A Feast Before the Hunt
Smack—!
"Gwaaah! Hyung-nim, go easy on me!"
"That's enough, you blockhead. How much more of this until you come to your senses?"
"Ugh, but I did manage to awaken my mana, didn't I?"
"Hah, I suppose I can't scold you when there are results to show for it. What an unscrupulous master I am. I only just returned from the expedition, and I'd already planned a feast."
"A feast?"
"......You're the one who asked me to prepare it."
Smack. And even as he said it, my hyung-nim was carefully applying salve to my wounds.
"So, was that why you've been working this hard — the upcoming Subjugation Festival?"
"It's an occasion to bring honor to the house."
"Honestly, when you put it that way, I have nothing left to say."
Watching him say it with a wry smile, I couldn't help but grin.
"Anyway, that's not what matters right now, is it? It's the feast."
"Is the feast really the more important thing here?"
"Of course."
Awakening my mana wasn't the end of it.
After all, I could now use a power that had been beyond me in the past — which meant my consumption had grown proportionally worse.
And with my body being pushed this brutally, torn down and rebuilt over and over, it needed far more nourishment than before, too.
The feast was one thing, but......
The Subjugation Festival — which was, in truth, practically a festival outright — was one of the things I looked forward to most for exactly that reason.
That was where I'd be able to stockpile the most nutrition.
"Very well. I'll have it prepared. Tidy yourself up and come out."
"Yes, sir."
After a proper bow, I set about cleaning up. By the time I finished, my skin was already regenerating at a rapid pace, and my body had grown harder than it had been before.
Definitely.
Not bad at all.
With the servants' help, I finished tidying up and headed for the feast.
My hyung-nim was the kind of lord who spared nothing — not for the territory's people, and not even for the rank-and-file soldiers.
"Quite a crowd has gathered, everyone."
"Ah, Lord Ian!"
The soldiers flinched in surprise when our eyes met. The ones I'd sparred with and taken into the dungeon with me were especially conspicuous.
"Preparations going well?"
"Yes, sir! We're doing our absolute best to earn new weapons."
"Good. Don't slack on training, and lead the others well while you're at it."
It wasn't only about the great invasion of the North.
To hold off the coming apocalypse, every single asset like these men had to be gathered together. No — it went beyond even that.
I'd rather not watch any of them die, if I could help it.
That counted for quite a lot, and I'd grieve if they truly did die.
"If Lord Ian is working this hard, then we have to push ourselves harder too."
"We heard you're joining the Subjugation Festival — just wait until you get back. You'll be in for quite a shock."
Watching them talk with such confidence, an awkward little laugh slipped out of me.
"Then maybe we should test that right now?"
"Wha— that's a bit......"
"Hm? Talking back a lot these days, aren't you? I'll be sure to raise the training intensity."
"Anything but that......"
Once I'd had my fill of enjoying those reactions, I settled into the feast itself. Since my hyung-nim never leaned on rank or authority, the atmosphere was practically that of an ordinary company dinner.
"My lord, everything looks superbly arranged. When we first met, I never imagined it would come to this."
"That's mostly thanks to you."
"I'd like to keep watching your growth from your side in the days ahead, though I don't know how things will unfold."
"Why? Don't you still have some time left on your contract?"
"It's true I'm not on a long-term contract — but there's someone I'd rather not run into, that's all."
I stole a glance at Tarian's expression. The way he was broaching the subject, that someone would definitely be at the Subjugation Festival.
"Will it be a problem? I'll steer clear of them as much as possible. Better yet, why not use this chance to sign a long-term contract?"
"......Are you asking me to become your sworn retainer?"
"Obviously."
Someone of Tarian's caliber had more than enough martial strength, and his teaching was genuinely excellent.
Aside from the first day, that is.
There was certainly no lingering bad blood between us.
Still, there were memories I couldn't quite forget......
Right?
Then again, after that he'd taught me properly, so it was fine.
"......"
Watching Tarian sink into solemn contemplation, I gave his shoulder a pat. There was still so much I hadn't learned from him yet.
His swordsmanship, especially.
"Take your time thinking it over."
The day of the Subjugation Festival was drawing near.
"There's no denying it — you've grown incomparably stronger than before."
After yet another sparring session that had become routine by now, I shrugged at Tarian's words as he studied me.
"So? Is this enough to make an impression at the Subjugation Festival?"
"That goes without saying. If anything, I'm worried."
"Worried?"
"That the others might end up with their swords broken."
A snort of laughter escaped me at that. The longer time went on, the smoother his flattery became.
"It's really almost time now."
Over the past stretch of days, I had trained relentlessly to keep my grip on the feel of mana. Not only that — I'd also started handling the weapons stored in the family armory.
"I wanted to at least reach the level of an Expert before I left."
"And this time it's what, exactly......?"
"If I can show off sword aura there, what a picture it would make."
"Your standards are anything but ordinary."
Tarian wiped his brow as he spoke, as though trying to work out how to explain it to me.
"Your current level, my lord, is difficult to believe for someone who has held a sword for only a few months."
"Is that so?"
"Your geomgi — your sword technique itself — ranks among the seasoned few even within the Sword Users. If you could only break through that wall, it would be no stretch at all to call you an Expert."
I shrugged at Tarian's words.
But as long as I couldn't yet manifest sword aura, Expert still looked a long way off.
"More importantly — you still haven't decided?"
"Isn't it far too early?"
"Well, I'd like to try learning your sword now."
At my words, Tarian looked at me in silence.
"My sword is... difficult for you to learn at present, my lord."
"Shouldn't you at least let me try before deciding that?"
"......"
Tarian began to weigh it, dead serious. I waited calmly — for a moment.
"Then, to start — would you care to at least hold my sword?"
"May I?"
"Lending a sword for a moment is nothing at all."
I carefully accepted the sword he offered.
— Hmph, what's this?
— Still just a green pup, aren't you?
— I don't want anyone but Tarian.
So this was Tarian's sword. An elegant voice, thick with annoyance, clung to every syllable.
"Hmm."
— Not even up to the level of a knight yet.
— Talent-wise... there's something there, I suppose, but he's still a long way off.
It chattered away like it was judging a competition, and then the blade gave a sudden shiver.
Well, sure — next to Tarian I've got a long road ahead. Tarian is exceptional, after all.
— ......!
— Oh? This one talks some sense. See? There's no swordsman like Tarian! The way he holds me with that calm air right before cutting down an enemy — truly, ahh......
Apparently Tarian had traveled with something of a devoted fan. And a rather strange one at that.
— But no. Not yet.
Not good enough?
— You're still lacking.
— At the very least, if you could produce sword aura, I might find it... interesting.
And with those parting words, it shut its mouth.
Only Tarian — that was the kind of line only a sword like this could deliver. Still, if I wanted to understand Tarian's swordsmanship, this was the best way there was.
"Sometimes, simply holding a sword tells you something. Do you feel anything?"
I closed my eyes and quietly ran my fingers along the hilt. Where it had worn down the most — how the grip had been held, how the blade had been swung.
"I do. I can't tell exactly, but I can feel how this sword was gripped."
"You have a keen eye."
The sword Tarian wielded during our spars had always felt light. But the wear marks carved into the hilt told a completely different story — naturally, the grip wore down first wherever force was concentrated.
Drifting Blade — Tarian's self-taught swordsmanship. Even within Last Savior, it was famous as one of the best-performing among the aggressive sword styles.
A sword made for one purpose only: killing the opponent.
Come to think of it, given the flaws this skill carried, it truly was a sword I'd have trouble learning right now.
"The minimum condition for learning my sword is to deliberately restrain your killing intent, and give it form."
— Hmph!
— I did like you, just a tiny little bit......
— If you want to gain something, learn Tarian's swordsmanship first!
"I'll have to grow even more, then."
After all, my goal was knight rank — and beyond. To hold off that damned great invasion and that wretched apocalypse, I had to keep grinding forward, no matter what.
"One more round?"
"Gladly."
So bear with it just a little longer.
Time flew, and the day of our departure for the Subjugation Festival arrived.
"Ian."
"Ah, hyung-nim."
"Are you all ready?"
"Yes. Let's depart."
"Hah, a Subjugation Festival at a time like this. There's still so much left to wrap up."
I stifled a laugh at the regretful note in his voice.
"Well, it is a good occasion. And you have your retainers, don't you?"
"I know, I know."
"Besides, you should use this chance to get some rest, hyung-nim. You look an absolute mess......"
"What was that, you brat?"
I'd said it as a joke, but in truth I genuinely wondered when the man ever slept. Every single day it was one worry for the territory, one worry for me.
He really was a good man.
Capable, too.
Yes — this was exactly the kind of person to leave the North in his hands for a long, long time.
Though I did feel a little guilty about piling more work onto him.
"Why not use this trip to raise the house's honor a little, hm?"
"Heh. If you do that, I'll have no wishes left in this world."
"Then let's be off. You can nap on the road."
"Don't push yourself too hard either, you hear?"
With our goodbyes done, I climbed straight into my carriage — deliberately a different one from my hyung-nim's.
I have to train on the way there anyway.
Training in front of him was a little embarrassing. No — he'd just sit there beaming beside me the whole time, and I'd lose the drive to train at full intensity.
"The brotherly bond between you two runs deep, I see."
"Isn't that just normal?"
Though I'd never actually had a family, so I wouldn't really know. I'd grown up all alone, and then suddenly been dropped into a game.
"Are you looking forward to it?"
"Obviously."
I was half out of my mind anticipating the rewards waiting for me there. An Epic-tier skill at the very least — that's what I was hoping for.
"It will exceed your expectations."
With Tarian's words, the carriages rolled out.
Along the way, I ran through my plans.
The Subjugation Festival — my biggest goal is getting stronger.
I didn't know what rewards I'd manage to claim, but at the very least I needed the skill to speak up even in front of the Grand Duke. That alone meant I had to aim for the top. This was the North, after all — the land where only strength gave you a voice.
And I need to keep an eye on the events, too.
It looked like my destiny was to keep grinding at least until the great invasion was stopped. Cutting the seeds of the other apocalypses at the bud along the way wouldn't hurt, either.
Barely had I finished organizing my thoughts when—
"Haaaaam."
Anticipation quickly gave way to boredom.
God, this is slow.
The game was already frustrating enough with its lack of fast travel — actually having to experience the ride in a carriage was pure hell.
At least it's not cold.
Maybe I'd finally acclimated to the North, because the biting wind felt almost like a spring breeze. Well, natural enough, with the Blessing of Frost and Frigid Hide both at work.
"Your body must be itching for a fight already."
"Hoo. Maybe I should get off mid-route and have a proper duel or two."
"Haha, surely you jest."
"......?"
"You... are jesting, aren't you?"