Chapter 266
Chapter: 266
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 266
>Chapter Title: To the Imperial Capital (3)
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What Seongjin had said to tease Emit wasn't entirely empty words.
As he roughly headed toward the training grounds, he could indeed sense Orden's powerful aura surging out alongside fierce fighting spirit.
'Anyway, when it comes to sheer presence, he's on the level of a knight order captain.'
He had only been there a short while, but thinking back, even when they first met in the imperial capital, he had exuded that tremendous presence.
While he was usually taciturn and serious, the aura he wielded was incredibly wild and domineering.
'It's completely different from the Wolf Knights, so it must be the influence of his master, Balthazar...'
Entering the entrance to the training grounds, Seongjin spotted Orden diligently swinging his sword alone in light clothing despite the cold weather.
And for a moment, he was captivated by his unique swordplay.
'That's the ancient swordsmanship...!'
Orden's swordsmanship teacher was Balthazar, the continent's greatest knight.
And Balthazar was famous for teaching his disciples the ancient sword techniques from before Banahas had compiled them. Thanks to that, there had even been a craze for ancient swordsmanship among the continent's renowned swordsmen at one point.
-To truly master the essence of the sword, you must learn its original form!
It wasn't entirely baseless rumor.
Indeed, Orden's movements and aura operation had many fine flourishes absent from the imperial knight order's standard swordsmanship. Yet those gave it a rather antique and archaic flavor.
Naturally, with more forms and stances, it displayed more variations and diversity than standard swordsmanship.
'But that's not all there is to it.'
Even while executing such delicate swordsmanship, the presence he emitted was that wild and free-spirited.
It was probably because the intent infused in his sword was different from others'. Now somewhat accustomed to swordsmanship himself, Seongjin could vaguely guess as much.
Until now, Seongjin had glimpsed Orden's sword several times.
But seeing him unfold a sequence of forms continuously like this made the differences between him and others even clearer.
It was different from even Marquis Masain, called a genius, or Captain Bruno's sword.
Unlike those who relentlessly pursued one ideal sword path in their minds, this man was already fully prepared to communicate with the world through his sword alone.
In a way, he might resemble Logan the most.
'...That's what they mean by true sword geniuses.'
The type who, taught one thing, would awaken to the principles of the world on their own.
Seongjin, who relied on intuition, instinct, and grueling repetition, could never comprehend them in his lifetime.
Look at him even now. Wasn't it utterly natural how he unconsciously infused his intent, his very life, into the sword?
Before Seongjin's eyes was still a young sprout of a Sword Master.
'If several like him grow strong and one day become Father's strength...'
A sudden pang of regret hit him.
At that moment, Orden noticed Seongjin's presence and stopped his sword, lightly bowing his head.
"Your Highness."
"Ah, sorry to interrupt your training."
"No, it's fine."
Orden gave a curt reply, sheathed his sword, and approached Seongjin.
There had been a time when that blunt demeanor seemed terribly insolent. But after dealing so much with Sigismund's sleazy bunch, now this guy even seemed refreshingly honest and upright by comparison.
Tch, Orden of all people.
Seongjin opened his mouth, his face a mix of reluctance as he thought that.
"Tomorrow, we're heading to the imperial capital, Young Duke."
"Yes, I heard from Herman. I was planning to bid you farewell today anyway, Your Highness."
As he answered, Orden's eyes darkened.
The young man, who had always seemed unflappable, had lately worn a somewhat melancholic expression.
The succession of incidents in the territory, discord with the margrave, and an uneasy premonition that ominous events were unfolding behind the scenes unbeknownst to him.
All of it was pressing down on the young man at once.
But amid the turmoil, one thing was certain. The immense grace that Prince Mores had bestowed upon Sigismund territory.
"Thanks to Your Highness, we not only resolved the herb carriage issue but also protected the territory from the beasts without major losses. Sigismund owes Your Highness an immense debt..."
Seongjin made a weary face toward him as he bowed politely.
Ugh, come on! Keeping tabs on every little debt like that—when are you ever going to pay them all off?
At this rate, are you planning to pawn your soul to me later?
"Skip the formalities. So, how about it? Why don't you come with us to the imperial capital while you're at it?"
"...Pardon?"
Orden lifted his head with a baffled expression, and Seongjin began rambling off reasons even he himself wasn't fully sure of.
"Hmm, when we came here, you and the Wolf Knights escorted us so comfortably, right? I'd like the same on the way back."
"......?"
"When I get to the imperial capital, I'm going to seize the Millo Merchant Company right away and clean house. Don't you want to see Giacomo Millo's trial?"
"Your Highness."
"Oh! And come to think of it, you've been so busy with the martial arts tournaments lately that you haven't had a chance to learn from Sir Balthazar, have you? How about staying in the capital for a while and focusing solely on training?"
Even as he said it, Seongjin didn't have high hopes. As Sigismund's heir, with the territory in such disarray, he couldn't possibly leave alone.
Sure enough, Orden's stoic face broke into a rare faint smile.
"I can't escort you like on the way here, but with the Lilium detachment accompanying you back, you should be safe."
"......"
"I'll pay my respects again in the capital next year at the birthday celebration."
Yeah, figured as much.
Seongjin scratched his cheek and rummaged in his pocket.
'This might be a bit of a waste for Sigismund to give him, but...'
After a moment's hesitation, Seongjin sighed and held out an Ice Heart to Orden.
"Take this. I thought about leaving it with the margrave, but he doesn't seem like the type to use it properly."
"...Pardon? But I don't know how to handle this, Your Highness."
Orden took the Ice Heart, replying with evident difficulty.
"It's fine. I've disabled most functions, turning it into something like an ordinary magic stone. It should be easy to use now."
Then Seongjin lowered his voice, explaining the usage in detail so only Orden could hear.
All while sensing a gaze from the margrave's residence lingering on them, emanating a dark glow for a long time.
* * *
The next morning.
Seongjin's group, prepared to depart for the imperial capital, gathered in front of the margrave's residence.
With several wagons packed by the margrave in gratitude, plus the Lilium detachment joining, their party was now considerably larger than on the way there.
And among them was an unexpected addition: Ilma, who had stepped down as Wolf Knights captain, deciding to accompany Seongjin's group to the capital.
"Are you sure this is all right, Lady Ilma?"
"Yes, Your Highness. It's an honor to escort you again."
Lady Ilma replied calmly, offering a gentle smile.
Her face was more haggard than ever from recent hardships, but her eyes still shone with resolute determination.
"Louise has probably headed to the southern Anatolia region."
She planned to part ways with Seongjin's group in the capital and embark on a long journey south to find her daughter.
If she was seeking new experiences, she wouldn't have chosen the familiar, chaotic north over the unfamiliar, stable south.
Knowing Louise had actually entered the demon realm, Seongjin felt a needless pang in his chest and averted his gaze.
"But if you leave, what about the Wolf Knights?"
"I've left it to Sebastian. If I may be so bold, my husband is a former Wolf Knight as well. He'll adapt quickly and handle it even better than I could."
Security chief and now knight order captain too? That sounds like overwork.
Somehow reading Seongjin's concern, Lady Ilma gave a wry smile.
"He needs some heavy responsibilities and duties for the time being. To keep idle thoughts at bay. Otherwise, he'd rush off to the demon realm right now to find our daughter."
Sir Sebastian had told Lady Ilma several times, apparently.
-Ilma, you know what my nose is like. Lately, I've been smelling Louise's scent mixed with northern flowers. Our Louise might have gone to the demon realm.
But he couldn't be entirely certain. There was no reason for his daughter to go to the demon realm, and her scent had faded too far to track anyway.
"...Louise will be fine. She's smart and capable, with no gaps in her guard."
That was probably the only comfort he could offer parents who had lost their child.
Yet even to Seongjin's uncertain voice, Lady Ilma smiled brightly, as if cherishing even the faint trace of her daughter from another's lips.
"Yes. Thank you so much for looking after Louise all this time, Your Highness."
In front of the margrave's residence gathered far more territory folk than when Seongjin had arrived.
To see off the princes who saved the territory from crisis and the Lilium detachment. And—
Thud, thud.
To see the 'Knight of Grace' proudly leading the procession.
The large brown cloak, like that of the imperial guards, bore the Lord's emblem clearly, and the ice helm and armor facing the sunlight gleamed with beautiful silver-gray radiance.
Ice alive and moving—a miraculous sight one could rarely witness in a lifetime.
"Ooh, that's the true grace of the Lord God!"
"The miraculous knight who saved our territory from the beasts!"
And this time, even Margrave Hendrick couldn't avoid Logan.
He'd made excuses about reconstruction and pursuit forces until now, but he couldn't skip the send-off for the princes and detachment as the territory's lord.
"Sigismund will never forget the aid both Your Highnesses provided by leading from the front. We've already sent official letters of thanks to the capital. Please take care on your journey."
After delivering brief greetings to Logan and Seongjin from a distance, he hastily slipped behind the servants, as if afraid of being touched.
Even to the end like this, Logan was understandably flustered.
"Why on earth does the margrave avoid me like that?"
At that quiet sigh, the eyes of the Lilium detachment's three musketeers—Sir Otto, Sir Eli, and Sir Duisang—sharpened instantly.
"That wretch dares against Prince Logan!"
"How can such an ill-mannered man exist!"
"Ah, pitiful. To not yet realize what immense grace of the Lord God it is to enter Your Highness's sight even briefly!"
...No, Sir Duisang, that's going a bit too far.
But Seongjin was equally puzzled.
Before coming to Sigismund territory, he had already checked several names on the [Contract Ledger] via Branch Chief Schmidt. And as far as Seongjin knew, the margrave was no demon contractor.
So why was he dodging Logan like that?
As if he had something to hide from a powerful holy knight. Or as if he wanted to give that impression.
'Considering that man's personality...'
"Ahem."
Seongjin's thoughts didn't last long. Someone approached beside him with a light cough.
It was old man Vincent, who after several clashes had been avoiding Seongjin like the plague. Even Sigismund's greatest elder couldn't skip this occasion, it seemed.
"Ahem. Good work up to now."
"Save the insincere words, you senile old coot."
At the rude remark, the eyes of the margrave's servants behind widened in shock.
But he couldn't help the gruff words bubbling up. Considering what this guy had done to his older sister, just...!
Yet for some reason, the old man who would normally bristle with offense today brushed it off with a relaxed expression.
And not only that.
He subtly extended a hand toward Seongjin, his face even radiating some inexplicable confidence.
"Ahem, here. Not much of a return gift, but take it if you need it."
"......!"
Seongjin blinked at the old man's hand. There lay another Ice Heart, emitting its faint glow on his palm.
-Why not take them all? It seems you'll soon have one more.
Come to think of it, the Holy Emperor had said that before he left through the Rift.
But to think he'd actually brought it.
"For once, you've done something useful, old man."
He disliked the geezer, but the Ice Heart was innocent. He'd already been regretting giving one to Orden.
As Seongjin eagerly reached out—
"Excuse me."
A hand swiftly intercepted it from the side.
"...Logan?"
"......!"
Old man Vincent's eyes bulged. Who casually snatched a Decaron Knight's possession?
Yet Logan held the Ice Heart with utmost politeness, smiling genteelly. To look refined while stealing another's item—that was a talent in itself.
"Thank you for the gift intended for Mores. But Sir Vincent, isn't this an item used by the demon's ally? Though faint, it's infused with demonic energy."
"Th-that's..."
"It's fine for a Decaron Knight like you, Sir Vincent, but ordinary people could suffer fatal effects from the demonic energy."
The old man, glancing at Logan, suddenly paled as if recalling something, his confidence evaporating as he deflated and slunk away.
"Why is he avoiding me too?"
Logan spoke with evident bafflement, and from his hand emanated holy power so sacred it visibly shone.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Purifying."
Logan extended his hand curtly. The Ice Heart, now cleansed of its prior taint and glowing purely, rolled onto Seongjin's palm.
The Holy Emperor and Logan—people who didn't know the value of holy power.
"Uh, thanks."
"No problem. It's nothing."
"But look forward to it. I have something for you too. I've prepared something huge for you in Regina!"
Seongjin grinned mysteriously, and Logan muttered with a slightly worried look.
"The last time you smiled like that, I think you gave me a necklace made from skewered longhorn beetles."
Hey! Keep those forgotten childhood dark histories to yourself.
Seeing Seongjin's confident face, Logan smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.
"What are you hiding? You seem awfully sure."
Of course, Logan.
You'll see a gift in Regina you never imagined.
And about ten days later.
Standing before a huge banner in Regina, Seongjin spread his arms wide and shouted to Logan.
-Bertrand & Lee
"Congrats on becoming co-president of a brand-new company with no track record yet, Logan!"