Chapter 79
Chapter 78
"Hahahaha!"
"Young master! Are you laughing right now?! Have you lost your mind? Even if your tastes are eccentric, this is too much! You didn't even report to the family, and now you're engaged?!"
Rick pounded his chest as he passionately protested.
But.
"If I don't get engaged, someone has to take responsibility for Lady Ellen's injuries, right? Should it be you......?"
"Why, why are you shifting the blame?! You're the one who hit her!"
Rick took a step back with an indignant expression.
"What else could I do? A treasure was right in front of me—I had to stake my claim."
"What kind of nonsense is that? That crazy—no, I mean, that fierce lady! If you announce your engagement to her, even the lord will jump out of his seat! The Sword Duke must be playing a joke on you!"
"I don't think so."
"No, that mi—ugh. That lady too. Why did she nod? What on earth did you say to her?! How did someone who's never properly interacted with women manage to seal the deal in one go......?"
"So that's what you're curious about."
"Well, that's also a little curious—no! Young master! I'm just speaking out of loyalty!"
"Then I won't tell you?"
"Hmph. Well, it'd be nice to know......."
"I won't tell you."
"Ah, seriously!"
Pfft.
Logan ignored Rick's fussing and quietly closed his eyes.
Though several days had passed, the excitement from that moment still felt vivid.
Of course, the reason was slightly different from what Rick imagined.
'Her swordsmanship sense was no less than Ronian's.'
All he did was point out a few openings and press her, yet she immediately corrected her technique on the spot.
Seeing that, Logan instantly changed his mind.
No matter what it took, he had to secure her.
It was partly because he judged her to be a talent with high potential to become a Transcendent in the future, but that wasn't the only reason.
'A female knight with the potential to become a Transcendent in Grandia?'
Even if that weren't the case, what if Ellen became famous as a skilled female knight?
Just that alone could eliminate one of the kingdom's worst societal flaws.
'She could become the catalyst for training female soldiers.'
The neighboring Ares Empire prioritized talent regardless of gender, and that principle extended to their military.
If someone had talent, they could receive advanced education regardless of gender—whether in martial arts or magic.
Thus, female knights and mages in the empire were another formidable weapon that Grandia lacked.
And in the future, he would have to fight against that very empire.
'The more usable pieces I have, the better.'
The deeply rooted ideology of the thousand-year-old Grandia Kingdom couldn't be changed simply by expanding his family's influence.
But if things went as planned......
'If the price for that possibility is an engagement—no, even marriage—it's a bargain.'
The words he whispered into her ear as he helped her up, exhausted.
Contrary to Rick's assumption, they weren't romantic.
Considering her reputation, circumstances, and skill, they were a 'proposal' he thought she'd appreciate.
-You have incredible talent. Join me. Come to MacLaine. Not as a woman, but as a knight. I promise you free training, sparring, and battlefields where you can earn fame. Of course, we'll have to formally announce an engagement.
Ellen, her face flushed, made a complicated expression before nodding faintly.
At that moment, a deal between two noble heirs was sealed.
The unexpected gain naturally lifted his spirits.
How could it not? He had obtained an unanticipated treasure.
Moreover, Ellen's radiant smile after their exhilarating spar, filled with pure liberation, was truly beaut—
Slap!
"Gah! You'll leave a mark! What are you doing, young master?! Have you really lost it?!"
"Ah, no. Just trying to clear my head."
"What kind of mental clarity requires self-harm?! You're bleeding! Blood!"
Looking at Rick's exaggerated reaction, Logan pressed down on his slightly pounding chest.
"See? Blood. Sigh."
Logan stared at the blood on his finger and inwardly berated himself fiercely.
'Already getting careless?! Get a grip, Logan! What's with this nonsense about women? You want to die in a woman's embrace?!'
Ellen gained an opportunity to showcase her talent.
He gained another talent to oppose the empire.
Yes. This was merely a transaction based on mutual interests.
'A transaction is enough.'
Repeating this to himself, his excited heart gradually calmed.
And then.
"I'm going to see my teacher."
"How am I supposed to react when you suddenly draw blood and then say something like that......."
"It's fine, it's fine. No big deal."
"It seems like a big deal."
Logan didn't bother convincing the grumbling Rick.
Now that his mind had settled somewhat, he was instead curious about something else.
"Why Ellen?"
"Yes. It didn't seem like you were simply trying to marry me off."
"Hohoho. Boy, you must've taken quite a liking to that girl!"
"Teacher!"
"Ahem. Fine, fine, I'll stop teasing. There were two reasons for choosing that family."
"Two reasons?"
"Yes. First, the Floyd Count Family isn't aligned with any faction but holds considerable influence in the capital. They're a family that can represent MacLaine, which has no connections in central politics."
"......Another reason for Bifrost to endure."
Since the civil war wasn't far off, Logan himself didn't pay much attention to this reason.
But for the Sword Duke, unaware of the future, it was a valid justification.
"Right. And the other reason is more important......"
The Sword Duke deliberately lowered his voice, and Logan leaned in attentively.
"I was curious what would happen if I paired a scheming brat with a tomboyish girl. But I didn't expect you'd take to her this much! Hahaha!"
"Ugh......"
Logan's fists trembled on his knees.
When it came to training, his teacher was stricter than anyone, but in other situations, he often showed this mischievous side.
It felt like the Sword Duke's revered reputation was crumbling in real time.
To play pranks even on matters of marriage—
Logan could only feel exasperated, having hoped for some other profound reason.
'Well. Whatever the reason, it worked out, so it's fine.'
Trying to console himself, he attempted to forget his teacher's jest—
"But. You met the girl, blushed like that. Now you finally look like someone your age."
"Huh?"
"I don't know how heavy the burden on your shoulders is, or how much weight you carry. But seeing a young man always wearing a stern face, bearing the world's worries—it wasn't a pleasant sight."
"......"
"You don't have to shoulder everything alone. Widen your heart. Trust those around you, and take it a little easier. It might just be an old man's rambling, but hearing the rumors, I thought a girl like Ellen might give you some breathing room."
The sudden sincerity.
The warm consideration that reached his heart left Logan speechless.
'......These are things only I can do.'
He merely steeled his momentarily weakened resolve.
"So while you're at it, don't grow old like me and regret not having children sooner."
"Teacher!!"
"Hahaha!"
After the incident with Ellen, Logan's daily life became surprisingly monotonous.
Without stepping foot outside the Sword Duke's estate, he devoted himself solely to training.
Unconcerned by the odd looks from those aware of his engagement, Logan focused entirely on his regimen—including sparring with the eighteen knights who had accompanied him as guards.
By the time three weeks had passed since their arrival in the capital, as late autumn deepened, a turning point came for those who had followed him.
Splash!
Cold water was poured over Henderson's unconscious face.
"Gah! Ptooey! Who the—?!"
"Me."
"......Thank you for waking me, young master."
Even though Logan was the one who had knocked him out, Henderson immediately bowed with a bright expression upon waking.
It didn't sound like empty politeness—it seemed genuine, making Logan's conscience twinge slightly.
And most of the eighteen knights reacted similarly.
For some reason, their loyalty seemed to have grown even stronger since arriving at the ducal estate.
Because of this, Logan found it difficult to voice what he had planned to say.
But it had to be said.
He had spent the past week preparing them for this very moment.
"Hmm. You've all improved a little since before you came?"
"Yes! That's correct!"
"Was coming to the capital worth it?"
"Yes! Absolutely!"
Considering how they had behaved when entering the city gates, it wouldn't have been surprising if they had spent every day carousing outside.
But instead, these men hadn't taken a single step outside the estate, solely engrossed in training—almost as addicted as Logan himself.
Thus, he felt he could trust them with what he had in mind.
"Actually, I have a personal request for all of you."
"Huh?"
"Will you hear me out?"
"Whatever you command, young master!"
The knights radiated loyalty.
But as Logan's words continued, their expressions gradually grew more peculiar.
"Hah, you're really sending the knights......"
Philip, who had recently wrapped up his business in the capital, stared at the knights Logan had brought with an astonished expression.
"Right. They've all accepted my 'request,' so let me introduce them. This is Squad Leader Henderson. He'll be responsible for your security."
"Pleased to meet you."
"I-I'm honored as well. But, really......"
Seeing Philip's bewilderment, Logan grinned and continued.
"This is Dygrom. Consult with him—he's the deputy leader—for anything requiring brains."
"Logan, sir, but really......"
"And from here, Jimmy, Nunez, Lambert, Keldin."
"Are you really okay with reassigning the knights like this?"
"I asked for their opinions, and they all said it was fine. Right?"
"......Yes."
The voices of the six knights were quieter than one person's.
Proof that this wasn't voluntary—but Logan's next words revived some of their spirits.
"Three months. Only until winter arrives. What I'm entrusting to you is that important."
Of course, this only made Philip more uneasy.
"No need to be so anxious. It's just an expansion of what you did last year. Specifically......"
Despite Logan's reassurance, Philip's agitation only grew.
"Before this year ends, procure as many weapons and warhorses as possible and send them to the territory. Also, the lumber we previously purchased from Tritan Territory."
Why did ominous premonitions never fail?
"......What are you scheming now?! The timing is suspicious—are you planning to start a war yourself?!"
"Tch. You see me as a warmonger?"
"Then why are you stockpiling war supplies?!"
"Just in case."
"What kind of 'just in case'?! Every time you say that, something always—!"
Philip bit back his words, afraid his suspicions might become reality.
Then, seeing Logan's unwavering expression, he sighed and effectively surrendered.
"......How much?"
"I'll allocate a budget of three million gold. Do your best within that limit."
"What?!"
Even at Philip's near-screaming protest, Logan's expression remained firm.
After easily capturing Silvan, Logan had gained confidence.
'If I increase the number of crossbow cavalry, even low-tier knight orders can be handled by regular soldiers alone.'
A few thousand soldiers could annihilate an entire small knight order.
An act that would overturn the continent's common sense.
Though the maintenance costs of horses and equipment would impose limits, it was worth attempting.
Moreover—
'In the long term, even without cavalry, it's manageable. Just training conscripts in crossbow use would suffice.'
He might not match the empire's rain of arrows that darkened the sky in his past life, but he needed comparable firepower.
To achieve that, he had to gather as many resources as possible before wartime.
But Philip seemed to have a different perspective.
"Ugh. This is insane. Young master, since you're not well-versed in commerce, let me explain. You likely won't even procure half the quantity you're imagining."
"Huh?"
"The moment such demand arises, prices will skyrocket. Especially for horses! Money doesn't make mares suddenly foal more, nor does it make them grow faster!"
"Huh? Hah...... Did I speak too late? I thought peacetime would be fine, but this is......"
"Peacetime?! You definitely said peacetime! You're thinking of war, aren't you?!"
"No."
Logan felt a twinge of guilt but brazenly steeled his expression, leaving Philip no choice but to tremble with clenched fists.
"Let me put it simply. Three million gold—even if divided equally among weapons, horses, and lumber—prices will soar. Especially for horses!"
Philip vehemently insisted prices would at least triple.
And procuring that much to send to MacLaine, even through merchant guilds—
He didn't even want to imagine it. Thus, he had to persuade Logan otherwise.
But—
"Sigh...... Fine. Do your best to manage."
"......?!"
Even the warning of tripled prices didn't faze him.
"Why buy so many horses and weapons?! You don't even have the troops to use them! Why such madness......"
He had to rationally talk Logan out of this insanity.
"Set the base purchase price at double the current market rate. For anything bought cheaper, you'll receive 3% of the difference as a performance bonus."
"I'll do my utmost."
......Well, if he put in the effort, it wasn't impossible.
Ignoring the knights' incredulous stares, Philip forced a strained smile.
"Ah, and there are a few more requests......"
"Will those also have performance bonuses......?"
"Of course."
After all, where money was involved, nothing was impossible.