Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Eonia's Provocation
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After finishing my conversation with Duke Helian, I returned to the ballroom and ran into a commotion.
The murmuring ballroom.
At its center, for some reason, was Berial.
“Ugh…!”
Berial, at a loss for what to do. Standing in front of her, Kate was shouting.
“Hurry up and accept!”
She was pressuring Berial to accept a retainer duel.
“Kate. I’ve told you many times—my retainer doesn’t do that kind of contest!”
Berial bit her lip as she glanced at the retainer standing behind Kate.
A man dressed in the uniform of the Caliper Kingdom’s knight order. From that alone, one could guess his skill. At the very least, he was far stronger than Jade, whom Berial had brought as her retainer.
“Then what kind of contest can you do? I’m fine with anything. Chess, poetry duel—whatever you’ll accept!”
“H-Hunting… Jade could do hunting….”
“Hunting? Ohohohoho!”
Laughter echoed from all around. Most of it came from the Helian faction members.
Even though the two factions had reconciled, yesterday’s enemies didn’t instantly become today’s friends.
Even at tonight’s party, open power plays were happening publicly.
“Aren’t you going to help?”
It was Erina, who had approached unnoticed.
“Don’t you think a partner should step in at a time like this?”
“I’d like to, but there are all sorts of circumstances.”
For one, I was nominally part of the Helian faction, and I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention. Besides, it was obvious they were trying to lure me out.
“Shouldn’t you be the one helping? You’re leading the Salleon faction among your peers, aren’t you?”
“That’s true, but….”
And just like her, Ruan Chase—one of the leaders of the Salleon faction—stepped forward first.
“That’s enough, Kate Macmillan.”
“Ah… Ruan….”
Ruan positioned himself protectively in front of Berial. Her face lit up with ecstasy at the sight.
Kate furrowed her brow.
“What’s that, Chase? You’re not even her partner—are you planning to interfere?”
As expected. It seemed Kate had been clinging to Berial like a rat precisely to draw me out.
“What if I am?”
“Fine. I’ll humor you. Georg, step forward.”
At her command, the man in knight’s uniform behind her came to the front with a sleazy, “Yes, as you command, milady.”
Ruan glanced at him, then nodded slightly. The man behind Ruan also stepped forward.
The ballroom’s atmosphere heated up accordingly.
“It’s Georg of the Striking Sword! That prodigy they call the future of the knight order. This’ll be good.”
“Against the Chase family’s swordsman, no less. A worthy matchup.”
In truth, this was an event for the adults. They avoided doing childish things themselves for the sake of face, so they made the kids do it instead—and enjoyed the childish spectacle.
As the duel was about to begin, the adults were the ones getting even more excited.
In the hastily cleared space, the two drew their swords and faced off.
At the signal, a duel filled with killing intent began.
‘They’re really trying to kill each other.’
The attacks were sharp and lethal. This world’s unique medical system could heal most wounds, but they were aiming for vital points that would kill instantly.
Clang! Clang! Their swords clashed.
The tide began to turn after about thirty exchanges.
Georg unleashed his aura and smoothly seized the advantage.
“Ooh! Using aura at that level so casually!”
“Impressive!”
Once aura entered the equation, the duel ended quickly and anticlimactically.
‘Pretty strong.’
If I were fighting him, it’d probably take at least a hundred exchanges to subdue him.
‘If I used Chester Style from the start, I could end it in one go, though.’
With just a spear, it’d take quite some time.
“Haat!”
Stab! The sword tip pierced his shoulder. Georg rode the momentum toward the neck, but his opponent surrendered first.
“I yield!”
“Hmph. You’re lucky to keep your life.”
Georg clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword.
Clap clap clap! Even though it had been a bloody duel, applause rang out. The pierced swordsman apologized to Ruan, saying he had no face left.
“I’m sorry, young master.”
“It’s fine, Jackie. Hurry and staunch the bleeding.”
Kate raised her laughter triumphantly at Georg’s victory.
“Ohohohoho! I had high hopes for the Chase family’s promising swordsman, but he was nothing special!”
“Tch….”
Ruan looked like he wanted to step in himself, but that was against the rules. This was strictly a retainer duel.
The Helian faction grew even more boisterous with Kate’s win.
Erina sighed beside me.
“Sigh. If I’d known it’d turn out like this, I should’ve brought a martial artist too.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“There’s this thing called partner balance.”
Ruan had brought a martial artist, while Erina had agreed to bring a scholar.
“To think you have to consider even that. High nobles really live exhausting lives.”
“Well, I think it’s pointless too. If I’d ignored those unspoken rules and brought a Salleon swordsman, that girl wouldn’t be strutting around like this.”
“Want me to lend you one?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“A martial artist.”
Eo seemed to understand my intent right away and started showing clear displeasure.
She didn’t like having to follow Erina’s orders instead of mine.
“Eo, don’t be like that. Go on.”
It seemed like a good experience for Eo, who was usually so stubborn. Plus, at this rate, my partner Berial was going to end up in a rough spot.
“…Understood.”
She nodded reluctantly.
Her face was hidden by the helmet, but she was probably pouting.
“Wait a second.”
Erina’s expression had changed.
“Did you just say Eo? Don’t tell me you….”
She, convinced I was Wade, seemed to have figured out my identity in that instant.
She whispered in my ear.
“You brought Eonia Mirabel!?”
“What are you talking about? More importantly, could you back off? People might misunderstand and think there’s a scandal.”
“…Ah!”
She flushed red and scurried away.
She cleared her throat and nodded.
“In that case, I’ll gladly accept your kindness. So, E—Eonia?”
“It’s Rania.”
“Right. That’s the name you’re using.”
Erina was extremely tense as she addressed Eo.
Even so, the thought of having the famous Valkyrie as a temporary retainer thrilled her, and she couldn’t help but smile.
*
*
*
Kate, laughing triumphantly in high spirits.
Snap! Erina appeared in front of her, unfurling her fan.
“You look like you’re having fun, Miss Kate?”
“Erina Salleon…!”
Kate lost her composure too. Ruan was one thing, but Erina was a core figure of the Salleons. And Salleon family swordsmen were among the kingdom’s elite.
“Mind if I join in? My re—retainer says she’s feeling itchy.”
Erina trembled slightly with excitement even as she said it.
“Your retainer? You mean that helmeted woman?”
“Yes. Shall we compete in martial prowess?”
“…”
Kate racked her brain. She sensed something off about Erina’s confidence. Erina deployed her finishing move.
“If you’re scared, no helping it. A master who doesn’t trust her retainer—how tragic.”
“Who’s scared! Fine! Let’s do it!”
“Heh.”
People cleared space again, showing interest in the new retainer duel.
“Huh?”
Berial, inside the circle, tilted her head.
“That’s definitely Als’s retainer….”
Georg and Eonia faced off. Georg licked his lips.
“Ooh, what’s this? Felt a little spark just now. Haha, this’ll be more fun than the last guy.”
“…”
Eo silently raised her sword into position.
“Then begin!”
At Kate’s signal, Georg kicked off the ground and charged.
“Haaat!”
Clang! From the first clash, Georg built momentum and pressed harder.
Eo was blocking every attack effortlessly, but to those ignorant of martial arts, it looked like Georg was dominating unilaterally.
‘Good grief. Eo, you….’
Was she protesting to me, or refusing to perform properly under Erina? She wasn’t showing her true skill.
Even so, the duel remained even.
After thirty exchanges with no gains, Georg deflected Eo’s sword and created distance.
“What are you? I’ve never heard of any Salleon swordsman using that style.”
An unheard-of, mysterious swordsmanship. Yet it was underpinned by a profound system.
It had to be. What Eo was using was the martial art of the Valkyrie, with its pristine history.
“Now I’m really curious about that face. No plans to take off the helmet?”
“…”
“Hah, fine. I’ll take it off myself.”
Georg drew up his aura. It rippled along his sword.
The crowd let out oohs of admiration.
“Shall we start round two, then? Hold out till the end, miss.”
“…Scum.”
“What?”
“Don’t spout nonsense, you third-rate hack who can’t even judge your opponent’s skill.”
And then. Whoosh! Eo unleashed her own aura.
“Huh…?”
Georg groaned in shock.
Eo’s pure white aura flowed past her sword, up her arm, and enveloped her entire body. The gap in caliber was obvious even to third parties.
Eo declared.
“I’ll give you four moves. Kneel and admit defeat within them. Then I’ll spare your life.”
“W-What? W-Wait!”
Eo switched to offense. Georg hastily raised his sword to block.
“Gah!?”
Clang! He couldn’t withstand even one strike. Georg’s sword snapped instantly, and unable to resist the momentum, he rolled across the floor.
Thanks to his aura, he hadn’t fainted. Eo immediately pursued.
“…Die.”
“I-I yield!”
Georg prostrated himself before the next attack could land. Pride was the last thing on his mind.
The skill gap was too vast for that.
“Hmph.”
Eo snorted and sheathed her sword.
Kate was pale, while Erina smiled.
“Amazing! To think the Salleons had a swordsman like that.”
“A female Salleon swordswoman! A new star has emerged!”
The praise quickly turned toward her master, Erina.
Eo… probably didn’t like that. Displeased at being treated as someone else’s retainer, she committed an outrageous act.
Click! She unfastened her helmet and revealed her face.
……
Silence fell over the ballroom.
Mysterious sky-blue hair and exquisite features emerged.
Men couldn’t tear their eyes away, and women gazed in awe. Erina gulped, and even prostrated Georg stared, entranced.
But the antics didn’t end there.
Slash! Eo pointed her sword at someone.
“Oh boy.”
I could only clutch my forehead.
She was pointing at the only person in the ballroom who could match her—but that person was Grand General Dunhan Grimwood, who had been with Duke Helian.
Eo, acting as Erina’s—a Salleon faction—retainer in the duel, had provoked Grand General Dunhan, a pillar of the Helian faction?
This was a major incident.
*
*
*
After the party ended and we returned to the mansion.
Eonia knelt sullenly.
“I told you not to act recklessly.”
“…I’m truly sorry.”
“Revealing your face is secondary. If you hadn’t pointed your sword at Dunhan, I wouldn’t be this harsh. Do you understand why?”
“Yes….”
“Why did you do it?”
“I just… reflexively remembered how he threatened you, Lord Als.”
During the talk with Duke Helian, she must have taken Dunhan’s wariness as a threat.
“Ugh…. I’m sorry.”
Unlike at the party, Eonia was now shriveled up like a naughty child.
In the end, the result wasn’t bad. Thanks to Eonia provoking Dunhan from the Salleon side, I’d strongly signaled that I could side with them if needed.
Still, this loose cannon needed a warning.
“Sorry, but I have no choice this time. I’ll have to impose discipline.”
“Discipline…!”
Eonia, who loved formal praise, equally dreaded formal punishment.
“Eo. I’m demoting you from bodyguard captain to royal guard.”
“What’s… the difference?”
“You’ll serve under Ymir from now on.”
“No…!?”
It was all formal in the end, but Eo looked like the world had ended.
And so, Eonia began doing housework under Ymir—cleaning, laundry, that sort of thing.
Well, less a serious punishment and more a way to get a little help caring for the soon-to-be-born twins.