episode_0001

People are always born with that role.

It is a kind of calling. You have a duty given to you by heaven, and it is God’s will that you faithfully carry it out.

And I was born with a calling to be a monarch.

Taking care of my subordinates, taking care of the big and small affairs of the territory, keeping an eye on the national direction, and leading my vassals in the right direction. That was my calling.

Because I was carrying such a heavy load, I was practicing swordsmanship diligently today as well.

I had just become an adult, but now that the fate of my family and my estate was at stake, I couldn’t afford to look away from anything else.

I wasn’t thinking about the future. I swung my wooden sword again today to overcome the crisis right in front of me.

effort,

It was a painstaking effort.

-widely!

-Crack!

The block of wood just broke off with the ten-thousandth movement.

I wiped the sweat and looked down. There were pieces of wood scattered here and there, like firewood in a dressing room.

‘This is the end of today’s training.’

Before returning to Naeseong, I was taking a last look at the proud traces of my training, when a beautiful woman came walking leisurely from Naeseong.

“Son.”

“Oh, Mother!”

She was my mother, Duchess Mia Nise.

Mother was dressed casually.

Her shining golden hair was neatly combed and tied back, and her long-sleeved evening dress exposed her shoulders, collarbone, and half of her breasts.

Below her sunken waist, her round buttocks and pelvis were prominent. It was a seductive and overly attractive outfit, but when she saw her mother’s purely beautiful face, all lust disappeared.

Beneath the thick eyebrows were two deep, warm eyes that seemed to read everything in a person’s mind.

Below her small, pretty nose were tightly closed lips, which gave off a noble air of dignity.

“Mom, what’s going on in the courtyard?”

I was happy, but also a little disappointed.

I was so happy that you came to see me, but I wish you had come while I was still practicing hard.

It was a pity. I wanted to show my mother how hard I was sweating and practicing… .

“Ah, huh. Son. Did I bother you during your training?”

“Yes! No. Mom, I was just finishing my training and was about to go in!”

“Really? That’s good… Oh, son, I have someone I want to introduce to you today.”

Oddly enough.

I had an ominous feeling about my mother’s words.

“You could say he’s the person you need the most. He’s your swordsmanship master.”

My mother said with a confident smile.

“Ah! Is that Sir Roland?”

“No, no. They say he is an outsider, not a person from our territory.”

“… Is that a personnel decision made after discussion with the deceased?”

“I decided this on my own. I thought it was absolutely necessary.”

My mother was a really good person.

As the mistress of the estate, she was popular and well-received by her subordinates. She was truly a person as warm as her appearance.

However, now that my father has disappeared, my mother has had to take on the role of head of the estate. Perhaps because of this, complaints have begun to come out from the retainers as well.

He was too indecisive about regular issues, and when it came to really important matters, he was strangely stubborn and didn’t seem to give much weight to the opinions of his subordinates. Instead, he seemed to give more importance to the opinions of his close aide, the head maid.

“He is not from our territory, and he is from a humble background, so he may not be very polite. However, he is very skilled, so if you trust him and follow him, good results will follow.”

If my mother said something like that, I had no choice but to follow her.

Maybe your mother is impatient too.

“Mom, Dad will be back soon.”

“… Yeah.”

My father went missing. He had temporarily put aside the heavy burden of being a duke and his duty to look after his people.

It was an obvious crisis.

Beyond the walls, in the wasteland, evil forces are stirring, and the position of leader of the territory is vacant.

I had to grow up quickly, fill my father’s shoes, and prove to my father that his worries were unfounded.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel impatient.

“He said he’d be here soon.”

“Yes?”

“The person who will be your teacher. I met him briefly… Ah! He’s coming right now.”

A man steps out of the inner chamber with confident steps.

“Everyone, did you come out first?”

It was a deep, deep, rough voice. He was a man with a large frame. He looked rather fierce. If you saw him in the forest, you would think he was a bandit. If you saw him on the road, you would think he was a highwayman. If you saw him at sea, you would think he was a pirate. He looked so fierce that you would think he was trustworthy or honest.

The man who had been walking with a blank expression bows his head and greets me with a clattering sound.

“Hello. I’m worried I might be too late.”

A giant hand is extended.

A request for a handshake? It was a greeting from a free man. It was the first time in my life that I received such a request.

Still, he is my teacher. It was right for me to at least show some courtesy.

“Ah, ahaha.”

Although I didn’t feel like it, I took his hand.

Strong forearms, a height that seemed two heads taller, and arms covered in scars.

And his eyes weren’t smiling.

“My name is Harry Barry, the swordsman. I am grateful that you invited a shabby guy like me to such a grand place.”

My mother smiled and clapped her hands slightly as she watched us shake hands. It was irreverently cute.

“Ahem, speaking of this person, according to Blushu, he is rumored to be really, really strong in the inland.”

Blue shoes?

Is this person also a recommendation from Maid Head Blueshu? Even my swordsmanship master follows that person’s opinion, so I’m starting to get a little worried, just like the vassals said.

“Oh, that’s too much praise.”

“Please take care of me, Master.”

Swallowing a little bit of discontent, he pulls away from the hand he was holding and bows politely in greeting.

“I am Louis Nisse, the sole heir to the Duchy of Nisse and the administrator of the Luceto Coast. If you teach me the sword, I will follow you.”

I introduced myself politely to my teacher, erasing the impertinent thoughts that had come to mind. -This is how you greet people in a noble manner- I wasn’t trying to show off, but it was a greeting that contained a kind of respect.

No matter how humble his origins, the fact remains that he is my master who will teach me the art of the sword.

The teacher looked at me and said, “Oh.” Then he followed my greeting with a slightly awkward posture and greeted me politely again.

“My name is Harry Bar, the wandering inspector. I will teach you everything I know.”

We straightened our backs, looked at each other, and smiled. He was a man who knew how to smile.

It seemed that he was not a completely closed-off nobleman. No, rather, seeing the free spirit unique to this free-spirited person after seeing only the closed-off authors of Gosung made me feel at ease.

It seems that the ominous feelings I had initially had were just groundless fears.

This guy was clearly a good person.

“I’m afraid I made a mistake because I’m ignorant of etiquette. I’m not a math or astronomy teacher, I’m a combat teacher. I’ve spent my whole life on the battlefield, and I’m a person with a lot of real-world experience.”

I somehow felt trustworthy when I saw him talking with a hint of pride.

“Oh, and he’s also very knowledgeable about formal duels. You could say he’s an expert on all aspects of fighting.”

He was a man accustomed to boasting about himself.

Anyway, the flow of our first meeting was very good. There was nothing bad about it. However, no matter how positively I tried to see it, the peculiar atmosphere he gave off was unsettling. Even if I tried to cover it up with heavy perfume, I couldn’t hide the thick smell of blood.

“It’s a good atmosphere. It’s really nice to see you. Ah! It’s already this much time! I have an appointment with the bank presidents, so I’ll leave first.”

“Your mother.”

My mother turned around with a jerk, her full breasts rippling as if they were about to overflow. Every movement she made was full of grace.

But it seemed a little different to the teacher.

“That’s a really hot bitch. Look at that tight ass shaking.”

“… Yes?”

I doubted my ears.

“Huh? Oh, you don’t see women with such amazing bodies easily even in high-class bars in the capital.”

“What, what is that?”

My head was dizzy from the other-worldly compliments I heard while looking at my mother’s back.

“Ah, it’s a compliment to a woman. Your mother, the Duchess, is so beautiful. Oh, did I make a mistake again? Forgive me if I sounded harsh. We call it ‘high praise’ among ourselves.”

“Ah… .”

“Since I am your teacher, from now on, I will speak to you more freely regardless of your status, okay? But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect my students.”

“Of course, of course, Master.”

I pulled myself together. The Master was a free man. I had to understand even if his words and actions were somewhat extreme.

‘But, no matter how free a person is, I’ve never heard of anyone considering sexual harassment a compliment…’

“Okay, I heard that your goal is to learn martial arts before the harvest festival. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Our territory was like a candle in the wind. Beyond the wasteland that bordered the double stone wall, an army of evil spirits would invade every day.

It couldn’t be stopped by simply blocking the wall and pouring hot oil on it.

We had to intercept them. We had to catch the enemy’s movements before they attacked, and exhaust their troops before they reached the stone wall.

It was a very dangerous thing to do, but it had to be done. And it was my duty to lead that band of thugs.

“Why does a noble lady like you have to do such a dangerous thing?”

The teacher expressed his doubts.

“A leader has duties and responsibilities that fit his role. I have to fulfill them.”

“Hmm, should I call it the romance of a frontier territory or a foolishness… .”

It seems the teacher wasn’t convinced by my explanation.

“Good. I’ll make you strong enough to survive as the vanguard of the interception force.”

“Yes, Master.”

It was a powerful answer. My body felt hot as I answered. Even though his words and actions were a bit rough and rude, I knew he would be a good teacher.

“Well, it seems like the Duchess is a little busy today, so let’s start training tomorrow.”

“Master. I am an adult. I can receive your training without my mother.”

Even though I’m small, that’s not the case.

“Ah, didn’t you hear? You won’t be training alone. The Duchess will be training with you too.”

“… Yes? No, uh, why?”

“You were asked directly by the Duchess, so go and ask her yourself. I don’t know the reason either.”

“Ah.”

I thought I knew why.