Chapter 306: I Can’t Let It End Like This (4)
Chapter 306: I Can’t Let It End Like This (4)
The Grand Ducal couple’s bedroom.
Ava arrived at the bedroom, which was now far more magnificent and luxurious than before, only to find her husband drinking with a look of deep inner turmoil.
“Dear.”
“It’s you.”
Grand Duke Schneider spoke without even looking at his wife as she sat down beside him.
“You’re very upset, aren't you?”
“…Do you remember when Patrick was young?”
“How could I ever forget?”
Looking back, Patrick had been a peculiar child from the start. He rarely cried, often staring blankly into space before suddenly shouting in incomprehensible babble…
“Originally, I had no intention of having children.”
“……”
“Part of it was because of your frail health, but more than that, I never thought I would be a good father. I knew all too well how lacking I was…”
“……”
Ava simply listened to her husband’s words in silence.
“But when we had him and he was born, I made a vow. I told myself I would protect this child no matter what it took.”
“……”
“Thinking about it now, it was ridiculous bravado. Considering the kind of man my son is…”
“……”
“My son is strong, wise, and his resourcefulness is beyond words. He is such an extraordinary son that I truly cannot understand how I could have fathered him.”
“……”
“My worrying about him is like a goblin worrying that a dragon might fall and hurt itself while flying.”
“……”
“But tell me.”
“……”
“Is it wrong for me to feel this way?”
“……”
“No matter how insignificant and lacking I am compared to him, I am still his father. I am his parent. So… is it wrong for me to worry when my son is risking his life on something so reckless?”
“……”
Grand Duke Schneider brought both hands to his face, rubbing it tiredly as he muttered weakly.
“It would have been better if he had been born the son of someone far more illustrious than me…”
The Prophesied Human…
The Apostle of Kalaron…
These were matters on a scale Grand Duke Schneider could never have imagined.
He felt he was too ordinary, too small a person to handle such things.
He drained his glass in one gulp and reached to refill it, but Ava caught his hand, stopping him.
Then…
“What parent wouldn't worry when their son is doing something reckless?”
“Ava…”
“But no parent can keep their child in their embrace forever. Especially not a son like ours.”
Patrick Schneider was a man whose wings were far too large to be confined within their reach.
“But you know, dear.”
“……”
“Even if he leaves our embrace, it doesn't mean Patrick stops being our son. He is still our child.”
“……”
“We have no choice but to trust him and watch over him. Just as all parents in the world do…”
Grand Duke Schneider squeezed his eyes shut.
Yes. She was right.
He wasn't so foolish that he didn't know that. But…
Was he supposed to push Patrick toward challenging the Four Calamities?
When he might die?
To push his own child toward the jaws of death instead of stopping him?
“What kind of parent in this world would do such a thing…”
He couldn't even finish the sentence.
Ava gripped her husband’s hand tightly and said, “I know. I understand exactly how you feel.”
“……”
“So, please, speak honestly to our son about those feelings.”
She then rose slowly from her seat and looked toward the door.
“Son.”
There was no answer.
But Ava spoke with absolute certainty.
“If you don’t come out right now, Mother is going to be very angry.”
At that, the door creaked open, and Patrick appeared with an awkward expression.
“Wait, I completely erased my presence. How did you…”
Even a 7-Star Knight shouldn't have been able to notice Patrick if he was determined to hide his presence. But…
“I am your mother, you brat.”
Patrick was left speechless by Ava’s smiling remark.
As she walked out, she added, “Now, you two have a heart-to-heart.”
Once she closed the door and left, Patrick hesitated for a moment before walking over and plopping down across from his father. Then…
“Aren't you drinking too much? It’s not good for your health.”
“Look who’s talking. The one who lives with a bottle in his hand every day?”
“Well, as for me…”
Grand Duke Schneider poured wine into the empty glass and pushed it toward Patrick.
“Come to think of it, we’ve never sat down for a drink together, just the two of us.”
“Because you rarely drink, Father.”
“And you don’t drink tea, do you?”
“Why would I drink grass water that doesn't even get me drunk?”
They truly were a different pair.
Grand Duke Schneider let out a short laugh and held out his glass to Patrick.
“Let’s drink together today.”
“…Yes, sir.”
The father and son emptied their glasses simultaneously.
As Patrick awkwardly tried to open his mouth to speak, Grand Duke Schneider spoke first.
“Is it something you absolutely must do?”
Patrick flinched at the question and pressed his lips thin. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke his honest feelings.
“If I could avoid it, I would.”
“……”
“Honestly, what more could I want here? Our family has plenty of money now, and our territory is no longer a barren wasteland where people die constantly.”
“That’s true.”
“The nation’s military and economic power are both growing stronger.”
“A good thing, indeed.”
“Furthermore, Count Krupa has been working himself to the bone lately to solidify the administrative system, so there’s nothing left for me to do. I could just sit back and enjoy the sweet life.”
“……”
Patrick let out a sigh and looked at Grand Duke Schneider.
“To be honest, I want nothing more than to live a life of leisure, playing around with my beautiful wives. I’ve dreamed of that kind of life… my entire life. Truly.”
“……”
Patrick spoke with a distant look in his eyes.
Thinking back, he had accomplished so much in the twenty-odd years since his reincarnation.
From beating down the Knight Captain who was embezzling the budget to everything that followed—how many things had happened?
‘I really went through hell.’
And now, the Grand Duchy of Schneider was perfectly stabilized.
The life of leisure and peaceful seclusion he had dreamed of was right before his eyes.
Dark Mages? The Overlord?
Honestly, as long as they didn't mess with him first, he could just ignore them.
But the thing was…
The Prophesied Human.
The Apostle of Kalaron.
The Outer God sealed within the Holy Kingdom.
And even the traces of the Heavenly Demon…
‘Haaa… what a life.’
It was a headache, but these were issues he couldn't ignore.
“Father, when an arrow is flying at you, closing your eyes isn't the right answer, is it?”
“…Yes. You’re right.”
“I’m asking you. I’ll resolve everything somehow and come back to fulfill my duties as a son to you and Mother. I’ll give you cute grandchildren and rule the country… well, I’ll rule it as well as I can.”
“……”
“So, for now, won't you trust my decision? I know you’re worried. But this isn't something I can avoid.”
“……”
“It’s not like I’m doing this without a plan. I recently entered the 9-Star Realm. So, skinning that calico cat should be more than possible…”
“Go ahead.”
“Father?”
“As you said, one cannot close their eyes to a flying arrow.”
“……”
“But I have one request… You must come back. Do you understand?”
Patrick looked straight into his father’s eyes and replied.
“Yes, Father.”
That day, for the first time, the father and son drank together until they both collapsed.
* * *
Whish!
A sharp sword strike cut through the air with a fierce sound.
Discipline, speed, and power—it was flawless in every aspect.
In truth, there were quite a few people in the Grand Duchy of Schneider who could perform swordsmanship of this caliber. However…
“Phew…”
If that person was a peerless beauty with black hair, there was only one candidate.
One of the three Grand Ducal Consorts.
It was Isabella Black Schneider.
She frowned, lost in thought.
‘I’ve gone completely rusty.’
It was a strike she had swung just to test herself, but she wasn't satisfied at all.
She looked down at her hands; they were white and smooth.
The moment she saw those hands, as fair and soft as a baby’s, her expression clouded with anger.
Once, these hands had been covered in hard calluses, the mark of a swordsman.
But now, they had become the smooth, soft hands of a lady.
She, too, had been an excellent swordsman who graduated from the Academy with top honors…
But that had become a thing of the past.
After marrying Patrick.
She had abandoned the sword.
Because she felt she no longer had a reason to hold it.
In the past, the reason she had wielded a sword and applied herself so frantically was that she had a reason to become strong.
That desperate reason was her mother.
She believed that if she became an excellent knight, she could help her mother.
A queen who had been a maid before receiving the King’s favor.
It was a precarious position where one never knew when or how they might be killed.
To help such a mother, she had devoted herself to the sword with madness, and she had achieved results. But…
[It should be fine now, right?]
The moment she married Patrick, her goal was achieved.
Her mother was now living a peaceful and happy life in a villa within the Grand Duchy of Schneider.
Considering the position of the Grand Duchy and Patrick’s status, the rest of her mother’s life would be safe.
And so, she set down the sword.
In truth, even if she continued to hold the sword, she didn't think she could ever defeat April, Patrick’s other wife. So, she decided to leave the sword behind and focus on being a faithful wife instead.
For his sake, she learned the refinements suitable for a noblewoman rather than a knight, provided faithful support, and intended to bear his children.
Dissatisfaction? Regret?
There was none of that.
To her, the sword had been a means, and for Patrick, she felt both gratitude and love simultaneously.
Could it be any more perfect?
Being a faithful wife to the man she loved while also repaying her debt of gratitude…
She had nothing more to wish for.
She thought that if she could one day bear his children and be a devoted mother while raising them, there would be nothing more she wanted from life.
That was what she had thought. But…
“Useless woman.”
Isabella cursed herself.
A sense of loathing for herself—for having complacently given up what she had built—welled up from within, becoming unbearable.
“Trash. A useless idiot. You’ve become the most worthless parasite among Patrick’s wives, Isabella.”
Her body trembled slightly with anger toward herself.
A treacherous fate awaited Patrick, yet she had intended to spend her time playing at being a noble lady.
She couldn't forgive herself for that.
Isabella bit her lower lip and lifted her head.
“I can’t let it end like this.”
She had done enough reflecting and self-reproach.
What mattered now was correcting her mistake, starting immediately.
She was not a weak woman by nature.
She was someone who had picked up the sword herself to avoid being crushed by her birth, and even before meeting Patrick, she had already distinguished herself among the Academy students.
She was not a woman weak enough to simply shrivel up because fate was pressing down on her.
The next day.
Isabella visited an unexpected place.
“What did you just say?”
“I said I am formally applying to join.”
“…Our side?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
The place she had visited was known as the pinnacle of intellect and the headquarters of magic on the entire continent.
It was the Tower of Truth.
And the person before her was one of the Seven Sages who ruled the Tower.
He looked at Isabella and said, “Do you understand what it means to commit yourself to the Tower of Truth?”
“……”
“Committing to the Tower means severing all other ties you previously held. Family, country—everything.”
Those belonging to the Tower of Truth are strictly educated to prioritize the Tower above all else.
No matter what country or status a person held outside, the moment they entered the Tower of Truth, all of that was treated as if it never existed.
Even the Seven Sages discarded their original names and referred to themselves simply as the First Sage, Second Sage, and Third Sage.
If she entered here, Isabella would no longer be the Grand Ducal Consort of the Schneider Grand Duchy, nor the Princess of the Atronia Kingdom.
“Are you saying you are fine with that?”
“No. I cannot accept that.”
She could discard her status as a Princess of the Atronia Kingdom, but she could not sever her ties with the Schneider Grand Duchy.
That was a point she would never compromise on.
“Then we cannot accept you.”
“I wouldn't have come here if I were just going to leave quietly.”
Isabella remained stubborn.
She spoke to the frowning Sage.
“I am aware that while the Tower’s rules are strict, they are not without exceptions.”
“That is…”
“There is a record of a prince from the Caesar Kingdom who maintained his royal status while active as a mage of the Tower.”
“That was…”
“Was there not?”
The Sage let out a deep sigh and said, “That was because he made an immense contribution to the Tower.”
The person Isabella was referring to was Prince Ben Drake Caesar, who was both a prince of the Caesar Kingdom and a mage who had reached the 7th floor of the Tower of Truth.
Despite being a legitimate prince who could have inherited the throne, he was a peculiar individual who loved magic and yielded the throne to his younger brother to devote himself to it.
His achievements were so outstanding that the Fourth Sage of the Tower at the time took him as a disciple.
Thus, the first mage to maintain royal status in the Tower of Truth was born.
There had been much talk about it at the time, but it was an exception among exceptions.
In particular, that prince possessed such extraordinary magical talent that the Tower of Truth couldn't afford to lose him.
He had developed over a hundred original formulas, and because of him, the Tower of Truth was able to maintain a good relationship with the Caesar Kingdom.
It was a case where talent and political interests aligned perfectly.
‘In the case of the Grand Ducal Consort, political interests might align, but…’
Of course, training her as a Magic Swordsman would make her a fine addition to their forces.
However, gaining one strong Magic Swordsman wasn't that great a price from the perspective of mages.
It didn't satisfy intellectual curiosity, nor did it lead to magical advancement.
“It is certain to be rejected even if I bring it to a meeting. So, please…”
“I will disclose my Aura Blessing to you.”
“……!”
In an instant, the Sage’s eyes changed.
“Pardon me, but if it’s the Grand Ducal Consort’s Aura Blessing…?”
“It is called the Dual Blessing. I learned it from my husband.”
“Mmm…”
The Sage let out a low groan.
In truth, the Tower of Truth had long been interested in Patrick’s Aura Blessing.
To others, Patrick might just be a strong and ill-tempered Great Demon, but to mages, he was a subject of research that made them wonder: How can he be so strong at that age? What on earth is the secret?
They had approached him countless times, asking for cooperation for research, but he hadn't given them the time of day. To think such an unexpected opportunity would present itself like this…
The Sage almost bit the bait immediately but managed to compose himself.
“First, I must confirm this, as we do not wish for friction with the Double… the Schneider Grand Duchy.”
“……”
“Is it certain that there will be no repercussions if you disclose the Aura Blessing? Are you sure no one will come to complain, destroy the Tower of Truth, or sit down and throw a sorrowful tantrum?”
The examples were quite specific.
Isabella nodded slightly and said, “The Dual Blessing I learned was taught to me privately by my husband while he was serving at the Academy.”
“To you alone?”
“Yes. Since I was tied to the royal family at the time, he said it would be difficult to pass on the same thing he gave to the knights, so he taught me the Dual Blessing instead.”
“Then, how effective is that Aura Blessing?”
He felt a slight disappointment upon hearing it was different from the one Patrick and his knights used.
Still, since the Radiant Dragon himself had taught it, it was worth checking.
Isabella continued.
“What I previously practiced was the Raihan Blessing used by the Atronia Royal Guard.”
It was an excellent Aura Blessing.
It was the blessing of Duke Raihan, who had been the right hand of the first king of the Atronia Kingdom and had reached the 8-Star Realm. However…
“The Dual Blessing I learned allowed me to accumulate aura three times faster.”
“Three times?”
“Yes. Furthermore, the method of operation is unique. The system itself is different from existing Aura Blessings. It likely follows a similar principle to what Patrick practices.”
“Mmm…”
This was tempting.
If it wasn't just an excellent Aura Blessing but had a unique system, it was well worth researching.
In fact, though the Sage didn't know it, the Dual Blessing Patrick had taught her was what was known in the Central Plains as the Qiankun Divine Art.
It was the internal energy method of the Qingcheng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, and was highly superior in its own right.
How did Patrick know this? Well…
[Diiiiiieeeeeee!]
The detailed explanation will be omitted.
Though he had obtained the Qiankun Divine Art that way, it hadn't been of much help to Patrick.
Because…
[Eh, it overlaps too much with the Wudang Sect’s stuff.]
[…….]
[It even seems like a slightly inferior version; it’s quite useless. Do you have anything else?]
[Get out, you bastard!]
Those were the words of the Qingcheng Sect Leader, who was known as the most moderate among the leaders of the Nine Great Sects.
Anyway, and so…
This Qiankun Divine Art was just something Patrick knew, a technique that wasn't particularly useful to him.
He had taught it to Isabella during their school days.
Since she was a member of the royal family, he couldn't teach her the Twin Dragon Sect’s martial arts, but he also couldn't leave her with a mess of an internal energy method.
So, he chose the Qiankun Divine Art as an internal energy method that was decent by his standards but unnecessary for himself.
He had taught it to Isabella under the name "Dual Blessing."
When he taught it to her, he had even given her prior permission to let it leak to the royal family if necessary.
In this world, which lacked an understanding of meridians, it would be difficult to master without someone to guide the true qi anyway, so he didn't care if it leaked.
However, Isabella had kept it to herself without telling the royal family.
Though she was a princess, she felt no particular attachment or loyalty to them.
And now.
She had decided to use this as a useful card against the Tower of Truth.
“What will you do?”
“Mmm…”
“I’ll tell you in advance. If you don’t give me a quick answer, I will take this and make a similar deal with the Holy Kingdom.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“I will provide my Aura Blessing to the Paladins of the Holy Kingdom and join them as a Holy Knight instead.”
She wasn't joking.
This was the second plan she would choose if rejected by the Tower of Truth.
The Sage let out a sigh.
‘It’s an opportunity too good to miss. Above all, it’s better for us to have it than to lose it to the Holy Kingdom.’
Recently, the Holy Kingdom had bestowed the title of Saint upon Patrick and was showing active goodwill.
If Isabella, the Grand Ducal Consort, were to formally become a Holy Knight, the Holy Kingdom could become a greater ally to the Schneider Grand Duchy than the Tower of Truth.
That would be truly problematic.
After all the effort they had put into civil engineering, monster subjugation, and war according to that Great Demon’s unreasonable demands, to have it all snatched away now?
‘Absolutely not.’
Having made up his mind, the Sage spoke.
“First, I must hold a meeting with all the Seven Sages. However, I will push for it actively to ensure it passes. So, please wait a moment.”
“Understood.”
The Sage immediately held a meeting with the other Sages to seek their agreement on recognizing Isabella as an exception. As a result…
[We hereby recognize the acceptance of Grand Ducal Consort Isabella Black Schneider as a Magic Swordsman of the Tower of Truth while maintaining her existing status.]
A proclamation was announced.
And Isabella formally received a Soul Weapon and began training to master it.
‘This is just the beginning.’
She couldn't defeat April with a sword.
Even Elione, the Elven Knight, was more than she could handle.
But as a Magic Swordsman?
With the power of the Tower of Truth—a faction that stood shoulder to shoulder with the Benator Empire and the Saint Louis Holy Church State as one of the Three Great Powers...
‘Perhaps I, too, can finally be of help to Patrick.’
It might not happen immediately; it might even be a goal for the distant future. Nevertheless, she began to race toward her new objective once more.