Chapter 67: Baron Romero's Dilemma (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: Baron Romero's Dilemma (4)
While waiting for Hendrick, Baron Romero found himself recalling a memory from the past.
Three years ago.
During the meeting to decide the family's successor, a vassal had cautiously pointed out that Roman was still the eldest son. Hendrick’s reaction had been explosive.
"Is the mere fact of his birth so important that we should drag the family's future through the mud?" he had spat, his voice trembling with anger. "Yes, Roman is the eldest son of the Dmitry family. But go out into the streets and ask anyone what kind of person he is! Ten out of ten will click their tongues and call him 'The Fool of Dmitry.' And you still want him to be the successor? Please, everyone, wake up!"
Then, he had delivered the final blow to put an end to the debate.
"My Lord, Dmitry's roots lie in the forge. Most of the people who follow you work in the iron mines and the smithies. If the next successor doesn't even know how to handle iron, what will everyone think? It's utterly ridiculous. Besides, it's not as if we lack other options. Rodwell Dmitry has been doing chores and learning the trade in the forge since he was a child. We have an outstanding talent who has already proven his abilities in the capital. Choosing Roman Dmitry as the successor is a decision that will put this family in jeopardy."
Hendrick had stepped forward and taken the lead on a sensitive topic everyone else had been too afraid to touch.
Following his impassioned plea to strip the eldest son of his succession rights, the other vassals chimed in one after another, voicing their support.
And so, Rodwell Dmitry was chosen as the successor.
Unaware of this, Roman had continued to live like trash, only reinforcing the vassals' belief that they had made the right choice.
But three years later, Roman has changed.
Even the vassals who had once passionately agreed with Hendrick were now asking to reconsider Roman's potential as the successor. The sentiment among the iron mine workers and the common people was no different.
However, I cannot simply ignore the opinion of Hendrick, the master of the forge. Just as he said, Dmitry's roots lie in the forge. I cannot blindly support Roman, who has neglected his duties to our foundation.
His head throbbed.
His son's rapid growth was a blessing, but if only Roman had proven his worth a little sooner, the issue would have been easily resolved. Having to worry about the succession now was a massive headache.
Roman's recent impressive achievements were an entirely separate matter. Although Roman had grown as a swordsman and shown astonishing progress, what Hendrick valued most in a successor of Dmitry was an understanding of the forge. That was an undeniable, fundamental requirement for the Dmitry family. Once the successor took over, they would have to manage the forge directly. There was no way Hendrick would respect or obey someone who knew absolutely nothing about iron.
Hendrick.
He was the Master Blacksmith and Baron Romero's longtime companion. If such a man opposed it, even Baron Romero could not forcefully push forward with a change in succession.
Hendrick will likely object strongly to this. But I have no choice but to ask. Since the general consensus favors Roman, if I run into Hendrick's opposition, we will have to debate this issue all over again.
It wasn't just a guess. It was a strong conviction.
Having known Hendrick for so long, Romero was absolutely certain of how the man would react.
However...
"I am, of course, in favor. I believe Young Master Roman Dmitry is more than qualified to be the successor."
When they finally met, Hendrick uttered words that completely shattered those expectations.
Baron Romero blinked in disbelief.
If it was Hendrick... If it was the Master Blacksmith... it would have been entirely normal for him to fly into a rage and spit fire at the mere suggestion of reinstating Roman.
"...Are you being serious?"
"How could I lie to you, My Lord? There was indeed a time when I thought Roman Dmitry was unfit to lead. But things are different now. As he proved in the recent war with Barco, Roman has shed blood and sweat in places unseen. As a result, he was able to grow into an Aura Swordsman, and he has shown a genuine willingness to understand Dmitry by working in the iron mines of his own accord."
Romero could scarcely believe his ears.
Hendrick, of all people, was defending Roman.
As if he wasn't finished, Hendrick recounted a recent event.
"Actually, not long ago, there was an incident between Young Master Roman and me. He placed an order to arm his private soldiers, and out of spite, I told him to take some substandard equipment. Do you know what he said to me? He snapped at me, saying that handing over such garbage to arm soldiers was no different from murder. And he was right. It was an act that violated my pride as a craftsman. But that night, as I quietly reflected on his words, a thought occurred to me."
Today, Hendrick had seen Roman's true colors. His past memories had been beautified, and he had completely reinterpreted his previous conflict with Roman into a fond memory.
"I realized that Young Master Roman possesses an eye worthy of the Dmitry family. An ordinary person could never have so accurately judged the quality of those weapons. And today, I witnessed Young Master Roman working in the forge with my own eyes. Watching him endure the intense heat in front of the furnace, completely absorbed in his work... Sigh. As a fellow blacksmith, I couldn't help but fall in love with that sight."
Once, he had called it an ill-fated relationship. But from the moment he received Roman's gift, Hendrick had been completely won over.
Hendrick handed over a sword.
As the blade gleamed brilliantly under the light, Baron Romero cast a questioning look.
"What is this?"
"It is a sword crafted by Young Master Roman himself. You, My Lord, will recognize its value at a single glance. At first, I couldn't believe it was the Young Master's work either, but after seeing him at the anvil today, I knew it was the truth."
Baron Romero's eyes widened.
The sword before him... it was a masterpiece.
Just like Hendrick, Baron Romero recognized the blade's true value instantly, unable to hide his bewilderment.
"...What on earth is this?"
How on earth... How could Roman have crafted such a sword?
Despite Roman's recent heroics, Baron Romero had still felt a lingering sense of regret. Although Roman was growing rapidly as a swordsman, his neglect of the family's core duty was deeply disappointing to someone who had once dedicated his life to the forge. He believed that his son—the eldest son of the Dmitry family—should at least show some interest in blacksmithing, just as Hendrick had so strongly argued in the past.
But now, Hendrick had revealed a shocking truth.
This sword was not the result of mere passing interest; it proved that Roman possessed qualifications that far exceeded all expectations.
Hendrick spoke again, his voice firm.
"Dmitry's roots lie in the forge. Although we chose Young Master Rodwell as the next successor three years ago, now that Young Master Roman is proving his worth, we must reconsider that decision."
The tables had completely turned.
Hendrick, who had once vehemently opposed Roman by citing the family's roots, was now trying to persuade Baron Romero—the exact opposite of the Baron's original fears.
"Well, I'll be."
A hollow laugh escaped Romero's lips.
Hendrick. The Master Blacksmith. The final obstacle Baron Romero had been so worried about had just crumbled in the most anticlimactic way possible.
*
In his private office.
After sending Hendrick back, Baron Romero sat alone and pulled out a letter he had received a year ago.
[Father, this is Rodwell. Not long ago, I was promoted to Class S at the Cairo Royal Academy. From now on, I will not just be taking theoretical classes, but will be heading out into the field to gain experience as a commander. Father, you wish for the Dmitry family to pursue peace on the frontiers. But my dream is different. I will graduate from the Cairo Royal Academy with the highest honors, return to you as a proud son, and show you a new future for Dmitry.]
Rodwell Dmitry.
It was a letter from his second son.
He was Dmitry's anomaly. Unlike Baron Romero, who lived modestly and sought stability, Rodwell was born with the ambitious nature of a man who always strived to be the absolute best.
And he had actually produced the results to back it up.
The Cairo Royal Academy was the premier educational institution of the Cairo Kingdom. Being promoted to Class S—the highest class there—meant that Rodwell Dmitry's immense talent had been officially recognized. Once, receiving such a letter would have made Romero's heart flutter with anticipation for Dmitry's bright new future. He had hoped Rodwell would take flight on the foundation he had carefully laid.
But Roman's recent growth had left him deeply conflicted.
Roman and Rodwell. Both were outstanding talents.
However... looking at his recent actions, Roman's abilities could no longer be described as merely "outstanding."
Roman has the talent to make a name for himself across the entire continent, not just within the Cairo Kingdom. While Rodwell has certainly shown dedication to his duties as the family's successor, even he, whom people call a genius, cannot compare to the current Roman. If so, what decision must I make for my two sons?
His dilemma ran deep.
But finally, he made his decision.
The people wanted Roman. The family's vassals, the servants, and even the Master Blacksmith of the forge. Since they all wished for Roman to be the successor, Romero could not stubbornly push for Rodwell just to uphold a past decision.
Therefore...
There is still time. Once Rodwell graduates from the Academy and Roman completes his military service, I will officially declare a competition for the succession. I will make no distinction between the eldest and the second son. Whichever of the two proves more qualified to lead Dmitry, I will select and support him as the family's successor.
Finally, the headache-inducing worry was gone.
Baron Romero stepped out of his office. For the first time in a very long while, he felt he could sleep soundly by Rihanna's side.
*
Over the past month, what had the priests of Valhalla been doing?
Willas, who should have arrived in Dmitry long ago, had been delayed, spending a considerable amount of time in a completely different region.
"Priest, the results of this ranking match are truly shocking. To think that Bertov, who was ranked 99th just a year ago, defeated Fernando, the gatekeeper of the 30th rank. Everyone will go wild when the new Cairo Kingdom ranking list is announced next year. And Bertov doesn't have an affiliation yet, does he?"
"Indeed," Willas responded calmly to the acolyte's words.
On the very day they were supposed to leave for Dmitry, they had received an official request for a ranking match. Bertov, ranked 99th, had challenged Fernando, and Fernando had accepted without hesitation.
For the first time in a long while, an official ranking match had taken place.
The result was Fernando's defeat, and the subsequent administrative work had forced Willas to remain there and process the paperwork.
Willas spoke up. "Actually, Fernando's defeat was expected from the start. People revere him as the gatekeeper of the 30th rank, but despite reaching the level of a 4-Star Swordsman long ago, he never once managed to break into the top twenty. In the end, he must have reached his limit. Anyway, we've wasted too much time on this ranking match. If everything had gone according to schedule, we would have arrived in Dmitry a long time ago."
"Are you that eager to see Roman Dmitry?"
"Of course."
The reason Willas remained so calm despite the shocking upset was precisely because of Roman Dmitry.
Rumors had been constantly brewing in the northeast region. Rumors that the Barco family had fallen, and that Roman's strength in defeating Homeros during that conflict was the real deal. Most people dismissed it as exaggeration.
However, Willas wanted to see Roman for himself.
Common sense dictates that some unexpected variable must have occurred in the duel with Homeros. The issue is that the subject of the rumors, Roman Dmitry, was once a pathetic figure known as 'The Fool of Dmitry.' Even if the rumors of the Great Warrior Battle were exaggerated, it clearly means there has been a change significant enough to shock everyone.
Life in Cairo was truly boring.
As a priest of Valhalla dispatched on a mission, Willas had only completed half of his term and was in dire need of some entertainment. It was then that he heard Roman's story. While the public went wild over the duel between Bertov and Fernando, Willas was far more interested in verifying the truth of the northeast region with his own eyes.
He quickened his pace.
Now that all matters regarding the ranking match were settled, it was time to head to Dmitry.
"Let's make haste. Since Homeros, ranked 49th, died in an unofficial duel, shouldn't we check if Roman Dmitry is worthy of taking his spot on the rankings?"
A few days later, their journey came to an end.
Before they knew it, the towering grey stone walls of Dmitry appeared before their eyes.