Chapter 242
Chapter 242
The Iron Emperor — Chapter 242
Only in the afternoon did Prince Ssen and Duke Ken return to their quarters. They dismissed their guard knights, sat down in the room, and brooded.
"The more I see, the less I understand."
"......."
At Prince Ssen's words, Duke Ken remained silent.
"Even judging by the soldiers' level, they were above average. But why were they carrying axes?"
"......."
"Those blows looked at least on the level of apprentice knights. Are they hiding something?"
"......."
Even under the continuing questions, Duke Ken could not answer and kept his mouth firmly shut.
In truth, Ryu-hwa had exaggerated slightly.
He had called them new recruits, but those troops were the elite of the elite, soldiers who had fought from beginning to end in the previous war and had been specially selected from among them.
It had been a kind of display.
In any case, the intent succeeded—they had mistaken them for apprentice knights. Though, to be fair, this was also because they had only seen a portion of them.
Running could be judged simply by watching someone run like their life depended on it, but axemanship was different. It revealed one's skill outright. And in the Gauri axemen's training, the training emphasized all-out attacks to the point that they repeated, "No attack is needed beyond the first!" So at least that first strike was bound to rival that of knights.
That was why Ryu-hwa had turned his steps back early. What they had already seen was enough.
Prince Ssen, whose level was not yet high enough, did not realize this, but Duke Ken did. After deep consideration, he had more or less caught on. That was why he could not speak.
The mere fact that ordinary soldiers could deliver attacks refined to that degree made his skin crawl.
And if he tried to gauge the capabilities of the commanders who led them, he began to suspect his initial assumption had actually underestimated their capabilities.
"They may be more than we have seen."
"What do you mean?"
At Prince Ssen's question, Duke Ken calmly shared his thoughts.
After the lengthy explanation ended, Prince Ssen's face grew even graver. Without realizing it, his gaze drifted toward the crystal orb used for communication magic placed to one side.
"His Majesty King Alsein arrives!"
"Oh, dear."
At the maid's voice ringing from outside the door, Prince Ssen and Duke Ken sprang to their feet and prepared to receive him.
"Haha, sit."
King Alsein entered and greeted them with a smile.
"Please, have this seat."
Prince Ssen and Duke Ken yielded the seat of honor. Once he was seated, they sat as well.
"Indeed......"
At Alsein's out-of-the-blue exclamation, Prince Ssen spoke cautiously.
"What do you mean?"
To his question, Alsein looked at Duke Ken and answered.
"I came because I heard that this gentleman here is a formidable warrior, and I was marveling that the report seems to be correct."
"Excuse me?"
Prince Ssen stared at Alsein with startled eyes.
Alsein's attainment was not high, but he was a king who had personally waged war. Moreover, he had always followed behind Jin-cheon, so his discernment could not help but sharpen.
"Haha, there's no need to hide it. I came here already knowing you were likely at the level of a Master."
"......I am Duke Ken."
"As I thought!"
Judging that further concealment was impossible, Duke Ken revealed his identity, and Alsein clapped his hands together in delight.
"But who in the world......"
It was undoubtedly a fact kept top secret even at home.
Yet here Alsein had come as if he knew in advance and was speaking of it.
"Naturally, it was His Majesty the Yeolje who told me."
"It is plausible. If the skill of those we saw today is genuine, it would not be impossible for them to gauge my strength."
As Duke Ken calmly addressed Prince Ssen, King Alsein maintained his smile and added to the explanation.
"His Majesty the Yeolje told me himself."
"His Majesty must have spoken of it because he, too, had already heard."
When Prince Ssen responded matter-of-factly, Alsein's expression turned serious, and he shook his head.
"That is not the case."
"What, then?"
To Prince Ssen's questioning look, Alsein continued slowly.
"His Majesty the Yeolje likely noticed the moment you first stepped inside."
"So Gauri already knew that our kingdom possessed a Sword Master......"
As Prince Ssen began to lose his composure, Alsein picked up the teapot and poured tea into his cup. Prince Ssen, recognizing that he had grown slightly agitated, quietly accepted the cup.
"In your view, who do you think is the strongest in this nation called Gauri?"
"Well......"
Prince Ssen turned his head toward Duke Ken. Duke Ken deliberated for a moment, then cautiously opened his mouth.
"Until yesterday, I thought it might be an officer named Mong Ryu-hwa, or knights named Samdopyo and Buyeo Gi-yul."
"They are strong as well."
"However, after hearing the words of the warrior Ryu-hwa earlier, I have come to judge that the warrior named Gye Ung-sam is indeed the stronger."
"That is also true."
At Alsein's confirmation, Prince Ssen and Duke Ken fell silent. They thought a king of a nation had no reason to come all the way here to lie.
"But I cannot call him the strongest."
"Then......"
By now, they had lost even the strength to be surprised.
"There are four more that I know of alone, and I have heard that the one holding the office of Daedaero, Dae Mu-deok, is also a master not to be ignored. Moreover, though I have not seen with my own eyes, I have heard that the free knight Sir Gerard, one of the Ten Great Masters of the continent, is also one of Gauri's warriors."
"Gerard of Lightning!"
Duke Ken shot to his feet in shock.
"Though, mind you, he was once defeated by Sir Gye Ung-sam."
"How can that be......"
Prince Ssen could no longer tell how much of this was true. Alsein, who had anticipated their reaction, took a sip of tea and continued in a quiet voice.
"The one who stands at the apex among them."
"......."
"......."
At Alsein's composed voice, the silence of the two deepened further.
"The strongest man I know is......"
Gazing squarely into Prince Ssen's and Duke Ken's eyes, he delivered his final words.
"His Majesty the Yeolje himself."
The two could not utter a single word until Alsein left the room.
The parting remark he made as he opened the door and stepped out sounded like a sweet temptation.
'If you doubt it, Duke Ken, try challenging him. He will likely accept gladly. The brother I know...... no, His Majesty the Yeolje is that kind of man.'
Duke Ken slowly gazed at his own sword resting on the table.
* * *
Jin-cheon, who was sharing dinner and talking with Alsein, let out a chuckle.
"You've done a needless thing."
"But isn't it true?"
At Jin-cheon's reproach, Alsein answered slyly.
"Ever since you ascended the throne, you've become quite the smooth-tongued snake. There's nothing cute left in you at all."
"Calling a man cute is an insult, too."
The way Alsein kept talking back carried a composure that had never been there before. Jin-cheon could only laugh at the sight. After all, it was proof that he was becoming a king.
"I find it hard to believe myself."
Bera Han, who had been listening to their conversation from the side, shook his head and chimed in.
"But it's true. You should have seen how shocked I was during the Siege of Partean. I thought my brother was beside me, only to find him far ahead, personally leading the soldiers over the fortress walls."
"Hahaha!"
Even though it was a story that had been told ten times over, Bera Han burst into laughter as if it were all still hilarious. Thus the day that had given Prince Ssen's party such a shock came to an end.
The next morning—perhaps because King Alsein's actions had lit a fire—Duke Ken entered the Imperial Hall with a resolute expression and spoke.
"I apologize for concealing it until now. I am Duke Ken of the Marlon Kingdom."
"I heard."
At Jin-cheon's indifferent response, Duke Ken glanced at Prince Ssen for a moment, then continued.
"I am sorry, but according to what I heard from His Majesty Alsein......"
"Don't beat around the bush."
"I heard that Your Majesty is the strongest in the Gauri Empire."
"Hmm."
Duke Ken stood there, clearly waiting for an answer, and Jin-cheon scratched his cheek for a moment at the words. Then he slowly shook his head and spoke.
"It seems there was a misunderstanding."
"Brother?"
"Then what is the truth?"
At Jin-cheon's words, Alsein's eyes went round, and Duke Ken stared at Jin-cheon and asked again.
"You heard that I am strong in this country, right?"
"That's right."
"Indeed."
At Jin-cheon's words, Eulji Buru and Uru nodded. Duke Ken could not help but turn his eyes toward them. Into his ear came Jin-cheon's answer.
"I am the strongest on the continent."
"......."
The height of arrogance?
Most could probably think so.
Jin-cheon was likely the only person who would call himself the strongest on the continent.
Duke Ken, who had even lost sight of his original purpose at the shameless reply, came back to his senses after a moment.
"Then, might you grant me the opportunity to witness the continent's strongest swordsmanship?"
At Duke Ken's challenge, Jin-cheon smiled.
"As much as you wish."