Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Ducal Position
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The Duke withdrew all his mana and admitted defeat. For a brief moment, they exchanged calm glances.
Yujin, who had been pressing a sharp sword against the Duke's throat, sheathed his blade.
Sring—
Clack—
"…That last attack of yours just now looked like the pinnacle of slashing."
"Something like that."
The attack Yujin had just used was One Slash.
One Slash could be seen as a simplified version of Annihilating One Slash.
While the original Annihilating One Slash was an attack that transcended human will, capable of slashing the world and even parts of the concepts beyond it, One Slash stripped away much of that and left only the result of slashing.
And Yujin had used One Slash on the Duke.
…To be precise, toward the floor behind the Duke.
So, had Yujin gone easy on him? Not exactly.
…If it had been even a fraction later, I might have lost.
Because the Duke's spear had nearly reached Yujin's heart.
A sword aimed at the throat and a spear aimed at the heart.
The winner of that clash was the sword.
"I never imagined I'd lose. Not that I'm looking down on you, Marquis, but there's a difference in our years of experience, isn't there?"
"I understand."
Yujin didn't feel particularly offended.
The Duke had been an archmage for over twenty years and was now in his fifties. In those twenty years, he had hunted countless magical beasts and fought in numerous wars.
Yujin knew that, from the Duke's perspective, even a Sword Master like himself might seem like a bit of a novice. And that was usually the case.
Only Yujin's talent was overwhelming enough to surpass that vast gap in experience.
That was all there was to it.
Accepting that fact, the Duke looked at Irene, Lucia, and Yujin with half-lidded eyes and spoke.
"…I acknowledge you."
"…!!!!!"
"Heup!"
"…Heh."
The Duke's single statement set the training grounds ablaze.
Of course, the mages and knights who had come just hearing about the spar didn't know exactly what the Duke was acknowledging.
To think I'd witness such a sight…!
Both of them were incredible… I could barely follow with my own eyes.
Indeed, is the tide now turning to Marquis Banus?
His Excellency the Marquis is remarkable…! Even as a master, with the difference in experience, to claim victory…
…I want to learn the sword from him.
…I'm clearly a mage, yet I find myself respecting the swordsman Yujin Banus.
Still, they could tell this was a profoundly historic moment.
The Arkabella Duke, who had reigned as an archmage and the empire's guardian for over twenty years, had acknowledged Yujin—the rising star who had become a new war hero by subduing the rebel and protected the empire.
Meanwhile, Irene and those from the Duke's family who knew the true weight of that acknowledgment, including Lucia, simply smiled faintly.
Now I suppose I should call him brother-in-law.
You've become my brother-in-law.
Especially Jay, the Duke's second son and the only direct descendant walking the path of the sword, his eyes sparkled.
He was a swordsman aiming for Sword Master! In that sense, having Yujin—who had already reached the pinnacle—join the family was…!
Spars… I can request spars anytime…!
Having made a grand resolution, Jay stepped forward before anyone else.
"Your Excellency the Marquis! Please spar with me as well…!"
Everyone was taken aback by Jay's sudden outburst. Even the Duke, his own father.
"…Son, what are you saying?"
"Father, I am a swordsman. And right now, my instincts as a swordsman are screaming. They say I can't let this moment pass in vain. So, even if it's presumptuous, I beg you, Marquis. Please, grant me just one instructional spar…!"
"……"
The Duke looked down at his son with an incredulous gaze.
But soon, he understood his son's feelings. Though their paths differed—one magic, one sword—they were both family and warriors.
How could he not understand that heart?
"…Marquis, what say you?"
The Duke left it to Yujin's decision.
And
"Very well."
Yujin accepted Jay's sparring request. Soon, the two faced each other at the center of the training grounds, and everyone around watched with bated breath.
With Jay's first strike, the instructional spar began.
.
.
.
.
After parrying Jay's strikes several times, Yujin thought quietly.
His level is quite high.
Jay was a mid-level Sword Expert. Considering he was still in his late teens, he wasn't an unparalleled genius, but at least a prodigy bordering on genius.
As expected of a child from a prestigious family.
His innate talent and drive to advance were truly admirable.
…So, with proper guidance, reaching Sword Master one day wasn't entirely impossible.
…
I'll show him that path.
And what was needed to guide him wasn't repeated spars to match rhythms.
What Jay truly needed was—
"Young master. From now on, watch my sword swings closely."
To show him the milestone he should aim for.
Everyone watching Yujin, including Jay, sensed his aura suddenly change.
It felt as if every cell in their body was screaming in fear of the target before them.
Yet Yujin wasn't emitting any energy.
It was simply a shift in mindset.
Pour your heart into the sword.
Pouring your heart meant resolving to your will.
And the will he intended to was the simplest slash of swordsmanship.
Slash through everything.
Kill living beings, cleave the earth, part the seas.
All of it achieved through the single motion of 'slashing'.
And then—
Shlick——
"……!!!!!!!"
Everyone, starting with Jay, lost themselves to that simple yet profound, ecstatic and beautiful, enigmatic sword strike.
At that moment, in the imperial palace.
The palace was hosting an imperial council centered around the Emperor.
Attendees included ministers from all imperial departments—the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of War, Central Intelligence Agency, Ministry of Territory, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and more—as well as military officials.
Additionally, since this was an open meeting, a few nobles were observing the cabinet council.
During the meeting, the Emperor gave a glance to Second Prince Russel. Receiving the signal, Russel rose from his seat as if everything had been prepared from the start.
And—
"We must grant fitting rewards to Marquis Banus for his merits in the war against the Eastern Alliance and subduing the Northern Grand Duke, who has committed treason for generations."
"And what does Your Highness consider a fitting reward…?"
"Duke."
"…?"
"Promotion of Marquis Banus to Duke—that is the fitting reward I propose."
"……!!!!!!!!"
"Duke…!!!!"
"What…"
"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Soon, everyone in the meeting hall froze in shock. Even the Crown Prince.
Isn't Marquis Banus that bastard's—Russel's—supporter…!
It was already famous across the empire that Yujin supported Second Prince Russel, not the Crown Prince.
Because of that, many imperial loyalists who had habitually supported the Crown Prince began following Yujin in backing Russel. And after the Northern Grand Duke—the leader of the noble faction—had fallen in the most pathetic manner recently, the noble faction had completely crumbled.
The remnants of the shattered old noble faction, realizing the balance of power in the empire had fully tipped, had clung to Yujin and Russel.
Damn it…!
The Crown Prince was left with only a handful of supporters.
Because of those trash…!
The Crown Prince had completely forgotten that his own misconduct had led to this.
I have to block it!
He had to prevent Yujin from becoming a duke at all costs. If Yujin became a duke like this, he would be pushed out of the succession race that very day and lose everything…!
"I object, Your Majesty…!"
"…Hm?"
The Crown Prince shot to his feet.
All eyes turned to him.
"While Marquis Banus has merits, he could have subdued that rebel even without being a marquis! The Northern Grand Duke wasn't even a master, was he?!"
The Crown Prince was claiming that Yujin's achievements were clearly overhyped.
At that moment, the usually silent Second Prince spoke up.
"Brother. Did you even read the report properly? The Northern Grand Duke allied with filthy demon worshippers. He artificially boosted his realm and even lent his body to one of Pandemonium's Seven Deadly Sins. As proof, when the Northern Grand Duke's corpse was transported to the capital, clear traces of demonic energy lingered. And yet you claim he wasn't a master and that loyal servant of the empire, Marquis Banus's achievements, are overhyped?"
"You bastard…!"
At Second Prince Russel's rebuttal, the Crown Prince slammed his fist on the table.
"Marquis Banus is a bastard to begin with! No matter the merits, for a bastard to become a duke is…!"
"Enough."
The Emperor looked down at the Crown Prince with cold eyes.
"Did you just demean Marquis Banus as mere bastard spawn?"
"Father…!"
"Silence. This is before the throne."
"……!!!"
Everyone's eyes filled with shock.
To think the Emperor would directly rebuke the Crown Prince.
"Since when has our empire become a nation that demeans capable and loyal retainers who have proven themselves? Or does the Crown Prince intend, as a ruler, not to trust his subjects but to check and insult them at every turn?"
The Emperor regarded the Crown Prince like trash. His body flinched under that gaze.
"This meeting ends here. And all of you present, remember my words clearly from now on."
The Emperor rose and looked down at his subjects with dignified eyes.
"I shall grant fitting rewards to Marquis Banus, who has devoted himself to the empire with his body until now. Those rewards shall be a new territorial grant and promotion to the rank of duke. There will be no changes to this matter, and no objections will be entertained."
The ministers and nobles wanted to object but couldn't.
Everything had turned in Yujin's favor, and the Crown Prince had already massively screwed up and soured the Emperor's mood.
Moreover, generals from the military, the Central Intelligence Minister, the War Minister, and others who valued martial prowess had no intention of opposing.
In the end, everyone present instinctively knew the Crown Prince's political career was over. Along with the replacement of the Crown Prince position.
.
.
.
.
Soon, two massive pieces of news rocked the entire empire: Yujin's promotion to duke, and Second Prince's victory in the imperial succession struggle.