“This… you hunted all of this alone?”
As time passed, the other knights arriving at the Goblin Lord’s lair echoed the question, their faces slack with disbelief.
Hundreds of Goblins, including the Lord, lay dead, uniformly skewered by arrows. Their astonishment was understandable.
I began to speak, casting a nonchalant glance at the subjugation commander. “It was nothing. And some were handled by Sir Lancelot.”
“Sir Lancelot?”
“Yes.”
The subjugation commander turned to look at Sir Lancelot with a look of surprise. It seemed Lancelot wasn’t held in particularly high regard.
...Poor fool. I sent a glance of pity at Lancelot, then quietly shook my head.
Currently, Lancelot was completely absorbed in his newfound talent, bragging to his comrades.
“I am the Spear of the North, Lancelot!”
Lancelot had taken a spear into battle as I instructed him to, and ultimately realized his talent for it.
Of course, he was covered in wounds and his face was a mess of dark bruises, but since he’d won, wasn’t that all that mattered?
Guess he isn’t so pitiful, seeing the state he's in.
I couldn’t help wondering why the man was boasting like some immature runt.
Watching Lancelot boast to his comrades in a roaring voice, I let out a faint sigh, then turned my head to look at Lea.
Lea stood next to the subjugation commander, sending me a look of apology. She likely felt guilty about not coming to rescue me.
And just as I thought…
“I am sorry I could not come to rescue you.” Lea bowed her head deeply before me.
There was no need for her to do that.
“It’s alright. I threw myself into it, so there’s no need for you to apologize, my lady. And weren’t the results good?”
“…Still.”
“If it truly weighs on your mind, please bring me some of those Northern Linda flowers. I’m quite fond of them.”
Linda flowers had petals that could be used as a narcotic painkiller with a special processing method.
I would be using my master’s techniques more often in the future, and each time I did, I could take medicine made from Linda flowers.
Well, I could roll them into cigarettes, too.
In any case... Since it wasn’t something I needed immediately, I steered the conversation elsewhere.
“Speaking of which, will you be alright?”
“W-what?” Lea asked back, flustered.
I couldn’t understand why, but Lea’s face was flushed a deep red.
What’s wrong with her?
Thinking she might be sick, I reached out a hand to check her temperature, but—
Lea flinched back in surprise, stepping away.
...Even I can’t help feeling a bit hurt when someone reacts that way.
I awkwardly withdrew my hand and said, “Don’t strain yourself. It would be a grave issue if your health were compromised.”
“Th-thank you!”
“Yes, so I’ll ask again... will you be alright?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Your coming-of-age ceremony, I mean. This was supposed to be an expedition for your coming-of-age ceremony, but the situation has unfolded like this.”
Lea let out a deep breath, muttering, “Ah, that...”
Then, making an effort to erase the signs of her earlier fluster, she answered, “It will probably be alright. The coming-of-age ceremony the Council Head spoke of was, in essence, completed the moment the expedition set out.”
“I doubt he’ll let go of the matter so easily. Besides...” I glanced at the Council’s knights among those surrounding Lea.
I had personally killed most of the Council’s knights just recently, but some had survived because they remained by the subjugation commander’s side.
I continued, “The Council Head’s eyes and ears are everywhere, you see.”
“Hah, I see you are well aware of our House’s situation.” Lea replied with a small sigh. “Still, they likely can’t say much. It’s a fact that I was involved in this expedition. Of course, whether the other knights will follow me is uncertain, though.”
“I see.” Only then did I nod, acknowledging her point.
While House Praha’s coming-of-age ceremony was rooted in its duty to guard against the Demonic Realm, it also served as a trial—a test of leadership for the one destined to lead its forces into battle.
It was a chance to reveal the kind of person their future lord truly was—the commander who would one day hold their lives in her hands.
Originally, Lea should have gained the trust of the House knights through this ceremony, but my intervention had made that impossible.
But well, needless to say, that possibility had already sailed the moment the Council’s knights comprised nearly half of the expedition anyway.
Moving on…
With all the other matters resolved, the only task remaining was to complete Lea’s coming-of-age ceremony.
“You don’t have to worry about the knights’ trust,” I said.
“What?”
“I have a method, so you need not worry.”
Though it would require a little effort on my part, I knew countless ways of gaining the knights’ trust. Especially considering how beautiful Lea was.
She was a woman who would ascend as the knights’ queen all on her own, even if left to her own devices.
I’m just pulling that time forward.
In any case, there was no need to dwell on it any longer. There was nothing left to worry about.
All that remained was to go back.
Why is she turning red again?
Lea’s cheeks began to flush crimson once more, and I blinked, staring at her.
...Surely it wasn’t a side effect of the elixir?
* * *
The Goblin Lord’s subjugation ended successfully, and the expedition returned to the Ducal Manor of Praha.
The Grand Duke, who had heard the news, welcomed me back and praised my contribution.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It was nothing.”
Just as expected, the High Elder argued with the Grand Duke, claiming this couldn’t possibly count as Lady Lea’s coming-of-age ceremony.
But the Grand Duke revealed a terrifying killing intent, as if to say any further words would be exceeding his authority, and drove the High Elder away.
His killing intent was so formidable that even I, standing beside him, felt my body tremble.
“Hah… forgive me. I showed you something rather unsightly,” the Grand Duke said.
“Not at all.”
“Thanks to you, I’ve recovered a bit of the political power within the House. While I was gone, it seems that the damned Council Head managed to win over quite a few knights and vassals, so I haven’t been able to exert much influence lately.”
The Grand Duke wore a wry smile.
In fact, the House’s internal situation was so unstable it was almost fair to say that most of the Northern vassals had shifted their allegiance to the Council. It was to the point that if not for the Grand Duke, the High Elder might well have become the new patriarch in the first place.
I’ll have to replace all the vassals too.
As a former hound who worked for Artezia, dealing with those kinds of rats was easier for me than lying down and enjoying some cake.
“Regardless, since you dealt with the Goblin Lord for me, I suppose I must keep my promise. Let us set the wedding for a month from now.”
“That’s fast.”
“It can’t be helped. His Majesty desires to explore the Demonic Realm. Still, I should at least see my daughter’s wedding before I depart.”
“You don’t seem saddened that I am marrying Lady Lea.”
“Because you have more than proven your qualifications. And...” The Grand Duke spoke softly, his gaze fixed on the faintly visible Demonic Realm beyond the window. “Because I want someone to protect my daughter from the coming disaster.”
I fell into thought for a moment.
The coming disaster.
To be honest, I didn’t know exactly what the coming disaster entailed, as I had lost my life before witnessing it. But if he was referring to war, or perhaps the downfall of the Ducal House, I was confident in my capability to prevent it splendidly.
I had regressed for that very purpose, after all.
“I will stake everything I have and protect Lady Lea.”
“Thank you.” The Grand Duke chuckled faintly and rose from his desk chair. Then, he picked up the House plaque and handed it to me.
“The marriage will be in a month, but from this moment forth, you are a member of House Praha. Please take good care of my daughter.”
“Just leave it to me, Your Grace.” Finally, I had taken the first step in my plans.
I put away the plaque of House Praha and curled the corners of my mouth upwards.
Then, the Grand Duke grinned broadly and said, “So, is there anything you desire as a wedding gift?”
“Something I want?”
Hmm.
I thought for a moment, considering what to ask for. But that consideration was brief.
I turned to the Grand Duke and began, “What I want is...”
* * *
“...So that’s why I’m here?”
“Precisely. You are now my personal guard, sir knight. I’m counting on you.”
“What?! Why am I becoming your guard knight, man?! I’m not even strong enough to be a personal guard in the first place!” Lancelot screamed, tearing at his hair. He seemed quite indignant about being removed from Lea’s personal guard.
“‘Man’? I am now strictly your superior and master.”
“Ah, damn it!”
“You would do well to amend your manners. It’s fortunate that I am your master; otherwise, you would already have crossed the River Styx.”
“Gahhhhhhhh!” Lancelot shrieked, letting out another sound of pure horror.
But after a while, he seemed exhausted and asked me in a hoarse voice, “...So why did you call for me? You couldn’t have called me just to torment me.”
“An excellent question. Before I answer, would you mind sitting down? I find it difficult to speak while you’re flailing about like that.”
“...” Lancelot looked like he wanted to spit out curses immediately, but perhaps finally recognizing that I was his superior, he forced himself to sit down, enduring it.
“How nice and obedient. I suppose I can forget what you said at the goblin lair.”
“You held onto that?”
“Indeed. I am rather petty, you see.”
“…Wow, he doesn’t let a single word go.” Lancelot muttered just loud enough for himself to hear.
Normally, a tone like that would’ve earned a slap across the face on the spot—but it was a far cry from the old me, who cared only for power, and I found that I rather liked it.
Well, he does have talent and remarkable loyalty.
Even if it wasn’t loyalty to me, it was loyalty to Lea, so as long as she remained by my side, he wouldn’t betray me. That alone was reason enough to call for him.
I picked up my teacup, sipped the tea, and spoke. “The reason I called for you, sir knight, is simple.”
“...What is it?” Lancelot asked back, his lips pursed petulantly. He looked as if he were daring me to speak.
I let out a snort of laughter and made him a proposal.
“Sir Lancelot. Are you, perhaps, interested in the spear techniques of Berg?”
* * *
Meanwhile, the High Elder ground his teeth, recalling the recent confrontation.
How dare someone speak to him like that? Was that something one said to the master of the Council, to his uncle?!
The High Elder clenched his fist violently and roared at the knights lined up beside him. “Did you want so badly to return alive from that situation?! Did I not explicitly tell you to kill at least one of them—either the girl or the Berg boy?!”
“…We apologize. His power was far more exceptional than anticipated.”
“Oh yes, did he suddenly become a Master, or something?! Or did he possess a technique so potent that none of you could kill him, even if you all attacked?!”
The knights clammed up like mutes.
Seeing their reaction, the High Elder’s fury surged further, with throbbing veins on his forehead as he unleashed his might.
“Were your lives that precious?!”
BOOM!
The Aura Master’s Crushing Presence crushed the air within the House walls.
He was only at the threshold of the Master stage, yet that alone was more than enough to overpower the knights present.
“Return at once and devise a plan! Whether you have to sacrifice your very lives to summon a Demon! Or use Darkspawn to kill them! I want it done one way or another!”
“Cough...! U-understood.” When the most senior knight among them replied, bowing his head deeply, only then did the High Elder release his Crushing Presence and quell his rage.
“Hah. Kill the Berg scion by any means necessary. If he dies, we can use the Bergs to pressure the Patriarch.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
“The Patriarch will soon depart for the Demonic Realm. That will be your only chance—don’t miss it. Do you understand?” the High Elder said, his eyes glinting with a cold, sinister light.
A snake-patterned emblem gleamed on his chest, and for some reason, traces of demonic energy clung to it.