Chapter 43: Court Game

On the way back from the Marquisate of Eldenberger to the Countship of Zander. Three carriages drove vertically side by side, with Maximilian in the middle carriage.

His passenger is Gerhard, an old man who is his personal attendant spellcaster and has recently become something of a consultant. And Jocel, Gerhard’s apprentice and a high-ranking knight.

Gerhard was looking with interest at the sword that Maximilian had been entrusted to by the Marquis.

“Hmm…”

This is the sword that has been handed down in the Marquis of Eldenberger’s family for generations and is the sword that the head of the family points when he goes to battle. It has value purely as a sword and also has historical value. It can be called the heirloom of the Marquise’s family.

When the Count told me that he had entrusted him with the Demon Wailing Sword, I also thought what a stupid thing he had done, but now I was convinced that it was the only thing that would have been a match for this sword.

Gerhard was bewildered. Half of his head was excited at the sight of the Marquis’ treasured sword, but the other half was terribly cold. He doesn’t even know what kind of face he should make.

Jocel looked into his mentor’s face and said with concern.

“Master, how do you like that sword ……?”

“Mm. It looks sharp, it’s strong, it’s beautiful. But…”

“But what?”

“Not shiny.”

Gerhard let out a sigh and sheathed his sword.

Maximilian nodded deeply when he asked him, who was sitting in front of him, if he could show it to Jocel.

When I handed him the sword, Jocel also started to look at the blade carefully. He thought it was a wonderful sword, but he was not impressed by it.

“Master, do swords need to have luster or sex appeal?”

“They don’t need anything else”

“…haa”

The teacher’s words were indescribable.

“In terms of practicality, neither luster nor sex appeal nor the beauty of the blade are necessary. Engraving on the scabbard is just a pointless word. But you see, a sword that you want to keep with you or entrust your life to is useless if it just cuts. Do you understand? No, please try to understand.”

Even though Jocel has recently come to understand the goodness of swords, he still seems unable to understand his master’s passion.

Even the hero Ricardo, who used to make fun of the imitation of using a sword like a person, is now a frontrunner of love swords.

Holding the sword, he is the most annoying thing in the world, saying, “Tsubaki is, tsubaki is hey…”. If it were a love story between a man and a woman, it would be easy to understand what they were trying to say, but they are talking about a sword. The person listening is really at a loss for reactions.

I’m the only sane person now.

The Master and the Count looked at each other and nodded. Apparently, they had something in common. Jocel felt somewhat alienated.

“Are you not lonely now that you have given up the Wailing Sword?”

When Gerhard asked, Maximilian tilted his head and thought for a moment before answering.

“Right now, I wonder if the Demon Wailing Sword is being played with by the Marquis now. It sounds much better than it did with me. ……”

They were unsure of the feelings of their lord, and could not carelessly agree that this was so.

“And when I return to the castle, I plan to train myself to master the Marquis’ sword. When I think that way, what do I say ……”

Maximilian covered his mouth with his hand, but I knew from his tone that he seemed to be laughing.

“I’m a bit excited.”

Jocel looked dryly at Maximilian, who let out a chuckle.

…… His lordship has also gone mad.

Everyone involved with Lutz’s sword changes. I wonder if I will be like that someday. Will I sleep with Knightkiller-chan in my arms and get angry when other people ask to borrow her?

I couldn’t imagine what it would look like.

“Come to think of it, the Master doesn’t do things like pecking at swords, does he?”

Speaking of being easily influenced, Gerhard is also considerable, but it seemed like he was protecting his dignity as a person without crossing the line.

“In my case, I can’t help but flicker on the face of an old man of the same generation…”

Gerhard said with a slightly sad look.

Gerhard’s favourite sword is the one that his friend of decades, Borvis, struck with his life. He could be friends with the sword, but not lovers. It is a strange thing to lust after a sword in the first place.

With a clatter and a loud bounce, the carriage came to a halt. Strange, there must be more distance to the planned accommodation.

“What’s going on!?”

Jocel opened a small window and shouted, and the driver turned around with a troubled look on his face.

“I wonder if it’s someone’s prank, the road is blocked by a log. I’ll remove it now, so please wait for a while.”

“Wait!”

Djoser cried out as the driver and servants tried to get out of the carriage.

“It’s a trap, non-combatants stay in the carriage!”

Gerhard had already dismounted as a matter of course. Jocel grabbed the nightkiller and bowed to his lord.

“Your Excellency, if there are any bandits, we will certainly destroy them.”

“I’m looking forward to the results.”

Maximilian replied, pale-faced but resolute. That, my lord, is why it is worth entrusting your life to me. Jocel, too, was motivated and jumped out.

Gerhard and Jocel, as well as one person from the lead vehicle, had also disembarked. He is Ricardo the hero, an adventurer in the Count’s service.

Looking at Ricardo’s profile, which was wary of his surroundings, Jocel felt that he too had changed. Until a short time ago, Ricardo had only the image of a brilliant young man. His talent did not fit in with his ability, and he looked out of place. The title ‘hero’ seemed like a trivial play on words.

He now has composure and dignity. He has the ambition to be a swordsman worthy of his beloved sword.

I really appreciate that you are here.

He cannot see the enemy, but he can certainly feel the killing intent. As he continues his vigilance, an iron axe is suddenly thrown with a dull whistling sound, spinning and striking Gerhard.

“Sweet!”

A flash of the mighty sword. When Gerhard swung his beloved sword ‘Ittetsu’, the iron axe was cut in half in mid-air and fell down in vain.

“Don’t you idiots point your cheap weapons at me!”

Gerhard’s loud voice. The bandits, who did not understand the meaning of the words, but only understood that they were skilled, appeared one after another. Ten bandits in dirty, ill-fitting armour, probably stolen from somewhere else. They were outnumbered.

Although the Count’s side has a large number of people, most of them are non-combatants.

A man who appeared to be a chieftain, with his nostrils flaring with pride, walked forward and said.

“You said that our weapons are cheap. I hear the Count has a good sword, let’s have it.”

“Oh, I see, you attacked us knowing this was the Count’s carriage.”

Jocel sniffed.

“Then you understand your culpability. There is no need for a trial.”

“Don’t be pretentious, you idiot!”

The chieftain swung his right hand down, and his minions all shouted and attacked at once.

“You two, please protect the carriage!”

Saying that, Ricardo alone ran towards the head. Jocel was displeased that he, who had the lowest rank among Jocel and Gerhard, should not give orders, but he understood that it was the right strategy, so he didn’t say anything. Even if I were in command, I would still do so.

I don’t want to fight near Ricardo’s demon sword and I don’t have time to argue with him.

The sword of the bandit who had come before them was swung down.

“Too slow!”

The Knight Killer dashed diagonally, and the thief’s sword flew into the air along with both wrists.

“Uwa, aaaaah!”

Jocel kicked the wild thief in the hip and prepared for the next one, as he cried out in horror that his life was closed to an end.

Okay, Knight Killer is strong outdoors.

Wild thieves with axes attacked, but this was too late from Jocel’s point of view.

He slashes at the same time as he slips through the side. Gut overflowed from the side of the bandit and he fell to the ground with a thud.

He tries to stand up, but there is no strength in his hands or legs. If he forces himself to put more strength into it, his organs will pop out even more this time.

“Hi, hiin…”

The man was crying like an infant. But there was no one to give him a gentle hand. He was alone on the battlefield, where enemies and allies mingled. He only muttered, “I’m lonely” and died.

Where is the next enemy, quickly looking around, a fresh head passed in front of Jocel’s eyes at a brisk pace.

“Oh, my bad.”

Gerhard said with a wry smile. Apparently it was the head he had slashed off.

A corpse severed diagonally from the shoulder and a corpse with its torso cut in two was also lying at Gerhard’s feet.

The tremendous sharpness sent chills down Jocel’s spine. Compared to a rock, a bandit wearing nothing but tattered leather armour would be as good as butter.

“These are the only ones who came to the carriage, let’s leave the rest to the hero.”

Gerhard wiped the blood off his sword while saying that it was nothing.

“It was a little wasteful. No, reflection, regret.”

“Is it useless?”

Jocel tilted his head, wondering what was wrong with such a brilliant victory.

“People die if you cut a few centimetres into them. Cutting both ways is such a waste. Well, it cuts so well that I got excited.”

Maybe he was excited because he hadn’t fought with Borvis in a long time. As expected, Gerhard was too embarrassed to say that.

“Will Ricardo be okay on his own…?”

Jocel said anxiously, and Gerhardt was in a carefree tone.

“If the stories about killing giant orcs and werewolves are true, it will be easy whether there are five or ten bandits. In fact, we might even get in the way if we go to lend a helping hand. And ……”

Gerhard gave a thin smile. Jocel knew from experience that it was a face when he was thinking about something silly.

“I can have the camellia if Ricardo dies. ……”

Although they have known each other for a reasonably long time, Jocel could not decide how serious Gerhard was and how much was a joke.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter