Weapon Master
"Thanks to you, security around the other relics has been tightened. But this place is different."
The duke's words began like that.
An anti-magic barrier surpassing even the relic's own wards. The ancient grand barrier extended not just around the imperial palace but all the way to Asrian's outer walls, rendering the relic's barrier utterly meaningless with its overwhelming magical potency. And the anti-magic barrier's effects went beyond merely shielding all of Asrian from magical threats.
"Demonic energy detection is a given, and the palace and walls have added durability enhancements and automatic structural repair functions. Inside the palace, there's an ancient barrier that locks mana in place, preventing it from moving freely. Only royalty registered with the barrier, the imperial knights, and the imperial mages can operate within it."
On top of that, in emergencies, a torrent of mana blessings poured down on those already registered with the barrier.
"To completely shatter the palace's barrier, you'd have to destroy the imperial magic tower first. It's not just a matter of external attacks—internal cooperation is required."
"Then……."
"High-ranking royalty capable of interfering with the barrier, especially direct imperial lineage adding their hand to that profane plot…… That's the only way."
"……So the mastermind is the Second Prince after all?"
Tiny glanced at the duke, referencing rumors from his past life, but the duke's expression only hardened further.
"That's the problem. Because of you, I couldn't trust the rumors and met him myself several times. And my conclusion…… is that it's not him."
What gave him such certainty? Tiny could only tilt his head.
"……In my past life, you never denied those rumors outright."
"If I had to guess…… he probably just didn't want to stir up more talk about something that had already happened—especially an internal imperial matter."
……Though it's funny hearing myself speculate on my own thoughts.
The quiet mutter that followed dripped with his frustration.
"……Why do you think that?"
"The Second Prince is a complete stickler for principles. No different from the rumors. He had zero qualms about Prince Bradley's succession to the throne. Not a shred of ambition."
……What?
"And if what you say is true, the outcome……."
"I heard every direct imperial lineage member died. Even the Blue-Blooded Magic Swordsman, the emperor's own brother."
"……Yeah, that's right. If it really was the Second Prince, he'd have been in an overwhelmingly advantageous position, used them, and still gotten backstabbed."
"Couldn't that have happened?"
The duke grimaced at Tiny's retort.
"……Even lowballing it, the Second Prince isn't that stupid. Unless he's on your level of idiocy, he wouldn't get played like that."
"Hey, what the hell do you take me for……."
"What? If he moves purely on impulse no matter how much you explain, then yeah, maybe."
Ha, fuck…….
Tiny had picked a fight and come out empty-handed. The two glared at each other like it was a battle of wills, but Tiny was the first to look away, guilty as charged.
"……Preserving the empire's strength is more important, right?"
"Hah, yeah. In the end, you did good coming here, so I'll let it slide this time. Anyway, it's not the Second Prince."
The addendum irked him for a moment, but Tiny held back on arguing he'd misjudged the man. The duke was a politician who'd led House Valentia for nearly twenty years before becoming a superhuman; it was hard to believe he'd misread someone after multiple meetings.
Wait, but…….
"'In the end, it was good you came'?"
"Don't get the wrong idea—I'm not saying you did well."
"Huh?"
"There was a guy with something like a pass to enter Elvenheim. And I didn't know about it. So in the end, it worked out."
"A pass?"
"I'll explain later. For now, stopping the imperial disaster comes first. Anyway, if a high-ranking royal led it and got backstabbed, it's probably the Third Prince or the First Princess."
"The Third Prince and First Princess?"
"Yeah. The Third Prince, the textbook example of an ambitious but incompetent royal, and the First Princess, whose thoughts no one can read…… My judgment is it's one of them."
"Then……."
"They'll have planted people around them. With you here now, Jay should arrive soon too. Concentrate all of Blackwing's forces, and something'll turn up."
The duke's words sounded plausible enough. But even so, a nagging unease lingered in Tiny's chest.
Then why the rumors about the Second Prince in my past life?
No evidence, but that rumor gnawed at him. No—more precisely, the duke's bitter expression when discussing it.
"But……."
As Tiny opened his mouth, the duke cut in sharply, as if reading his mind.
"Of course, we've got people around the Second Prince too. Unlike some, I don't rely solely on my own judgment for everything."
And at that moment, Tiny bristled at the duke scanning him up and down while saying "my own judgment."
This guy's…….
"Hey, to someone who just pulled off a huge feat and rushed here barely recovered……!"
His outburst made the duke nod with a wry smile.
"That, you really did well. Truly."
"Wha…… Huh?"
Stunned by the sudden praise, Tiny blinked as the duke continued with a grim face.
"Separate from saving a nation, it reaffirmed my certainty about what we need to do…… Making it all the more urgent."
"What do you……?"
Before he could question it, the duke changed tack.
"What'd you eat to grow so much taller with that mana capacity boost? You'll hit Blader soon, right?"
He wanted to press further, but this was important too, drawing his focus.
"Well…… I've got momentum, so yeah. But why bring it up out of nowhere……?"
No matter how much imperial strength they preserved, without someone to crack the legion commanders' and Demon King's skulls, it was pointless. And Tiny boldly claimed he'd be that someone.
The duke seemed to agree, flashing a feral grin.
"I think I can shorten that timeline dramatically."
"……Can I say no?"
"No."
Then why ask!?
As Tiny's face twisted in frustration, unable to laugh or cry—
"S-Sir! Big trouble!"
A voice from outside the room saved him.
* * *
"What?"
"Grid van Selden…… The Weapon Master has challenged you to a duel, sir."
The knight's repeated report hardened the duke's face.
"Ha, at a time like this! That guy's hopeless at reading the room…… Here, hand it over."
"Yes, sir."
The knight handed over a tightly rolled missive. The expensive parchment's exterior bore a crest of crossed sword and axe.
The emblem of the Kingdom Alliance's sole superhuman. The Weapon Master, Grid van Selden.
As the duke's face darkened reading it—
Tiny watched with an odd smile.
Oh, right! That's what happened around now.
The crown prince—who would be Aslan Empire's next emperor—'s wedding news had spread to nations worldwide half a year ago. To give friendly states and nobles time to send congratulatory envoys, and to flaunt imperial might.
House Valentia's early arrival in the capital stemmed from the same reason. As the bride's family, congratulatory envoys flooded in, piling gifts before the Valentia mansion in the capital.
Yet Duke Eschard had secluded himself, avoiding most nobles. But even he couldn't ignore superhumans, especially the Weapon Master, Grid van Selden, with whom he shared a longstanding grudge.
They'd been fighting since youth, right?
Given the empire and Kingdom Alliance's relations, knightly rivalry was inevitable. Thirty years ago, amid border skirmishes, they'd clashed countless times on the battlefield.
The Weapon Master was five years older, but both were top prospects then. Even after inheriting their houses, during truces they'd seek each other out to test skills.
—What they called "testing skills" would've ended in death if one slipped even slightly.
—That probably would've sparked another empire-alliance war.
Tiny remembered their later tales clearly. But three years ago in this timeline, the rivalry tipped decisively.
Grid van Selden—already dubbed "Weapon Master"—reached Aura User first, shattering the balance.
Years had passed since their last clash, after both had become duke and grand duke, but the world naturally ranked Grid above Eschard.
Until two years ago, when Eschard hit Aura User at just forty-nine.
And now.
"Does this guy not know his place!? You think we're in a position to duel for fun!? Why the hell now!!?"
Both held exalted stations amid imperial crisis; the duke's rage seemed justified.
But.
"……Refuse, and it's admitting defeat? Ha? This lunatic!!"
With such provocative terms, the duke couldn't back down easily.
"Fine. Time to settle this for good."
It was a duel request, yet the duke's face twisted like he'd been challenged to the death.
The reporting knight, Garen, shook his head at the sight.
"S-Sir. A duel between Aura Users at this juncture seems inappropriate. Shouldn't we consult His Majesty and postpone? If something goes wrong……."
"He won't back off. It'll just spread bad rumors. For someone always yapping about noble dignity, his pettiness is street-thug level……."
Looks like you're the thug right now…….
Tiny stifled a snicker, then looked innocently at the ceiling under the duke's glare.
Ha, mind-reading or what?
As silence fell, he glanced down to find the duke, having dismissed Garen, regarding him calmly.
"This happened in your past life too?"
"……Yes."
"……Good. At least that's something."
His earlier fury gone, he spoke coldly.
"So it's not their scheme. Selden Kingdom wouldn't order it either…… That immature fool just……! Hah……."
……Even now, he's thinking about that?
Tiny frowned, wondering if the duke had split personality, and blurted,
"Want me to spoil the result?"
The duke flinched for the first time, then chuckled and shook his head.
"No, absolutely don't. Mention it even vaguely, and I'll rip your mouth off."
"Ugh, seriously! Way to……."
"Actually, perfect. Might as well convince that old Weapon Master to stick around. He'd be a huge help."
"……Sure, but will he?"
"As you saw, he's a loose cannon. Does whatever he wants, dignity be damned on his lips……."
Yeah, that's him.
So…….
……This'll be fun.
Tiny smiled unwittingly. Picturing his old comrades' duel from their less polished days sparked curiosity.
Of course, he knew the outcome.
The Weapon Master wielded multiple Transcendent Weapons in tandem, surpassing superhumans. But as a formal duel, no Transcendent Weapons allowed.
A huge handicap for him.
And yet…….
Heh.
"Better win and lay down terms, right?"
"Do whatever. The guy who said not to spoil results……."
"Kuk, yeah. Since it's happening, let's pull the Weapon Master to our side."
The duke's confidence wasn't bravado.
He heard my tales of future techniques. How much has he internalized?
If even one took root, the fated result would change.
Completely…….