Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The Swordsmanship Genius Who Transcends Through a Pact Chapter 13

I'd expected to run into her, but I hadn't thought we'd meet like this.

She looked younger than when I'd seen her in Last Savior, but she wasn't entirely different.

Her gaze, her presence, even her demeanor.

She still carried the air of a quintessential knight.

“Then I'll be going ahead. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.”

“...?”

Johannes left first after saying goodbye, clearly reluctant to go.

And perhaps Larissa Vahen sensed my gaze in the meantime, because she looked at me with faint curiosity, gave a slight bow, and left as well.

“Hoo...”

When I turned around, Tarian had his head turned away and was letting out a sigh.

“What's wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I almost ended up in a troublesome situation just now.”

“Which one of them? Johannes Vahen?”

“Who knows.”

I was about to press him further over that suspicious answer when everyone's attention began shifting toward the center.

The head of House Vahen, and a Sword Master who stood at the pinnacle even among knights.

“His Grace, Grand Duke Luke Vahen, will now deliver the opening address.”

Luke Vahen.

The man who had driven the northern barbarians away and a hero who had repelled several high-ranking demons.

“Thank you all for coming.”

His deep voice, infused with aura, spread throughout the hall.

Even with every gaze focused on him, he continued speaking without the slightest hesitation.

“The Subjugation Festival, our annual gathering for fellowship and celebration, has come again this year. I look forward to seeing what the young generation can accomplish. Enjoy yourselves today.”

He finished his short speech and raised his glass, and everyone else began raising theirs one after another.

‘Hmm. I don't see any openings.’

Even as I raised my own glass, I kept studying the Grand Duke's body.

A knight who was practically a strategic weapon unto himself, and among them, a Sword Master at the very peak.

True to the title, merely watching him stand there was enough to make my skin tingle.

‘If I fought him with my current strength, I'd lose without question.’

Was that the level needed to defend such a vast territory through one's own strength?

How long would it take me to reach that realm?

While I was thinking, the brief formalities came to an end.

“It's strange to think it's already tomorrow.”

“At least it's fortunate you haven't undergone your coming-of-age ceremony yet.”

“Right. If it were the main Subjugation Festival, things would've been difficult.”

“If you'd had a little more time, it might have been different, but for now, yes.”

There was no helping it. The main Subjugation Festival was simply on another level.

The Subjugation Festival lasted several days.

I was participating in today's social gathering and the event held on the second day for those who hadn't yet undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies.

It was basically a stage for the younger generation.

‘The third day is when the main Subjugation Festival takes place.’

On the third day, nobles and knights who had already come of age participated.

The range was broad enough that even knights on the level of Larissa Vahen, whom I'd seen earlier, or Tarian could enter.

‘I want to grow faster.’

Maybe it was because I'd eaten my fill, but my body was itching to train.

Besides the first day, there weren't really many opportunities for me to stand out anyway.

‘I suppose I should enjoy a brief rest too.’

The final day was spent settling the results of the Subjugation Festival, with everyone effectively continuing to enjoy the social gathering.

It had a truly festive atmosphere.

Though knowing that the massive invasion was coming made me wonder whether this was really the time for it.

“I'm already looking forward to tomorrow.”

“As am I. Especially since the Grand Duke's children will be participating this time.”

“With so much talent gathered in one place, the stars destined to shine are practically decided already.”

“Haha, speaking of Count Zikel's...”

Since it was a gathering of nobles, conversations laden with hidden meanings passed back and forth.

Meaningless chatter, considering the future.

‘What a pain.’

Now that I'd eaten enough, I simply left the banquet hall.

Joining those conversations right now wouldn't earn me attention or bring me any benefit.

‘I do need a certain amount of influence among the nobles.’

But that would come after I displayed undeniable results on tomorrow's stage.

Right now, when I hadn't shown them anything tangible, no one would listen no matter how much I talked.

“Is it really all right to leave already?”

“They probably won't even care. Besides, I've gotten a rough look at who might participate tomorrow.”

“Won't the head of your family be disappointed?”

“Who knows.”

I didn't think my brother wanted me spending my time worrying about the opinions of other nobles anyway.

“Besides, their attitude will change tomorrow.”

“True enough.”

All the effort I'd put in until now hadn't gone to waste.

I could roughly gauge the level of my opponents, and seeing Johannes Vahen had confirmed it.

“I'm looking forward to this.”

“As am I.”

I glanced at Tarian in mild surprise at his unexpected words.

Lately, it felt like he was constantly talking me up.

“Hah. Never thought I'd hear that from you.”

“Because you're someone who will surpass me one day, Young Master. No, beyond even that...”

Listening to Tarian speak with such anticipation, I was about to head toward the lodgings we'd reserved when—

“Y-You are...!”

I turned toward the sudden voice.

Johannes Vahen stood there with his face slightly flushed, perhaps from drinking.

For a moment I wondered why he was pointing directly at Tarian.

“I knew it! Your voice sounded familiar! Tarian, you're Sir Tarian, aren't you!”

“Oh dear.”

“I wondered where in the world you'd disappeared to, but you were still in the North!”

As he hurried toward us, I glanced at Tarian.

“You know him?”

“Yes. I briefly instructed him in swordsmanship some time ago.”

“Briefly instructed me? You promised to become my sword!”

Tarian lightly pressed a hand to his forehead as Johannes spoke with his face still flushed.

Come to think of it.

‘Right, he was that kind of guy.’

Johannes had a considerable appetite for talent.

But to think learning swordsmanship from Tarian had made him want the man for himself.

‘Well, he is a good teacher.’

“I'll never forget the sensation of sparring with you back then. Yet how could you leave so heartlessly...”

I was about to agree when another thought suddenly occurred to me, stopping the words in my throat.

I quietly met Tarian's eyes and whispered.

“Don't tell me you beat him up too?”

Nod.

“And he reacted like this afterward?”

Tarian nodded again.

“That guy's crazy too.”

Now I understood why Tarian had gone as far as wearing a mask to hide.

“To be precise, I said I would decide after seeing how much you grew, Lord Johannes. And I currently have a lord whom I serve.”

“...”

“What?”

Johannes's gaze changed in an instant.

Wait, a lord?

You haven't even made your decision yet.

I looked at Tarian with that question in my eyes, but he merely smiled serenely.

It was painfully obvious he was using me to escape the situation.

“Are you saying you've become someone's retainer?”

“I haven't formally received my appointment yet, but...”

“Then I suppose I should speak directly with him.”

Johannes cut Tarian off and looked straight at me.

“I'll be direct. I'd like you to hand Sir Tarian over to me.”

“Why would I?”

“...I will provide suitable compensation.”

His gaze was utterly serious, but I had no intention of accepting.

“So again, why would I?”

“He's too valuable to remain in an insignificant territory. His Grace the Grand Duke would surely put him to great use. Wouldn't it be better for the North if you let him go?”

I held back the laugh threatening to burst out and pretended to consider his words.

Well, for an ordinary noble, he might have been right.

They probably wouldn't even dream of opposing the Grand Duchy of Vahen.

“You might not be completely wrong.”

“I knew you'd understand—”

“But I still don't want to.”

Johannes's expression stiffened slightly.

He didn't seem likely to back down just because I'd refused.

‘He is the Grand Duke's third son, after all.’

If I wanted him to give up, I needed a justification worthy of that status.

“How about this instead?”

“...?”

“Let's bet on tomorrow's Subjugation Festival.”

The word bet clearly caught his interest, and Johannes stared at me as if telling me to continue.

The situation was too entertaining to resist.

Without lowering the smile that had spread across my face, I looked Johannes directly in the eyes.

“Yeah. Sounds good.”

“You mean...”

“If I lose, I'll hand Tarian over.”

“Excellent news.”

“But if you lose.”

I slowly met Johannes's gaze.

“You hand over your sword.”

Winterbane, Johannes's sword and one of the famed blades possessed by House Vahen.

I didn't desperately need it since I already had Frostfang, but I was curious what kind of Pact was attached to that sword.

“My sword? Ha! Fine! That much is only fitting if I'm to earn a new sword of my own!”

He hesitated briefly, glanced at Tarian, then accepted readily, and I burst out laughing.

“I like how decisive you are. Then I'll see you tomorrow.”

“Sir Tarian, wait for me!”

Johannes immediately left.

I watched his back for a moment before turning toward Tarian.

“A lord, huh.”

“...”

“Can I take that as you having made your decision?”

Tarian looked at me for a moment, then sighed and averted his gaze.

“I intended to do so from the beginning. Still, that was rather cruel of you.”

“Cruel?”

“To wager me in a bet.”

“You think I'll lose?”

At that, Tarian looked at me for a moment.

“No.”

It was a clear answer.

* * *

After that sudden wager, the day of the Subjugation Festival arrived.

The rules for today's event were simple.

‘It's a game where whoever kills the most monsters wins.’

Various types of monsters had been released into a limited area, with different points assigned to each species.

At first glance it might have seemed excessively dangerous, but this was the Grand Duchy of Vahen.

High-level knights guarded the surrounding area, so safety wasn't an issue.

‘All I have to do is kill them.’

Enjoy the festivities in moderation, then cheer over the monster materials afterward.

It really did feel like a festival.

As I idly played with the hilt of my sword while waiting for the event to begin, I felt my brother's gaze.

“Ian, are you truly going to be all right?”

“Come on, I've already been through a dungeon.”

“That may be true, but...”

“Besides, how could anything dangerous happen with this many knights around?”

I patted my brother's shoulder as he continued looking worried.

“After seeing things yesterday, I think I'll need to work pretty hard myself.”

“...”

Perhaps aware of how the other nobles viewed me, my brother's expression hardened.

“Baron, there's no need to worry. I personally guarantee the Young Master's skill.”

“Sir Tarian.”

“Especially when my own future is riding on this event.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing worth mentioning.”

Unlike yesterday when he'd covered his face, Tarian was openly walking around without disguise now.

Since he'd already run headfirst into the troublesome situation he'd wanted to avoid, it seemed he no longer saw any point in hiding.

“We just made a little wager.”

“A wager?”

“It's nothing. More importantly.”

Feeling a piercing stare, I turned my head and saw Johannes glaring straight at me.

“Is he really that obsessed?”

The question occurred to me suddenly, and Tarian hesitated for a moment.

“It happened long ago, so I'd rather not discuss it.”

“If that's what you want.”

“Still, I do think I'd like to remain with House Rashid. Being with you, Lord Ian, is quite enjoyable.”

“Don't worry. Anyway...”

I'm going to be the star of this Subjugation Festival.