Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Sword Maniac (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Master Chris von Leonhardt of the Empire had officially joined Renheim's forces.
This absurd news instantly became the hottest topic scorching across the entire Empire.
The first to react with fierce intensity was the Imperial Council. Of course, they weren't unaware of Chris's eccentricities.
But no matter how much of a Sword Maniac he was, for him to suddenly join Renheim? That was something they absolutely had to prevent.
They even attended the Harvest Festival, which they had planned to skip, just to dissuade Chris.
And naturally, Cain didn't bother stopping them. If anything, he was inwardly praying they'd take him away.
"Sir Leonhardt! Wouldn't it be wise to reconsider once more?"
"Indeed. His Majesty the Emperor has need of your sword."
'Yeah, that's exactly it!'
Of course, Chris joining would make for tremendous firepower. Under normal circumstances, Cain would have welcomed it with open arms.
Unfortunately, Chris wasn't normal—he was the Sword Maniac. And the proposal he'd made to Cain right off the bat was already problematic.
No need for money, just spar with me three times a day? Is this guy insane?
'With 100% Defeat Regression, that'll mean at least a hundred spars... so you're telling me to do three hundred a day?'
Just imagining it was horrifying. No matter how desperate they were for strength, surely they had to live like humans at least a little.
That's why Cain was genuinely hoping the Imperial Council would convince Chris.
But if their persuasion could bend his stubbornness, would he truly be known as the Sword Maniac?
"I will never change my mind."
"Ha, but Sir Leonhardt, there's no real reason for you to join Renheim directly, is there?"
"After seeing Sir Blackguard's sword, I want to see what's at the end of that path. And if I play my cards right, I might even reach the ultimate realm."
To those already wary of Cain, Chris's assessment was like pouring oil on a fire.
Chris was always polite and courteous, but surprisingly blunt in his evaluations.
This stemmed from his utmost seriousness when it came to the sword. As a result, most of his critiques were harshly negative.
Yet here was Chris offering such high praise? It wasn't exaggeration—even among fellow Masters, he didn't go this far.
Thanks to that, the nobles who had already been keeping a close eye on him now glared at Cain with eyes full of fire,
and even the top powerhouses who had paid little attention before now took notice.
"To think he'd win over none other than Chris von Leonhardt himself..."
"If we're not careful, he might just take everything from us."
"If we don't mobilize the full might of the Council to check him now..."
Naturally, Cain wasn't just talentless—he wasn't oblivious either.
He was fully aware that the atmosphere around him had shifted dramatically.
The problem was knowing it but being powerless to do anything about it—that was the maddening part.
'What good would saying anything now do? Those guys won't listen.'
Those in the know would understand. When you hate someone, every action they take looks hateful.
Cain, the ugly duckling in their eyes, trying to sway the Council at this point? They'd just sneer inwardly.
And his prediction proved spot on. Having failed to sway Chris, the Council began nitpicking every little thing.
Emperor Leonis had returned to the palace after the Harvest Festival. In other words, no need to worry about the Emperor's gaze anymore.
"Surely you didn't serve His Majesty the Emperor something this ridiculous, did you?"
"What kind of banquet is this? It'd be better suited for beasts."
"......"
Should I kill them? Having failed at persuasion, now they're just grasping at straws.
Cain barely suppressed the surge of murderous intent. He was Renheim's lord, after all.
Every action and word of his became fodder for the nobles to chew on and justify themselves with.
Besides, if there had been any real issues with the festival, Chris or the Dragon Knights would have pointed them out long ago.
"Goodness, at this level... In our Srelia family, treating esteemed guests like this would get you chased out of the estate."
Especially that Maros from the Srelia family, leading the charge.
Cain had heard of the Srelia earldom before. A noble house that amassed vast wealth through wine.
They even had a solid reputation in social circles, from what he'd heard.
'The Dragon Knights said nothing, so these guys complaining now... means it's just nitpicking.'
Cain tried to brush it off, but those around him wouldn't let it slide.
Surprisingly, the first to erupt in anger was none other than Princess Anna herself. And for good reason.
She had put the most effort into the Harvest Festival. Smiling, she opened her mouth.
"If it's not too rude, could you tell me exactly what the problem is?"
"The quality of the food, for starters. How could you serve His Majesty something like beast feed and call it a banquet...?"
"Oh my, does that mean Her Highness the Princess and the lord, who ate that beast feed, are no better than livestock?"
"Th-that's not..."
Was it because she was a woman? Or a princess from a fallen kingdom? He'd let his guard down and got hit hard.
Watching it unfold, Cain clicked his tongue. Princess Anna looked fragile as glass on the outside,
but she had quite the temper. A truly furious Anna could even overwhelm Morgana.
"I'm aware you may not know the customs of hospitality, but Lord Renheim purged evil that threatened the Empire in His Majesty's name. Surely you're aware of that?"
"O-of course I know that much."
"It's only natural there would be heavy consumption in such circumstances... Surely no narrow-minded person would fail to account for that."
Anna was royalty, after all. Though barred from politics simply for being a woman...
She never stopped honing her skills. And those skills were on full display now.
Thanks to her, Milos von Srelia was beaten bloody in a verbal slaughter.
Even Morgana, watching from behind, nodded in satisfaction.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I got carried away before I knew it..."
Right after the young Council nobles retreated, Princess Anna apologized to Cain, her face flushed with embarrassment.
But Cain shook his head. Crushing them so cleanly with words changed everything.
"It's fine. It was refreshing for me too."
"Th-thank you, my lord."
"Splendid. It showed the dignity befitting royalty, I'd say."
"An excellent display of rhetoric. Pointing out banquet flaws in a territory at war was hardly appropriate."
"......"
Cain naturally turned to Chris, who was chiming in from the side. What the hell is with this guy?
Come to think of it, this is all because of you.
Glare as he might with those feelings, Chris soon noticed and nodded.
"I see... You wish to spar. I'm always ready to welcome it."
"......"
Psycho.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An emperor reigning at the pinnacle of the nation naturally had mountains of work overflowing.
Thus, the mere fact that he made time—even just one day—for the Harvest Festival showed ample sincerity.
Yet the Emperor went further. He left the Crown Prince behind in his stead.
Of course, the Crown Prince had his own duties, but far fewer than the Emperor's.
"By the way, isn't your younger brother in Renheim as well?"
"He is."
"Your reaction is surprisingly muted."
"I have no interest in fights between immature brats."
The Crown Prince gave a wry smile at the words of the woman with golden hair cascading to her waist and an eyepatch over one eye.
It was a relief she showed no interest. If she had, things would have gotten complicated.
'Chris von Leonhardt is called the Sword Maniac now... but the original is essentially her.'
Scardi von Leonhardt.
Quiet these days... but once upon a time, a sword-obsessed woman who shook the Empire to its core.
If Chris was the Sword Maniac, Scardi was known as the Sword Fiend.
Recalling her prime, when she caused far wilder incidents than the Maniac ever could, gave the Crown Prince chills.
'Who could possibly handle a monster like her?'
Word was her ideal type was a man stronger than herself... What nonsense.