Chapter 105 : Chapter 105

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 105 — Uninvited Guests (4)

“Iron Prince, I had something to ask.”

“Ask away.”

“A document arrived from the House Rhapsody of the Six Free Cities, requesting permission to bring an armed force into our Iron Kingdom. But before we could even review it, approval had already been granted — with your personal seal.”

“And?”

“Did Your Highness truly approve it yourself? From our humble review, their force was far too large and powerful. The phrase ‘to reclaim honor’ alone didn’t justify it.”

“Was it?”

“Yes. At that scale… they could burn a small city of the Iron Kingdom to the ground in an instant. If they intended it, even a major city would be at risk. Especially with their force including Rhapsody’s second son, Edan Rhapsody…”

“I approved it myself. So do not prattle.”

“……”

“I don’t see what you’re worried about. Whether their second son comes, or their firstborn, or even the grand master Hugo Rhapsody himself — within this Iron Kingdom, none can be a threat. Not while I am here.”

“Ah…”

“Don’t annoy me. Understood?”

“…Understood, great Iron Prince.”

The old retainer bowed hastily and withdrew at the prince’s irritable tone. He knew he couldn’t bear it if the Iron Prince’s annoyance turned to rage. In this palace, countless ministers and nobles had fallen for incurring the prince’s displeasure. The Iron Prince was right: within this steel-forged kingdom, nothing could threaten him. In this realm the young man reigned absolute — not least because his Executioner stood at his side.

‘He was in a hell of a foul mood.’

The old retainer tried to get as far from the irritable prince as he could. Yet oddly, the last glimpse he caught of the Iron Prince’s face was not twisted at all. He was smiling. Like a boy who’d found a delightful new toy. He looked truly pleased.

A lowly servant could never know why that madman rejoiced, why he smiled. Nor did the retainer wish to know. In this Blade Palace, those who sought to know too much always died early. And the old retainer had no desire to die early. That had always been his way.

“Excellent, Carlos……”

Even those final words he tried to erase from his mind — as if he hadn’t heard them, as if he hadn’t seen. It was a rule one had to keep to survive in Blade City.

***

“Damn it.”

“They defiled the young master of Rhapsody’s honor and brutally murdered a loyal retainer.”

That was the pretext they’d declared for war. But neither reason made sense. I had never defiled that young master’s honor. I had beaten him in a duel, yes — but it had been proper. A match sworn under the Goddess Refri. If they now insisted they’d been dishonored, or sought revenge for a loss, that was sophistry.

Under the laws of the continent, such a pretext did not permit a declaration of war. If I could properly lay out my case, other houses or orders that upheld justice would step forward. They said they had acted after hearing the testimony of the youngest, Toma Rhapsody; then we just needed testimony on our side as well.

“We cannot declare war for such reasons. Even if the Arena staff hate getting involved outside the coliseum, they’ll step up here. They’re worldly folk who pursue money and honor, yes — but they’re also devotees of the Goddess Refri.”

Tom said he would contact the Arena and seek help. But shortly after, he returned with a troubled face.

“They’re not answering.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not one or two people. No one’s answering. Even the top director, who always replied like clockwork, is out of contact. What in the world…”

Tom looked genuinely flustered.

Meanwhile I examined the second reason: they claimed I had brutally murdered a loyal retainer. Nonsense. I had killed no retainer of Rhapsody. If there was anyone whose life I took, it was one of the fighters who participated in the 「Infinite Duel」. If some retainer had followed the young master into the duel and died suddenly, I could understand that — but that would still be death in a proper duel. You couldn’t hold me responsible like this. Absolutely not.

“Hoo.”

As my face grew darker, Tom’s did as well — partly out of concern for me, partly for another reason.

“This is unacceptable. I will be a witness and help bring this to light. I was there that day. With my own eyes I saw that the duel wasn’t disgraceful — it was proper. In a tribunal I’d gladly ask a mage to search my memories.”

Tom was a staff member of the Arena. He was also a devotee of the Goddess Refri. He truly didn’t like the way things were going.

“This is far too strange. Everything seems arranged to drive Young Lord Arhan to the cliff’s edge.”

I sighed at Tom’s words.

“I think you’re right.”

“Pardon?”

“It looks like someone’s out to screw me over.”

“What do you mean…”

Tom tilted his head — then his eyes flashed.

“The Iron Prince…”

“Yes. This wretched situation looks exactly like the ‘storm’ he spoke of.”

A storm.

The word felt like an understatement. One of the continent’s Five Great Houses had declared war on a tiny backwater domain. Even a mid-sized city would quake in despair at such news.

The Five Great Houses’ influence — to put it mildly — was akin to that of a nation. Not five houses equal to one nation, but five houses each like their own nations.

“Tom.”

“Yes.”

“Leave. Even now.”

Tom said nothing. And of course — staying after seeing all this would be hard for anyone. This wasn’t a difficult “case.” It was a natural disaster.

I sighed and looked out the window. The people who had barely begun to gather in our domain trembled and voiced their fear. Some had already left. Just like that time. When Swordmaster Carlos had warned he would return, everyone had fled. And those who didn’t leave all died. Everyone but me.

So even if my neighbors all left again, I could understand. I could even send them off without resentment, hand raised. Truly.

But—

“Why would I leave?”

“Eh?”

“We’re friends, Young Lord Arhan.”

“……”

“Do I look like the kind of old man who’d run at a friend’s hour of crisis? Hardly. Even if staying here means dying in the crossfire, I’ll stay. Besides, I don’t have many days left. Rather than flee in disgrace and eke out a few more breaths, I’ll return to the gods after fighting at a dear friend’s side. Then I can tell my friends who went ahead — and the Goddess Refri — a tale of valor. That I met a fine end.”

“……”

“So don’t worry.”

Tom smiled.

“The Goddess Refri always said: when a great wave bears down, face it.”

“You told me that once.”

“You remember?”

“You also told me sometimes it’s wise to avoid the struggle. That we’re not as great as the Goddess Refri, so hiding until the wave passes can be fine. You told me that kindly when I was about to fight my Promotion Match for the Silver Medal. I remember. So why are you saying something different now?”

“Because my friend inspired me.”

“Inspired?”

“My friend Arhan said it then: that as a fighter who prays to the Goddess Refri, there is no avoiding the struggle. He said he would not flee — he would give everything and fight. That dying in a glorious struggle didn’t frighten him.”

Tom grinned wide.

“I think so too.”

Ah.

“So instead of wasting time, let’s devise a plan.”

Tom was truly a good man.

“There’s an old saying: even if the sky collapses, there’s a hole to crawl out of.”

“……”

“Let’s find that hole, my lord.”

A very, very good man indeed.

***

While residents left in droves, we gathered at the Karavan manor. There were five of us: me, Seol Yoon, Tom, Audrey, and Hailyn.

“I promised to see the end of the path of the sword with you — why would I leave?”

Seol Yoon.

“Let’s find a plan.”

Tom.

“Heir of Steel. If you die, my assignment ends. I’ve never failed a job, you know? I’m not staining my career. And I won’t die just by staying here. Great House or whatever — they won’t dare harm me directly, not with my dear husband watching. So I’m staying until the end. Hmph.”

The Witch Audrey.

“I liked this domain. If you hadn’t saved me, I would’ve died soon enough running around with Jerry Selfit anyway. A life saved — I’ll spend it for the domain. I wanted to build this place into a big city.”

Hailyn as well.

All five of us here had no intention of running.

I was truly grateful.

“First, we need to know our enemy. If you know anything, share it.”

Tom spoke first.

“I know about that mage.”

“How do you know?”

“How could I not? That grating tone, that distinct Mana pattern — a mage of the Free Cities’ 「Wave School」. People call mages from that school ‘Wavecatchers.’ They’re the kind of mages proper magi hate. They don’t treat magic as a discipline — just as a tool for war or a way to make money. Typical of those ‘cool’ lowlifes of the Free Cities. They’ll face anyone for coin and gladly join any war as mercenaries.”

“Any particular traits?”

“They’re strong. In raw destruction or conducting war, he may well surpass me. Witches’ magic is superb in the magical sense, but excellence in magic doesn’t always equal raw power. Wavecatchers’ magic evolved purely for battle.”

Prompted by Tom’s question, Audrey rattled off an explanation. It helped. A lot.

She went on about Wavecatchers’ traits and aims. The easiest way to deal with them: offer more gold. But no matter how much money I’d made, I couldn’t outbid a house that ruled the Six Free Cities.

“Don’t worry. They’re powerful, but shallow in scholarship, and weak in mage-vs-mage magical combat. I can neutralize him.”

The witch Audrey brimmed with confidence. And it wasn’t just words — she’d shown her skill before. She’d neutralized five Sword Runners in less than a second. She had already proven her worth.

Next, Tom spoke.

“We have no information about the army that will arrive later, so let’s discuss the vanguard. I probably know more than the rest here.”

“You do?”

“Those roughly thirty knights belong to a Rhapsody knight order. To declare quickly, they brought a small number. From what I sensed, none of the true core of Rhapsody’s forces were among those knights. The truly powerful knights will be with the main host.”

That was a grim thought. A thirty-man knightly troop — every one a Sword Runner. And that wasn’t the core?

“Among the vanguard, there’s one swordsman we must watch most closely.”

“……”

“I imagine we all felt it.”

We had no time to gape. At Tom’s words, everyone nodded.

All of us had felt that man’s presence.

“The man who delivered the declaration of war last.”

“……”

“Rhapsody’s second son.”

Tom said,

“Of those in that loathsome camp, he is the one we must watch above all.”

“……”

“Edan Rhapsody — a prodigy spoken of as the swordsman who will succeed Hugo Rhapsody.”

Tom didn’t stop there.

“I’ll be blunt. If I weren’t here… that man alone could butcher every living thing in this domain — including everyone in this room. Within two hours.”