Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Dukedom's Swordmaster Joining Me?
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Chapter 57
A Swordmaster from the Dukedom joining me?
Piot couldn't quite believe it.
"Surprised?"
"To be honest... yes. May I ask why?"
Piot quickly masked his shock and asked cautiously.
'Hoo, what's this?'
Blaho's eyes narrowed at Piot's demeanor.
He had only considered him a promising talent with considerable training and experience for his age, but this was unexpected.
'Impressively composed. His thinking runs deeper than his years suggest.'
Of course, it was precisely because he seemed so exceptional that Blaho had decided to give this young man an answer now.
"As I said, the first option was never on my table. Even if Young Lord Piot had shown the aura of an inborn hero—like His Highness Duke Zion, a heaven-sent hero—as a knight of the Duke's house, I could never walk the path of treason. Rejected."
'That one's probably impossible anyway....'
No matter how much of a Swordmaster Blaho was, Piot suspected he'd pledge full loyalty the moment he laid eyes on Zion, but he kept it to himself and listened attentively.
"And as Sir Seilun said, I originally planned on the third option. There's that saying about staying in the middle by doing nothing, and the military is supposed to remain neutral at all times—that's the principle.
If it had only been the first and third choices, I would've picked the latter without hesitation. But then out of nowhere, there's this option to quit entirely."
Blaho shrugged and continued.
"At first, I thought it was a joke. Seilun or whoever, I was ready to beat the crap out of them when I saw them. But after hearing your words, I realized this letter was meant to push me toward the second choice from the start."
"Is that so?"
Piot didn't understand at all, but he nodded along anyway.
"Time has passed, but Seilun's still Seilun, I suppose. That cheeky Sir Seilun was clearly testing me with the letter. What if Sir Seilun had told you everything in the letter and instructed you to steer me toward the second option? What do you think would've happened?"
"Uh... I wouldn't know."
"I would've beaten the crap out of him and locked him up."
Swordmaster Joden Blaho likes beating the crap out of people. Note to self....
With Blaho now choosing to join him, Piot figured this was essential knowledge for a long, peaceful life and nodded vigorously.
"Of course. I would've done the same."
"I'm glad you understand. Anyway, I think that's why Sir Seilun only told you so much. It forced me to maintain an objective stance, allowing me to make an objective choice."
It sounded illogical yet strangely convincing, and Piot kept nodding like an automaton.
"In the end, I had no choice but to seriously consider the second option. But just quitting outright makes no sense. And the one who delivered it is that Seilun. So obviously, there's more to the second choice—something you told me about."
"A new world...."
"Exactly. Others might not care, but I'm dying to know. Lately, I've had this weird sensation nagging at me.
Something brushing past my body? A feeling I could call sensing a new world, a new stage. The amazing part is how Sir Seilun knew about it. I never told a soul. Weird."
At that moment, Piot was certain.
He'd been skeptical when Zion first mentioned it, but what Blaho described was almost certainly related to 'level.'
He and Stel had seen their 'levels' too.
What about a Swordmaster like Blaho?
He might not see it yet, but he surely felt some 'sensation.'
Like standing on the threshold of a new stage?
'Swordmasters can sense it even before seeing levels. Makes sense—I felt something shatter when I first saw mine.'
"But I can't just abandon my post out of personal greed. So I went back to the first and third options. Staying put might seem prudent, but it feels like idiocy. Which leaves the first."
"I... see."
"The method's a bit sneaky, but you shared something I thought only I knew. You seem a bit naive and green, but you're straight-backed and true—the blood of Zion, introduced to me by that Sir Seilun, wife of the founding Duke.
And even backed by that meddlesome old codger Sir Yonas. That seals it."
Blaho flashed a peculiar smile, then suddenly hardened his expression. His fierce yet restrained aura seeped out as he stared straight at Piot.
"So, I'm leaving the Black Eagle Legion, but I'll remain Zion's sword—standing with you, his blood."
* * *
Blaho's actions were as swift as his decision.
He gathered his deputy knights and issued his final order as commander of the Black Eagle Legion.
"From this moment, for the next ten days, all troops halt every activity and remain in camp. All personnel on external missions will return immediately."
"Yes?"
"Didn't you hear me? Need me to repeat?"
"No, sir!"
It was truly elite.
The knights, who had reflexively questioned the absurd order, instantly regained discipline and obeyed.
Couriers were dispatched at once to the troops in the field, and less than two hours later, everyone had returned to camp.
In the meantime, Blaho continued issuing orders to the deputies.
"Refuse orders from anyone who comes."
"Subdue anyone who acts aggressively or treats the legion as hostile."
"Lethal force authorized within camp."
"Obey only after ten days—or sooner if an order bearing the Duke's house seal arrives."
"Even if I return, ignore me without an official sealed order."
Each command defied common sense. Naturally, the deputy knights were shaken.
Yet they held back, patiently listening to their commander's words.
They believed he would explain the 'why.'
"You gentlemen aren't fools—you've known for a while that Tricorn Castle... the Duke's house... isn't normal. I'm grateful you've stayed loyal without question, holding your posts silently."
The deputy knights' hearts burned at the Swordmaster's earnest confession, so steely until now.
"As the Dukedom's military, we couldn't move rashly. That's still true. So you and the legion must hold this position—the camp."
"Commander...."
"But before being a Black Eagle, I'm a knight of the Duke's house. Descendant of the knights who came to this land with the great founder, His Highness Duke Zion, swearing to guard the Tricorn Eagle emblem at his side forever.
That's why I'm laying down the Black Eagle banner to protect the Tricorn Eagle—and leaving."
"......"
Normally, they would've erupted in passion.
But after years of silently holding the line for the legion, giving their all, they couldn't react emotionally to their Swordmaster.
His words rang true.
And that truth was 'knighthood.'
"Ten days. Within ten days, you and the Black Eagles will take flight again. I stake my honor on it."
Speaking in a consistently firm tone, Blaho scanned the deputy knights once more and stood at attention.
Then, he saluted them first—with utmost formality.
"Glory to the Black Eagles."
"Tricorn Eagle forever!"
The deputy knights returned the salute, shouting as one.
* * *
As the sun stirred red twilight on the western horizon, Piot, Stel, and Sirban left the camp with the Swordmaster.
Blaho rode lightly armored in canvas armor topped with chain mail, his gear and baggage loaded on another horse.
Seeing the waiting Jansrick mercenaries and dwarf craftsmen outside, Blaho turned to Piot.
"This everyone's here?"
"Everyone else, including Brother Yonas, went with Sir Seilun to the Echo-less Forest."
"The Echo-less Forest? Why there?"
Zion had instructed him not to share details until Blaho fully committed, so Piot had kept silent until now—and answered with some relief.
"Here's what happened...."
Piot recounted everything from Ogreust Territory to their most recent stop at Iron Mountain.
Blaho's expression shifted constantly as he listened.
Only when he heard why Zion had split the forces and sent them to the Echo-less Forest did full understanding dawn.
"Hmm. Tactically sound, indeed. Our Dukedom's elves—especially the North Mountain Elf Rangers—are beyond doubt. By the way, is Sir Seilun really that skilled?"
Blaho directed his final question not at Piot, but Stel.
He knew Stel was by far the strongest here—overwhelmingly so.
"In a one-on-one, it'd take five exchanges against me. No, if he doesn't hold back, one exchange. Of course, that's me."
"......!"
Blaho's face showed genuine shock for the first time.
"Is that true? You're at a level any territory would welcome as top talent, and just one exchange?"
"I'm a swordsman with pride in my skills, mercenary or not. But before Sir Seilun, such pride means nothing—I can say that for certain."
"Hah! Astonishing. Truly astonishing."
His frank admiration was obvious, but Stel could tell.
Just as he felt toward Blaho, Blaho harbored competitive fire and fighting spirit toward that unseen monstrous master.
'He's gonna get the crap beaten out of him....'
Thinking it would be entertaining to watch, Stel just smiled wryly.
"By the way."
Blaho turned back to Piot.
"What if I'd chosen to stay with the Black Eagles and do nothing? Oh, casual speech is fine, right?"
"Yes, no problem. And if Master Blaho had decided to stay put...."
"......?"
Piot hesitated briefly, then spoke with a resigned air.
"Sir Seilun said it'd be fine somehow. More precisely... it wouldn't impact the big picture."
"What!?"
Blaho raised one eyebrow, and Piot instinctively shrank back.
Even he would've been furious at such a blow to his pride.
"Haha... hahahahaha!"
But the explosive laughter startled everyone into staring at Blaho.
After his brief outburst, Blaho's eyes gleamed murderously, his lips twitching.
"That Sir Seilun really is an interesting fellow. Can't wait to meet him."
Everyone swallowed dryly at the sight of his knuckles cracking on the reins.
Not out of fear of his aura.
'He's gonna get the crap beaten out of him....'
'A Swordmaster? Against him? No chance....'
'Witnessing a Swordmaster get pummeled firsthand? I can't miss that.'
It was anticipation for the horrific yet thrilling spectacle that might unfold soon.
* * *
'My ears are itchy. From not washing for two days?'
Zion scratched his ear with his pinky, then tugged the reins. Blackie, trotting along, halted immediately.
Snort! Snort snort!
Unable to run properly since leaving the forest, the beast vented its frustration with heavy snorts.
"Hang in there just a bit longer, boy. You'll get to run free soon."
After soothing his steed, Zion called to Yonas.
"If memory serves, there's a village around here—Princeton, was it? Anyway, we'll stay there tonight and leave at dawn tomorrow."
"Yes, understood."
"I'll lead. It's an old village I founded myself, so I still remember the way."
"As you wish, Grandfather."
With Zion at the front, the mixed party of riders, infantry, and prisoners quickened their pace slightly.
Twenty minutes later, they spotted a village with scattered lights.
Everyone's faces brightened at the thought of a proper rest—the first since leaving the forest.
But as they neared the village edge, expressions hardened.
"......What is this?"
Zion gazed at the village with eyes cold enough to chill the air.