Chapter 115: Fragment (4)
Chapter 115: Fragment (4)
The Rhapsody Legion, which had been blockading the entrance to the Caravan Estate, no longer had a leg to stand on. My innocence had been proven under the names of the Nine Goddesses and the Seven Gods. In the vastness of the continent, nothing was more absolute than a testament from the gods themselves. The Rhapsody Legion were no longer judges who had appeared to uphold honor; they had become mere brutes who preyed upon the weak, deceived by the lies of a spoiled youngest master.
This alone was a fatal blow to House Rhapsody. But the reversal of the situation didn't end there. Having lost their pretext to continue the war, the Rhapsody forces couldn't even return to their base. The sole justification for the legion’s long journey was 'Toma Rhapsody.' And Toma Rhapsody was currently bound by the divine will of the Nine Goddesses and the Seven Chief Gods, rendered completely immobile.
With divine punishment having fallen upon him, there was nothing they could do. There was no way to withdraw the light bestowed directly by the gods, and even if it were possible, it would be the worst possible choice. Every religious person on the continent would condemn them, and countless paladins would hunt them down. Furthermore, the Sky Empire would intervene—the most powerful empire, the one that held hegemony over the entire continent.
It was also impossible to kill everyone here to eliminate witnesses. The Watchers of the White Family stood by Toma Rhapsody’s side without so much as blinking. The Sword of the North, the most disciplined of the Five Families, would not leave their posts until their mission was complete. Never.
Moreover, if they withdrew and left Toma Rhapsody behind, they were all as good as dead. It was a well-known fact that the Master of Rhapsody doted on his son to a terrifying degree. Whether it meant throwing away face or honor, they had to take Toma Rhapsody with them—unless they wanted to face the wrath of the Swordmaster who had forged the Seven Swords.
Yes.
The situation had been completely overturned.
Just as I had planned.
* * *
"I greet the Lord of this small land."
While I was focusing on my recovery, a man came to visit me. Peculiarly, the man was armed in pure white from head to toe. I didn't even need to ask his origin to intuit his identity.
"You are a knight of the White Family."
"A knight, you say. Though we serve a single lord, we are not called knights. The world calls us Watchers."
Watcher.
The man who identified himself as such looked at me with steady eyes.
"Forgive my rudeness; I am not well-versed in the ways of the world. How should I address you, Sir?"
"You may call me Kalshen."
Kalshen.
The man, having revealed his name, slowly took a seat.
「I can tell just by looking at his face that his life is a boring one. Those Whiteys are always like that.」
Whiteys, huh?
I wasn't sure what the word implied, but it didn't seem like a compliment. However, just as Master said, Kalshen’s first impression was that of a 'very boring knight.' To put it another way, he looked like the quintessential knight. And even from his faint aura, I could clearly feel his strength.
"Young Lord, not long ago, you requested our aid. Our Master sent us to repay a debt of gratitude from the past."
"Yes."
"We arrived at this small land according to our orders. While observing the situation, we witnessed the injustice committed by House Rhapsody and the scene where they violated the Law. Thus, in accordance with the duty of the Watchers, we immediately secured Toma Rhapsody. I wish to apologize for this in advance. You are the master of this land, yet we acted without seeking your intent."
"It is quite alright."
"From this moment on, we will guard the perimeter of Toma Rhapsody, who has committed a grave crime. Originally, our mission was to eliminate the enemies threatening you and protect your person, but the duty of the Watchers takes precedence over all other missions. We will compensate you for this later. Furthermore, your right to summon us will remain intact and will not be consumed."
After he finished speaking, Kalshen took a pure white medal from his breast pocket and held it out. It was a different shape from the one I had received from Daisy before, but it was the same in that it was a flawless, pure white. As I carefully accepted the medal, Kalshen continued.
"And I request your permission for us Watchers to continue staying on this land. The duration will be until the moment Toma Rhapsody’s judgment is concluded. If you grant us permission, we shall pay a fitting compensation."
"I grant it."
The worldly words, 'What will you give as compensation?' almost slipped out of my mouth. I could have asked, but for some reason, I felt it was better to maintain my dignity before this noble knight. When I didn't ask, Kalshen actually let out a faint smile. Yes, my intuition works even on the Five Families. Sir Kalshen would go back and report that the Lord of Arhan was a dignified man who didn't seem greedy, so they should give him a generous reward. A very satisfying compensation would surely come my way.
「Stop those unsightly thoughts.」
Liam broke the mood.
While Kalshen was smiling, I cleared my throat with a dry cough.
"But is it necessary to keep such a close watch on Toma Rhapsody? I heard that you haven't left his side for a single moment since he became like that... Since the gods have bound him, no one can touch him anyway. Couldn't you just watch from a distance?"
"That is true. Among the Rhapsody Legion stationed over there, there is no being capable of undoing the shackles placed by the Nine Goddesses and the Seven Chief Gods. However, in this world, there is always a 'what if'."
Kalshen glanced outside.
"The world is a place where one never knows what might happen. Therefore, rather than waiting at ease, we intend to strictly uphold the duty of the Watchers. Furthermore..."
The smile vanished from Kalshen’s lips.
"The current Head of Rhapsody, Hugo Rhapsody, is famous for doting on his son to an extreme. If it is Hugo Rhapsody, there is a possibility he might prioritize his son over his duties or responsibilities. He is the type of man who, if told to choose between the fate of the world and his son, would choose the latter without hesitation."
"...Is it that extreme?"
"Yes. One can tell just by looking at the atrocities he has committed. You might not know because you grew up in a small village, but the eccentricities Hugo Rhapsody has performed are practically on the level of ghost stories."
A doting father.
A man who committed eccentricities bordering on urban legends.
Up to this point, he could be summarized as a peculiar character, but if the title of Swordmaster was added to that, it became a completely different story. An unpredictable Swordmaster. Even a brief summary couldn't be more terrifying than that. Looking at his expression, it seemed Kalshen was also imagining that fearsome future.
"We must hope that Hugo Rhapsody does not do anything foolish."
"What will you do if such a thing happens?"
I asked out of simple curiosity.
At my question, Kalshen closed his eyes.
Then, he spoke plainly.
"I would have to fulfill my duty as a Watcher."
* * *
The Caravan Estate.
A village located on the outskirts of even the most remote corner of the Iron Kingdom. Somehow, this humble village ended up hosting two of the Great Five Families. Although a ceasefire had been declared for the time being, a sense of tension inevitably lingered. Of course, there weren't only bad things.
"Those people, their spending is no joke."
Regardless of the situation, someone had to manage the estate. The one who took on that role in this land was Hailyn. Thus, having returned to her original duties, Hailyn reported the state of the estate with a joyful face.
"They're spending money like water!"
The Watchers of the White Family. The legion brought by Rhapsody. Whatever their purpose, they were also people. And people are animals that must eat and drink to survive. The supplies prepared by the legion and the Watchers were resources they didn't know when they might need to use. Thus, they purchased what they needed from the nearest village, the Caravan Estate. Customers on the scale of a legion—for a humble village, it was no different from a downpour of gold coins. They even paid extra for their purchases. They didn't even take change, saying it was a nuisance.
"We won't have to worry about starving anymore, My Lord."
The residents of the estate didn't hold back their praise, saying this was all thanks to me. In their eyes, I seemed to be a lord who stood up against the Great Five Families, famous even across the continent, and a hero who finally overcame the ordeal. I told them it was all a series of coincidences, but they were relentless with their compliments. Several festivals were held in the village. It was a bit awkward, but regardless, it was good to see everyone shaking off their sadness and anxiety to rejoice.
"My Lord."
Of course, not everyone was happy.
"We are leaving."
"..."
"We know that we are all safe thanks to you stepping forward, My Lord. We also know that your courage was so wonderful and brilliant. But who will soothe our father's grievance? Thinking of our father who passed away in such disgrace, we simply cannot stay on this land. We are sorry, My Lord."
The children of the old guard.
Some of the guards who had witnessed the scene could not rejoice. Hailyn gave them generous compensation, but the farmhands who had lived their whole lives harvesting crops didn't want gold coins. They simply missed their father, grandfather, and husband—a man who loved songs, loved old stories, and loved his family. I couldn't say anything to them as they left.
The Caravan Estate quickly regained its vitality.
But this vitality was something that could be extinguished at any moment.
I looked at the legion that still hadn't left.
They could snuff out this joyful vitality whenever they wished. If they chose to do so, I would not be able to stop them. Taking Edan Rhapsody’s eye and winning the duel had been a fluke of overlapping coincidences. In the end, there was only one thing needed to prepare for the tragedy that could strike at any time. Power.
I had to become stronger.
Just as those thoughts were crossing my mind, someone came to find me.
"Descendant of Steel."
The Witch.
Audrey.
"I know you've been through a lot. But I have to ask. I don't know much about swords, but I can feel that your soul has grown quite a bit."
She was holding a single sword.
"Can you embrace this now?"
「Ascension」.
The blade that contained a Legend.
* * *
"Heh heh, it has been settled well."
"Is it really going to pass like that? Once a duel has begun, shouldn't it only end when one of the two is dead? Hmm, that looked less like a duel and more like young Orcs playing around..."
"Human duels are always boring."
The Orc Shaman Sherdic chuckled as he watched the situation unfold. The Orcs under his command and his daughter, Sherizik, looked quite dissatisfied. And for good reason—they had come prepared to go wild, so such a hollow ending? It felt like their excitement had been doused with cold water.
"Let's go back, you troublemakers."
While everyone was clearly dejected, Sherdic stared at the Orcs preparing to withdraw. Then, he pointed a finger at one Orc and spoke.
"Except for you."
The Orc Sherdic pointed at was his own daughter.
Sherizik. The peerless beauty who appeared once in a thousand years.
"Eh? Why am I staying here, Father?"
"Reading the movement of the stars, it seems it would be good for you to remain here! It will be good for you as well. Watching the Successor of Steel is a joyful thing. I'd almost want to stay behind myself."
Sherdic chuckled as he looked at his daughter.
"Stake your claim on your future husband, eh?"
In a place Arhan didn't know about.
A massive crisis was approaching.
"Make it stick!"
A truly, incredibly massive crisis.