Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Wandering Duke Aselheit (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘My God!’
Bartolomeo unconsciously reached for his waist.
But his outstretched hand grasped only empty air; the sword he sought was no longer there.
It couldn’t be helped. It had been over ten years since Bartolomeo, the lion knight of the Tolome family, had retired.
The moment he had transcended his days as a knight to become the head of the Tolome family, he had set aside his sword. No sword hung at his waist anymore, and from that point on, Bartolomeo’s blade had been Edwin.
Yet amid the terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from Aselheit, Bartolomeo felt the soul of the knight he had long forgotten in his memories awaken. Thus, following that rekindled knightly instinct, he had reached for his waist.
‘Impossible!’
Looking around, Edwin was already gripping his drawn sword, straining with all his might to hold firm.
Even the mage Berger had his eyes closed, chanting spells, while several knights had already fainted, unable to withstand Aselheit’s spiritual pressure.
‘Blanc? Can Blanc endure this?!’
It was a single sword strike that even he felt fear toward. There was no way his young grandson could withstand it.
Bartolomeo gazed at Blanc, who was taking that massive single strike head-on from right in front of him.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
His young grandson held his sword high, resisting the falling world.
White Lightning enveloped Blanc’s body, burning pure white.
Batay of the Black Fang Mercenaries. He was the first to teach Blanc the emotion of hatred. So Blanc had tucked it away in his chest.
He had tucked away Rakshar’s bloodshot eyes as he lay dying.
He had tucked away Emilia, dying with an arrow in her throat.
Those who had scorned him in his past life, those who had helped him, his comrades, his enemies.
And her, as she grew hollow. He had tucked them all away in his chest.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Blanc shoved it all into his chest and burned it white-hot.
Burning his entire past life.
He resisted the world approaching slowly but heavily.
Just like when he had seen that dark, massive tree devouring the entire world of his past life.
Once more, he set his soul ablaze.
‘He exceeds expectations!’
The swordsmanship Edwin had taught was truly exceptional. A glimpse of brilliant talent shone through.
Yet the boy before him possessed something that surpassed mere sword talent.
‘Is this the willpower a fourteen-year-old can possess?’
Aselheit was genuinely astonished.
In his long, long life, Aselheit had never seen such talent. No, this wasn’t the realm of talent.
It was the realm of the soul.
The soul of the boy burning white-hot before him, standing against him, was indomitable. He was already an excellent knight and brimmed with the qualities to become a hero.
“Kuh... guh...”
His spirit was admirable, but Blanc’s achievements were still far too lacking to withstand Aselheit’s single strike.
In the end, after holding out as long as he could, Blanc’s eyes rolled back. At the same moment, foam began to bubble from his mouth.
‘Oh no!’
Sensing something wrong with Blanc’s condition, Aselheit swiftly withdrew his sword.
The moment he did, the surrounding knights gasped for breath.
Most of the knights Bartolomeo had brought as guards had already fainted. The few still standing on their own feet were the experienced, proven elites of the Tolome family.
“Urk...”
Even those knights were on their knees, vomiting.
“Blanc! Baron Blanc!”
Edwin quickly leaped onto the training ground to check on Blanc’s state.
Blanc’s head hung low, but he hadn’t dropped his sword. His eyes had turned white, yet he still stood rigidly, holding on.
“Haha. Hahahahaha!”
Aselheit burst into loud laughter at the sight of Blanc, who had fainted while still standing.
“Your Grace! Isn’t that too much against a child?!”
Edwin, the upright knight who spoke his mind, showed no hesitation even before the legendary Aselheit.
Even he, a seasoned knight, had struggled to endure the pressure. It was certainly beyond what a child like Blanc could handle.
Yet Aselheit didn’t stop laughing despite Edwin’s sharp protest.
“Sir Edwin! Look at the boy’s toes!”
Aselheit spoke to him as if delighted.
Following Aselheit’s words, Edwin looked down at Blanc’s feet.
“Ha, what a mad lad.”
Even the tough Edwin clicked his tongue in admiration as he hoisted the fainted Blanc onto his back.
Blanc’s toes pointed toward Aselheit, one step forward.
Against the heavily approaching world, Blanc hadn’t yielded—he had advanced one step.
‘A tempting child, but I see a fateful current around him that’s hard to explain. I hope you raise him well to become a pillar of this world.’
Wandering Duke Aselheit smacked his lips regretfully even as he departed.
Bartolomeo and Berger, who had shrunk back in chills at the sight, managed awkward smiles to see off the legend.
“My hands are still shaking, Count Berger.”
“Haha. I’m fine. No need to worry. My mind is clear and sound.”
Yet Berger’s lips trembled faintly along with his fingertips.
Aselheit had somehow sniffed out the Moonlight Grass extract hidden in Berger’s bosom.
Berger had kept the remaining solution after saving Izrelin from poison like a sacred relic, never letting it leave his side.
“...”
“I-I’ll give it to you!”
Unable to bear the legend’s wordless pressure, Berger handed over half the Moonlight Grass extract.
“Are you really alright? Your face is pale.”
“H-ha. Keeping half is something. I salvaged what I think are Moonlight Grass seeds too, so I’m satisfied.”
His eyes weren’t smiling, but his mouth curved into a wide grin.
His efforts to hide his emotions were truly befitting a kingdom’s meritorious noble.
“By the way, when is Baron Blanc’s coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Probably late summer next year.”
“I see.”
The two old foxes met eyes and grinned.
“Have you asked your daughter?”
“She said Baron Blanc would be fine. Young as he is, he’s already making a name for himself, like the Knight of Moonlight Grass.”
Berger hadn’t actually asked his daughter about Blanc.
He had been too obsessed with seeking Moonlight Grass to even think of discussing marriage with her.
But whether his daughter liked Blanc or not, Berger’s mind was already set.
Baron Blanc Cardmus.
On the surface, he was just a penniless noble with an empty title, clinging pathetically to the Tolome family.
But peering even slightly beneath revealed a starkly different evaluation.
First, his backing.
Blanc Cardmus had secured firm support from the meritorious noble Tolome count family.
Bartolomeo clearly intended to reshape the Tolome family’s external or internal power structure around Blanc, not treat him as a disposable pawn.
Otherwise, there’d be no reason to involve him.
And Blanc was the rightful heir to Norinton, the Cardmus territory.
Though currently held by Gartaria’s three families, Blanc had legitimate claim. Even if he waged territorial war against them, neither the Goddess Church nor Felix Kingdom would excommunicate him or strip his title.
Moreover, as an orphan without parents or guardians, if he reclaimed Norinton with their support, it would effectively become Tolome and Neuendorf’s.
For meritorious nobles barred from owning territory, it was too tempting to resist.
Additionally, Blanc had just cause for grudge against Gartaria’s three families—Ranketa, Camora, Vishus. If things went well, reclaiming Norinton might lead to conquering them all.
That would mean four territories total, potentially making him Felix Kingdom’s first frontier count.
If everything went perfectly.
But beyond such backing, Berger was captivated by Blanc’s personal potential.
Having endured harsh trials, he was shrewd and fearless despite his youth. He was leagues beyond typical fourteen-year-old noble brats. A truly promising sapling.
Fetching Moonlight Grass for his cousin alone was absurd for a boy his age.
If it was to solidify his position in the Tolome family, he was a clever talent. If out of pity for his sister, he had a righteous heart. Either way, Berger rated him highly.
Finally, he possessed exceptional sword talent.
Noble families prized honor above all, measured most surely by the caliber of knights they produced.
Even among meritorious nobles, with Berger Neuendorf as alchemy faction head, people still rated Tolome higher.
Tolome’s symbol was the lion. They had produced era-defining lions.
Tolome’s lions were not just the family’s pride but Felix Kingdom’s as well. People praised the Tolome name without hesitation.
Now, Blanc Cardmus, heir to Tolome blood though not Tolome himself, was showing clear promise.
If he grew like this, he’d surely become Felix Kingdom’s top swordsman within five years.
Taking as son-in-law the disciple of Knight Edwin and recognized by Wandering Duke Aselheit would give Neuendorf an era-defining knight unprecedented in their history.
‘It’s a close call.’
His daughter, meant to pair with Blanc, had failed two marriages already and was seven years older. With Blanc’s star rising, the window to match them was now—maybe already closing.
Once word spread of his guidance under Aselheit, modest proposals would be overshadowed by far grander ones flooding Bartolomeo.
Thus, Berger decided to bow first.
“Late summer means marriage right after the ceremony. Autumn’s the best time for festivities, no?”
“Indeed.”
“How about announcing it early? An engagement wouldn’t hurt. Even unmarried, betrothal is allowed, right?”
“Marriage within a year—doing an engagement seems wasteful...”
“Right? No need for betrothal if it’s soon.”
Bartolomeo wanted to tease the anxious Berger more but chose to preserve his dignity.
An alliance with Neuendorf would greatly aid Tolome, no point in grudges over trifles.
“Of course. We’ll wed him right after the ceremony. As the last Cardmus, heirs soon would benefit him too.”
“We’ll cover half the wedding costs.”
Traditionally, groom’s side handled the ceremony, bride’s the dowry—but heated Berger offered half the costs.
Bartolomeo could’ve pushed for all, but refrained.
“How could we rob the honor of preparing for Neuendorf’s precious daughter? We’ll cover all costs traditionally.”
“Thank you...”
Though Neuendorf’s daughter, Ciela had flaws.
Among proposals, some foreign families demanded excessive dowry or full costs, claiming they’d take her.
Each had enraged Berger, so Bartolomeo’s consideration was deeply grateful.
“I leave it to you.”
“And I to you.”
Tolome and Neuendorf clasped hands.
The alliance of the two families, sealed by Blanc’s marriage, was forged.