Guest (4)

The Heavenly Sword Lord spoke while gripping Ian's cheek.

"I'm not telling you to swear loyalty right here and now, Ian. I am a very patient person. I can wait as long as it takes until you open your heart."

"Mm! Ubu-bub!"

"But you cannot escape from me."

"Ubu!?"

"If you run away, I'll catch you and bring you back. If you hide, I'll find you and bring you back. You have no choice but to quietly accept my goodwill, Ian. In this matter, you have no say."

A gigantic obsession burned like a wildfire within his crimson eyes.

"Bup...!"

Facing those eyes, Ian felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

To receive the obsession of an absolute being who had reached the demi-god realm all at once—it felt as though the entire sky was gazing down at him.

A cosmic terror he'd never felt, not even when fighting the Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm.

No matter how strong of a swordmaster Ian had been in his previous life, the obsession of the Heavenly Sword Lord—a man whose realm far surpassed those Grand Dukes—was something he couldn't completely withstand.

—drdrdrdr....

"I enjoyed this honest conversation, Ian Greysel."

Darkan let go of Ian and stood up.

The obsession that had distorted his face was now gone, replaced with his usual warm smile.

"As I mentioned earlier, I'll handle this intruder matter neatly. I'll send someone to inform you of the results, so rest easy during your stay."

And then—

"One day, stand by my side, Ian. It won't be bad, I promise."

With those words, Darkan left the Lunabreeze Manor together with Kelbian.

—thud!

At the same time, Ian collapsed to his knees as if his soul had left his body.

"Wh-what just...?"

"I-Young master Ian! A-are you alright!?"

"My legs... won't move..."

Ian stared blankly at the Lunabreeze Manor.

Truly, there was no such thing as a free lunch.

That luxurious mansion was both his cradle and his gilded cage.

He never imagined the Heavenly Sword Lord would be obsessed with him to such an extent.

"To stand by his side..."

For Ian, who already had his own master, Yuria, this was a troublesome offer.

'... Still, it's not like the situation itself is bad.'

Though Darkan's obsession and demands would have to be addressed eventually, for now, the kindness he showered on Ian was tremendously helpful.

Regular stipends, elixirs sent by the Lord, the protection of Heavenly Sword knights...

Compared to his previous life, where he had to scrape by training tirelessly with Yuria on bare ground, this was a miraculous environment for growing strong in both safety and speed.

'It's basically being raised like livestock.'

Darkan intended to feed Ian well, train him thoroughly, and make him into a loyal hound.

For some, such a thing would feel suffocating and hurt their pride.

But Ian was a man who could handle being raised like livestock if it served his purpose.

'If I'm being raised forcibly, then so be it. I'll gladly accept it.'

Truthfully, Ian wasn't in a situation where he could choose recklessly.

His enemies were the Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm themselves—true calamities.

The established wisdom was that it took three Grandmasters just to bring down one Grand Duke.

And Ian's mission was to defeat no fewer than seven of those monsters.

To protect Yuria from such terrifying foes, pride didn't matter.

In fact, even devouring whatever he could get his hands on might not be enough to grow.

'But... swearing loyalty is impossible. I have only one master: Yuria.'

That was the one thing he would never compromise on.

He was greatly indebted to the Heavenly Sword Lord, but that didn't mean he could turn his back on the master he had already chosen.

He had received grace from Darkan, but he owed his salvation to Yuria.

From the moment he was taken in by Yuria in his previous life, Ian's life belonged solely to her.

She had saved him in his past life—so this time, it was his turn to save her.

'Still, when you've received kindness, it must be repaid. To truly return that favor, I need to become stronger. I can't be of help to the Heavenly Sword Lord with paltry strength.'

To repay the Lord's kindness, and to one day break free of him, power was necessary.

There was much to protect and much to repay.

The reasons to become strong only kept increasing.

* * *

Late morning, just before lunch.

The Heavenly Gold Pavilion, where Charlotte resided.

"H-he's dead!? Alex!?"

Upon hearing the butler's report, Charlotte jumped up from her seat.

"Yes. Early this morning, he was found dead, as shriveled as a mummy. The location was in front of Lunabreeze Manor's armory. The exact cause of death is unknown... It appears the security magic device was triggered excessively."

"T-that's..."

"And... the Heavenly Sword Lord personally visited the scene and confirmed the body."

"D-dad himself!? He visited the scene!?"

Charlotte's face fell slack in astonishment.

"Why would dad...?! Why would he get involved in something as minor as one guest!? There are so many people he could have sent instead!"

"I do not know, young lady. It is beyond me to grasp the Lord's profound intentions."

Charlotte's eyes trembled violently.

"N-no... Surely I haven't crossed the wrong person? T-there's no way I did something to make dad hate me...!?"

"..."

"S-say something!"

"... I'm very sorry, young lady. I cannot assure you of that."

The attendant butler handed her a scroll.

The scroll was stamped with the large seal of the Heavenly Sword Lord.

"The Lord has summoned you, miss Charlotte. You are to present yourself in the audience chamber this afternoon."

"D-dad, summoning me...?! N-no...! It's been ages since we met alone... Why must it be over something like this!?"

But inside Hisperion Palace, the Lord's orders were absolute.

Charlotte sulked for a long while, but in the end, she had no choice but to go.

Time passed, and afternoon arrived.

Charlotte, not even having had lunch, visited the audience chamber, feeling as if she had indigestion.

—murmurmurmur.

"Ah..."

She had thought it would just be her and her father alone.

But to her surprise, the audience chamber was filled with knights and civil officials.

"F-father..."

Charlotte bowed herself flat before the Heavenly Sword Lord.

"Charlotte Hisperion."

With the radiant sun behind him, the Lord looked down at Charlotte.

His face was hidden by the backlight, but his red irises burned as if they were embers.

"You meddled with my guest."

"A-ah..."

Charlotte's entire body shook.

The terror of facing the wrath of an absolute being head-on.

The anxiety of being hated by the father she so admired rocked her like a storm.

"Speak. Why did you do it?"

"I-I... Th-that..."

Her thoughts whirled with words, yet none seemed to be the right answer.

What justification could there be for tampering with the Lord's guest?

From the moment she'd been caught, there was no escape route.

That was why she had taken the trouble of hiring an Expert-level assassin.

She never thought they'd fall prey to something as trivial as a security magic device...

"I'll take your silence as your answer."

The Lord spoke coldly as Charlotte could only tremble and say nothing.

"You are a disgrace."

"U-ugh..."

Any chance to make excuses was gone.

All that remained was judgment and punishment.

"I ask you. Why did you send an assassin after Ian Greysel?"

"I-I never meant to harm him! I-I just..."

"Just?"

"I just wanted to steal Ian's greatsword..."

Even as she spoke, Charlotte was too ashamed to finish her sentence.

How could a daughter openly admit to her father that she tried to steal his guest's belongings?

"Shameful, Charlotte."

The Lord looked down at her with eyes gone cold.

"Ian is an important guest of mine. I promised him safety and peace, and invited him to the Heavenly Sword Palace. Yet you, as a direct heir, tried to steal from my guest. You've betrayed me and stained our house's honor."

"U-ugh!"

"No house of any standing would stoop to pilfering a guest's belongings. Charlotte. I am ashamed of you to the core."

"Uu, huuuk!"

Each time the Lord enumerated her sins, Charlotte felt the gaze of everyone present battering her from all sides.

The weight of guilt and shame was almost suffocating.

"But this is not your fault alone. As your father, I too feel responsible."

"D-dad...!"

"This is not a private matter. Address me as lord."

"U-ugh!"

"You're 15 now. Too old for childishness. I should have taught you responsibility as a direct heir much sooner. I was too late."

With blazing red eyes, the Lord commanded.

"Charlotte. The protection of the family has made you arrogant and petty. To teach you responsibility and independence as a direct heir, I will confiscate all your assets."

"Wh-what?!"

Charlotte's eyes went round as saucers.

"From now on, you will reside in the Dormitory of the Dragon Sword Hall, together with the other trainees. Until your disciplinary period ends, you will be charged a monthly fine of 15 gold. You must earn this money yourself without aid from the family, and to prevent any tricks, I will assign a Heavenly Sword knight as your supervisor."

"Wh-what! Th-that's absurd...!"

That was as good as being thrown out of her own home.

Having only ever worn and eaten the finest, how could she possibly adapt to a sweaty dormitory life?

Let alone a fine of 15 gold per month?

A new maid earned 5 gold per week—a sum equivalent to three weeks' wage for a laborer.

It wasn't much in itself, but earning it on her own was a different matter.

How was she supposed to do that?

Her whole life, she had only ever touched swords and jewels!

"Leave. As of this moment, all your property has been confiscated. Return to the dormitory at the Dragon Sword Hall."

"D-Da... N-no, Lord!"

"Is the punishment too light? Very well. From now on, even your daily essentials at the Dragon Sword Hall will be billed as debt."

"Ah, no...!"

"Everything you eat, wear, even the swords you wield—from now on, the family provides nothing without payment. Until you repay every last coin, you may not return to the Heavenly Gold Pavilion. Now go."

"Uu, huuuuk..."

Still trembling and on her knees, Charlotte finally retreated from the audience chamber in tears.

Her father seemed so heartless, but whining would only make things worse.

"Miss Charlotte. Welcome."

Outside the audience chamber, the butler had vanished, replaced by a slender female knight.

"I am Ophelia, a senior knight of the Heavenly Sword Order. I'll be serving as your supervisor."

"S-supervisor... Uu, huuuuk..."

How had things turned out like this?

Lamenting her predicament, Charlotte started to cry.

Immediately, Ophelia began to take out a photo-magic device and started snapping pictures of her.

—snap! snap!

"Hic!? Uu! W-what are you doing!?"

"It's an order to record any unusual circumstances with photos and report them regularly. I look forward to working with you."

—snap! snap!

"Wah, waaaaah!!!"

On top of it all, she didn't like her female supervisor.

Charlotte burst into sobs.

'This is all because of Ian! That dullard!!'

What did that dullard do to so catch her father's attention, that he would go so far for him?

'Ugh... just wait and see!'

Still reeling, Charlotte burned with competitive spirit against Ian.

'I'm going to prove it to Dad! That I'm more useful than that dullard Ian!'

She still had no idea what her father saw in Ian.

But whatever it was, if she could prove she was the better choice, surely her father's attention would turn back to her.

'Just wait and see!'

If she just proved herself better than Ian, surely this ridiculous punishment would be lifted.

He wouldn't let a gemstone as radiant as her rot in some poor environment.

'I'll go all out at the Dragon Sword Hall! Ian Greysel! I'll show you up with sheer swordsmanship first!'

Currently, fifteen-year-old Charlotte was a peak-stage aura user.

Among her peers, she had no rival, and even among the Hisperion direct line, her achievement was exceptional.

Meanwhile, Ian was fourteen.

A year younger, and unable to use aura—a dullard.

No way someone like him could be a match for Charlotte.

'I'll sabotage Ian Greysel at every single test! Make sure he can't accomplish anything!'

If Ian failed to stand out at the Dragon Sword Hall, her father was sure to be disappointed in him.

Then her own punishment would naturally end.

There'd be no reason to continue punishing his daughter over that dullard.

'Unless he miraculously becomes an Expert overnight, he'll never escape my clutches!'

The only people in history to reach Expert at fourteen were the fifth Heavenly Sword Lord, Ragnar—considered the greatest swordmaster of all time—and their youngest sibling, the genius Yuria.

In other words, Ian escaping her plan was unthinkable.

'Just wait! I'll crush you and prove to Dad I'm more valuable!'

Charlotte wiped away her tears and got to her feet.

'I'll definitely win Dad's approval! I'll be as spoiled as I want!'

Clenching her fists, Charlotte vowed she could do it.

When she imagined the Heavenly Sword Lord patting her head someday, a small smile even crept onto her lips.

Meanwhile, at that same moment—

Lunabreeze Manor.

In a secret underground training chamber.

Ian grinned while gripping Vladiark.

"I can't believe how reassuring this stored aura feels."

The amount of aura a peak-stage Expert had was throbbing within Vladiark.

Two weeks remained until the Dragon Sword Hall.

If he spent those two weeks consuming the elixirs sent by the Lord and absorbing the aura stored inside Vladiark...

"I'm guaranteed to reach the Expert level before entering."

Charlotte's scheme was already collapsed—before it even began.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

This Charlotte bitch is retarded.

【(ʘ言ʘ╬)】