Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Selection Tournament
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Words are always incomplete.
The emotions I feel can only be captured in language to a tiny extent.
The meaning I try to convey, the thoughts I hope will reach—ultimately, they're interpreted by the listener however they see fit.
Astier's words were the same.
I was the one who suggested we talk without hiding our true feelings, and we did just that.
But in one corner of my mind, a thought lingered.
Wasn't this fake too? Was she trying to deceive me?
But.
I decided to ignore those thoughts.
I'll just believe.
That both she and I, at least right now, shared our true hearts.
If the meaning conveyed to me and the thoughts that reached me are merely the listener's interpretation, then I'll interpret Astier's words as her sincere truth.
A long night passes.
We let the endless night flow by in conversation.
We only fell asleep when morning came, and woke in the afternoon.
Astier was no longer by my side.
I hurriedly dressed and stepped outside.
Creeeak—creeeak—
Something hanging from a rope swayed, twisting the wooden pillar with its motion.
Following the sound, I walked toward it, and there—
—hung a birdcage from the rope.
The bird trapped inside stared silently at me.
I blankly stared back at Astier's pet bird.
"…"
"Ah, Ian. You're awake?"
Astier was coming from behind, carrying food.
"Not sure if it'll suit your taste. I prepared a lot for now, though."
"You didn't leave."
"…? Why would I leave?"
Astier tilted her head, then replied as if she understood.
"Ah, well, the job's done now, so our companionship ends here."
"What do you plan to do from now on?"
"Well… I'll work for the Imperial Intelligence Agency. But someday, I want to run my own theater troupe."
"Theater troupe?"
Astier touched the wound on her wrist.
"I've got a play I want to create."
"You'd do great at it."
"You think so? I hope you're right."
I shared a late lunch with Astier, a smile escaping me that even I didn't know I had.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the Red Star's leadership crumbled, things wrapped up quickly.
The Empress, as if waiting for the moment, launched a purge of the remnants.
The elite intelligence agents and the high-ranking noble inspection team mobilized,
and those who had once staked their futures on the Red Star were arrested or vanished, regardless of position or region.
The official documents called it a restoration of order, but in reality, it was a thorough purge.
The Imperial Central Council.
An official meeting attended by the Minister of State, the Chief Justice, and the Empress's direct inspection team.
Today featured a special agenda.
A formal evaluation of Duke Ian Valencia's actions following the annihilation of the Red Star leadership.
The chair declared from the podium.
"This council recognizes… Duke Valencia, the hero who subjugated Ereveon, the new pillar of the Empire, for his additional achievements…"
The room fell silent.
"In the operation to eliminate the Red Star remnants, he rendered immense service… tracking and annihilating the traitors on his own, without any decree from His Imperial Majesty."
At that moment, murmurs rippled through the noble seats.
The fact that the Duke had personally wielded his sword was politically shocking.
Though the truth was nothing of the sort.
The Empress had framed it as me acting alone, without her own orders.
Veteran Councilor Kurnot continued.
"…His actions exemplify voluntary responsibility befitting the weight of his title, without relying on his rank."
Before I knew it, I had become the Empress's hunting dog.
I'd anticipated something like this would happen when we wiped out the Red Star.
What surprised me was the Empress's method.
She showcased my existence in an astonishingly refined manner.
Going so far as to excessively elevate me, guaranteeing merit and honor.
"To voluntarily cut off the traitors' lifeline… remarkable."
"Has the Empress gained a new sword?"
"There must have been a reason for granting a dukedom to a commoner. His Majesty foresaw this…"
Some believed the falsehoods the Empress had announced,
while others rejected the lies but acted as if they accepted me.
"Tch. You really think Duke Valencia did that on his own? There had to be a secret order."
"Even so, it's still astonishing. Plenty of people saw the Hast Mountains collapse."
Their attention naturally turned to my prowess.
The fact that I could pierce the heavens and cleave mountains with a single sword.
This unprecedented feat was enough to shock the Empire.
"It's still hard to believe. It must have been coincidences piling up. The mountains were on the verge of collapse anyway—who could've known the Duke just added a little push?"
"Even if it was coincidences, most ordinary knights couldn't produce such phenomena at all. Even dismissing it as an illusion proves his ability, since he can plant such illusions."
"Rumors spread that he pierced the heavens even in his duel with Lady Irena. At this point, it might be real."
Interest shifted from my power to my swordsmanship and techniques.
And then to Wave.
"Do you know what swordsmanship Duke Valencia uses?"
"Seems like a fusion of Northern orthodox swordsmanship and other noble styles. Probably his own unique secret art."
"…Wave! It was definitely Wave. It's spreading in the North, but not here in the capital yet?"
With the Empress's help, Wave had been approved for inclusion in the Academy's official curriculum.
The integration was scheduled for next year.
It wasn't something that could be prepared overnight—training instructors for Wave techniques, developing the curriculum, and so on.
The fact that it would be implemented next year alone proved the Empress's competence.
That said, there were issues with incorporating Wave.
Resistance from existing Aura Energy instructors, and the status of Wave instructors.
Rumors circulated that power would concentrate in my hands.
Not now, but someday, nonsense about me becoming the new Empress could easily spread.
In that regard, the title of the Empress's hunting dog was quite fitting.
"Heard it's being added to the Academy's official curriculum this time."
"Hm… Was there an age limit for enrollment?"
Even without intent, Wave was promoting itself.
Though I couldn't say I had no such intentions at all…
Good things were good.
Aura Energy techniques were so firmly entrenched in the Empire that I figured Wave would be somewhat ignored.
If this incident helped spread Wave widely, that would be fortunate.
After the Red Star business ended, I took a period of rest.
I'd planned to head south immediately, but Irena's retirement ceremony overlapped.
It didn't feel right to leave without a word, so I decided to wait.
Irena's retirement would coincide with the selection tournament.
"Ian. You'll come, right?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"You have to. Promise."
"Most nobles are attending anyway. I'm a noble too."
"I was worried you'd slip off to the south without saying anything."
"I'll never leave without a word. Not now, not in the future. Never in my life."
"…Never. I like that. Me too, forever."
I escorted Irena, who smiled brightly as she headed to the Knight Order headquarters.
I was still freeloading at Irena's house.
Freya, who hadn't returned north, was the same.
In fact, Freya had stayed after resolving supply issues to attend Irena's retirement ceremony.
We'd spent too much time together not to.
Of course, there were political pretexts and purposes too.
At a duke's level, even attending such events could become pretexts or excuses.
A single misstep could spark rumors of discord with Irena.
Even though there was none.
The world of nobles was utterly incomprehensible to me, after rolling on battlefields for eleven years.
I knocked on the door of the room where Freya was staying, with a cup of black tea.
Lately, Freya had been holing up in her room a lot.
After the supply issues ended, she spent over sixteen hours a day in there.
"Lady Freya. Are you still asleep?"
Crash! Bang!
A loud noise echoed from inside the room.
Like someone tripping over.
Immediately after, a strained voice leaked from behind the door.
"Y-yes… No, no! I'm up… Lord Ian. Wait a moment. Don't come in yet!"
I didn't force the door open.
Three minutes later, Freya greeted me in her pajamas.
Her hair looked neatly combed, as if just done.
But the parts she hadn't touched were disheveled.
"Ahaha. Sorry about earlier. So, Lord Ian. What is it?"
"I brought black tea. And cookies too."
I glanced subtly inside the room.
Freya followed my gaze and tried to block the view with her body.
"I-it's a mess in here."
Even blocking with her body couldn't hide it all.
Freya's room was a disaster.
Jewels and parts were tangled amid the clutter.
Not quite organized, not quite abandoned.
Clearly, she'd been in the middle of making something.
"Were you working on something?"
"Uh, umm…"
Freya rolled her eyes.
Then, with an awkward smile, she opened the door wider.
"Want to see…?"