episode_0315

Episode 315

“Are you talking about a match?”

“Yes, that’s how it happened.”

I told Pilgret the story I shared with Wihart on the wall.

“I understand. If so, I will prepare it right away.”

“What do you think your chances of winning are?”

Philgret was troubled. It was a worry for quite a long time. It seemed like countless mock 3-on-3 battles were taking place in his head.

“I think it’s a little less than half. In the end, it will be a fight about whether Largo Wihart can be defeated.”

“Is he that strong?”

Just looking at his weight class, he certainly looks strong. Philgret answered readily this time.

“Yes, he is always a swordsman when discussing the strongest in the kingdom.”

“More than you?”

“That… you’ll have to compete to find out.”

Philgret seemed delighted. It seemed like he couldn’t control his excitement as a prosecutor. It was my first time seeing him like this.

“Pilgret, you know this is a game that could possibly decide the fate of the kingdom. So you must never lose.”

“Yes, of course I understand.”

“So I will use any method. Maybe that would tarnish my competitiveness as a knight. But you have to do it.”

“I just follow the princess’s wishes. Because I am just a sword.”

Pilgret quickly wiped the excitement from his face.

Just a sharply forged sword. As if that was his only duty.

It’s not that I don’t understand the feelings of prosecutors who get excited like children at the word “win.”

Wihart also seemed to have a burning desire to win after seeing Pilgret at their first meeting. Perhaps the proposal of this match itself was mixed with such a purpose.

However, I only understand that their behavior principles are like that, but I cannot sympathize with them. I honestly don’t know what’s enjoyable about pushing yourself into a moment where you might die.

Moreover, this is a battle where each person’s master is at stake and the subordinates who follow them are at stake. There is no room for pleasure or anything like that.

The reason Pilgret quickly erased that feeling was probably because he knew it well. Because this is not a victory, it is a war.

“I understand. Then I’ll leave the remaining two selections to you.”

“Yes. Then, let’s get started right away.”

Philgret answered like that and immediately left. I soon left the room to make my own preparations.

* * *

As of now, Wihart’s personnel appointments are completely unknown.

One thing that is certain is that Wihart himself will participate. The remaining two would be entrusted to the most trusted knights under his command.

It is said that in the northern part of the country, it is common for knights to possess and maintain their own swords. That also seemed to be considered an attribute of a knight.

This is the same to some extent in Lurie, but basically the same ceremonial sword is used. Daily maintenance is left to professional craftsmen.

But that’s not the case here. Each knight’s sword is unique, and is not returned even after the day’s work is over.

It was good to see that there was no room for him to leave his sword alone and use something else in the match tomorrow. Unless the sword breaks.

Carmel and I were planning to aim for that very point.

* * *

When I knock on the door, a young man with brown hair comes out. His skin color seemed to be a mixture of ethnic blood.

“Ah, what’s going on, Ian?”

It’s not a very welcoming look. In fact, it is strange that he suddenly appears, takes the position of adjutant, and treats with favor an imperial man who is involved in many aspects of Nordrie.

“Margrave Wihart told me to check the condition of all knights’ swords and report back. It may be inconvenient, but I would appreciate it if you could show me the sword.”

The person speaking in a polite voice is not actually Ian.

This is Carmel, transformed into Ian. Exactly, it just looks that way.

Shimasa’s magic potion. It is a magic that makes you look like someone specific. However, in order to use it, you need a body part of that specific person.

That condition was achieved with the light green hair found in the documents. Ian was the only person here with hair color like that.

To the man in front of him, Carmel seemed to be clearly Ian. Of course, I don’t look like Princess Sera either. He must have looked like a nameless soldier.

The most difficult part was escaping from the guards who were watching our accommodation. If Ian, who has never been in, leaves the dorm, there will definitely be a report.

Therefore, I had to borrow the power of the Earth Dragon’s Gauntlet again. When returning, we plan to use the same underground path.

“You ordered me to show you the sword? Ian to you?”

The man frowned. It seemed that this kind of command was not common.

A suspicious look hovers over Carmel’s face. Carmel was facing him with an embarrassed smile.

“Whew, I can’t help it. Okay, if it’s an order.”

After a few tense moments, the man went inside and retrieved the sword. And then he handed it over to Carmel with a very untrustworthy look on his face.

“I’m really asking you to handle it with care. I don’t know if I know how to see properly.”

Carmel smiled brightly like Ian and took out the sword he had received. The sword body is pulled out with a refreshing sound. Even with an outsider’s eyes, I could sense that it was very well maintained.

Of course, I didn’t actually come to check the condition of the sword. Carmel was pretending to examine the sword and planting a seed of mana inside it.

When the mana seed was successfully placed inside the sword’s handle, Carmel returned the sword. Then he took what looked like a checklist I was holding and pretended to write something down.

“Yes, that’s it. Thank you.”

The chestnut-haired man returned the sword and closed the door without saying goodbye. Even though it was done to Ian and not me, I still get a little angry.

According to Nordrier’s personnel organization chart, there are six knights who can be said to be Wihart’s closest associates. The document even kindly stated where they lived.

It is fortunate that the places where high-ranking knights live are nearby. Well, that might be more efficient.

I made eye contact with Carmel, who had transformed into Ian, and then walked toward the next knight’s room.

* * *

“…Are you serious?”

The next morning, just before noon, I met Wihart again.

This is to confirm the match-up for today’s match.

However, the paper he opened did not contain any of the names of the drivers who had stopped by yesterday.

“Of course I’m serious. Gehar is in the vanguard, Leto is in the middle, and I and Wihart are the leaders. This is our personnel selection.”

Gehar and Leto. I have never seen a name like that among the knights who planted the seeds of magic in their swords yesterday, as well as any knights of any significance.

Were the documents handed over wrong from the beginning? But could it have been predicted up to this point? Or are they hidden experts?

“This is the number of people selected for the inspection team.”

Philgret calmly unfolded the paper. The names of Jack, Rika, and Philgret were written there in that order.

When Wihart saw that, a feeling of satisfaction appeared on his face. As if he had expected it to some extent.

“Now, let’s check the faces of those who will compete. Gehar, Leto! Come forward.”

Two men suddenly stepped forward among the countless soldiers. They looked like they were ordinary soldiers, not knights.

That was also far from Jang Geon-ham. One even had graying hair. Wihart said as if nothing had happened.

“There is nothing to worry about. These two will immediately shout surrender as soon as they start. In the end, it means that I am the only one fighting.”

under?

I quickly wondered what kind of plan this was. But no answer came. Nothing but an infinitely foolish coincidence.

“Now… are you out of your mind?”

“Are you sane? Hahaha! How can you possibly be sane? They say you can engage in a series of battles with the three strongest members of the Royal Knights, the best in the kingdom! It would be a fool to give up this right!”

I was looking at Wihart, who was laughing brightly, dumbfounded.

But it seemed like I was the only one here who didn’t understand that sentiment. His soldiers were expressing their intense excitement by stamping their feet in a steady rhythm.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump!

Wihart! Wihart! Wihart!

Even Philgret is smiling. Most of our drivers nodded as if they understood what they were thinking.

Am I the only one who is weird? No, that can’t be possible…

At that time, I found a man trembling behind Wihart. Ian Loinster. He was glaring at Wihart, who was smiling with his arms spread wide, with extreme contempt.

That guy must be having a hard time too. I could only shake my head.