Ignoring the Grand Duke rambling beside me, I fixed my gaze on the bow—the Divine Archer’s bow.
I had mastered my mentor’s Aura, which meant I could wield this bow too. The unique Aura flowing through it was unmistakably his.
The problem was... the moment I picked it up, the Grand Duke would know. He’d called it a specific Aura, and if this was the Divine Archer’s bow, he’d have no doubt that the specific Aura was his.
Once that happened, word would spread. But in Berg County, my name was already known.
But all that aside, I had never planned to hide the fact that I used the Divine Archer’s Aura.
After all, if I’m going to practice archery, my master’s Aura and techniques are essential.
Needless to say, I would still hold back about thirty percent of my power—which was why I had been suppressing my strength within the Ducal House until now—but that wasn’t reason enough to relinquish my master’s bow.
It’ll be better to reveal it.
My eyes gleamed with resolve.
Beside me, the Grand Duke prattled on about swords like an enthusiast, but I let his words flow past one ear while continuing to examine the bow.
To be honest, the bow was quite crude. The string had lost its tension, stretching limply, and the limbs were peeled in places, bearing the marks of many years.
Had the Grand Duke not mentioned it belonged to the Divine Archer, I likely would have passed it by. Yet knowing it was my master’s bow, I couldn’t deny its allure.
Master instructed me to claim his bow if I ever discovered it.
In truth, the only location of my master’s weapons I knew was in the Polian Mercantile Kingdom. I had no knowledge of his other weapons’ whereabouts… yet to think one would reside in a Ducal House, of all places.
Is this destiny?
I remained still, gazing at the shabby bow, memories of my master surfacing.
The Divine Archer, Benvekra—a transcendent being who had attained Grand Master rank solely through archery, and the only Grand Master who currently wandered the continent.
My master had mentioned changing weapons several times since his youth. Each supposedly carried a trace of him, but this wasn’t merely about the wear marks from use.
They contained techniques—insights born from his experience—though I still didn’t fully comprehend his meaning. When I had questioned him, he simply said I would understand upon touching them.
But I still can’t tell a thing.
I examined the bow from various angles, deep in thought.
Just then, the Grand Duke approached and asked in a gruff voice. “Are you even listening?”
“Ah, my apologies. I was simply captivated by this.”
“Tch... It’s a weapon you can’t even use anyway.” The Grand Duke glanced at me, shaking his head in apparent displeasure. “If you’re so drawn to it, why not try drawing the bowstring?”
“May I?”
“Certainly. It might emit some malice, but you should endure it. Well, if matters become too dangerous, I can intervene.” The Grand Duke spoke dismissively, convinced I would fail.
Bet he’ll be flabbergasted when he sees me use it perfectly.
I picked up the Divine Archer’s bow and wound the bowstring tightly around the limbs to increase tension.
The Grand Duke, initially watching with disinterest, gradually narrowed his eyes and remarked, “If you increase the tension that much, drawing it will be difficult. Moreover, since the string has been neglected for so long, it could snap at any moment. It would be wiser to loosen it somewhat.”
“No. This is fine.” I cut off the Grand Duke’s advice and stopped tightening the bowstring.
Now holding the bow with tension maximized to its absolute limit, I gripped it firmly and slowly drew the string.
“What in the...!” The Grand Duke gasped in shock at the sight, but I offered no response. Instead, I channeled Aura into the bow.
At that moment.
WHOOOOSH—!
A tempestuous wind erupted around the Divine Archer’s bow, and the treasury began to tremble.
RATTLE! RATTLE!
Treasures shook violently on their shelves, threatening to fall, and the chandelier suspended from the ceiling swayed ceaselessly like foxtails in the wind.
The scent of camellia briefly filled the treasury, then a single concept imprinted itself in my mind, and a new technique revealed itself to me.
The rattling within the treasury subsided, and I contemplated the technique now embedded in my mind, organizing it.
This must be the way Master described.
The transference of technique. The knowledge embedded within the weapon had imprinted itself in my mind the moment I infused it with Aura, making it feel like knowledge I had always possessed.
That knowledge was so fresh that I yearned to step outside immediately and implement this newly acquired technique.
I smiled with satisfaction and addressed the Grand Duke. “I’ll take this one.”
“...” But no reply came.
I turned to look at the Grand Duke, who stared at me with a vacant expression, his eyebrows twitching.
“How did you...?”
“...Sorry what?”
“Little rascal, were you... were you the Divine Archer’s disciple all along?!”
Ah, right. I hadn’t explained this yet, had I?
* * *
I offered the Grand Duke a plausible excuse and departed.
The excuse was, naturally, the same one I had given my father: I had seen it in an erotic book.
Unlike my father, however, his reaction was quite severe.
He looked ready to kill me.
It wasn’t that Grand Duke disbelieved me. Rather, he declared he wouldn’t tolerate me looking at other women’s bodies while he had a daughter.
But when I responded that I would only look at his daughter, he became furious, prompting my hasty retreat to my chamber.
What else was I supposed to say?
“He’s such a peculiar man.”
I shook my head slightly and examined the bow in my hand.
The Divine Archer’s bow, despite its previously shabby appearance, had transformed into something splendid.
It hadn’t changed magically with a flourish! Not at all.
The bow limbs had simply been reinforced with leather strips covering the peeled sections, and the bowstring had been replaced with a sturdier one, its tension restored. But even these modest changes made it feel entirely renewed.
That aside…
“Three days left?” I murmured, glancing back and forth between the bow and the Drake Essence.
D-3.
The Goblin Lord subjugation was suddenly imminent.
* * *
Dawn broke, and the day of the subjugation arrived.
Although I had received permission for independent action, it was impossible to begin that way, so I first traveled with the subjugation force dispatched by the Ducal House.
Well, I did manage to become an Aura Adept.
I observed my Aura Heart spinning rapidly near my actual heart and nodded with satisfaction. I had wondered if this advancement would be possible within a week, but the Drake Essence had proven remarkably effective.
As I walked, feeling content, the subjugation commander ahead ordered the standard-bearer to wave the flag and shouted, “We will make camp here today. Everyone, pitch your tents.”
Night had fallen without my notice.
At the commander’s orders, the knights bustled about, while the squires among them undertook the labor of inspecting the knights’ armor and weapons.
Imagine bringing squires all this way…
Squires were knight-trainees, typically of common birth. They worked without pay to become knights, received instruction in Aura cultivation techniques or swordsmanship from their mentors, and usually embarked on journeys to serve other noble houses once they had accumulated sufficient skill.
Perhaps because of this arrangement, knights often treated squires as servants, handled them roughly, or assigned them pointless tasks.
Those here seemed no different. From washing clothes and polishing armor to cleaning dishes and preparing beds—the knights made a show of working diligently when the commander watched, then dumped everything on the squires once his back was turned, spending their time joking among themselves at a distance.
Tch, it’s repulsive to watch.
Certainly, I also had attendants perform simple errands for me, but I never behaved like such a bully.
After all, these knights probably wouldn’t teach their squires proper Aura cultivation techniques or swordsmanship. They would likely provide only third-rate techniques available in the marketplace.
Still, the squires couldn’t voice any objections. Such was the disparity of class and circumstance.
“Tch.” I released a quiet sigh, rose from my spot, and approached the squires.
Noticing me, they rose from their positions and saluted smartly.
“Salute! Greetings, Lord Berg!”
Their voices rang out loudly, but their saluting hands trembled visibly, and it was clear their legs shook as well, likely from carrying so much equipment alone.
Seeing these children, barely older than ten, engaged in such labor stirred discomfort in my heart.
“Never mind the salute, come out,” I said.
“Pardon? I apologize! I will do better!” At my command to come out, one squire believed he was being dismissed, so he shouted earnestly and began working even harder. The others nervously followed his example.
...I swear to God.
I sighed softly, walked among the squires, and continued. “I meant step aside. I will help too.”
The squires’ expressions grew even more anxious, but then they witnessed me actually helping with the tents and began to fidget uncertainly.
“We will handle it, sir. It would be better for you to go inside and rest.”
“Say one more word and I might become angry. Just hold the pole there. If you leave it like that, it will collapse while you sleep.” I spread the tent fabric with practiced motions, creating a roof, and soon several large tents stood erected.
“Hmm, well done.” Just as I expressed satisfaction, surveying the organized tents, Lea Praha approached from the side.
“It seems the rumors about you being a wastrel were all false.” Lea wore pure white heavy armor, and judging by the incompletely removed grass stains in places, she had cleaned it herself.
I chuckled quietly and replied, “I am indeed a wastrel. It’s just that their actions were so frustrating, I had to help.”
“You say that, yet you undertook the hard work, didn’t you? And you don’t seem to look down on squires either.”
“If you were watching, why didn’t you help? I nearly collapsed from the back pain.”
“Well... I wanted to help too, but I hadn’t finished my own tasks yet,” Lea mumbled, scratching her cheek apologetically.
She looked so beautiful that even the knights who were inwardly cursing me from a distance couldn’t avert their gaze from her.
How dare they look at their master that way? What a disgrace.
I certainly expected no loyalty since these knights were sent by the Council. But even so, they were crossing a line.
If we weren’t in the middle of a mission, I would’ve put them to the lash.
I clicked my tongue quietly, ignored the knights, and focused on Lea, who still appeared apologetic, fidgeting nervously.
I smiled faintly at her and remarked, “It certainly seems you haven’t finished. This must be your first time, judging by how you’re walking around with grass stains on your armor.”
I removed a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped Lea’s armor. The stains transferred to the cloth, leaving green marks.
“...Thank you,” Lea said, her face flushed crimson and her head bowed low.
The squires who had been observing exchanged glances and quietly withdrew, leaving only Lea and me before the burning campfire.
A moment of silence fell between us.
But suddenly—
DONG! DONG! DONG!
A sentry rang a bell, yelling with a frantic expression.
“Goblins ahead! A Goblin legion has appeared!”