Chapter 30
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Duel Arena (7)
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All eyes were fixed on Rockfield and Blake, tense with anticipation. They imagined he would order Blake to be cut down.
But his reaction was utterly different from what they expected.
"You're quite the amusing fellow. Indeed, as you said, you don't need to reveal your destination to me. Especially not if you're Prince Henrik's knight."
"I am the commander's knight..."
"Go."
"Hm?"
Blake, who had been about to deny Rockfield's words, narrowed his eyes.
Rockfield repeated himself toward the man standing silently, as if asking what he was waiting for.
"Weren't you leaving? You said you were on your way out."
"That's right."
"So go. I won't stop you."
Shrugging once, Rockfield turned away and let out a hearty laugh at the administrator watching his reaction.
"Hahaha! Well, well, Administrator, it seems I've ruined the mood somehow. My apologies."
"No, no! Don't mention it. Haha! Let's restart the festivities! Hahaha!"
Despite having already fulfilled his role as an observer, Nolford the administrator issued orders with surprising enthusiasm at Rockfield's words.
Bam-ba-ba-bam!
As the trumpets blared long and loud, the band originally hired to celebrate Baron Lancaster's victory now energetically played tunes for the White Family's triumph.
"......"
Blake watched Rockfield's retreating back with a thoughtful gaze amid the music, then turned away.
He slowly urged his horse along the path cleared by the Iron Knights.
"Hmph!"
Though the knights' sharp glares pierced down at him, he passed them indifferently, unperturbed.
"Sir Blake!"
Mia's voice called from behind, making Blake flinch briefly, but he forced himself not to look back.
Yet he soon had to stop.
Mia blocked his path, her eyes red and blazing.
"Mia!"
Christine cried out in surprise, trying to restrain her, but Mia shook her head fiercely, her voice choked with tears.
"We can't just let you go like this!"
"Step aside."
Blake remained cold.
"No! We... the White Family owes you an immense debt! We absolutely can't let you leave like this!"
"Indeed, Blake. Stay at least one more day."
Brick stepped forward beside Mia.
Then Christine joined them, her eyes resolute as if she'd made up her mind.
"......"
As Lindelmann and Guard hesitated, unsure what to do, Blake looked at the two girls blocking his way.
"Ah!"
The girls flinched but didn't avert their gazes.
A burning passion shone clearly in their eyes.
To Blake at that moment, it was an awkward, unfamiliar emotion.
He later learned it was aspiration.
Though awkward, Blake fully sensed the pure aspiration in their gazes and slowly turned to Brick.
"......!"
Brick flinched just like the others.
But unlike them, he briefly avoided Blake's eyes before slyly looking up again.
A cold glint flashed briefly in Blake's eyes.
Brick's gaze lacked the intense fervor of the two girls.
'As I thought......'
Blake was certain now.
Brick's demeanor was the same as before, when he'd dragged Blake into the honor duel at the pub. It was the attitude of someone hiding something, deceiving for personal gain.
And he had a good idea what Brick was hiding—and what he wanted.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. I only won the honor duel. I didn't help the White Family."
"Pardon? What do you mean..."
Everyone's faces filled with confusion at Blake's cryptic words.
He continued slowly.
"Earlier, didn't you say Baron Lancaster was one of the Iron Earl family's limbs?"
"Y-yes. But after today's events..."
"From that knight's attitude earlier, it seems the Iron side wants to clean up Lancaster. Does that mean the Lancaster Family is finished?"
"No. They'll lose influence in the North and take a hit in Northway too, but the family won't collapse... Urk!"
Brick suddenly stopped mid-sentence with a groan.
"Looks like you've realized it. As you thought, the White Family's position has improved with this duel victory. But tactically, not much has changed. If anything, you're more likely to face stronger challenges now."
Everyone stared blankly at Blake, who suddenly spoke like a different person, spouting complex ideas.
"Ah! Right, of course!"
Lindelmann, who had been pondering deeply, suddenly clapped his hands, drawing all eyes to him.
"The Lancaster Baron was the force balancing power in Northway, right? But after today's defeat, they'll have to lay low there for a while. And with Captain Rockfield's attitude, they've been completely abandoned by the Northern Great Lord too."
"Ah......"
"So, the families under Lancaster or allied with him will obviously abandon him and pursue their own interests, don't you think?"
Brick's face darkened under Lindelmann's cautious gaze.
"Sir Zaroph is right. With Lancaster in that state, starting tomorrow, every family and faction in Northway will compete for hegemony. It's obvious they'll target the weakest and most vulnerable first—the ones lacking strength and numbers. Which means, in the end..."
"They'll go after the easiest-looking prey first."
Lindelmann murmured, finishing for Brick, who couldn't continue.
"Ah!"
The two girls' faces fell instantly.
And Brick's following words darkened them further.
"Above all, my plan to fight personally and show the White Family's strength and vitality has fallen through. It was great that Sir Blake defeated all the Lancaster duelists alone, but that very fact..."
Blake single-handedly taking down every Lancaster duelist was undoubtedly amazing and incredible.
But to those who witnessed the duel today, only Blake would be remembered.
And that meant the White Family without him was...
"We're still just powerless nobodies."
Mia's voice, stripped of victory's joy, sounded even more drained than usual.
"......"
Even Brick, who as a White Family knight should have offered encouragement, could only bow his head in silence.
But then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he lifted his face brightly.
"C-could it be you did it on purpose..."
Blake, gazing at him impassively, replied indifferently.
"I have to repay what I received."
"Ah!"
Brick's mouth fell open.
One of the conditions Blake had demanded for participating in the duel flashed through his mind.
-Unconditionally follow his words regarding the duel.
His head rang.
That's why he'd made them promise to follow his instructions on the duel—and why he'd gone out first.
"Then farewell."
Blake's horse brushed past the stunned Brick.
Snapping to his senses with a flinch, Brick rushed forward, shouting.
"H-help us! Five days—no, just two! Stay just two more days! You're the only one who can..."
"It's not me—it's the commander's status."
Blake cut him off coldly.
"Urgh!"
Brick's body stiffened again.
Blake looked down at him with the coldest gaze yet and spoke.
"This morning, I clearly said I'd leave right after the duel. But back then, you didn't ask me to stay. Only now are you begging me to remain. Why didn't you say anything then, but do so now? Nothing's changed except that we won the duel. Well, except for one single fact."
Blake continued coldly to Brick, whose face had turned ashen.
"That I carry the commander's letter. Before that was revealed, I was just a discharged soldier to you. But now I'm not—at least not to you. Isn't that right?"
"......"
Brick, his intentions exposed, dropped his head.
It was shame at his shallow scheme being uncovered, and shock that Blake—whom he'd seen only as a skilled ex-soldier—was incredibly sharp-minded too.
"Hoo! What excuse can I make now? You're right. I planned to let you go, but I thought allying with someone bearing Prince Henrik's letter could save the White Family from this crisis. I have no words, even ten mouths wouldn't suffice. I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
As he bowed deeply, the two girls—now fully aware of the situation—blushed crimson.
Brick's actions were the White Family's actions; it was as if they'd tried to deceive Blake.
Not content with being saved twice from crisis, they'd tried to trick and use him again.
It was utterly shameless, leaving them speechless even with twenty mouths.
"Please forgive us."
"We're sorry. We'll apologize."
Mia and Christine bowed their heads, eyes red-hot.
Blake replied in a cold tone.
"This isn't for you to apologize for. And it has nothing to do with me anymore. Just as your family used me, I used your family."
"I-it's fine. You've helped us so much already; we have no face left. From now on, I'll... I'll manage somehow with my own strength..."
Though choking back tears, Mia clenched her small fists tightly.
But her trembling hands were unavoidable.
"You idiot! What do you mean your strength? I'm your sister! We'll do it together!"
Christine, face streaked with tears, gripped her sister's hand firmly.
"S-sister..."
Tears finally spilled from Mia's eyes.
The sisters embraced, shedding hot tears.
"......"
Blake felt strangely unsettled.
For some reason, the sight of the two girls weighed heavily on his chest.
An awkward, uncomfortable feeling.
"Then I'll be off."
As if shaking off the alien sensation, Blake spoke coldly and urged his horse forward.
"Thank you so much! We will—absolutely! We'll rise with our own strength and repay you!"
Mia cried out toward Blake's back, her voice mingled with sobs.
"......"
A heavier, more stifling weight settled in Blake's chest.
At the same time, the face of 'her'—who resembled Mia—began to take shape in his mind.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded heavily.
He couldn't understand why.
The unfamiliar experience only made it more frustrating and irritating.
"Hmph!"
Unable to bear it, Blake halted his horse and turned his head.
Then the hazy image in his mind materialized vividly.
Now he understood why his heart was racing.
"I'm... sorry. And thank you."
A little girl who perfectly resembled his deceased sister was wiping her tears, struggling to smile to the end.
And that was just like his sister's final moments.
So Blake resolved himself.
"Do you see Guard?"
Blake approached Mia slowly and nodded toward Guard behind her, who was wiping his tears.
"Pardon? Ah. Yes."
Startled by the sudden words, Mia nodded hurriedly.
"Recruit Guard."
"......Pardon?"
"He's a seasoned soldier who's served for years in Headgates' garrison. Without this incident, he might have passed the regular army exam. It means he's capable as a soldier and decently skilled at leading small units."
"Ah!"
Mia's eyes widened slightly.
She then looked at Guard—scratching his head sheepishly—with newfound appreciation.
"Moreover, he's leaving the garrison and will soon be unaffiliated. He was born and raised in Headgates, a military gateway city. He's the perfect fit for the manpower the White Family needs right now. Do you understand?"
"Yes! I do!"
Mia nodded vigorously.
"Then."
Feeling the awkwardness he'd briefly forgotten surge back at her expression, Blake yanked the reins roughly.
As the horse carrying Blake moved slowly forward, Mia's voice rang out from behind.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Sir Blake! We'll never forget you! As long as the snow doesn't vanish from the Northern Mountains, the White Family will be your eternal friends! Farewell! Farewell, Blake...!"
It was the same tearful gratitude as before.
But unlike before, Blake's chest no longer felt heavy.
A sense of refreshment, like a blockage cleared, washed over him as he rode on.
"Wha? Me, as the White Family's regular soldier?!"
Guard's startled cry faded into the distance behind him.
'Help given not because someone asked, but because he wanted to himself......'
The image of Guard stepping forward despite the glaring Lancaster swordsmen—to prove he was a Northernrocks dischargee—came to mind.
"Hmph!"
The corner of Blake's mouth curved faintly for an instant.
But it was truly a fleeting moment.
The subtle smile vanished so quickly even he didn't notice, and his lips tightened like a blade once more.
And...
Someone watched his retreating figure with eyes full of concern.
(To be continued)