wjnovel Chapter 143
Chapter 143
Chapter 143
In the western southeastern region of the continent, there had long been two kingdoms that shared a border with one another.
In the upper left was the Kingdom of Ferpocia.
In the lower right was the Kingdom of Narmachi.
At times, the two kingdoms had faced each other as enemies with blades drawn; at other times, they had stood together as comrades against a common foe, sharing countless chapters of history.
However, perhaps because they were pressed so closely together, a peculiar sense of rivalry had formed between them—one that went beyond the noble class and took root so deeply that it settled into the collective subconscious of the entire populace.
By now, it could almost be called an obsession. That was why the masters of the two nations who had participated in the gathering stared at one another with fire in their eyes from the very beginning of the event, all while exchanging handshakes.
“Ho ho, to think that Duke Genedin, who is said to be overwhelmed with affairs of state, would come all this way. I heard that just a week ago, in the invitation our Your Highness sent, you informed us that your chronic illness had worsened and that you would be unable to attend?”
“Indeed. It was quite regrettable, after you went to the trouble of inviting me, that I could not come because my condition was poor. Well, even so, bearing the military authority of an entire nation, it would hardly have been wise for me to rashly enter enemy territory.”
Duke Genedin of Ferpocia.
Duke Edwin of Narmachi.
Both men were the sole Sword Masters of their respective kingdoms, and in recognition of their merits, they had become the first individuals in history to be elevated to the rank of duke.
A Sword Master, along with a mage, was a crucial metric in determining superiority between nations. Especially in kingdoms where military power was relatively weak, the mere presence or absence of a single master was often enough to overturn the balance of power.
Both dukes were the first Sword Masters produced by their kingdoms. Under normal circumstances, this would have been an opportunity to establish an unshakable advantage—but because the timing overlapped so exquisitely, both sides were left lamenting their misfortune.
That was why the rivalry between the two dukes was deeper and more persistent than that of others. Though their countries were small and drew little attention from outsiders, this gathering was, for them, a moment they could not afford to yield.
“Hm, I was planning to exchange greetings with the Empire’s master.”
“What a coincidence. I was thinking the same.”
This gathering, where masters and senior figures from each nation assembled, was practically an opportunity for figures from small countries like theirs.
In fact, not just the two of them, but those from nations of similar scale were watching keenly, their eyes gleaming as they lay in wait for chances to make acquaintances with representatives of the Empire and other great powers.
“…It’s noisy outside.”
At a moment when the two hovered near each other in a ridiculous stalemate, unable to leave for fear of letting the other make the first move, Duke Edwin muttered as he glanced toward the terrace. Separate from the banquet being held inside, attention outside had been drawn by the verification of qualifications required to enter the gathering.
“What do you say. Shall we take a look together?”
“…For you and me alike, wouldn’t it just be a feast we can’t partake in? What master would want to come over to our side?”
At that self-mocking remark, both men showed bitter smiles without a word.
And so, just as they decided it would be better to move around and make acquaintances with more people rather than let their attention be stolen by something pointless, a resonance of energy on an entirely different level swept through the hall.
“…….”
They fell silent, staring at each other with widened eyes.
Not only them, but the banquet hall—where a fair amount of conversation had been flowing, if not outright noisy—was instantly swallowed by silence.
Without anyone needing to prompt it, every gaze shifted toward the terrace, where they could clearly behold the dazzling radiance that had blossomed above it.
“What the—.”
Occasionally, among newly emerged figures, an expert beyond all reach would appear. But such an occurrence happened perhaps once every few years, if that.
“…That person.”
Someone near the terrace let out an unintentional sigh as they looked toward the source. When the two dukes followed that gaze, they saw a handsome man sheathing his sword as his brilliant blond hair fluttered.
Blond hair and blue eyes.
At those two unmistakable traits, everyone present unconsciously nodded.
Leios von Ribera.
The Third Imperial Prince of the Ribera Empire, and the Sword Saint’s Successor.
The image of him as a reckless ruffian had apparently been nothing but misdirection; at some point, rumors had begun to spread that he had in fact been concealing his power beneath the surface.
The reason for hiding that strength was, naturally, his other brothers.
First Prince Carius.
Second Prince Darius.
Fourth Prince August.
It had already been over half a year since Fourth Prince August had ceased appearing in official settings due to some incident, but the other two princes were still very much active, each flaunting their own abilities.
And in that situation, the unexpected reversal of the Third Prince—whom no one had ever expected to inherit the throne—drew everyone’s eyes.
Footsteps echoed through the silent interior. Soon, through the open doors of the banquet hall, Leios appeared, accompanied by a woman who was holding his arm.
“…I hear she’s the Third Prince’s fiancée. A young lady from Leipzig, was it?”
“Leipzig… that Leipzig?”
The two men let out low murmurs of admiration.
Alongside Leios’s commanding presence, Petra’s beauty instantly seized the attention of everyone present.
Even while receiving countless gazes, the two entered without the slightest disturbance, then naturally approached and stopped beside the Sword Saint.
“Hm…….”
Both men let out brief sounds of contemplation. They had yet to grasp the Empire’s internal situation in detail, but the Third Prince, who had suddenly revealed such presence, was by no means someone they could ignore.
“…Please excuse me for a moment.”
“…Me as well.”
Thus, both men excused themselves and turned their steps toward their disciples, who were around Leios’s age.
As I entered the banquet hall, dazzling lights enveloped me. Perhaps because of what had just happened, those who had already been seated stopped their conversations and turned their gazes toward me.
“…….”
Petra, having often stood before people due to Academy and territorial affairs, should have been accustomed to such situations—but the people present here were of a different caliber.
Most of them were masters, powerful figures who surpassed her by a vast margin.
When the gap in strength reached a certain level, mere presence alone was enough to pressure others.
“Straighten your back. Relax your shoulders.”
I whispered softly, just loud enough for her to hear, and lightly placed a hand on her back.
Bzz.
As I gently let mana flow into her, she let out a small breath, her tension easing as she regained her confident posture.
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The faint smile she gave me was dazzling beyond words.
Soon, we stepped forward with confidence.
Unlike before, she too did not yield to the countless gazes, crossing the banquet hall boldly at my side. Then we approached and stopped near where the Sword Saint was seated.
“You did well.”
Seemingly pleased with the sight, he lightly patted my shoulder. Then, telling us to rest for a bit until the verification of qualifications was complete, he pointed to a sofa inside and left for another place.
The area where the Sword Saint had been was structured to be slightly separated from the banquet hall by partitions.
The main event would begin after the verification was finished and the entrance to the estate was closed.
“Phew…….”
Perhaps exhausted even in that short span of time, Petra let out a small breath and slumped onto the sofa. I chuckled softly, popped a piece of the prepared refreshments from the table into my mouth, and sat beside her.
“So, how is it? A place where the pinnacles of the continent gather?”
“It’s suffocating. I don’t know if they’re doing it on purpose, but they keep subtly flaring their presence.”
“That’s the charm of this gathering.”
I casually glanced around beyond the partition.
From the outside, the interior was blocked from view, but from the inside, it was possible to see out.
The banquet hall atmosphere, which had stiffened at my appearance, had returned to normal. Still, quite a few people continued to send glances this way, their interest apparent.
‘What a gold mine.’
I clicked my tongue as I surveyed them.
There were those affiliated with nations or organizations, but there were also masters who wandered the continent freely, unbound by any allegiance.
I knew the keywords they desired and yearned for. If I gently stimulated those over the next three days, I could form connections.
If I managed to recruit even one to my side, it would be a tremendous gain.
“For now……”
First, I decided to trace the footsteps of the two heroes.
The mentors of the juniors who would enter the Academy next year, and the one-of-a-kind dukes of the Kingdoms of Ferpocia and Narmachi.
“…Hm?”
It wasn’t difficult to find the two of them. However, both were holding onto their young disciples, glancing this way while firmly emphasizing something.
‘…I see.’
I nodded slightly at the sight. In the original story, those two sought to make connections with the Empire’s masters—but with my appearance, that was no longer the issue.
The Third Imperial Prince of the Empire, and the youngest Sword Master.
Compared to the many Sword Masters scattered throughout the Empire, which was more valuable was beyond question.
They clearly wanted to come over, but unfortunately, the separated area was accessible only to those who had been granted permission, so they seemed to be waiting for the right moment.
“If things go well, this could be resolved easily.”
Two masters and two promising talents. They, too, were delicious prey to me.
The verification of qualifications did not end until another thirty minutes had passed.
In the meantime, around ten more masters and their parties joined the banquet hall, and the Sword Saint announced the official start of the event.
“First of all, despite being busy, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who accepted an old man’s invitation.”
All eyes in the hall focused on the Sword Saint standing at the podium. He met each gaze in turn, smiling faintly as he continued.
“Among those gathered here, there are surely places that are sworn enemies, and others whose accumulated grudges reach the heavens. I know it is a presumptuous request, but for just these three days, I ask that you look upon this old man’s face and enjoy a pleasant gathering as fellow people.”
In other words, if a fight broke out in his territory during the gathering, he would crush it without mercy.
Who would dare defy the Sword Saint’s words? No matter how powerful an individual’s martial strength might be, none would dare compare themselves to the Sword Saint, and in terms of factional power as well, no one could stand against someone who commanded more than a dozen Sword Masters under him.
“Moreover, we stand before an unprecedented enemy. They will be stronger, more insidious, and more persistent than any foe we have faced thus far. Even so, I have no doubt that, in the end, victory will always be ours.”
At those words, a murmur rippled through the crowd. The Sword Saint’s mention of an ‘enemy’—an indistinct opponent—prompted some to nod in agreement, while most looked at each other with puzzled expressions. In the midst of it all, the Sword Saint winked at me.
‘Hey now, doing that at your age is kind of creepy.’
As I gave a bitter smile and shook my head, the Sword Saint smiled lightly and opened his mouth again.
“Well, the details can be discussed on the final day of the gathering. I would like to say that this concludes the tedious opening remarks, but regrettably, there is one last thing I must say.”
What else was the Sword Saint about to say? The hall, which had been slightly unsettled by talk of the ‘enemy,’ once again focused its attention on him.
“As you all know, by a stroke of luck, I gained a disciple in my later years. Many of you must be curious, so it would be best to introduce him quickly. …Come up.”
“…….”
Caught completely off guard by that surprise attack, I could only be dumbfounded. This had not been discussed beforehand.
As the gathered gazes instantly converged on me, I let out a light sigh, and the Sword Saint burst into silent laughter.