Chapter 394: Bread and Dagger (92)
Chapter 394: Bread and Dagger (92)
The moment I realized my opponent’s identity, I hurriedly straightened my clothes.
Even as a patient, he was someone who demanded the utmost etiquette. Sitting before me was one of only three Masters on the continent, the Emperor’s uncle and a man of absolute power within the Empire.
The Sword Duke of the Empire.
His real name held little meaning now. Everyone called him the ‘Sword Duke’ anyway, and he himself likely knew better than anyone that he could never return to the life he once led.
Such was the greatness of the rank of ‘Master.’
It didn't matter if one had lived for decades or centuries. The moment they ascended to Master, they underwent an evolution that uprooted their entire previous existence.
This was neither a joke nor a metaphor.
Their entire body was literally reconstructed. The physical form of a Master born from such a process defied common sense.
They were a breed that could even control their own aging at will. It was questionable whether they could even be called ‘human’ anymore.
Thus, every Master, without exception, discarded their old name.
In its place came a ‘title’—a glorious new name bestowed upon them by the masses of the continent.
The Sword Duke had also abandoned his past name long ago.
Though he was still bound by his bloodline, he was more than worthy of my respect even without such lineage.
He was a swordsman who had reached the highest pinnacle on the continent.
As I broke into a cold sweat, the Sword Duke let out a hearty laugh.
“Was I being too mischievous? I’m only joking, so there’s no need to be so flustered. And in truth, I really did miss it. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been addressed so informally… The last time was back when my nephew was still a rude little brat.”
“That must have been decades ago, at the very least.”
“Indeed. Once I picked a day and gave him a thorough thrashing, that nephew of mine finally settled down. Tsk, tsk. If he had shown that kind of spirit back then, he might have become a fine swordsman to succeed me…”
His voice was casual, but the content of his words was borderline insane.
The Emperor’s bloodline was noble.
No matter if the Sword Duke was his uncle, he was still from a cadet branch. Yet, he had thrashed the direct heir who was destined to become the next Emperor.
It was an act that wouldn't have been strange to be executed for.
The fact that the Sword Duke was still alive and breathing meant one of two things.
First, the late Emperor’s brotherly love was so deep that he intentionally overlooked it.
Second, the Sword Duke at the time was so reckless and unstoppable that even the late Emperor hesitated to touch him.
It was an irreverent thought. A noble who was supposed to be the Empire’s spear and shield was speculating on the internal affairs of the Imperial Family.
However, if someone forced me to bet my entire fortune on one of the two, I would bet on the latter.
The rumors regarding the Sword Duke in his youth were truly terrifying.
I was just glad his temperament had mellowed out with age.
I let out a silent sigh of relief and forced an awkward smile.
“I am glad it provided you with some brief entertainment. However, if I may ask, why is the Sword Duke here…?”
“Because you all called for me.”
My brow furrowed at the sudden statement.
What? Had I ever called for the Sword Duke?
My fading consciousness sharpened as a flood of memories rushed back. From the images crashing into my mind like a tidal wave, I managed to extract several pieces of information.
Only then did I ask back in surprise.
“Did you perhaps not hear? That I decided to subjugate that monster myself…”
“I heard. But what if you failed? Someone had to be there to clean up the mess.”
As the Sword Duke spoke, the corners of his mouth curled into a faint arc.
It was a satisfied smile.
“Of course, it was a needless worry. You did well, Ian Percus.”
“You flatter me. If anything, I feel as though I’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest…”
“The result is what matters.”
His words were low, yet they carried a powerful weight.
It was truly the dignity of a Great Elder of the Imperial Household. My mouth snapped shut instantly.
“The evil cult spreading among the Elves was a bomb that could have gone off at any time. Even if the Saint and I had come, the process of dealing with that monster would have resulted in many sacrifices. That is why I hold your achievement in such high regard.”
The praise was enough to make my face itch with embarrassment.
I contemplated what to say before eventually bowing my head slightly to express my sincere gratitude.
There was no reason to refuse when he was offering such high praise.
Since things had turned out this way, I decided to ask everything I was curious about.
“Then, what will happen to the relationship with the Elves moving forward? Does His Majesty the Emperor have any specific intentions?”
“That matter is something we must discuss gradually.”
It was an answer that was neither positive nor negative.
Unlike me, the Sword Duke was a true possessor of ‘Dragon Blood Runes.’ Considering the weight behind every word he spoke, it was only natural for him to be this cautious.
However, as if to reassure me, the Sword Duke added a few more words.
“We’ll have to see how the Elves act, but if they don’t attack us immediately, the Empire has no incentive to continue a war with them. What would we gain by seizing barren land like the coniferous forest? Furthermore, depending on the outcome of the negotiations, the Empire is willing to grant the Elves some land in the North.”
“Grant them land? Are you serious?”
“Why would I speak falsehoods?”
At my skeptical question, the Sword Duke gave a thin smile.
It was the Empire that had pushed the Elves so hard and exiled them from the lands of humanity. Furthermore, no nation was ever lax when it came to its borders.
Naturally, the Empire was the same.
And yet, they were going to give away land.
I couldn't help but find it incomprehensible. The Imperial Household was not one to welcome the Empire’s territory shrinking by even an inch.
Seeing my puzzled reaction, the Sword Duke chuckled.
“Don’t overthink it. There are still vast unchartered territories in the North. Even if we relocate the poor Elves to a portion of it, what loss would it be to the Empire?”
“But the very act of ceding Imperial territory to Elves in the first place… Ah.”
As I was about to raise a quiet objection, I suddenly realized one fact.
There was no way the Empire would simply hand over territory to the Elves, who were nothing more than remnants of a defeated army.
There was only one reason the Empire would show such mercy.
“Do you intend to incorporate the Elves as subjects of the Empire?”
“That is also a matter to be reviewed in due time. In truth, the conflict between humanity and Elves has been stagnant for far too long. We must also resolve the lingering resentment on both sides…”
On the surface, it sounded like a non-committal answer, but it lacked a clear expression of refusal.
In other words, it meant they were considering it positively.
I considered saying it might be dangerous, but then I stopped myself.
The Dark Cult had already begun its activities.
The more allies humanity had, the better. Moreover, after the attack of the flesh monster, the Elves' power had been further weakened.
There was no way they could turn their blades against the Empire.
It wasn't as if the Elves had an incredible reproduction rate either; by the time they could seriously threaten humanity again, centuries would have passed.
A few hundred years is longer than one might imagine.
It had taken less than a few weeks for me, who was nothing but an enemy, to be accepted in the Elf village. I could only hope that the day the Elves were similarly accepted by humanity would come quickly.
Above all, the coniferous forest was an environment far too harsh for survival.
Seeing the complex look in my eyes, the Sword Duke allowed me a moment of silence.
After a few minutes of quiet, a long sigh escaped my lips.
“I am grateful for His Majesty’s grace. To be honest, I was also concerned about the Elves…”
“I know.”
The Sword Duke accepted my words with ease and let out a hearty laugh.
“If the result hadn't been good, you would have been branded a traitor. Then my blade might have been stained with your blood, haha!”
He said it like a joke, but I wasn't stupid enough to miss the blade hidden within those words.
It was less of a warning and more of a piece of advice.
A cautionary word mixed with concern that I might be broken at any time if I didn't watch my step.
Even so, I wanted to defend myself.
“I had no choice.”
Perhaps it was because my mind was still hazy.
The moment I blurted out those words, my mind went blank. Who did I just talk back to?
I should have been content with just nodding my head obediently.
However, the Sword Duke surprisingly showed no sign of offense.
Instead, he even gave me a sidelong glance as if telling me to go on.
Since the milk was already spilled, I had to stammer out my reasons while trying my best not to offend him.
“A specific faction was intervening in the conflict between humanity and the Elves, and there was a high probability that the faction was the Dark Cult. I felt that if I didn't uncover the truth, even at the risk of my own life, I would regret it later.”
“Conversely, you might have ended up regretting that choice.”
“I do not regret it.”
Again, a strong tone slipped out.
My body flinched in surprise, but the Sword Duke still showed no displeasure.
Unable to bear his gaze, my mouth confessed my honest feelings.
“I realized through this opportunity that the world I knew was far too narrow and lacking… If I hadn't chosen the Elves that day, I would have remained satisfied in that cramped world. I didn't want to hate or kill an enemy anymore without even knowing the reason why.”
“Heh, you certainly know how to say embarrassing things. And for a hero who is supposed to save the world, you are far too soft-hearted.”
At the Sword Duke’s scolding tone, I slightly averted my gaze.
I felt like I shouldn't have said anything. Someone who was born strong like the Sword Duke probably wouldn't understand my heart.
However, the Sword Duke’s following words were the exact opposite of my expectations.
“But as a swordsman, it is a good experience. The process of perceiving the ‘world’… make sure to remember that sensation. A swordsman must be able to stand tall like a blade within that world. Furthermore, it would be even better if you could break that world.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“You’ll understand someday. And when that time comes, you will finally be able to receive a single strike from me.”
To reach a level where I could exchange even a single blow with a Master.
It was a distant path.
As I let out a hollow laugh, the Sword Duke stood up, dusting off his clothes.
It was a sign that he was about to leave. We had only been talking for a few minutes, but I thought to myself that he was truly an unpredictable individual.
Before leaving, as if he had just remembered, the Sword Duke pulled a seal from his robe and handed it to me.
The seal, made of elegant hardwood, was engraved with the pattern of a dragon. It was an object symbolizing the Emperor’s authority.
I already possessed a similar item—the seal symbolizing the authority to oversee the Academy branch of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.
Then, what was the meaning of this seal?
The Sword Duke spoke to me as if it were nothing special.
“His Majesty the Emperor has decided to grant you full authority.”
“Full authority over what…?”
“The Yurdina family.”
My mouth snapped shut instantly.
I realized that the meaning behind the seal the Sword Duke had handed me was far beyond my imagination.
“I shall watch to see how you handle the traitor to humanity.”
It was a test.
And one that felt very much like a trap.
I instinctively realized this and began to sweat profusely. Handling a titan like the Yurdina family with my own authority was a self-destructive move.
It meant I would have to shoulder that much political burden.
On the surface, it might look like the Emperor trusted me implicitly, but there was a much more chilling meaning beneath it.
I will test you.
It was a declaration that he would watch everything—from my loyalty to the Imperial Household to my political sense and how well I could distinguish between public and private matters.
Even though I, a student of the Swordsmanship Department, couldn't possibly have such talents.
The best course of action was to decline this offer under the guise of humility.
Having made my judgment instantly, I stood up unsteadily. I reached out toward the Sword Duke, who was already gripping the doorknob.
“Wait, Elder Sword Duke! No matter how I think about it, this is far too much for me—”
But the moment the Sword Duke pulled the doorknob.
I had to shut my mouth at the sight of the people pouring in. They were all familiar faces.
The Saintess, Senior Elsie, Emma, and the Princess. On top of that, even Yuren, who looked somewhat annoyed.
The women immediately began to swarm around me. They must have been more anxious than anyone, only holding back until now because of the Sword Duke.
“I-Ian! Are you okay?”
“Master, is there anywhere uncomfortable? Did some lewd slut from the gloomy Holy Kingdom try anything…?”
I was swept away by the tide and couldn't catch the Sword Duke.
He merely gave a slight smile and walked away.
“Be careful with your luck with women, junior.”
I felt truly dismal.
That night, the place I was to visit was already decided.
It was a room filled with the scent of an alluring woman. From the dim lighting to the nightgown that was semi-transparent.
She had once told me.
That she only showed such a nightgown to one person. Furthermore, that there was only one man to whom she had shown even a part of her naked body.
Senior Delphine let out a soft chuckle and asked me.
“You’re here?”
I still had work left to do.