Chapter 267
Chapter: 267
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 267
>Chapter Title: Bertrand & Lee (1)
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After Ortona's fall, I heard that many northerners, worn out by their increasingly harsh lives, had turned to banditry en masse.
But who in their right mind would dare obstruct a procession led up front by the Knights of Grace, flanked on the sides by the Lilium detachment gleaming in their white uniforms as they rode on horseback?
The road back to the capital was just as peaceful as the journey to the Sigismund territory—if not more so.
During that time, Sung-jin spent most of his hours inside the carriage with Logan or Sir Masain.
He had shared lunches with Logan back at the Pearl Palace before, but this was the first time he'd spent an entire day stuck with him like this.
Thanks to that, Sung-jin got a real sense of just how obsessively devoted a fan club the Lilium detachment was.
The pinnacle of their fervor was Lilium's Three Musketeers: Sir Otto, Sir Eli, and Sir Du Sang.
"Your Grace, here are the scriptures and holy water for your morning prayers."
"Ah, thank you as always, Sir Otto."
"Your Grace, I brushed Roxanne's coat at dawn."
"You've done well, Sir Eli. I didn't expect you to, but she must have loved it."
"Your Grace, the road must feel lonely—shall I recite some poetry from Ortona that you'd enjoy?"
"No, that's fine. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Sir Du Sang."
Sung-jin was left dumbfounded.
The Lilium detachment was one thing, but Logan was something else entirely. How could he put up with these annoyingly eager types all day long while smiling the whole time?
*What's the big deal? Didn't that guy put up with Morres's antics like a saint back in the day?*
"..."
Sung-jin's mood sobered at the Demon King's point.
"They're so diligent and always leading by example in everything—truly role models for holy knights. I learn so much from them every day."
"...You're joking, right?"
Sir Bruno, the captain who'd been watching from the side, nodded emphatically at Sung-jin.
"I never realized the Lilium detachment was like this, Your Grace. I respect their wholehearted devotion to Prince Logan, but I can't shake the feeling that they're a bit too intense."
Sung-jin stared at Sir Bruno in disbelief.
What? Captain? You're the one bringing hot Melbourne tea after every meal— you're hardly normal yourself?
But Sung-jin didn't call him out on it. The captain's tea was getting better and better, after all—something he hadn't thought possible.
*Slurp.*
*Ahh, this is the best. All the fatigue in my body is melting away!*
The Demon King, sharing the taste through their link, rolled around happily inside the soul crystal.
The journey was this peaceful, but conflict arose from the most unexpected place.
It was between the wolf-dog Max and Logan's beloved mare, Roxanne.
*Grrr...*
*Snort.*
From the day they first met, an inexplicable hostility flowed between the two animals' gazes.
After that frosty first encounter, they never stopped eyeing each other warily, at every opportunity.
When Roxanne received a long grooming session or had the holy knight order's emblem adorned on her, she would look down at Max with smug pride.
—How about that? Have you ever gotten treatment like this, you mutt?
But when night fell and the horses were tied up near the campsite, Max would prance circles around Roxanne, teasing her.
—Whatcha doing stuck there? Can't move an inch—fun, huh? Huh?
Their wordless feud grew so blatant that everyone in the group had caught on to their discord.
*Birds of a feather. Why do they hate each other so much? Is this what they call intraspecies rivalry?*
*Heh heh heh heh.*
The Demon King chuckled wickedly, clearly delighted.
Shut up! I'll throw those words right back at you.
But sometimes, their tense standoffs ended in utter defeat for Max. Namely, whenever Logan rode Roxanne instead of the carriage.
The beautiful white mare would elegantly stamp her hooves and gaze down at him imperiously.
—See? This is how great I am!
Max, thoroughly miffed, would then charge over to Sung-jin's carriage and bark up a storm.
*Woof woof!*
—Ride me! Come on, ride me like that guy!
Sung-jin, instantly getting the message, pulled out a treat and soothed the wolf-dog.
"No, Max. You can't transform big like before anymore. If you could, that'd be its own problem. You're not a horse, right? You don't need to carry people now."
But the stubborn Max wouldn't give up easily.
*Woof woof woof!*
—I'm strong too! I'm huge too!
*Woooooo!*
—Ride meeeee!
At this sudden tantrum, Sung-jin could only press his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"Anyway, Max. You immature mutt..."
Once the noisy day wound down into night, Sung-jin would meditate in the carriage late into the hours. Immersed in training for the first time in ages, he often pushed past dawn.
On those nights, Logan would eventually knock on the carriage door.
*Knock knock.*
"Take it easy, Sung-jin. What if you hurt yourself?"
This sword master, sensitive to auras, could tell just from sensing his presence whether Sung-jin was meditating or asleep.
Sung-jin opened the door with a sulky expression.
"Ah, just a bit longer."
"It's too late—go to sleep."
"But this is a crucial moment! If I focus just a little more, I feel like I'll grasp the hidden essence of the Banahas cultivation method..."
"Then as Sword Master Gael Bertrand, I declare: it's fine. You're still far from that realm, so it's all in your head."
"..."
Damn, nothing to say to that.
In the end, Sung-jin could only pout and grumble.
"But I'm not a genius like you or Orden. I have to squeeze in extra meditation time like this to catch up in swordsmanship."
Lately, Sung-jin had been uncharacteristically anxious.
With so many incidents piling up, he hadn't made any real progress in training, and watching Orden's practice had driven home the gap between himself and true genius.
*That's why I have to do this much at least—or I can't help Father.*
Logan stared at him like he couldn't comprehend.
"What are you talking about, Sung-jin? If you're not a genius, then who is?"
"...Huh?"
"Who else in the world stacks aura layers and wields it as naturally as you? Even the great Gael Bertrand didn't build aura that quickly."
Sung-jin blankly stared at Logan. The guy had a knack for spouting flattery without changing expression, so he was skeptical.
But Logan continued calmly, unperturbed.
"And swordsmanship's the same. People who can intuitively trace the optimal path with their senses alone are rare. Those types become sword masters eventually, sooner or later—it's just a matter of time."
"..."
Sung-jin blinked.
Genius? No way.
Naturally, the image of Orden's sword forms from the training grounds unrolled in his mind like a scroll. Each stance infused with extraordinary intent, combining into overwhelming strikes.
Wasn't that what a sword genius looked like?
"True, the young duke has a rare talent that's hard to come by. Everyone agrees he's a promising youth."
Logan nodded at Sung-jin's doubt.
"But have you ever thought: if the young duke saw his own swordplay, could he analyze it like you do? Grasp the intent in the blade at a glance?"
Logan explained.
Someone who could push through raging rapids toward their goal, parting the currents one by one—that was undoubtedly a great genius.
But someone who spots the goal first and leaps across the rapids entirely? In a way, that's a genius on another level altogether.
"So trust me. You'll definitely get stronger someday."
Finishing, Logan smiled faintly.
"Now that you get it—what should you do?"
"Uh..."
Sung-jin, still dazed from the shock, mumbled blankly.
"...Since I've got some decent talent of my own, I should hone it with tailored training?"
"No, that's not it. You're good enough as is. So no need to whip yourself like you're chasing something."
Got it? Go to bed early. Kids need their sleep to grow tall.
Logan, acting all grown-up despite being less than half a year older, lectured him.
"And Sung-jin."
"Yeah?"
"There are plenty of people around you ready to draw their swords at your command. Don't ever forget that."
"Hmm..."
But this guy—slipping in the fancy talk while treating me like a kid brother so naturally?
"Aren't you sleeping? Why's a growing boy up so late?"
Logan shrugged.
"Me? What's it matter? I've got divine power to recover anytime."
Gah. Can't argue with that.
Resigned, Sung-jin lay down in the carriage and prepared for bed.
But then, just as Logan confirmed the blanket over him and went to close the door, he suddenly stuck his bearish face in and asked:
"By the way, Sung-jin. If you want to delve deeper into the sword, how about learning a bit of the Henesis cultivation method while we're at it..."
"No thanks!"
This guy tries to sell me on it every time I forget? I'm mastering the Banahas method!
* * *
After a journey of over ten days, the group finally arrived in Regina, soaking in the allure of the big city after so long.
Carriages rushing every which way, people in light attire. Gaudy painted signs and crowded street stalls.
"Is it just me, or does the capital's warm air seem to reach all the way here?"
Lady Claudia wrinkled her freckled nose, sniffing the breeze. As she said, it was now just a day's ride from Regina to the capital.
The stalls still brimmed with little statues of Saint Aurelion. Sung-jin, happily taking in the streets, suddenly tilted his head at an odd sense of discrepancy from his memories.
*Is it my imagination? Grandpa's statues look a bit chubbier than before...*
Nah, no way.
*Would a whole city's trends change overnight? Must be my mistake.*
And here, it was time to part with Sir Ilma and the bard Lorang.
"The stagecoach to Anatolia might not align, so I must bid farewell here. Please take care, Your Grace."
Sir Ilma bowed politely, then quietly left the group.
Now she faced an indefinite journey to find her daughter; Logan and Lady Valerie recited simple blessings for her.
"Thanks to Your Grace, I survived and gained invaluable experiences I'll never have again. I didn't learn about magic in the end, but now I have a new goal."
Lorang spoke in a bright, firm voice too.
"A new goal?"
"Yes. I want to write epic sagas that endure for ages. To start, I'll spread word of Your Grace's feats in the Sigismund territory across the continent!"
...No way.
He plans to go around proudly singing those off-key, overblown, embarrassing drafts full of praise?
Sung-jin recoiled in horror, but Lorang, already some distance away, shouted one last time with a wink.
"Leave it to me! Someday, I'll make Your Grace more famous than the wandering knight Fernand!"
No, don't, Lorang.
Please don't!
But Lorang waved enthusiastically and vanished from sight.
"...Are you all right, Your Grace?"
Sir Masain asked worriedly, as Sung-jin staggered from the unexpected critical hit.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Sir Masain."
Sung-jin steadied himself with his support.
This isn't the time for this. Now that we're in Regina, I have something to show Logan.
While the group unpacked at the inn, Sung-jin led Logan to a building near the logistics depot. It was the headquarters of a small trading company he'd asked Dasha to acquire and instructed Manager Schmidt to run.
A few workers were bustling about, preparing to open shop. No proper sign yet—just a shabby banner hanging there for this modest firm.
—Bertrand & Lee
Bertrand & Lee.
Truth be told, the name for this little company had only been finalized recently. Probably around the time in the Sigismund territory when Logan had said to Sung-jin:
—I get it. I once struggled to accept that I was no longer 'Gael Bertrand.'
That was when the thought struck him.
Sung-jin had people who would always call him by name. Logan and the Demon King would never forget he was Lee Sung-jin, no matter how long.
But what about Logan?
Who in this world knew his true identity and would call his name?
So the idea came suddenly: it might be nice to leave a trace of Gael Bertrand somewhere, a name people would keep calling as the company.
It was a company made for Logan anyway, someday.
"Congrats on becoming co-president of a brand-new company with no track record yet, Logan!"
Sung-jin spread his arms wide and shouted confidently. Logan, looking stunned, scanned the building.
Company? What?
This tiny thing's a trading firm?
"Come on, be happy about the gift! You need to make money, right? You can't keep living off your dad's allowance to support the Ortonians forever."
Logan tilted his head at Sung-jin's scolding.
"Of course it'd be great if this makes money. Thanks for thinking of me, Sung-jin. But running a trading company isn't easy. Wouldn't it be better to use the funds for other ways to help Ortona?"
*Tsk tsk.*
This guy's got one foot in knowledge but misses the big picture.
"It has to be a trading company, Logan. Money flows endlessly and must keep changing hands. Got it? This 'Bertrand & Lee' will be the logistics lifeline connecting Ortona's northern frontier to the capital!"
"Ortona's north?"
"Yeah!"
Sung-jin nodded vigorously.
"With 'Bertrand & Lee' as the hub, we'll gradually make Ortona's economy self-sustaining!"
"......!"