Master's Duty -2- Unpaid Debts Are Heavy Burdens
Unpaid debts are heavy burdens. Even if it was just one gold, the difference between not receiving it and being unable to receive it was huge. It wasn't merely a matter of feeling good or bad—doing work for free simply didn't make sense.
Considering my own reality of working for the young lady without pay, I wasn't really in a position to nitpick. But since the young lady was pretty, I could forgive it.
Upon arriving in the capital, I handed the young lady over to Darbav and headed toward the academy.
"You've come, Olivia."
"Dad, give me some pocket money."
"Am I less welcome than money?"
"Yeah."
"Honest as always."
Leaving behind the young lady's negotiation for pocket money, I departed for the academy, forcing an awkward smile at the unwelcome memories it stirred.
"Get lost, academy scum!"
"Don't ever come back here!"
"I've never liked that guy from the start."
The academy memories brought a bitter smile to my face. What began with high hopes had ended in cold rejection—not a pleasant story by any means.
I didn't feel wronged. It was understandable, so I could let it go with a light heart. Still, it was an unpleasant memory that twisted my lips into a wry grin.
"Should've swept up every last opportunity and connection on my way out."
A somewhat misplaced regret, but there it was.
Lost in those memories, I wandered the academy for quite a while, forgetting my original purpose, until the dark night caught up with me. I'd played a few rounds of hide-and-seek with familiar faces along the way.
"Isn't that Ricardo?"
"Why would he come here? Actually... it might be good if he did. I wanna give him a piece of my mind."
"What're you saying? Oh, but did you hear that rumor? About Ricardo fighting a heretic at the banquet hall."
"That was Shartia and the princess with Mikhail, right? The student council announced it officially ages ago."
"Was it? Huh."
Dodging people had made time fly by unnoticed. Since it was already late, I decided to save the rest for another day and leisurely strolled toward the training ground.
That's when a familiar voice reached my ears.
"How long... how long are you going to keep this up?"
Hanna's voice came first.
"I do not recognize your talent."
Then the stubborn man's voice followed. I had no idea why he was here, but the atmosphere felt off—dangerously so.
I held my breath and crept closer to the training ground, where I witnessed a rare sight: three people standing there.
Mikhail. Hanna. Rowen.
A combination I thought I'd never see again, especially Hanna and Rowen.
I'd assumed the previous incident had broken Rowen's resolve, but seeing him still clinging to his rigid adult facade, I let out a soft sigh and shook my head.
The conversation was heading in a bad direction.
"Malik says he won't take the family head position. Even called you crazy."
"I still do not acknowledge your sword."
His stubborn insistence hadn't changed. And then Hanna's clumsy wager.
"Let's spar once. You raised him yourself—Father's disciple against me."
I'd stumbled upon it unintentionally.
The Empire's Sword wasn't hiding his displeasure. Maybe it was because it had been a while since I'd seen that handsome face, but watching the wrinkles of envy crease his forehead brought a small smile to my lips as I gazed at Rowen.
"Why no answer?"
Knowing it was a losing bet but playing the long shot anyway, I spoke up.
Hanna could beat Mikhail, but the gap between me and Rowen was vast. Still, in front of his disciple, a master had to uphold his dignity, so I didn't back down.
It was the only way Hanna could stay in my shadow. Smiling, I said,
"Does the Empire's Sword see no talent in me because my eyes overflow with it?"
"Crude provocation."
"I've learned a lot of crude things, after all."
A chill flowed through the air. The tension between the man who'd reached the pinnacle of the sword and the possessor who knew his weaknesses all too well turned murderous.
I was certain. He wouldn't take the bait. It was a fight with nothing to gain, and if he lost to me by some chance, the losses would outweigh any benefit. He knew there was no reason to engage.
A swordsman's instinct assured me of victory, but as family head, his thoughts were more complex.
With a small smile at my own provocation, I glared at Rowen, and he stared back in silence.
Hanna watched me with wide, shocked eyes, like she'd just spotted her savior where she least expected.
"Butler...?"
"Yes, it's me."
With a small smile, I organized the snippets I'd overheard in my mind and spoke to Hanna.
"You've stirred up quite the mess."
"Sorry... I was just so angry."
"It's fine."
Rowen and Hanna's discord. The new disciple, Mikhail. And a duel aimed at both Mikhail and Hanna.
It was laughable. Especially that final wager.
In the novel, Mikhail became Rowen's disciple. Not as a stand-in for Malik, but as Yuria filled the void left by his lost daughter, naturally leading him to raise Mikhail in the process.
It seemed like a positive turn on the surface, but peering deeper, it was ridiculous.
He was using a disciple to make his child feel inadequate. Mikhail needed a master, sure, but not like this. There was no guarantee it would last.
Better for me to teach him as the mysterious masked mentor. Creating a master for Mikhail this way was too risky.
I shot Mikhail a glare before turning to Rowen.
"Didn't I tell you last time? Don't mess with my beloved disciple."
"I don't recall answering."
"Petty, aren't you."
Rowen frowned at the black-sheath sword at my waist. He didn't like that one of his prized collection was with me. Startled by the original owner's gaze, I instinctively hid the sword behind my back.
It was too late to return it—I'd grown attached. But then I remembered it was won fairly, so I calmed my nerves and brought Tyrving back to my waist.
Rowen let out a disbelieving scoff at the sight.
"Incredible. Holding that sword without going mad... Or are you already mad?"
Rowen spoke, exuding eerie mana.
"Strange."
The rising mana felt different—heavier, purer than an archbishop's. Rowen's pressure began bearing down on my shoulders.
I brushed it off lightly and retorted, as if asking if he wasn't embarrassed as an adult.
"Don't exude killing intent. You're scaring your disciple."
A red aura began leaking chillingly from his sword. The heavy aura settled calmly around his blade, erasing Rowen's pressure.
The greatest milestone for a swordsman—the aura that could choke another swordsman's breath. The foundation of swordsmanship and symbol of nothingness spread as a cool shadow.
It was my answer, the proof I could offer as a swordsman. And at my greatest strength, the sword in Rowen's hand trembled faintly.
"I believe I have ample qualifications to teach."
"..."
"And my eye for spotting talent surpasses even the Empire's Sword."
Rowen ground his teeth, glaring at me.
"You don't yield an inch."
"It's because my family is Desmont."
"..."
Rowen swallowed a groan, falling silent. My question had been answered, an undeniable reality settling in.
Rowen withdrew his pressure first, releasing the sword's hilt. Mikhail and Hanna shivered in the suddenly cooling training ground air. Mikhail, in particular, stared at me in disbelief, mouthing a silent scream of 'There's still this much of a gap...?' before collapsing to the ground, breathing raggedly.
I smiled faintly, releasing the sword, and Rowen spoke to me.
"My eyes do not lie."
Defending his pride.
"I've raised and unearthed countless knights by spotting and culling talent."
"..."
"This time is no different. No upsets, just like always."
The moment Rowen finished, I turned to Hanna.
"Can you do it?"
"What?"
"Mikhail. Think you can win?"
"I..."
Hanna hesitated, looking to me for an answer.
"What about you, butler?"
I smiled at Hanna.
"My eyes are special."
I gazed at her with a smile, and Hanna drew her sword with a shing, slashing a long horizontal arc through the air without hesitation.
"If you say so, butler...!"
Mikhail drew his sword too, aura flaring. Bright light wrapped around his blade, sounding the battle's start. With steady breaths, he said,
"I forfeit. I can't beat Hanna right now."
I grinned at Rowen.
"Looks like we win."