The Last Survivor of Dragan
The war between the Seipier family and the Dragan family had ended. The Seipier family emerged victorious, and in their triumph, they completely annihilated the Dragan bloodline. Yet, there was exactly one Dragan they chose to spare.
“The last survivor of that Dragan family is none other than me, Ivan Dragan.”
As I revealed that I was the last survivor of the Dragan family, the sword spirits bombarded me with questions. “Please, wait a moment. Ask one at a time.”
Lasu barked at the spirits to settle down. As expected, Lasu is good at this sort of thing.
“I don't know the exact reason. I suspect it's because I couldn't wield a sword, even though I was a Dragan.”
The Seven Star Sword Families are obsessed with the blade. Every member learns swordsmanship from childhood. But I was never allowed to learn. The family forbade it.
“More than that, it seems the Seipiers view me as a sort of trophy. As proof that they destroyed one of the Seven Star Sword Families, they use me, a carrier of Dragan blood, to flaunt their authority.”
Though I was captured by the Seipier family, I wasn't treated with any particular cruelty. I just worked like an ordinary servant.
“I don't know the specifics. I'm just the one who was captured.”
“The family wouldn't let me. I'm a bastard.”
My blood is only half-Dragan. The other half, they say, is from a lowly woman. The family head considered me a disgrace. He locked me in a detached building and hid me from the outside world. Not only was I forbidden from learning the sword, but I was kept away from anything related to combat. My memories of the Dragan estate consist entirely of walking on eggshells and keeping my ears pricked.
The sword spirits spoke with pity. “Well, honestly, I feel more alive now than I ever did then.” I answered with a surprisingly bright tone. There were aspects of my life now that were better than the past. At least I was recognized for my value as a servant. There was a satisfaction in simply being acknowledged as existing in this world.
Emperor Augustus consoled me with a booming voice. I thought he only knew how to laugh loudly, but he could say things like this, too. I'm not sure if being used as a servant for an enemy family is something to be congratulated for, though.
The sword spirits expressed their doubts. The Foot-technique Master had said he was from a Seven Star Sword Family, too. He claimed that while bastards were discriminated against in his family, they were never barred from learning the sword. “I don't know. I've lived like that since I was born.” There was no way for me to know. Hearing this, I wondered if I should feel resentful, but the family head and everyone else from Dragan were already dead.
“Anyway, that's why I have no intention of swinging a sword right now. If the Seipier family finds out I can use one, they'll kill me without hesitation.”
The Invisible Sword whined. They said sword spirits see the world through the sword. If a servant like me is the user, the spirits must be bored. “I'm sorry. I don't have a way right now.” But I didn't have any other choice. I felt bad for the spirits, even though becoming the sword's user wasn't my choice.
The spirits were unfazed. It was an unexpected reaction. It was as if they were certain I would eventually wield the sword. “...What does that mean?”
A wistful voice, unlike the Lust Demon. It felt like the first time he'd spoken so seriously instead of just going on about sex. Of course, even in such a serious story, the talk of sex didn't disappear.
The spirits all spoke in unison. Once chosen by the sword, I would eventually become a swordsman. Fated to be a swordsman... Honestly, I don't know. What would I even be lifting a sword for? I lived my whole life in Dragan being oppressed. Revenge against the family? I don't know. I don't have the strength to defeat the Seipier family on my own. I don't have any complaints about my current life, either. Perhaps because it's the main estate, the working conditions are very good. Honestly, I feel more alive now than when I was being oppressed by my own family.
At that, the Master of All Weapons said, “Oh.” Goblin corpses? I didn't understand and asked back. “What do you mean, corpses?”
“Ah.”
I understood the situation belatedly. I had tried to hide the fact that I used a sword, but I hadn't thought about the goblin corpses. Anyone could see the goblin corpses had been killed by a blade. “I didn't think of it at all. It was my first time fighting, so... I couldn't think that far in that moment.” I hadn't thought about it at all back then. It was my first fight, I was in a panic, and I had suddenly picked up a strange sword. I had no experience in disposing of corpses.
It wasn't a situation to blame the spirits. They didn't know my circumstances back then. More than that, I was worried about what would happen next. The scene before I was captured by the Seipiers came to mind. The Dragan family losing the war, the direct descendants being executed one after another. The fear that I would meet the same fate began to creep up on me.
“I'm anxious, but you're laughing well...”
The spirits spoke as if to reassure me. Certainly, the subjugation team wouldn't have discovered the corpses right away. I had fled quite far, and in that urgent situation, they wouldn't have paid close attention to a single servant. If I could go out tomorrow, I would have to secretly go and dispose of the bodies. I just wasn't sure if I could find the exact location again.
“Yes. Good night, everyone.” I greeted the spirits and closed the connection. I tossed and turned for a long time, falling into a fitful sleep.
“That is all.”
On the night he returned from the failed subjugation, Lamer, the first-class swordsman of the Seipier family, reported the events to the family head.
“We must reorganize the subjugation team. Understood. Return to your post.”
The Seipier family head replied as if it were of no great consequence.
“Yes. But...”
Even after the dismissal, Lamer did not leave. The family head opened his mouth again without turning his head.
“Is there more?”
“Yes. The truth is, Miss Aine brought Ivan Dragan along on this subjugation.”
“Did he die, by any chance?”
The Seipier family head flinched and lifted his head. It was the biggest reaction he had shown, having appeared indifferent until now. Because the Seipier family head always wore a pure white mask, his expression remained hidden.
“No. The other servants died, but Ivan Dragan and a maid named Gina, who is also of Dragan origin, survived. The two of them were clever enough to flee to another location while the battle was underway.”
“So it was that maid Gina's foresight.”
The Seipier family head exhaled and leaned back in his chair. It was a posture that suggested relief. However, Lamer's report continued.
“However, two monster corpses were discovered in the direction Ivan Dragan fled.”
The body of the Seipier family head, who had been leaning back, stiffened again. His white mask trembled subtly.
“It is said that Ivan Dragan and the maid Gina were separated during their escape. And the forest was under a subjugation order, with outside access strictly restricted.”
“Does that mean Ivan Dragan killed the monsters?”
“Given the circumstances, that is the only answer.”
Lamer reported every detail related to Ivan Dragan. As always, Lamer had been keeping a close eye on Ivan during this subjugation.
“Was Ivan Dragan carrying a weapon?”
“No. But the cross-section of the corpses showed signs of being cut by a longsword. There was a clean cut that looked like a perfect horizontal slash, too clean to have been done by a novice...”
Lamer trailed off. Ivan Dragan had no stigmata and had never wielded a sword. He was struggling with how to report such a contradictory situation.
“What should I do?”
Lamer waited for orders. A moment later, the Seipier family head spoke.