Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Birth
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I leaned against the wall and looked down at Baron Mongkle, who had collapsed.
'Did I push myself too hard?'
I had won, but I wouldn't be able to fight anymore.
That made sense. I hadn't even reached the era when I'd be called the Sword King yet, and I'd faced off against someone in the Sword Master realm. This level of injury was only natural.
Compared to my previous life, the difference was huge even at eight years old, but I was nowhere near my prime.
"No helping it."
It's only been a few years since this body was born, after all.
Hoo...
Siegfried, who had watched the entire fight, clapped for me.
Clap clap clap clap.
"To beat a guy like that with a sword you haven't even mastered yet. My teachings really are something else!"
Praising himself in a situation like this.
"Ah, of course, you're amazing too for beating a guy who's about to become a Sword Master soon!"
I pressed down on the shoulder wound from Monestier to staunch the bleeding and replied.
"Not bad, right?"
"Not bad? It was incredible."
"Then teach me how to slay a dragon now."
"I told you it's too early for that. I'll teach you when the time comes, so wait."
"Until when?"
"Hmm... Well, once you earn the title of Sword Master. I'll think about it then."
"You promised."
"Yeah, you know I keep my promises, right?"
If that were true, he'd have taught me ages ago.
"Yes, Master."
Brunhilt, back in her cat form, poked at Mongkle's head for no reason.
"This guy's still alive?"
"...?!"
I couldn't believe her words. I'd stabbed him through the heart, and he wasn't dead?
I immediately checked Baron Mongkle's breathing.
"You're right."
"There's no vitality left in his body."
"Yes, I can feel that too. But the fact that his heart was pierced and he still hasn't stopped breathing..."
Thud.
The ground rumbled behind me. At the same time, I sensed an enormous presence.
'An enemy?'
No, none of Marquis Pierre's soldiers remaining had this level of skill.
'...No.'
There was no malice.
I slowly turned around to check the identity of the sudden arrival. When I saw her face, a smile bloomed across mine unbidden.
"Sister?"
Valentine de Strange stood there.
"It's been a while."
She smiled brightly at me too—a radiant expression I'd never seen in my previous life.
Thud.
I sank to the ground without realizing it. Relief at seeing her washed over me, leaving my legs powerless.
"Are you okay?!"
Valentine rushed over and supported my upper body.
'Looks like some god really is helping me in this life.'
For her to come to Legion in a situation like this meant the grudge with Marquis Pierre could be settled easily.
"Yes, Sister."
"Father told me everything about the situation. He wants me to help you and wage full-scale war against Bourbon."
I wasn't sure how much she knew, but mentioning full-scale war meant she'd grasped the entire flow.
"I see."
"Yeah. Anyway, it's a relief you're alive. That Monestier guy was about to be promoted to one of the Five Generals."
"...?!"
"Father strongly recommended him to the Imperial Army, so if that had happened, it would've been a real disaster. For him to draw his sword against us..."
She grabbed both my arms and pulled me to my feet in one motion.
Pat.
She gave me a light hug and rubbed my forehead.
"If it weren't for you, we would've faced a huge crisis."
"......"
"I know it's early to say this to my still-young brother, but you really do seem like the future of the Strange Family."
I didn't know what to say.
I wasn't used to praise like this from her, or even having such a long conversation.
I simply gave her the brightest smile I could muster.
"Thank you for thinking that, Sister."
The Red Filial Bird, Valentine.
Her mere arrival settled the castle. The remaining Bourbon knights and mercenaries dropped their weapons and surrendered at the sight of her.
The Imperial troops, unable to distinguish friend from foe, withdrew to their camp without intervening further.
Half a day passed, and the sun began to rise slowly beyond the castle walls.
My first war as a member of the Strange Family. And my victory here against Bourbon.
It was the perfect opponent to make my name known across the continent.
The Bourbon knights and Marquis Pierre's mercenaries in Legion were dealt with.
The news spread quickly through the Imperial Army, reaching the palace and the Papal Court.
"They dared to start a war in Legion, a neutral zone?"
The information even reached the ears of the Five Star Generals, pillars of the continent.
"That coward Pierre pulling something this bold against the Stranges? Someone's backing him, right?"
A girl with brown bobbed hair, hugging a skull as big as her torso, sneered.
"Exactly. The Stranges are untouchable even for the Emperor. How could that fool?!"
A muscular man in just blue shorts, sitting opposite her, furrowed his brows in anger.
Unlike their negativity, a short white-haired man in a white coat stroked the head of the snake around his neck and replied positively.
"Marquis Pierre isn't weak. He must have some chance of victory we don't know about to attempt this."
The girl with the skull pointed and yelled.
"Idiot! You think there's a winnable fight against the Stranges?"
The muscular man nodded.
"Right. Even without Gunter and Hysteria, Roys still has Valentine."
The white-haired man nodded at their fierce opposition.
"Ahh—got it. I understand your opinions. Anyway, three of the five are here, so let's vote."
"What about the others?"
"They can't make it. They said to proceed since three is enough to decide, and they'll abide by the result."
"Hmm..."
"Yeah."
"Well, if that's what they say. Alright, let's start."
Thud.
The muscular man placed a black box on the table. Everyone immediately wrote something on the paper in front of them without needing prompting.
Scribble, scribble scribble.
They slipped them into the black box.
"Wait, with only three of us, do we really need to do anonymous voting?"
The muscular man asked.
"Yes, otherwise we might fight later with whoever voted differently."
The white-haired man answered.
"But if it's 2-1, we can pretty much guess who voted what."
"...Please be quiet."
Once the talk ended, they pulled out all the papers from the black box.
「Strange: 1 vote」
「Bourbon: 2 votes」
As expected, the votes split. But they showed no reaction.
Who wrote what.
Only the one who voted for Strange would know.
"Any objections?"
The girl and muscular man shook their heads.
"Then the vote is final. Strange: 1 vote, Bourbon: 2 votes."
The white-haired man stabbed a knife into Bourbon Castle on the map.
Bang.
"Accordingly, we Five Star Generals deem this Bourbon's issue and hold Marquis Pierre responsible for all damages in the neutral zone."
If Strange and Bourbon clashed to the end, the fallout would naturally fall on the Emperor.
With the Glazers rising while Strange hesitated, what would happen if close allies fought in an imbalanced power structure?
On the day Legion fell into chaos, the Emperor fell deep into thought.
And he met with his loyal retainer to decide on this matter.
"Have Pierre and Roys meet directly and resolve it through talk."
This was the best order the Emperor could give.
Taking either side would rile up bureaucrats from both nations, so have the heads of the warring families meet and settle it themselves.
The palace thus avoided responsibility no matter the outcome.
Both families had justification for fighting, and the sudden clash without a declaration of war was reasonable too.
So the two family heads gathered in Legion's grand cathedral.
A Papal Court archbishop would mediate in case of trouble.
Thud.
Roys placed his sword on the table and said,
"We ended it, but you started it."
Pierre shook his head, hands trembling slightly.
"What did we start?"
"You tampered with the potions, ambushed the Strange mansion in Legion, and even attacked civilians in the process."
"...Evidence?"
"Keep talking like that if you want to die, Marquis."
The two glared at each other.
One had the fierce eyes of a forest lion, the other darted his gaze like a hyena chasing tails, gauging reactions.
"Not to mention you targeted my youngest son. What the hell were you thinking?"
"N-no! That was a misunderstanding. I just—"
"Shut up. I've already confirmed all the facts!"
The archbishop waved a hand gently between them, showing a benevolent smile.
"Please calm down, both of you. Honor His Majesty's command and reach a peaceful agreement through dialogue."
Roys glanced sharply at the archbishop, then fixed his gaze back on Pierre.
"No long talk. Choose: money or your life."
"Money or life?"
"Yes. For old times' sake, I can spare your lives instead of confiscating your family's wealth."
"You bastard... You think our family is easy pickings?"
"Is that a declaration to see this through to the end with us?"
Pierre glanced around slyly, then bowed his head again.
"N-no... That's not it. How much do you need...?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything. I'll take it all—anything bearing the Bourbon name."
This broke Pierre's spirit while pressuring him financially.
'Damn it.'
But Pierre couldn't refuse.
He'd die right here if he did.
So he nodded.
Even knowing the tower he'd built would crumble in an instant.
"...Understood."
He had no choice but to answer to survive.
"Then that's the end of the talk."
As Roys left, he added casually,
"I hope Berddin likes it."