Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Empire's Saintess
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Thud, thud.
His footsteps carried gravity.
With reverence in his gaze, Luteon dropped to one knee.
“I greet the Empire’s Saintess.”
She was a being he could scarcely dare to look up at.
The Empire’s proxy of the god they served, and a woman who had reached the Master rank.
A figure envied by all who wielded spears.
Her divine power and talent with the spear were extraordinary.
As a saintess, her virtue and compassion were beyond reproach.
“Luteon. It’s been a while.”
She was the Holy Empire’s Saintess, Eily.
“You... remember me.”
“Of course. No one would easily forget the heir of a kingdom’s great noble house taking up the spear. It’s not an everyday occurrence.”
Yet most had welcomed Luteon.
A body blessed by the Sword God, following the true faith, would receive even greater blessings from the Spear God.
“I abandoned my family long ago and cast them from my mind.”
“I know. I’m the one who brought you here, after all. How could I not?”
“Yes.”
Luteon naturally recalled the day he had met her.
Plagued by disgust for his family and weariness with life, he had encountered the saintess.
It had felt like destiny.
Even enduring harsh training and scoldings after entering the Empire, it had all been for her sake.
Luteon gazed at the saintess, her pink hair swaying, then hardened his expression at her question.
“You met Kallias.”
“......Yes.”
It wasn’t a name he wanted to hear from her lips.
“How was he? Strong?”
“......”
“Your silence tells me he was quite strong. They say your skills were lackluster.”
“I fell only to his schemes.”
“That’s part of strength, too.”
“I suspect he hid his power or gained some holy relic’s fortune.”
It remained a mystery.
Kallias’s strength.
Its true source.
“I’m curious.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve wanted to meet him at least once.”
“What do you... He’s not worth the Saintess’s interest. I only lost because a troll appeared—not due to his skill.”
“I know. I got the report.”
“Then why...”
“It’s fun. He’s famous, and they say he’s handsome?”
“I’m no different.”
“Hmm, true.”
Luteon’s brow furrowed.
‘Why show interest in that wretch? As the Empire’s Saintess...’
She should be interested in the kingdom’s Masters, not such scum.
She was someone who could raze a castle single-handedly.
Her first act upon becoming saintess had been to crush a petty kingdom that defied the Empire.
Luteon hadn’t expected such an accomplished saintess to take interest in a mere wastrel from one nation.
“Just personal curiosity. Call it fandom.”
“Fandom... what’s that?”
The saintess only smiled enigmatically.
She gave no answer.
“Luteon.”
“Yes.”
“In the end, you failed.”
“......”
“Everyone fails. What matters is not repeating the same mistake.”
The saintess tossed Luteon a missive.
“The kingdom’s archbishop reached out. He says it’s time to proceed with the grand undertaking. It’s regrettable, but for the Holy Empire’s prosperity and peace, Carpe must fall this time.”
It must be so. Only then...
“We can stand against them. So, Luteon.”
“Yes.”
“Assist the archbishop. This time, destroy Carpe for good.”
Luteon rose, gripping his spear to his chest.
“All for the Empire’s peace and...”
“For the glory of Lactus God.”
* * *
On the way back to the capital.
I read what seemed like a log Gid left behind on corpse sword forging, imprinting his techniques and essence in my mind.
His vile atrocities were detailed verbatim, and the headaches from reading his monstrosities made me want to slam the book shut repeatedly.
Yet I read it over and over.
There were useful parts.
‘Deliberately performing the corpse rite incompletely to form a lord corpse—quite the clever idea.’
I’d never scripted such a setup.
It proved this world wasn’t just a game.
The growth I’d originally designed was game-system based, with NPCs handling only sword crafting and enhancement.
I’d never detailed such minutiae.
‘A method born from ages of accumulated knowledge and experience.’
Amazement and bewilderment followed as I pored over Gid’s log.
I planned to extract the usable bits, skipping overly cruel or inhumane methods, and compile them. Handing it to Dexter the dwarf up north would please him.
‘Arranging a meeting between Dexter and Trala wouldn’t hurt.’
Word was he was up north, crafting swords and armor for knights as a side gig.
No mention of the divine sword meant he was struggling.
I closed the book and spurred my horse toward Kaladi in the distance.
The villa had arrived before I knew it.
It was more mansion than villa now.
Renovations were underway bit by bit.
The basement behind the villa was becoming Beatrice’s workshop, and the side area now doubled as the Six’s training ground.
The villa’s original size rivaled great estates, making it possible.
“You’re back.”
It was Pedro.
Former assassin, now genuine guard.
He looked healthier, so he’d survived well.
“You met Jenos.”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“Good. Hired as a guard?”
“Suits me. Plus, I teach the kids swordplay, so pay me properly.”
“Will do.”
A capable fellow; having him guard the place eased my mind.
Creak.
The gates opened, and children’s training shouts reached me as I entered.
“Need a separate training ground.”
Kids swarming the mansion made it noisy.
“Lively’s nice.”
“You think?”
“After seeing nothing but dying folk, kids aren’t bad.”
Fair enough.
Noisy, sure.
But.
“Who’s that?”
A blue-haired woman was instructing the children.
“Good! Perform the overhead strike I taught you in that stance—hundred times!”
A familiar voice.
“Why are you here.”
The blue-haired woman was Lutz Paladin’s chosen, the next saintess candidate.
Esther Sol Sillyard.
“Ah, y-you’re back.”
“......Long time.”
“Yes, long time. I, uh, ended up here somehow...”
Explanation needed.
As she started to speak.
“We greet the North’s lord!!”
Allen and Aaron suddenly appeared.
“Why are you two...”
Wait.
If they were here...
“Hey. I’m here.”
That meant Emily too.
* * *
In the office, I nodded as Esther sipped tea on the sofa.
“I see.”
Esther said she’d run into Emily while patrolling to exterminate bandits.
Recognizing the Lucien I’d given her, she assumed she was my disciple and was delighted...
‘But why delight over my disciple?’
Doesn’t Esther dislike me?
No reason she’d feel fondly toward my disciple.
Odd, but I let it pass.
She’d meant to test her skills, but Emily called Kallias “Dad,” revealing she was his daughter, so they came here together.
“Seeing the training kids, I thought it a good chance to teach.”
“Good chance?”
“I’ve been appointed special instructor at the royal academy in a few months. I’ve never taught anyone, let alone kids...”
She was test-teaching the children.
The church had asked, but once committed, she gave her all—classic her.
“Your daughter’s a prodigy. Teach her one thing, she grasps ten. First time I’ve seen such a child. And she’s only twelve.”
“Hardworking genius.”
“Pardon? Oh, yes...”
I hadn’t phrased it that way before.
Esther held her tongue.
Didn’t know he had this side. Blood bends toward kin, they say. Jerban blood runs cold? Not quite.
Kallias’s curt speech carried affection.
“Anyway, if you don’t mind, I’d like to come teach the kids occasionally.”
Kallias realized she’d already grown fond of them.
She liked kids, and her name was famous to them. He’d welcome it with open arms.
With her, Emily would learn much, and the Six could too coming and going.
Esther hadn’t made the Five Stars due to lacking a sword, not skill.
“Do as you like.”
“Yes. Then.”
Esther rose to leave but paused at the door.
“But...”
More to say?
I watched silently, and she fidgeted uncharacteristically.
“What.”
Impatient, I asked.
“Really... your biological daughter?”
“Yes.”
“I... see. Understood. Anyone I know?”
“Who?”
“Emily’s...”
Mother, perhaps.
“Dead long ago.”
“Ah. My apologies.”
“No mind.”
“Then...”
“Go.”
Allen and Aaron entered next.
“My lord, you seem even stronger than last we met.”
“Much stronger. Impressive.”
They’d escorted Emily from the north.
Loyal to me, with bonds, so I didn’t dislike them.
I decided to give Aaron the Arpen heirloom, Galaximen.
“For me?”
“If you can wield it.”
He struggled now, but Aaron would master it soon. I knew he’d saved us in battles with his strength.
“Too much now, but once familiar, I can use it.”
He lifted and swung it a few times, declaring so. The Six struggled to even lift it, but Aaron handled it easily.
I pondered briefly but confirmed: Aaron was right.
I wasn’t used to greatswords, and I had a new blade anyway.
‘Too many swords is trouble.’
Corpse swords aren’t mere weapons.
Forged from soul and flesh, they affect the user.
My subspace lessened the impact, but not entirely.
Dispose of low-grade or ill-fitting ones quickly.
Better to give to loyal allies than sell or discard.
Allen and Aaron were knights who’d fought with me from the north.
Trustworthy.
“Allen, this is yours.”
“A training manual?”
“Yes.”
Unlike Joseph’s partial one, this was complete upper and lower volumes.
Aaron was ex-noble with his own method, but Allen lacked one.
“Thank you! I’ll meet your expectations!”
Invest in subordinates for the budding force. Solo strength has limits.
“Train here awhile. Brans.”
“Yes!”
“Give Allen and Aaron rooms... and fetch Emily.”
“Understood.”
Moments later.
“Hi.”
“......Was about to call you.”
What to say first.
Silence stretched between Kallias and Emily.
I’d planned to fetch her eventually. Just too soon.
After the unrest settled.
‘No choice.’
Still time.
She could stay briefly then return north.
“Grandpa cussed you.”
“Why?”
“No letter.”
“Busy.”
I’d meant to send one soon.
Better not now.
“Heard from the kids right away in Kaladi. Cutting nobles’ heads.”
“......For Carpe.”
“Sure. Oh, Rini said you registered me for the academy. Hard to get in.”
“Yeah. Good opportunity.”
“Thanks.”
“......Nothing.”
Count’s recommendation wasn’t hard.
“How’s meeting Esther.”
“Strong. More than I thought.”
“Learned much?”
“Yeah, want more.”
“Good.”
Esther could teach plenty. Kallias welcomed their meeting.
“Sparred with Rivan too.”
“Who won.”
“Me, obviously.”
“Good. Rini too?”
“Yeah, Rini cheats a bit, but I won. Oh, sparred Flora too.”
“How was it.”
“She’s meh now, but good instincts. She’ll get strong fast. Rest are crybabies.”
Emily kept talking, Kallias responding in their monotonous exchange.
Yet neither found it dull.
Expressions unchanged, but happier than ever.