The Northern Duke's Conditions
Hendel's residence. It seemed word of Marine's movements had already spread, because a huge crowd had camped out in front of his house.
"Good day to you, Lady Marine. I am Leriart, an investigator with the Imperial Knight Order..."
"Long live Sword Master Marine!"
The moment the rumor broke that Marine had become a Sword Master, imperial personnel came running. Citizens who'd heard the news through whatever channels also gathered to offer their congratulations. I caught the eyes of the knights standing guard at the door and gave them a signal.
"Hold it right there!"
"Clear the way!"
The knights pushed the crowd back, and I entered the house with the imperial investigator. I sat on the sofa across from him while Marine lay with her head pillowed on my thigh, staring at the man named Leriart with open displeasure.
He might have been from the imperial family, but even he had to tread carefully in front of the Deriposer ducal house that had now produced Sword Masters across two generations.
"Lady Marine, I have no desire to trouble you any longer. If you could simply show me proof that you have reached the rank of Sword Master, I'll be on my way."
"You'll leave immediately after I show you?"
"Of course."
Marine stood with an irritated expression and gently closed her eyes.
Woooong.
A resonant wave of mana filled the living room. I could feel the patrolling knights stealing glances our way. Since the dream of every knight stood right before them, it was only natural they'd want to watch. I waved them closer and let them observe freely.
Sssssss. Click-clack. Clang!
The mana storm pouring from Marine's body rattled the furniture. Those pieces weren't cheap...
Booooong.
A sword forged of crimson mana rose and hovered above her head.
"In... incredible..."
"Whoa..."
The imperial investigator's eyes sparkled as he scribbled notes. The knights, regardless of their age, looked like excited boys. Opportunities to witness a Sword Master's mana control were rare; this would be excellent training for them.
"There. I've shown you my unique mana and my mana blade. Satisfied? Now leave."
"Yes, then I'll just..."
Before he could finish, Marine flicked her finger. The imperial investigator was ejected without even time to scream.
"..."
Even I, who considered myself rather skilled with mana, couldn't fully comprehend what she'd just done.
The gap has grown enormous...
The girl who once burned with rivalry toward me was gone. In her place stood a monster. Marine would never harm me, but the realization that she could erase me from existence with a mere thought sent chills racing across my skin.
"Purr."
Utterly unaware of my fear, Marine nuzzled deeper into my lap, purring like a contented cat as I stroked her hair. Seen like this, she looked like the most harmless creature in the world.
She opened her eyes, still enjoying my touch.
"Hendel, should I move out of the dormitory?"
"Huh?"
"Now that I'm a Sword Master, there must be a hundred times more people across the empire who want something from me."
"True."
In this world, Sword Masters were treated like walking strategic weapons. One could level a city alone if they wished, and no one short of another Sword Master or archmage could hope to oppose them. Naturally, countless people across the continent needed that kind of power.
Marine seemed worried about exactly that.
"What do you think, Hendel?"
"I agree that leaving the dormitory is a good idea."
"Hmm. Then... can I live at your house?"
"M-my house?"
"Yeah. We lived together as children anyway. Why couldn't we do it now?"
The image of Marine's father, another Sword Master of the empire, Calis Deriposer, flashed through my mind. The Northern Duke had always been kind to me, but allowing his grown daughter to live under the same roof as a man was an entirely different matter. As a doting father, the news would probably shatter his heart. He might even fly straight from the north to tear me limb from limb.
Even if Marine protected me, the difference in strength between a newly ascended Sword Master and the Northern Duke was still vast. Just imagining it terrified me, so I shook my head.
"If we live together, your father might rip me to pieces."
"..."
Marine fell into thought.
"Then, if I get Father's permission, can we live together?"
There was already that archmage ghost who had latched onto the house like a haunting spirit. Generally speaking, I had no desire to live with Marine. But knowing how frightening she could be, I didn't dare refuse.
"If the Northern Duke gives his permission..."
"I'll ask him at the Sword Master celebration banquet."
By tradition, when a Sword Master or archmage appeared, their family (or the imperial family if they had none) would host a grand celebration. Assuming the messenger rode hard, it would take over two weeks to reach the north. Since the Sword Master Northern Duke could reach the capital quickly, the banquet would likely be held in about three weeks.
"So you'll stay in the dormitory until then?"
"Looks that way."
I slipped a sweet biscuit into Marine's mouth. The next instant, a chill shot down my spine. I whipped around to find the exhausted Northern Duke standing right behind me.
"H-how..."
The Northern Duke glanced at Marine, who was still using my thigh as a pillow. She shot upright in surprise.
"..."
"..."
A brief, heavy silence fell.
"I came to the capital on imperial business. While I was here, I heard the rumor that my daughter had become a Sword Master..."
I couldn't bring myself to meet the Northern Duke's eyes. What father would be pleased to see his beloved daughter resting her head on a man's thigh?
Marine pouted like a child whose affectionate moment had been interrupted. She'd briefly raised her mana earlier, seemingly ready for a contest of wills, but had given up when she realized she stood no chance.
"Haha..."
The Northern Duke looked both hollow and strangely proud that his daughter had even considered challenging him.
"You truly are a Sword Master. Well done, Marine."
"...If your daughter did well, give her a present."
"What would you like?"
Marine pointed straight at me. For one terrifying second I thought she was asking for me as a gift, but fortunately that wasn't what she meant.
"I want to leave the dormitory and live with Hendel."
"..."
Marine demanded cohabitation without hesitation, as if relieved she wouldn't have to wait. The Northern Duke's gaze bored into me. As expected of a Sword Master, even while I avoided his eyes, I could feel his will carried on waves of mana.
Did you seduce her?
I shook my head desperately in denial. After standing in thought for a long while, the Northern Duke dropped heavily onto the sofa.
"Well... I always knew it would come to this eventually. I tried to prepare myself, but... it's still complicated."
He slammed his hand on the table with a booming laugh.
"Very well. I grant permission for you to live together."
"Daddy, I love you!"
"..."
I'd secretly hoped he would refuse, but the Northern Duke was a hopeless daughter-fool who could never say no to his precious child.
"However."
This time he turned to Marine.
"You must follow two conditions set by Hendel and one proposed by me without exception. This must be sworn on a soul contract."
"..."
Oh heavens. He was willingly handing me tools to control Marine. Father-in-law, I adore you. This I can accept.
In stark contrast to my relief, Marine frowned in clear rejection.
"I don't want to."
The Northern Duke simply turned his head away.
"Then you cannot live with Hendel."
"Ugh..."
Marine agonized. She hated restrictions, yet she clearly wanted to live together. After a long internal struggle, she finally yielded.
"Let me see the conditions first..."
The Northern Duke produced a soul contract and wrote down the first term.
1. Hendel and Marine shall not engage in sexual relations until they graduate from the academy.
2. Without Hendel's explicit approval, Marine may not inflict any form of physical or mental harm upon Hendel's acquaintances.
3. Marine must attend teatime every Saturday. Should unavoidable circumstances arise, she may be excused only after consulting with Hendel.
All terms are absolute and binding upon the soul.
I swallowed hard. The conditions were far more direct than I'd imagined. Marine clutched at her hair in thought, then nodded and looked at me.
"What are your conditions, Hendel?"
I wrote down what I'd prepared, choosing my words carefully. I understood the Northern Duke wanted me to hold the reins on the newly ascended Sword Master, but overly harsh terms might make even him balk.
The Northern Duke read my additions. His eyebrows twitched as he sent another pulse of will.
Will this be enough to control her?
I wasn't as skilled at mana manipulation as he was, so I simply nodded instead of replying through mana. Marine's expression after reading the terms wasn't bad. It seemed she found them acceptable.
Scratch, scratch.
Marine signed first. I followed and added my own signature. The moment the contract was sealed, the Northern Duke sent one final pulse of will.
Please keep our Marine well in hand.
I nodded silently.