Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: To the Cradle of Stars (2)
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Just then, the brute swung his greatsword.
From top to bottom.
It was a downward strike, using the sword's own weight.
A powerful attack capable of crushing an opponent, shield and all.
But that was only possible if the opponent stood still and took the hit.
*Swish.*
I turned my body at an angle and stepped forward.
*Thud.*
On the first step, his sword cut through empty air and struck the ground.
*Tap.*
On the second step, the distance between us vanished.
*Thump.*
And the third step.
I climbed onto his greatsword.
His eyes widened.
He seemed surprised that I, who had always blocked with my shield, had dodged. The shock was plain on his face.
Seeing his eyes tremble as if in an earthquake, I grinned.
“You…!”
Belatedly coming to his senses, he twisted the greatsword.
But I was faster than he was at shaking me off.
*CRACK!*
I slammed my shield into his face as if shoving him.
“Ugh!”
He clutched his face and staggered back.
I followed him and jabbed his stomach with the shield.
With a gasp of expelled air, his body folded.
I struck the back of his now exposed head.
*Thwack.*
He smashed face-first into the ground.
I stood on his fallen back and raised my shield.
“You bastard, stop!”
An angry shout accompanied someone rushing toward me.
I could hear the sound of something cutting through the air amidst the yell.
Whatever it was, getting hit by it wouldn't end with just a little pain.
But I had no intention of dodging or blocking.
I simply brought the shield I'd raised high down onto the brute's defenselessly exposed ankle.
*CRUNCH.*
The brute's face, which had been pressed to the ground, shot up.
“…!”
Unable to even scream, he just gaped.
At the same time, something came down over my head.
And then, *CLANG!*
There was no impact.
“Tsk.”
I turned my head at the sound of a clicking tongue.
I saw a man with his cloak pulled down low.
“It doesn't look like you were just trying to stop him.”
A familiar voice, a familiar back.
“Isn't your hand a bit too heavy against a child?”
It was my third Master, Lucas.
“Are you the master of that ill-mannered squire?”
A sharp voice came from behind him.
“I am Haitrin of Gaznae. I certainly hope you have the ability to take responsibility for this.”
It was Guillaume's master, Haitrin.
*Swoosh.*
Lucas turned to look at me.
His expression could be seen as a reprimand, but at the same time, maybe not.
“He is not a child in my service.”
His voice was the same.
As if displeased, yet not.
“But for now, it seems I am his guardian.”
At Lucas's words, Haitrin let out a scoff.
He seemed unable to comprehend why Lucas would step in for a child who wasn't even his squire, despite him announcing he was from the Gaznae family.
But that expression didn't last long.
“I am Lucas.”
Announcing his name, Lucas removed his cloak.
The ornate armor of a Court Knight and the celestial crest symbolizing the Imperial Royal Family were revealed.
“A-a Court Knight, why are you here…?”
“Is there any reason I must reveal the purpose of my visit to you?”
“Th-that's not what I meant.”
Haitrin's attitude changed in an instant.
In my past life, Haitrin had acted like some great high-ranking knight.
But seeing him now, he was nothing more than a low-ranking knight, not even important enough to be informed about distinguished guests visiting the family.
“Did you say you were a knight of Gaznae?”
“W-well, to be precise, I am under the care of the Gaznae family, but I am not quite a knight of the Gaznae family.”
I scoffed at his words.
It was customary for families of a certain stature not to carelessly turn away visiting knights.
Having many renowned knights stay as house guests was proof of the family's high prestige.
Of course, it wasn't for free.
In exchange for treating their guests lavishly, the noble families would sometimes have them handle tasks that were awkward for the family's own knights.
In other words, Haitrin was exactly that type.
A house guest who handled odd jobs.
“He's a brat without the basics, striking an opponent who's already down. They say you can know the master by his subordinate, so his master must be obvious. There's no reason for a Knight like you to step in and defend him, is there?”
Listening to him chatter as if trying to curry favor, I could only scoff.
The fact that Gunther was humiliated by such a man was incredibly bitter.
On the other hand, I also felt it was a relief.
“Did you say you were a knight of Gaznae?”
Because this time, I didn't have to just endure it.
“…I'm not an official knight, but I am cooperating for the sake of the Gaznae family.”
“So you are a knight of the Gaznae family, then.”
“No, it's similar, but…”
“So you were a knight of Gaznae.”
“…You're a dense one.”
“Yes. Knight of the Gaznae family.”
Haitrin looked at me with a bewildered expression before shouting.
“You impudent brat! Take me to your master at once!”
At a loss for words, he seemed to have decided to just shout me down.
I couldn't help but laugh again.
Acting so insolently when Lucas had just declared himself my guardian was tantamount to disrespecting him.
As expected, Lucas's expression was not pleasant.
*Twitch.*
The slight arch of his eyebrow was a sign of his anger.
If left alone, Lucas would surely deal with Haitrin himself.
I didn't want that.
*Shake, shake.*
I shook my head at him.
It was a gesture asking him to leave it to me.
“…?”
Seeing my head shake, Lucas frowned.
But he soon smoothed his expression and returned to his usual impassive face.
It meant he consented.
“Let's go.”
“…Where?”
“You said you wanted to meet my master.”
When I readily offered to guide him, Haitrin flinched.
He seemed to be getting worried that I might have some formidable background.
Of course, I wasn't about to let him get away.
*Stomp.*
I casually took a step.
But that step happened to land right where Guillaume was lying.
And on the very ankle that had been crushed by the shield.
“Oops. My mistake.”
The brute, who had been gasping without even screaming, went limp and his head lolled to the side.
Seeing this, Haitrin's face flushed red.
He seemed to think I was provoking him.
Looks like he's not completely clueless.
“Lead the way.”
Forcing his squire onto a passerby, Haitrin set off after me.
The heavy breathing from behind me told me just how angry he was.
“I will make your master pay the price today for failing to properly educate his squire.”
Haitrin was fully intent on shaming me and Gunther.
But his triumphant attitude didn't last long.
“Isn't this the castle of the Gaznae family?”
“Yes.”
“…?”
He asked why I was heading to the Gaznae castle.
“You said you wanted to meet my master.”
I answered curtly and passed through the Gaznae castle gates.
Even then, Haitrin looked uneasy, but not yet truly worried.
But when I turned toward the inner castle gate, he panicked and even grabbed me.
“W-wait.”
But once again, I had no intention of letting him escape.
I beckoned to the mercenaries who were following at a distance.
And I asked them to act as messengers.
To tell Gunther every detail of what had happened here.
“It's obvious you can't enter the inner castle, so let's wait here.”
“Come to think of it, for knights to make a fuss over a duel between squires is…”
Belatedly realizing something was wrong, he slowly began to back away.
“Knight Haitrin.”
I called his name.
It was my own form of pressure.
Something along the lines of, 'I already know where you're staying and your name, so don't even think about running away now.'
While Haitrin was caught, unable to move forward or back.
“Yan!”
Gunther came running out from inside the inner castle.
“Where is he! Who is he!”
Whatever the mercenaries had told him, a faint holy light was shimmering around Gunther's body.
“A-a Holy Knight…”
Seeing Gunther, Haitrin said urgently.
“There seems to be some misunderstanding…”
But before he could finish, someone else appeared from within the inner castle gate.
*Rumble rumble.*
“Oh! My loyal Yan! What in the world is all this!”
“Your Highness! Please slow your pace! You have not yet fully recovered your strength!”
It was the Crown Prince and the Court Knights.
*Thump.*
As I stood there watching them, someone grabbed my shoulder.
A woman with long, dark blue hair was standing before me, having approached without my notice.
“Did you win? Or did you lose? Let's start by clarifying that.”
It was the Black Knight, Navian Gaznae.
“Yan! Are you hurt?”
“Report in detail what happened.”
“First, who won?”
Gunther and the Crown Prince, who arrived a step late.
And Navian Gaznae grabbed me, creating a huge fuss.
It was such a chaotic scene that even I, who had half-expected this situation when coming to the castle, felt my head spin.
[Curious Sloth] So this is what calling for mom looks like~~ But isn't this more like the whole family showing up, not just mom~~
[Emperor Who Abandoned His Nation] There's a limit to riding on someone's coattails. This is just unsightly.
[Elegant Left-Hand] To think a creature like this almost made it to the upper stratum, how dreadful.
With the chatter of the stars added to the mix, it was even more disorienting.
“Yan. You rascal! I told you not to cause trouble…!”
“I heard the gist of the story on the way, but not the conclusion. It is my fault for rushing in my surprise.”
“So, who won?”
Being shaken back and forth, I rolled my eyes and glanced at Haitrin.
*Gasp, gasp.*
With his face pale as a sheet, he just gaped his mouth, looking like he was about to faint at any moment.
“First, I won.”
“I'm fine.”
“And as for what happened…”
[Perennial Squire (2nd Playthrough)] Connections are a skill, too.
Giving Haitrin a sidelong glance, I answered their questions in order.
* * *
“I-I apologize. It is my fault for failing to guide my squire properly!”
Haitrin, prostrated on the ground, apologized repeatedly.
Originally, it wasn't an issue that should have escalated this much.
Regardless of the reasons, it was a duel agreed upon by both parties, and a victor had already been decided.
Of course, it was true I had been a bit excessive, but in the end, it was Haitrin who blew the situation out of proportion.
“To interfere in a duel between squires, how utterly shameless.”
Not only did he interfere in the duel, but he also threw out insulting remarks, saying you could know the master by looking at the subordinate.
Now, the mistake I made.
That is, striking after the match was already decided, was no longer important.
“I apologize, Knight Navian!”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. I have committed a crime worthy of death!”
Haitrin apologized again and again before the great figures who moved the Empire.
“To whom are you apologizing right now?”
“Why do you bow your head to the wrong people, leaving aside those who rightfully deserve an apology?”
Haitrin, who couldn't get his head straight and kept apologizing to the wrong people, belatedly bowed his head to Gunther.
“I am sorry, Knight Gunther.”
Although it was an apology forced out by the authority of others, seeing him prostrated like that, having cast aside even his pride as a knight, was incredibly satisfying.
“I accept your apology.”
Although I was disappointed that Gunther, contrary to my own feelings, accepted the apology so readily, I had expected it.
After all, Gunther didn't know what had happened in my past life.
Besides, even if he had known, would it have changed his character much?
“Thank you.”
When Gunther accepted his apology, Haitrin breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed he thought that since the parties involved had settled the matter, all he had to do was leave this place.
A premature judgment.
“I hear your squire has repeatedly terrorized innocent people, yet you did not guide him. As a result, those who would have served the Empire have been harmed. This is a great loss to the Empire. How will you atone for your sin?”
“Indeed. And you used the Gaznae name?”
Lucas, who had investigated the area and learned the details of Haitrin and Guillaume's usual conduct instead of returning directly to the castle, had already reported all their sins to the Crown Prince.
The punishment for those two would be different from what soft-hearted Gunther would give.