Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Alhena (3)
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Reggie didn't like it.
He had spent years as a slave, but once upon a time, he too had been a warrior who wielded a weapon against the Empire. Not quite at the level of representing his tribe, but still in a fairly high position.
Even now, in the Parun Mountains where a small group of Pafna's descendants still gathered. He had fought alongside his comrades to topple the castle of the lord who ruled that place. In the end, they were defeated and captured, turning him into a slave. Paradoxically, his life had become more affluent afterward.
Barbarians were enemies, but slaves were property. He could enjoy warm water and food to his heart's content. Even if discriminated against, he wasn't abused; instead, he was assigned value.
He didn't have to console the souls of the dead. Nor did he need to feel helpless watching wounded comrades die. If he entered a good household, he could spend his remaining years comfortably doing moderate labor. And now, that opportunity was right in front of him.
Goldline's Golden Lotus. The Empire's greatest merchant had extended a helping hand.
It was true she had her eye on the man from the plains who worshiped Ishkar, rather than Pafna's descendants, but it was still a golden opportunity nonetheless.
All he had to do was put on a moderately exotic show of a barbarian in front of the nobles at the party and toss in a bit of flattery. For that alone, Reggie himself—not to mention his other comrades—could live happily.
To him, who had laid down his weapons long ago, there was no shame in it. Not even wearing the uncomfortable barbarian garb. Not even enduring the gazes of noble ladies mixed with curiosity and fear.
So what exactly was it that he didn't like?
"Kyaaah! It's a barbarian!!"
"I've always wanted to see one in person."
"What's your name?"
"Raggedfoot's little brother."
"He says he's Raggedfoot's little brother!"
It was me.
"What is this picture you're cherishing so dearly?"
"Satchpi and Uni. The famous steeds I raise."
"Could you swing your axe just once? I want to see a barbarian's prowess with my own eyes!"
"If it's okay for the building to collapse, sure."
"Eek! You even joke well."
The Empire's customs were already in ruins, and I personally witnessed how barbarian popularity had peaked among the ladies. The other guys, who showed their discomfort openly, just watched from afar. But ever since entering high society with Serath, I had never been pushed out of the center of any party.
It got to the point where even Alhena, who had brought me, seemed a bit annoyed as she told the women, "Since he's my slave, wouldn't it be best to hold back on excessive requests~?" revealing her unease.
To Reggie, that must have looked like surrendering to civilized folk.
"Why are you fawning over those bastards?!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
He snapped at me after I returned from performing the feat of stacking ten ladies like a human tower with one hand.
Who the hell was I doing all this for? Talk about biting the hand that feeds.
"Now everyone knows you're a warrior of the plains. Hell, even a Great Warlord who received Prince Consort candidacy!"
"I heard. So what's the problem?"
"What's the problem?! Are you planning to lick the soles of their shoes too?! Like some..."
Slave— the word rose to the tip of his tongue and vanished. Seeing that, I grinned.
The source of his anger wasn't me. Confirming that was enough.
"Do you still want to fight?"
"What?"
"Then you have the qualifications. Don't you want to stand on your own instead of following that glittering woman's words?"
To fight meant giving up all the comforts he'd enjoyed so far and returning to the cold mountains.
It wouldn't be scary. But there was still one thing holding Reggie back.
"It won't work, Ivar. Unlike you, we can't beat the Empire. Even crossing their walls is impossible."
"Why not?"
"You'll know when you see it for yourself. It's because of Count Pharon."
As soon as Reggie finished speaking, the music stopped. A door opened, and a noble entered.
He wore a benevolent smile, but his physique was sturdy. The knights from his territory who entered with him immediately radiated hostility upon seeing us.
The lord who ruled Pharon greeted Alhena after excusing himself to the guests.
"Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. I'm Nort."
"Oh my, hello~."
The man who had petitioned the Ministry of Justice to hold the Night of Falling Blossoms was none other than Nort. Like Serath, he had waged long wars against minority tribes.
The difference was that Reggie's comrades, unlike me, were not outside imperial territory, and they had fought the knights of House Pharon, not the military.
If the extermination of Pafna's descendants was decided at the Night of Falling Blossoms, then the Empire's army—like the 9th Legion—would move.
"I never imagined so many nobles would visit our humble territory. This is all thanks to Lady Golden Lotus."
"No need~ I'm just an invitee myself. I've heard of your reputation even in the capital, Count. They say you're at the forefront of rooting out the barbarians within the Empire~."
"All in service to the imperial will. I hear the Lady of Goldline has recently built a trade network in the north. Trading with barbarians—planning to make a colony, are we?"
"I'm just happily watching my dear little sister take her first steps~."
They exchanged smiles and praises, but the atmosphere was tense.
And for good reason—from Nort's perspective, Alhena's actions were bound to irk him. The finance minister's daughter was suddenly buying up Pafna's descendants.
He had many slaves for voting rights himself, but most were war captives. If it came to an auction battle, crushing Goldline with money was impossible.
Unable to wield the same influence in high society as Alhena, he had come in person to keep other nobles' participation low.
"Everyone here seems quite interested in barbarians."
"......"
"So how about some light entertainment—a sparring match? One of our knights against one of those barbarians over there."
Servants appeared and quickly cleared the orchestra's platform, setting it up like an arena. They must have done this before; it was quite efficient.
Reggie said with a stiff expression.
"Absolutely do not accept."
"Why not?"
"Win or lose, it'll play into their hands."
Losing would shatter illusions by blatantly showing a barbarian mercilessly beating a knight. Winning would serve as propaganda for Pharon's strength.
No matter how many slaves they bought, they could attack the mountain barbarians and capture more. This subtly revealed that intent.
If disposal was decided at the Night of Falling Blossoms, all Pafna's descendants would be executed, and the money spent buying them would vanish into thin air.
Alhena knew this too and signaled refusal.
"Something so bloody and brutal is a bit much~."
"Don't they hold knightly duels in the capital often? It's the same thing."
"Comparing it to a formal event with etiquette and manners is unfair. Above all, a duel needs honor on the line."
"Honor... In that case, we have the perfect opponent."
Nort pointed at Reggie. He was one of the slaves the count had captured in the past.
"Many of our knights died at that barbarian's hands. Some met their end in utterly humiliating ways."
"......"
"Is there anything more important than avenging fallen comrades' honor? I think this meets the conditions perfectly—what do you say?"
His words rang true; several knights stepped forward, volunteering to fight. Alhena asked for a moment and approached us.
In that brief instant, she had already calculated what outcome would benefit us more.
"You there, Mr. Barbarian~?"
"Speak."
"It'd be best to hold out a bit and then lose~."
It was a pragmatic judgment. Even if Reggie lost, his strength didn't represent all of Pafna's descendants.
A barbarian losing to a civilized man was common sense in the Empire. Everyone knew Pharon's knights had never once breached the castle they occupied.
"If their knight loses, the shock would be greater. The moment they realize the barbarian holding the leash could snap their necks anytime, no one will want to save you."
As she said this, Alhena glanced sideways at me.
"......I know."
Reggie accepted readily. He showed me his softened palms and forced a smile.
"Don't worry about it. Even if they told me to win now, I couldn't."
It had been years since he last held a weapon. Beating men who had trained on sword fodder until moments ago was impossible.
At a glance, he had over twenty scales, but they counted differently from us. In terms of runes, it was barely three.
"What's important is surviving, not winning or losing. If it means my kin can live, a little humiliation is..."
"Do you really think that?"
"What?"
I blocked him with a stern face. The Axe of Fury on my back trembled, mirroring my feelings.
"Reggie, the moment you consider it humiliation, you've already lost."
Being a sideshow at a party wasn't shameful. Fawning over nobles didn't erase a warrior's pride.
"Win or lose doesn't matter? Naturally. Who falls on that platform is worthless.
There's only one thing that matters. Whether you have the will to stake your life on the fight—
Not just in this party hall, but against the entire Empire." Hearing that, Reggie's face twisted. He couldn't bring himself to grab the axe I offered, spilling his tormented heart.
"I can't do it, Ivar. I can't be like you."
"Why not?"
"I lack... the courage...!"
Too much time had passed. His body hadn't forgotten how to fight, but his feet wouldn't move.
"Then if I infuse you with that courage just this once, will you fight from now on?"
"What...?"
Without hesitation, I used the seventh rune. Infusing him with the ancestral power boiling from my dantian, I commanded.
"Fight."
⟨ Ancestral Command ⟩
With full power.
At those words, Reggie snatched up the axe. Shivering with the long-forgotten embers of his fighting spirit reignited, he slowly stepped onto the platform.
Alhena, who had been watching, turned to me. Her usual composure was gone, replaced by bewilderment unlike anything I'd seen. Forgetting to drawl her words, she asked.
"If I didn't mishear, that was using lifespan, right?"
"I used it."
"Are you insane? What if you can't save Pafna's descendants because of this...!"
"Even then, no regrets."
If you hesitate until the truly necessary moment, what's the point of having power? Unlike the plains tribes, Reggie only vaguely knew about me.
In that short time, I couldn't convince him like the other warriors with mere words to awaken his body, so I used the Word of Command.
"If Meb had been in danger..."
"I'd have cut the twin soul link during our crystal ball talk."
"Lifespan..."
"I told you, that doesn't matter."
If Meb's insight had been wrong and Alhena didn't value herself. If she'd tried to kill her little sister through self-harm or other means, I wouldn't have hesitated to burn lifespan no matter how much.
"......"
Realizing this, Alhena's face grew subtly complex.
A knight climbed onto the platform opposite where Reggie stood, and the duel began.