A Wager on the Blade
I'd known I would run into them eventually, but I never expected to see them quite like this.
They looked younger than I remembered from Last Savior, and yet not entirely different.
The gaze, the presence, even the bearing—it was the same aura of a textbook knight, unchanged.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow."
"……?"
Johannes withdrew first, though not without a show of reluctance, offering a courteous bow as he went. And Larissa Bahen, who must have sensed my stare, gave me a faintly puzzled look, dipped her head slightly, and followed after him.
"Hoo……"
Glancing over, I found Tarian turned away, letting out a long sigh.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, my lord. It's simply that something awkward nearly arose just now."
"Which of the two? Johannes Bahen?"
"Hard to say."
I was about to press him for more on that evasive answer when the eyes of the hall began to drift toward the center of the room.
The head of House Bahen—and among knights, the very pinnacle: a Sword Master.
"The Grand Duke Luke Bahen will now deliver the opening address."
Luke Bahen. The man who had driven the barbarians out of the North, a hero who had repelled numerous high-ranking demon nobles.
"Thank you all for coming."
A voice heavy with aura spread through the hall. Even with every eye in the room fixed upon him, he spoke on without the slightest hesitation.
"This festival of exchange, held every year—the Subjugation Festival—has come once more. Look forward to the exploits of the young ones, and enjoy the day."
He finished his brief speech and raised his cup, and one by one, the others lifted theirs in answer.
Hmm, no opening at all.
Raising my own cup, I kept studying the Grand Duke's body all the while. A knight on the level of an asymmetric strategic asset—and among those, the apex: a Sword Master.
True to his reputation, merely watching him stand there was enough to make my skin prickle.
If I fought him at my current level, I'd lose, no question.
So that was the kind of strength it took to hold a territory that vast by one's own power alone. How long would it take me to reach that height?
While I was pondering that, the round of polite greetings came to an end.
"Tomorrow already? How strange that feels."
"Well, it's a mercy he hasn't had his coming-of-age ceremony yet."
"True. If this were the main Subjugation Festival, he'd have a rough time of it."
"Given a little more time it might have been different, but as it stands, yes."
It couldn't be helped. The main festival was on an entirely different level.
The Subjugation Festival spanned several days. The one I was entering was the session held on the second day—after today's social gathering—for those who had not yet come of age. It was easiest to think of it as a proving ground for late-blooming prodigies.
The third day is when the main Subjugation Festival takes place.
On the third day, nobles and knights who had completed their coming-of-age ceremonies competed. The field was wide enough that even someone like Larissa Bahen—or a knight of Tarian's caliber—could enter.
I want to grow faster.
Maybe it was because I'd eaten my fill, but my body itched to train. Not that today, aside from the opening banquet, was an occasion for any great showing anyway.
I suppose I should enjoy a little rest while I can.
The final day would settle the results of the festival, and in between, it was essentially one continuous string of social gatherings. The whole thing had the air of a carnival.
Knowing what was about to descend upon us—a full-scale invasion—I couldn't help wondering whether any of this was appropriate.
"The anticipation for tomorrow is quite something."
"Indeed, especially with the Grand Duke's own children competing this year."
"With so much talent gathered in one place, the stars of this festival are all but decided already."
"Haha, and Count Ziegel's own……"
With nobles gathered and chattering, the conversation was thick with layered meanings and hidden intents. Thinking of the future, none of it meant a thing to me.
What a bother.
I'd eaten enough, and it was about that time, so I slipped out of the banquet hall. Lingering in that conversation would earn me neither attention nor profit—not right now, anyway.
I do need a certain amount of influence among the nobility.
But that had to come after a decisive showing on tomorrow's stage. Until I'd actually demonstrated something, no one would lend an ear no matter how much I talked.
"Are you certain it's all right to leave so soon, my lord?"
"They won't even notice. Besides, I've already scouted most of the ones worth watching tomorrow."
"Won't the head of the house be disappointed?"
"Who knows."
Somehow I doubted that what my brother wanted was for me to pander to other nobles' sensibilities.
"Once tomorrow comes, their attitudes will change anyway."
"Fair point, my lord."
All the effort I'd put in up to now certainly hadn't been for nothing. I had a fair gauge of my opponents' level, and seeing Johannes Bahen had only confirmed it.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"As am I."
Startled by the unexpected remark, I turned to look at Tarian. Lately he'd given me the distinct impression of constantly talking me up.
"Heh. Didn't expect to hear that from you."
"You are someone who will surpass me one day, my lord. No—more than surpass me……"
I was listening to Tarian's hope-filled words and heading for the inn where we were staying when—
"Y-you there……!"
At the sudden voice, I cast a sidelong glance. There stood Johannes Bahen, his face flushed, whether from a touch of drink I couldn't say.
He had a finger thrust up, pointed squarely at Tarian. I'd barely begun to wonder at the sight when he burst out:
"I knew it! I thought that voice sounded familiar! Tarian—Sir Tarian, isn't it!"
"Oh dear."
"I wondered where on earth you'd vanished to—and here you are, still in the North!"
As he hurried toward us while shouting, I stole a glance at Tarian.
"Someone you know?"
"Yes. I gave him some brief instruction in the sword once, some time ago."
"'Some brief instruction'? You promised to become my sword!"
Watching Johannes protest, his face still flushed, Tarian pressed a hand lightly to his forehead. Now that I thought about it, it figured.
This guy was that type, wasn't he?
A man with an insatiable hunger for talent. Though—who'd have thought that receiving instruction from Tarian would make him covetous?
Well, I suppose he does teach well.
"I have never forgotten the feel of those matches we crossed blades in, all those years ago. And yet, how could you be so heartless as to—"
I was about to nod along in agreement when a different thought occurred to me, and I froze mid-breath. Then I leaned close, catching Tarian's eye, and murmured:
"Don't tell me. You hit him too?"
A nod.
"And that's his reaction?"
Tarian nodded again.
"He's insane too."
Suddenly, I understood why Tarian had worn a mask and tried to hide.
"To be precise, I told him I would decide after observing his growth, Lord Johannes. And as it happens, I now serve a lord of my own."
"……"
"What?"
In an instant, Johannes's gaze changed.
Serve a lord? You haven't even decided yet, have you?
I gave Tarian a look that said as much, but he simply smiled, calm and unbothered. An attitude that made it plain he was merely trying to slip out of an awkward situation.
"Are you saying you've become a sworn knight—just now?"
"I haven't formally received the title yet, but……"
"Then the proper course is to speak with you directly."
Cutting off Tarian, Johannes fixed me with a direct stare.
"I'll be blunt. I would have you hand over Sir Tarian's service."
"Why would I?"
"……I will offer compensation befitting his worth."
His eyes were utterly serious, but I had no intention of granting the request.
"So again—why would I?"
"He is a man too valuable to be squandered on a modest barony. The Grand Duke himself would surely employ him well. Wouldn't it be better to release him for the sake of the North?"
Watching him say it, I suppressed a laugh that threatened to burst out and pretended to deliberate. To be fair, an ordinary noble might have found that argument sound. Most wouldn't even dream of standing against the Bahen Grand Duchy.
"You might not be entirely wrong."
"Ah, so we can come to an understanding—"
"Still, I don't like it."
At those words, Johannes's expression stiffened slightly. He clearly had no intention of backing down quietly at a simple refusal.
He is the Grand Duke's third son, after all.
If I wanted him to give up, I'd need a reason worthy of the man.
"How about this instead?"
"……?"
"We wager on the results of tomorrow's Subjugation Festival."
At the word wager, interest sparked in his eyes, and Johannes looked at me as if to say, go on. I couldn't contain myself—this whole situation was too entertaining. Without bothering to wipe the grin creeping up my face, I looked him dead in the eye.
"Fine. I accept."
"Then……"
"If I lose, I'll hand Tarian over."
"Gladly heard."
"But if you lose—"
Slowly, I stared into Johannes's eyes.
"You'll have to give up your sword."
Winterbane. Johannes's blade, one of the famed swords of the Bahen Grand Duchy. I already had Frostfang, so I didn't strictly need it—but I was curious about the covenant bound to that blade.
"My sword? Ha! Excellent! One must stake that much to deserve a new blade!"
He hesitated for a moment, glanced smoothly at Tarian, and then accepted without any fuss. I burst out laughing.
"I like a man who doesn't waste time. See you tomorrow, then."
"Sir Tarian! Wait for me!"
And with that, Johannes hurried off. I watched his retreating back for a moment, then turned my gaze to Tarian.
"'A lord of my own,' was it."
"……"
"Am I to take it you've made your decision?"
Tarian met my eyes for a long moment, then looked away with a sigh.
"That was my intention from the start, my lord. Still—you went too far."
"Too far? How so?"
"You staked me in a wager."
"Afraid I might lose?"
At that, Tarian regarded me quietly for a beat.
"No."
A perfectly clear answer.
The day of the Subjugation Festival arrived on the heels of that sudden wager.
Today's event was simple.
A game where the one who kills the most monsters wins.
Within a bounded space, various kinds of monsters roamed, and each type carried a set point value. At first glance it might seem dangerously reckless—but this was Bahen Grand Ducal territory. High-ranking knights stood guard all around, so safety was never a concern.
So all I have to do is clear them out.
It amounted to enjoying the banquet, then cheering over monster by-products. More a true festival than anything else.
I was idly fingering my sword hilt in anticipation of the coming contest when I felt my brother's eyes on me.
"Ian, are you truly going to be all right?"
"Oh come on, I've been through a dungeon. What's the worry?"
"I know, but still……"
"Besides, what could even be dangerous? Look how many knights are around."
I patted his shoulder as he fretted.
"Seeing them yesterday, I figure I'd better put in some real effort too."
"……"
Whether he'd caught wind of my reputation among the nobility or not, my brother's face went rigid.
"Lord Barony, there's no need to worry. I can vouch for the young master's skill myself."
"Sir Tarian."
"Especially this time—my own livelihood hangs on it as well."
"What on earth does that mean?"
"Nothing of consequence."
Unlike yesterday, when he'd hidden his face, Tarian now walked about in plain view. Having already weathered the awkward encounter, he seemed to have no thought of concealing himself any longer.
"We simply made a little wager, that's all."
"A wager?"
"Something like that. Anyway—"
At the prickling weight of a stare, I turned my head slightly and found Johannes Bahen boring holes into me from across the way.
"Was he really that obsessed with you?"
The question slipped out before I knew it, and Tarian hesitated a moment.
"It's a matter of the past. I won't go into it."
"Well, if you say so."
"But I would still rather remain with House Rashid. Things are quite pleasant around you, Lord Ian."
"Don't worry about it. Because—"
The star of this Subjugation Festival is going to be me.