“Firstly, I would like to receive an elixir from House Praha’s collection that enhances Aura.”
What I needed most at the moment was sufficient Aura to reach the Aura Adept level. Whether using Dreadmark or Aura-infused archery, nothing was as important as the quantity of Aura.
“An elixir… Your achievement is certainly deserving of one. Very well. I shall grant you Drake Essence.”
Drake Essence!
My eyes widened in surprise as I stared at the Grand Duke. Drake Essence was an elixir made by capturing a Snow Drake on the verge of becoming a dragon and condensing its blood.
Its rarity was incomparable, and its effects were exceptional. Within the Ducal House, one had to be at least from a collateral line to even consume it.
I might reach Aura Adept immediately if I consumed it.
“Is that acceptable?”
At my question, which held many implications, the Grand Duke chuckled wryly.
“I am not so powerless within the House that you need to worry. Besides, a son-in-law is a deeper relationship than a collateral line, is it not? Consider it an early dowry.”
“I was planning to receive the dowry separately, though.”
“…You are good in every way, but you have no conscience,” the Grand Duke muttered, laughing incredulously.
I suppose I didn’t need to worry. From the start, all the treasures of the House, including its elixirs, were personally owned by the Patriarch.
No matter how politically precarious the situation was due to the Elder Council, the Council overstepping their authority by interfering with something like this was entirely unacceptable.
“I am grateful for Your Grace’s benevolence.”
“The flattery is unnecessary. Speak of your next wishes. I wish to send you off and rest quickly.”
“In that case, I shall state the other two wishes as well.” I nodded readily and continued. “Secondly, I would like to receive one weapon from the Ducal House’s treasury, and thirdly, I would like to be granted the authority to move independently within the Goblin Lord subjugation force.”
For my weapon, I wanted a bow. As for my independent authority, it was for easier movement during the Goblin Lord subjugation.
I was tired of fighting under someone else’s command, and I also had something I needed to obtain during the subjugation.
I was going to retrieve it a year later… But there’s no real need to take the long way round, is there?
The habitat of the Goblin Lord contained one of the items that would ruin the Artezia family in the future. An item that was originally supposed to be discovered a year later—something one of the Ducal House’s knights would stumble upon by chance after getting lost.
In my previous life, that item had caused the Artezia Duchy considerable trouble.
My original plan was to retrieve it after the subjugation was completed, but since I was joining the subjugation anyway, there was no reason to wait.
However…
“I accept your request to open the treasury. It aligns with what I had originally anticipated. However, I refuse the third request.”
The Grand Duke’s refusal was resolute.
I quickly asked, “Why is that?”
“Naturally, because I wish for the subjugation force not to be disrupted by your actions.” The Grand Duke looked at me with calm, composed eyes. “I know you care for Lea. Perhaps you made this request for her sake.”
“…Well, yes?” I shifted my eyes slightly, clearing my throat.
“However, it is a different matter if you run around alone and lead the knights into a death trap. They too are valuable forces of the House.”
“…Is that so?”
“Well, there is a way. Should you grant me one very small request, I might permit it, as long as it doesn’t harm the troops,” the Grand Duke said, his lips curving slightly.
What a crafty old man. The concern he had shown moments ago about the House’s operation being disrupted had vanished without a trace, replaced only by a hint of amusement and anticipation.
In other words, he intended to grant my request but wanted something in return.
Honestly, I’d rather just say I only want the second request.
But if I did that, there was no way that man would allow me to take a decent weapon from the treasury.
Tsk, no choice, I guess.
I sighed faintly and asked hesitantly, “How will you grant my request?”
“You are indeed easy to talk to,” the Grand Duke said, a broad smile on his face, as if this was the reaction he had been waiting for. “It’s simple. Become my disciple. Then I will grant you all your requests.”
“…?”
Say what?
* * *
“How could you refuse my proposal?”
“It’s not exactly a refusal, though.”
“To refuse to learn Aura breathing techniques and instead ask for swordsmanship techniques alone—that is a refusal. What else would you call it?”
On the way to the treasury, the Grand Duke pouted, grumbling.
I was so sure he was a stoic, dignified person at first, but now, he just seemed like a complete scatterbrain.
Does becoming a Grand Master break something in you?
Thinking about it, both my master and the Grand Duke seemed to have something fundamentally off about them.
…I should probably get a mental evaluation before becoming a Grand Master.
I sighed faintly and said, “I do intend to properly learn the sword. Although I won’t use it as my main technique, of course.”
“…It might sound a little arrogant coming from me, but as you can see, I’m one of the top three strongest people on the Continent. And you’re telling me you plan to treat the techniques I’ve personally guided and refined as a mere supplement? Lad. Are you perhaps lacking in talent?”
…I don’t want to hear that from you.
I suppressed the words that almost escaped my mouth and replied calmly. “I have a dream I wish to pursue.”
“What, is your dream to become the greatest archer of all time?”
“Yes.”
“…You’re not lacking in talent—you’re just crazy.” The Grand Duke shook his head, sighing. He looked as if he was watching an idiot who had squandered a heaven-sent opportunity.
But for me, it was an unavoidable choice.
Certainly, the Grand Duke’s Aura breathing technique and swordsmanship would be treasures among treasures that every knight on the continent would offer thousands of gold to learn.
Aura breathing techniques were usually created by knights themselves, integrating their own insights into the method.
I probably would have coveted it myself if I weren’t already practicing the Divine Archer’s Aura breathing technique. However, I had no choice. It was impossible for me to master two Aura breathing techniques right now.
Things might change later down the road, but if I were to learn two breathing techniques now, my body would surely explode.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed, but trying to learn another breathing technique when I hadn’t even fully mastered the Divine Archer’s was just childish behavior.
Perhaps later I could combine the two breathing techniques to suit me. But that was for the future.
“But I did say I would accept the secret technique containing the Aura breathing method, didn’t I?”
“…You do realize how unreasonable that request was, don’t you? This is driving me insane. I never thought I would have to beg someone to become my disciple.”
“I will always be grateful.”
“Crafty little rascal.”
The address had shifted from ‘lad’ to ‘rascal,’ but I paid no mind and looked into the distance.
The Grand Duke snorted, looking at me, but then lightly shook his head and fell silent.
After a brief chat, we arrived at the Ducal manor’s treasury. The Grand Duke opened the door to one of the treasuries and motioned to me.
“Come in.”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.” I gave a slight bow before entering the treasury.
The treasury was filled with countless artifacts. Seeing that there were no other items, only weapons, it seemed to be a treasury specifically for artifacts.
This is incredible.
Frankly, I had never imagined it would be this extensive.
Suppressing the joy swelling within me, I began to examine the items in the treasury. They were all magnificent weapons, but there wasn’t a single bow that appealed to me.
Of course, there were bows here and there, but they all focused on outward appearance.
Argh… Is there nothing right for me, even in a Ducal House?
Just as I was licking my lips in disappointment, I spotted a bow placed at the very end of the treasury.
A steel bow with a shabby appearance, unlike the other weapons. It made me wonder if something like this should even be in a Ducal House’s treasury.
As I paused to look at the bow, the Grand Duke approached and started to talk about it. “Ah, you can’t use that one.”
“Excuse me?”
“That’s a bow that even I cannot draw.”
A bow that even the Grand Master couldn’t use?
As I stared at the Grand Duke in disbelief, he chuckled and waved his hand, saying, “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not joking.”
“…If it’s not a joke, then this bow must be made from legendary Mithril.”
“Heh heh, it’s made of something even greater than that.”
Something greater than Mithril?
“Is there such a thing?” I asked in curiosity. I’d never heard of anything like that, not even in my past life.
The Grand Duke smiled widely, as if enjoying teasing me. “Of course there is.”
“…What is it?”
“A Demonkin’s heart.”
The Grand Duke reached for the bow. And just as he began to draw it—
CRACKLE!
Blue electricity burst forth, lashing out as if to reject him. The bow pulsed with a fierce malice, a deadly will of its own—one that seemed fully prepared to kill its wielder.
“Tch, it’s still doing this.” The Grand Duke removed his hand from the bow, shaking it lightly.
“It’s a bow that old man Divine Archer used in his youth. It seems to react only to a specific Aura. He did say he made it from a Demonkin he personally hunted. Perhaps that’s why it emits malice unless its true owner is holding it. Well, I’m storing it due to its rarity, but it’s rather useless.”
A specific Aura?
“Never mind the bow. If there isn’t one you like, how about a sword instead? There’s a sword I can personally recommend. Its cutting power is incredible.”
The Grand Duke picked up a sword and rambled on about something, but none of it reached my ears.
…Then does that mean I can use this bow?
It seemed I had found the weapon I wanted, after all.