I quickly tidied my clothes the moment I realized the identity of my opponent.
Even though he was an invalid, he was someone I had to show respect to. The master, one of only three in the continent and the uncle of the Emperor, who embodies the Empire’s true power, was sitting right in front of me.
The Sword Saint.
His real name held little significance. After all, everyone referred to him as “Sword Saint,” and he surely knew that he could no longer live a life like before.
“Master” was such a lofty status.
It didn’t matter whether they had lived for dozens or hundreds of years. The moment they ascended to Master, they experienced a transformative evolution where all ties to their previous life were severed.
This was no mere joke or metaphor.
Their whole body was literally reconstructed. The body of a master born in such a manner defied all common sense.
They were beings capable of arbitrarily controlling even aging. I wondered if it was appropriate to even call them “human.”
And thus, Masters discarded their old names.
What replaced it was a “title.” A glorious new name that the people of the continent revered.
The Sword Saint had long since abandoned his past name.
Although he was still bound by blood ties, he deserved my respect regardless of his lineage.
After all, he was the greatest swordsman on the continent.
As I broke out in a cold sweat, the Sword Saint burst into a hearty laugh.
“Have I been too mischievous? I was only joking; there’s no need to be so startled. In fact, I was actually quite nostalgic. It’s been so long since I’ve heard informal speech… The last time was back when my nephew was lacking in manners.”
“It must have been at least several decades ago.”
“Yes, after I scheduled a day to give him a good beating, he became more restrained. Tsk, tsk, had he shown some spirit back then, he might have become a wonderful swordsman to succeed me…”
His voice carried a nonchalant tone. Yet the content was almost mad.
The bloodline of the Emperor is noble.
Even though the Sword Saint was an uncle, he was still a collateral branch. Yet to strike at one who may very well become the next Emperor was something that could warrant execution.
The fact that the Sword Saint was still alive raised two possibilities in my mind.
First, the cordiality of the late Emperor may have allowed him to overlook the incident intentionally.
Secondly, it was possible that the Sword Saint at that time was so uncontrollable that even the late Emperor would have hesitated to intervene.
Such a thought was certainly blasphemous. How could a nobleman, who should be the spear and shield of the Empire, be gauging the royal family’s affairs?
However, if someone were to insist that I place all my assets on one of the two possibilities, I would choose the latter.
The rumors about the young Sword Saint were truly terrifying.
It was fortunate that his temperament had softened with age.
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly and presented an awkward smile.
“I’m glad it was a short entertainment. However, if I may ask, why is the Sword Saint here…?”
“Because you called for me.”
At that unexpected remark, my brow furrowed.
What? Had I ever called for the Sword Saint?
As my hazy mind began to clear, a flood of memories rushed back. From the tidal wave that overtook my thoughts, I managed to filter out a few pieces of information.
Only then did I gasp in surprise and counterquestion.
“Did you perhaps not hear? I said I was going to slay that monster…”
“I heard. But what if you fail? Someone must take care of the aftermath.”
The faint smile on the Sword Saint’s lips drew a curve.
It was a satisfied smile.
“Of course, it was an unnecessary worry. You did well, Ian Fercurus.”
“You’re too kind. Rather, I might have stirred a hornet’s nest…”
“What matters is the result.”
His words were low yet carried a strong weight.
Such was the majesty of a great noble of the Imperial Court. My mouth snapped shut instantly.
“The socializing among the elves was a bomb waiting to explode at any moment. Even if the Saint and I had come, there would have been many sacrifices in the process of handling that monster. That is why I hold your accomplishments in high regard.”
It was praise that made my face flush with embarrassment.
I pondered what to say but ultimately bowed my head slightly and expressed my genuine gratitude.
There was no reason to refuse praise when someone would elevate me.
Having come this far, I decided to ask everything I was curious about.
“Then, what will happen to our relations with the elves from now on? Does His Majesty have a particular intent?”
“That matter will need to be discussed gradually.”
It was a response that was neither positive nor negative.
The Sword Saint was a genuine owner of the “Dragon Blood Script,” unlike me. Considering the weight each of his words carried, it was only natural for him to respond so cautiously.
Yet to reassure me, the Sword Saint added a few more words.
“We must see how the elves will respond. However, if they do not attack us immediately, then the Empire will have no reason to continue war with the elves. What would we gain by seizing barren lands like the Coniferous Forest? Furthermore, depending on the results of the negotiations, the Empire would also be willing to hand over some northern territories to the elves.”
“Hand them over? Are you serious?”
“How could I lie?”
The Sword Saint smiled at my question filled with disbelief.
It was the Empire that had repelled the elves, driving them from humanity’s land. There was no nation that wouldn’t be sensitive about the boundaries of its territory.
Naturally, the Empire was no exception.
Yet to say they would hand over land.
I could not understand that. The Imperial family was not one to welcome any reduction in the Empire’s territory.
Seeing my baffled reaction, the Sword Saint chuckled.
“Don’t think too complicatedly. There are still vast uncharted lands in the north. Even if we were to relocate some pitiful elves there, what harm would it bring to the Empire?”
“But to begin with, conceding territory to the elves… Ah.”
Just as I was about to quietly voice a rebuttal, I soon realized a fact.
The Empire would never willingly cede territory to the elves, who were nothing but remnants of the defeated.
The Empire only showed mercy to one.
“Are you thinking of incorporating the elves into the Empire’s citizenry?”
“That too is something we must consider gradually. The conflict between humanity and the elves has been entrenched for far too long. We need to resolve the remaining grudges between us…”
At first glance, it seemed negative, but there was a notable absence of clear intent in his words.
In other words, it meant that they were examining the possibility positively.
I was about to say that it might be a bit dangerous, but I quickly stopped myself.
Right now was when the Dark Cult had just begun its activities.
The more human allies we had, the better. Moreover, the elves’ power had weakened even more after the monster attack.
They wouldn’t stand a chance against the Empire.
Additionally, it wasn’t like the elves had an incredible reproductive ability, and by the time they would be ready to confront humanity seriously, several hundred years would have already passed.
A few centuries was an unimaginable length of time.
It took me less than a few weeks to gain recognition in the elven village, where I had once been seen as an enemy. The elves could only hope for the day they were likewise acknowledged by humanity to come quickly.
Above all, the Coniferous Forest presented an incredibly harsh environment for survival.
As I wore a complicated expression, the Sword Saint granted me a brief respite.
He sat in silence for several minutes.
A long sigh escaped my lips.
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s grace. In truth, I had also been concerned about the elves…”
“I know.”
The Sword Saint leisurely received my words, bursting into laughter.
“If the results had not been favorable, you might have been branded a traitor. Maybe my blade would have been stained with your blood, hahaha!”
Though he spoke as if joking, I wasn’t foolish enough to believe there was no blade hidden within those words.
It was less of a warning and more of advice.
A caution mixed with concern that if I didn’t act carefully going forward, I might be crushed at any moment.
Even so, I wanted to defend myself.
“I had no choice.”
Was it because my mind was still foggy?
The moment I uttered that one line, my mind went blank. Who was I even rebelling against?
Against someone I should have been respectful to, merely nodding obediently.
Yet surprisingly, the Sword Saint showed no sign of displeasure.
He even gave me a sideways glance that seemed to urge me to continue speaking.
Given that the water had already been spilled, I had to fumble for reasons that would wouldn’t go against the Sword Saint’s mood.
“There were specific forces involved in the conflict between humanity and the elves, and it was highly suspected that the Dark Cult was behind that force. I felt that if I didn’t throw myself into the fray to uncover the truth, I might end up regretting it later.”
“You might regret that choice in reverse.”
“I do not regret it.”
Once again, my voice emerged with strength.
My body flinched in surprise, but the Sword Saint continued to show no signs of displeasure.
Unable to endure that gaze, my mouth spilled forth my honest feelings.
“I realized this opportunity. The fact that the world I was familiar with was far too narrow and lacking… If I hadn’t chosen the elves that day, I would have settled happily in that limited world. I no longer wished to hate or kill an enemy without knowing the reasons.”
“Haha, how embarrassing to hear. And for someone who’s supposed to save the world, you’re far too weak.”
At the Sword Saint’s scolding tone, I averted my gaze.
I felt as though I shouldn’t have said that. Someone as strong as the Sword Saint would likely not understand my feelings.
However, the Sword Saint’s following words were in stark contrast to my expectations.
“But as a swordsman, it’s a good experience. The process of recognizing the ‘world’… You must remember that sensation. A swordsman must be able to stand upright like a blade within that world. Furthermore, if possible, it would be even better to shatter that world.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You’ll understand one day. And when that time comes, you will be able to receive my one strike.”
To reach a level where one can spar even once with a Master.
It was a distant path.
As I let out a hollow laugh, the Sword Saint brushed off his clothes and rose.
It seemed he was about to leave. It wasn’t even a few minutes into our conversation, yet he struck me as an utterly unpredictable figure.
Before he left, the Sword Saint pulled out a seal from his attire as if it had just come to his mind and handed it to me.
The seal, made of antique wood, bore the design of a dragon, symbolizing the Emperor’s power.
I already possessed a similar item. It was a seal that represented the authority to oversee the Academy branch of the Empire’s Intelligence Department.
Then, what did this seal signify?
The Sword Saint spoke as if it was nothing.
“The Emperor has decided to entrust you with full authority.”
“Full authority over what?”
“The Yuridina Clan.”
My mouth clamped shut in an instant.
I realized the significance of the seal the Sword Saint had handed to me was beyond my imagination.
“I will observe how you handle the betrayer of humanity.”
A test.
One that was almost akin to a trap.
Instinctively understanding this, I began to sweat profusely. To deal with a figure like the Yuridina Clan under my own authority was a self-destructive task.
It meant carrying a considerable political burden.
While at first glance it might seem that the Emperor completely trusted me, beneath that lay a far more chilling implication.
He would be testing me.
From my loyalty to the Imperial family to my political sense, he would be watching how well I could differentiate between public and private matters.
Even though there was no way I could possess such talents, being from the Swordsmanship Department.
My best bet was to feign humility and refuse this offer.
Having made my judgment instantly, I wobbled as I rose. Then I reached out toward the Sword Saint, who was already holding the doorknob.
“U-Um, Sword Saint! This is far too much for me…”
But the moment the Sword Saint turned the doorknob, I found myself closing my mouth at the sight of the incoming crowd. They were all familiar faces.
The Lady Virgin Saint, Senior Elsi, Emma, and the Imperial Princess. Additionally, there was Yulen, who looked somewhat annoyed.
The women quickly rushed towards me. They had been patiently holding back due to the Sword Saint, but they must have been itching to see me more than anyone else.
“I-Ian! Are you okay?”
“Master, is there anywhere uncomfortable? Perhaps that devious aristocrat from the Holy Kingdom tried to seduce you…?”
I couldn’t bring myself to grab the Sword Saint as I was swept away by the wave of women.
He merely smiled softly as he left.
“Be careful of romantic fortune, junior.”
It was truly a dire feeling.
That night, the place I planned to visit was determined.
It was a room filled with the scent of an alluring woman. From the dim lighting to the semitransparent nightgown inside.
She had once told me.
Such nightgowns were only shown to one person. Furthermore, the only man she had ever revealed even a part of her nakedness to was just one.
Senior Delphine laughed softly and asked me, “Did you come?”
I still had something left to do.
