Darkteria
"Ten million gold..."
Even after leaving the conference hall, Leonid kept repeating that astronomical figure to himself.
Jin quietly walked beside him and spoke.
"Father, that's an amount even we find hard to accept."
Leonid gave a wry smile.
Ten million gold.
It was a staggering sum that would shock even the giver, but for the receiver, it was an equally burdensome amount.
"What was the actual damage amount calculated by the prime minister?"
"The direct losses from the mine occupation were about 400,000 gold, Father."
"400,000..."
Leonid stopped in his tracks and turned around.
The massive conference hall came into view.
Cassius had effectively priced Beltria's "mental damages" at 9.6 million gold.
'A warning, no doubt.'
No matter how he thought about it, this wasn't compensation for Beltria. It was a brutal show of force, demonstrating to the entire continent what happened to those who dared deceive the Lunaria Empire.
"Father, can Carmen really pay ten million gold?"
Leonid slowly nodded.
"It's not impossible. But it would require emptying the royal treasury, confiscating the nobles' wealth, and imposing special taxes on the people—just barely."
"Even if they scrape together the money that way..."
"Exactly."
Leonid's expression was strange. Victory felt hollow, like swallowing bitter medicine.
"In the end, Carmen will walk the path to ruin. Without aid from equals like Haven or Darkteria, that is."
Leonid of Beltria and Zahir of Carmen had never been on good terms.
As neighboring kingdoms sharing a border, they had always clashed.
Yet seeing one kingdom on the brink of collapse felt like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Moreover, Edwin's shout in the conference hall kept gnawing at a corner of his mind.
'A Lunaria Empire conspiracy?'
Thinking about it, it was odd.
Carmen had no reason to strain themselves occupying Beltria's mine.
They weren't desperate enough for that in the first place.
No matter how he puzzled it out, it felt like a meticulously laid trap...
At that moment, footsteps approached them.
"Leonid, was it?"
It was Astra.
His cold voice snapped Leonid from his thoughts.
"Yes, Leonid of Beltria, Captain."
Leonid bowed politely.
"Thank you for understanding our position during the meeting. Thanks to you, the truth came out."
Astra shook his head with his characteristic emotionless face.
"I didn't take sides. I merely pointed out the inconsistencies."
"That alone was a great help to us."
"Is that so."
Astra's gaze passed Leonid and fixed on Jin standing behind him.
His sharp eyes scanned Jin.
Overwhelmed by that piercing stare, Jin instinctively shrank back.
But at the same time, he felt a desire to leave a good impression on one of the continent's strongest.
He straightened his shoulders and met the gaze as best he could.
"Jin. I heard you attend the Lunaria Academy."
"Yes, that's right."
A faint tremor mixed into Jin's voice.
"What department?"
"Economics."
Astra's eyebrow twitched slightly, as if surprised.
"Economics?"
Leonid proudly interjected.
"Yes, he's the top of his class in Economics."
The Lunaria Academy was the continent's premier institution, drawing talent from everywhere.
Being top of his class among thousands was an extraordinary achievement in itself.
But Astra's expression cooled.
As if it wasn't the answer he'd hoped for.
"Top of Economics..."
Astra scanned Jin again.
"Is there a reason you chose economics over swordsmanship or magic?"
Jin took a deep breath and answered.
"For Beltria's future. Military strength is vital, but without economic backing, a kingdom can't endure."
"Sorry, but I can't agree."
Astra stated firmly.
"Economy matters, but a nation's fate is ultimately decided by force."
Jin bit his lip.
He knew that. Hadn't the conference just proven how a strongman's word could overturn everything?
But Jin knew his own limits all too well.
His hands shook when he gripped a real sword, and mana scattered when he opened a spellbook. He had no talent worth calling such.
Did someone like him even qualify to lead Beltria?
Could he succeed his father?
"You're right. I know force is paramount."
Jin's voice trembled.
But he didn't avert his eyes.
"But I lacked the talent to cultivate that force. Instead, I'll support those with power through economics and create an environment where they can fight for Beltria."
Astra's face remained cold.
"You think that's enough?"
"It might not be."
Jin admitted honestly.
"But it's the only way I can contribute to Beltria—the best I can do without force."
* * *
I nearly sighed hearing Jin's words.
No talent?
It was absurd seeing Jin, standing right in front of me, claim he had no talent for force.
If he truly lacked it, then 99% of this continent were no better than dirt.
He simply hadn't awakened it yet.
Or perhaps he was deliberately ignoring it.
"Who said you lack talent for force?"
"Pardon?"
Jin looked up at me in confusion.
"Pathetic."
I said coldly.
"To let such talent rot away."
Jin's eyes wavered. He looked incredulous.
"But when I hold a real sword..."
"Is a real sword the only force?"
I cut him off.
"Is magic the only power? Declaring it absent without even properly seeing what you have—that's true incompetence."
Leonid watched us in shock.
He was probably surprised I'd show this much interest in Jin.
But what could I do?
I was the only one who could tell him that wielding a wooden sword would unlock his supreme ability.
"Perhaps you sense it instinctively."
I stared straight into Jin's eyes.
"That perfect form during solo wooden sword practice crumbles the moment you grip a real one."
"H-how do you know that?"
His voice trembled, almost a whisper.
"That's your true power."
"Yes, I know."
Jin's voice suddenly rose.
Long-suppressed emotions burst forth.
"I know my body stiffens with a real sword, that I move perfectly only with a wooden one. As a child, they called me a genius. But what's the use? You can't kill or protect with a wooden sword. It's just skill with a toy!"
Jin realized he'd forgotten himself and shouted, his face draining of color.
Raising his voice to Haven's captain. If I wished, that insolence alone could erase Beltria from the map.
He knew it.
But I pitied him instead.
His despair was so vivid.
How much anguish between the perfection of a wooden sword and the impotence of a real one?
I could feel the years he'd lived cursing his own talent as a curse.
"You conclude you can't grow strong with a wooden sword."
I gave a wry smile.
"Weak swordsmen chase famed blades, borrowing their power. But true swordsmen are different. To them, famed sword or twig makes no difference. What matters is the wielder's will and insight, not the sword."
Jin's eyes shook.
He wanted to believe but couldn't.
"But a wooden sword... it's just..."
"Just a stick of wood?"
I finished for him.
"Then tell me—what is that perfection you feel with it? An illusion?"
"No... it's not."
Jin bowed his head.
"Then it's real."
I stated firmly.
"Pursue that perfection to the end. A true swordsman cleaves mountains and rends skies with a mere branch. The realm you touch with a wooden sword—that's your true power."
Something flashed in Jin's eyes.
A spark of hope blooming from despair.
"Really... you mean I can grow strong with just a wooden sword?"
"Yes. I, Astra, promise it on my name. You can become strong with a wooden sword."
My declaration weighed heavy on the air.
A promise from Haven's captain, staked on his name—everyone knew its gravity.
Leonid stared at me in shock.
His face mixed astonishment with complex emotions.
His son harboring such immense potential, discovered by Haven's captain of all people—it was all unbelievable.
"For the captain to personally acknowledge Jin's talent..."
Gratitude and fluster mingled in Leonid's voice.
Jin still stared at his hands in disbelief.
Accepting that what he'd seen as a curse his whole life was actually a blessing would take time.
"When we meet again, show me your growth."
I left those words and turned away.
Jin was important, but I had urgent business.
Convincing Darkteria's demon king Zeke to take me to Darkteria—that was my top priority.
As I walked, I felt Jin's burning gaze on my back.
"You aimed for that, didn't you, Astra?"
"I don't know what you mean, Balderic."
Balderic eyed me meaningfully and continued.
"What you just said. 'When we meet again, show me your growth.' That's an invitation to meet again, and saying it for all these kings to hear? It's a warning. Don't touch Beltria. Right?"
"That wasn't my intent."
I replied indifferently, but Balderic's lips curved up.
"Hmm, still curious. If you acknowledge his talent that much, how strong can he get? Honestly, I didn't see it."
I stopped and turned to Balderic.
Meeting her skeptical eyes, this much I could assert.
"If he walks the path of the wooden sword to the end..."
I paused, gazing beyond the conference hall.
"...one day, he'll surpass even me."
Balderic's face hardened.
A man acknowledged by Haven's captain as one who could surpass him.
She knew what that meant.
"Bringing you here was the right call, Astra. You've shown me so much entertainment."