Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Two Rewards
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Royal Palace annex.
Damian was in the training grounds there.
It was the prince's consideration to stay here for the time being.
"Huuu..."
Damian slowly exhaled.
Pure white breath poured from his mouth.
Frost Gale Mana Breathing.
The power passed down from Gerd Kahn, the kingdom's greatest knight.
It had been unfamiliar and difficult at first, but now it felt quite natural.
It's definitely different.
The surrounding air froze in an instant.
Biting cold seeped into his skin, circulating through his body.
I've grown one step further.
He could definitely feel it.
It was different from just a few days ago.
A new breathing technique, and...
The reason for his rapid growth lately wasn't just the new breathing technique.
Exceptional Mana Sensitivity.
The ability he had stolen from the black mage Albert Frommel.
It was creating tremendous synergy with the Frost Gale Mana Breathing.
Every process of sensing, absorbing, and circulating mana has become smoother.
Like a fish in water.
The power dormant within his body was awakening.
Abilities he hadn't fully utilized before were now falling into place.
And real combat experience.
Black magic he had encountered for the first time in his life.
The sensations he had internalized while overcoming that curse.
Now I understand.
Why the strong emphasized real combat.
There was something beyond simply honing techniques.
"..."
A man watched him silently.
Admiration flickered in Gerd Kahn's eyes.
Impressive.
To reach this level already.
How long had it been since he taught him the breathing technique?
It's not a matter of talent.
Suddenly, he recalled what the grand lord had said.
A type that grows through real combat.
Now he truly felt it.
Perhaps...
He had heard him say it as well.
That within a year, he would rival him.
It might be even more than that.
At first, he hadn't paid it much mind.
But now his thinking had changed.
He might surpass him.
And in a very short time.
"Huu."
Damian caught his breath after finishing his training.
He felt vitality filling his entire body.
"You've improved a great deal."
Gerd murmured.
A calm voice laced with satisfaction.
"It's thanks to Sir Gerd's guidance."
Damian bowed his head.
Sincere gratitude.
"No. It's simply your talent."
Not empty words.
This was a mana breathing technique no one else had mastered, after all.
Yet he had internalized it to an advanced level.
It had to be due to the student's aptitude.
"Both of you were here."
Then a familiar voice rang out.
It was Prince Bastian Kailerthus.
"Your Highness."
Damian and Gerd simultaneously paid their respects.
"It's fine. Be at ease, both of you."
The prince waved his hand as he approached.
"The meeting just ended."
"It seems there were good results."
He could tell just from the smile on his face.
This meeting had been different from the last.
"It's all thanks to Sir Damian."
No exaggeration.
The decisive blow that untangled the knotted threads in one go.
Damian had provided it.
"If you hadn't caught that disloyal attempt back then, we might have wasted weeks—no, months—stuck in this capital."
"I merely did my duty."
Damian responded humbly.
His usual composed demeanor.
"No, not this time."
The prince said firmly.
"His Majesty said, 'He has earned great merit, so grant him a great reward.'"
Damian's eyes widened at those words.
A reward...?
A reward bestowed by royal decree, no less.
What could it be?
Anticipation welled up inside him.
Honestly, he had every reason to expect something.
"I thought long and hard about it."
The prince continued.
"What reward would properly repay Sir Damian's contributions."
His gaze turned serious.
"So, I came up with two options."
Two options.
Damian swallowed hard.
"The first is a knighthood."
A title.
Damian looked surprised at the word.
"A knighthood... you mean?"
"Yes. You already have more than enough qualifications."
Indeed, a groundbreaking proposal.
A mere mercenary becoming a knight.
A knight of the royal family, no less.
"However, from what I've gathered, Sir Damian doesn't wish to be tied to any one place."
An accurate assessment.
"I understand you even refused the knighthood from Sobkov Territory."
The grand lord Mikhail's offer.
The reason he had declined it.
"Frankly, yes."
"As I thought."
The prince nodded.
"For such a Sir Damian, I propose granting you the knighthood of the kingdom itself."
"A knight of the kingdom...?"
"Exactly as it sounds—a title encompassing the entire kingdom. You'll receive the same treatment as a royal knight. You can affiliate with anywhere if you wish, or nowhere at all."
In other words, a knight of the kingdom.
Not tied to any specific territory or the royals.
A knight belonging directly to the kingdom.
"It's a concept rarely used these days, but it seemed more to your liking. A knight's status will be far more useful than a mercenary's in many ways. What do you think?"
An offer impossible to refuse.
It makes sense.
Damian pondered for a moment.
The reason I chose to remain a mercenary instead of becoming Sobkov Territory's knight...
Because he might one day leave Sobkov Territory in search of new hunting grounds.
But.
If it offered the same freedom, with elevated status?
Especially if that status was a knight of the kingdom?
No reason to refuse.
On the contrary, it would be immensely helpful.
His treatment would change wherever he went.
"...It's an honor far beyond my merit."
Damian opened his mouth as if resolved.
"But if you bestow it, I will gratefully accept."
The prince's face brightened at his words.
"A wise decision. It's not beyond you at all."
With that, he drew a sword he had prepared.
"Now, kneel on one knee. Just give your answers."
An ornate ceremonial sword.
He placed it on Damian's shoulder.
"I, Bastian Kailerthus, in place of King Bernt Kailerthus, ask Damian Winter."
A simple yet solemn knighting ceremony.
Prince Bastian asked Damian.
"Do you swear as a knight of the kingdom to uphold honor, protect the weak, and stand against injustice?"
"I swear."
"Do you pledge with your sword and heart to devote yourself to this land as a knight of the kingdom?"
"I pledge."
Oath and pledge.
Words befitting a true knight.
"By your courage, devotion, and noble oath."
The prince raised the sword and lightly tapped both of Damian's shoulders.
"In the name of Coldwood, I dub you a knight of the kingdom."
Thus, Damian became a knight of the kingdom.
"Congratulations, Sir Damian."
'Knight' Damian Winter bowed his head once more.
Now the honorific truly felt natural.
"Here."
The prince gestured, and an attendant who had come with him handed something to Damian.
"Your patent of nobility and a badge proving your status as a knight of the kingdom."
A certificate emblazoned with the royal crest and a gleaming silver badge.
Items that would prove invaluable on his future journeys.
"And."
Having handed them all over, the prince continued.
"It is customary for one who bestows a knighthood to grant a weapon as its symbol."
His reward didn't end there.
"There's a place we should go together."
"Where to?"
"The royal armory."
The prince smiled as he replied.
"I'll let you choose one item there that catches your eye."
Royal armory.
The moment he heard the name.
Thump!
Damian's chest swelled with excitement.
A place where all sorts of treasures slumbered.
An armory, no less—bound to hold truly remarkable items.
Not just entering such a place, but being allowed to take one?
"Shall we go now?"
At the prince's question.
Damian nodded.
There was no reason to refuse.
Royal armory.
A space overwhelming even in name alone.
Incredible.
Damian looked around in admiration.
It was on another level from Sobkov Territory's armory.
In scale, quality, and history.
"This isn't just any armory."
Treasures collected by the kingdom over centuries.
They were displayed endlessly.
Impeccably maintained, without a speck of dust.
"It's a place steeped in the kingdom's history, after all."
Prince Bastian said with a smile.
"I always marvel at it myself whenever I come here."
Along with the prince's voice full of pride.
Damian's gaze fixed on each weapon.
Not just luxury items.
Not merely dwarf- or elf-forged masterpieces.
Each one emanated an extraordinary aura.
Artifacts.
Exactly.
The items here weren't ordinary weapons.
They were artifacts beyond masterpieces.
For example.
[Spear of Blazing Flames.]
A spear radiating scorching heat even without touch.
Being pierced by it would likely set an unquenchable fire in the wound.
[Wind Destroyer.]
A bow drawn taut without pulling the string.
Clearly blessed by the winds.
[Shield of Mount Tai.]
A shield with runes on its surface leaking light.
It seemed capable of absorbing all but the most extreme impacts.
All of them are tempting.
Greed glittered in Damian's eyes.
How much stronger could he become with one of those?
The mere thought sent thrills through him.
"Take your time looking around."
As if sensing Damian's inner thoughts.
Prince Bastian said leisurely.
"Take anything that catches your eye."
"Even if you say that, are you sure...?"
"His Majesty has permitted it. No need to hold back."
With the king's permission to boot.
There was no longer any excuse to refuse.
"In that case... I'll choose one."
Damian began surveying the armory again.
This time more carefully.
And greedily.
Which one should I pick?
The most powerful-looking weapon?
Armor with special abilities?
I need to be cautious.
This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
No room for hasty decisions.
As he looked around for a long while.
"...!"
Damian's steps halted.
That one...
There lay a single sword.
A sword.
A two-handed sword similar in size to the Elven Sword.
A sleek silver exterior. Balanced form.
And.
An immense presence.
A commanding aura amid countless armaments.
Its nobility captured Damian's gaze.
Shiii...
Cold mist rising from the blade.
A chill that froze even the surrounding air.
"Ho."
Prince Bastian wore an intrigued expression.
"You have quite the eye."
He approached Damian and looked at the sword.
"This sword's name is 'Glacial Blade'."
Glacial Blade.
Its name alone revealed the source of that chilling aura.
"From the now-extinct ancient Winter Elf Kingdom."
Prince Bastian's explanation continued.
"It was a gift from their elf king to our first monarch."
Winter Elves.
A race he had never heard of.
Yet instinctively, he knew.
How powerful they had been.
"What a curious connection."
Prince Bastian smiled.
"Your name has 'Winter' in it, after all, Sir Damian."
Damian Winter.
And the sword of the Winter Elves.
"Perhaps this blade has been waiting for you, Sir Damian."
Fate.
He didn't believe in such things.
But.
It's drawing me in.
Intensely so.
He wanted to grasp it right then.
"May I hold it?"
"Of course."
"Then."
Damian picked up the Glacial Blade as if entranced.
The cold grip met his hand.
In that instant.
"...!"
Certain sensations.
No, 'scenes' swirled in his mind.
What is this...?
The ancient elf swordsmanship he had learned.
It resonated with this sword, leaving afterimages.
...An elf?
Pale skin.
A beauty befitting a man.
A Winter Elf with flowing silver hair.
He danced with the Glacial Blade.
No, it wasn't a dance.
Swordsmanship.
The perfected form of ancient elf swordsmanship.
No, something beyond.
Slash!
As he swung, space itself froze.
Everything halted, everything shattered.
"..."
A fleeting vision.
Conviction dawned simultaneously.
I must take this sword.
Nothing else matters.
This one sword is enough.
"It seems the Glacial Blade suits your taste."
Prince Bastian said.
Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.
"Take it."
"..."
"Come on."
"...Thank you, Your Highness."
With heartfelt gratitude.
Damian accepted the Glacial Blade.
Hummm!
And the Glacial Blade.
Accepted Damian as its master.
As if it had truly been waiting for its new owner.