Chapter 027: The Sage, the Sword Master, and the Empress
Of course, the blacksmiths had families too.
A grandmother wailed with relief upon confirming her son, who had fought for his life, was still alive.
A taciturn grandfather couldn’t even properly express pride in his son.
A wife, with arms so frail they seemed they might snap, embraced her bear-like husband.
Beside such parents, young children either giggled ignorantly or sobbed along, while older sons and daughters, thinking themselves grown, quietly cared for their parents…
As the families of the blacksmiths who had joined the uprising began sharing their emotions, the square became so crowded there was no room to step.
Meanwhile, when blacksmiths who had been locked in underground dungeons emerged, the atmosphere briefly turned festive.
But heated debates and shouts soon erupted over how to deal with the betrayers.
All the while, on one side, Zephyros was carrying out summary judgments on the surviving Roxley Family members in real time.
‘…What a mess.’
I was watching this scene from a distance, slipping away from the chaos.
‘…’
It was the disorder that made me keep my distance.
So, no, I wasn’t standing here alone, sulking, for any particular reason.
‘…Ahem.’
I sniffed loudly.
Perhaps because this was a coastal region, the night air was quite chilly.
I hugged my scabbard tighter to warm my shivering body.
“Mister.”
A cheeky voice made me look.
A little kid had sidled up to me. Presence? My senses weren’t sharp enough to notice every random child.
But I couldn’t help feeling irritated, mainly because I wasn’t a “mister” right now.
Even in my past life, I wasn’t.
“I’m not a mister.”
“You are.”
“I said I’m not.”
“…”
I’m the kind of man who gets competitive even with a kid.
Since I felt like I’d won, I softened my mood a bit.
“What.”
“They’re looking for you, mister.”
“Who.”
“My dad.”
“Who’s your dad?”
The kid pointed at the bustling square.
“Over theeere—someone.”
“…”
Did she think I’d understand if she just said that?
Anyway, she was probably the daughter of some random blacksmith who’d fought in the uprising.
The kid seemed to think she’d explained well enough, puffing out her chest with a smug look.
“…Fine. Tell him I’ll come on my own.”
“Yeees.”
She turned around without a fuss.
Now that she was leaving, I felt oddly reluctant.
“Thank youuu.”
I lifted my gaze from the ground.
The kid was bowing so deeply I worried she’d topple over and bump her forehead.
Since becoming a swordsman, had I ever been thanked by a kid like this?
‘No way.’
I didn’t know what my expression looked like, but it probably wasn’t too bad.
It felt a little… warm.
* * *
My tactical retreat didn’t last long.
After the kid left, Jayden found me.
“A meeting about Canchester’s aftermath is about to start. Deputy Leader Jewelina insisted I bring you along.”
“That woman sticks her nose everywhere.”
By my standards, my stance on Jewel was as follows: First meeting, keep distance.
After the Crimson Flame Cult incident, cautious observation.
‘Now, it’s escalated to hostile recognition.’
I wasn’t emotionally numb enough to remain unfazed knowing Jewel’s shady ties with Roxley.
Ness Servai and Jewelina Gunbel.
Right now, I was itching for a solid excuse to take those two down.
‘If I take out Jewel, will a new Imperial figure step up?’
As I mulled over such thoughts, Jayden interjected.
“I’ve noticed for a while, but… you seem particularly displeased with Deputy Leader Jewelina.”
“Well, I’ve got no reason to like her.”
I was answering while scanning the still-heated square, so I only belatedly noticed Jayden had stopped walking.
“What’s wrong?”
Instead of answering, Jayden stared at me.
His eyes had a strange look, like, ‘What kind of guy is this?’
“…Right. I forgot.”
What was he suddenly talking about? Curious, I fully turned to face him, tilting my head as I met his gaze.
“When we first met, you demanded I teach you the tenets of chivalry out of nowhere. I forgot you were that kind of eccentric.”
Jayden stepped closer and patted my shoulder with one hand, a kind smile spreading across his face.
“So, it’s only natural I can’t fully understand why you, far from home, shun your own countrymen and risk your life for strangers, isn’t it?”
“…”
“We’re late. Let’s go.”
I could only stare blankly at Jayden’s retreating back.
My feet wouldn’t move easily.
For some reason…
It felt like the Jayden from my past life, the Old Knight who met his end by my blade, was standing right behind me.
The urge to turn around clashed with fear.
Step.
…Not enough courage yet.
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The meeting for the aftermath was held at Roxley’s hideout.
Though the lobby’s occupants had shifted from Roxley and his men to Zephyros and the Gunbel Trading Company, the atmosphere didn’t feel much different to me.
The faint blue dawn light seeping through a small window in the wall was the only notable change.
“Publicly, we must declare that, per the Kingdom’s dueling principles, Canchester’s Roxley submitted to Zephyros. That gives us the justification to take charge of stabilization and cleanup, while quelling any private disputes.”
Ness spoke loudly for all to hear.
Coincidentally, he and Jewel were seated in the same spots Roxley and I had occupied earlier.
“Hold on, hold on. Zephyros wants to take all the credit? Sir Ness, that’s not right.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Miss Jewelina. Or perhaps you’ve misunderstood me. I’m merely saying Zephyros, as the local vigilante force, will take responsibility for stabilizing the people’s livelihood.”
“Everyone here knows that claiming honor naturally brings profit. Shouldn’t we first sort out the cause and effect properly?”
I paced the lobby, uncomfortable mingling with them.
Whenever Jewel spoke, I subtly glanced at her, gauging her expression.
‘What a ruthless woman.’
To use an analogy, Roxley was a tower Jewel had painstakingly built.
Even though I’d toppled it in an instant, she didn’t just hide her feelings—she stayed calm and was already licking her lips for the next prey right in front of her.
In a way, it was almost admirable.
“Of course, I fully understand Miss Jewelina’s interest, given her significant influence on exchanges between Zephyros and Canchester. But, Miss Jewelina, this isn’t a matter of debating cause and effect. Regardless of the cause, Canchester now has a vacuum in its governance, and Zephyros will take responsibility for resolving the resulting chaos. There should be no objections to that.”
“So what I’m saying is, why is Zephyros arbitrarily stepping up to wear that crown? Just because you’re a nearby vigilante group? Or did the Lord of Conwell secretly delegate such authority to a mere vigilante band without my knowledge?”
Veins bulged on Ness’s pristine forehead.
If you put your ear to his clenched jaw, you’d probably hear his teeth grinding.
“…Miss Jewelina. This isn’t the Empire. Please keep in mind that the Gunbel Trading Company is merely a friendly foreign merchant group to Zephyros.”
He was resolute, unwilling to yield even if it meant souring relations with the Gunbel Trading Company.
To that bastard Ness, swallowing Canchester whole must be worth that much.
‘Disgusting snakes.’
One ignored cries for help and now played lord, while the other meddled in a foreign nation’s affairs with a thief’s greed…
‘…Think, Bihen.’
What means and justification did I have to punish those two?
Assassination? A cheap trick. Even if I succeeded, a second Ness or Jewel would just pop up.
‘Above all, I’m a warrior, not an assassin.’
Suddenly, I felt my face flush.
Not out of shame for my silent resolve, but because when I looked up, everyone’s eyes were on me.
Jewel, as if she’d drawn their attention herself, smirked.
“Our Gunbel Trading Company demands fair compensation for the honor and prestige of the Imperial noble, Young Master Bihen Benkou, who quietly took on the roles Zephyros should have, from the Crimson Flame Cult incident to this Canchester uprising.”
Ness glanced at me.
His eyes clearly showed irritation.
“…I’ll reiterate that Sir Bihen is under Zephyros’s protection until he leaves the Kingdom. No external rumors or disputes will trouble him over this matter.”
“That’s obvious, so why bother stating it, Sir Ness? As it happens, Young Master Bihen has a deep connection with the Easton Guard.
The Crimson Flame Cult incident was an exemplary case of Young Master Bihen and the Easton Guard working together.”
“Wait, Miss Jewelina. Are you suggesting…”
“I strongly propose the Easton Guard’s deployment to Canchester. Of course, our Gunbel Trading Company will spare no support. With this…”
Jewel’s gaze turned to Ness.
She looked down at him like a toy in the palm of her hand.
“I believe even the leader of Zephyros would gladly agree to this deal.”
Jayden, standing at the entrance without even sitting on the makeshift meeting sofa, looked at me.
He seemed bewildered.
‘Jewelina Gunbel.’
If I didn’t know what kind of person she was, I’d have applauded her right now.
It dawned on me that mercantile talent shared similarities with the military genius that dominates a battlefield.
‘Using me…’
Since she couldn’t openly order around someone of higher status like me, she dangled the bait of the guard.
If I took it, the Gunbel Trading Company would gain greater influence under the pretext of protecting its citizens.
‘What does she really want?’
Canchester’s profits? Dragging Zephyros’s shadowy leader to the negotiation table?
‘Why go so far as to tame me like a guard dog…’
Could this truly be the Empire’s scheme? Something about it felt unconvincing.
‘Unless it’s Jewelina Gunbel’s personal ambition.’
For now, I couldn’t know.
Did I even need to know right away?
“These vile, despicable things.”
Sadly, that was the limit of my expression.
It’s not common for a swordsman to vent anger without drawing a blade.
But the effect wasn’t bad.
The roughly twenty Zephyros and Gunbel Trading Company members, slightly more than before, all turned to me.
Silent shock spread across their faces.
“Jewel, I have no intention of playing along with your schemes.”
I slowly moved toward her.
Everyone was fixated on my every small gesture.
Except for one—Jewel.
She looked elsewhere, wearing a cryptic smile, as if determined not to reveal her thoughts.
Taking advantage of that… I leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“The only reason your head’s still attached after all your nonsense is because you’re an Imperial like me. That’s it. My patience ends today. Don’t drag me into this again.”
“…Yes.”
I raised my head and looked straight ahead.
“Ness. You’ve been spouting nonsense this whole time. So why did you ignore the blacksmiths’ pleas for help?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Our guard requested Zephyros join the uprising. But you gave no clear answer, strung us along, and only showed up after it was all over. What’s your excuse?”
“Watch your words, Sir Bihen. I don’t know where you heard that, but every action has procedures. Zephyros isn’t my personal army. It’s not a unit I can move at will. There were reasons for the delay.”
“I’m curious. What grand procedures took so long to bring a measly ten men?”
I spoke while pacing behind those seated on the sofas.
“This uprising is the victory of the Easton Guard and Canchester’s blacksmiths. Thieving cats, stay away.”
Just then, overlapping shouts came from outside.
It was the blacksmiths, blocked by Zephyros at the door, unable to enter.
…Embarrassing as it was, they were chanting my name.
Janson and Henry must’ve spread the word.
Ness, eyes still fixed on me, spoke to Jewel.
“…Miss Jewelina? That guy declared a break first, didn’t he? Then I have no reason to show mercy either, do I?”
A scoff escaped me.
“Acting high and mighty.”
Ness rose from the sofa, and a chilling silence settled over the lobby.
It occurred to me that the noisy outside had also gone quiet at some point.
Thud.
Creak—
Suddenly, a man strode in, flinging both doors wide open.
Dressed in neat attire with graying hair, the middle-aged man carried an imposing presence.
‘…A master.’
I instinctively knew.
Ness ceased to matter in that moment.
A veiled woman followed, closing the door.
Commanding the room with mere presence wasn’t easy.
The people who’d been glaring at me with bloodshot eyes now clamped their mouths shut, as if afraid to even breathe.
The man spoke.
“Here is Lady Adeline Conwell. Show proper respect.”
His voice was so gentle it barely sounded like a command.