18. Rubelt (2)
18. Rubelt (2)
Hestia's green eyes turned toward Cloné behind Yuma.
"...Cute."
Hestia's eyes went round, and the young girl who had started staring at her stuck herself right next to the black-haired, golden-eyed young girl.
"How old are you?"
Cloné looked at Hestia, who was gazing intently at her, and spoke quietly.
"Fifteen."
"Heung, a baby! A baby! I'm nineteen!"
Yuma slowly shook his head.
Because it didn't seem like the age difference warranted calling anyone a baby.
"What's your specialty? Mine's the sword! Shwik! Shushuk!"
"I'm a mage."
Cloné found it hard to endure Hestia's high tension. An instinctive weariness born from polar-opposite personalities. But Cloné tried her best to match Hestia's energy.
Because before they set out this morning, she had heard from Yuma about what happened last night.
Along with the remark that they would likely be moving together as a party all day today.
Jeobeok jeobeok
Having satisfied a fair amount of her curiosity about Cloné, Hestia stuck herself right back next to Yuma.
"We're almost at the guard post. What are you planning to do at the guard post?"
"Get a guide."
It was Yuma's judgment that, rather than barging in with some Cat Tribe member in tow and saying he had business, it would be easier to sort things out if he brought along a guide who knew at least a little about the count's castle.
'The one who had guided me to the inn would suffice.'
This time, Yuma intended to ask Hestia something he was curious about.
"You said you could smell other races. Can you pinpoint their locations to some degree as well?"
Hestia slowly shook her head.
"There are times when that's possible. But right now, it's not that clear."
"I see."
"Why are you traveling with that child, Yuma?"
"You don't need to know that."
Hestia made a sullen expression at Yuma's curt words.
"As a swordswoman, what's your realm?"
Hestia fiddled with the sword at her hip as she spoke.
"Around mid-level Sword Expert."
She knew her own level clearly. Objective self-assessment was an absolutely essential trait for a swordswoman.
"Arrived!"
Hestia's energetic cry rang out.
Yuma stood before the gates of the County of Luvelt guard post. Two crossed spears blocked Yuma's path.
"Please state your business."
The words were quite polite.
In contrast to the two crossed spears.
'It looked like orders had come down.'
Do not engage in deep conversation with the imperial princess's agent. A command like that seemed to have been issued.
"I intend to meet Count Luvelt. I would like the person who guided me to the inn to serve as my escort."
The guard's eyes darkened in an instant.
"...Please wait a moment."
And he went inside the guard post. The man the guard brought out was someone familiar to Yuma. He clearly was the person who had taken him to the inn last night.
The middle-aged man bowed deeply toward Yuma.
"I greet the agent of Her Highness the First Imperial Princess, Lord Yuma. I am called Arsen, Captain of the Guard."
Arsen, whose neatly trimmed mustache stood out quite noticeably, straightened his bowed back and faced Yuma directly.
"May I ask your reason for wishing to meet His Excellency Count Luvelt?"
Yuma looked at Arsen and slowly opened his mouth.
"Captain Arsen."
Arsen swallowed hard at Yuma's call.
Yuma's words continued.
"Do I look like someone who needs to explain his business to you?"
He did have a reason for this audience, thought out on the way here.
"Her Highness the First Imperial Princess had words she wished conveyed to Count Luvelt. She urged me to deliver them personally, in my own mouth."
A reason Count Luvelt could not dare refuse.
"So guide me."
Arsen bowed his head deeply once more. He was conceding that this was not a matter he could refuse.
"Understood."
Once he had yielded, Arsen's movements became brisk. He immediately procured a carriage heading to the lord's castle.
Dageudak dageudak
The carriage began moving toward the lord's castle.
***
"We have arrived."
Yuma found himself facing a magnificent count's castle.
Even at a glance, the front of the castle gave off an impression of being guarded with ironclad vigilance.
A knight clad in white armor approached, his greaves clanking with a Cheolkeong.
"Captain Arsen, what business brings you to the count's castle? And this person?"
"Show respect. This is Lord Yuma, agent of Her Highness the First Imperial Princess Brigitte."
The knight slowly bowed his head toward Yuma.
"I am Lockman, Vice Commander of the Knights of Luvelt."
"Yuma, agent of Her Highness the First Imperial Princess."
"Have you come to see His Excellency Count Luvelt?"
"Yes."
Lockman stared at Yuma with a stiff face.
"Please wait briefly in the VIP room. Captain Arsen, you will guide him."
"Yes, understood."
Arsen guided Yuma's party to the VIP room and then disappeared.
Yuma had already checked the info window of Lowelke, the count's vice knight commander.
[Lv.81] Lowelke
Class: Swordsman
Realm: Advanced Sword Expert
He was not quite the overwhelming powerhouse one might expect.
Of course, compared to the mortal Yuma, he was indeed the possessor of monstrous talent.
Yuma rummaged through his subspace pouch.
It was not the subspace pouch he had received from Princess Brigitte.
It was the subspace pouch that Sword God Kronos had kept in the inner pocket of his coat.
Kronos's subspace pouch was, quite literally, a treasury of swords like no other. A treasury of swords where countless famous blades were piled up.
For Yuma, the best use for these famed swords was for 'parrying', but Hestia right beside him would be different.
This Cat Tribe swordswoman whose growth potential was 'Sword Master.'
Seu-euk...
Yuma pulled out a suitable sword chosen from Kronos's subspace pouch and held it out to Hestia.
[Full Moon's Kiseteria]
Sword
Durability: 100,000
Attack Power: 700
Trait: When executing a 'slash' attack, the probability of inflicting a critical hit on the enemy increases.
Hestia's eyes went round as she stared intently at the sword Yuma had placed in her hands.
She gazed at the sword that shone with supreme nobility.
"Th-this is...!"
Hestia spoke as if she couldn't believe it.
And then she looked back at Yuma.
"What kind of sword is this!"
She said that as if she understood its value.
"...Kiseteria. A famed sword specialized for slashing. If someone comes at you openly, cut them down with this."
Hestia let out an Ooh! of admiration as she examined the sword from every angle.
"Giving me a famed sword like this, does that mean you're appointing me as your subordinate?"
That was not the intention.
"It means don't make yourself a nuisance to me. With that sword, you should be able to fell most of what's in this castle."
If the sword's trait, the 'slash' critical hit, triggered properly, it could even cut off Lockman's breath.
"A-a famed sword of that caliber...!"
Hestia began to foster yet another enormous misunderstanding. That he had even given her a famed sword because she had mentioned searching for her little sibling.
'As expected... a warrior that great must have been able to show this much mercy to the weak!'
While Hestia was stacking up misunderstandings, a knight's voice came from outside.
-You cannot, young lady. Please go back... Hah, understood. Young lady. Truly only a very brief moment.
Then the door opened and a young girl walked in. She was a young girl with striking blonde hair.
The young girl bowed at the waist toward Yuma and paid her respects.
"I greet the agent of Her Highness the First Imperial Princess, Lord Yuma."
Her pronunciation was clear, but her voice was unmistakably trembling.
"My name is Ruine. I beg of you."
It was a tremor that conveyed earnestness all on its own.
"Please rescue my older brother, Kaisen, the eldest son of House Luvelt, who is now in a strange prison. It's strange. If they were going to imprison him, they could have put him somewhere people could visit. But they locked him away in a prison that only a very few in the count's family know about. A place where no one can meet him."
Ruine pressed her tiny face close to Yuma's ear. And whispered.
"Dad, no. The Count has become strange."
Having finished speaking, Ruine hastily pulled her face back.
Yuma stared at Ruine, who had bowed her head once more.
The state of this household seemed to be an utter wreck.
-His Excellency the Count says to enter.
A knight's voice came from outside the door. Yuma rose to his feet.
The knight opened the door to the count's office.
A massive chair that looked almost like a throne.
Count Luvelt sat in that chair.
The white hairs peeking through the gaps in his brown hair stood out.
Hagail Pel Rubelt opened his mouth.
"A pleasure. Agent of Her Highness the First Imperial Princess, Yuma."
Yuma slowly opened his mouth.
"A pleasure. Count Luvelt."
Yuma did not let anything show.
But the Searching Eye was telling only the truth.
[Lv.31]
Hagail Pel Rubelt
Caution: Currently eroded by demonic energy from an unidentified entity. Most of self-awareness has been lost.
Body is being controlled by an unidentified entity.
Already consumed.
His mind.
That unidentified entity written in the caution.
'Probably a dragon.'
If it was a creature that dealt in demonic energy, there was a high probability it was a black dragon. Or perhaps even a demon dragon lineage.
'First.'
Bluff through it roughly and exit the count's chambers.
Then meet the count's eldest son in the underground prison. The fact that they had locked up someone who was no less than the count's eldest son—that likely meant he knew a great deal.
He might know where the main body of the entity currently dominating the count's mind was located.
There was also a chance he knew where the younger sibling was—the one Hestia, now concealing her Cat Tribe ears beside him with a robe, was searching for so desperately.
Count Luvelt gazed intently at Yuma and spoke.
"Her Highness the First Imperial Princess Brigitte had words to convey to me, you say?"
Yuma opened his mouth with feigned nonchalance.
"A very simple matter. That I would be pleased if you were to become a strength for Her Highness the First Imperial Princess Brigitte. As it is an earnest request from Her Highness, would it not be proper to inform you face-to-face like this?"
It was a very simple matter for having come all the way to the count's castle, but the fact that it was the words of Her Highness the Imperial Princess lent it legitimacy.
Luvelt slowly nodded his head.
"Indeed. If they are Her Highness the Imperial Princess's words, the agent has ample reason to deliver them in person. Then, is there no further business?"
"I may stop by once more before leaving the county."
Luvelt smiled.
"At that time, I shall prepare a banquet for you, honored sir. Agent of the Imperial Princess, Yuma."
"I'll look forward to it."
Having wrapped up the conversation just enough to avoid giving the Count any sense of unease, Yuma intended to turn around and leave this place just like that.
And Count Luvelt, just as Yuma intended, did not stop Yuma's party from descending through the count's castle.