Chapter 15: Salon (3)
by fnovelpia
“…What is this?”
Was it just a month ago when I last set my eyes on the White Rose?
It was still far from completion, but even then, its sturdiness and strength were evident. Now, it had transformed into a pitiful sight.
“What do you mean, it’s the White Rose you asked for.”
Master Otar, a craftsman so renowned that he had few equals in the kingdom or even the empire, spoke nonchalantly as he continued hammering the iron.
“Stop with the jokes. You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
What I wanted to know was how the White Rose, which was supposed to be completed today, ended up like this.
Even though it wasn’t for me, waiting a month and getting this result was unbearable.
“You didn’t break it because you didn’t like it, did you?”
“Do I look like a potter to you? Breaking something because I didn’t like it? No… it’s complicated, but let’s just say I lost a bet.”
“A bet?”
What kind of bet would result in the White Rose being destroyed?
Honestly, I was more curious about the circumstances that led to this than I was angry.
“Could you at least give me a brief explanation? It’s my sister’s armor, so I think I deserve to know.”
“A young lad came to me and asked me to make a reverse-edged sword.”
“A reverse-edged sword?”
The name alone gave me a rough idea, but if it was as I imagined, it was a useless failure.
“What kind of sword is that?”
“It’s a long story….”
The story Master Otar told me about a swordsman was moving, especially from a warrior’s perspective, though it might seem odd for a knight.
Enduring a lifetime of washing blood with blood for his country, then abandoning all wealth and honor to set out on a journey of atonement with a reverse-edged sword—what could he have felt?
As an inexperienced person, I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
“So, the person who requested the reverse-edged sword also vowed not to kill?”
“No, he liked killing too much to vow not to kill. He just wanted it for sparring.”
His absurd statement made my face stiffen as I instinctively asked, “What?”
“…And you agreed to make it?”
“Yes, I lost the bet.”
Seeing what Master Otar was pointing at, I didn’t even need to ask what the bet was.
My only complaint was why he used the White Rose, commissioned by my sister, for such a bet.
“Couldn’t you have used your own armor instead of the White Rose?”
“I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but if you were me, would you think someone making such a ridiculous request could cut through the White Rose?”
“……”
I probably wouldn’t have thought so.
Like Master Otar, I would have likely presented my masterpiece, daring them to try cutting it.
“So, who is this person who cut through the White Rose? Now that it’s done, I’m more curious about him.”
“A madman.”
“…A madman?”
“Yes, but his talent is real. If your sister were looking for a husband, I’d recommend him.”
“Was he really that impressive?”
“Who knows… maybe I’m overvaluing him because he destroyed my masterpiece in one blow. Take an old man’s words with a grain of salt.”
Saying this, Master Otar resumed hammering the heated iron, as he had before I arrived.
Once he got like this, he wouldn’t listen to anyone.
Knowing this well, I left the blacksmith’s shop, thinking to myself.
‘For Master Otar to speak so highly of someone’s talent…. I’d like to meet him.’
Despite the label of “madman,” my curiosity was piqued.
“Who could be the person recommended by the master to be the next Sword Saint’s husband?”
“What do you mean you’ll take responsibility?!”
As I tried to bring the large cake, which seemed more suited for a wedding, into the villa, Victor blocked my way and shouted.
“Exactly what I said. I’ll just hand this over and take the blame. Then they’ll only scold me.”
“Let’s just say there was a mistake at the bakery, and while they delay the delivery, we can buy some other suitable desserts!”
Even if we did that, we couldn’t avoid all the scrutiny, but it would be much better than presenting this as is.
But unfortunately, I had no intention of doing that.
‘I never liked this stupid gathering from the start.’
Dragged here on a bright, sunny day, unable to practice my sword techniques, and now being told to replace the extravagant gift? Just because a woman who uses barbaric weapons like a hammer thinks she’s something special?
Besides, I’m not afraid of Jessica, her family, or the sycophants in the hall catering to her whims.
What would they do if I messed up the gathering? Impose economic sanctions?
Sure, go ahead~ Even combining the income from two of their villages for a year wouldn’t cover the cost of the cake I ordered yesterday~ No impact at all~!
If they resorted to violence, that would be even better.
If I could face Jessica’s father, the strongest warrior in the region, with my sword skills, I’d be happy to ruin this gathering a hundred times over.
The nobles under the influence of the von Grund family might become my enemies, but that would just give me more opportunities to practice my swordsmanship. Isn’t that better?
‘Wait a minute? Isn’t ruining this gathering actually beneficial for me?’
Ruining this boring event would bring me so many advantages.
If I mess up this gathering and leave, I could practice my sword techniques to my heart’s content in the cool breeze.
Moreover, having ruined a gathering once, I would likely never be invited to such tedious social events again, freeing me from the boring social scene entirely!
Furthermore, though it might not come to this, if Jessica’s father targeted me, I would have the chance to challenge a formidable warrior, which would be all to my benefit.
‘The only downside would be my mother collapsing from stress, perhaps?’
Hmm… comparing my mother’s tears to my liberation from hassle, the latter wins by a narrow margin.
They say a child’s happiness is a parent’s happiness. My kind-hearted mother would surely be pleased.
With that thought, I tried to push the cart inside, but Victor still blocked my way.
“Victor, what are you doing? Move aside.”
“No, I can’t move! As a noble, I can’t just watch you sacrifice yourself for me!”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Did Victor really think I intended to take the blame for his sake?
The outcome might be similar, but I had no intention of sacrificing myself for a man, especially one who couldn’t wield a sword.
“Why would I sacrifice myself?”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“…I simply destroy.”
Everything in this world that obstructs my swordsmanship.
With those words, I shoved Victor aside and pushed the cart into the villa.
“Wait!!”
Realizing something was wrong, Victor tried to stop me, but it was too late.
There was no way a student from the Magic Department could catch a student from the Knight Department in a race.
“Stop!! Wind, arise!!”
Unable to stop me, Victor seemed intent on destroying the cake to remove the source of the problem altogether.
“Are you insane?! Do you know how much this cake costs?!”
“I’ll compensate you! It’s better than causing greater trouble!!”
The spell wasn’t particularly powerful indoors or aimed to kill, but it was more than enough to destroy the cake.
If I had been alone, I could have easily dodged such a low-level spell, but it was difficult to avoid it indoors with the cake on the cart.
‘Damn! Did it graze me earlier…?’
Victor’s wind spell blew away the box covering the cake, fully exposing it.
Breaking into a cold sweat at the realization that there was nothing left to protect the cake, I saw the second spell coming.
“Whoa!”
I narrowly dodged the spell and continued running toward the hall where Jessica was waiting.
As I got closer to the hall, Victor’s shouts to stop grew fainter, and the spells became noticeably weaker.
He probably didn’t want Jessica and the nobles in the hall to know about this commotion.
“Since I’ve come this far, I’ve practically won. Just give up.”
“You madman!! At this rate, we’re all going to die――!! Hey, ahead!! Look ahead!!”
“Ahead? What? Oh?!”
Just as Victor said, I looked ahead and saw Jessica and the nobles who had been standing like a backdrop in the hall.
Did they come out to see what the commotion was about?
Seeing Jessica right in front of me, I hurriedly slowed down, but that turned out to be a mistake.
The sudden stop sent the cake flying, and it landed squarely on Jessica, who was right in front of me.
“……”
Covered in yellow cream, Jessica stood there in shock, and everyone around us, including Victor and the other nobles, fell silent.
I had intended to disrupt this gathering, but I hadn’t expected it to happen this way, leaving me quite flustered.
“…The gift is gone now, huh?”
As I moved the cart aside and stepped forward, I began wiping the cream off Jessica’s face with my hand.
Her face, hidden beneath the cream, radiated a murderous aura.
“If you’re going to look so scary, it’s better to just cover it back up.”
I smeared the cream back onto her face, hiding it.
As I did that, the surrounding nobles started shouting.
“What are you doing to the lady!”
“How dare a mere baronet behave so rudely!”
“Get your hands off her!”
Men and women alike rushed toward Jessica, so I retreated behind the cart.
A woman handed Jessica a handkerchief, and she wiped her face clean, glaring at me with a fierce look.
“…I will never forget this.”
“Yeah, sure. But if it gets too tough for you, feel free to tattle to your dad.”
Although it wasn’t my intention, in the end, Victor wasn’t dragged into it, and I got to leave the gathering and practice my sword techniques to my heart’s content.
Ah, finally….
A world where everyone is hurt except my mother.
‘I kept my promise, Mother.’
Even if the result was the worst possible!!!
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