Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: When Sword Meets Sword (1)
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"The schedule is set."
My uncle had returned after five days, bringing welcome news with him.
"We'll depart in two days, pass through Ellen County—three days' ride from the capital—then head to Iron Lion Castle, another two days beyond that, before returning to the capital. The whole trip, from departure to return, should take about twenty days."
I'd figured we'd be gone at most a week, but the itinerary was longer than expected. That was more than welcome as far as I was concerned.
And the fact that Iron Lion Castle was on the route suited me just fine.
Word was, the Iron Lion Knight Order was one of the kingdom's elite units. It was a chance to see what passed for a top-tier knight order in this era.
And check in on Arwen while I was at it.
I was especially curious how much she'd grown since I'd bragged about my own progress in that letter I'd sent her.
After that, my uncle went over the entourage and various other details, but it all went in one ear and out the other.
"You've handled it all splendidly, I'm sure. Spare me the details—just tell me about this Ellen place."
At my words, my uncle gave a brief rundown on the Ellen count's family.
"They've got high-quality iron mines in their territory and a guild of smiths to refine it. It's no exaggeration to say more than half the weapons supplied to the royal family come from Ellen County."
"Oh? Now that's intriguing."
Music to my ears.
The truth was, right after reaching Sword Expert, I'd visited the palace armory.
I mean, I was a Sword Expert now—couldn't keep fumbling around with those blunt training swords forever.
I figured the palace armory would have something decent.
But I couldn't even check if they had anything worthwhile.
The king himself had issued a royal decree: no edged weapons for me, under any circumstances.
I resented it, but what could I do?
It was all because that wastrel prince had stolen a sword from the treasury and used it to mutilate himself. Thanks to that, I'd gotten this human body—but I'd inherited the king's wrath along with it.
In the end, I left the armory empty-handed.
And now the destination for this outing was a city famous for its weapons. If that didn't make me happy, something would be seriously wrong.
The king's decree only applied to the palace storerooms. If I wanted a weapon, I'd have to get it outside the palace.
"How'd you pick a spot that suits me so perfectly?"
My uncle made a face like he knew exactly what was on my mind. Looked like he'd been aware of the king's decree from the start.
"If you cause another incident this time, it'll be rough on both of us. So..."
"Don't worry your head about it."
Even then, my uncle looked far from reassured.
"I said, really, don't worry."
**
The day of departure arrived.
I rose early and got ready. The thought of leaving the palace had my spirits soaring.
But that excitement didn't last.
I just wanted to hit the road, but there was more red tape than I'd imagined.
First, I had to inform the king and queen of my departure.
The king dismissed me with a lazy wave or two, but the queen... she went on like I'd been left unsupervised by a riverbank, endless nagging pouring out. By the end, all my anticipation had deflated.
"And lastly, I must remind you..."
How many times was she going to say "lastly"?
"So be careful. Come straight back if anything happens. You've got your uncle with you, so it should be fine, but still."
"Yes, yes."
I mumbled along until, somehow, even that endless tirade wrapped up.
But by then, departure time had come and gone.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted already. So tired."
I hadn't even stepped foot outside the palace yet, and I was already drained.
"Please, mount up."
I rode the same carriage I'd borrowed once before to move through the palace. Soon enough, we reached the palace gates, where my uncle and the escorts waited.
"You're late. Let's move out."
I joined my uncle there and headed out of the palace.
"Closing the shutters now."
With the shutters down, I was stuck killing time in the boring carriage again. Out of sheer boredom, I scanned the interior.
Adelia, dressed simpler than usual, stared at me blankly. I tried chatting her up to pass the time, but all I got were responses like "Yes, Your Highness" and "I am honored."
Ugh. No fun.
I gave up on conversation and flopped down flat.
**
The first day, we traveled by carriage.
But my idea of an outing didn't involve being cooped up like luggage. I complained to my uncle and scored myself a horse.
"Can you even ride?"
What kind of question was that?
"No."
A guy who'd lived by the sword and suddenly ended up in a wastrel's body—where was I supposed to learn?
But I planned to start now.
My uncle sighed with a look of disbelief and called over a cavalryman to teach me the basics.
From that day on, I rode.
It wasn't easy, of course. Horses are fine for walking, but galloping? Tricky beasts.
Still, not bad at all.
Just feeling the wind rushing past was exhilarating.
And the scenery...
Not the hazy world I'd viewed from Sword Eyes, but a vibrant, alive panorama filling my real eyes as I galloped along, thrilled.
Lost in the joy of riding, I suddenly realized we'd reached the border of Ellen County.
"A day later than planned."
My uncle eyed me pointedly.
"I'm out here to get some fresh air anyway, aren't I?"
This whole trip was for my sake—what did an extra day matter?
My uncle chuckled dryly at my shameless retort. A parched, withered laugh.
Until he overcame his heart demon, it'd stay that way.
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue as a dust cloud rose in the distance.
"Looks like Ellen County's cavalry."
Hooves thundering, a group of riders pulled up before us.
Thud.
They dismounted in unison and dropped to one knee.
"Torrens Ellen, eldest son of the Ellen family, greets His Highness Idrian Leonberger, the First Prince! It is an honor to meet you!"
A particularly burly young man stepped forward as representative. I'd taken him for just another rider, but he was the count's heir.
I gave a casual greeting in return, and Torrens explained they'd been searching the area with patrols because we were late.
"A carriage wheel broke, delaying us. I sent word to my father—didn't it arrive?"
"We've been scouting the vicinity since yesterday and missed the castle's news. Must've crossed paths with the messenger."
Relieved we'd arrived safely, he offered to guide us personally.
Two hours following Torrens brought the city into view—a prosperous place by the look of it.
The gates teemed with welcoming crowds, including the massive Count Ellen himself, built like his son.
"It is an indescribable honor to meet you thus, Your Highness. Edgar Ellen of the Ellen family greets you."
"Thanks for the warm welcome."
With greetings done, we were ushered straight into the count's residence.
The place was a weapon wonderland.
Swords gleamed on the walls, corridors flanked by displays of all sorts of armor.
The count prattled on about their origins like he was showing off.
I listened with feigned indifference.
The guild of smiths, over half the royal supplies from here—I'd come in expecting something special.
But every weapon on display, walls or wherever, was trash in my eyes. Gaudy decorations that'd shatter in real combat.
Deeply disappointed.
Looked like I wouldn't find what I wanted in the count's castle.
**
As expected.
Count Ellen, eager to win me over, gifted me a sword and armor on day one. But they were no better than the hallway ornaments.
At this point, I wondered if he thought I was an idiot. But his expression said otherwise.
He genuinely believed these were fine pieces. Maybe he valued aesthetics over practicality.
Otherwise, why proudly display junk useless in battle?
"You wished to see the smiths' guild?"
The count looked troubled at my request.
"Problem?"
"It's no place for nobility like Your Highness."
Furnace heat, hammering noise, this and that. He insisted there were better sights and tried persuading me repeatedly.
Whatever he said, I wasn't budging.
"If you insist..."
He called his eldest son.
"Torrens knows the guild better than I. He'd make a fine guide."
Anyone would do, so I headed to the guild with Torrens in the lead.
"Smiths are a rough, stubborn lot."
They ignore even a lord during work, their words as cold and blunt as the metal they shape. If offended, forgive it as craftsman's spirit.
Torrens's well-meant warning.
Unnecessary—I understood smiths better than he did.
By the end of our chat, the guild building came into view.
It was one massive workshop.
"Hoo."
My breath quickened.
"The furnaces are hot. Speak if it's too much."
I ignored Torrens.
It wasn't the heat choking me.
This heat. This smell. This noise—it dizzied my mind.
And above all,
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The rhythmic hammering shook me deepest.
I fell completely under that clear ring.
Thump thump.
Heart racing. Feet moving on their own.
"Your Highness?"
Before I knew it, I was striding into the heart of the sweltering workshop.
Clang clang.
Clear hammering echoed everywhere. One stood out, purest of all.
I followed the sound.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
When I came to, I stood before an old man.