Chapter 111: The Blood-Stained Rose Garden

The sword presented to the king was named “The King’s Rose Garden”.

Although the name is elegant and refined, and does not suit a weapon that crushes the enemy dozens of times with gravity, the people who created it were extremely satisfied. We have made a good product, that’s all that matters. What happened after that was of no concern to them.

Gerhard the Spellcaster, Jocel the High Knight, and Ricardo the Brave were chosen to accompany the Count on his journey to the capital. These men had a proven track record of protecting the Count from the attacks of wild thieves.

The day before departure, Claudia visited Gerhard’s workshop.

“I have one favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

It’s unusual for Claudia to ask for personal favors. Gerhard had no idea, so he tilted his head and asked.

“I want you to find out what the princess’s reputation is in the royal capital. It doesn’t matter if it’s just rumors.”

The princess that Claudia was talking about was the third princess, Listille, and Gerhard and the others were deeply involved in the princess’s kidnapping case.

In the Royal Capital, word had gotten around that Listil had been kidnapped by thieves. However, we kept quiet about it. No, it was precisely because we kept quiet about it that the story was spread in a more distorted manner.

Listille admires Claudia like a real older sister, and Claudia also looked at her with affection.

“I don’t mind, but…”

Gerhard said with a questioning gaze.

“Claudia-san, don’t you think you’re getting a little too attached to the princess?”

I thought I had nailed her on the head that we are in the service of the family of Count Zander, but Claudia was completely unmoved.

“I’m a fan of the Princess.”

“…… If the Count and the Princess are at odds with each other, which side will the Lutz family take?”

“I hope we can both strive to avoid that, mutually.”

Claudia left the workshop with a bewitching smile. Gerhard, who was left behind, wrinkled his brow and stared at the door the witch had left.

“Women are scary…”

None of them would listen to me, and none of them were straightforward. It was both infuriating and amusing.

In the throne room of the royal capital. Count Maximilian Zander stands below King Rathbald Walscheid. He has met the king several times, but he still cannot get used to the king. His sickly, thin body was filled with tension.

One of the nearly ten lined up Kingsguard approached Maximilian and took the sword, a gift, from his hand. Even in his high position as a count, he could not approach the king with a blade in his hand. And even though a count might be a man above the clouds in the eyes of the citizens back in his domain, he was just a man in the royal castle.

Rathbald received the magic sword “King’s Rose Garden” via the Kingsguard. Since he had been briefed beforehand, he did not carelessly pull it out of its scabbard. Just by looking at the sheath, which was decorated with ivy, he knew that it was of great value.

“I am glad that you are willing to offer me something of this magnitude. What do you want in return, Count Zander?”

“The people of the Kingdom are able to live in peace every day thanks to the authority of His Majesty. This is my way of expressing my gratitude.”

“Don’t put up a pedestal. Or is it really okay to receive it for free and do nothing?”

Rathbald said, somewhat amused. Maximilian had to admit that he was being seen through.

“I have only one request. If anyone asks you where you got this sword, I would like you to tell them that it is a gift from Count Zander.”

“Is that all there is to it?”

“Yes”

What good would that do this guy, Rathbald pondered. One of the guards approached the king and whispered something to him, and Rathbart nodded approvingly.

“I see. You want to use me for publicity.”

“No, I would never do something like that…”

A sticky sweat broke out on Maximilian’s back. If this is judged to be disrespectful, not only publicity but the future of the count’s family would be closed.

“You are trying to regain the reputation you have lost in the eye-roll fiasco. No, no, no, no, don’t be so modest, Count Zander. It’s a mutually beneficial matter, so you should take it more seriously. At a time like this, the Marquis of Eldenberger would laugh and say something like, ‘Oh, yes, that’s right.”

Rathbald could not take his eyes off the carving on the scabbard. He had no intention of turning in such a magnificent object. He was dazzled by the treasure, even though he knew it was a shameful thing for a king to do.

Especially in recent years, the treasury has been in a state of financial distress, and there is nothing that can be called a specialty. It was impossible not to be happy to receive a gift of a famous sword. Rathbald struggled to tighten his loose face.

“I will wear this Rose Garden sword as my sword. However, if I can obtain a better sword, I will exchange it immediately.”

I’m grateful, but I don’t intend to be tied down by you, he declared. But Maximilian looked straight ahead and replied.

“It’s impossible.”

“……What did you say?”

“There is no better blade than this. The Rose Garden has the power to defeat even the Amaterasu.”

Rathbald’s complex was stimulated by the words that it was more wonderful than the sword of the king of the neighboring country. Even though it was the result of diplomacy, the fact that he wore something inferior to the king of the barbarians was something that had always stuck in his mind.

Maximilian’s argument is a kind of sophomoric pettiness. Amaterasu greatly increases the charisma of its owner, and the Rose Garden is effective in personal combat. He focused only on one point: if you fight it directly, you will win. I said ‘win’, not ‘excel’.

“You were talking about a sword that manipulates weight. ……”

The color in Rathbald’s eyes as he gazes at the golden rose is jealousy and curiosity. Is this really stronger than Amaterasu, and what would happen if it were used against a human being?

I am curious, after all, what is important for a sword is whether or not it can kill people. If it has a special ability, it is even more important.

“Prepare suitable prisoners.”

Rathbald gave instructions to the Kingsguard, who understood his intentions and moved immediately.

The clouds were getting darker. Maximilian wanted to leave quickly and looked at Rathbald, but Rathbald would not allow him to do so. He would not leave until he had tested the sword’s performance.

“Count Zander, there was a knight that you brought to protect you. What was his name…?”

“He is Jocel, a high-ranking knight.”

“Yes, yes, let that Jocel duke it out with this sword.”

Make a trial cut against a prisoner. The effect is dubious, so before you use it yourself or let the guards do it, you’re saying that Maximilian’s people should prove its safety.

Letting a mere knight touch His Majesty’s sword is an awe-inspiring thing to do, but Maximilian’s lips stopped when he was about to refuse.

The king is looking at him cold-bloodedly. In some cases, he may also be identified as an enemy. He would be an irresponsible guy who only gives him a suspicious blade and doesn’t know about the rest. When this happened, I couldn’t say that I didn’t want to don’t want to do such a bad-taste thing anymore.

“I understand. Then I will go to call Jocel as soon as possible…..”

“I will send the Kingsguard to him. All you have to do is to give Jocel permission.”

“Ha”

Maximilian bowed deeply and hid his expression of bitterness.

Once, when I had made Amaterasu, the Marquis of Eldenberger had done an unreasonable imitation of being angry with me because of how well it was done. I had been appalled at how self-serving he was, but now I felt I could understand his feelings a little better.

I told you to make a famous sword, but I wanted you to make it a little milder.

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