Phantom Flowers

Phantom Flowers

Evening had fallen. The misty moon had revealed itself in the night sky to observe events in the world below. A quiet breeze carried the scent of spring to the open-air bath where the steam concealed a lonely figure submerged in the water, looking up at the moon. It was like the picturesque scenery off a wall scroll. I approached her from behind.

“I am sorry for making you wait. May I sit next to you, Maika?”

As she had tied up her hair, I could see her bare neck moving as she nodded.

“Okay, I am getting in then.”

After sliding into the hot spring, Lady Maika’s profile came into sight. She must have been nervous. She was quiet and her face looked down as if she was trying to hold back her emotions. This made her appear like a beautiful doll. At the same time, I was charmed by her animated, youthful, blushed skin. My gaze was inadvertently drawn toward her bathing cloth. Embarrassed, she tightly pressed it down with her hands.

“Sorry, I did not mean to stare. You are just so pretty,” I apologized for the conduct unfitting of a gentleman.

Lady Maika’s face turned even more red, and she sent a fleeting glance in my direction. “I’m a bit frustrated. My heart’s racing. Words get stuck in my throat.”

That applied to me too. My heart was bursting with nervousness upon seeing the bewitching figure of the girl I loved in this setting. Not just my cheeks, but my entire body was red. If she had looked this way, two flushed faces would have stared back at each other.

“I am nervous too. I am just pretending to keep my calm.”

Lady Maika was extremely pretty. I was attracted to her. With each passing second, I became more aware of how much I really loved her.

“R-Really?” she glanced at me again.

Her gaze lingered longer than earlier, but even so, it was less than a second. Maybe one heartbeat. The stuck conversation turned to an awkward silence. This was the first time I did not know what to say to my childhood friend.

“So, uhm...” Lady Maika began to talk and gulped. “I called you here to...”

Lady Maika had invited me to join her here tonight. Most likely, they had finally reached a decision at the house of Sacula’s family meeting, which had continued into the evening. A decision on whether I was suitable to become Lady Maika’s spouse. Given the invitation, it appeared that the result was positive...yet bittersweet.

My sense of guilt prompted me to speak before Lady Maika could continue. “Maika.” I placed my hand upon her cheek and pulled her bashful gaze toward mine.

“Y-Yes, Ash?”

Lady Maika froze upon seeing me take the initiative. So far, I had never shown any signs of reciprocating her feelings. She knew me all too well. She had firmly believed that she needed to corner me with a straightforward confession in order to get a response. In fact, so had I. Until just now.

The goddess’s teasing words were painfully weighing on my mind. “In that case, it would be awful if Maika ever left, right?” Before I realized it, they had spread their roots and started tugging at my heart. They had given birth to a budding desire to never let any such thing happen. I did not want her smiling face to leave my side. If she ever risked slipping away, I wanted to tightly grab her hand and pull her back toward me.

“Maika, I love you.”

She gasped as I directly confronted her with my budding emotions. Without realizing, I had put my arm around her waist to stop her from running away. I felt hot. There was a fire burning deep inside my chest.

Paralyzed by my sudden confession, Lady Maika did not know how to express her emotions. It made her look even cuter. I wanted her. Now. Without a shadow of a doubt, I was in love with Lady Maika.

“But my heart lies somewhere else.”

Hearing my follow-up, my childhood friend, the girl who knew me better than anyone else, immediately understood that I was not referring to another person—and how much it meant to me.

“Ash...” Lady Maika finally spoke. It sounded as if she implored me not to say anything more.

“I am sorry. I love you, but my heart had already been stolen before you appeared in my life.”

I pulled my arm, which had instinctively tried to embrace her, away from Lady Maika’s body. The fact that I was able to show such restraint proved that my heart was not fully with her.

“I cannot ever make you happy. Because I will neglect you in order to pursue my dreams.”

It was inevitable—my heart belonged to my dreams. I did not want to abandon the girl I loved and cause her pain.

“I want you to become happy, Maika. And that is not possible with someone as broken as me.” Wishing I had more strength, I let go of my feelings. “That is why, even though I love you, I cannot accept your feelings.”

After hearing my words, it seemed like Lady Maika had lost her voice again. Her lips were moving, but no words were coming out. Distressed, she held her chest and writhed.

“Y-You...” she managed to utter in a hoarse voice while squinting her eyes to hold back her tears. “You can’t say...” She let out a sigh and took a deep breath before screaming in such a high, crystal-clear voice that it could have shattered glass. “You can’t say that! That just makes me like you even more!” With a bright-red face and a heartfelt smile, she grabbed the hand that I had just removed. Her grip was tight. “Don’t do that again! Making my heart flutter like this! Making me fall for you even harder! I will absolutely not give up, Ash!”

Please, look at her. This is the girl I love. There was a fiery spark in her eyes, like a carnivorous animal that had just set eyes on its prey. She displayed martial prowess worthy of her Sacula heritage. My hand eventually started creaking. When she had pulled me toward her, I had felt something soft touch against my chest, but unfortunately, the pain in my hand made it impossible to enjoy the situation.

“I just have to steal you away from your dreams! Even if your first love isn’t a person, I’ll win against it! After being in love with you for six years, I’m well aware that I need to go above and beyond to become your wife! Don’t worry, it’ll be all right!”

What is all right? It turned out that Lady Maika’s image of me was even more exaggerated than expected.

“From the beginning, I had no intention of giving up, no matter who or what I’d have to fight! Be it human, god, or concept!” Lady Maika loudly declared and abruptly stood up in the bath, causing water to splash.

In the moonlight, the brave girl in her bathing-cloth armor puffed up her chest—which she had inherited from a goddess—and fixedly stared at me.

“Mark my words, Ash! I will never give up! I will snatch you from your dreams and make you my husband! Whatever it takes!” She issued a no-holds-barred challenge to her romantic rival. Even though she was talking to an abstract concept, her words were extremely moving. They sent shivers down my spine. “Just you wait, Ash! I will make you accept my feelings!”

And they’ll flatten me like a bulldozer would.

Ignoring my concerns, Lady Maika yelled, “Strategy meeting! Everyone, gather around!” while leaving the bathroom.

As she walked away, I saw something shining in the corner of her eyes. She was truly a wonderful girl. Even though she had just been rejected, she had put on a brave face to put me at ease— No, that was not it. She must have been sad that I rejected her. Frustrated that her year-long plans had been turned upside down. Nevertheless, her tears had dissolved into a fiery passion. She had cheered up on the spot, showed her fighting spirit, and stopped me from running away. She wanted to cry out of sadness, but she did not give up. She wanted to cry out of frustration, so she decided to take action. She was not going to let me get away. I was her prey. No matter the circumstances, she was going to snatch me away and make me hers.

I’ll say it again. This is the girl I love. Wonderful, isn’t she?

The roots of my love still had a firm grip on my heart. I wondered how much further they would have spread by the next time I got to talk to her. Dreading to imagine it, I chuckled.

Maika’s Perspective

I couldn’t stop crying. Tears just kept flowing, soaking my face. Dammit, my vision’s all blurry now! Even though I’ve got no time to lose!

After throwing off my bath clothes in the changing room, I quickly wiped myself dry and put on my normal clothes in order to rush toward the hermitage where my uncle and my grandfather were waiting.

“Strategy meeting! Everyone, gather around!” I energetically shouted as I flung open the door with such force that it almost came off its hinges.

“Yes! Both my father and I are here!” my uncle answered.

Thus, everyone had gathered around already.

That shout was mainly meant to get myself in the right frame of mind anyway.

I grumbled and wiped off my tears before sitting down on one of the cushions prepared on the hermitage’s floor. Sorry to make you wait. I’ve got good and bad news. Let’s start with the good news.

“He said he loves me!”

“What?!” they both exclaimed at the same time. A joyful look came over their faces and they raised their hands for a high five.

Not so fast! Can’t you see the tears rolling down my cheeks? Here’s the bad news.

“But he rejected me!”

“What?!” they abruptly lowered their arms and almost lost their balance. They looked like two street performers.

“Oh, so that’s why you’re crying...”

“It’s a serious crime to make my Maika cry!”

You’re right, granddad. Ash had committed a grave crime. But that wasn’t why I was crying.

“I didn’t even get to profess my love!”

He one-sidedly confessed his feelings without listening to mine. After all my preparations, I hadn’t even been able to tell him about the wedding gift I’d prepared. He had rejected me before I could say anything.

On the one hand, I was happy that Ash had been closely watching me. He knew that I had been admiring him from the side. On the other hand, I was sad that he hadn’t properly faced my feelings despite that knowledge. He had acted in the interest of my happiness but failed to hear me out.

“I was too naive. I very much lacked foresight.”

Ash was too gentle. I should have seen it coming and yet I misread him. He hadn’t embraced me even though he loved me. Or rather, precisely because he loved me. That was how much he had thought of me. The boy ready to put his life on the line for his dreams had racked his brains to ensure my happiness. He hadn’t just looked at me from the side—he had looked at me head-on. Just me. Weighing me against his dreams.

My body felt hot. My facial muscles relaxed, and I involuntarily smiled. It’s no good. I just love him too much. Did you really think I was going to give up after you confessed to me?

Ash didn’t realize how much I yearned for him, so I had to make him realize, let him know in no uncertain terms how much I wanted him. I needed to put on a performance that he could not miss, that left no room for escape. Even if I ended up with a dagger in my heart.

I had earned that right for myself. The fact that Ash had professed his love for me meant that I had become worthy of his interest. Because we were childhood friends? Because I was his superior? Because I belonged to the house of Sacula? Or did he simply find me attractive? It didn’t matter—any reason worked for me. I had honed all my skills in those areas to make Ash mine. All that I had left to give was my life. Ash was prepared to put his life on the line for his dreams, so I had to show the same resolve. I had to risk my life. So simple, yet so difficult. Usually, people didn’t give up their precious life so easily.

Luckily, I had already become incapable of living without Ash. If he was a boundlessly bright sun, then I was a flower that could only grow in his sunlight. For all eternity, I would grow toward the sky to reach his warm light.

I’ll teach you what it takes to make this flower blossom. And how to make it wilt. I’ll make it clear that I’m willing to trade my life for your love.

“Grandfather, please take me to the royal capital. And bring Ash, of course.”

“Hm? Well...it’s not impossible if you and Itsuki are fine with it, but why?” He looked at me with a puzzled face.

At the same time, my uncle, who seemed to understand my intentions, grimaced.

“Whoever wins at the Royal Sword Tournament will have their wish granted, right?” I said.

I knew of this custom because someone very close to me had been able to marry thanks to it. Although I had only learned about it earlier today.

My grandfather, who also knew two people who had gotten married this way, instantly realized what I was trying to suggest. “Wait a minute, Maika. That’s too dangerous. I’ve heard that you are an expert swordfighter, but there’s always a lot of people who get injured at that tournament. Some even die.”

“That’s exactly why I need to participate.” I need to make Ash understand that I’m putting my life on the line for my love.

“No, wait, Maika. I won’t allow it. As your grandfather, I will forbid it!”

“Are you going to stand in my way?”

“Yes! No man ever wants to see his cute grandchild get injured! If you still insist, you’ll first have to defeat me!”

“Well then, grandfather... Let’s meet outside.” If that’s what it takes to convince you, I’ll defeat you a hundred times over.

●　●　●

Two days later I was summoned by Count Gentoh.

“So, we’re going to the capital. The royal capital.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Sometimes, it may be important to start with the conclusion, but you still need a little preamble. Lord Itsuki always praised me for being quick to understand and reach a conclusion, but I could not agree without knowing more. There was a difference between doing business quickly versus carelessly.

“Don’t you want to go there?”

“More than anything!”

Thanks to Father Folke and Lord Arthur, I had been able to review some books from the royal temple’s library, but I wanted to see the whole collection with my own eyes. I also wondered how life was treating those two. I would have loved to talk to their research fellows too.

“Well, no problem then. Let’s go!”

“All right!”

But why was it suddenly decided that we would go to the capital? And why did the count have a bump on his forehead? And most importantly, when would we go?

I see, one week from now.

Until then, we could enjoy the rest of our break. And how long would we stay there?

Approximately two weeks, huh? Maybe we could get the Quid company to bring us some supplies. I’m sure they’d come in handy in the capital. I already can’t wait for it.

And thus, I abruptly obtained my ticket to the royal capital.

Surrounded by an imposing bulwark, many of the residences were made out of stone. Well, those in the so-called noble district at the heart of the capital at least. Wooden constructions were the norm in the outer area, which was not protected by any wall. The lack of a proper wall allowed the city to spread out without limits. It was also a testament to the royal capital’s safety. Here, the kingdom had once started its expansion, pushing the demons further outside while increasing its own sphere of influence. At present, there was virtually no risk of demons attacking the royal capital. As a resident of the Sacula region, which was the first line of defense against those demons, the sight of this huge city left quite the impression on my mind.

“They do not need all that stone.”

I would have loved to have those resources for Sacula. Even if I conceded for the sake of argument that the royal capital needed a city wall—after all, humans still fought among each other, and bandits existed—those palatial residences in the noble district were hard to forgive.

In their case, it was just a luxury item—superfluous fat. It would have been more beneficial to circulate that stone to the frontlines, where it would turn into supportive flesh and bones, helping defend against the demons. Or at the very least, it should have been used for furnaces and kilns.

I glared at the noble district’s mansions with sincere annoyance. Seeing me like that, Count Gentoh and Lord Itsuki voiced their own thoughts with a satisfied expression.

“As expected, his reaction is completely beyond any expectations. I never get tired of his remarks.”

“I completely agree. Usually, people are impressed by the central district’s tall buildings, which you can’t find anywhere else in the kingdom.”

Compared to the skyscrapers from my past-life memories, these were laughable. There had even been a project to build one with an elevator to an orbiting satellite. Even during construction, it had already pierced the heavens, but unfortunately it suffered a setback due to malfunctioning nanobots and turned into one of that world’s three tragic remnants. Fearing that the nanobots’ self-multiplication could lead to the end of the world, they had placed strict restrictions on their manufacturing, but somehow, they had made a mistake that led to the nanobots not multiplying at all, even though it had been a project headed by geniuses from all over the world. The incident had caused quite the uproar worldwide.

Anyway, Sacula’s residence was situated near the center of the noble district. This was proof of Sacula’s extremely high family status as distant relatives of the royal family. However, and in spite of its location, the residence was made out of wood, a fact in which Count Gentoh took great pride.

“When our family was appointed count of the frontier region of Sacula, they took the stone with them. Even to this day, our ancestor’s original residence still protects our territory as part of the city wall.”

“That is wonderful, Your Excellency!”

“Ha ha ha! I may not object as much as you do, but you’re right—the capital doesn’t really need the stone to protect itself.”

It appeared that, in accordance with the territory’s stability, the royal family had repeatedly granted more stone to the house of Sacula to use for their residence in the capital, but they had also sent those supplies to the Sacula region. Our Excellency truly is an honorable statesman.

His blood relative, Lady Maika, had been so quiet on the way that it had appeared as if she had been meditating. However, as soon as she got off the horse carriage, she started doing warm-up exercises.

“Grandfather, where is the courtyard?”

“Oh, just over there on the right-hand side is the outdoor training ground.”

“Thanks. I’ll go exercise there.” She concisely declared her plans and rushed off. She must not have wanted her body to become stiff after the long ride.

Upon seeing her leave, the newlywed Sir George, who had returned to duty, decided to exercise as well. “Lord Itsuki, I’ll join her.”

“Yes, go be Maika’s sparring partner.”

After the two fighters had taken off, I also voiced my desire to get started on business right away. “Your Excellency, there is someone I would like to meet. May I take my leave?”

“Yes, sure. You can take the horse carriage there,” Count Gentoh agreed on the spot, having already guessed to whom I was referring. “They’re also impatiently waiting for you.”

I can’t wait to see them. With light steps, I climbed back into the horse carriage.

The horse carriage brought me to an orphanage outside the bulwark. It was a splendid building considering that there was not much leeway for social welfare in this world. You’re wondering why I came here? Just take a look at the grandiose signboard.

“Fenix Institute of Education.” There was only one person who could have come up with such a mocking name. Mixing in my indignation with my joy at this reunion, I glared at the middle-aged priest waiting in front of the gate.

“Long time no see, Father Folke! You still look like the same old delinquent, middle-aged research maniac!”

“If it isn’t David’s stupid brat! It seems like you haven’t changed either!”

We both bared our teeth and showed a menacing smile while our eyes assessed each other’s fighting power. It had been a while since we had last faced off.

“You’re still as cheeky as ever, only you’ve gotten taller, Ash.”

“You look healthier than ever despite being older. What happened to the dark circles under your eyes and your ragged clothes?”

It felt extremely weird seeing Father Folke look healthier and dress neater than he ever did back at the village. I was slightly creeped out seeing him wearing a smart three-piece suit rather than his worn-out priest robe.

“Are you an imposter?”

“You already did that joke last time.”

“I guess you are the real Father Folke after all if you remember that. In that case...” Once I was sure of who he was, I looked at the building behind him. “Is your uncharacteristic appearance due to the fact that you learned a new trick besides studying?”

“You could say so. I somehow got roped into building an orphanage and ended up becoming a model citizen while looking after the kids.” He sounded pleasantly annoyed.

“My condolences,” I congratulated him. “But are you really looking after the kids? Not the other way around?”

“No way! You’re the first and last brat that’ll ever look after me! The kids here aren’t little devils like you!”

“None of them are on track to becoming little devils?”

“Well... Uhm...” Father Folke’s enthusiasm suddenly withered away.

To us, “little devils” referred to intelligent and reliable kids who liked to study. And it appeared that the orphans here were taking the name “Institute of Education” seriously, like good little devils. I was looking forward to seeing what they held in store.

“By the way, can you change the orphanage’s name?”

“Definitely not. It’s one of my few joys,” Father Folke spat out in a delinquent-like tone of voice.

He was probably the last person anyone would have ever expected to open up an orphanage. Lady Maika naively had said that it sounded “like something that guy would do,” but as someone who knew the true nature of “that guy,” I would not let myself be deceived. He was not that benevolent of a person.

Seeing it as a sign of the apocalypse, I had promptly asked him in the first line of my reply letter how this had happened. According to Father Folke himself, the orphanage was a result of his research’s booming success since his return to the capital. In his own words, “Everything went so smoothly that I was left with a lot of free time on my hands.”

Whenever possible, he would meet up with fellow researchers of the ancient language and other disciplines, but that was still not enough to fill up his schedule. It was at that moment that a teary-eyed priest enlisting help for an orphanage had appeared on his doorstep.

Father Folke had agreed, saying, “As long as it’s just once in a while to kill some time.” However, he would eventually come to regret that decision, cursing his past self as the biggest idiot and fool in the history of mankind. An accurate assessment, if you ask me.

The orphanage had turned out to be a battlefield full of savage tribes. Since the food rations were sparse and terrible, the orphans had resorted to various mischievous deeds to obtain food. In the process, they had also started doing troublesome things for other reasons as well.

The royal capital’s priests had been at their wits’ end faced with those naughty yet skilled children. As members of the intelligentsia, many of the priests had come from the upper echelons of society. They had left their own children’s upbringing to their servants, and as a result, were more than unequipped to deal with orphans whose behavior required extra attention.

At the same time, our beloved middle-aged delinquent priest, Father Folke, had a lot of experience dealing with naughty children from his time at the village. After swiftly singling out the group leader, he had challenged and defeated him on the spot. Quite literally. As it had not been possible to reason with the leader, the delinquent priest had made him cry with his bare fists.

Naturally, the naughty children had subsequently declared Father Folke an outside enemy and had carried out several counterattacks. Unfortunately for them, the immature delinquent priest had seriously fired back twice as forcefully.

While his conduct had been unbecoming of a priest, it had been effective against the naughty children, whose territorial organization was closer to wild animals than humans. Following numerous clashes, they had eventually yielded to the childish delinquent priest, who was declared their new leader.

As such, Father Folke had voiced his concerns regarding the necessities of his new subordinates. “We do need a bit more food.” Having worked as the village priest, he knew all too well that it was not fair to expect good conduct of someone who suffered from hunger.

So, Father Folke had decided to put his village experience to good use and educate the older—and especially obedient—orphans using the “Ash style.” Meanwhile, he had also made them apologize to the victims of their mischievous deeds. And if a victim had not forgiven them the first time, he had made them apologize over and over again.

While reluctant at first, the orphans had soon changed their opinions upon hearing their boss’s decree. “I’m not telling you to apologize from the bottom of your heart, just make it sound sincere. And once they forgive you, it’s your victory.”

Nothing could have resonated more with those young minds than the word “victory.” They could win against the adults—show them who had the upper hand. And thus, the orphans had given it their all. In a way, they had already been seasoned veterans as they had trained their shrewdness through their prior evil deeds.

Although their attempts had been clumsy at first, they had quickly figured out the adults’ weaknesses. Adopting a meek attitude, they apologized to their victims in crowded areas with all eyes on them. If necessary, they started crying. That way, a surrounding adult would most likely come to their help if things got out of hand. The orphans had made extensive use of that technique.

Once the arguably justified prejudices regarding the orphanage had been eliminated, the first orphans capable of reading, writing, and calculating had started to appear. As someone living in Sacula, I was prone to forgetting that in this world most people below the status of village chief were not educated. Even just knowing the basics was considered impressive.

Finally, now that the stage had been set, the boss gave new orders. “Use your knowledge to go and snatch us some money for food from the people you apologized to! They aren’t prepared, so use that to your advantage!”

In other words, he had told them to seek employment from the people with whom they had become acquainted during their apology tour, since it would be easy to convince them. And even though he had ordered them to “snatch money for food,” he had meant earning it an honest way. For some reason, that priest just loved talking like a gangster. No doubt he had been one in his previous life.

In any case, thus the orphanage had become the number one orphanage in the royal capital overnight. This had prompted the Church’s higher-ups to passionately invite the leading figure, our delinquent priest, to become an orphanage supervisor. However, Father Folke had readily refused the offer, saying, “I am a linguistics researcher first. I’ll only do it as a pastime.” An obvious reply from a research maniac like him. Anything other than his research amounted to nothing but mere diversion. However, a certain experienced royal used all their charm to make an excessively friendly request, “We’ll build you your own orphanage. I’m sure it would be of great help to Ash.”

In the face of royalty, it appeared that even Father Folke could not bring himself to exhibit his usual insolence and delinquency. As a result, the Fenix Institute of Education was born. No matter how you looked at it, that name was a mockery, which I could not condone. Maybe I should tell His Excellency Count Sacula, who so kindly granted me this name.

“Well, let’s not just stand here. Come on in!” Father Folke briefly sighed before giving a gentle smile. That expression quite honestly did not suit the middle-aged delinquent at all. “I’m not the only one waiting for you. Don’t let him wait too long.”

Inside the Fenix Institute of Education was a lounge room with a round table. It served doubly as a classroom for the orphans and a salon for Father Folke’s researcher friends. At that lounge, I was greeted by a face just as nostalgic as the priest’s.

“Hey, Ash. It’s been a while.”

“Long time no see, Arthur.”

Upon hearing my casual reply, Lord Arthur briefly nodded and greeted me again. Then, she could no longer contain her excitement.

“I’ve missed you, Ash!” Lord Arthur leaped at me, her body slightly shaking. “It’s been such a long time! It’s really you, Ash!”

“I want to say not much has changed, but...a bit too much time has passed for that.”

The girl I held in my arms was dressed in the same male clothes that she had worn upon her departure from Sacula. However, in that time her body had developed so much that her clothes could no longer fully hide her feminine traits.

While she had not grown much taller, her facial features had become even more soft and feminine. And although they were concealed by padding, the same could probably be said for her hips and shoulders. As we were embracing each other, her hidden femininity became more and more apparent. Around her neck she was wearing a scarf to cover up her feminine Adam’s apple.

“You’ve become very pretty, Arthur,” I remarked with a slightly embarrassed smile as my senses were stimulated by her hidden feminine traits.

“S-Sorry, I was just so happy to see you that I jumped at you...” Lord Arthur leaped backward with a flustered expression. Her red face looked so cute that it made me feel guilty toward Lady Maika.

“I am also happy to see you. Just be a bit more careful—we are no longer children.”

At this point, it would be too dangerous for us to share a room.

“That’s a bit of a shame...but you’re right. I guess I’ve grown enough for you to notice even when I’m dressed like this.” The mere gesture of her bashfully running her fingers through her hair appeared seductive.

“Yes, so much so that I am scared to see you in formal dress.”

“Scared? That’s not a nice way of putting it.” Lord Arthur expressed her dissatisfaction by pouting her cheeks, but smiled again shortly after. “I can’t believe it. I’m really talking to you again, Ash. There’s so much I want to ask you, and tell you...”

“So do I. Maika’s also been looking forward to seeing you again, but...”

Whenever a letter had arrived from the capital, Lady Maika reminisced about our time together at the academy. I had assumed that she would leap at the opportunity to meet with Lord Arthur during our sudden trip to the capital, but she had left me on my own.

“I’ve heard. Don’t worry about it, Ash. I’ll talk to Maika later.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I do not mind, but...”

As I was showing concern for their relationship, Lord Arthur tapped my shoulder with a lonely look on her face.

“I feel a bit bad for Maika when saying this, but I’m happy it’s just the two of us right now. I get to have you all for myself,” she declared, and urged me to take a seat. After I had sat down, she peeked at me from behind. “Heh heh, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you from this angle. Yes, this feels right. Makes me feel at ease.”

“It feels like we are back at the dormitory.”

“Let’s talk just like back then! First off, tell me about the Territory Reform Promotion Office! I’ve heard that you and Maika are in charge?”

“Yes, indeed. Hermes and Reina are working at the adjacent laboratory as well.”

Whenever I mentioned a familiar name, her face beamed with nostalgia. Whenever I mentioned someone she did not know, her eyes sparkled with curiosity. She seemed happy to discover new sides of her old friends, and enjoyed learning more about the strangers.

“Haa... I wish I could be there...”

She also appeared incredibly frustrated that she was not a part of my stories.

Excited voices echoed through the Fenix Institute of Education’s courtyard. It would have been quite the neighborhood nuisance if the neighbors had not been busy cheering themselves. The majority of the shouts consisted of “oh” and “wow” with the occasional “amazing” or “crazy.” Apparently, everyone’s vocabulary had dried up.

Everyone’s fiery eyes were fixated upon the tendon-powered airplane. When it had been decided that we would go to the royal capital, I had asked the Quid company to deliver a few commodities that might come in handy. This was one of them.

Lord Arthur had unfortunately left the institute already due to her busy schedule, but before going she had asked me to display the model plane to the orphans. Therefore, I had put on a little show, prepared to sacrifice an aircraft. Why “sacrifice”? Because it was evident to me that the children would eventually crush it in their excitement. Although currently, they were just carefully making it fly as I had instructed them. They were even waiting their turn. I wondered how many more minutes that would last.

As I watched them with a bittersweet smile on my face, I noticed a man and a woman in their early twenties standing next to me. Or rather, the man was standing while the woman was excitedly jumping around and shouting, “Wow! This is amazing! Crazy! Ohhh!” She was effectively part of the mob of children. She did not just look younger because of her baby face, but also because her behavior mimicked that of the orphans. She was frolicking with her eyes wide-opened. She had also been the first to let the model plane fly before all the orphans. So, another immature adult.

“Tris, I get that you’re excited, but could you maybe calm down a little bit? Just a little...” The standing man admonished the woman while evading her flailing arms. He was one of the few who had not joined the mob.

“Look at it, Lusus! It’s amazing!”

“Yes, it is. I’m also deeply impressed, but calm down. You can keep shouting if you want, but could you at least stop moving around?”

“Oh my! This is so crazy!”

The man let out a sigh as heavy as stone, consoling himself for his wasted efforts. Then, upon seeing my calm demeanor, he gave a peaceful smile.

“Please forgive her, Sir Fenix. That’s just who Tris is. Her outspoken curiosity is also the basis for her vast knowledge, so it’s not all bad.”

“Yes, Tris is a brilliant researcher. She has helped me many times. As have you, Lusus.”

Ms. Tris was the frolicking woman, Mr. Lusus the man looking after her. Both of them were research friends of Father Folke, regulars here at the salon. They were also my allies, albeit only via letter correspondence until now.

“I am honored by your praise, Sir Fenix. And deeply grateful that you showed us something so fascinating.”

“Nothing compared to all the useful information regarding medicinal herbs that you have given me. I will happily show you some more things.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Mr. Lusus was a medical science researcher and apprentice priest. In a world where anesthesia and sterilizers did not exist, most doctors just relied on prescribing medicine for internal use. While it went without saying that Mr. Lusus had extensive knowledge of those drugs, he had been researching surgical procedures—an unusual field of study in this world. So unusual, in fact, that his trial human autopsies had been deemed a problem, and subsequently his patron had cut off all funding. That should have been the end of his research career and a one-way ticket to a church in a remote farm village, even though he had just gone through the trouble of trying to figure out the anatomy of the human body.

However, in his despair Mr. Lusus had come across a middle-aged priest who had somehow managed to return from his countryside exile. That priest had made him an offer. “I’ve heard you cut up a corpse to research the human body? I know this weird brat who wants to do the same. You interested?”

Thus, with Father Folke as a broker, a doubtful Mr. Lusus had written a letter to this apparently like-minded, weird brat. Needless to say, that weird brat was me. Also, Father Folke’s statement was a bit misleading since I didn’t “want to do the same” but I “had done the same” in Itsutsu city.

The weird brat—me—had happily replied to the letter.

“The anatomical drawings in the medical journals here at the Itsutsu temple’s library are full of mistakes! They are useless! What are the drawings like at the royal capital temple? Oh, I also sent you soap and alcohol, which you can use for disinfection!”

“It’s the same here! My goodness! At this rate, surgery is a dream within a dream! Oh, and thank you for the expensive soap and alcohol! Now I can sanitize myself and my belongings before medical examinations!”

We had instantly hit it off! Since then, we had been exchanging autopsy results and started drawing up our own anatomical map. So far, our joint forces had produced quite accurate results, if I do say so myself!

In the meantime, Mr. Lusus’s financial troubles had also been resolved. At first, Father Folke and Count Sacula had supported him with loans from their own research funds, but eventually, a certain royal had generously decided to become his patron.

“So, Sir Fenix... You said that you may be able to obtain anesthesia following your exchange with Tris?” Mr. Lusus, who had kept calm while admiring the airplane, suddenly started fidgeting. His nervous glance looked this way like that of a child asking for sweets.

“Yes. Since she told me where I could find sulfur, I was able to make sulfuric acid.”

If you mixed that sulfuric acid with ethanol—a sort of alcohol obtained by dry distilling charcoal—you ended up with diethyl ether, the first genuine anesthetic in this world. At last!

While it was a weak anesthetic, it only produced temporary side effects and it was not addictive either—perfect as a first step. Narcotics like opium may have had a stronger anesthetic effect and were accordingly easy to use, but their addictive properties were scary. Moreover, it was hard to calculate the right quantities for those.

“Oh! As expected of you, Sir Fenix! Having made your acquaintance was truly the biggest joy of my life!” Mr. Lusus firmly grabbed my hand with a fiery look in his eyes.

“It is only a very small test amount, but I brought you some. I will give it to you later.”

“I appreciate it! Now I just need to test it somehow... I do have a treatment scheduled soon, maybe I can use it there. Hm, if you’re still around then, I’d love for you to join—no, wait, if he’s here in the capital right now, maybe he should participate?”

Hearing Mr. Lusus getting excited all by himself, Ms. Tris suddenly came flying toward us like an arrow.

“I heard you say something about sulfuric acid and anesthesia. Did you finish it, Ash?”

“It is only a prototype, but yes.”

“Really?! You’re amazing! It’s insane what you manage to do! You’re the craziest guy I know! Can I see it?”

“I have brought some with me, so I will give you some too.”

“Yes! Thanks! I love you, Ash!”

Ms. Tris, who was always upfront about her feelings, hugged me without reservation. I had to admit that physical contact with an older woman was quite a valuable experience.

“Hey, Tris! Can you stop? You’re bothering him!” After coming back to his senses, Mr. Lusus grabbed Ms. Tris by the nape of her neck to stop her eccentric behavior.

“Ouch! My neck hurts!”

“Idiot! You have to show some more decorum in front of Sir Fenix! He’s a knight now!”

“What? But he is still Ash, right?”

I’ll vouch that nothing on the inside has changed.

“Yes, Sir Fenix is still the same polite and friendly person. I also feel a great deal of fondness for him.”

“Right? He’s easy to talk to, reasonable, and very skilled!”

“However, Tris, he’s matured quite a bit since we first got acquainted. And with someone as talented as him, many people—including the house of Sacula—will be considering him as a prospective groom.”

“What?! You’re getting married, Ash?”

“Don’t ask him directly, you idiot!”

Upon hearing his research colleague’s blunt question, Mr. Lusus raised his fist—with which he performed autopsies—and delivered a precise, hard blow against Ms. Tris’s skull.

“Ouch! That hurt! Like hell! I’ll get a bump on the head!”

“That pain is a natural consequence of your rudeness! Good grief, I’m not saying you need to understand the aristocratic world, but at least hold your tongue—”

“So, if I used the anesthetic now, would it no longer hurt? Can I try it?”

Ms. Tris just kept jumping from one subject to another, leaving Mr. Lusus no time to scold her. At a complete loss, he just sighed. He looked like a man used to this back and forth.

As her behavior suggested, Ms. Tris was an exceedingly passionate natural historian who jumped at any topic that interested her. Apparently, she loved flowers and she had begun her studies in the hopes of discovering new types. A very girlish motivation. Both Mr. Lusus and I doubted the veracity of that story, though.

Putting that matter aside, Ms. Tris’s interests had expanded from flowers to plants as a whole, to birds and insects attracted to those plants, and eventually to animals in general. She herself had put the result of her research into quite simple terms, “I’ve come to understand that there’s a lot of different things that do all kinds of stuff.” A very accurate statement. So broad that there was no room for error. Very much like her.

However, her speech and conduct were deceiving. While her knowledge may have been extremely broad at first glance, that also meant that she had a bird’s-eye view of things. At one point, when I had written to the natural historian about demons, she had given me a very smooth reply, “Even after researching all kinds of things, demons still seem strange. They’re completely different from flowers, trees, birds, or other animals. The only other living beings doing stuff like that are humans.”

I would have never thought about humans and demons having a point in common. And when I had asked her how they resembled each other, she had replied that they were both different from other living beings. “There’s so many things that are different, but if I had to mention just one, I guess it would be their ‘purpose’? Most living beings normally live to survive. While it’s mostly the same for us humans, sometimes we walk toward death knowing that we will die. Something like that?”

Tris’s sayings were so intuitive that they appeared cryptic, yet you somehow understood them. Likening the meaning of her words to a snake, it was as if I had grabbed it by the tail. You could say that I had captured it, but its head—the real goal—was still slithering away somewhere. After all, it was the head that could bite you. In other words, I had not completely captured the meaning of what she said. That was how it felt trying to understand her statements.

While she was mysterious, her knowledge was the real deal. Whenever Mr. Lusus asked her about a medicinal herb that he had found in a book, she could easily pinpoint its location by relying on the guide of her mind. She was extremely talented and cooperative, and Mr. Lusus often found himself in the dilemma of having to praise her.

When I had asked her whether she knew about sulfuric acid, thinking it was a shot in the dark, she had just casually answered, “Oh, that one?” She was a living dictionary and reference guide receptive to even the most ambiguous search terms. Ms. Tris was truly a genius.

“Oh, right. Ash, I assume you’re going to visit the royal capital temple?” Ms. Tris asked.

“Yes, I want to have a look at the books here in the capital.” I consider it my personal main event.

“Let me know when you’re going. I’ll show you around.”

“That would be a great help. I want to use this chance to study some books that are not available back in Itsutsu.”

“Thought so. I know the locations of most open collections, so leave that to me!” Ms. Tris proudly tapped her chest.

“I’ll accompany you too. Even if it’s not my field of specialty, I can still be of help sorting the books by their contents. Besides, I might discover some things I had overlooked until now with Sir Fenix around,” Mr. Lusus interjected.

“Thanks, you two. I will ask Father Folke as well.” Lord Arthur was probably out of question. I would have loved to have her there even if just for a little bit, but she had to fulfill her duties. But then again, asking can’t hurt. “All right, I will let you know when—”

At that moment, a shrill scream sounded from the mob of children. Looks like they’ve done it. They had broken the model plane. As I approached them with a strained smile, the culprits were shaking with teary eyes.

“Let me see. What happened?”

Upon taking it into my hands for inspection, I noticed that the edge of the wings had broken off. Part of the skeleton had folded, and the cloth was torn. I could probably fix it myself. Luckily, the propeller was still intact—repairing that would have been beyond my capabilities.

“As you can see, it breaks easily. If you promise to take better care next time, I will fix it for you.”

As soon as I had finished speaking, the children’s eyes sparkled again and they cheerfully promised me to take better care of it. Among them were also some kids who wanted to know how to fix it themselves. That was good foresight, since it was definitely going to break again.

In anticipation of those quick-witted children’s future exploits, I decided on the spot to hold a handicraft lesson. If I left them with a good impression, some might come to the Sacula region after their studies. I should put some time and effort into this.

As I started the handicraft lesson, I noticed that a sparkly eyed Ms. Tris and her guardian Mr. Lusus had also joined the class.

Since leaders and representatives from all the regions gathered in the capital, social life was bustling. Even the house of Sacula’s frugal mansion had a lounge reserved for social gatherings. Following a joint invitation by His Excellency Count Sacula and His Excellency Viscount Sukuna extended to “anyone with free time on their hands,” everyone available had gathered at that lounge.

“Count Gentoh, thank you for the invitation. I heard that you met the famous Phoenix in Sukuna? We would love to hear some interesting stories about him!”

“I concur. I have been looking forward to Your Excellency’s return this whole time.”

“I believe everyone here is thinking the same, including myself. Once I heard that Your Excellency had returned, I was eagerly awaiting an opportunity to meet with you.”

There were men and women of all ages, but according to my advance briefing, all of them were nobles coming from remote regions. In other words, the same people to whom Count Gentoh had flaunted the model plane and spirit lamp. He appeared to fully enjoy the onslaught of attention from the attendees.

“Ha ha ha, I brought you all an exceptional souvenir that will hopefully live up to your expectations. But first, let’s have a drink to get the conversation going!”

On Count Gentoh’s signal, the waiter handed glasses to the attendees and poured liquor from a porcelain vase. As the diluted, amber-colored liquid filled up the transparent glasses, a sweet scent rose up into the air.

“Oh! I’ve never seen alcohol like this.”

“It says ‘Quid company’ on the bottle.”

“So, it has to be from the Sacula region. But this scent... Could it be...?”

After hearing the attendees’ remarks, Count Gentoh urged them to have a taste for themselves. Still, the smirk on his face already indicated that their hunch must have been right, ruining the surprise. While half-expecting the taste already, the attendees took a sip and feigned surprise to please the host.

“Oh, no doubt! This is distilled liquor!”

“I knew it! Sacula even mastered the art of distilling liquors now!”

“Excellent! Now we can drink as much as we like!”

As expected from someone with noble manners, the attendees did not choke upon tasting the distilled liquor, which was still considered a rarity in this world. So much so that it was usually not served at regional leaders’ mansions. While this was partially due to the expensive manufacturing costs, it was also a result of the capital nobles keeping the distilling method a secret. It was yet another one of their monopolies to hog all the money and spite the territories that they disliked.

Notwithstanding this, many of the attendees would have tasted it before at other social gatherings. There were also some habitual drinkers who lamented not being able to enjoy this strong yet exquisite flavor that was unlike any brewed liquor more often. Among them was a shrewd woman in her thirties. She was an officer stationed in the capital as a representative of Baron Nepton’s territory on the eastern seaside of the kingdom.

“Hm, this tastes like it’s distilled from wheat. What a refreshing, dry taste. You don’t get that from ale!” a nobleman said.

“Wheat? This one’s from grapes. It tastes younger than Count Batsuka’s one, but I like the different flavor,” Baron Nepton’s officer remarked.

“Oh, two different flavors at once! As expected from Count Gentoh! What a delightful surprise!”

I was happy that they enjoyed the liquor that we had distilled ourselves. It was an honor to receive praise from people with such a refined palate for our first batch.

“I forgot how strong liquor can be. But I also want to try the wheat one... May I?” the woman asked while holding her voluptuous red cheeks.

As Count Gentoh agreed, the waiter placed another glass of alcohol together with a glass of water on the table. “Please have some water first. It will slow down the intoxication and it will help you get a clearer taste of the liquor,” the waiter said.

“Thank you. Oh, I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“Yes, this is my first time here in the capital.”

“I see. Sorry to make you serve our table after such a long journey.”

The good-humored Nepton military officer cordially smiled at the waiter. Just as she was about to pick up her glass, she hurriedly looked back over her shoulder—a so-called double take.

To tell you the truth, the innocent-looking waiter was me. It was not unusual for trainee knights and fresh recruits to be waiters at social gatherings organized by the house of Sacula, which was known for its military power. As a result, the Nepton officer probably had not paid much attention to me at first, but she must have found it extremely strange to notice silver medals on a waiter’s uniform. Especially the one awarded by Baron Nepton.

“That’s our tsunami medal! And a silver one at that?! There’s only one person in all of Sacula who has that!”

It appeared that the other attendees had understood what the Nepton officer was trying to say, as they all half-rose to their feet.

Count Gentoh, who was clearly enjoying this little prank, introduced me with a big grin on his face. “As I said earlier, I brought an exceptional souvenir. Sir Fenix, please introduce yourself.”

“My name is Ash George Fenix. I was granted the privilege to serve as a knight for the house of Sacula. It is an honor to make your acquaintance.” Just to be clear, I was against this surprise entrance.

“What?! The Phoenix! Y-You’re the Phoenix boy?”

“Really? He’s not an impostor? C-Count Gentoh, is he the real deal?”

“He’s got our tsunami medal...three Sacula battle medals...as well as two culture ones... And is this a Sukuna steam medal?”

As the instigator, it really should have also been His Excellency’s responsibility to do something about the chaos in front of me, but...

“Ha ha, that was a good laugh.” Count Gentoh sipped his liquor and observed the uproar, amused.

What a cruel liege. While I was not able to say anything due to my standing, the attendees objected to the surprise in my place.

“Count Gentoh, could you please stop with pranks like these?”

“Yes, I almost thought my heart was going to stop.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize my souvenir was troubling you. Should I have him leave?” the count jokingly asked.

“No, not at all!”

Everyone retracted their complaints at once. Couldn’t you have calmed them down a bit earlier?

“Now then, Sir Fenix. Since everyone’s relaxed now, could you tell us some stories?”

“As you wish. Although you might come off as a slave driver, Your Excellency.”

“I don’t mind,” he consented with a rather brief reply.

I knew he’d say that.

Count Gentoh’s mental fortitude truly left his surroundings at a loss. His skin really could do with being a little thinner. He ignored everyone else’s opinions and just did whatever he wanted. If he had not been surrounded by such gentle saints, he would have long since been beaten to death. His Excellency had only narrowly escaped death by my berserker rampage disguised as a saint’s mission. In a way, we were two of a kind, so I needed to treat him kindly.

“Well then, with your permission, I will tell everyone present about our territory’s recent accomplishments and our future plans.”

The attendees who had caused a stir in regard to Count Gentoh’s surprise suddenly became very serious upon hearing my starting remarks. As expected from leaders and appointed representatives working in the royal capital.

“I brought the distilled liquor—the spirits you have been drinking—as a sample of our work. As most of you will have guessed already, this is a prototypical batch manufactured in the Sacula region. It has only aged for two years, so there is still a lot of room for improvement.” I said that last sentence while smiling at the Nepton officer, who appeared to like spirits. “In simple terms, these spirits were distilled by heating ale and wine to the point of evaporation and extracting the concentrated alcohol.”

“Wait a minute!” Just as I was about to continue my explanation, the Nepton officer yelled in a voice unbefitting of her intelligence and beauty. “Th-That’s Count Batsuka’s secret technology! Some say he’s using alchemy and manufacturing it with the divine protection of the monkey god! You can’t just reveal that so casually!”

The fact that he kept such a simple method secret was the reason why this world had lower standards than the ancient civilization. Since I had my liege’s permission, I was going to keep making all kinds of information public.

“No problem. I have received His Excellency’s permission to disclose these details, and if you keep listening, I am sure you will understand why I chose to reveal this information. But thank you for your concern. I will remember your thoughtfulness.”

I made an important mental note to myself to remember the Nepton officer as a good person. Baron Nepton’s territory was situated on the coast, and he was on good terms with Count Gentoh, so I hoped to maintain a good relationship in the future.

Baron Nepton had sent us the seaweed necessary for our soap bar experiments, which meant that there was a chance that she had been involved in those negotiations. As such, this was a fair exchange of kindness.

“Now then, in order to distill liquor on a commercial scale, we will need advanced metalworking technology—including furnaces with extreme heating power—to produce large equipment capable of steadily extracting alcohol from common liquor.” The foundations had already been laid by our skilled team at the Territory Reform Promotion Office’s laboratory.

The various territory leaders and representatives nodded at the mention of the required technology. They must have assumed that I put all the cards on the table knowing that the method alone did not amount to much.

“Our current distillation equipment is still at a prototype stage, but this is our estimated selling price for commercialized spirits.”

I distributed a written report from the Promotion Office to all the attendees. Originally, I had planned to only present it to Viscount Sukuna, but once it had been decided that I would go to the capital, I had asked Lady Renge to make some more copies in a rush. The woes of living in a society where copies were handmade.

“Is that the actual price?” The Nepton officer swallowed her saliva. “Only half the cost of the spirits currently on the market? I can enjoy this taste for that cheap? It’s like a dream come true!”

As I had thought, she seemed to like her alcohol. Her eyes sparkled as she realized that she could buy two bottles for the price of one.

“Since Count Batsuka is keeping his methods a secret, I cannot give you a reason for the current price... It is either artificially raised because he has effectively monopolized the technology, similar to the soap situation, or his distillation equipment is not as efficient as ours.” Either one was possible. And I had more good news for the Nepton officer. “But this price is only an estimate based on the prototype equipment. Once we improve the apparatus and other territories start distilling liquor, the taste will be diversified, and the price will most likely drop further. Especially in the regions with a large output of grapes and wheat, where there is already a large amount of source liquor available.”

Upon hearing the term “other territories,” all attendees including the Nepton officer stared at Count Gentoh, as if to ask, “Did you just hear what your vassal suggested?” The count dismissed their looks with a brief nod, urging me to go on. The attendees seemed to understand.

“Y-You mean to say that the house of Sacula is willing to sell the spirits distillation equipment?”

“If you are interested.” However, there was a catch. “We will gladly sell the distillation equipment, but its maintenance and management require the appropriate knowledge. I mean, it is not very pragmatic to call over someone from a different territory every time the machine breaks down.”

“Yes, that makes perfect sense,” the Nepton officer agreed and dropped her shoulders. After voicing her disappointment as a spirit lover, she expressed her doubts as a diplomat. “So, why did you bring it up?”

Because I’ve prepared a solution, of course. “Our territory is prepared to accept students from across the kingdom. I am sure there are many inquisitive minds overflowing with talent in your territories, and if they wish, we will provide them with an opportunity to learn our technology.”

If there was no one with the right expertise, you had to rely on help from other regions. To solve that problem, you simply had to educate your own people.

“So, rather than selling the equipment itself, you want to reveal the manufacturing process?” the Nepton officer’s gaze restlessly alternated between me and Count Gentoh.

Given the precedent of the wealthy soap merchants and Count Batsuka, it was commonly understood that technology was not made public. However, there was also the unique precedent of Sacula revealing their soap recipe. Everyone’s expectations were rising.

“Our research to increase agricultural output has also produced some positive results. While we still need to conduct experiments in regard to grapes, we have already obtained enough data to confidently report that we managed to increase our wheat yield. We also developed an alternative method for producing the charcoal necessary for thermal power, which we will hopefully diffuse in the near future.”

I could already see the banknotes piling up as I presented all of Sacula’s cards. The attendees were busy calculating the values of each project as I mentioned them. Some covered their mouths to hide their gasps, some blinked rapidly, and others broke out into cold sweats. Everyone was racking their brains at full speed.

“The exchange students will have opportunities to learn all of the technologies I just mentioned. Depending on the circumstances, it may even be possible for them to participate in further studies.”

I would love to welcome as many skilled helpers as possible, but it depended on the individual student’s capabilities and the state of the research at the time.

“I see. That’s indeed of great interest.” The Nepton officer withheld her personal opinion and replied in a prudent tone of voice. “What will be the conditions for accepting exchange students? Has that already been decided?”

“Yes. Although there may still be some adjustments.” During my stay at the hot spring, I had decided on the general framework through discussions with Viscount Sukuna. “First, we will ask for some monetary compensation to cover for our research and development costs. Those funds will also be used to maintain a proper study environment for the students. So, please be understanding.”

Everyone naturally nodded in agreement to my sensible proposition.

“Next, we would like for the territories to form official cooperative relationships. Specifically, to increase trade and provide relief in times of disaster. Those two points will be the minimum requirements.”

In regard to trade, my aim was to share resources between territories, so it would be easier to get hold of them in various places. For disaster relief, I was hoping that the territories could provide food, clothing, and shelter to the areas affected by famine or destruction from demon attacks. It would not have to be without any compensation, but at a reasonable price.

To sum it up, I wanted to redirect excess resources to the places that were lacking them. I had no intentions of making any profits or getting ahead of other territories.

“Those are exceptional conditions, one could say... Of course, we still need to look at the details,” the Nepton officer cautiously noted.

This was a brutal society, in which conditions that sounded too good to be true easily aroused suspicion. While I simply wanted their cooperation to cover for our lack of resources, it appeared that they did not fully trust my proposal. So, in order to meet their expectations, I added a little wicked twist.

“By the way, we can only receive a limited number of exchange students at once. Therefore, with all due respect, there may be a screening process if there are too many applicants.” The screening process may be secret, but I promise it’ll be fair. And I don’t think it’s fair if someone who invests one copper coin gets the same privileges as someone who invests one gold coin.

Guessing the implications of my statement, the attendees exchanged glances, sparks flying from their eyes.

As they were locked into staring duels, the Nepton military officer quickly replied first. “As a representative of Baron Nepton, I will seriously consider the offer. It sounds promising. I will also promptly start conversations with other territories,” she declared with a broad grin.

In the background, you could hear some of the attendees clicking their tongues while putting up a calm smile. This would evolve into a fierce fight behind closed doors.

“By the way, I know you’re still young, but do you have a fiancée, Sir Fenix?” the officer asked.

“Well, not really...”

Although, there was a girl whom I liked and who had declared to snatch me away. I reflected on how to explain my complicated relationship with Lady Maika, but all I could muster was a wry smile.

The Nepton officer nodded as if she had understood the situation. “In that case, would you like to meet my daughter? Due to our standing, I gave her a strict upbringing, and she turned into a wonderful young lady. She is my pride and joy.”

To avoid being left behind, everyone else also spoke up.

“Oh, my daughter is also currently looking for a suitable marriage candidate!”

“Sir Fenix, do you prefer younger or older women?”

Somehow, they had roped me into their below-surface conflict. It felt as if countless arms had started dragging me into the water as I was minding my own business leisurely floating along in a swim ring.

If I had aspired to get married, this would have been a very welcomed uproar, but after rejecting Lady Maika, I had no intentions of accepting any offers. For the time being, I decided to just sidestep the issue until everyone calmed down.

Just as I was coming up with some evasive remarks to build up a protective wall, Count Gentoh, who had been busy drinking all this time, stepped up in front of me. “Hey, everyone! Could you please calm down a bit?”

My liege, what happened? Did you run out of spirits? I still need those for future presentations, so there won’t be any second helpings today. And aren’t you drinking a bit too much?

Since I had not expected him to help me out at this stage, I was preoccupied with the remaining quantity of the spirits that I had brought to the royal capital. However, Count Gentoh’s following words were in fact nothing else than a lifeline.

“As his liege, I can assure you that he would in fact be great husband material, but it would be better to postpone your marriage proposals until after the Royal Sword Fighting Tournament.”

Upon hearing Count Gentoh’s advice, everyone present, including the Nepton officer, fell silent with a disappointed look on their faces... But only for a few seconds.

“Oh, I see, you’ve already got someone in mind, huh? And you want to win her over at the Royal Tournament.” Childish excitement came over the Nepton officer’s mature face. “How romantic! Suddenly, I can’t wait to see this year’s tournament!”

There was a big misunderstanding going on. They thought I was going to participate in the Royal Sword Fighting Tournament, but I had barely remembered its existence until now. No way I was going to fight in it.

“That’s what it’s all about! The winner of the tournament may ask for all kinds of things, but there’s nothing more exciting than someone fighting in the name of their passionate love!”

“Three tournaments ago was the last time the winner asked for someone’s hand in marriage, right? And wasn’t that also a Sacula knight?”

“Yes! Headhunter Sir Klein! That tournament was a blast!”

“It’s wonderful how passionate Sacula’s men are!”

While the men clenched their fists and worked themselves into a sweltering frenzy, the women swooned over the romantic heroism.

And then I realized why I had been given the opportunity to visit the royal capital. I had not been invited personally so much as brought along—or lured along, I should say, knowing I could not resist the allure of the capital.

As I glanced at Count Gentoh, who was no doubt an accomplice, he gave a devilish smile, as if to say, “So you finally realized?”

“Come to think of it, I heard that Sir Fenix is an accomplished fighter.”

“It’s quite the feat to have three silver battle medals at his young age!”

“We can definitely look forward to a good fight!”

I’m sorry to disappoint you all, but it’s not me who will go berserk at the tournament.

They were probably not even aware she was here—His Excellency’s granddaughter. No wonder she had been training daily and exchanging violent blows with the mansion’s guards, including Sir George. And my role in all of this? I’ll be the winner’s trophy.

As usual, Lady Maika had spent most of the day swinging her sword and only made it to dinner at the dining room at the very last moment. It appeared she had just come out of the bath—her damp hair unevenly stuck to her forehead and the nape of her neck.

“Ah, this smells great! What’s for dinner?”

Rejoicing at the scent filling the cafeteria, she sat down. Naturally, her seat was next to mine. Although, of course, there was nothing natural about that. Why did a simple knight like me have dinner together with the count’s family? And it was not even an official public dinner, but just a regular private meal. But apparently, I was the only one worried about the class system. The house of Sacula’s pure-blooded father and son, Lord Itsuki and Count Gentoh, were fully engaged in friendly chatter.

Lady Maika’s face beamed upon seeing the food on the table. “Ash, you made this, right?” She turned toward me.

She was correct, but there were more pressing matters at hand than identifying the cook. Why were they so hellbent on treating me like a family member? Their behavior was more terrifying than any of my usual scoldings.

As I reflected on my lack of resignation, Count Gentoh picked up on Lady Maika’s statement. “Oh, you can tell? Yeah, it was in fact Ash who cooked tonight’s dinner.”

“Of course I can tell! It’s a Hamburg steak with wine and tomato sauce. People here in the capital still don’t really eat tomatoes,” Lady Maika replied with as much conviction as if she had just proclaimed that the sun rises every morning.

Count Gentoh was disappointed by her overflowing confidence. It seemed that he had wanted to surprise her. Lord Itsuki smiled wryly, implying that he had predicted this outcome.

“More importantly, let’s start eating. I can’t wait to taste Ash’s Hamburg steak again!” Lady Maika said.

“I wanted to see the surprised look on her face after she took a bite...but this smell is also making me hungry. Let’s dig in.”

On Count Gentoh’s signal, everyone reached for the Hamburg steak, tonight’s main dish. Count Gentoh’s face lit up immediately after taking his first-ever bite of the Hamburg steak.

“Oh my! This is delicious! The sweet and sour sauce—that must be the tomatoes. It’s a lingering flavor just as rich as the meat.”

For his second bite, Count Gentoh made sure to add an ample amount of sauce. His hearty appetite made you forget about his advanced age. On the other hand, Lady Maika and Lord Itsuki, who had eaten the Hamburg steak before, tilted their heads in confusion. They scraped off the sauce before taking a second bite.

After thoroughly savoring the meat itself, Lord Itsuki nodded. “I get it. This is a different mixture of meat than usual. Did you use fewer fatty ones? It tastes quite light and refreshing.”

“That’s perceptive of you. You are right.” I had tried to hide the meat’s lighter flavor with the rich sauce, so I had not expected anyone to notice on the second bite.

“Ha ha, even if I’m not as crazy about Hamburg steak as Maika, it’s still one of my favorite foods. What meat did you use? I’ve never had this taste before.”

“The main ingredient is pork. Instead of beef, I added pig liver and heart as well as some soybeans.”

A pseudo-tofu Hamburg steak. High protein and low fat.

“Soybeans? So that’s why it tastes lighter than usual. I could eat this all the time.”

“Is it that light and refreshing? I feel like the flavor is quite rich...”

“That’s the sauce, father. It has a robust flavor because of the strong seasoning. Yeah, this tastes great. And most importantly, it’s easy on the stomach! This could be a good light meal for when I’m exhausted.”

Indeed, it seemed like a great, gentle dish for Lord Itsuki, who tended to skip lunch when he was busy. I should give Chef Yacoo the recipe once we get back to Itsutsu.

Count Gentoh grimaced at his son, as if to say, “Don’t be such an old man.”

By the way, I’d just like to point out that Count Gentoh is still fully present despite all the liquor that he drank earlier.

Of course, Lady Maika, who was the fussiest about Hamburg steak among all present, had also noticed the difference in the meat. After listening to my explanation of the meat ratios, she once again surveyed all the dishes laid out in front of her.

Tonight’s menu consisted of the following: Hamburg steak made of pork, pig innards, and soybeans with tomato sauce and red wine. A seasonal vegetable salad with cheese dressing. A dry scallop-based seafood soup with garlic. And finally, a special citrus fruit juice with salt and honey.

Only Lady Maika had noticed the reasoning behind the menu. She had studied beside me longer than anyone else, and our accumulated knowledge was practically the same. Accordingly, she was the only one to notice. She blushed and looked down. The fleeting glances of her upturned eyes were borderline foul play.

Steeling my defenses by pretending not to notice, I continued eating. This prompted her to pout and glare at me. However, once she resumed her meal shortly after, she again looked happy.

“Before I forget, let me tell you about today’s gathering,” Count Gentoh changed the subject as the harmonious dinner went on. “Ash did great. Although I was friendly with all the attendees already, everyone showed interest in our proposal.”

“Of course, we’re talking about Ash after all,” Lord Itsuki chimed in.

There it was again. The platitude that I had heard countless times until now. Eventually, I had stopped paying much attention to it once I had started hearing it an estimated twenty times a day.

“No one escapes Ash’s persuasion,” Lady Maika remarked.

That statement I can’t let slide. I can’t persuade everyone.

But for some reason, Lord Itsuki nodded. “Yeah, that’s about right. I assume he also received lots of marriage proposals?”

He had brought up the subject with a smile on his face, but it sent cold shivers down my spine. Not that I had done anything wrong—consciously. I had not agreed to any marriage meeting, so I had not even entered the realm of infidelity. My only sin was rejecting Lady Maika’s confession. That’s a bad one. Worthy of the death penalty.

Regardless, Count Gentoh was the worst offender here for choosing this topic in the first place. In a matter of seconds, I tried to come up with every conceivable excuse and simulate how they would play out in my head. At the same time, I observed Lady Maika’s reaction. While her mouth was still smiling, her eyes looked cold, like razor blades made out of ice.

According to my mental simulation, the most effective response seemed to be buying some time by using Count Gentoh as a shield before prostrating myself. I mentally prepared for the maneuver. I really haven’t done anything wrong, but sometimes you just need to apologize even if you’re not at fault...

However, I noticed that Lady Maika’s gaze was not directed at my resolved, trembling self, but rather at the food on the table. In the blink of an eye, her cold, sharp look eased up, as if it had been blown away by a spring breeze.

“Well, obviously. It’s Ash after all.” Lady Maika smiled as she picked up a glass of the special fruit juice. In spite of her smile, there was still a little sharpness left in her eyes. Apparently, the spring breeze had not been strong enough to blow away her annoyance. “I know better than anyone else what a charming person Ash is. I can imagine he’s popular.” Her smile grew bigger as she continued speaking. “But at the same time, I also know better than anyone else how difficult it is to break down his walls.”

Her gaze now resembled that of a hunter looking at her prey—and that comparison still seemed like understatement. It was a boiling mixture of strong self-confidence and mad longing, implying that she was the only one capable of conquering my heart. She was almost like a brave warrior from an epic tale who sets out to defeat a worthy opponent. Her expression was a bit too savage to be that of the hero, though. She looked more like the princess of darkness ready to attack.

“The only one capable of conquering Ash is me. And maybe...” the princess of darkness murmured.

While Lady Maika was assessing her strength, Count Gentoh had come to the conclusion that it was the right time to take an overly sophisticated envelope out of his inner breast pocket.

“If Maika is not jealous, I would love to invite you to this party, Ash. I don’t want to keep it a secret from her and find you cut up in an alley afterward.”

It turned out he had brought up this preposterous topic as a test to predict the danger ahead. An unexpectedly prudent move considering his normal speech and conduct. It was also befitting of a count whose territory was constantly on alert for demons. Still, that was a pretty dangerous topic. I softly wiped the sweat off the palms of my hands.

“I don’t have any objections if it’s work-related... What kind of party is it?”

“On paper, it’s an opportunity to socialize with people who are usually not in the capital. With the Royal Tournament approaching and all...” Count Gentoh, who seemed to feel an aversion even toward the envelope’s decoration, laughed scornfully. “Ha ha, but they probably just want to probe into our internal affairs, since we’ve been doing quite well lately. And possibly, if circumstances permit, crush us under their feet...”

“That does not sound like a very fun party. I am not good at those kinds of interactions...”

When dealing with a clearly hostile person, more often than not any attempt at reasoning was futile. And I had always been bad at dealing with unreasonable people.

“Yeah, that seems like something Ash would hate. He refers to those people as annoying biting lice...”

I owed a debt to Lady Maika, who upon my selfish requests had always dealt with those types so far.

“But I’ll have to pass this time. I’m just too busy training. Sorry, I wish I could take care of the biting lice!” Lady Maika apologized with a cheerful expression, which was indicative of her trust in me. “Either way, I know you can do it, Ash! You say you’re not good at it, but that’s according to your standards, which means you’re actually decent at it!”

“I am not sure that is how it works...”

In fact, I was so averse to meeting with those people that every fiber of my being revolted at the mere thought of going to that party. I let out a sigh.

“Is it really out of question? Even though you’re so well-spoken?” Count Gentoh asked for confirmation while stroking his chin.

“I am afraid so. I would really prefer to sit this one out... Especially because I do not want to commit any careless blunders.”

If I had the time to go to a party with so few benefits, I would rather go to the royal temple and enjoy talking to Ms. Tris and Mr. Lusus.

“All right. I won’t force you if you’re not up to it. Although I’m sure she would feel more comfortable if you were there.”

“She?” I scratched my head. Someone I know?

“It’s a party thrown in honor of Her Highness the Princess by her supporters.”

The princess?

Since he had mentioned her comfort, that meant that not even her “supporters” were truly on her side.

I scratched my head as I remembered my last year at the military academy. My roommate who was always brimming with curiosity. Presuming upon her kindness, I had promised to always borrow her strength when needed. My finger moved from my forehead to point at the decorated envelope in Count Gentoh’s hand.

“Who sent that tasteless envelope?”

“Marquis Datara. It’s hideous, right? This golden leaf here is in pretty bad taste.”

“Oh, is that the marquis who has a giant werewolf cemetery in his territory?”

That envelope was a display of power. It was a transparent attempt at showing off the abundance of their metal resources and their advanced metallurgy technology. Depending on the recipient, that could have provoked envy and greed. However, in my case, it only reminded me of the ill-prepared assassins whom I had beaten at their own game three years ago.

That marquis used his power as crudely as ever, and was going to host a party with my old roommate as a guest. That was more than enough reason for me to go borrow her strength.

“I changed my mind. I would love to attend this party.”

This kingdom’s princess was in a complex and delicate position. The reason dated back six years ago, when the middle prince—the second-in-line—had died in an accident.

At the time, rumor was going around that it had not been an accident but an assassination. However, such rumors were commonplace whenever a noble or influential person died, so high society did not give it too much thought. The problem was the person who had come under suspicion.

At first, that disgrace fell upon the youngest prince, the third-in-line. It was quite well-known that he and the second-in-line had been on bad terms, among other things due to the family situation on the maternal side. You could say it was reasonable to suspect him. Even the third-in-line’s faction had to begrudgingly accept this. They resigned themselves to waiting for the rumors to die down while denying the allegations by saying that such cruelty was not the royal way.

Altogether, the royalty and their aristocratic followers had presented a rational response. Not least because even with the second-in-line gone, the throne’s succession had not been affected. The disgraceful rumors surrounding the third-in-line were thus akin to a safely contained fire.

And that fire did indeed soon die out. However, not in the way that the youngest prince’s supporters—or most of the high society, for that matter—had hoped. The fire had blown away the entire mansion, quite literally. The third-in-line had also died in an accident.

The rumors were no longer just rumors. One prince perishing in a deadly accident? Possible. Two princes having such “accidents” in such a short period of time? Highly unlikely. So, the authorities set up an investigation examining the possibility of conspiracy and assassination regarding the two princes’ deaths. The subjects of this investigation were those who would profit the most from the victims’ early demise.

Thus, the fourth-in-line for the throne, the princess, had become the prime suspect. The king’s deep affection for his first baby girl may have also played a role in her becoming the new target of the rumors. At the time, she was only eight years old. Although she possessed certain powers as royalty, she was not able to exert them at her young age. Accordingly, the rumors did not stop and people started to believe them.

It was none other than Marquis Datara who made a dashing appearance before the princess to stop the accusations. The noble that provided the kingdom with metal resources flatly rejected the rumors, arguing very logically that a young princess her age without any real supporters would never have killed two of her older brothers.

At first glance, the marquis merely appeared like an extremely loyal vassal to his king. Even the lords who hated his guts had to admit as much. Nevertheless, as those lords had expected, Marquis Datara was indeed not worthy of such praise. Instead of trying to calm the situation down, he fanned the flames.

“If you’re suspecting Her Highness the Princess of killing her two older brothers, shouldn’t you also doubt the innocence of His Highness the Crown Prince? The succession may be guaranteed, but that doesn’t exclude other motives.”

Naturally, the crown prince’s supporters could not stay silent following such a statement. The two factions started accusing each other of being the culprit, investigating the opposing camp and criticizing even the most trivial of behaviors that would have never aroused any suspicion.

Meanwhile, the princess had been completely turned into Marquis Datara’s puppet. Although she did not speak out herself, the marquis was spreading the word in her name. The little princess could only quietly lock herself in her room and hold her tongue to avoid being used as a puppet as much as possible.

Incidentally, the fourth-in-line was the king’s first baby girl, and he did indeed deeply love her. The conflict between the crown prince and the princess grew more intense by the day, and just when the lords anticipated things would get violent, the king finally made his move. Or rather, because the situation had escalated this far, the king finally decided to intervene.

The king sought advice from a distant relative. They were the head of a distant region, who did not have any interest in the power struggle in the royal capital despite their military prowess.

“It’s about my daughter.”

“Yes, it’s horrible what’s happening to her,” the provincial nobleman casually replied.

“Hm, we can’t ignore the royal family’s infighting any longer. It looks like some mischievous bug has been stoking the flames.”

“A bug with a loud, shrill voice.”

“Only a prominent nobleman outside the royal family would gain something from tarnishing the reputation of the prince and the princess.”

Marquis Datara was most likely plotting to strengthen his own influence by driving the conflict between the throne heirs to its bitter end. While it seemed obvious that he was trying to take root in national politics by installing the princess as a puppet ruler, he may have even been planning to eventually usurp the crown. He would do so under the pretext that the current royal family devastated the capital because of their own selfish disputes, and thus, they could no longer be trusted to ensure the well-being of the nation. That bug was the epitome of the saying that “The guilty are audacious.”

“Your Majesty, how do you plan on dealing with the situation?” the provincial nobleman asked.

“We have to tear away the mischievous bug. We can no longer deal with it in a roundabout way.”

“Yes, that’s true. If only Your Majesty could have acted sooner, this situation could have been avoided...”

The man sitting on the throne gratefully nodded upon hearing the provincial nobleman’s warmhearted advice, which translated to “You really should have done something sooner.”

The king explained why he was unable to do so in his position. “You’re sure not mincing your words. A king ideally sits idly on his throne. Would you not agree that if a dragon soared through the skies every day, the kingdom would be in chaos and eventually perish?”

“Yes. Even our territory wouldn’t be able to handle one every day.”

“If you and your men can’t handle it, then no one else can. That is why I ask you for advice.” The king laughed. “Would you be willing to shelter my daughter?”

“Your Majesty’s adorable daughter in a rustic province like ours?”

“Well, the bad bug is sticking to my daughter. Officially, she will be going to one of Viscount Sukuna’s health resorts to recover from a bout of illness. Once the princess is out of the picture, I can’t see the bug causing any more uproar.”

While the king did not show any emotions, as a father himself, the provincial nobleman recognized His Majesty’s reluctance to send his beloved daughter to a faraway place. So, the provincial nobleman fell to his knees and took a bow before replying to the fellow parent. “Very well, my liege. Our family will do everything in its power to protect Your Majesty’s daughter.”

Delighted, the king took his vassal’s hand. “Your words mean the world to me. I am counting on you.” The king faintly bowed his head—an unthinkable gesture—before smiling. “This may even end up being a good experience for my daughter. She is a very curious and strong girl.”

And thus, Her Highness the Princess assumed the guise of the provincial nobleman’s child and traveled to a remote territory.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, that nobleman was none other than Count Gentoh Sacula. Considering how he managed to just stay his usual self when facing the king, it was no overstatement to say that his mental fortitude was unrivaled in the entire kingdom.

Speaking of the true identity of Her Highness the Princess, who had disguised as Count Gentoh’s son and gone to Sacula brimming with curiosity... I felt relief at the thought that I would finally be able to call her by the name that she had whispered into my ear that night.

Since Marquis Datara hosted the party, naturally his faction made its presence felt. In fact, it was more of a gathering of Marquis Datara’s supporters than the princess’s supporters. Apart from Datara’s faction, there was the Sacula faction—the provincial noblemen led by Count Gentoh. They had suddenly declared themselves supporters of the now second-in-line after the princess’s return to the royal capital.

“We’ve managed to gather quite a lot of people,” Count Gentoh cheerfully said after surveying the room. The ratio of guests was about seven to three in favor of the marquis’s faction, but for the count that still appeared to classify as “quite a lot of people.” As expected, the provincial nobility did not care much for the royal capital’s social life. “It was worth telling them that you would attend. See over there, it’s Baron Nepton’s military officer, Raino.”

The Nepton officer was wearing a beautiful dress. She smiled this way and bowed to greet us.

After reciprocating the bow, I whispered into Count Gentoh’s ear. “Am I just bait to gather your supporters?”

“Otherwise, no one would have come. The provincial nobility here doesn’t like to convene in places like this. They don’t show up if there’s nothing for them to gain. Gatherings hosted by the central nobility don’t really interest them.”

“Just like me, then. I can understand them.”

“Me too, to be honest.” Apparently, Count Gentoh had also ignored the invitations prior to the princess’s return, yet he had slyly coerced me into attending this time. “Did I inconvenience you by asking you to come?” my superior checked in with me.

“Until I learned the reason why,” I answered honestly.

“And afterward?” he continued asking cheerfully.

“I am firmly convinced that one should repay kindness with kindness. I am thankful that you gave me the opportunity to do exactly that.”

My reply improved Count Gentoh’s mood even further, and he laughed out loud. “You really are a good-natured person. I’m proud to call you my knight.”

“The honor is all mine.”

While I was engaged in a pleasant and lively conversation with my liege, the same could not be said for Datara’s people surrounding us. They were whispering among each other and looking this way, mostly talking about me. Probably because my standing was by far the lowest in the room—a knight with a farmer background. Most likely thanks to Lady Maika, I had never come across any people in Sacula who cared about my social status, but here in the royal capital, it seemed to be of great importance.

“Our ancestors used to sleep in huts alongside the farmers and soldiers when they laid the foundations for the city. The same applied to the nobles here at the capital. But while they have long forgotten, we still remember. That’s the difference between us,” the highest-ranking person of the Sacula region explained.

In the remote provincial territories, there remained a feeling of fellowship even among people of different status, whereas here in the royal capital, it was the be-all and end-all of life. The Sacula aristocrats may have been a bit too frank, but then again, that was the distinctive charm of a region with such severe outside pressure. Among the Itsutsu guards, some older soldiers had even boasted about sharing meals with Count Gentoh and Lord Itsuki out of the same pot.

“Don’t worry about them. Just treat them as biting lice.”

“Oh, I will. I am great at that.”

I was a veteran bug handler. For example, it was only annoying noise to my ears whenever someone called my silver medals mass-produced junk or meaningless decorations. There was no need for them to believe or acknowledge me. Those who did not acknowledge me were heretics, and if they did not know the expression “Those who believe shall be saved” already, there was no need to teach them either.

Unruffled, I tried telling apart the faces of the Sacula faction and those of the Datara faction. At the same time, the man standing next to me clicked his tongue.

“Pesky bugs all around us. I want to pinch and crush them.”

“There is no reason for Your Excellency to respond to their provocations.”

“You say that, but making fun of your silver medals equals making fun of those who presented them to you. Meaning my house.”

Oh, right. “Please just put up with it for now. This is no place to solve anything with brute force.”

“Hm... That’s why I don’t like these gatherings.” Count Gentoh, who seemed to hate parties just as much as me, took two glasses off a passing servant’s tray. “Here, have a drink with me.”

“If you do not mind.”

But was it really okay to drink this? A drink prepared by someone who had tried to assassinate a member of the royal family?

“He can’t afford to have corpses at his own party,” Count Gentoh reassured me.

“Why not? I would do it if necessary.”

Just in case, I sipped the drink before my liege. As I was making sure it did not taste off, Count Gentoh gave me an odd look.

“Only someone confident enough to build his own support base back up from zero would dare such a desperate move,” he said, implying it did not apply to Marquis Datara. “But yeah, you could probably pull it off. I mean, you came from a farm village and made your own little circle in the blink of an eye.”

“But only if necessary. As a very last resort,” I emphasized my peace-loving manners and common sense.

In return, Count Gentoh replied with a fiendish smile, as if he was the devil praising his four horsemen. “How reliable. She’ll be here soon,” Count Gentoh whispered when noticing the movement of the waiters, butlers, and maids.

It appeared that the second-in-line, Her Highness the Princess, was about to show up. Marquis Datara and his followers, who had received word from the butler, gathered around the entrance. Since the provincial leaders had only just noticed the commotion, they had no choice but to congregate further away. In the blink of an eye, the door opened in front of the crowd.

“We’re going in. You ready?” Count Gentoh asked.

“This is easier than chasing a deer through the forest,” I replied.

After smiling at each other, we marched forward together as liege and vassal. His Excellency Count Sacula made use of both his title and muscular physique to steadily and nonchalantly push ahead. He bumped shoulders with several members of the Datara faction, but he just brushed it off with an audacious “Oops, sorry.” Amazing. You wouldn’t think he’s a noble.

At the same time, I smoothly slipped through the gaps opened up by Count Gentoh’s barbaric acts. Quite slick if I may say so.

“Now then, Your Highness. Please make yourself feel at ease over—”

It seemed that Marquis Datara had just finished greeting Her Highness the Princess when we finally pushed past the crowd of people. Without any delay, Count Gentoh cut him off.

“Marquis Datara, I see you’ve already welcomed the guest of honor. Splendid!”

Social etiquette required greeting the party’s host. However, once the formalities were over, Marquis Datara could not hog the princess. She was free to enjoy the party as it pleased her. And since that meant that the princess would probably hang around the Sacula faction, Marquis Datara had gathered all his followers around the entrance to stop her. Unfortunately for him, the defensive wall did not hold in the face of the count’s reckless actions—I mean, bravery.

“Your Highness, I have come to introduce you to the house of Sacula’s pride and joy, whom I mentioned to you before.” Count Gentoh tapped my back and dragged me out in front of Her Highness the Princess.

You’re messing up my formal knight uniform! All my slick maneuvering through the crowd was for nothing...

After reproachfully glaring at Count Gentoh for a brief moment, I looked ahead. There stood the familiar princess whom I was about to officially meet for the first time.

“It is an honor and privilege to meet you in person, Your Highness Princess Alicia.”

Upon hearing me call her true name for the first time, the princess gave a very sweet, feminine smile, different from the ones she had shown as Arthur. Even though her countenance was the same, her new frame of mind made a world of difference.

“The honor is mine. I am glad to finally meet the Phoenix.” Lady Alicia carefully chose her words, trying to suppress laughter. “I have heard a lot about you from Count Sacula and Father Folke, but would you mind introducing yourself?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am Ash George Fenix, knight of Sacula.”

“Ash—Sir Fenix. I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a long time.” As the real me, her words implied. To any outsiders, however, it merely sounded like a first meeting with someone about whom she had heard rumors.

“Oh, I should probably also introduce myself. Although it seems there may be no need?”

“Yes, I am afraid there is no need. Your Highness’s name has indeed come to my ears in Sacula.” Whispered by Lady Alicia herself the last night of the outdoors training camp. I had only returned the favor by formally introducing myself. There was no need for her to introduce herself a second time.

Lady Alicia nodded and smiled broadly at this back-and-forth whose true meaning only we understood. “I will take your word, then. Are you alone today, Sir Fenix?”

I was here with Count Gentoh, but I assumed she was asking whether I had a female partner. After I shook my head, Lady Alicia closed in from the formal distance for greetings to engage in more friendly conversation.

“Then, I would love to talk to you. I have been talking to Father Folke and his friends because I am interested in science and technology.”

“I would be glad to join you if that is your wish.”

“Of course. Didn’t I tell you that I’ve heard many rumors about you, Phoenix?”

It seemed that Her Highness the Princess had grown extremely fond of various articles marked with the phoenix symbol and sold by the Quid company. Through the count, she had acquired soap, ointment, a spirit lamp, and even a tendon-powered model plane, the most expensive item.

Of course, I was well aware of this already. After Lady Alicia had approached me about wanting a spirit lamp and a model plane, I had put in a special order with Mr. Quid out of my own pocket. At the prospect of doing business with the royal family, Mr. Quid had been quick on his feet to calculate a discount price.

While I had sent the special lamp and model plane as a gift to the royal family, I had thought of them more as a small token of gratitude toward a friend who was still doing favors for me despite living in a distant region.

As we were talking with each other, Lady Alicia and I managed to escape the Datara faction’s crowd and joined the Sacula camp. Marquis Datara had tried to stop us, but Count Gentoh had intercepted him with his characteristic loud voice. The others did not dare interrupt the princess while she was engaged in a pleasant conversation. We kept talking even after reaching the Sacula camp.

“The phoenix-mark items are always so intriguing and of such high quality. Would you happen to have any new information? I can’t wait for your newest invention.”

“Let me see. We are looking to produce a new ointment after changing the formula. Thanks to Mr. Lusus and Ms. Tris here in the capital, we managed to come up with a more effective combination.”

“Ah, yes, I know those two. I met them at Father Folke’s place.”

“And we have also made some progress in regard to preserved foods. We managed to conserve some food inside bottles while maintaining the flavor.”

“That sounds wonderful. Once it is finished, would you mind sending me some?”

“If you wish, I can send you some by this summer.”

By the way, I had already told her all this information through letter correspondence with Father Folke as an intermediary. In fact, some of this research was only possible due to the books and knowledge obtained by Lady Alicia in the capital. Her Highness the Princess was the Territory Reform Promotion Office’s permanent honorary vice head of planning. In other words, our current discussion was merely an advertisement to anyone listening. We were going around starting fires to put out ourselves later. How horrible of us... Let’s continue!

“Phoenix...” Instead of calling me Sir Fenix, Lady Alicia preferred to affectionately call me by my nickname when publicly acting as the princess. “Could you tell me what you have planned next? However much you’re able to say.”

“Let me see. There are so many things I want to do, so it is difficult to just choose one... But that is precisely the problem I am trying to solve right now.”

“Oh, how so?”

“By recruiting talented people and training them.”

I was referring to my desire to accept exchange students, which I had already mentioned at the gathering in Sukuna and here in the capital.

Lady Alicia eagerly listened to my explanation as if she had heard it for the first time. “Fascinating. I would love to participate if that means I can learn Sacula’s advanced knowledge.”

“We would warmly welcome Your Highness’s talents if at all possible.”

That last sentence was not scripted. I was honest about wanting to once again study together with her.

Upon hearing my reply, Lady Alicia smiled broadly.

The surrounding provincial leaders had become alert to our exchange. They loved novel things and were well-aware of Sacula’s recent remarkable products. Naturally, they must have been wondering about the territory’s future development. And among them, there were people eager to get their hands on our technology, like Officer Raino, whom I had already attracted. Currently, she was proudly explaining the situation to a curious friend of hers.

But it wasn’t just people from the Sacula faction who had listened. People affiliated with Marquis Datara were scattered around the room as scouts, and not all of his followers were completely loyal. Especially the people who only hung around the marquis for their own gains had been hooked by our profit bait.

The royal capital nobles had little interest in novelties. However, they also could no longer afford to ignore Sacula’s innovative technology. On the one hand, Marquis Datara’s influence had started waning following rumors that he may be the true culprit behind the princes’ assassinations. On the other hand, Count Sacula was undoubtedly on the rise. Rather than staying loyal to the marquis, it would be more beneficial to change to Sacula’s faction.

That left Marquis Datara with the short end of the stick. He must have been seething with anger, outwitted at his own party. That’s why he resorted to one of his crude techniques.

“Hello there, knight of Sacula!”

A fat, sturdy man in his late twenties had forcefully pushed his way through the crowd. He looked like a trained fighter who had gotten out of shape. There were gold and silver ornaments stuck to his elegant clothes, but they did not match his unrefined expression.

His lack of respect from the start was more akin to a bandit than an aristocrat. Chef Yacoo at least looked like a combat-experienced bandit chief, whereas this guy would have been a petty underling. A world of difference between him and our master chef.

Anyhow, I instantly recognized the underling. Even though I was no social butterfly, I knew the names of the neighboring territories’ leaders. Especially those with a bad reputation.

“Oh, if it isn’t His Excellency Viscount Yanga. Thank you for going through the trouble of coming to greet me.”

“I’m impressed. You know who I am? No wonder the house of Sacula decided to knight a farmer like you,” Viscount Yanga said in a loud voice, emphasizing the word “farmer.”

I did not think he was trying to intimidate me. Surprisingly, many people thought that speaking loudly, being overbearing, and yelling about other people’s shortcomings made them appear more distinguished. However, I was not easily frightened. Moreover, I considered farmers to be the bedrock of civilization, so it had no effect on me. It just made me classify him as a “no-good politician.”

This small fry was the leader of the territory east of Sacula. Despite being a frontier region, it rarely ever suffered damage from demons. If you believed Viscount Yanga’s own reports, they were under attack several times a year, on par with the Sacula region. However, this was widely rumored to be a lie among the other provincial nobles. After all, in previous generations, there had been no more than two or three attacks a decade. There was no way it had increased that much so fast.

Based on information from the Quid company, I believed the rumors. It was almost unfair how little demons showed up in our neighbor’s yard. Maybe the terrain was just harder to access from the Roaring Dragon mountain range. Or perhaps being located closer to the kingdom’s center than Sacula provided more protection. Maybe it was a combination of both.

Either way, currently Viscount Yanga was sitting cross-legged and off guard on the territory’s throne. Why was he so disliked? While his father had been bedridden, he had contested his older brother’s succession right and usurped the title of viscount.

Considering that all the vassals had been on the side of the previous viscount and his rightful heir, the younger son would have never stood a chance alone. Therefore, as a countermeasure, he had enlisted outside help. And if you know your history or just have a good imagination, you’ll know that calling outside help when your own region is in array is as effective as asking a group of thieves to play firemen. There’s no way it’ll go over well.

And as expected, it had not gone over well for the Yanga region. The older brother and his vassals had vehemently opposed the power grab and firmly stood their ground, which had quickly led to bloodshed among the viscount’s family. With the administrators in disarray, the government had been forced to shut down, devastating the civilians’ lives.

The Yanga region’s overall income had decreased, farming villages had fallen into poverty, and those who could no longer provide for themselves had resorted to banditry, which in turn had led to higher military expenditures and a tax increase. A textbook vicious circle.

Seeing that outcome, it made me appreciate the laws of succession. They provided a logical and appropriate means to transfer power during peaceful times. Fights between the powerful never led to anything good.

However, there were also people who looked at the desolated Yanga region and considered it a success story. Notably, the power usurper and his outside backer. The former, the current Viscount Yanga, was more than satisfied after fulfilling his wish of obtaining power. The latter was also happy at positioning an easy-to-control puppet as the leader of a remote region. It must have been a great deal without drawbacks for both of them. Especially for the outside backer. They must have been ecstatic.

As you’ve probably guessed from the fact that the current Viscount Yanga has come to the party as one of Datara’s followers, the overjoyed outside backer was none other than Marquis Datara.

Marquis Datara’s chess piece arrogantly looked down upon me. “I’ve been hearing quite a few stories of bravery from the house of Sacula these past few years, but recently we’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to subjugate demons in large numbers. As many if not more than Sacula.”

“Oh, is that so?”

According to Mr. Quid’s information, they had discovered a new type of demon called “bandits-stealing-farming-tools” in the Yanga region. If he included that new species, then he was right—they probably had as many if not more demons than Sacula. Meanwhile, we took pride in our extremely low number of bandits. Even the other provincial leaders praised us.

“That is a disaster.”

Having to deal with that new species of demons was no joke. Even if there had been real demons, I would have given the same answer. It was better if there were neither bandits nor demons. A soldier was best served with some free time on their hands.

Most of the surrounding nobles from remote regions nodded in agreement. Except for Viscount Yanga.

“A disaster? Far from it. Our soldiers welcome the opportunity to prove their honor in battle with great glee. I assumed the other territories’ soldiers felt the same, but it seems this Sacula knight here considers it a disaster rather than a chance for glory! I realize now how brave my soldiers are!” Viscount Yanga laughed loudly.

Apparently, he was trying to denounce me as a coward. Since cowardice was important as a hunter, I did not really mind that insult. If that was all he had to contribute, he should have gotten lost. I wanted to talk to Lady Alicia.

Of course, Viscount Yanga had come here with the purpose of disturbing our conversation, so he was not going to leave. It was probably an order from Marquis Datara. He didn’t want to see me and the princess together.

After boasting about his soldiers’ bravery, the obedient lapdog started bragging about his own achievements before becoming the head of his region in an even louder voice. The stories were all extremely bloody. Like viciously slaughtering a band of thieves, hunting a large boar, or fighting three werewolves at once. He was effectively declaring that he lacked any administrative skill with a confidence equal to the volume of his voice.

Lady Alicia had politely let him know that he was a nuisance, but the viscount had just ignored her. Three times. Completely violating all etiquette. People who could not read a situation really were something else. No wonder royal capital nobles thought so poorly of the provincial leaders after seeing a representative like him. He was the poster child of hicks.

“Hey, pal, come to think of it, you also defeated a werewolf, right?”

Calling another lord’s vassal “pal” went against all rules of etiquette. Neither Viscount Sukuna, nor Officer Raino, nor the princess Lady Alicia had ever called me that.

“No, Your Excellency. I only stalled it to buy some time.”

“Oh my! Please accept my apologies. I killed two and one ran away, so I thought that a Sacula Knight could comfortably take care of one!”

“I am not that great of a fighter.” I was pretty confident that I would not even last a minute if I had to fight two werewolves at once. Against three, not even a second.

“No, no! Fighting a werewolf at all is already a big feat. I’m just exceptional.”

“Yes, you are right.” If you were telling the truth.

It seemed like one of the provincial leaders that had suffered a demon attack before shared my thoughts. “It’s hard to believe that you would even survive a one-on-one fight with a werewolf...”

I understood the urge to say something like that, but in an effort to avoid a messy situation, most others and I had just kept our mouths shut.

As expected, Viscount Yanga responded in an even louder voice. “I can’t ignore that remark just now! You doubt the bravery of the house of Yanga and the house of Sacula?”

See, it’s gotten messy. Who said that just now? Come out so I can scold you.

Before I even got a chance to sigh, Viscount Yanga had seemingly decided something on his own. “Very well! I will prove to you my bravery right here and now! Time to duel!” Viscount Yanga yelled while flailing his arms. It looked somewhat comical due to his wobbling chin. “Although I’ll need to fight a knight on par with my skills. Otherwise, it won’t prove my courage.” Viscount Yanga’s glaring eyes locked onto me. “I assume a renowned Sacula knight wouldn’t run from a duel.”

Unfortunately for the teeth-baring lapdog, I was no fan of such savage customs. “Depending on the terms, I will turn tail and run.”

Several provincial leaders burst into laughter upon hearing my reply. Not to make fun of me, but rather of the comical difference in enthusiasm.

“A-And you call yourself a knight?!”

Yes, a very professional one. I get paid and everything. “I do not know what it is like in Your Excellency’s territory, but the Sacula knights’ assignment is protecting the citizens, not displaying their strength or accumulating honor. Whether the opponent is a demon or a bandit, if a fight is unwinnable, it is our duty to escape and inform others of the danger at all costs. It is my responsibility as a knight to avoid any unnecessary dangers.”

A Sacula knight could not afford to lose. By any means necessary. They stuck it out until the end and always won. If you asked me for the secret to the Sacula knights’ renowned bravery, I would have to say their resolve to drop sword, shield, and honor, and run. That’s what they taught us at the academy.

Viscount Yanga had ground his teeth in seething anger when I had not accepted his challenge, but he had finally regained his composure. A sneer came over his reddish face. “Ha! I expected more from a renowned Sacula knight. Turns out you’re just a coward! Sacula’s military reputation just dropped like a rock!”

“Oh, why is that?”

The viscount’s sneer grew bigger upon hearing my reply. “Why, you ask? Because you ran away from my challenge!”

“When did I say I would not agree to your duel?” I smiled back at him and mimicked his bewilderment. “You asked me if I would run from a duel, and I said it would depend on the terms. So, how can you say I ran when you have not even told me the terms?” As an adult, you should properly listen to what people say.

As I was playing dumb, the stifled laughter around me became louder. Lady Alicia had averted her eyes, and her shoulders were shaking from laughter. According to her faint murmur, she was impressed by the destructive force of my verbal warfare hearing it again for the first time in a while. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.

“Well then, Your Excellency, what are the rules? If the winner is whoever weighs more, then I am afraid I will have to bow out...” It was quite clear who was bigger.

“Are you calling me fat?!”

“Nothing of the sort. I just gave an example. I have been challenged to a duel like that before and suffered a crushing defeat,” I said in a serious tone while the onlookers burst into laughter.

In verbal quarrels like this, the winner was decided in a roundabout way via the surrounding people’s reactions. However, I had to be careful not to be too direct, since these were all people with the power to start a war.

“A physical fight of course! With swords! A sword fight!”

“One-on-one?”

“Of course!”

I had made him promise not to have anyone else interfere on his behalf. Viscount Yanga had probably just agreed in the heat of the moment.

“So, a one-on-one sword fight. I am not that great of a sword fighter...”

“Aha, you’re going to run this time?!”

I pensively squinted and observed the viscount’s physique. He was a bulky man of commanding appearance. Most likely, he used to properly train in the past, but now that trained body was coated in several years’ worth of fat. I imagined he had been living the good life since becoming head of his region. Hence, I concluded that his fighting power would not pose a threat.

“Well, given those terms, I do not need to turn tail and run.” I’m essentially saying, “Against you, I can win.”

The surrounding crowd cheered. Viscount Yanga was also extremely pleased with my answer.

“My, my, what is going on here?”

At that very moment, Marquis Datara made his entry. Even the count of Sacula was not capable of stopping the host from checking on a racket like this. Especially since the marquis was probably the instigator.

The lapdog was wagging his tail at the appearance of his master. “Marquis Datara, you’ve come at just the right time! We’re going to have a duel to entertain the guests!”

“My goodness, you young people are full of energy.”

“As the host of the party, would you be our third-party witness?”

Without batting an eye, His Excellency the Marquis, who apparently was a third party, instantly agreed. How very interesting. The capital nobles seemed to have a different definition of the term “third party” than the rest of us.

Since it would have been too barbaric to have the duel inside, we moved to the courtyard. In a matter of minutes, swords were laid out before us. There was a vast selection ranging from short to long and thin to thick.

“Please pick the weapon of your choice.”

“With pleasure, Your Excellency.” Viscount Yanga hurriedly bowed and rushed toward a sword. With as little hesitation as if he were reaching for his personal blade, he grabbed a sword that perfectly fit his stature.

“I’ll have this one!”

They’re not even trying to hide their conspiracy.

I forced a smile and picked up a sword that was comparatively shorter and thinner. After examining two more blades, I realized that Viscount Yanga’s sword must have been the only decent one. The remaining swords all looked very refined, but upon closer inspection, there were small cracks beneath the surface of the blade.

In order to harden steel, you had to put it through a heat-treating process called “quenching and tempering.” Failing to reach the right balance of temperature caused the metal to become brittle and crack. Even at our laboratory, we had failed a fair number of times trying to produce lathes because it was so difficult to get the timing right. That experience now helped me examine the swords’ condition.

“Do none of these swords suit your taste?” Viscount Yanga asked with a smirk on his face.

He had not mentioned my name since earlier. Had he forgotten it? Not that unlikely with him.

“No, I am just hesitating because each one is a gem. As I mentioned earlier, I am not too great at sword fighting, so I worry I will break it.”

“Hmph, that was beautifully said. You’ve got taste,” Viscount Yanga praised my choice of words while suppressing the twitching of his mouth.

At the same time, Marquis Datara joined in the conversation. “As expected from a Sacula knight—you’ve got an expert eye. These swords were forged by a master blacksmith of the Datara region.”

I’m not sure you can call the man who forged these defective blades a “master blacksmith.”

They looked like they would break upon the first real exchange of blows. But then again, it probably did require skill to make brittle swords that look this good. What a waste of talent.

Was it a ploy so that the viscount could boast about his infinitely superior skill, given that both weapons came from the same master blacksmith? I was actually looking forward to seeing what explanation they had prepared. What a shame that I would not get a chance to hear it.

“I am hesitant to use such a refined weapon, but I will pick this one.”

Since the result would be the same either way, I chose a short sword of average width and length. It was light and allowed for agile movements.

Once I had made my choice, Marquis Datara ordered his servants to remove the remaining swords. After all, it would be bad if the tampering came to light. Although, most people must have noticed the unnaturalness of the course of events, since Viscount Yanga was a terrible actor.

Lady Alicia looked slightly nervous. She too must have sensed something was wrong. However, Count Gentoh strongly reassured her that everything would be fine. I was grateful for his trust, but what exactly did he think I was when he said, “He won’t die even if you kill him”? Of course I will die if I am killed. In fact, I had been killed before.

Although I did not remember the exact cause of my past death because I had too many past-life memories all mingled together, I had a hunch it had to be related to my recent nightmares. The feeling of the reinforced ceramic blade piercing my stomach was too real to just be a dream. How had an antiquity like that even survived? In hindsight, that was an out-of-place weapon. But then again, the nightmare where I passed out from inhaling exhaust gas also felt very lifelike. The excruciating pain of my lungs gradually losing its function...

Maybe one of them was the real cause of my past death while I had survived the other. Or perhaps they were just nightmares inspired by fictional stories. I did have quite a strong imagination. Regardless, the fact that both dreams made me relive the feeling of my life force leaving my body was undoubtedly a result of my past death experience.

And once you’ve died, your sense of fear is all out of whack. Fearless, I distanced myself from Viscount Yanga.

“Earlier, you said that you’re not good with swords.”

“Yes, indeed. I prefer bows and spears.” Followed by stones and daggers. Although if I’m allowed to include them in the list, traps and poison are my favorites.

“Hmph, spears, huh? I guess you’re used to long tools because of your upbringing.”

“Right, because I was a farmer. When I encountered the werewolf, I also fought him with a shovel and a pitchfork that were lying around. Luckily, I was familiar with those tools.”

As I just brushed off his taunts, Viscount Yanga became indignant. I even felt a little sorry for him seeing how ineffective his provocations were. But what was I supposed to do? I just did not feel any shame about being born a farmer, so there was no way I would lose my composure. Try something else.

Once our taunt warfare was over, Marquis Datara rose to speak. “Now then, we will start the duel between Viscount Yanga and Sir Fenix. I pledge, on my honor, that this will be a fair fight.”

That pledge was broken before spoken.

“I pray for a good fight and the safety of both,” the marquis concluded his little speech.

It looked like my inner voice had not reached Marquis Datara, who was now giving the start signal.

With a war cry, Viscount Yanga came leaping at me and swung his sword down from high above his head. It was a rather reckless all-out attack, but probably a good choice considering I had a defective sword. The weight and momentum behind this attack would have been enough to break my sword no matter whether I chose to block or deflect the blow. Therefore, I adopted an oblique stance and evaded the blow.

“Huh? Well played, you read my attack.”

Why, thank you, I replied in my head and continued to nimbly dodge his successive blows going upward, sweeping sideways, and falling down diagonally.

Viscount Yanga was not a gifted swordsman. Even with a generous assessment, I would not have placed him above the upper bottom tier. I had already anticipated as much when examining his build, but I could probably even take him on barehanded. That was exactly why I had accepted the duel, but I did not understand why he had challenged me with that level of skill.

Lady Maika would have knocked him down right after evading the first blow. Glen would have cut him down together with his long sword. But since I was his opponent, Viscount Yanga got some good exercise.

The viscount continued swinging his sword with no hopes of hitting me, and when it looked like his stamina was coming to an end, I decided to go on the offense. After dodging a downward strike, I lightly tapped the viscount with my short sword to make him lose his balance and gauge the durability of my weapon. Yep, this’ll break, I concluded, and took a few steps backward to distance myself. Viscount Yanga seemed somewhat relieved upon seeing me back away. He must have thought he could take a short break. Well, let’s fulfill his wish. This next blow will settle the duel, and then he can rest all he wants.

I charged at him and accelerated as fast as possible. At this speed, I could only run in a straight line. Viscount Yanga hastily adopted a defensive stance and I violently struck his blade with my defective sword. I put all my weight and momentum behind the attack. So much so that I bumped into him.

As expected, my sword broke. If we had been locking swords and pushing, I would have ended up defenseless in front of Viscount Yanga, but since I had known that my sword was defective, I had chosen a different strategy. Using the remaining momentum from my sprint, I slipped past the viscount.

I could see a smile coming over his weary face, but his gaze did not follow me. As the broken sword’s fragments were flying around, he had momentarily closed his eyes, and thus created a fatal opening. While he may have been convinced that he had won after breaking my sword, that was blind belief.

Coming out behind the viscount, I abruptly stopped in my tracks and held my sword— which had turned into a sort of dagger after breaking—up to his throat.

“Do you yield, Your Excellency Viscount Yanga?” I asked him from behind.

His back was shivering. As he carefully turned his head to confirm the situation, he stared at me in incredulity. He did try throwing himself forward, but failed as I had tightly grasped his collar. I was an experienced hunter—I did not let my guard down until I had finished off my prey. Since my opponent did not show any signs of giving up, I glanced at the referee, Marquis Datara.

“Your Excellency Marquis Datara, should I finish him off?” If you want, I’ll dispose of your lapdog.

Following a moment of hesitation, Marquis Datara shook his head and declared me the winner. What a coldhearted master, that he even hesitated at all. I shrugged and presented the broken sword to the cold-hearted marquis.

“I am terribly sorry. It looks like I was right. I did not have the skill to wield such a gem of a sword.”

If I may sing my own praises for a moment, “gem of a sword” was a great choice of words. While most gems had impeccable hardness, their tenacity and toughness were lacking, and that made them weak to impacts no matter how hard they were. In other words, they were brittle like that sword. That was a fatal flaw for a weapon used by a foolhardy soldier. From the beginning, my choice of words had implied that the weapon was defective. I’m glad they enjoyed my praise. If I had compared it to glass, they probably would have been offended.

In that vein, I probably should have put in a good word to justify myself for breaking the sword of a master blacksmith. After all, I did not want Datara’s renowned metalworking industry to suffer. Even though I had known that it was defective, the sword had still been an exquisite work of art. I needed to treat it with respect.

“It seems like I really should stick to farming tools. A Sacula hoe or shovel would not have broken like that.” By the way, those were not works of art. Just regular tools forged by an everyday blacksmith. “Trying another territory’s weapon like this really makes me appreciate our farming tools’ durability. A shovel and a pitchfork withstood multiple blows from the werewolf’s atrocious claws.” While the master blacksmith’s sword had broken into pieces after a single direct hit. “Maybe I should ask for a shovel next time I get challenged to a duel. I guess I am really not a skilled sword fighter if I cannot even wield a master blacksmith’s blade. Ha ha ha!”

Of course, this all just applied to me—I was a unique case. A bad sword fighter who had managed to defeat Viscount Yanga by barely exchanging any blows and without suffering any injuries. For anyone else, Marquis Datara’s metalcraft must have been excellent. I truly loathed my lack of talent. If there was anyone else as unskilled as me, they probably should also steer clear of Datara’s weapons. And maybe buy them from Sacula instead? Even our farming tools could be wielded quite easily in fights against werewolves, since they were rustic, unlike certain dainty, difficult-to-use swords.

I made the rounds and amicably explained to the surrounding guests the difference in Datara’s and Sacula’s metalworking industries using today’s example as an illustration.

While I was thoughtfully providing this helpful information, Lady Alicia had once again joined me. “Are you trying to abate your opponent’s influence?” she whispered.

“I am just doing a little follow-up because I broke the master blacksmith’s sword.”

This was unrelated, but apparently, during war the most military gains were made during pursuit battles. A pursuit battle was a sort of bonus fight that took place after winning a decisive battle, taking advantage of the defeated enemy as they were retreating. Just a little piece of trivia. Not related to the current situation in any way.

As I smiled at Lady Alicia, she reciprocated with an impish grin. “It really doesn’t get boring with you around. I’m really enjoying myself. I’m glad you’re here, Phoenix.”

After the uproar from the duel had calmed down, the crowd dispersed again to mingle at the party. Well, the Sacula faction at least. The Datara faction snugly gathered in one spot where they quietly moped. As a result, the Sacula faction could enjoy the party to their heart’s content.

It was understandable that the Datara faction was no longer in a party mood after losing in such a public and humiliating fashion. They probably would have loved to go home, but unfortunately, their ringleader, Marquis Datara, was the host, so they could not do that either. Besides, some of them were living here.

Meanwhile, my head was about to explode from meeting so many new people. I had not met most of the guests before, and following my showy performance, many came to introduce themselves. Luckily, Lady Alicia was happy to keep me company, and as a result, everyone kept it brief. They formally introduced themselves and invited me to speak again if the opportunity arose. Unlike a certain viscount, they were all very courteous.

“Sir Fenix, you’re very popular.” Ms. Raino approached me after I had finished greeting most people. “My apologies. I am sure you must be tired, but I couldn’t resist talking to you.” She smiled apologetically before also addressing Lady Alicia. “Your Highness, I sincerely apologize for the tactless intrusion and wasting your precious time.”

“I don’t mind. I didn’t think I could have the phoenix all to myself anyway. Don’t hold back, Officer Raino.”

“I appreciate your generosity, Your Highness. I’ll try to keep it brief.” Ms. Raino smiled at me. “Your performance earlier was impressive. It made me once again recognize the skill of Sacula knights.”

“Thank you.” But half of my former classmates could have won that duel. Without the sabotaged swords, probably even more than half.

“Heh heh, I like how your look implies that he wasn’t a difficult opponent. But you know, Viscount Yanga was runner-up in the last Royal Tournament.”

“Really? So, five years ago?”

“Yes, he put on quite a performance. Although he was a bit slimmer back then.”

“Ah, I see.” He used to be strong in his heyday. Five years ago, that should be right after Viscount Yanga’s coup. Most likely he used to properly train before becoming viscount and just lying on his back with his legs outstretched all day. “But that does not really say much about today’s duel.”

“Maybe, but he’s won several duels like this one over the last few years.” That said even less. Who knew what tricks he had used in those duels? “Anyway, after today’s duel I’m looking forward even more to the Royal Tournament, Sir Fenix.” Ms. Raino clenched her fist, convinced that I would participate. The beautiful and intelligent woman looked cute making that playful gesture.

“Yes, I think you can expect a stellar show.”

“Oh, you sound quite confident in yourself.”

Considering that someone much stronger than me was going to participate, I had all the reasons to be confident. I was looking forward to her reaction in a few days’ time.

Ignoring the meaning behind my smirk, Ms. Raino smilingly took her leave.

Once we had seen her off, Lady Alicia covered her mouth and giggled. “Officer Raino really thinks you will fight in the tournament. Well, so do most people, in fact.”

“But you seem to know who will actually participate.”

“Yes, she told me herself,” Lady Alicia confirmed and gazed at me. It seemed like she wanted to say something.

“Your Highness? What is it?” I tried fishing for information.

“Nothing.” She shook her head with a composed look. As always, she was great at holding things back.

“You know you can be upfront with me.”

“Thanks. But this is something I can’t say precisely because it’s you.” I wondered what I must have looked like at that moment. It felt like my disappointment was showing. “Don’t make that face. I’ll keep working hard so I can tell you someday,” Lady Alicia proclaimed with an unexpectedly cheerful expression. I felt a little relieved that it did not seem to be any bad news. Still, I could not help but wonder.

“Well then, I am looking forward to that day. So, make sure to remember. Or my disappointment will be immeasurable.”

“Heh heh, that much?” Lady Alicia chuckled and wiped away a tear of laughter upon hearing my obstinate question. “All right. I promise I will definitely tell you someday.” She went on to silently mouth my name as if to make a vow. For a moment, she averted her eyes in embarrassment, but immediately regained her composure. “Heh heh, it’s been a while since I had this much fun at a party, Phoenix.”

“I am glad you are enjoying yourself.” Looks like I’ve become quite the gentleman. Maybe I can become a senior gentleman sometime soon?

“People have started dancing. Would you do me the honor? In commemoration of this day.” She extended her hand.

“With pleasure, Your Highness.” I politely grabbed her hand and led her to the floor.

We stood out among the crowd, but that was inevitable as she was the princess. I would have also stared in their place. However, as a gentleman—and also personally—I could not refuse such a request coming from her. Thus was the nature of our relationship as it had crystallized two years ago.

The song started, but before I could make my first step, Lady Alicia broke out into laughter yet again.

“Is something wrong? I am not very confident in my dance skills, but you are not going to tell me that I messed up escorting you here?”

“No, not at all. You’re very smooth.” I had almost broken out into a cold sweat there for a moment. “It’s just that...I never would have thought we’d end up dancing like this when I first met you.”

“Me neither.”

When I had first met Lady Alicia, she had disguised herself as Lord Arthur. Even during the dance lessons at the academy, she had always played the male role.

“It’s so much fun being around you, my Phoenix.”

We both started our dance with a smile, and as the song progressed, our steps gradually became closer.