Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Postponed Judgment
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“Don't tell me there was more to the Blessing Ceremony than I knew?”
For a moment, I wondered what he was talking about, then a thought occurred to me.
This guy… could he be mistaken, thinking I've been hiding my talent all this time?
It was absurd, but on second thought, it wasn't a completely ridiculous idea.
I was banished to the frontier this year.
That means not even a full year has passed since then. A year can be a long time or a short one, but…
In truth, it's hard for a person to change completely in just one year.
Keian would know this from experience, so it would be natural for him to think I had been hiding my talent from the start.
The conclusion was clear.
It was a misunderstanding that didn't harm me in any way, one I had no particular need to correct.
“Think what you will.”
“Yes, sir.”
Keian bowed his head without another word.
Looking at his face, I was struck again by how strange the current situation was.
The memory of his grim face as he tried to sever my tendons was still vivid.
“Young Master, about the report…”
The report.
As I mentioned before, the decision to send a Collector or not is made by the family's higher-ups—that is, the Council of Elders.
Even if I sent Keian away today, as long as they weren't convinced, a second or third Collector could show up at any time.
“I intend to write down exactly what I experienced today and submit it.”
Of course he would.
Keian, who had been showing a favorable attitude, said this with his official expression back on.
I wasn't exactly disappointed, but it was a shame.
I don't know much about the tendencies of the Council of Elders. But one thing is clear: they don't think much of Ruan Bednicker.
Would they really accept it so easily?
A report stating that Keian, the Iron-Blooded Collector, had collected nothing from Ruan Bednicker.
‘Fat chance.’
Ten to one, they'd send another Collector to get a clearer picture of the situation.
In other words, I wanted Keian to hide some of what happened today in his report.
Of course, the chances of that were slim to none.
I thought about the opening Keian had shown just before he said that.
Should I test the waters?
“I'm curious about your personal opinion. How do you think the Council of Elders will react when you submit the report?”
“As I said, the stance of the Council of Elders is something a mere Collector like myself—”
“That's why I said your personal opinion.”
After a moment's thought, Keian spoke.
“They are unlikely to believe it blindly.”
Of course not.
But even nonsensical words can gain credibility depending on who says them.
That's why I was looking at Keian with a hint of expectation.
“Even if it's a report from Keian, the Iron-Blooded Collector, they'll still doubt it?”
Keian replied to my nonsense with a deadpan expression.
“Such a hollow reputation is no guarantee at all.”
“Then the Council of Elders, having grown suspicious…”
“Will try to eliminate their doubts.”
“You mean they'll send another Collector?”
“Yes.”
“Who do you think will come?”
“At the very least, they won't send someone weaker than me.”
‘Son of a bitch.’
I bit back the curse that was about to escape.
“Isn't that a waste of manpower for a mere brat?”
“How could that be? The world may see you as such, but you are the Family Head's direct blood relative, Young Master. This means the matter must be treated with the utmost importance within the family.”
“…”
He had a point.
Come to think of it, Keian was the first Collector they sent.
If they truly considered me a nobody, they would have sent a lower-ranked Collector.
‘What a headache…’
How should I deal with the next Collector? Would he be as reasonable as Keian?
Just then, Keian, who had been staring at me blankly, opened his mouth.
“Young Master, it is late. I will take my leave for today.”
“What? Then what about the White Sun Eclipse?”
“I have another mission. It's a matter that must be finished before dawn, so I must depart immediately if I am not to be late.”
A hint of regret was in his voice, but he seemed to have no intention of changing his mind.
An attitude that prioritized his given duties over his personal curiosity.
Truly worthy of being called a model Collector.
‘But I've already gotten a clue about the Shadow Steps.’
I've got a rough idea, so I should be able to practice it on my own from now on.
I feel strange, as if I'm the only one who got something out of this.
Not bad, just… strange.
“Might I be permitted to visit you again in the future?”
“As long as it's not for a collection, anytime.”
“Thank you.”
“But will you have the time? You always seem busy.”
“Well…”
Keian trailed off, then looked at me and said.
“Young Master, may this old man offer one last piece of unsolicited advice?”
“What is it?”
“Collectors come in all shapes and sizes.”
Keian said in a calm voice.
“If there are a hundred Collectors, there are a hundred ways of collecting. Some among them don't bother to exchange words with their targets. It's rare, but there are cases where the job is finished without a single word being spoken to the target.”
It sounded like a trivial remark, but if what was being collected was a life, it was chilling.
Didn't that mean they could kill their target without them even realizing it?
“You must complete the White Sun Eclipse.”
“…”
“No matter what kind of Collector comes next, that is the only way to make them back down for certain.”
“I'll take that to heart.”
“I'm concerned I may have spoken out of turn.”
“Not at all. In fact, I'm grateful.”
In truth, it was Keian's goodwill, more than his advice, that struck me.
It felt a bit ticklish, having someone I wouldn't have dared to even look at in my past life show me such an attitude.
“Then I will be on my way.”
“Alright. Be careful on the hill path; it's dark out. You're at that age where your eyes start to go, you know.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I wish you well until we meet again.”
It was a little disappointing to get no reaction to my attempt at a joke.
Keian left the room with a dignified air.
The being who had appeared as a Collector briefly showed the face of a martial artist, then disappeared once more as a Collector.
He was an old man with a formidable presence.
Just his disappearance from my sight made the air feel significantly lighter.
“…”
But even after Keian left, I didn't let my guard down and stared at the door for a while.
Ten seconds, thirty seconds, a minute.
A few more minutes passed like that.
“…Is he gone?”
Staring at the door that remained closed despite my small mumble…
“He's gone.”
I finally felt certain that the Iron-Blooded Collector had truly left.
Only then did the pent-up tension release in the form of a sigh.
I collapsed onto the bed like a puppet with its strings cut.
“…Somehow, I managed to get through it.”
I'd achieved the best possible outcome in that chaotic situation.
More than satisfaction, I felt relief, and with relief came a natural wave of fatigue.
Come to think of it, I had just woken up when all this started.
‘Should I sleep some more…’
There were more than a few problems scattered about, but first, I needed to catch up on sleep.
I soon fell fast asleep, wrapped in the unfamiliar feel of the bed.
* * *
Keian left the mansion and walked down the hill path.
*Be careful on the hill path; it's dark out. You're at that age where your eyes start to go, you know.*
A small chuckle escaped him.
How long had it been since he was treated like an old man?
In the distance, the city's night view was visible.
It was also the location of Keian's next collection target.
But before he even reached the city walls, Keian's steps came to a halt.
“…”
Keian's gaze was fixed on a forest where pitch-black darkness lurked.
On a night when even the moonlight was trapped by clouds, the forest beyond the dark hill path was as black as the throat of a monster.
“…!”
As Keian stared into the darkness with a stoic face, a look of astonishment slowly crept over his features.
He hesitated, then slowly opened his mouth.
“…Family Head?”
“…”
The figure in the darkness didn't answer, but that silence confirmed Keian's suspicion.
“What brings you here…?”
“A mission.”
A mission carried out by the Iron-Blooded Duke would be—
‘A special command from the Imperial family.’
Keian swallowed dryly.
This was not a topic to be pried into.
As Keian was regretting his unnecessary question, a dry voice continued.
“And you?”
“…A collection.”
“I see. Did you conclude it well?”
Keian hesitated for a moment before answering.
“I was unable to do so.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have postponed the collection. I plan to submit a formal report to the Council of Elders as soon as I finish my next collection.”
“You postponed the collection? On your own judgment?”
“That is correct.”
“…”
After a brief silence, the voice spoke again.
“No need to report to the Council of Elders. Tell me. What happened?”
It was a statement that ignored the existing chain of command, but it came from none other than the Family Head, the Iron-Blooded Duke.
In the Bednicker family, the Iron-Blooded Duke's word was law, an ironclad rule.
Bowing his head, Keian spoke.
“This collection concerned your kinsman, Young Master Ruan.”
“Ruan.”
“Yes. Your youngest son.”
“…”
“The Council of Elders ordered the retrieval of the family's swordsmanship that Young Master Ruan had learned. They seemed to have judged that severing the tendons in his right arm would be a suitable measure—”
“Get to the point.”
Keian said.
“Young Master Ruan has created his own martial art.”
“…”
“Its degree of completion was so considerable that I postponed my judgment.”
“Specifically?”
“If he completes it without issue, it will be a source of great joy for you, Family Head.”
The Iron-Blooded Duke fell silent.
After a short time, a faint voice was heard again.
“That is unexpected.”
“Yes.”
“Anything else to say?”
“Well. This is something I had intended to tell you after returning to the main house, but…”
“Speak.”
“Would you permit my retirement?”
Just then, a chilly wind blew, and the rustling of leaves could be heard.
“…”
After a much longer silence than before, the Iron-Blooded Duke spoke.
“Did the family elders spout more nonsense to you?”
“No.”
“Then why? You were the one who said you could easily go on for another thirty years.”
Keian gave a faint smile at the Family Head's words.
“It is merely that I have found something I wish to confirm in my old age.”
“Hm.”
A short hum.
But it wasn't long before an answer came.
“I will respect your wish, my old friend. I will speak to the Council of Elders.”
“Thank you.”
“I've kept you long enough. You may go.”
“Yes.”
Keian bowed, then headed towards the city.
After his figure had completely disappeared down the hill path.
The clouds parted, revealing the figure of the Iron-Blooded Duke in the grove.
The Iron-Blooded Duke's red gaze turned toward the mansion on the hill.