Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Declaration of War
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That evening in the Valenhardt territory, after the dragonkin with blue scales and red scales had all been subjugated.
Inside the castle—
no, more precisely, the entire duchy was boiling over as if it had been holding its breath and suddenly exploded all at once.
Torches blazed to life, wine barrels were cracked open, and laughter and shouts tore through the night air from the ramparts and every corner of the plazas.
It was hard to believe that just a few hours earlier, the sky had been dyed red and the entire castle had nearly burned to the ground.
Of course, there was also the fact that the duke himself had almost been assassinated today.
But so what.
The moment Duke Joseph von Valenhardt regained his senses, he grabbed a goblet without even changing out of his bloodstained clothes and bellowed,
"To my one and only pride and joy—Elysia von Valenhardt!"
"To her!!"
"To her—!!"
Dozens, hundreds of goblets clashed together, ringing out with a clear metallic chime.
Today was truly a monumental day.
The villages didn't sleep either.
Everyone knew.
They had seen the sky blazing red above the castle, and felt the miraculous silence that followed.
And they knew the 'name' that had protected them from all those threats.
The one who had awakened the holy sword today, proving that the Valenhardt bloodline had not yet come to an end.
Elysia von Valenhardt.
From villagers to knights to servants, everyone raised their goblets high while chanting her name.
That night, the bells tolling in celebration of a hero's birth and the laughter rang through Valenhardt until dawn.
"Kyaa! This booze hits the spot! Who would've thought they'd hand out the castle's finest beer and wine to the servants... This is the happiest day of my slave life! Right, Jinwoo?"
"...Yeah. You could see it that way."
In the midst of the festivities, in a slightly tucked-away corner.
Out of sight from most people, Miya and I quietly clinked our goblets.
On a normal day, even on a night like this, a butler and maid wouldn't get a moment's rest.
Running around fetching plates, refilling drinks, doing errands—that's how it usually ended.
But this time was different.
As Lady Elysia awakened the hero's power, Duke Joseph personally granted a day off to all the servants who had assisted her, crediting their contributions.
Of course, we couldn't openly mingle with the nobles and raise toasts, but honestly, that suited me just fine—I'd have felt out of place there anyway.
Sitting in an inconspicuous spot like this, with free food and free booze.
By medieval standards, slaves couldn't even touch delicacies like these, but here I was, drinking without a care.
This was luxury enough.
That was when it happened.
Miya leaned in close and whispered,
"Ugh... By the way, Kim Jinwoo. How the heck did you pull it off? That holy sword Lady Elysia is showing everyone right now... You made it, didn't you?"
"Keep it down. What if someone hears?!"
Sure enough.
This girl gets loose-lipped after a few drinks.
Last time, after downing shots with Lady Elysia, she got wasted first, stumbled around, and puked on some passing noble's son—we nearly got executed for it.
That's why I'd repeatedly begged her to keep it secret this time, but here she was bringing it up.
For a cat who doesn't listen, a good whack is the answer.
Flick!
"Ow?!"
"Snap out of it. It's a festival today, but you still can't tell anyone about this."
I gave Miya a sharp flick to the forehead and shot her a warning glance.
She pouted obviously, muttering "Tch..." before chugging her beer mug like it was payback.
"Ugh— So why keep it secret? With that engraving... saint... whatever power you got, you could strut around anywhere and live like a king."
"That's exactly why it's a problem."
"...Huh?"
Someone from a slave background like Miya—or even commoners or minor nobles in this era—would probably brag about it everywhere.
A ability to craft legendary weapons.
Just make that known, and your status rises on its own, with wealth and fame as bonuses.
That was the 'common sense' in this medieval world without internet, media, or proper records.
But that was the thinking of amateurs.
I was a historian in my past life. I knew.
What happened in history when a powerless peasant suddenly gained an 'irreplaceable technology.'
'In the late Middle Ages, not a single craftsman who perfected gunpowder weapons became a hero.'
Instead of nobles, they were 'bound' by the crown.
Under constant watch so they couldn't flee, and once they handed over all their knowledge, they were quietly disposed of as useless.
It wasn't much different in the East, in China.
Craftsmen and alchemists who knew gunpowder recipes weren't national assets—they were state secrets.
And secrets don't outlive their keepers.
In the end, in an era like this, talent without backing isn't a blessing.
The moment power grabs it, that talent becomes not a person, but property.
And property is always consumed eventually.
"...You too?"
Miya asked cautiously.
"Yeah."
I set down my goblet and answered quietly.
"I could end up that way. No... I will."
A butler, formerly a slave, with the ability to forge legendary weapons.
Low birth, lowly status.
Even attached to a ducal house, I'm ultimately just 'property.'
The moment this spreads, those in power won't see me as human.
Like the first cavemen to harness fire, they'll tear into each other over who claims me first.
And that fire won't stop at just me.
The Valenhardt Duchy that took me in.
Lady Elysia who trusted me.
Everyone who's treated me like a person up till now—they'd all get swept up in the flames.
That's why I have to hide it.
At least for now.
"...Got it."
Miya nodded, her flushed face from the alcohol as she stuffed a hunk of meat into her mouth.
Even if she didn't fully grasp the gravity, maybe because she's my one and only childhood friend.
Her eyes said, Your worries are my worries! She'd be more careful from now on.
The mood was just starting to warm up nicely when—
"So."
A voice neither low nor high.
That single word froze the lively banquet hall in an instant.
"What do you plan to do now, Lady Elysia?"
In a flash, the noble youths crowding around Lady Elysia to admire the holy sword Balmung stepped back as if on cue.
Some bowed their heads, others averted their eyes.
I didn't need to check who had created that atmosphere.
"...Grand Duchess Luise."
As Lady Elysia addressed her with proper etiquette, all eyes in the banquet hall finally converged on one spot.
The Aurelia Empire.
The eldest daughter of the Libelshtein Grand Ducal Family, a branch connected by blood to the imperial house.
Luise von Libelshtein.
Jet-black hair gleaming like polished obsidian.
Crimson eyes evoking a blood-red rose.
A perilous elegance that no mere word like 'beautiful' could capture.
'The Black Rose with Thorns.'
Her epithet was no exaggeration.
Grand Duchess Luise continued with a soft smile.
"I rushed here from morning after hearing you'd summoned the holy sword... only for you to go and subjugate dragons right away. Quite the bold choice."
Her tone was polite, but thorns were unmistakably laced within.
And then, she slowly scanned the entire banquet hall.
"You know well that the Valenhardt Duchy was entrusted with the north by the Aurelia Empire to prevent pointless disputes and 'rivalries,' don't you, Lady Elysia?"
Wherever her gaze passed, the nobles who had been laughing and chatting moments ago fell silent, their expressions hardening.
She was beautiful.
But someone you should never approach.
With each of her words, the banquet hall reverted from a place of wine and music to a political arena.
"However—"
At that moment, Lady Elysia stepped forward.
"They insulted us first."
Her voice didn't waver.
"They insulted me, a duchy's lady, and then dared to lay hands on my father."
A small gasp rippled through the surrounding nobles.
Normally.
The moment Grand Duchess Luise spoke, Lady Elysia would bow her head first.
To avoid unnecessary friction.
To end the banquet and the gathering quickly.
But not this time.
This wasn't politics—it was a matter of house and family.
Lady Elysia quietly thrust the tip of the holy sword Balmung into the floor.
Clack.
The banquet hall flinched at the sharp sound.
"...Ha."
Grand Duchess Luise let out a short, hollow laugh.
As if she'd been waiting for this very moment.
"And so?"
Her crimson eyes pierced straight through Lady Elysia.
"You're not planning to just slaughter all the dragon envoys and then sit back with your wine and meat, are you? Surely you have some 'plan' in mind?"
To that question, Lady Elysia didn't hesitate for a second.
"Of course."
She raised Balmung.
The silver blade drank in the moonlight, drawing every eye in the hall.
"Tomorrow, I will head to the dragon's lair myself."
"W-What?!"
"Lady Elysia...?!"
Murmurs erupted, but Lady Elysia pressed on.
"And—"
Her grip tightened on the sword.
"I will tell him—the one who sought to take me as his bride—with my own mouth. Now that I have power, never touch the Valenhardt Duchy again."
With that declaration, the banquet hall fell into utter silence.