episode_0027

The kingdom of dwarves, Hooren.

I had heard of it before.

It makes sense.

“It’s Rednil’s homeland.”

Rednil, the blacksmith of the mountain village.

His homeland was the kingdom of Hooren.

Located in the northern part of the continent.

Normally, the northern regions are covered in snow, but Hooren is a mysterious place where the snow doesn’t pile up due to the heat of the forges.

It was said to be a land blessed by fire.

“But why are you going to the kingdom of Hooren?”

Detiosk is in the southern part of the continent.

Hooren is in the north.

It was quite a distance to travel for any ordinary business.

“Do you know that the White Flame Sword was made in the kingdom of Hooren?”

“Yes? I’ve never heard of that.”

The White Flame Sword was made in the kingdom of Hooren.

Suddenly, I became interested.

“Well, that means I can entrust the creation of my unique mana sword to them.”

Such a great opportunity.

“I also plan to commission Asia’s sword in the kingdom of Hooren.”

“Asia’s sword?”

“Yes. She’s sixteen years old and already an intermediate sword expert. She aims to become a sword master someday. So she should wield a good sword like the White Flame Sword.”

I nodded at Teddy’s words.

Indeed, Asia’s talent was exceptional.

I started learning swordsmanship at the age of ten.

I may have more talent than her.

But as Teddy said, Asia definitely had the talent to become a sword master.

“So, when we go to the kingdom of Hooren, we can place our commissions together…”

“Um… but is that possible?”

Asia is a noble.

I am a commoner.

So it would most likely be Asia’s commission that would be accepted in the kingdom of Hooren.

There was a high chance that my commission would be ignored.

I don’t have a reputation to back me up.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, when it comes to money, there’s nothing that can’t be done.”

“I-is that so?”

When it comes to money, anything is possible.

It’s a valid point, but…

“Aren’t you being too materialistic?”

“Materialistic? No. It’s natural to be materialistic in this case! They will need a lot of materials for the production, and to make a good sword, a lot of money goes into the materials. It’s only natural for them to be motivated by money.”

Indeed.

So, it meant that I could commission my sword in the kingdom of Hooren.

“I’m sorry, Rednil.”

Good things are good, right?

Rednil promised to make me a good sword if I provided the materials.

It felt like I was disregarding his goodwill.

But if Rednil could also make my sword in his homeland, I would be satisfied.

“Of course, I was planning to ask you to make my sword if I could get good materials, but… going back to your homeland is better.”

I asked Teddy.

“When will we go to the kingdom of Hooren?”

“Probably soon. Asia will have to adjust her sword before she returns to the academy.”

“The academy… you mean?”

I didn’t know that.

The academy.

Well, Asia’s age group is that of a student, but…

I thought she would have graduated from the academy by now.

“She’s on vacation now, staying with her family, but she’s in her third year at the academy.”

“I see…”

Asia was a student at the academy.

It felt somehow new.

“Then, will I ever enroll in the academy?”

I had that question in my mind.

But no.

“For commoners, the academy is unfamiliar. Only nobles can attend the academy.”

“Only nobles? Are there no exceptions for commoners as special cases…”

“Oh, the academy strictly admits only nobles as students. The professors are the same.”

It seemed like I wouldn’t be attending the academy.

In that case-.

“What will I do while Asia is at the academy?”

A small question arose in my mind.

***

The royal palace of the Detiosk Kingdom.

It was the room of Prince Il, Nut Detiosk.

“Is that true…!”

Prince Il was furious.

It was because of the news brought by one of his courtiers.

“Yes, it is true. Asia has found a fiancé…”

“Where did this information come from?”

“It’s from the Waltz family.”

“Waltz family… a family in the south.”

“Yes.”

The Messiah family in the south… it was credible.

Prince Il, who believed this story to be true, was enraged.

“How dare they betray me and bring in a new man…? It’s absolutely unacceptable. Asia is destined to be my queen in the future. I cannot let that body be defiled.”

Prince Il stood up abruptly.

“What are you doing? I will head to the Messiah family right now.”

“Please calm down.”

“Calm down? Did you just tell me to calm down? Do you think this is something I can calm down about in your eyes?”

The courtier who reported this news smiled softly.

“Anyway, Asia must return to the academy, right?”

“What does that have to do with anything right now?”

“It seems that the fiancé is a commoner.”

“A commoner…? Ridiculous. A commoner who stole my woman.”

“That’s not the important part.”

After his anger subsided a bit, Prince Il asked his courtier.

“Then what is important?”

“That commoner cannot enter the academy. So, why not make Asia your woman in the meantime?”

“…Is that a reasonable suggestion?”

Prince Il also knew.

That despite showing favor to Asia, she had no interest in him.

“That should be enough.”

The courtier took out a small vial filled with liquid from his pocket.

“What is this?”

“It’s a poison that kills instantly when a woman drinks it.”

“Oh…”

Prince Il understood what kind of poison it was.

Lust shone in his eyes.

“If you threaten… no, persuade the children who were with Asia to lure her and make her drink this…!”

A smile appeared on the courtier’s lips.

At the same time, Prince Il as well.

“As expected of you, your thoughts are truly deep. Verdi, you are indeed my faithful courtier!!!”

“Haha, please don’t forget me when you ascend to the throne!”

“Don’t worry about that at all! Hahaha!!!”

And so, the sinister laughter of Verdi and Prince Il filled the room.

***

I was summoned to the Messiah Viscount’s chamber.

I didn’t know what it was about, but I had a rough idea.

“It must be because of the next test.”

Knock, knock.

I knocked on the door of the chamber.

“Viscount, you called for me.”

“Yes, come in.”

The Messiah Viscount was waiting for me as usual.

“I called you because of the third test.”

‘As expected.’

It was indeed the third test.

The first was strength, the second was knowledge.

So, what could the remaining third be?

‘What could it be?’

I couldn’t guess, but I patiently waited for the Messiah Viscount to speak.

“Soon, Asia is scheduled to visit the Hooren Kingdom with the Pure Knights.”

I nodded.

It was a fact I had heard through Teddy.

“But I have one concern.”

“Should I be worried?”

“The Pure Knights are a knight order that is growing alongside Asia, unlike the other two knight orders. They can be trusted to move within the Detiosk Kingdom, but…”

The Messiah Viscount looked regretful.

“It may not be enough to send them abroad. After all, it’s not possible to send all the Pure Knights.”

Not possible to send all of them.

There must be some kind of plan.

“Is that so?”

“Sending the entire knight order to another country… unless you intend to start a war, it’s madness.”

Indeed, it was.

To mobilize the entire knight order and go to another country.

Especially for personal reasons.

Even if there is no enmity, it would be unpleasant for the other country.

“I was worried like crazy. That’s why I’m thinking of entrusting you with the protection of Asia as part of the test.”

“Protection, you say?”

It seemed like an easier test than I had thought.

If it’s protection, then it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Asia herself, the target of protection, was quite skilled.

“Yes, protection. You must already know, but…”

The Messiah Viscount was staring at me.

I understood what the Messiah Viscount was trying to say.

Code of conduct.

“I hope you will follow the code of conduct well.”

“Understood. But… if you’re so worried, why not send along the leaders of the Bertnia or Pandert units?”

Honestly, it was good for me.

I had actually planned to ask to accompany me to the Kingdom of Horen.

But if you’re that worried, there must be other skilled leaders besides me.

Although the commander of the Sun Knights, Retid, was lower in rank than those two.

“The leader of the Bertnia unit… gets along well with men.”

“T-That’s true.”

In fact, Bertnia had sent me a few advances as well.

Of course, I rejected them outright.

“I’m worried that Asia might be influenced by her… Haha…, I thought a female leader would have a good influence on Asia.”

With a somewhat wistful expression, the Messiah Viscount muttered, “It was a mistake not to dismiss her back then.”

I don’t know what happened, but it seems there was some incident between Bertnia’s leader and the Messiah Viscount in the past.

“And the leader of the Pandert unit has other tasks to attend to, so it’s not feasible.”

“I see. Understood. In that case, I will accept the protection!”

I didn’t have any reason to refuse.

And so, I became the protector of Asia.