Chapter 116: Returning Home in Glory (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: Returning Home in Glory (3)
Human emotions were peculiar.
If Roman Dmitry had simply said he needed more time, the power players of Cairo would have assumed he was looking down on them, regardless of his monstrous genius.
But a Public Ranking Match? That was a completely different story.
"...A Public Ranking Match?"
"Yes."
"A Public Ranking Match is an endless gauntlet meant to test a person's absolute limits. You fight until you are defeated, and the spot where you finally fall becomes your rank. But it is not something to be taken lightly. Because it pushes you to the brink, the battles are bound to be vicious. One could easily lose their life to a stray sword."
"I am aware."
Ranking matches were inherently sensitive.
Since they were clashes between the strong, it wasn't strange for someone to die at any moment. Public Ranking Matches were even more extreme.
It wasn't a one-off duel.
If Roman Dmitry, starting at the 100th rank, defeated the 99th ranker, he would immediately challenge the next opponent.
Because the format demanded fighting until one hit their absolute limit, the rankers accepting these challenges showed no mercy. It was only natural. This wasn't a friendly spar; the challenger was actively trying to step on their necks to climb higher. Who would willingly become a sacrificial lamb for someone else's glory?
An endless challenge.
It was a path most preferred to avoid.
Yet, Roman Dmitry had just declared his intention to walk it. That could only be interpreted as immense, unshakeable confidence.
‘Roman Dmitry defeated Butler of the Hector Kingdom. Based on that result alone, he is already qualified for a high rank, yet he's still choosing the Public Ranking Match. His intention to test himself is clear. What incredible confidence. He is in a prime position to sit back and enjoy wealth and fame by capitalizing on his current momentum, yet he's casting all of that aside for a new challenge.’
They were filled with admiration.
Roman Dmitry was not much older than Daniel Cairo.
At an age where most had yet to fully experience the world, Roman Dmitry was walking an extraordinary path.
"As expected of Cairo's hero."
"You have made a grand decision. With this, the rankings of the Cairo Kingdom will experience a massive upheaval. You are the powerhouse who defeated Butler of the Hector Kingdom. Who could possibly stop you, Lord Roman? I am already looking forward to it."
These were the nobles.
They reacted with great interest.
Roman had rejected the offer to join the Royal Knights.
At the same time, he was offering to prove his worth, so they had no reason to stop him.
And...
‘This will be the perfect stage to properly gauge Roman Dmitry's true strength. I still find it hard to believe the rumors that he defeated Butler. Roman is only in his mid-twenties. Through the Public Ranking Match, we will see his true colors.’
It wasn't a bad prospect.
The Public Ranking Match would serve as a stage for evaluation.
By buying time, Roman had thrown out a topic that others couldn't help but find intriguing.
Not only that, but the time spent preparing for and conducting the ranking matches would give them ample opportunity to win him over.
An open competition.
Roman was exploiting the situation.
He was elevating his own value while fueling the competitive fire of those who desired him.
Roman spoke.
"In the near future, I will prove myself before everyone's eyes. And at that time, I will decide my future course of action."
Everyone interpreted those words in their own way.
Daniel Cairo believed it meant Roman would join the Royal Knights.
The other three nobles believed that the ambiguous phrase "future course of action" pointed toward them.
The truth was none of the above.
When the ranking matches were over...
‘That is when I will create a new paradigm.’
Roman Dmitry would not become someone else's sword; he would overturn the entire board as Roman Dmitry.
* * *
After the party ended, Roman was summoned by Marquis Benedict.
Already slightly tipsy, Marquis Benedict poured him a drink himself and said,
Glug, glug.
"A person's fate is truly amusing. I sent you to the Southern Front out of consideration, but of all things, the Hector Kingdom had to declare war. Yet you stopped them, becoming the hero of Cairo."
The cup filled to the brim.
At Marquis Benedict's gesturing glance, Roman emptied his glass with an indifferent expression.
Clack.
"Thanks to that, I had a good experience."
"...A good experience?"
"Yes. Through the war with the Hector Kingdom, I realized that the world I knew wasn't everything. That is why I decided on the Public Ranking Match. I want to test how strong I am within the Cairo Kingdom. And when I am finally certain that there is no one above me, I want to venture out into the continent and become the best."
"The best on the continent. A dream perfectly suited for your age."
He also downed his drink.
Once, Marquis Benedict had also harbored the dream of becoming the best.
But the continent was a world teeming with monsters beyond imagination. On the day he faced his own pathetic limits, he decided to settle for a life of contentment within the Cairo Kingdom. He built his power in the Central Government by oppressing his young nephew. Though he hadn't lived a particularly honorable life, it was because of this ruthless pragmatism that he was now known as the living authority of Cairo.
Marquis Benedict spoke.
"I have only one child, a daughter. I tried hard to have a son, but my daughter's mother passed away early, so I couldn't try any further. People told me to take a new wife and father a son like other nobles do. But strangely enough, I just didn't want to do that."
It was a well-known story.
Despite the dark rumors surrounding Marquis Benedict, he did not indulge in women despite possessing immense power.
It didn't matter what he was called on the outside.
At least at home, he was merely a father who doted on his precious daughter, the apple of his eye.
"I will give you my daughter."
Clack.
He set down his glass.
Anyone who knew Marquis Benedict knew that those words carried immense weight.
"I heard you told Fabius that you aren't as naive as you seem. Hearing about that conversation, and seeing you declare your intention to challenge the Public Ranking Match before everyone today, reminded me of the monsters of the continent I met in my youth. I am certain of it. I wasn't born with incredible talent like those bastards, but I at least have the eye to recognize that a man named Roman Dmitry is someone who will grow to rival them."
"...I have had an engagement broken before."
"I know. Do you think I would propose a marriage without knowing even that? I have no intention of forcing you upon my daughter either. I simply mean that I will arrange a meeting for the two of you, and if there is mutual affection, I am willing to accept that outcome."
He drank his alcohol.
It tasted bitter.
Hearing that Roman had defeated Butler, and seeing him challenge the Public Ranking Match, Marquis Benedict instinctively knew that Roman Dmitry was a being who could not be bound by ordinary means.
There was only one way.
Blood ties.
Even though the Noble Faction valued lineage above all else, Marquis Benedict was willing to accept the Dmitry family.
"I won't tell you to meet my daughter right this instant. Just as you said before everyone, you need ample time to move forward. But keep this one thing in mind: now, just as in the past, I, Marquis Benedict, have your back. If you take my hand and promise to share your future with me, you will obtain everything you desire—at least within the bounds of the Cairo Kingdom."
Marriage into the Benedict family.
It meant inheriting all of Marquis Benedict's power, and that was how strong his desire for Roman was.
Thus, the drinking session of that day came to an end.
Marquis Benedict's proposal made one fact abundantly clear:
‘Roman Dmitry. Whoever claims him will swallow the Cairo Kingdom whole.’
A being who could shatter the balance of power.
It seemed the other factions shared the same sentiment, as Roman subsequently received contacts from Count Gregory and Count Denver one after another.
* * *
The factions that divided Cairo into four.
Their courtship was extraordinary.
Daniel Cairo offered the position of Vice Commander of the Royal Knights.
Marquis Benedict offered marriage.
And Count Gregory and Count Denver made offers that were by no means inferior to the others.
"I can guarantee you this. Sooner or later, the Kronos Empire will unify the continent. Whether it is King Daniel or Marquis Benedict, those living in Cairo ultimately cannot offer you much. I promise you the power of the Kronos Empire. The moment you accept this offer, the Kronos Empire will transform your life entirely."
"Valhalla's offer remains the same as before. Along with a noble title and territory, we will grant you the opportunity to enter the Warrior's Tomb. You know well what that means. The Warrior's Tomb is the resting place of the warriors who have shone throughout Valhalla's history, and it contains their weapons and the knowledge they accumulated over their lifetimes. If you wish to become the best sword on the continent, the Valhalla Empire has the power to guide your path."
Both offers were unprecedented.
People thought Daniel Cairo's offer was shocking, but once the cards were on the table, the other three nobles were risking everything. That was how intense their desire to claim Roman was. No matter how low Butler ranked on the continental scale, there was no one other than Roman who could defeat him while only in their twenties.
His mid-twenties.
It signified a brilliant future.
Since Roman Dmitry's continued growth was practically guaranteed, the power players of Cairo were laying out unprecedented offers.
If he desired a comfortable life, wealth and power would follow no matter which option he chose.
To be precise, Daniel Cairo's offer had to be excluded from that guarantee, but the other three factions offered a flawless future.
Yet, Roman was not tempted in the slightest.
‘I am not someone who can live under another.’
In his past life, from the moment he fell to the absolute bottom, he had climbed up step by step, trampling over those above him.
Every time, many had approached him with sweet offers.
They spoke as if they would give him the world, but such promises held no absolute value.
‘In the end, if my usefulness runs out or if I act against their desires, their attitudes will change. The peak I desire is the absolute authority to decide everything for myself. I will not be swayed by the decisions of others. I will stand firm on my own two feet, no matter what happens around me.’
That was a different kind of comfort.
For now, he was merely using them.
The goodwill they offered demanded a price, and the path he had walked as the Heavenly Demon Baek Joong-hyuk was far too rugged for him to be swayed by such things.
His throat felt dry.
A thirst welled up.
The events that would unfold after the Public Ranking Match ended were already making Roman's blood boil.
* * *
Roman's lodging in the capital was the epitome of luxury.
It was a special consideration from the royal family, and the nobles of the Central Government had also pitched in to ensure he stayed in a prime location.
Upon arriving at the lodging, the one who welcomed Roman was none other than Hans.
"Young Master!"
He was always the same.
Hans scurried over on his short legs, took Roman's coat, and meticulously checked on him.
"I heard you had a truly difficult time on the Southern Front. Are you hurt anywhere? My heart was pounding so hard when I heard the news, Young Master. I am so glad you returned safely."
"Nothing much happened."
"Is that so?"
Hans smiled brightly.
He was truly a good man.
That day, Roman was able to enjoy a proper rest for the first time in a long while.
Hans had prepared a warm bath to soothe his body, lit fragrant incense, and cooked the meals he enjoyed back in Dmitry, allowing him to relax in total comfort. Rest was just as important as training. Whenever he rested, he completely cleared his mind of complex thoughts. Right now, Roman focused solely on recovering from the fatigue and minor wounds he had sustained on the battlefield.
And a few days later, Roman heard unexpected words from Hans.
"...Young Master. This might be presumptuous of me, but could you perhaps meet with Young Master Lauren?"
Lauren Dmitry.
A blood relative whom Roman had never truly dealt with had suddenly entered the picture.