Chapter 82
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: A Wrong Answer Superior to the Correct One (1)
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“I have regrets.”
“Hm? About what?”
It had been about ten days since they left the barony. It was a clear, sunny winter afternoon.
The group had stopped to enjoy a meal.
Haviel, who had been idly poking at his spoon, suddenly said this.
Lloyd tilted his head.
“Regrets?”
“Exactly as I said.”
“Why? Regretting being born?”
“…….”
“Or do you have some worries?”
“I have no worries. Only—”
“Only?”
“I feel like I was too lazy over the past year.”
“Lazy?”
“I neglected my sword training too much.”
Haviel gripped his spoon tightly.
He stared at the cooling soup in his bowl as he spoke.
“To be honest, I want to apologize to you first, Lord Lloyd. I mean what happened in Creemo.”
“In Creemo?”
“Yes. That night we faced the Gigatitan.”
Haviel looked up.
He gazed at Lloyd.
“I stepped forward, declaring I would confront the Gigatitan and fight it. But I was lacking. I didn’t have the strength. As a result, you had to step in yourself. You faced great danger and nearly died.”
“Ah. So you’re reflecting on that?”
“Yes.”
Haviel nodded.
He was sincere.
“If I had been a little stronger, if I could have subdued the Gigatitan alone, everything would have been different. Of course, you wouldn’t have been in danger either. That’s why.”
The silver-haired knight’s eyes gleamed with determination.
“So I’ve set a new goal for this year.”
“This year’s goal?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm, sounds grand. So what’s this new goal you’ve set?”
“Swordmaster.”
“Pfft.”
Lloyd nearly spat out the soup he was drinking.
Haviel was looking at him with serious eyes.
Was it because the guy’s goal sounded ridiculous?
Far from it.
Quite the opposite.
‘His goal for this year is to become a Swordmaster? For most people, it’s something nearly impossible even with a lifetime of dedication, but the way he says it, it feels like he might actually pull it off.’
That was exactly the feeling.
With this guy, it seemed genuinely possible.
It had happened that way in the novel, after all.
‘That’s what makes Haviel so terrifying.’
How many knights throughout history had devoted themselves to training?
How many people longed to become Swordmasters?
They would risk their lives in battle, sweat to turn those hard-earned instincts into their own, honing their swordsmanship their entire lives.
How many such people had there been across history?
‘At least hundreds of thousands. Maybe more.’
On the other hand, how many had actually reached the Swordmaster realm?
‘Fewer than 200.’
It was true.
Based on the official list in Lorasia’s history books, there were exactly 179. Even generously including ambiguous or unverified cases, scholars agreed it wouldn’t exceed 300.
Even including all historical estimates, within 300.
Proven numbers alone: 179.
‘It’s about the same as the total number of kings from Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje in the Samguk Sagi, plus all the kings of Goryeo and Joseon combined.’
Excluding ancient states like Gojoseon, Three Hans, Gaya, and Buyeo where records are scarce, the count of kings from major kingdoms in Korean history.
It was roughly the same.
‘That’s proof of how insanely difficult it is to become a Swordmaster.’
Yet this terrifyingly difficult feat was being set as a mere ‘goal for this year,’ with full commitment.
If anyone else said it, it would sound insane.
But coming from this guy?
It didn’t sound like a joke at all.
‘Such a monstrous fellow.’
That’s what Lloyd was thinking when Haviel’s still-serious voice pierced his ear.
“I plan to work hard toward that goal. If only to avoid being caught by you, Lord Lloyd.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
Lloyd was puzzled.
Haviel replied calmly.
“You’ve already formed a triple circle. And you’ve reached the level of a user with a Mana Heart.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“So I thought. Maybe you weren’t really as sluggish, dull, and spineless as you seemed on the surface. Maybe you’re actually a genius with the sword.”
“What? Sluggish and dull?”
Lloyd’s eyebrow twitched.
Haviel said it as if it were obvious.
“From a swordsmanship perspective, that’s how it was. You didn’t pick up teachings quickly, your innate strength wasn’t exceptional, and you weren’t particularly agile. To be more precise, you were below average.”
“You’re basing that on yourself, aren’t you?”
“Anyway, that’s how it looked to me.”
“……So unreasonable.”
“Anyway, I think I was mistaken. I really didn’t expect you to create a Mana Heart in less than a year.”
“Tch. Is that how the story goes?”
“Yes. So lately, I’ve been feeling a sense of crisis that if I slack off, you’ll catch up to me.”
“Whoa.”
Hey, Iron-Blooded Knight.
That’s never going to happen.
Lloyd wanted to say that.
He was no genius.
He had simply awakened skills like the Asrahan Heart Method and invested RP to grow faster than others.
No matter how hard he tried, he’d never catch up to Haviel in his lifetime.
It was the same now.
Even with the same triple circle.
Even though he could use triple blast, which was stronger than Haviel’s.
‘It’s just raw spec output. In terms of utilizing it, I can’t even compare to Haviel.’
It was true.
Basic stamina and muscle power, mana control like Jimi Hendrix’s flashy guitar solos, reflexes, power utilization, balance, adaptability, battle sense, experience, grit, and the transcendent technique encompassing it all.
Comparison was meaningless in every area.
Using a car analogy?
Haviel was a state-of-the-art 31st-century super Formula machine.
Himself?
‘A 20th-century Tico with a fighter jet engine but no steering wheel.’
Triple circle and triple blast, but no control—a lottery shot. That was Lloyd’s cold self-assessment.
‘So relax, man.’
Of course, Lloyd didn’t voice it.
No need to reveal the RP system.
Instead, he decided to let Haviel’s misunderstanding and sense of crisis fester.
‘The sooner he becomes a Swordmaster from working harder, the better for me.’
Haviel, burning with the will to grow for once.
Lloyd secretly smiled at him.
Their journey toward the capital continued through the flurries of midday snow.
♣
The journey was swift.
No incidents or accidents.
The only event was one of the envoy’s attendants being cured of chronic insomnia. Thanks to overhearing Lloyd’s lullaby service for Haviel, of course.
Anyway, another ten days passed.
The group finally arrived at the capital, Magenta.
“You will soon have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen. You remember the precautions for the audience, right?”
“Of course.”
Lloyd and Haviel followed the envoy.
The capital was a city of white and red.
Nearly every building’s walls were a warm beige white.
But every roof was covered in reddish-brown tiles.
The avenue from the outskirts to the royal castle was impeccably wide and clean.
‘But the palace shape is a bit unique.’
Following the envoy along the avenue, Lloyd glanced at the distant royal castle.
The castle’s shape was unusual.
He had a rough idea from the descriptions in the novel Iron-Blooded Knight, but seeing it in person made it feel even stranger than reading about it.
‘It looks just like half an egg buried in the ground. Or a bunker from StrikeCraft.’
Round.
Smooth and flat.
And rock-solid heavy-looking.
Like a round, flat bunker enlarged hundreds of times.
It was light-years away from the typical medieval castle image anyone would imagine.
Perhaps noticing his interest, the envoy’s voice came from ahead.
“You, were you thinking our royal castle is unusual?”
“Ah, yes. I was.”
“That makes sense.”
The envoy chuckled lowly.
“Everyone thinks that the first time they see our royal castle. That it’s bizarre and strange. That it doesn’t even look like a castle. Did you think that too?”
“Not quite. I’d heard rumors about it.”
“Then have you heard why it’s shaped like that?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd nodded.
He recalled a brief mention from the novel Iron-Blooded Knight.
“I heard it was built centuries ago. Back when this city was called ‘Talianno.’ There was some unfortunate, foolish king who got his castle uprooted by the same dragon twice.”
“Correct. The history books record it as a shocking event. That’s why the castles built then mostly took that shape.”
“So it wouldn’t get ‘uprooted’ even by a dragon.”
“Something like that. Flat and round. No purchase points. That style was popular back then.”
“And now ours is the last remaining egg-shaped castle. Right?”
“Heh heh. You’ve done your homework. I like you more the more I see.”
“You flatter me.”
Lloyd bantered.
By the time he finished chatting with the envoy, the castle was right in front of them.
After complicated procedures, the group entered the castle.
They headed straight to the audience chamber.
Donning fresh audience attire finally made it feel real—they were in the royal castle.
‘Whew.’
Soon, they would meet the Queen.
If the Creemo Count from before was just a big shot, the Queen ahead was the ultimate big shot, a super VIP.
In short, the biggest fish in the country.
The holder of the fattest wallet—the ultimate client.
‘Let’s do this right.’
Lloyd reviewed the Queen’s personality and traits from Iron-Blooded Knight. He ran through the scenarios he’d simulated endlessly on the way here. He double-checked the grand plan he intended to execute now.
Soon, the Queen entered the audience chamber.
“Her Majesty the Queen enters.”
They quickly knelt on one knee.
Bowed their heads.
The sound of doors opening.
Confident footsteps.
The rustle of her settling on the throne.
Then, a clear, powerful voice struck their ears.
“Lloyd Frontera and Haviel Asrahan, raise your heads.”
They looked up.
Beyond the red carpet on the floor.
Black leather boots came into view.
Rough-textured brown leather pants too.
At her firm, sleek waist hung a well-worn longsword. Above it, a sturdy upper body and shoulders in simple attire, a clean neckline.
Finally, the face of a woman in her late thirties entered his sight.
Wavy red hair like flames captured whole. Within it, proud and stern turquoise eyes gleaming sharply.
The moment their eyes met, Lloyd nearly gasped in admiration.
‘Cool.’
The Queen of this nation, the sole Swordmaster.
The Indomitable Sovereign, Alicia Termina Magentano.
Far more dignified and commanding than he’d imagined from Iron-Blooded Knight’s descriptions.
Her voice even more so.
“You are Lloyd Frontera?”
Looking down at Haviel, the Queen asked.
Lloyd flinched.
“Long live Her Majesty the Queen. Lloyd Frontera beholds the rightful ruler of this land.”
“……You?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Lloyd Frontera?”
“That is I.”
“Hmm. Strange. By your looks, that one seems more the noble.”
“…….”
“Moreover, by the aura I sense, he seems qualified to cross swords with me.”
Haviel flinched this time, kneeling beside him.
With just a glance, the Queen had gauged Haviel’s level roughly.
As expected of a Swordmaster’s discerning eye.
Queen Alicia raised the corner of her red eyebrow.
“Regardless, I have heard of your exploits through the loyal counsel of the Creemo Count. Thus, I commend the courage and sacrifice you showed in Creemo City. However—”
A meaningful glint entered the Queen’s turquoise eyes.
“I do not judge people hastily based on recommendations alone. I trust only my own eyes. Therefore, I wish to test your abilities myself. Especially yours, Lloyd Frontera.”
“If you speak of ability, what would you like to confirm…….”
“Simple. I’ve heard your civil engineering prowess is remarkable. So, Lloyd Frontera, just answer my question with your own wisdom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Ask away.”
The Queen smirked.
Her question came.
“Lloyd Frontera. In the current state of affairs, what do you think is the most urgently needed construction project for this capital, Magenta?”
The Queen’s smile turned meaningful.
In truth, she had already taken a liking to Lloyd. From the moment she received the Creemo Count’s report, she’d been greatly intrigued by the abilities he displayed.
That was why.
‘Prove it. Do so, and I shall use you myself.’
Queen Alicia eyed Lloyd, pondering the correct answer she had in mind.
Her eyes burned with desire for young talent.
Thus, at this moment, she had no idea.
Lloyd, politely bowing at her feet. A confident smile playing on his lips.
‘It’s here.’
Just as expected.
He had analyzed it relentlessly on the journey here.
He’d rummaged through memories of Iron-Blooded Knight. Checked rumors and records about the capital. Figured out what construction the Queen most desired and what the capital most needed.
And now, she was asking exactly that.
Like cramming one day for the finals and seeing it all on the exam.
‘Now it’s my turn to roast her.’
Lloyd’s lip curled slyly.
He licked his lips. Energized his tongue.
“To answer Your Majesty’s question…….”
A sly voice flowed from him.
The nation’s biggest jackpot client—the Queen.
Lloyd’s winning gambit to scratch her itch just right and secure construction contracts was thrown.