Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Memorial Service (1)
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“I, I…”
Words stumbled haltingly from Logan’s lips.
As the sword shattered, he began to slowly regain his reason, which had been dominated by Hela.
“I just… wanted to get stronger…”
The broken blade of Hela started crumbling away like sand across his entire body. Once the blade and then the hilt turned to sand and scattered, all that remained in Logan’s hand was a handful of grains.
“What in the world… have I done?”
His knees buckled with a thud.
No—his legs were turning to sand and crumbling as well.
As the Light Sword Hela shattered, Logan, who had served as its host, was not spared either. Just as with Hela, Logan’s body began disintegrating into sand.
“Aldred.”
Logan arduously steadied his crumbling flesh and looked up at the Ribina Count, who gazed down at him.
“I never meant for this to happen.”
“I know.”
The Ribina Count responded concisely to Logan’s words, in a tone carrying genuine sincerity, not mere flattery.
Logan’s face showed a flicker of surprise at the reply.
The Ribina Count quietly continued.
“But the fact that you committed a grave wrong remains unchanged. Logan Deolic, you were once an honorable knight of the kingdom, but no longer.”
“…”
Logan had no words in response to the reprimand. He couldn’t bring himself to meet the Ribina Count’s gaze directly and averted his eyes.
And at the end of that gaze was me.
“…Clay Banheart.”
His eyes held much he wanted to say to me.
“You…”
But before his mouth could open, his body collapsed like a sandcastle, scattering in the wind.
The being that had been Logan Deolic vanished just like that.
In the end, I never learned what final words he had meant for me.
Witnessing Logan Deolic’s end, I was seized by an emotion too complex to put into words.
[It’s just karma. Don’t dwell on it.]
As if reading my heart, Gransesia offered a gentle word of comfort.
‘Karma…’
It was the very phrase I had used when I brought down Byan.
I hadn’t imagined it would apply to Logan Deolic as well.
“Banheart Count.”
As I stood there silently for a moment, the Ribina Count addressed me.
“Thank you.”
“I only did what was necessary. If you hadn’t been here, Count Ribina, the disaster would have been far greater.”
These weren’t words meant to curry favor with the Ribina Count.
There had been some loss of life, but because of the Ribina Count, the damage was kept to a minimum.
“…I see.”
The Ribina Count glanced at the people watching us from a distance.
They stared at the site of the disaster, now reduced to ruins.
“The world needs its pillars.”
“Pardon?”
“The tougher the times, the more so.”
He turned his gaze back to me.
“Duke Gail intended to make you a pillar of this kingdom.”
“That’s…”
It was hard to respond, given that I had rejected Duke Gail’s proposal.
“No need to feel burdened. Your judgment was correct. You’re not someone meant to be merely this kingdom’s pillar.”
With that, the Ribina Count thrust the sword he held into the ground.
“You will undoubtedly become a far greater pillar.”
“No, I’m still sorely lacking.”
“Hahaha!”
At my response, the Ribina Count burst into loud laughter.
“You’ve only recently become a Sword Expert. But what about now?”
“Even now, I haven’t changed that much…”
“You’re saying a Sword Master hasn’t changed much?”
“Pardon?”
At the mention of Sword Master, my eyes widened in circles.
Me, a Sword Master?
I belatedly examined the state of my body.
‘What the…’
An immense power, unlike anything I’d felt before, still surged through me.
What was astonishing was that this wasn’t the effect of Deltoid. I was currently in a state where I hadn’t unleashed Genova’s power.
Yet the strength overflowing in my body now was in no way inferior to when Deltoid’s ability was activated.
“You must have gained many fateful opportunities.”
“…Yes.”
“But making them truly your own is never easy. You have the qualifications.”
Qualifications.
The word didn’t quite resonate with me.
‘A pillar upholding the world…’
I couldn’t connect such grandiose words to myself.
“You’ll soon understand what I mean.”
To me, who couldn’t reply, the Ribina Count smiled and said that.
Then, slowly lifting his gaze to the sky, he murmured in a quiet voice.
“At least in the end, he managed to save face.”
His mutter carried a hint of lingering regret but also a sense of relief. Hearing it stirred a strange unease in me.
I hesitated before speaking to the Ribina Count, who stood staring up at the sky.
“Count Ribina?”
But no further response came from the Ribina Count’s lips.
* * *
King Leogart’s birthday celebration was, naturally, canceled. What should have been a joyous festival was now something no one had the heart to enjoy.
The damage from the disaster wasn’t massive by such standards, but dozens had still been killed or injured.
And above all, Aldred Ribina, one of the Seven Heroes, had breathed his last.
“Aldred Ribina, the Seven Hero and pride of the kingdom, fulfilled his role in protecting the kingdom and quietly closed his eyes.”
In place of the birthday celebration, a memorial service was held for the victims.
King Leogart opened his mouth with a grief-stricken face toward the vast crowd gathered in the plaza.
“Aldred Ribina Count spared no thought for his own life as he fought for the citizens. Without him, the sacrifices would have been far greater.”
Many in the crowd shed tears.
Aldred Ribina had been a symbol of the Talua Kingdom, a massive pillar.
His death was only natural to grieve.
Even the nobles who had opposed the Ribina Count now wore grim expressions.
[He was remarkable.]
Gransesia spoke to me as I listened to King Leogart’s speech.
‘If it were me… honestly, I’m not sure I could have done the same.’
[That’s precisely why he was remarkable.]
He truly lived up to the name of Seven Hero.
No Seven Hero could endure prolonged exposure to the Madness Disaster’s power unscathed.
Yet he hadn’t retreated; instead, he burned his own life to block Hela head-on.
‘I should have realized it.’
[Even if you had, there would have been no way to act. He knew that too, so he didn’t show it.]
She wasn’t wrong.
If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have been able to stop Hela from fleeing.
That would have led to casualties on a massive scale.
“Gelvin…”
It was naturally Gelvin’s role to lead the Ribina Count’s casket. The funeral was grand, befitting a state funeral, but it likely wouldn’t soothe Gelvin’s heart.
He seemed remarkable just standing there composed.
“Banheart Count.”
As the memorial neared its end, Duke Gail approached me.
“I’m sorry. Normally, we would have greatly commended you for stopping the monster alongside the Ribina Count, but…”
“It’s fine. I didn’t do it expecting such things.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Duke Gail let out a weary sigh, his face haggard.
His mind must be in turmoil now as well.
Especially considering the weight the Ribina Count carried in Talua.
“Are you planning to return to your territory right away?”
“Probably. I’ll head back as soon as the memorial ends.”
Of course, I planned to stop by Lavanteira first to check on the sword guarded by the beastkin, but no need to mention that to Duke Gail.
“I hate to ask, but if it’s not too much trouble, could you stay a bit longer?”
“Pardon?”
“I can’t say more now… but there’s something only you can do.”
Something only I could do.
I wondered if it was related to the Seven Heavenly Swords, but Duke Gail’s expression suggested otherwise.
“Will it take long?”
“It might. But could you at least hear me out?”
It was the first time I’d seen the duke so earnest.
After a moment’s thought, I nodded.
“Understood.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
His deep bow of gratitude left me a bit embarrassed, with so many eyes around.
[You’ll surely face rumors later.]
‘No helping it.’
I didn’t know what Duke Gail wanted from me, but it wouldn’t harm me.
If it turned out unfavorable, I could refuse then.
Considering various possibilities, I gazed at Riya, standing beside King Leogart.
The empire would provide full support to aid the damage from this incident.
Riya, seizing the moment without missing a beat, truly embodied an imperial princess.
Thanks to her, the kingdom’s citizens’ favor toward the empire rose, and Talua could forge even closer ties with it.
Unlike other imperial royals, Riya had always sought to unite the surrounding kingdoms and races as much as possible.
Behind it lay the groundwork I’d laid to distribute my novels more easily, but…
‘Not important now.’
I looked up at the sky as a drizzle began to fall.
What had the Ribina Count been thinking at the end, gazing at that sky?
I was simply curious.
* * *
A few days after the memorial, Duke Gail visited the capital mansion.
The issue was who came with him.
“Y-Young Master! His Majesty King Leogart is here!”
“…What?”
Having stayed long in the capital, Mone had come up to help with the mansion work.
Mone had grown bolder from all the ordeals, but apparently, a king was still too grand a scale.
‘Is this the thing he mentioned before?’
Duke Gail had come personally to request something. If even the king was coming, it might be bigger than I’d thought.
“Guide him to the drawing room.”
“M-Me?”
“Who else? Ask Riya?”
“No, but…”
Mone had grown close to Riya but still minded her status as princess, keeping proper decorum.
With a woeful face, Mone went out to greet the king.
[What do you think it is?]
‘…At this scale, only one thing comes to mind.’
[Really?]
Honestly, it hadn’t crossed my mind until now.
But if the king himself came to request something from me, nothing else fit.
‘Because I became a Sword Master?’
A realm achieved miraculously through various factors.
I’d only just entered its threshold, but still, a Sword Master by name.
With the Ribina Count gone, I was now Talua Kingdom’s one and only Sword Master.
[So the Sword Master thing is related to the king’s request?]
‘Yes.’
[What is it? Another Founding Festival-like tournament?]
‘Similar, but different.’
This wasn’t a regularly held event.
In my lifetime, it had happened only once—a singular occurrence.