Magic Sword Retrieval (1)
Rodeban was half-asleep as he washed up and slipped into the clothes his servant had prepared.
Blue clothing.
It felt familiar, as if he had seen something exactly like this before. His brows furrowed of their own accord.
“This is the uniform of the Knights Order.”
He had done nothing at all, yet here he was already accepted into the Knights? A wave of dizziness hit him.
Then he remembered what the Grand Duke had said—about leaving the seat of Commander empty for him. A dry chuckle escaped his lips.
“The Grand Duke does say empty words sometimes.”
He shook his head firmly. The idea was so absurd that even thinking about it made him feel dizzy.
When he stepped into the dining hall, Seria looked up from her meal and their eyes met.
Today she wore black clothing.
Her appearance was close to his own, so it struck him that hers must be the Knights’ uniform as well.
“Lady Seria, a good morning to you,” Rodeban said politely, bowing slightly.
She coughed once, cleared her throat, and replied, “Good morning, Sir Rodeban. I’m planning to leave right after breakfast. How are you feeling today?”
“I’m fine. Same as usual.”
Rodeban nodded, then took his seat.
The meal was eaten almost mechanically. His mind was too foggy to tell whether food was actually entering his mouth.
So tired.
He had slept more than twelve hours yesterday, but today it felt like far less. Seria watched him with concern.
“You should rest a little longer. If you get hurt during the mission…”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. Could you tell me more about the mission instead?”
“…The location is near the Lepiere Mountains. The magic detected from the border is high-rank. Because of the thick magic leaking from the Magic Sword, a dungeon has formed there too. The nearby area is under the control of the Knights Order.”
“Is there any chance that someone has already gone in?”
“There was a report of a wandering adventurer being pulled into the entrance, but he hasn’t come out in a week. I’m afraid he’s probably dead. That’s all I know.”
“Understood.”
Seria’s expression grew suspicious. “Sir Rodeban, I will be accompanying you as far as the entrance to the dungeon, right?”
“Of course.”
Rodeban nodded. The contract had stated it clearly; he could not forget.
The moment breakfast ended, he left the estate together with Seria. In the carriage she said, “It’s about an hour by carriage to the Lepiere Mountains.”
“I see.”
“Rest in the carriage while we move. Your eye area looks tired. Were you uncomfortable with the bed?”
“I’m fine.”
She hesitated, then fell silent again. Actually, it was Seria who was the more uncomfortable one, but he didn’t say it out loud.
He leaned back against the carriage seat and thought, Anyway, once we’re inside the dungeon I’ll be fine.
Today’s fatigue felt a bit heavier than usual, but the moment he stepped into the dungeon the Magic Eye would start absorbing the internal magic. That exhaustion would vanish in an instant.
His eyes closed for a moment.
“……Deban-ssi.”
The voice came from beyond the blinding light. He had dozed off without realizing.
The carriage had arrived. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. “……Sorry. I fell asleep in the carriage. It’s become a habit.”
“Come down and get some fresh air. I’ll help you.”
“Thank you.”
He was led down by Seria’s hand. The cold air cleared his head a little.
He turned and saw a silver-haired woman looking at him with worry. The moment he realized she was the Northern Princess, sleepiness returned a little.
The Northern Princess spoke kindly, “Are you feeling better now?”
Rodeban bowed politely. “I’m sorry for my shameful behavior.”
Someone else’s guest sleeping in front of her—how embarrassing.
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Seria let out a long, troubled sigh. Haa…
Was it worry, or was she looking down on me?
Rodeban usually thought the worst. The latter seemed more likely. When I get a chance I’ll be seen as useless.
The negative voice continued, “Don’t worry. Inside the dungeon you won’t be a burden like this.”
“I sighed for that reason… Let’s go already.”
Seria shook her head as if dismissing the matter and started walking. Rodeban was pulled along by her, staring at the scenery unfolding before him.
Endless white mountains rose before his eyes.
The Lepiere Mountains.
***
At the spot they had been led, six barracks had been set up. The Knights Order soldiers.
They seemed to be guarding the area where the magic had occurred.
Before long, the kneeling Knights Order members rose and greeted the princess.
““We greet Her Highness the Princess.””
Seria shook her head. “Everyone, please stand. Please don’t do this…”
Soon a young captain approached. “Princess. You have come with Sir Rodeban. Shall I show you the way?”
“Yes, please. Captain Delmon.”
Rodeban didn’t know the name. It wasn’t strange. He had visited the north often, but he didn’t know every knight’s name.
Delmon brushed the snow off his knees and stepped forward. Rodeban extended his hand first. “Rodeban. Nice to meet you, Captain Delmon. Please treat me well…”
Smack—!
Instead of a normal handshake, Delmon caught both of Rodeban’s hands in his own.
Rodeban’s eyebrows jumped. Delmon said with shining eyes full of reverence, “Sir Rodeban! It is an honor to meet the Empire’s hero. I am Vice Commander Delmon Karahon. I have heard many things from my father…”
The look in his eyes was serious and intense. It made Rodeban feel burdened.
So his father had fought beside Rodeban on the battlefield.
Who is this Karahon?
An unfamiliar family name. But he couldn’t say he didn’t know the man in front of those eyes, so Rodeban played along. “Ah, Karahon, right…”
“Do you remember my father?”
What kind of story had they told him that made his eyes sparkle so brightly?
Rodeban gave an evasive answer. “Ah, yes. Of course I remember. He was a wonderful knight.”
“Aaaah…!”
Delmon, who had been the first to make a fuss, was immediately joined by the surrounding knights. They glanced at the princess’s face, then slowly gathered around.
“Sir Rodeban, could I just shake your hand once…?”
“Captain, let go and step back.”
“Hey! Line up by seniority. That’s not how it works on your shift.”
After autographs, the next event was handshakes? Somehow a long line had already formed in front of Rodeban.
Oh no, I messed up…
He should have just played dumb.
Autographs he could ignore, but this was his first time with handshakes. He couldn’t refuse the people who had lined up to shake his hand while he was busy.
Thus the unexpected handshake session began.
“It is an honor, Sir Rodeban!”
“Sir Rodeban, my name is…”
Everyone said something while shaking hands, and most of the stories were the same.
He had fought in battles with him, protected his hometown, or had become a knight after seeing him.
Ah, I’m going insane.
Life slowly drained from Rodeban’s eyes.
He felt as if his soul was being carried away somewhere…
In the end, Seria had no choice but to intervene. “Everyone, tone it down a little. Sir Rodeban’s condition isn’t great right now…”
““Understood!””
The knights scattered instantly at the princess’s command.
They really followed orders well.
When the area around the barracks grew quiet, Rodeban asked Delmon, “Where is the Magic Sword?”
The captain pointed to the sky with his finger. “It’s on top of the mountain. We’ll have to climb quite a bit.”
“……I see.”
A sigh escaped him. In one word, it meant climbing a mountain.
Definitely not good news.
He had weak lungs, so climbing was nothing but torture to him.
“How high do we have to go?”
“We’ll go until the second peak, about twelve hours. My knights will all be accompanying you, so you don’t have to worry.”
The mention of twelve hours made Rodeban curse inwardly. Just what the hell?
Climbing the mountain felt like a bigger wall than breaking through the dungeon created by the magic.
He asked again, “Can’t we ride horses up?”
Delmon shook his head with a troubled expression. “I’m sorry. The mountain is steep, so that might be difficult.”
“Hmm.”
Seria, who had been listening silently, interjected. “Sir Rodeban, if climbing is hard because of your injury, shall I carry you?”
“……”
Rodeban met her eyes for a moment. “……”
That was some weird line.
Luckily, she was the princess, so he held his tongue.
He turned his gaze to Delmon and said, “Captain Delmon, could you carry me?”
Delmon immediately took the formal military salute pose and answered, “Yes! I would be honored. I have trained hard for this day!”
“Thank you in advance.”
Rodeban suddenly felt someone staring at him and turned around.
……
Seria’s displeased face met his gaze. It was absurd.
At that moment Delmon spoke with strong enthusiasm, “Princess, shall we depart?”
Seria answered in a calm voice, “……Yes. Let’s go.”
The group set off toward the mountains.