Chapter 144. This Magnanimous Me Will Forgive You
At this moment, Lortel’s knights couldn’t think of anything at all.
Kugugugu—
The pressure of mana (Mana) tightening around their entire bodies.
As their breathing grew ragged and every muscle in their bodies clenched tight, the two hands gripping their swords trembled violently.
‘What is this…?’
‘Something like this… is possible?’
At the shocking aura, Lortel’s knights felt dizzy.
They couldn’t understand it at all.
Master of the Tower, he said?
They’d never heard of it.
And yet—who in the world was he, to be able to radiate an aura like this?
It wasn’t magic. Nor was it a release of mana power. This was practically… yes.
As if he were controlling mana (Mana) itself!
At the might the Master of the Tower displayed, Lortel’s knights trembled.
But only for a moment.
Bang—!
“Quite… a fierce aura you’ve got.”
The First Sword, Hamelan, released his own aura and scattered the pressure of mana (Mana). Dense Aether spread and seized the space.
In that, Hamelan’s seasoned eyes took in the Master of the Tower.
“But you didn’t think you could do anything to Lortel with only this much, did you?”
In a low, pressing voice, Hamelan bore down on the Master of the Tower. But why was it?
The Master of the Tower let out a small laugh.
“Now I understand.”
“…Understand what?”
“I was wondering, even before, because it seemed odd.”
“…?”
Hamelan narrowed his eyes.
Even if he’d momentarily overwhelmed everyone present, for the Master of the Tower, it was a critical moment.
And yet the man himself calmly surveyed his surroundings.
Did he have something to rely on? Hamelan briefly considered it, then shook his head.
“His body must already be at its limit—so why?”
As Hamelan reached that thought, the Master of the Tower’s voice slid into his ear.
“Stop with the acting that doesn’t even work. Did the Head of House send you?”
“…Hmph.”
“To confirm the Third Sword’s loyalty? Or to test the Mage Tower’s mage? Or was it both?”
“……”
“Looks like it was.”
“Hah.”
Hamelan gave a short laugh.
“You were probing me?”
“You could say that.”
Hamelan’s appearance had been suspicious from the start.
I’d raised my aura to imprint the fact that I was the Head of House’s guest, but for the First Sword to appear immediately?
Besides that, there were several meaningful things in Hamelan’s attitude toward Zeke.
- Oh? You’re awfully inflexible about obeying this kind of order.
It had a barb to it.
- That man is not an intruder.
- Then?
- …….
- If you don’t answer, then I have no way of knowing. Is that alright?
Despite Sir Zeke’s cautious stance, he’d stirred up unnecessary friction.
And that wasn’t all.
“If you truly thought I was an intruder, you would’ve cut Sir Zeke’s hand long ago and taken my head. But you didn’t.”
“I did mean it when I said I’d destroy your core.”
“Was Lortel so generous in its treatment of intruders? It wouldn’t be. You must have had something you wanted to hear from me.”
What—he wouldn’t take my head “in payment for saving the young lord’s sword’s hand”? It wasn’t even funny.
The knights of Lortel, said to be the strongest in the eastern continent—and among them, the First Sword—there was no way he’d be that soft.
Right after, Hamelan finally burst into laughter.
“Puh— pwahahaha.”
Hamelan’s laughter spread through the space.
At the situation turning strangely, Lortel’s knights couldn’t hide their confusion.
Even Captain Ekst, who had been burning with hostility just moments ago, asked with a noticeably softened aura,
“…Sir Hamelan? What exactly is going on right now?”
“Ah, my apologies. I’m sure this is bewildering for you. But wait a little longer. The story isn’t over yet.”
Hamelan ignored Ekst and cast his gaze at the Master of the Tower.
Then he readily admitted the suspicion.
“Yes, your words are correct. The Head of House sent me. A Mage Tower, a Sword Garden… He told me to verify the unheard-of rats who approached the little master.”
“So, did you verify to your satisfaction?”
“Yes. It was truly impressive—entering Lortel alone, leaving your companions behind. Ah, don’t misunderstand. Following after Sir Zeke was purely my own curiosity.”
The Head of House had ordered Hamelan only one thing.
If Zeke brought the rats, you step in and test them. And if they were nothing but worthless rats…
As long as their lives remained, you may dispose of them at your discretion.
“But you were unexpected in many ways. I thought you were just another common pest trying to cling to the little master… yet you had real guts. Who would’ve thought—puhuh!—you’d blow things up like this.”
The Master of the Tower’s moves were an upheaval far beyond Hamelan’s predictions.
Who could have expected it?
That he would raise such a commotion in the heart of Lortel.
It was lunacy no sane mind could ever commit. No—even if you were insane, it was a crime you wouldn’t dare.
“I’ll acknowledge it. You have the right to meet the Head of House. But—”
That was when killing intent crept into Hamelan’s smiling face.
“Still, you were too insolent. ‘Bring the Head of House’? Do you know where you are, and you say that?”
“……”
Hamelan fired a blade-sharp killing intent at the Master of the Tower.
“K—keugh!”
“…Ugh.”
It was so fierce that even Lortel’s knights staggered and groaned under it!
“If your goal was to make the Tower’s presence known, you succeeded. But you went too far.”
“If you insist on seeing the end, I won’t refuse.”
“Will you be alright? Your breathing is shaking. You look like you’re having a hard time.”
“……”
The Master of the Tower didn’t answer.
He only held Hamelan in his colorless eyes.
Had the Master of the Tower made a decision?
Kugugugu—
The mana (Mana) around them surged roughly.
It wasn’t a flow meant to show off presence like before. The mana stood up sharper, keener.
And then—
“…All of you, set your stances.”
Reading the flow, Ekst began organizing Lortel’s knights.
And that was when a deflated laugh echoed through the space.
“Puh— pwahaha!”
With that laughter, Hamelan’s aura vanished with a “pak!” The killing intent that had been pressing the Master of the Tower completely disappeared.
“…?”
Lortel’s knights tilted their heads at Hamelan’s sudden shift.
Soon, Hamelan opened his mouth.
“My apologies. My joke went too far. I didn’t think you’d refuse to yield even at this level. You all, withdraw your aura as well.”
Hamelan shook his head back and forth and turned away.
And as he did, he said,
“Captain, you handle restoring order. I’ll give a detailed explanation later.”
“…Yes.”
“And Master of the Tower—you will follow me.”
Saying that, Hamelan strode forward.
But unlike that cheerful back, his gaze was colder than ever.
‘This… the little master has brought in a truly dangerous one.’
Clearly, he wasn’t the same breed as those common rats…
yet it was as if you couldn’t see what was hidden at the bottom.
Still.
‘Cunning, yet honest. Shrewd, yet pure.’
At this level, it felt worth watching him.
As Hamelan moved—
“What are you doing? Not coming?”
Hamelan urged the Master of the Tower, who stood there blankly.
That was when the silent Master of the Tower spoke.
“Then does that mean you acknowledge me as Lortel’s guest?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Then, as a guest, I apologize for causing a disturbance in Lortel. I committed a great discourtesy.”
“Ho.”
Hamelan was impressed by the forthright apology, fitting of a man.
It wasn’t that the Master of the Tower was wrong—by the Master of the Tower’s standards, he’d barely escaped death from Lortel’s tyranny.
In such a situation, how many people could so readily offer an apology like this?
‘He’s quite bold. A large vessel.’
“Good. I accept that apology—”
Hamelan nodded readily at the Master of the Tower’s breadth.
No—he tried to nod.
“But I don’t think Lortel did everything right either.”
“…?”
“I’m not saying I demand an apology. The situation was simply awkward on both sides. Still, even in an awkward situation, if you’re broad-minded, shouldn’t you apologize? Like me.”
Hamelan stared at the Master of the Tower, dumbfounded.
“…My apologies. I will offer a formal apology. As Lortel’s First Sword, I ask your forgiveness for the rudeness.”
“This magnanimous me will forgive you.”
“……”
At the answer, as if bestowing charity, Hamelan briefly rubbed the sword hilt.
But only for a moment.
With superhuman patience, he suppressed the impulse and guided the Master of the Tower.
“…Now, follow me.”
Before bringing the Master of the Tower to the Head of House, Hamelan arranged the blood-soaked clothes.
“Change. You can’t meet the Head of House in that state.”
With that, Hamelan left the room.
Aster changed without complaint into the clothes the servants brought.
And then, a brief time alone.
“Hoooooo—”
Maybe because the tension had eased—
My body felt heavy and languid.
‘Seriously… I almost died.’
I’d tried not to show it, but my body was already at its limit.
Even though the fight had ended some time ago, my breathing still wouldn’t settle. My fingertips trembled, and even taking a single step left me short of breath.
But only for a moment.
“Are you done changing?”
“……”
At Hamelan’s voice, Aster straightened his body.
He wanted to collapse and shut his eyes right away, but this was still the heart of Lortel.
No matter that the First Sword had acknowledged him as a guest, until it was over, nothing could be taken for granted.
‘Now the real beginning starts.’
This was enough to firmly imprint the Master of the Tower’s presence on the Head of House.
But the Head of House wouldn’t fail to understand the purpose behind this act, either.
‘I’ve only secured the minimum qualification.’
So whether Lortel would become a dead ground (死地) or a living ground (生地) still wasn’t decided. All I’d done was barely bring the weight of the scale—tilted toward death—back into balance.
“Then, let’s go.”
“……”
Suppressing the blood rising in his throat from internal injury, Aster nodded. And then, the path walked while following the First Sword.
“It’s here. I sent word ahead, so you may go in.”
The First Sword stopped before a massive iron door.
With a pale face, Aster looked up at the door of the grand hall.
‘Beyond this…’
Lortel’s master was there.
In other words, the head of a great, towering noble house (名家) rivaling Deculan lay in wait beyond this.
Standing before the steel door, Aster couldn’t think of anything.
How he should present himself as the Master of the Tower. What side of himself to show to make Lortel’s master understand the necessity of the Mage Tower and the Sword Garden.
Countless thoughts evaporated and vanished, and in their place, only one thought rose.
‘This life’s Paharen… wasn’t as overwhelming as the previous life.’
Then what would Lortel’s master be like?
An unknowable sense of anticipation.
He steadied his breath.
Kkiiiik—
He opened the steel door and stepped inside.
And when he entered the grand hall—
A deep voice drove into his ear.
“So you are the Master of the Tower?”
Aster took Lortel’s master into his eyes.
His impression was this:
‘By no means…’
…is he beneath this life’s Paharen.
But.
The impression Lortel’s master delivered was ruthless.
“Disappointing.”
Thud!
The moment the door closed behind him, a heavy stone dropped into Aster’s heart.
“I heard you had earned the First Sword’s recognition, so I held expectations… but this is not below expectations, is it?”
