Chapter 227
“Captain, we’ve arrived.”
Reb nodded. He pointed to the Gaidan estate on the hills and commanded, “Be mindful of your demeanor. We are the ones who need to express sorrow, so keep the commotion down. Report to me first if any issues arise.”
“Got it!”
Twenty young men replied with precision. All of them carried long swords at their waists and were dressed neatly like knights.
Their hair was also cut in a tidy manner, ensuring that no one would mistake them for barbarians.
They were a sword squad.
Last year, Reb had arrived at the Bijan tribe. The Bijan tribe, being his father’s hometown, was especially friendly to him.
They welcomed him for his coming-of-age ceremony, and while waiting for the ceremony at the year’s end, Reb incited the tribe leader and the people.
We are not livestock.
At this rate, we would be captured by slave traders, with the men toiling in mines and the women ending their lives beneath some man’s belly!
He pressured the Bijan tribe to rise up. Naturally, at the center of it was the great Swordmaster, Reb.
The Bijan tribe, whose livelihood centered around hunting, was home to many warriors. Being a tribe with a long tradition that birthed the hunting god “Barbatos” (though he no longer exists), they transformed into an army when the tribe leader declared war.
Couriers rushed out to fifteen satellite villages, and anyone with strength—young or old—armed themselves.
Of course, they alone were no match for the Orun Kingdom. Not a chance.
Thus, Reb calmed the excited warriors. He insisted on sufficient preparation and asked for a year to do so.
The representative of the rebellion against the Orun Kingdom’s tyranny, who volunteered himself, took on the task of training.
Reb demanded that the warriors become elite soldiers capable of excelling on the battlefield, dedicating his time to teach them.
The warriors learned the basic rules and military discipline required of a soldier under General Reb’s {command}. With the advice of the Swordmaster, their axe skills became more refined.
However, to be honest, the axes predominantly used by the warriors were cumbersome on the battlefield. Their heavy weight constantly drained the soldiers’ stamina.
Yet, there was no other choice.
It was unreasonable to expect swords for hundreds of warriors.
Even if they drained the Bijan tribe’s wealth, it was ridiculous. There was no way to procure swords, which were strictly controlled by the kingdom, in such large quantities, and the tribe’s economy was strained with the warriors training instead of hunting. The one year Reb requested was the limit.
Ultimately, rebellion was impossible without the help of nobles who had accumulated wealth over many years. Reb handed the training of warriors to the great warriors and shifted to the next phase of the rebellion.
He needed to persuade Marquis Gaidan.
Having done it once before, Reb felt confident. He took the carefully selected warriors and left the Bijan tribe.
These were young men who exhibited talent in swordsmanship. Reb distributed the swords that the tribe leader had worked hard to procure and devoted himself to teach them.
It was only three months of instruction, but the {swordsmanship instructor} achievement helped. While not extraordinary yet, he believed that by next year they would all become quite decent swordsmen, so he grouped them together to form a sword squad.
Those who could call Reb their captain were only these warriors, and they swore an oath of loyalty.
Solid.
Reb led the group of twenty, a mix of men and women, clattering up the hill. In front of the Marquis Gaidan’s lord’s castle, he shouted, “Come here!”
“Are you a mercenary group? What brings you here?”
“We’ve come to see the Marquis. He should be here. Please lead the way.”
Twenty men and women on horseback. The guards were bewildered. Noticing the unusual aura of the young man in front, they said, “Please wait a moment.” They brought the Grand Officer.
It was an elderly man Reb had met before. He approached without haste and asked, “What is the matter?”
“I’ve come to see Marquis Harvey Gaidan. I know he is here and that something has happened to the lady. I’ve come to resolve it, so please drop your suspicion and take me to the Marquis.”
“…Shouldn’t you clarify who you are first?”
“If you can dispel the surrounding gaze, I will clarify myself.”
The winter wind fluttered Reb’s cloak. The Grand Officer, gazing at the arrogantly raised head of the young man on the horse, said, “Please come in.” He granted them entry.
Soon, they arrived at the reception room.
Concerned that these individuals might cause a disturbance, the Grand Officer summoned five knights. Though they were armed with swords, it was a warning that any unruliness would be dealt with, yet Reb drew his sword.
Sssss, the sparkling white sword confirmed his identity.
[ Achievement: Monster Hunting – ‘1’, Mana faintly resides in the body.]
“S-Swordmaster…”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t come to oppose Marquis Gaidan. In fact, I’ve come to ask a favor. Now, will you guide me?”
“No.”
The Grand Officer calmly replied.
“I will bring the Marquis.”
A moment later, a very haggard Marquis Harvey Gaidan entered the reception room. He gazed at the orderly knights and the young man seated with a weary expression.
“I am Harvey Gaidan. I have been told you have business with me…”
“Pleased to meet you, Marquis. I am Reb.”
“…A commoner?”
“Yes. I’m also one of your subjects. I was born in a village called Demos, near Bosspo (a castle located in the eastern border area owned by Duke Gaidan). However, I’m not here to meet you as a subject.”
“Indeed. As a Swordmaster, of course.”
Did he come seeking proper treatment from the lord as the Swordmaster, claiming divinely bestowed status?
Of course, he was welcomed.
But the young man chuckled pleasantly.
“Ha ha ha. I didn’t come as a Swordmaster. I’ve come as a leader of a group. Will you clear the surroundings for me?”
“….”
The Marquis fell silent.
Realizing the reason, one of the knights answered on behalf of the Marquis.
“The guest should clear first.”
“…Ah, I apologize. I’ve been alone for so long that I mistakenly forgot. Vann, take the kids outside.”
“Sure! I’ll stay out.”
The well-groomed female knight gave a salute.
As Reb’s sword squad hurried out, the Marquis also sat down, leaving only two knights. Reb stared at the knights standing behind the Marquis, then spoke.
“This winter feels long.”
“…?”
“I don’t know when spring will arrive. There hasn’t been any snow… If this bitter cold continues, the soldiers will surely become lazy.”
“…If military discipline falters merely due to cold, it would be better to have none.”
“Of course. Yet, no matter how well-trained the soldiers are, there’s no avoiding the numbness in their fingertips. They will neglect even the maintenance of their gear. If the ‘shield’ starts to rust, ha ha, it would be quite embarrassing. Is that too excessive a concern?”
Reb looked clearly at the Duke of Gaidan. The Marquis adjusted his posture.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“You must have Punita. Yes, I’d prefer Punita.”
The two waited for the tea to be served. During that time, the Marquis stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The young man before him did not at all appear like a commoner.
How did he know about the Punita leaves? And why did he let on that he was aware?
“Punita” was a tea that only grows in the Jerome Holy Kingdom. The northern Duke of the Orun Kingdom, Marquis Evni Dragin, hoarded it and controlled its market supply (to sell it at a higher price), but he would share as much as he could with his friend, Marquis Gaidan.
It was widely known that I was close with Evni. So it might be an educated guess, but the noble conversational skills that the young man displayed from earlier were unsettling.
Worried about a rusting shield?
Ha, as if he knows my hidden intentions.
The handmaidens brought out the tea. The Punita, with its refreshing aroma, also had a delightful taste. However, Reb and the Marquis continued their engrossing yet baffling conversation to the point the knights were left bewildered.
The Marquis resolved to reassess this suspicious Swordmaster.
“If you are a commander, it’s only right to worry. Like you said earlier, it’s critical if the soldiers grow lazy.”
“If you were the commander, what would you do?”
“That’s a tricky question. Well, what can one do about the soldiers’ minds being complacent? I would have no choice but to enforce stricter discipline to ensure they fulfill their duties.”
“That is sound reasoning. However, that’s not the answer I was hoping for.”
“What alternative do you propose?”
“Instead of an alternative… ”
Slurp.
“What can be done about the biting cold? Humans can only accept natural phenomena as they are. The mindset that becomes lax is likely unavoidable as well. No matter how hard one tries, the cold will await them the following day.”
“…Yet, you must have a reason for asking.”
“Yes. How about replacing tools to prevent rust? The issue lies with the iron constituting the shields. If they were made of wood, one would have much less reason to blame a soldier’s state of mind, don’t you think?”
“W-What…!”
The Duke of Gaidan slammed down his teacup. The knights were bewildered, while the young Swordmaster feigned innocence.
Marquis Harvey felt the need to dismiss the knights. If he held such thoughts…
“Everyone, step back.”
“But Marquis, this person…”
“I said step back.”
At the Marquis’s stern order, the knights timidly exited the reception room. They were worried about whether the Marquis needed their protection, but he was more afraid of the conversation being revealed.
Slurping leisurely from his tea, the young man faced the Marquis and said, “You’re a rebel, aren’t you?”
What would happen if iron was swapped for wood?
Iron is a symbol of the Lognum Royal Family.
Since the days of the Acaian Empire, the Orun Kingdom, with its mountainous regions and mines, was known as the empire’s furnace, and the ruling Lognum family naturally became a symbol of all minerals.
Suggesting to replace it with wood was akin to declaring an uprising, revealing the intention that a commoner like himself would ascend to the throne.
This was ambition that should not be revealed before the Duke, a protector of the kingdom. Even a general, or even a general, would have had their head cut off immediately for such words in front of him. It was a hopeless endeavor.
However, this man was a Swordmaster. Viewed broadly, even a Swordmaster wielding a mere stick measuring only four shaku (尺) is still just a knight, yet the symbolism they carried was immense.
There were only three Swordmasters on the continent. No, now there should be four.
One of those four Swordmasters declared that he would become the king. The Marquis hesitated as the protector of the kingdom on what should be done about this person…
“So, what will you do? Will you kill me?”
That man’s words were correct. The shield was… rusted.
The one filled with ill intent opened his cunning mouth.
“The Gaidan family, which has shone with glory for generations, is not what it used to be. The heir has suffered a divine curse and died under a pony, and your wife is ailing. The lecherous princes only beg you to hand over your daughter… and in avoiding this, the Duke of Tertan’s son has passed away. I know that the lady is also gravely ill. She must be suffering from a mental illness like your mother.”
Now, this was no surprise.
He seemed to know my innermost feelings as well as the family’s secrets and affairs.
“I will ask again. So, what will you do now? Will you marry off your mentally unstable daughter to those lecherous princes? It’s a shame for the name Gaidan, that of the ancient holy knight and the great guardian saint of the Cross Church.”
“…Are you suggesting I stage a rebellion? To break the royal bloodline?”
He seemed to hesitate.
This was different from the last time Prince Lean de Yeriel tried to persuade him. The last time the Marquis easily yielded to Lean’s persuasion was because he was royalty.
The Orun Kingdom and the Conrad Kingdom used to be one. Though they split into Lognum and Yeriel, the roots of the two lineages were the same.
The last princes of the Acaian Empire.
The House of Tatalia of the Belita Kingdom followed the first prince’s lineage, while the Orun and Conrad Kingdoms followed the second prince’s lineage.
Hence, the justification.
Lean’s {bloodline} held the power to legitimize almost everything.
On the other hand, I was just a miserable commoner.
If I didn’t cleverly speak, I had no hope of gaining the support of the nobles if I didn’t pierce into the Marquis’s painful circumstances.
A miserable commoner whispered to the great noble of the Orun Kingdom.
“I apologize for my rudeness. I didn’t mean to imply a decision must be made immediately. Take your time to think it through. You may respond after observing how those twin princes behave. I can… wait.”
Reb exited the reception room, leaving the troubled Marquis behind. He flashed a smile at the relatives who were waiting outside, all of whom bore the surname ‘Bijan.’
Reb Bijan.
The Bijan dynasty would rise. In the coming years, I would be known as ‘Reb de Bijan.’
To make that happen…
“Vann. Hand me Nenato.”
“Here it is.”
Vann Bijan handed over the small Nenato (a cylindrical percussion instrument reminiscent of a djembe). Reb, holding it, marched forcefully towards the Marquis’s wife’s room, while the troubled Marquis Gaidan was about to hear thunderous news.
[ Achievement: The Man Who Melted Sierra Gaidan’s Heart – Gained slight favor with Sierra Gaidan. ]
The son who died under a pony—the room belonged to Havni Gaidan.
The entranced Marquis had given me his son’s room… In the round of the beggar siblings from the Belita Royal Knights, I learned to play the Nenato from Princess Danijela Tatalia.
It seems I resemble Havni Gaidan in some way. At least we were the same age.
Reb returned to the titular mother, weeping with joy, believing her son had come back to life.
While Marquis Gaidan, unable to collect himself as he embraced his wife, Reb stepped toward Lady Hirie Gaidan’s room.
[ Achievement: The Man Who Melted Hirie Gaidan’s Heart – Gained slight favor with Hirie Gaidan. ]
To drive the nail in further.
