Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Chapter 4: Reveal (3)
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"On the day I regain my swordsmanship, I will join Your Highness the 5th Prince's personal guard."
Gestain declared. He was wise. Having been betrayed once before, he refrained from acting rashly.
Considering the 5th Prince might be lying, he made his intentions clear only after recovering his swordsmanship.
A knight who pledged loyalty only to be betrayed and abandoned in the end.
Raymond, the 5th Prince, could imagine the wounds he had suffered, so he simply nodded in silence.
"On the day you regain your lost swordsmanship, you must join my personal guard without fail."
"I swear it upon my sword."
A knight's oath. It wasn't something to blindly trust, nor something to dismiss lightly.
"Elder."
He quietly called out to the Azure Tower Lord.
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
The Azure Tower Lord, Risefield Dior, approached and bowed his head.
"Give that to Sir Gestain."
"Yes, understood."
A subspace opened. With a light gesture from Risefield, an old book emerged and was placed before the middle-aged knight, Gestain.
"What is this?"
"A swordsmanship manual recording the one-armed sword style. Given your talent for the blade, you should be able to master it through self-study, yes?"
"Of course."
A complex mix of emotions flickered in Gestain's gaze as it fell upon the swordsmanship manual at his feet.
'Does this manual truly contain sword techniques for a one-armed swordsman? Is the 5th Prince telling the truth? Or is he lying?'
A whirlwind of thoughts stirred him from his confusion.
"You seem full of doubts, Sir. If you can't believe it, go ahead and read it first."
Raymond could see the unease and suspicion. He urged him to take a look. He was certain that a knight of Gestain's caliber would change his mind the moment he opened the manual.
"I'll read it."
Gestain set his sword aside for a moment, picked up the manual, and flipped it open.
"Th-this is..."
The reaction was exactly as expected. Raymond barely suppressed the smile tugging at his lips. Everything was going according to plan.
"Feel anything yet?"
He asked, but there was no reply for a long while. Instead, Gestain flipped through the pages frantically, as if possessed, devouring the contents.
He looked ready to be sucked right into the book.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, where did you obtain this?"
He had trained with the sword for over thirty years, yet he had never even heard of a manual like this. Curiosity burned within him.
"I'll tell you that in time."
If he lied, Gestain would sense it and grow suspicious. Even if he spoke the truth honestly, it was clear he wouldn't believe it. Better to stay silent.
"I'll give you three months. Can you recover your lost swordsmanship in that time?"
Gestain was a talented swordsman capable of reaching Sword Master realm.
Raymond believed it wouldn't take long for him to reclaim what he'd lost.
"More than enough, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
"I'll be looking forward to the day you come to me."
With those parting words, he turned away from Gestain. As he began walking toward the Imperial Capital, Alex and Risefield followed behind.
"I never imagined Sir Gestain would be in the slums."
Gestain, captain of the Frost Shield Knight Order, was one of the rare high-ranking knights, somewhat famous in the empire.
The fact that he had been betrayed was widely known, but those involved were such towering powers that everyone kept silent.
"He must have wanted to escape the Mountain Duke's grasp."
That's why he hid in the capital's slums.
"How did Your Highness the 5th Prince know?"
"I have my ways."
There was no need to explain. They wouldn't believe him anyway, even if he did.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, may I ask something?"
Alex, who had been quiet until now, couldn't hold back his curiosity and spoke up cautiously.
Raymond quickened his pace toward the Imperial Capital and replied.
"If it's something I can answer."
"Why exactly three months, if I may?"
Skipping formalities with his question showed just how curious he was.
"The grand victory banquet for the Great War."
"Ah...!"
"That's where I'll completely shed the label of wastrel."
Yes, it would all begin at the banquet three months from now.
"Fire Arrow."
With the incantation, a completed flame arrow shot toward the target and embedded itself.
"Not enough."
He wiped away the streaming sweat. Having depleted all his mana, his body felt limp.
All this effort just to produce that puny Fire Arrow? A sense of helplessness soured his mood.
Unlike Raymond's hardened expression, Risefield, who had watched the entire process, couldn't close his gaping mouth.
He was stunned by the 5th Prince's talent, which shattered the common knowledge that even geniuses needed over three years to reach intermediate mage level.
"Have you already ascended to intermediate mage realm?"
"No, it's not enough. I burned through all my mana just to make that one."
The Spear of Sacrifice inherently held mana, but using it required sacrificing life force.
That would leave him bedridden for days again, and the Emperor would throw another fit. If he collapsed once more, restrictions on his training might follow.
"You may have exhausted your mana, but you successfully cast an intermediate spell. It's no different from reaching intermediate mage realm."
"It's thanks to the secret transmission."
"No, Your Highness the 5th Prince. Secret transmissions have clear limits. Not everyone grows as quickly as you even after learning them. If they did, the Azure Tower would be full of grand mages."
Risefield's voice grew quieter. Regrettably, since the ancient era and the beginning of the Philius Empire's decline, the Mage Tower Alliance, including the Azure Tower, had produced scarcely any grand mages. Everyone yearned for that realm.
"The Azure Tower's secret transmission is plenty impressive."
Raymond spoke sincerely. Though talented, without the 'secret transmission' detailing mana cultivation methods and growth techniques, he couldn't have reached intermediate mage so quickly.
"Thank you, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
The Azure Tower Lord bowed slightly. The 5th Prince's consideration bolstered his nearly crumbling pride, bringing a faint smile to his lips.
"How's Desia Heli doing?"
"She's already surpassed intermediate mage and is advancing toward advanced mage realm."
"Good. That's fortunate."
Unlike the Azure Tower Lord's astonished tone, Raymond nodded calmly.
Everything was proceeding as planned.
"How long until advanced mage?"
"I believe it won't take another month. It's a realm that even geniuses need over five years for. Desia has only been studying magic for about three years. Truly remarkable."
Even more astonishing was that she'd reached intermediate just over two months ago and now stood on the cusp of advanced.
Magic progression accelerates with insights, but this seemed extreme, Risefield thought. At the same time, he marveled at the 5th Prince's discernment.
"The magic tomes Your Highness recommended have been a great help to Desia."
It was clearly their first meeting. How had he seen through her magical aptitudes and habits—unknown even to her master Philid—and recommended the perfect tomes?
In truth, it was due to the setting collection, but the Azure Tower Lord had no way of knowing that.
"Glad to hear it. No word from Gestain's side?"
"Shall I send someone from the Azure Tower?"
"No need."
He shook his head. No need to send anyone; Gestain would come when the time was right. He could wait patiently.
And the wait continued. With one week until the banquet, Risefield visited the 5th Prince's Palace again.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince. Only one week remains."
It felt like urging him, making even Risefield uncomfortable, but he had to inform him of the dwindling time.
To verify the personal guard roster and complete procedures, Gestain needed to arrive by afternoon at the latest.
"He'll come."
Raymond spoke quietly but with unwavering conviction. He trusted Gestain's talent and his burning desire to reclaim his lost swordsmanship.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince!"
Alex came running into the garden. A smile spread across Raymond's face.
"Has he arrived?"
"Yes! Sir Gestain is here! But..."
"What's wrong? A problem?"
Seeing Alex trail off stirred unease, but his next words defied expectations.
"He's not alone. He's brought about twenty knights with him."
Twenty knights? It matched the number of Frost Shield Knight Order survivors from the setting collection. No coincidence. Raymond could guess why Gestain brought them.
'Talk about the whole pumpkin rolling in with the vine.'
Twenty-some men stood in formation before the 5th Prince's Palace.
Their attire was ragged. They were armed with worn armor and swords.
But their eyes and aura were sharp.
Sharp enough to put the watching Imperial Knights on edge.
"Their presence is no joke."
Raymond replied calmly to Risefield's words.
"The Frost Shield Knight Order has guarded the empire from the northern Highfell for centuries. Even in seclusion these past few years, their edge remains keen."
"Those are the Frost Shield Knight Order?"
"Look at their center."
At the tip of his finger stood the one-armed knight, Gestain.
Only then did the Azure Tower Lord realize the ragged men were arrayed around Gestain.
"I'd forgotten Sir Gestain was their captain."
"It's fine. I read in a book that memory fades with age."
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, you really... Your jokes are too much."
It wasn't a joke, but they had reached Gestain, so he cut the conversation short.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince."
As he approached, Gestain stepped forward, bowed, and saluted crisply.
True to his knightly origins. The other men followed suit, saluting the 5th Prince in unison.
"I'm a bit late."
Moisture tinged Gestain's voice.
His gaze toward the 5th Prince now held respect unlike before.
"Have you regained your lost swordsmanship?"
"Not fully yet, but I can wield a blade again."
Losing his left arm had ended his life as a swordsman. Unable to slay his betrayers, he couldn't even take his own life.
But now, he had partially reclaimed it. He couldn't yet match his prime, but it was enough.
Hope for full recovery was in sight.
"This is all thanks to Your Highness the 5th Prince's grace."
Gestain bowed once more. The moment certainty of recovery dawned, he vowed to dedicate everything to the 5th Prince and observed maximum courtesy.
Fitting for a high-ranking knight well-versed in etiquette.
It felt excessive, but no need to embarrass him now.
He'd adjust in time. More importantly, Gestain and the twenty men behind him.
'No need to clear the area?'
Half the Imperial Knights here were the 3rd Prince's men, but even if ordered away, they'd linger under pretext of security.
No place in the 5th Prince's Palace for a secret meeting of over twenty.
'But that changes soon.'
His gaze chilled over the Imperial Knights mixed with 3rd Prince loyalists.
With twenty skilled knights joining, the palace interior could be guarded solely by personal guard forces.
The scope for discreet actions would expand greatly.
"Sir Gestain."
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
"Is the Frost Shield Knight Order behind you joining my command as well?"
He spoke directly. Honesty in moderation was best. Sure enough, a smile played on Gestain's lips.
"You knew they were the Frost Shield Knight Order. As expected of Your Highness."
"Don't overhype it; I just guessed. More importantly, answer the question."
"They have all sworn to follow Your Highness."
Gestain declared firmly. The eyes of the 3rd Prince's men among the Imperial Knights twitched.
Gestain and the Frost Shield knights didn't miss it. They ghosted the faces showing 'reactions' in their assigned fields of view.
Reporting them to the 5th Prince would widen his maneuvering room further.
A small gift with their loyalty oath.
"Excellent."
He nodded in satisfaction. His gaze then turned to Alex.
"Alex, issue them personal guard uniforms and contact the palace to initiate verification procedures."
Though the convener held full authority over personal guard composition, armed guards at a royal's side required minimal imperial background checks.
"Sir Gestain, once you have your uniform, come see me. Alex will guide you."
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince."