I glanced at Richard; he flinched, flustered.
I'd seen him as a friend, but hadn't expected the feeling mutual.
"...I may have said that..."
"Quiet. I'm asking Sir Halibal."
"Yes."
"...Hey! Who's friends with who?!"
Richard raged outwardly, but from my angle, I clearly saw his lips twitching upward.
Likes it, does he.
"Haha! Knew it. Richard complimenting anyone is rare."
Colin stepped closer with a friendly grin.
"How about it? Ren support's great, but what we noble faction can offer a talent like you is on another level. Aren't they too rigid for your potential?"
Outright recruitment pitch.
As the number two, he was always eyeing ways to topple Yustra.
In the original, he did briefly usurp the top spot midway.
Of course, it was Yustra and Victor's scheme; he ended up discarded like a worn rag.
"Ah, Father! Halibal's not like that...! He's already Lady Ren's partner!"
"Quiet, Richard!"
Colin snapped sharply at him.
"Having a talent like this right in front of you and spouting lukewarm nonsense—that's why you always lose to Eugene! Watch and learn properly!"
Richard shut up under the rebuke.
'Now I get why original Richard turned out like that.'
With Cecilia and me standing right there, he openly trashed his son as inferior to Eugene.
Wasn't even buttering us up.
Cecilia was hearing it all; proposing alliance by ditching his own house?
'This is why he stays number two forever.'
Such rudeness even Cecilia couldn't ignore. Her hand tensed just as—
"That's enough."
Yustra intervened.
"Even for the Empire's future, that's no way to speak with Lady Ren present."
"Haha, I just meant offering this promising youth a broader path..."
"Ren Duke's backing already means it's no narrow path."
Colin's smile froze.
Yustra never uttered "noble faction."
Kept it to Empire matters only.
Everyone knew he led the faction, but he never slipped up publicly naming it.
"I've heard of the Dirge Sword's exploits. Know the Empire always welcomes talents like you. And... my apologies to you as well."
The last bit was to Cecilia.
"No need. Think nothing of it."
Yustra closed his eyes quietly after.
Before Cecilia could poke my side, I instinctively knew it was his way of dismissing us.
Colin's face flushed beet red.
Showing his anger so openly.
Richard feigned glaring stiffly, but regret flickered behind.
'Richard's side seems way better, honestly.'
We bowed silently and left.
After that, we met academy faculty and imperial officials.
They asked about my dungeon raids, but Cecilia politely blocked: we'd come to enjoy the banquet, save the heavy talk for the academy.
Circling the hall like that, we imprinted on everyone: "Haliibal Belder is Cecilia Ren's partner."
Finally, Cecilia and I sat at a table for a proper meal.
"...What a whirlwind."
"Yeah? This is tame, actually. At least His Highness didn't show."
Come to think of it, I'd heard his faction sent no one but Killien.
'Good thing. Would've been chaos if they had.'
Relieved inwardly, I reached for food on my plate.
"You know, Duke Grace wasn't here either."
'Right? Where'd Victor go?'
I'd definitely seen him with Regnar just before the speech.
But during noble greetings, and after—not a glimpse.
Vanished clean at some point.
Black curtain role or not, was he some assassin?
Prime chance to cozy up to me, no?
Not worth dwelling now, anyway. Overt villainy would feel off.
I'd avoided him, sure, but him ghosting meant no need to hunt him down for greetings.
I shook off the thoughts, gazing out the window.
As night deepened, the banquet hall's clamor settled into calm.
The garden beyond the windows looked peaceful, cozy.
'Yeah. That's enough for tonight.'
Even at a banquet, this crap.
Was it occupational hazard?
Climude's appearance and escape.
Key figures absent.
Sure, important.
Very important.
'But right now, this matters more to me.'
I looked at Cecilia across from me.
Our eyes met.
She'd been looking at me too.
No, maybe since we sat down, she'd been watching me the whole time.
"Here."
She offered her glass.
I clinked mine lightly against it.
Clink!
She tilted her glass with a happy smile. Seeing her like that lifted my mood too.
Exchanging glasses and casual chat, I finally set down the old burdens weighing on me, savoring the moment.
As the mood ripened, I glanced out the window again.
'Hm?'
Beyond the darkened garden, a faint afterimage of purple flame flickered.
'Did I see wrong?'
I rubbed my eyes, looked again.
Nothing there.
"What's up?"
"Nah, nothing."
The banquet night faded away.
⁎⁎⁎
The palace garden, beyond the banquet hall's lights.
A girl stood there in attire clashing with the gala.
Luna Grace.
She'd never once imagined wearing such drab clothes.
'Failed...'
Luna replayed the battle.
Cornered, the bishop monsterfied.
Over ten pairs of skeletal arms sprouting from his back.
His grotesque form matched monstrous power.
But it couldn't surpass Adelin's.
Each sword swing etched solar flares into his body.
Endless regeneration burned away by Luna's purple fire.
Overwhelming victory seized.
Finish was Luna's.
But.
'Damn it...! Empire's Greatest Sword, fine... but what the hell are you?! Halibal Belder's woman or something?!'
That line shook Luna, just for a split second.
The bishop didn't miss it. Activated his prepared circle, fled without hesitation.
Victory nearly in hand slipped away like sand.
In the last moment, Luna desperately branded him with her fire seal, but that was it.
'Foolish.'
Luna cupped her cold face.
Gazing up at the banquet hall, she almost heard "his" faint laugh on the wind.
But that wasn't the "him" she knew.
She remembered. Countless days facing him across that hall.
Days she'd sat where Cecilia Ren sat now.
Maybe this time too, if she'd taken his hand at semester start.
But she hadn't seen him.
Couldn't.
Reason she hid in shadows.
Chose dangerous missions as the princess's dog.
All to not lose "him" this time.
Leave to protect.
How contradictory.
Luna gazed at the hall once more.
Cecilia Ren smiling by "him."
If she'd been there, could she have smiled that happily?
'No.'
Luna shook her head.
She knew.
The future ahead.
The trials coming for "him."
Cecilia Ren didn't.
How fleeting that smile.
How precarious that peace on shaky ground.
That's why she, who knew, had to stay in shadows.
From unseen darkness, cut down every blade threatening him.
Today's failure stung to the bone.
'Halibal Belder's woman or something?!' Her heart nearly stopped.
Hearing that name from a filthy monster's mouth surged unbearable rage, yet despair it wasn't true.
That instant's shake birthed the blunder.
'...No more mistakes like this. Ever.'
Though he'd escaped, her fire seal wouldn't fade.
Wherever the bishop fled, whatever he did, she'd track him now.
Luna cast a final glance at the hall; through the window, "his" happy smile shimmered.
To protect that smile, she'd gladly don these drab clothes, walk the world's shadows.
She turned; purple flames enveloped her.
Soon, the garden stood empty.
"Luna."
Save for Victor Grace.