Ch.8282. One Month Ago

‘You seem to be in a good mood today.’

Butler Allen poured the beverage into the teacup with smooth, precise movements. The subtle fragrance of chamomile spread throughout the office. Up to this point, it was the same daily routine. Normally, his lord would have savored the tea and then promptly begun the day’s work.

Rustle.

But she didn’t even pay attention to the teacup. Without any concern for her favorite chamomile tea—which she never missed a day of—growing cold, she simply continued reading the letter in her hand with an intrigued expression.

“Hmm…”

Allen glanced curiously at her occasional incomprehensible murmurs. Though he was among the closest to his lord, both within the Order and the family, he still couldn’t stare directly at her. Considering her authority within the Empire, this was only natural.

There were nobles who possessed higher titles than her. However, she was the only one who simultaneously commanded both formidable military power and honorable legitimacy.

Charlotte von Edenhart.

The head of the Edenhart Viscounty and the primary contributor who elevated the Order of the Sword to its current position. Since no Saint had emerged for many years, Charlotte was the de facto leader of the current Order.

‘I wonder who sent that letter…’

There had been occasions before when Charlotte postponed her duties and fell into contemplation. Allen had always patiently waited for her to emerge from her thoughts. However, he had never seen her show such interest as she did today.

Who was Charlotte? To the public, she was known as the Apostle of the Sword, but those who had experienced her true nature called her the Sword Demon. The nickname came from her unwavering emotions regardless of circumstances, and her singular focus on the sword despite having already reached the transcendent realm of an Apostle.

Though she disliked the nickname, the knights of the Order who admired her were numerous enough to trip over. Some even occasionally lingered around the Order’s headquarters just to catch a glimpse of her from afar. Unfortunately, Charlotte spent most of the year at her viscounty.

“Allen.”

A thin, delicate voice broke the long silence. Allen’s shoulders twitched. His thoughts had wandered, causing his response to be delayed.

“Yes.”

“At what age did you become a Radiant?”

Charlotte asked, still keeping her gaze fixed on the letter. Radiant? What an abrupt question. Suppressing his confusion, Allen briefly searched his memories. Though it was quite a long time ago, the memory of ascending to Radiant was still vivid.

“I was forty-three.”

Allen was the head butler who assisted Charlotte daily. His duties included not only trivial chores but also guarding his lord.

Of course, those who could harm Charlotte were rare even if one searched the entire continent. The idea that Allen, who was weaker than her, could protect her seemed laughable at first glance.

Allen’s position might have been created as a formality, but it wasn’t a seat just anyone could occupy. Allen was a man recognized for his abilities within the Order of the Sword, someone who could immediately become the captain of a knight order if he so desired.

“Twenty years ago, that was right in the middle of the conflict with the Death Order.”

“Yes. Fortunately, they’ve been quiet lately… though they’re a bunch whose hidden schemes we can never quite figure out.”

“Forty-three, that’s early. You worked so hard to become strong, only to catch the eye of someone like me and suffer for it. You must have countless complaints.”

“…Not at all.”

As Allen bowed his head with a humbled expression, Charlotte picked up her teacup with a small smile.

‘I wonder if something good happened.’

Indeed, today’s lord seemed somehow different from what Allen had observed before. Though he didn’t know the reason, it made him all the more curious about the contents of the letter. Allen spoke in a careful tone.

“May I ask why you inquired about the age at which I became a Radiant?”

Given the assumption of ‘talent,’ anyone can reach the Holy Flame stage with enough effort over a long period. Without talent, one might never achieve it. That’s the way of the world in any field. However, the realm of the Sacred Awakened has an even more severe aspect than other fields—from Radiant onward, talent alone is not enough.

Beyond exceptional talent, one needs even greater effort and a master to guide them on the right path. Only when these three elements align does one have the basic qualifications to pass through the narrow gate known as Radiant.

Allen, who had risen to the Radiant stage at forty-three, was a genius. Though it felt embarrassingly like gilding his own face to think so, he didn’t deny it. To deny it would be deception.

“And Holy Flame?”

Instead of answering Allen’s question, Charlotte asked with a seemingly pleased expression. Allen’s brow furrowed. While he could quickly recall becoming a Radiant, remembering Holy Flame took time as it was such a distant memory.

“…I believe I was thirty.”

“Yes. That’s typical.”

Charlotte remarked as she set down her teacup. Allen momentarily wore an incredulous expression without realizing it. He wondered if his lord had forgotten the meaning of the word “typical,” but quickly dismissed the irreverent thought.

His lord often bewildered her subordinates like this. Having ascended to the inhuman realm of an Apostle herself, she would occasionally make statements completely detached from the standards of ordinary people.

“I reached the threshold of Holy Flame when I was twenty.”

Charlotte said, shifting her gaze back to the letter. Her achievements are living legends to the people of the Empire. They were famous enough that anyone with an interest in rumors would know them, not just insiders of the Order.

“That’s remarkable.”

Though Allen, who served her closely, had heard this story many times, he couldn’t help but admire it each time. Charlotte had grown up with the support of the viscounty from a young age. She accumulated karma by entering dungeons and trained in sacred combat—holy techniques and swordsmanship.

Even considering all these factors, twenty was far too young to reach Holy Flame. There are geniuses among geniuses. Charlotte was one such person. There might not be another genius comparable to her across the entire continent, or even throughout hundreds of years of history.

When Allen voiced such thoughts, Charlotte replied with a meaningful smile.

“A genius, how interesting. If I’m a genius, then what would you call someone who reached Holy Flame at merely fifteen?”

“…Pardon?”

Allen blinked. It was too outlandish to accept, and he found it difficult to guess his lord’s intention.

“That’s… impossible.”

“But what if such a person exists?”

Charlotte wasn’t satisfied with such a commonplace answer.

Unable to come up with a plausible response no matter how hard he thought, Allen spoke in a hesitant voice.

“Then, wouldn’t they be a monster?”

“A monster. Indeed, that’s what I thought too. But this one isn’t just at the entrance of Holy Flame, but has reached a mature stage. They’re even knocking on the wall of Radiant, isn’t that fascinating?”

“…Pardon?”

Charlotte waved the letter gently.

“Berger. The one who left the Order, saying he couldn’t abandon his hometown where he’d lived his entire life. Do you remember?”

“Yes. He was the child you personally taught. Since he entered the Order a little later than me, I didn’t have many conversations with him, but I remember he was quite promising. I hear he’s now a merit knight in Lindveil.”

“I received a message from Berger. He says he’s taken on a disciple.”

“Surely not…”

Charlotte nodded at Allen’s astonished voice.

“Yes. This disciple is fifteen years old, and has already surpassed Holy Flame and is approaching Radiant.”

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe…”

“It’s unlikely to be a lie. Berger isn’t one to speak carelessly. Anyway, if all this is true, then it’s a talent too precious for him to teach.”

Allen gave a bitter smile. Even a merit knight of a major city was just a child in Charlotte’s eyes. She was a woman qualified to speak that way.

“I told him to bring the disciple here. As soon as possible. And just now, a reply arrived. He asks me to wait three months. He says he can’t postpone the appointment ceremony. I wondered if the disciple had already ascended to Radiant, but that wasn’t the case. Do you know what was written in the final postscript? He says he’ll try to break through the wall of Radiant during those three months.”

Charlotte folded the letter.

“How should I take this?”

Though she appeared calm as she sipped her tea, alarm bells rang in Allen’s head. Among the fingers gripping the teacup handle, only the ring finger was extended. This was a habit that emerged whenever Charlotte found something displeasing.

Allen swallowed dryly and suggested in a cautious voice.

“Since he’s not refusing to come at all, but merely postponing due to unavoidable circumstances, perhaps it would be best to wait?”

“Hmm…”

Charlotte fingered the letter with an expressionless face before replying.

“No. I’m already too excited. I need to see with my own eyes just how remarkable this person is to make me so impatient, whether they’re truly worth it.”

Charlotte handed her empty teacup to Allen. Taking it reflexively, Allen pleaded with round eyes.

“No, that won’t do. Even though Lindveil is relatively closer than other territories, it’s still at least a month’s journey away. If you’re absent for that long, the affairs of the family and the Order…”

“I’ll appoint you as my proxy until I return.”

Charlotte dismissed Allen’s plea outright.

“It’s been a while since I’ve gone out. Running would be faster than riding a horse. I’ll depart immediately.”

“…Understood.”

Allen hesitated, his mouth opening and closing, before finally nodding. It was the duty of a subordinate to follow the lord’s command. He barely suppressed a sigh that threatened to escape. He was already worried about the days ahead, but Charlotte paid no heed to Allen’s concerns.

“Prepare my sword.”

This happened one month before Rex entered the Trial.