Chapter 115 : Chapter 115

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 115 – Fragment (4)

The Rhapsody legion blocking the entrance to the Karavan territory no longer had a cause. In the names of the Nine Goddesses and the Seven Lords, my innocence had been proven.

Across this vast continent, nothing was more absolute than divine proof.

The Rhapsody legion, who had come as supposed judges to defend their honor, were now nothing but thugs—deceived by a foolish young lord’s lies, inflicting violence upon the weak.

Even that alone was fatal to the Rhapsodys. But the reversal didn’t end there. With no justification to continue their campaign, the Rhapsody forces could no longer return to their stronghold. Their expedition’s sole justification was “Toma Rhapsody,” and now Toma was bound—immobile beneath the punishment of the Nine Goddesses and Seven Lords.

With divine retribution descending, they could do nothing.

There was no way to disperse the light cast by the gods, and even if there were, it would be the worst possible choice. Every believer across the continent would condemn them, countless Paladins would hunt them down, and the Sky Empire, the greatest power on the continent, would intervene.

Slaughtering everyone here to erase witnesses was impossible as well.

The Watchers of the White were guarding Toma Rhapsody’s side without blinking an eye.

The northern sword—the most solemn among the Five Great Houses—would never leave before completing their duty. Never.

Furthermore, if they withdrew and left Toma Rhapsody behind, they were as good as dead. It was a well-known fact that the head of House Rhapsody adored his son to a terrifying degree.

No matter his pride or honor, he would demand Toma’s return.

No one wanted to face the wrath of a Swordmaster who had forged seven swords.

Yes—the situation had been completely overturned. Just as I had planned.

***

“I greet the lord of this small land.”

While I was devoting myself to recovery, a man came to visit. He was dressed entirely in white from head to toe. Even without asking, I instantly recognized who he was.

“You’re a Knight of White, aren’t you?”

“Knight? Though we serve a single lord, we are not called knights. The world knows us as Watchers.”

Watcher. Calling himself that, the man fixed me with an upright gaze.

“My apologies for my ignorance of proper terms. Then, what should I call you, sir?”

“You may call me Sir Kalsen.”

Kalsen. After stating his name, the man calmly took a seat.

「Just from his face, you can tell he’s no fun. Those white ones are always like that.」

White ones, huh. Whatever that term meant, it probably wasn’t a compliment. Still, just as my master said, Kalsen’s first impression was that of “a thoroughly unamusing knight.” Or rather, the very model of one. Even so, just by the faint aura surrounding him, his strength was obvious.

“Young lord, not long ago you called for our aid. Our master sent us to repay an old debt.”

“Yes.”

“By that command, we came to this small land. While observing the situation, we witnessed the injustices the House Rhapsody committed and saw them violate the laws of the continent. Thus, in accordance with the Watchers’ duty, we immediately secured Toma Rhapsody’s person. For that, I must apologize. Though you are the rightful lord of this land, we acted without consulting your will.”

“It’s fine.”

“From now on, we will continue to guard the surroundings of Toma Rhapsody, the one who committed grave sins. Our original duty was to eliminate threats to your safety and ensure your protection, but the Watchers’ obligation supersedes all other missions. You will be compensated later for this matter. Furthermore, your right to summon us will remain in effect—it will not be consumed.”

When he finished speaking, Kalsen drew a pure white medal from his chest and handed it to me. It differed in form from the one Daisy had given me, but it was the same perfect, flawless white. As I accepted the medal carefully, Kalsen continued.

“And we request permission to remain here until Toma Rhapsody’s judgment is complete. If you permit us to stay, we will offer proper recompense.”

“You have my permission.”

The words “What kind of recompense?” nearly slipped out of my mouth. It would’ve been fair to ask—but somehow, before this noble knight, it felt best to maintain decorum.

When I didn’t ask, Kalsen smiled faintly.

Good—so my social instincts worked even on one of the Five Great Houses.

Sir Kalsen would probably go back and say, ‘Lord Arhan is a man of refined restraint, uninterested in greed.’ Then they’d reward me generously. A very satisfying outcome.

「Stop thinking like a cheap merchant.」

Liam’s voice broke the mood. While Kalsen still smiled, I coughed to cover my embarrassment.

“But must you really stay beside Toma Rhapsody constantly? I heard that since his confinement, you haven’t left his side even for a moment… But since the gods themselves have bound him, no one can touch him anyway. Couldn’t you just watch from a distance?”

“You’re correct. None among the Rhapsody legion could possibly dispel the bindings of the Nine Goddesses and Seven Lords. However, there is always the matter of ‘what if.’”

Kalsen glanced toward the window.

“No one ever knows what may occur in this world. That is why we will fulfill the Watchers’ duty completely, rather than waiting idly. Besides…”

The faint smile vanished from his lips.

“The current head of Rhapsody, Hugo Rhapsody, is infamous for his love of his son. If it were him, he might prioritize his son over his own duties and responsibilities. If forced to choose between the fate of the world and his son, he would choose the latter without hesitation.”

“……Is he truly that extreme?”

“Yes. His atrocities alone tell the tale. Young lord, you may not know, growing up in a small village, but Hugo Rhapsody’s deeds are close to the stuff of horror stories.”

A doting father. A man of monstrous eccentricities. That alone would make him an odd figure—but add the title of Swordmaster, and the meaning changed completely.

An unpredictable Swordmaster.

Even summarized briefly, that was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

Judging by his expression, Kalsen was picturing that same dreadful possibility.

“We can only pray that Hugo Rhapsody doesn’t do anything foolish.”

“And if he does?”

It was a simple question, asked out of curiosity.

Kalsen closed his eyes—then answered plainly:

“We will fulfill the Watchers’ duty.”

***

Karavan Territory. A small village on the outskirts of the Iron Kingdom—a remote borderland. By strange twist of fate, two of the Five Great Houses now resided here. Though a truce had been declared, tension still lingered in the air. Not that it was entirely bad.

“Those people—wow, their spending’s insane.”

Whatever the circumstances, someone had to manage the territory. That role had fallen to Hailyn. Having returned to her original position, she came to me smiling brightly.

“They’re spending money like it’s water!”

The Watchers of the White—and the Rhapsody legion. Whatever their reasons, they were still people, and people needed to eat and drink.

Their supply stockpiles were reserved for emergencies, so for daily needs, they purchased goods from the nearest village—my domain, the Karavan territory.

An army’s worth of customers! For this humble village, it was like gold raining from the heavens.

They even paid extra—refusing change, saying it was bothersome.

“At least we won’t starve anymore, my lord.”

The people of the territory praised me endlessly, saying it was all thanks to me. In their eyes, I was the lord who had stood against one of the continent’s Five Great Houses—a hero who had overcome a divine trial.

I told them it was all just coincidence piled on coincidence, but they kept showering me with compliments. Festivals broke out in the village several times. Though a bit awkward, it was good to see everyone happy, shaking off grief and fear.

“My lord.”

Of course, not everyone was joyful.

“We’re leaving.”

“……”

“We know it’s thanks to you that we’re all safe. We know your courage was brilliant and noble. But… who will comfort us for our father’s unjust death? We can’t stay in this land—thinking of him brings only pain. Forgive us, my lord.”

The children of the old guard. Some guards who had witnessed the tragedy firsthand could not rejoice.

Hailyn had given them generous compensation, but to peasants who had spent their lives harvesting crops, gold meant little. They simply missed their fathers—men who had loved stories, music, and family.

I could not say anything to stop them as they left.

The Karavan territory quickly regained life—but no one knew how long that light would last.

I still watched the legion that had yet to depart.

They could extinguish that joy at any time. If they so chose, I could not stop them.

My victory over Edan Rhapsody, the loss of his eye—it was all luck upon luck. To prepare for whatever tragedy might come again, there was only one thing I needed.

Strength.

As I was lost in such thoughts, someone appeared.

“Descendant of Steel.”

The Witch, Audrey.

“I know you’ve been through a lot. But I have to ask—I don’t know much about swords, but I can feel it. Your soul’s gotten stronger.”

She was holding a sword.

“Can you carry this now?”

「Flight」—the blade that held a Legend.

***

“Khkhk, so it all worked out.”

“Are they really ending it like that? I thought once a duel begins, it can only end when one of them dies. Hmph, that looked more like a game of children than a duel of orcs…”

“Human duels are always boring.”

Orc Elder Sherdik chuckled as he observed the events from afar. But his warriors—and his daughter Sherizik—looked wholly dissatisfied.

They’d come ready to rampage, only for things to end so anticlimactically? The mood had gone cold.

“Let’s head back, you troublemakers.”

As the orcs began preparing to leave, their faces long, Sherdik scanned the group.

Then he pointed to one orc.

“Except you.”

The orc he pointed to was his daughter, Sherizik—the unparalleled beauty born once in a thousand years.

“Eh? Why do I have to stay, Father?”

“Reading the constellations, it seems best for you to remain here! It will be good for you, too. Watching the successor of Steel is a rare joy. Truth be told, I’d rather stay myself.”

Sherdik chuckled at his daughter.

“Go on, leave some saliva on your future son-in-law, eh?”

Unaware of it, Arhan was facing a tremendous new danger.

“Make it nice and sticky!”

A truly colossal danger.