Ch.82Chapter 82 – Tired Faces and Tiresome Work (2)

“So, you’re retiring now?”

“Yes. Preparing to, more precisely.”

Ludger said this out of nowhere.

“What, haven’t you noticed until now?”

“Where exactly was I supposed to have noticed this?”

“Didn’t you think it was strange, logically speaking?”

Ludger said that and then continued.

“Would I, a paladin of the Jeolei Order, volunteer to teach you without any compensation? Didn’t you think I must have had an ulterior motive?”

“I just thought you were trying to recruit me into your order?”

Since he was passionately urging me to join his order like Christina, I just assumed that was his goal.

I’m starting to think he should have just been straightforward from the beginning.

As we stared at each other in disbelief, Sera spoke up.

“So, the conclusion is that you’ve been training Kay in order to retire?”

“That’s right.”

“Since when?”

“Since I ambushed you that time to test you. When I saw you fight, I thought, ‘This is the one.'”

Ludger smacked his lips regretfully.

“I had that thought when I saw how well you handled Aria and how you immediately grabbed anything to use as a weapon even without one.”

Ludger sighed and continued.

“If you had joined the order back then, all these troublesome procedures wouldn’t have been necessary.”

No wonder he was so enthusiastically recommending I join the order after that ambush.

It seems his desire to retire was behind it all.

Of course, I refused since I had the worst impression of churches.

“But if you want to retire, can’t you just do it?”

“It’s the rules, they say. The owner of this holy relic must pass it on to the next successor before retiring.”

Ludger tapped his scabbard as if annoyed.

It was a weapon with the ability to transform freely.

“Since it’s the order’s holy relic, they don’t want it to be passed to just anyone and then lost for a long time.”

“In other words, they want a thorough handover.”

“It’s important, isn’t it? The handover.”

Handovers are indeed important.

But wait, in this atmosphere, it seems like I’m the one receiving the handover.

That troublesome thing.

“If I had known retiring would be this difficult, I should have thought about it at least three times back then.”

“…Come to think of it, why did you accept it? The paladin position and the holy relic.”

“Around the time I received this, my child was born. I fell for the talk of a stable job and ended up inheriting this too, for goodness’ sake.”

It seems Ludger had also fallen into his predecessor’s trap.

As a result, he still can’t retire even though he wants to rest.

“Fine, let’s say I accept that.”

I chose my words carefully.

“Still, couldn’t you just choose someone else from the order?”

“I wish I could, but the candidates here are too weak to inherit this.”

Ludger looked at me with a serious face.

“The position of paladin symbolizes the order’s military power, but there’s also the issue of the conditions for inheriting this holy relic.”

“What are those?”

“Naturally, you must be acknowledged by the holy relic.”

Is it a cursed object?

Choosing its owner as it pleases.

“Does it just not acknowledge people? Are there criteria?”

“Usually, the criterion is whether you’ve defeated the predecessor. You might not necessarily need to win, but still.”

Ludger said that, but it sounded like an unreasonable condition to me.

Think about it.

The predecessor fights with the holy relic, while the challenger likely fights with an ordinary weapon.

Similar weapons don’t just lie around everywhere.

It’s clearly forcing an unfair fight.

When he says the criterion is usually defeating the predecessor, it means most people need to defeat the predecessor to be acknowledged.

In other words, the stronger you are, the harder it is to retire.

“Can’t you just let me win?”

This was perhaps the last trick.

He said you might not necessarily need to win, so maybe if he goes easy on me and lets himself lose, the path to retirement might open.

Though I also thought it probably wouldn’t be that simple.

“Deliberately letting you win? Would the holy relic acknowledge that?”

Indeed, such a flimsy trick doesn’t seem to work.

“…Can’t you just continue?”

“…I want to rest now. Really.”

Ludger said bitterly.

“I’ve spent more years fighting than your age.”

Unlike his usual self, Ludger looked older.

“It’s time for me to step down. Jamie is getting married soon. My dream is to retire, live as an old man in the back room, and watch my grandchildren’s playful antics.”

“That’s a difficult dream.”

He definitely looked tired, as Ludger’s expression seemed much older.

But soon he shook his head and smiled brightly again.

However, judging by his expression earlier, he seemed to be deliberately hiding his fatigue.

“Well, it’s hard to retire, but there are many benefits. Good salary. Status too.”

“That seems too difficult to accept just for those benefits.”

Looking at Ludger who wants to retire, I’m quite worried about my future if I accept.

“You’re right.”

Ludger agreed.

I briefly thought about politely declining.

“However, from what I can see, you also need what this thing can provide.”

Wondering what he meant, I looked at Ludger.

He was quietly tapping his sword.

“I can tell from the atmosphere. That you need power now and in the future. Whether it’s strength or influence.”

“…You can feel that from the atmosphere?”

“It’s intuition that comes with age. Respect it.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

Ludger also smiled slightly and spoke.

“…Of course, as you said, passing on my position means passing on all the burdens I’ve been carrying, so it’s natural to view it negatively.”

“Yes.”

“But sometimes you need things even if you have to bear that burden.”

Ludger looked at me as he said this.

“Your strength is decent enough now. But wasn’t it insufficient to protect what you want to protect?”

It was hard to deny.

That was the case with Somnus.

He made me and Beatrice fight each other to wear us down, and when he stepped in directly, he sent his doppelgangers to Eve and Sera.

Considering that I ultimately couldn’t go to save them because I ran out of strength, Ludger’s words weren’t wrong.

Whether it’s strength or influence.

I needed either one.

“That’s true.”

“Your enemies won’t wait for you. Time is running out.”

Ludger tapped his sword.

“I thought this would be a great help in your situation.”

A weapon that transforms freely.

After my body became like this, I became proficient with most weapons.

It definitely has great merit for me.

“At least I’ll save money.”

“This guy always has to express it that way.”

It seemed like a huge advantage to me, but Ludger spoke as if he found it ridiculous.

Still, the benefits that weapon could bring seemed quite good.

The paladin position would certainly be burdensome, but it’s also true that people like Somnus are targeting me and Sera.

Unlike my opponents who use not only their own strength but also their influence to hire assassins, all I have is essentially just my body.

Because I have few cards to play, I needed to increase them.

The weapon’s strength and the status it symbolizes.

The gains seem quite substantial.

“…Still, I can’t just take over overnight, can I?”

“Well, that’s true. I don’t expect to be able to retire tomorrow or the day after either.”

Ludger said with a smile.

He seemed to think I still had that much leeway.

Then he handed me the sword.

“Try holding it.”

There’s no reason I can’t.

So I tried holding the sword.

‘…I don’t think I can use this.’

That was my first impression.

And Ludger was smiling.

“Feels strange, doesn’t it? Like you can’t use it.”

“Do you know why?”

“You see, holy relics recognize their owners. Since you’re not the owner, it’s warning you that you can’t use its power.”

Ludger didn’t seem disappointed though.

He actually seemed pleased.

“But you can still hold it.”

“You mean some people can’t even hold it?”

“It sparks like crazy.”

So it just rejects those who are truly unqualified.

“I guess it judged you as just slightly lacking.”

“…I see.”

“Well, I can fill in those gaps while teaching you. In the meantime, I can protect you and your companions.”

Ludger looked at me as he said this.

“…My offer. To succeed the paladin position. Will you accept it?”

Clearly, if I accept the offer, it will be full of troublesome matters.

And I feel somewhat annoyed thinking that Ludger is getting his way. He’s trying to take care of me in his own way, but he’s such a willful person.

However, certain things immediately come to mind.

Christina who was recently injured.

Eve and Sera who nearly faced a great calamity.

Enemies who continue to target us.

For myself, and for others.

I did need more power.

“I guess I have no choice.”

“Thank you.”

Aside from the weapon itself, I doubt the order would leave a paladin with a holy relic to his own devices.

Though politically troublesome matters will pile up, if I show some flexibility, I’ll at least have one card to play in case of emergency.

And the weapon itself will be a great help when fighting enemies.

Setting aside future consequences, it seems better to accept here, pretending I can’t win.

“So what do I do first?”

“I’ve been telling you all along.”

Ludger said with a smile.

“Beat up those who covet the position without knowing their place.”

I nodded at Ludger’s words.

+

“Impressive.”

Beatrice spoke to me as we walked down the corridor.

She had her hands behind her head, which emphasized certain parts.

I glanced at Beatrice from inside my helmet.

“Kay, where are you looking?”

“I was looking at you.”

Sera blushed slightly at my words, seeming embarrassed.

I almost got caught.

And when I glanced at Beatrice, she was still in that pose, just moving her lips, smiling at me.

It seems she noticed.

“Well, anyway. It is impressive. That ‘monster’ Ludger is willing to pass on the paladin position.”

“Monster?”

“He was quite famous during his adventurer days. Then he got married, settled down, and found a job.”

Beatrice straightened her posture and continued.

“To put it bluntly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of the Jeolei Order’s military power comes from Ludger alone.”

To me, he’s just a strange old man, but Beatrice’s assessment was quite high.

Come to think of it, when she kidnapped me before, she did say she didn’t plan to fight him for long and quickly retreated.

“Even though the Emiris Order has a Dragon Slayer, they can’t mess with the Jeolei Order because of Ludger.”

“Really?”

“The downside was that Ludger is old and rumors were circulating that he might retire soon… and that turned out to be true.”

Beatrice said this while resting her chin on her hand.

“You seem well-informed.”

“I moonlight as an information broker, you know.”

“Are you going to sell the information that I’ve been marked as Ludger’s successor?”

Beatrice laughed at my words.

“Yes. Why, does that bother you?”

“No. But we should split it, that kind of thing.”

It’s my information after all.

I should get a fair share.

Beatrice seemed to understand and looked at me seriously.

“Split? I’m the one selling to the client. 70-30.”

“Fine, I’ll be generous. 60-40.”

“70-30.”

“60-40.”

We glared at each other for a moment.

“…Can’t you decide that later?”

“Yes. We should.”

We both backed down at Sera’s words, pretending to give in.

This information only has value if it’s sold anyway.

“Still, I didn’t know there would be a duel for the successor position today.”

“Sera, that’s because you don’t know Ludger. That man suddenly decides things on his own.”

I’m used to it by now.

But seeing how tired he’s looked lately, he might have been pushing for this for quite some time.

“Anyway, good luck. Want me to place a bet for you?”

“Wait, would clergy really gamble?”

Sera spoke as if she couldn’t believe it.

But I had already glimpsed the true nature of clergy.

Specifically, back in that laboratory.

I remember how they bet among themselves on the test subjects out of boredom.

My hand naturally went to my wallet.

“Hey, place a bet for me too.”

“Sure.”

“…Kay?”

As I tossed her about 2 silver coins, Beatrice said with a smile.

“But do you know where to place bets?”

“Who do you take me for? Just trust me.”

Beatrice smiled mischievously.

She seemed happy at the thought of making some money.

“If I win, I’ll pay off some of my tab.”

“…If you pocket my share, be prepared.”

“Alright, alright.”

Beatrice snickered.

As for Sera, her hand was slipping into her pocket, suggesting she was considering whether to place a bet herself.

Seeing this, Beatrice smiled and said.

“Little miss, betting on this kind of gambling isn’t bad, it’s a form of support.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Some people bet on their lovers as a way of wishing them victory and a safe return.”

Immediately, Sera took out 2 silver coins.

“How cute.”

Beatrice said with a smile.

As Beatrice collected the silver coins, we reached a fork in the road.

One path led to the garden where the duel would take place.

The other led to stairs going up to a floor overlooking it.

“Well then, shall we head to the spectator seats?”

“Um, good luck!”

Beatrice and Sera left with smiles.

I also smiled and headed toward the garden…

“Huh?”

My footsteps stopped.

My body wouldn’t move forward.

“Ah.”

I heard Beatrice’s voice.

We looked at each other, realizing the situation.

The master-servant contract.

That cursed magic that prevents us from being separated beyond a certain distance.

The corridor became so quiet you could almost hear the sound of a butterfly flapping its wings.