Chapter 87

87

“…”

Liss Celtrine was speechless from the moment she arrived at the entrance of the lower district.

The dilapidated and poor streets.

The unpleasant stench that assaulted her nose.

The expressions of people weighed down by the burdens of life.

It was truly a space for the lower class.

A place far removed from the world of nobles and the upper class.

“…Did my brother really attend a swordsmanship hall in such a place? There must be some mistake, right?”

“Of course, I checked several times. It is certain that Lord Max attended the swordsmanship hall here.”

Maid Sana answered politely.

“I can’t believe he would do that…”

Liss’s expression was still filled with disbelief.

It was understandable.

Given the image of Max she had seen countless times from childhood until now, such behavior was unimaginable.

So she had to see it for herself.

Liss took a deep breath and spoke.

Liss confirmed the sign and quickly scanned the building with her eyes.

A shabby, two-story wooden building.

What could possibly attract Max to such a place?

An excellent teacher?

The academy was filled with professors who were both skilled and renowned.

She couldn’t imagine anyone here being better than those professors.

What else could it be… Ah, maybe a woman?

That was so likely that she didn’t even need to think about it.

Max was a man who went crazy for women.

Even though he had a fiancée, even if it was a political engagement.

‘Come to think of it…’

There was someone in the Holy City who would be her sister-in-law ‘if things were normal.’

She had only met her a few times, but she knew that person was far more impressive than her brother.

Normally, it would be polite to at least say hello since she was here.

‘But I can’t face her because of someone.’

Even though she wasn’t the one at fault, she felt extremely sorry.

The atmosphere around them was that the breakup was almost a given.

Her parents were even preparing themselves for it, which said it all.

Since it was their son’s fault, they couldn’t even talk about it outside.

Liss naturally thought there was no hope.

“Miss, is there a problem…?”

Sana asked as Liss’s thoughts dragged on.

“Oh. No, it’s nothing. Let’s go in.”

Liss slowly walked towards the door of the swordsmanship hall.

As she did, she tilted her head.

‘Isn’t it too quiet?’

A swordsmanship hall should be bustling with the sounds of students training.

But it was eerily quiet here.

It wasn’t a library.

‘Is it a day off?’

She wondered, but the door opened without any issue.

And then.

‘Oh, someone’s here.’

Inside, she saw a man training.

He was sweating and swinging his sword.

But.

There was no one else.

He was truly alone.

‘…How is this place even operating?’

As someone who helped manage a famous noble family, that was her first thought.

In the meantime, the man stopped his training and turned to ask.

“Who are you?”

“Ah, are you the owner of this swordsmanship hall?”

“No, I’m a student. Are you looking for the owner?”

“Yes.”

“Then please wait a moment, he’ll be…?”

The man’s words suddenly stopped.

He seemed surprised upon seeing Liss’s face up close.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, sorry. You look so much like someone I know…”

The man apologized.

Regardless of the apology, Liss seemed to realize something.

‘Look alike? Who else could it be but that man?’

Though she didn’t like it, she had to admit that she and Max looked very similar.

Especially their sharp, narrow eyes.

So Liss spoke up immediately.

“Max Celtrine?”

“Huh?”

The man reacted instantly.

He looked at Liss with a surprised expression.

“How do you know… Are you…?”

“I’m his sister.”

* * *

Camian was honestly taken aback.

It was an encounter he hadn’t expected at all.

Who would have thought he’d meet ‘that person’s’ sister at Turk Swordsmanship Hall, a place where seeing people was as rare as in the mountains?

“I see. So you’re his sister.”

“Yes”

“your brother has helped me in many ways.”

It wasn’t just a polite remark; it was true, but Liss took it at face value.

‘Baron Croycher’s Camian, right.’

Liss recalled the name she had heard during their introduction.

Baron Croycher’s family.

Not a famous family.

In fact, it was a virtually unknown, insignificant family.

But Liss could recall information about the Croycher family.

As the child of the Celtrine family, which thrived on commerce, she could recite information about the noble families of major countries like the back of her hand.

‘Up north. In the remote mountains.’

Liss immediately remembered the Croycher family’s location.

It was an environment that could only be described as impoverished.

The basic income from crops would be poor.

And she hadn’t heard of any other sources of income.

‘He must be frugal and diligent.’

Liss quickly made a rough assessment.

Her intuition was sharp, thanks to her natural perceptiveness and extensive experience dealing with people in her work.

A noble raised in a poor environment.

Wearing simple clothes made of cheap fabric.

Sweating and training in a lower district swordsmanship hall.

Such a person could be confidently assessed as frugal and diligent.

‘How did he get involved with that man when they’re complete opposites?’

Liss found it hard to understand.

But it could be useful information.

It was a chance to learn about Max’s character from someone like this.

Max was someone who couldn’t hide his true nature.

“I haven’t heard from my brother for a while… Does he still come here?”

“No. Your brother hasn’t been here for some time.”

“Oh, I see. Do you know why?”

“Because he completed his training perfectly.”

“What?”

Liss looked as if she had heard something strange.

Perfectly completed his training?

What nonsense.

Max had never stuck with anything from childhood.

He gave up because it was boring, because it was hard, because it was annoying.

And this man completed swordsmanship training, which is physical labor?

It felt like she was hearing about a different person.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, I’m just surprised…”

Liss’s reaction caught Camian off guard.

She was so surprised. What was Max like in his family’s eyes?

He had thought that family members would know him best, but maybe that wasn’t the case.

‘Well.’

It was entirely possible.

Some people were completely different inside and outside.

“Um…”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“From what you’ve said, I’m even more curious about my brother’s life outside our home. If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me more?”

Liss spoke earnestly, her eyes serious.

Seeing this, Camian felt more certain of his earlier assumption.

“Yes, of course. What would you like to know?”

“Is my brother doing well here? I’m worried about him in many ways…”

Of course, she would ask that.

Camian took a moment to organize his thoughts before answering.

“Well, since we’re not in the same grade, I don’t know much about his life at the academy. But I can tell you about my experiences with Senior Max. In short, he’s a senior with much to learn from. Not only is he methodical and hardworking, but his composure, boldness, and decisiveness in real combat are qualities I truly admire and wish to emulate.”

Camian finished his answer smoothly and without hesitation.

But there was no immediate response.

It was as if time had momentarily stopped.

Liss blinked as if she had turned to stone.

Then suddenly, she found her voice.

“…Who are you talking about? I was asking about Max Celtrine… my brother.”

“Yes? Of course, I’m talking about Senior Max…”

“What?”

“…”

“What?”

“Did I make some kind of mistake…?”

“Ah, no!”

Liss made a strange, confused sound, then bowed her head and covered her face with both hands.

Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

“…”

Camian stood there awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

He didn’t understand the situation any better than she did.

Then, Liss’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

“…Did you take a bribe?”

“What?”

“Ah, talking to myself! Just talking to myself!”

“…”

“…Right… frugal and diligent… no way… no way…”

Liss muttered to herself.

Camian was certain.

Like brother, like sister.

…This person was clearly not ordinary either.

‘Master, why aren’t you coming…’

Camian desperately wished for Turk to arrive soon.

* * *

“Why do I feel so restless today?”

I muttered to myself, tilting my head in confusion.

I slowly reviewed the events of the morning.

But there was nothing particularly special.

It seemed to be just a feeling.

“Hmm, today…”

Though I usually lived according to a strict schedule, I had some free time today.

After learning the third technique, Dan’s Phantom Sword, I hadn’t filled my schedule yet.

But simply wasting time was a luxury.

“Ah, maybe I should take care of that matter.”

I made a decision.

Godwin.

I planned to visit the retired executioner.

He might have a rough personality, but his skills were undeniable.

There weren’t many people as useful as him.

‘I need someone outside to handle things.’

I couldn’t cover everything by myself.

I had Dolph and Dan, but it wasn’t enough.

Especially, I needed someone with combat skills.

Godwin was perfect for that.

“Let’s go right away.”

With that, I headed to Godwin’s house.

* * *

“Please, help yourselves, even though it’s not much.”

Turk said with a cheerful face, as if welcoming very special guests, to Liss and Sana.

The moment he learned that Max’s younger sister, whom he considered his first and only successor, had visited, Turk had rushed to a skewer shop.

It was the same skewer shop where Max and Elaine had once eaten together.

Thus, a reception was quickly arranged.

Liss, caught up in the atmosphere, found herself being treated.

“Ah… thank you.”

“Haha, don’t mention it.”

The meal was somewhat awkward.

But Turk, either because he was naturally outgoing or in such a good mood, spoke without hesitation.

During the meal, he said,

“You must be proud to have such a wonderful brother.”

Turk laughed heartily.

“…Ah, yes.”

Liss barely managed to hide her confusion.

What was this…?

Did they all take some kind of drug?

It was the first time she had met people who spoke so highly of her notoriously unruly brother.

And they were almost praising him.

‘No, this won’t do.’

She couldn’t get a clear answer from these people.

…They seemed out of their minds.

She needed to meet someone else to get a clearer picture.

But.

‘…This is really tasty.’

Unable to resist her appetite, Liss kept eating the skewers.

She finally got up from her seat only after she had completely filled her stomach.