Chapter 21
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 21. The Northern Grand Duke with Rich Sensibility
Transcendent Peak.
The stage called the true uncut gem mixed among clumsy drifters and the ideal stage desired by numerous novice martial artists.
A stage where one can be recognized and receive an alias in the regions of the Central Plains.
Because the appearance of harboring Sword Qi on the blade and revealing it in all directions is bound to be beautiful.
Right now, Elise stepped onto that stage.
Transcendent Peak, huh.
It's an elation tasted after a very long time.
It was familiar yet quite new.
‘What did I know.’
Elise chewed over it.
What did I realize to knock on the stage of Transcendent Peak.
Going back for a moment.
Going back to the time when she fought Derac.
At that moment, what sensation did Elise feel.
‘The stage called Transcendent Peak is a stage I had stepped on in my previous life. Even though it's familiar.’
It's unfamiliar.
Even while feeling like she was gradually finding her place, Elise's senses were recognizing the emotion of being unfamiliar.
What is this unfamiliar sensation.
What is this dissonance felt from the fingertips.
After a brief thought, she gropes that dissonance with her hand.
Slowly.
As if touching an elephant while blindfolded.
While groping the sensation for a long time, Elise felt the covered eyes slowly opening.
Ah. I can see.
So it was that.
The true identity of this strange misalignment is.
The true identity of this elephant I was touching while blindfolded is exactly.
‘It was me.’
It was me.
It was Elise.
It was Han Su-ah.
Elise was looking while still unable to let go of Han Su-ah.
And in the world inside her mind, Han Su-ah was looking at Elise.
Han Su-ah.
The Number One Sword Under the Heavens of the era.
The best of Mount Hua.
The one who cut down the Overlord of the Four Supremes Heaven.
The one who cut down the Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
She is exactly the Plum Blossom Fairy Han Su-ah.
Compared to her, who is Elise Blaze.
She is merely the sickly Duke's daughter of the Blaze Ducal House.
She is merely the runaway Duke's daughter of the Blaze Ducal House.
She is merely the short-lived Duke's daughter of the Blaze Ducal House.
She is merely the Duke's daughter of the Blaze family.
“I am now Elise Blaze.”
Until now, Elise saw a fragment of Han Su-ah.
She saw the Number One Under the Heavens of the era and the plum blossom of the era.
However, now is the time to prepare to let go.
“The moment I completely let go of you, I can step on all the stages of the past. And furthermore, I will be able to step on a more noble stage.”
Elise chuckled.
“Isn't that right? Su-ah.”
At those words, the Plum Blossom Fairy in her mental imagery merely looked face to face and chuckled.
***
“So…. Hoo.”
The Northern Grand Duke, Gayrad Deltarch stroked his frowning brow and looked at Elise.
“You met Derac…. Young Lady. It was almost a big problem.”
“Even so, didn't I survive.”
“That is also a true word, but…. Phew. To think Dame Kalix was taken down by Derac. Since Derac is such a strong person, it can happen. Receiving the report, they say Dame Kalix also collapsed after receiving an unexpected attack.”
Grand Duke Gayrad muttered looking at the report he was holding.
“In the meantime, the Young Lady reached the 4th Rank, huh…. This is surprising. To the point where the Young Lady's talent becomes scary.”
“It is an overpraise.”
“It is not excessive. Rather, it's to the point of being lacking. You suffered trying to learn the sword secretly from Duke Blaze.”
“…Yes?”
Elise paused for an instant.
What is this sound.
In the meantime, Grand Duke Gayrad's words continued.
“It must have definitely been hard…. Mhm mhm. I understand. Duke Blaze who only sees the Young Lady's frailness and not the Young Lady's talent….”
“…Yes???”
“Did you even hear words like this? Saying, ‘Is it an absurd story for a weak child like you, Elise, to hold a sword!’”
Uh. Mm. I didn't though?
Why do you think of me as the protagonist commonly hated by the family members for some reason in the early parts of Romance Fantasies?
Before Elise could say anything, Gayrad tightly clenched the right fist holding the documents.
“Do not worry. Young Lady. If Duke Blaze tells the Young Lady to let go of the sword, I will tell him firmly! Not to do so!”
Uh. Mm. Mm…?
Elise was quite flustered internally.
Even during the days when she was Han Su-ah in the old days, there were rare times she was this flustered.
‘What is it. His Highness the Grand Duke misunderstood properly….’
The moment she tried to correct this misunderstanding.
“Hoo. I can already imagine it. Young Lady. The Young Lady who practiced the sword secretly from Duke Blaze who only looks at frailness. Right. Isn't that exactly a warrior.”
What is it.
The rims of his eyes are red.
Uh-uh. Why are you gently pressing between your eyes?
While being flustered, Elise groped her thoughts.
Was the Northern ruler, Grand Duke Gayrad Deltarch, this overflowing with sensibility?
At that moment, something flashed through Elise's brain.
As far as Elise knows, this is….
‘Was it because of the Grand Duke's wife. This?’
I remember.
The Northern Grand Duke, Gayrad Deltarch's wife, Shagria Deltarch….
Elise actually hadn't properly conversed with her yet.
Because she stepped away for a while recently.
From what I heard from Ravia, did she say she was going to the Empire's capital for a while because the North is quite cold around this time.
Because of that, Elise didn't see her, but….
I remember that Shagria Deltarch is quite rich in sensibility.
‘Tsk. In my memory, there was a passage that His Highness the Grand Duke secretly cried reading the romance novel the Grand Duchess Shagria Deltarch was reading.’
Mm. What is it?
It also seemed like the original author's setting to give a kind of twist charm.
While Elise looked at Grand Duke Gayrad in silence, the Grand Duke spoke.
“Ahem. I am sorry. I showed tears for nothing. By any chance, don't Duke Blaze or your older siblings bother you.”
“…No. It is fine.”
“Ahem ahem! Tell me anytime. Because behind the Young Lady is me, the Northern Grand Duke, Grand Duke Gayrad Deltarch.”
“Yes?”
Wait a moment.
This story isn't one to easily pass over.
When Elise asked back, Grand Duke Gayrad nodded and spoke.
“I am only thankful just for saving Dame Kalix. Young Lady. Along with that, to block Derac's demonic hands. A promise of this level is at the level of a bonus. If there is a moment you need to give my name somewhere, I will gladly allow it.”
“…Thank you very much. Your Highness.”
“Don't mention it. Along with that…. I should make this promise too.”
Grand Duke Gayrad raised his index finger and spoke.
“What the Young Lady is looking for. I will help you find it.”
“…Don't tell me? Your Highness?”
“Dragon of Eternity…. Mm. The Five Darknesses of the North is a legend handed down among the barbarians. It is an interesting subject for discussion in many ways. Since I will introduce a person who knows this well, how about investigating together?”
“If so, I am only too thankful.”
“However…. If only the Young Lady and the guide roam around, it will be a crisis when the Seven Wild Monsters appear. Because the Seven Wild Monsters like the Young Lady very much in a bad way.”
Grand Duke Gayrad nodded.
“Come out.”
It was then.
Someone even Elise hadn't grasped appeared very secretly.
‘…What is it. There was no presence? What is it?’
The moment Elise frowned in wonder, Grand Duke Gayrad spoke.
“Let me introduce her. She is my personal guard. Her name is Ereka.”
Swish—.
Ereka bowing her head along with the Grand Duke's words.
Grand Duke Gayrad gestures with his chin towards her named Ereka.
“Please escort the Young Lady. If you encounter the Seven Wild Monsters, rescue her prioritizing it somehow.”
“…Understood.”
Along with that, Ereka walking over like a ghost and standing next to Elise.
Seeing that appearance, Grand Duke Gayrad spoke.
“Ereka is my personal guard, but her martial prowess is not lacking compared to the Seven Wolves. Being a powerhouse in the mid-6th Rank, she also learns magic. So you probably couldn't feel her presence until now.”
Ah. No wonder.
Was it magic.
Elise understood.
She herself had never experienced magic even once in this world yet, so it was inevitable she wouldn't know.
While she understood, Grand Duke Gayrad spoke.
“You may search the outside except when a battle with the barbarians breaks out in the North. If a battle breaks out on the wall, return immediately. How is it?”
At Grand Duke Gayrad's proposal, Elise nodded.
And Grand Duke Gayrad added one thing.
“And you know…. Mm. Shouldn't you definitely have one protection artifact.”
“Yes?”
“Tsk tsk. The Young Lady is now 4th Rank. Still lacking. I will take one out from the warehouse and give it to you. I will take out an artifact capable of blocking even an attack from the Seven Wild Monsters once.”
Wow.
Awesome.
Elise bowed her head once again.
***
While Elise was walking while touching the necklace, someone walking together started a conversation.
“Was it like that?”
“Yeah.”
The one sharing the conversation was none other than Ravia.
She was the youngest daughter of Grand Duke Gayrad and a child the same age as Elise.
“To think he would even give out Sister Ereka…. Father exerted his power properly….”
“Is it to that extent?”
“Of course. Sister. Sister is to that extent, right.”
Ravia shakes the hand of Ereka who was following behind.
Ereka, possessing sky-blue bobbed hair, shakes her head.
“I am not to that extent. Lady Ravia.”
“Are you going to be like that while being a warrior comparable to the Seven Wolves and also knowing magic quite well?”
“I am going to be like that.”
“You're mean. Really.”
Ravia, puffing her cheeks, grabbed Ereka's hand and spoke.
“Sister Ereka is also a knight. But now she has the role of the Northern Grand Duke's guard.”
“Mm.”
“Because she often played with us three siblings when we were young, she is someone we are familiar with too. Right? Sister Ereka.”
“That is correct.”
Ereka nodded shallowly.
Mm. Was it like that.
Ah, I do remember.
The North that would have been originally devastated.
I remember there was a woman who helped the three siblings who forced a great escape from that North.
‘That woman is this person.’
Elise nodded.
If she made the three siblings escape from the demonic hands of that Great Warrior, she must be an amazing person.
So to speak, they attached proper personnel.
“By the way. Elise. You're going to search for those Five Darknesses?”
“Yeah.”
“Gasp. Shall I ask if I can go too?”
“You cannot. Miss. If an important person like the Miss roamed outside the wall…. Above all, if the personnel to protect increases, it is difficult for me to protect.”
“Is it indeed so. Ooh…. But I want to hang out with Elise.”
Saying so, Ravia linking arms with Elise.
However, Ereka firmly shook her head.
“You cannot.”
“Sob. It's a pity.”
Fortunately, Ravia also knew her own importance, so she didn't throw a tantrum anymore.
“By the way, Elise. Where are you going right now?”
“Ah. I am going to a person who knows the geography of the North better than anyone else.”
Shortly after, the three people arrived in front of a house in a village situated inside the Grand Ducal Territory.
“Is it here.”
Elise knocked on the door without hesitating.
[Yes! Ah'm coming!]
What is it.
This awkward Imperial language.
The moment Elise also only heard by words and didn't know what identity the man behind the door had.
Clatter—.
“Yes! Hello there!”
“…A barbarian?”
“Gasp. Ah naturalized to the Empire, y'see.”
The man in front of her eyes.
The man the Northern Grand Duke informed her about, who knows the entire North of the Empire thoroughly, was none other than a barbarian.
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