Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Once My Thinking Changed, Even What I Saw Felt Different (1)
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The soldiers bustled about, and in no time, the campsite was fully set up.
Kals said he'd scout the surroundings and vanished somewhere, while Arwen hesitated before settling down at a distance.
I watched her for a moment, then stepped into the carriage.
"Your Highness."
Adelia, who had been inside, bowed her head upon seeing me. Behind her, the sheets were laid out impeccably without a single wrinkle, and the pillows were neatly arranged.
So that's what she'd been doing in here without coming out.
I'd taken in a sword genius with S-grade aptitude, yet the work she was doing was the kind of menial chores a handmaiden might handle.
It felt almost sinful, like using a legendary treasured sword to slice meat.
"Ha."
"Y-Your Highness, is there... anything that doesn't please you?"
As I let out a sigh, Adelia's face filled with anxiety. She fidgeted, clearly worried she'd made some mistake.
Overlaid on her anxious expression was the image of her glaring at the Iron Lions, her fighting spirit ablaze.
What a bizarre combination...
Recalling Adelia's grotesque traits—timid and dependent, yet a slaughterer mad for blood and war—I sighed once more.
I need to put her through the wringer properly.
Through rigorous training, she'd develop a more knightly demeanor, and eventually become a soul worthy of her terrifying talents and gifts.
"Sh-Should I prepare it again?"
She shrank back even more under my gaze, at a complete loss.
"No need."
I flopped down onto the bedding and closed my eyes.
My mind was a whirlwind.
Mana Chain. Mana Heart.
After crossing swords with those Double Chain knights, my thoughts had multiplied.
When I first awoke, every day was a string of disappointments. Seeing people who'd discarded infinite potential for complacency act like they owned the world made my stomach turn for no reason.
Arrogant idiots. That's what I'd thought.
But after meeting the Iron Lion Knights in person, my perspective shifted.
During my stay at Iron Lion Castle, I'd used the Appraisal authority countless times. I'd checked every knight's aptitude through it.
Most had C-grade talents, with the occasional B-grade mixed in.
They were the type who, even after a lifetime of grueling training and refinement, wouldn't even reach the threshold of Sword Master. Sure, they might surpass that with some miraculous feat, but achievements of that caliber weren't easy to come by.
In the past, they'd have peaked at mid-level Sword Expert after a life of toil, only to attempt transcendence and wither away in vain.
Yet these knights had reached the Double Chain realm—on par with Sword Experts—at the young ages of their twenties or thirties.
Once I saw that, I could no longer deny the tide of the Mana Chain era.
The prowess of superhumans was incomparable to the past. But the prowess of ordinary mortals had leaped forward dramatically.
A few superhumans, many mortals.
Over four centuries, humanity had weakened. And humanity had grown stronger.
"Even so, Uncle like that..."
I hadn't checked Uncle's talent yet since my abilities didn't reach that far, but considering he was one of the kingdom's five Quad Chain knights, I could guess without looking.
In the past, he'd have been prime for pursuing transcendence. Yet even he had chosen to weave the rings, and that grated on me.
But that too was the flow of the times. In this era, there were no more opportunities to rack up feats that transcended the extraordinary.
I resolved myself.
Let the past stay in the past. I'd watch the new era with clear eyes. And only then judge everything.
How this world had changed.
"From the beginning again."
Like when I'd first been reborn into a sword and touched the world.
"A fine mindset."
Lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice. I turned my head slightly, and there was Uncle peeking through the carriage window.
"It's not too late now."
As if he knew exactly what I was thinking, Uncle continued.
"If you start striving from this moment, you can restore everything to how it was."
Restore what, exactly?
"Besides, haven't you already won the Iron Lions' hearts?"
Uncle's words were utterly out of left field, devoid of any context.
"Unlike the 1st Knight Order, the 2nd Knight Order consists of those from humble origins. Their noble upbringing is sorely lacking, so even within the order, they face subtle discrimination."
I hadn't known. I'd assumed all Iron Lions were just knights like any other. I had no idea there were two separate knight orders within the Iron Lion Knight Order.
They'd only ever given their names, never shared more. All we'd exchanged were sword strikes, so of course I wouldn't know the details.
Remembering the Iron Lions' mercenary-like behavior despite calling themselves knights, I nodded unwittingly in understanding.
"That's why, despite their radical ways, there was an opening to worm your way into their hearts."
What was this now?
I'd only moved to raise the rank of my military exploits poem. Yet Uncle seemed to ascribe some grand meaning to those simple actions.
"But that's not enough for their full support."
Only after hearing his follow-up did I grasp what significance Uncle had attached to my actions.
"Count Willoden is an excellent knight, but he's also a seasoned politician. If opinions split within the order, he'll likely side with the 1st Knight Order."
Uncle thought I'd sparred with the Iron Lions to make them my own people.
No, that's not it at all. I just needed victories to include in the poem.
Gaining their favor or support had never been on my radar. My sole concern was reclaiming the power of the past.
"Other princes wouldn't have mingled with the Iron Lions so freely."
My expression soured involuntarily.
Considering how Uncle usually treated me, this felt like mockery—berating me for brawling with common knights without regard for a prince's dignity.
But his expression didn't match that interpretation.
It was flushed, blunt, itchy-looking.
Almost like he was proud of me.
No way. That stubborn old man couldn't possibly feel that way about his wastrel nephew.
That's what I thought.
"A very wise decision."
But I was wrong. Uncle was genuinely praising me.
I was dumbfounded. The man who'd treated me like trash day in and day out was suddenly singing my praises—it was so uncomfortable it gave me chills.
"Have you lost your mind?"
The absurdity made me blurt it out. Normally, he'd have exploded at such insolence, but not this time.
"You don't remember the terms of the bet."
"The bet was beating the 3rd Prince..."
Before I could finish, Uncle shook his head.
"Double Chain. Our bet was you defeating a Double Chain knight."
"Ah..."
He was right. The bet was winning against a Double Chain knight—didn't matter who.
I'd already done that. Multiple times, against the elite Iron Lion Knights, renowned even in the kingdom.
The bet was essentially over. And bets come with rewards for the winner.
Wait, what was it again?
I'd been so fixated on beating a Double Chain knight that I'd forgotten the prize.
"As promised, I'll back you fully."
Only then did I recall what Uncle had wagered.
Patronage. His unwavering support.
"Once we're back, I'll officially declare my stance."
Uncle's eyes gleamed with fervor I'd never seen before.
"Half the Iron Lions, and the commander of the 3rd Legion."
His voice carried the gravity of a general before a great battle.
"That should be enough to start over."
He rambled on alone, drew his own conclusions, steeled his resolve, then vanished in a flash.
"Wait, Uncle!"
I stuck my head out the window and called after him. He glanced back, his eyes conveying a message.
Trust me. I'll handle it.
That's what they seemed to say.
When I had no intentions at all.
"Your Majesty."
I gave a brief report of our return. As always, the king waved me off dismissively to leave, but Uncle suddenly stepped forward.
"I'll handle the postponed matter now."
Sensing something off in Uncle's demeanor, the king—who'd been half-reclining on the throne—straightened up.
"Speak."
"From now on, I'll properly fulfill my role as uncle."
I froze mid-turn, already dreaming of escaping this hated throne room. The king on his throne had similarly stiffened.
"Is that just as this boy's uncle, or as the head of House Ballerhard?"
His tone was as rigid as his frozen face, but Uncle paid no mind to the king's reaction.
"Both."
Uncle had said something similar at the campsite yesterday. He'd mentioned officially declaring his position upon return.
"As head of House Ballerhard, commander of the 3rd Legion, captain of the Black Spear Cavalry, and knight of four woven rings—that is all of Bail Ballerhard speaking."
But I hadn't expected it to be this sudden, this explosive—like a declaration of war before the king.
Uncle's attitude seemed like boasting his prestige before the king. And the king took it that way.
"So you're saying to remember that Ballerhard stands behind him."
The king's gaze shifted from Uncle back to me.
A sharper look than ever before. It wasn't the contempt he'd shown up to now.
A hint of admiration, overshadowed by far greater wariness.
His eyes, cold as if regarding an enemy, sent chills down my spine.
"Very well. I'll keep that in mind."
And his voice was just as edged.
"We should have done this from the start. We've taken too many detours."
The moment we exited the throne room, Uncle said with a relieved expression.
"Now, even His Majesty will have to consider House Ballerhard's honor in how he treats you."
With that, he rushed off, saying he had much to do now that things would get busy.
Without even hearing me out.
"Your Highness! Congratulations!"
"Your Highness, heartfelt congratulations."
The Royal Knights offered their felicitations as they looked my way.
"Many things will change from now on. Please steel your resolve."
At Kals's words, I glanced around.
I saw people stealing glances while pretending not to. Passing maids and servants perked up their ears, and the knights guarding the throne room entrance fixed their gazes on me.
As I took in the eyes and expressions carrying each person's private thoughts and emotions, I realized it.
The world surrounding me had changed.