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269. Engagement – Reason for Existence

Minseo was once again sucked into the familiar darkness. As the screen expanded and consumed him, texts floated in the air as if considering that he might not have read the ending credits.

[ Congratulations! ]

[ Lena’s dream has come true. ]

[ True Ending 2/2: Completed ]

[ Thank you for playing the Lena Raising game. You have cleared all scenarios. You may exit the game. ]

But there was no way to exit the game. Just a word stuck in place, Minseo thought, as he waited for the engagement scenario ending to dissipate into the ether.

Eventually, a new ending arose.

[ The beggar siblings scenario ending has changed. ]

[ Reriana de Yeriel ]

[ Final Job: Handmaiden to Count Forte ]

[ Marriage Partner: Dating Santian Rauno ]

[ Lean de Yeriel ]

[ Final Job: Valet to Marquis Benard Tatian ]

[ Marriage Partner: Dating Ksenia ]

[ Beggar Siblings Ending: Demon King Descends ]

+ Reriana, born in Rutina Castle… (omitted) …became an actress at the Orange Theater. Learning theater from Ksenia, she graced multiple stages but noticed her brother Lean de Yeriel’s strange behavior and questioned him. To help him, Reriana disguised herself and infiltrated the Forte estate. While digging into Count Hermann Forte’s past, she used the Count’s visiting patterns to find out about the beggar with a broken arm that was curious. One autumn day, Lean burst into the Count’s house. He tried to whisk her away in a carriage, but was captured by Duke Astroth, ending Reriana’s short life as she was thrown into Toridom. +

+ Lean, born in Rutina Castle, had a troubled childhood… (omitted) …received communication from Reb via a mirror and acted independently. He planned to go to the Conrad Kingdom to reclaim his {bloodline}, but Prince Eric de Yeriel would ascend to the throne next winter. With plenty of time, he stayed in Orville, dating Ksenia and enjoying life. One day while teaching swordplay to Katrina, he met a beggar with a broken arm. Intrigued by his use of court etiquette, Lean followed him and took on the request to investigate the ‘Rauno Family,’ relaying the requests of the beggar who once served the Tatalian royal family. Then one day, for some reason, Marquis Benard Tatian came to see him. He attempted to lure Lean with a good offer, and since Lean needed greater information to fulfill the beggar’s request, he accepted. With his sister’s help, Lean began investigating the Rauno Family and the ‘Royal Palace’ of Orville, but on a day in early autumn, a crisis struck. The silent king of the Belita Kingdom, Caroman de Tatalia, closed all churches nationwide and personally sought out Marquis Benard Tatian. Lean, once a valet to the Marquis, sensed danger and tried to flee, but was caught by Astroth’s eyes. Lean’s life ended as he was thrown into Toridom. +

[ Childhood Friend Scenario Ending has changed. ]

[ Leah ]

[ Final Job: High Priest ]

[ Marriage Partner: Single ]

[ Reb Gaidan ]

[ Final Job: Holy Knight ]

[ Marriage Partner: Single ]

[ Childhood Friend Ending: Defeated Hero ]

+ Leah, born in the village of Demos… (omitted) …enrolled in the cathedral’s educational facility she had dreamed of, but did not finish her studies. Amid news that the Evil God had descended upon Orville, the Cross Church busily prepared for the Holy War. Leah, meanwhile, received a calling from the Holy Woman along with Reb, who had just arrived in Rutetia. Sharing divine power from the Holy Woman, Leah flaunted her {holy} strength and immediately became a High Priest, but could not stop the ancient Ashin, Duke Astroth, who was ravaging the north. She was killed by Astroth alongside Holy Woman Maryel. +

+ Reb, born in the village of Demos, had a happy childhood… (omitted) …received a message from Ray Dexter via a mirror and began to act independently. Stopping preparations for rebellion, he went to help the distraught Hirie Gaidan at the Gaidan estate before heading to Jerome Holy Kingdom. He enrolled in the cathedral’s educational facility alongside Leah. Enjoying happy days while secretly dating Leah, but in early autumn of that year, Duke Astroth descended, destroying the Belita Kingdom and the Austin & Aster Kingdoms. Included in the expeditionary force, Reb fought valiantly as the last Swordmaster left on the continent, clothed in the Holy Woman’s blessing, but lost his life torn apart by Duke Astroth’s steel wings. +

…I understand the root of the problem.

Minseo sighed as he repeatedly read the ending credits, trying hard to turn away from the three photos that resurfaced. The problem lay in the previous childhood friend scenario.

– “No. Forget Sir Bart. Leave Hirie Gaidan alone. I have a great idea.”

The issue began with the revenge-driven knight, Sir Bart, allowing himself to attack Hirie and Prince Palace Tertan. Reb had warned Lean to let him be, as his clumsy rescue of Hirie during the last beggar siblings episode led to the invasion of the right kingdom by the Conrad Kingdom.

Hearing Reb’s words, Lean felt relieved. There was no urgent need to rush to the Conrad Kingdom, which allowed him to linger longer in Orville, until just when the engagement scenario underwent catastrophic changes. Lean and Reriana fell into the grip of Astroth.

Minseo swiftly reorganized his thoughts. Leaving behind the modern gamer’s perspective for the Leos. He realized many things while reading this ending credit.

Among them, the most significant was the reason for the Swordmaster’s existence.

The Swordmaster bestowed by the heavens.

The level at which one could wield the Oblivion Blade was, in fact, far from mere swordsmanship. It was a type of enlightenment, the realization that one’s sword merged with one’s body, resulting in mana building up in the sword; this Oblivion Blade wasn’t a sign of some advancement in swordsmanship.

In truth, {Swordsmanship.5v: Forte Lineage} was the height of swordsmanship we achieved, not differing much from Sir Bart outside of the Oblivion Blade. And here, all my questions unraveled.

– “While waiting for feathers or trim, Malpas. You must’ve felt great winning the war… Hehehe. If you don’t want to lose your wings for nothing, better toughen up. Your Swordmaster won’t just sit idle. By the way, where’s the one who ended our Swordmaster?”

Astroth had made it quite clear, but there were hints beforehand.

The Swordmaster of the Austin Kingdom, Baron Arpen Albasete, who had no interest in the war despite the kingdom declaring it, and Count Hermann Forte, who hastily sought to conclude the war and return to Orville.

Baron Albasete appeared to have been forced to stay only in the prince’s rear, which likely showed he was wary of the Ashin, Malpas, looking to swallow the Austin Kingdom. During the last episode, he hadn’t even participated.

Additionally, they all conspicuously surrounded the prince.

Whether Count Jacob Modred of Aster Kingdom fell into this category is uncertain, but from the perspective of the Ashin, who must ultimately take over the prince’s body, he would certainly be a considerable hindrance.

So how much were the Swordmasters aware of the Ashin’s existence? ─ This was the key, and Minseo gasped, “Ah!”

Sir Bart.

The knight blind with revenge was, aside from the Swordmaster, likely to be the strongest knight without any rivals, holding the key to the mystery related to the Swordmaster. He had answered Lean’s question in the last beggar siblings episode like this.

– “Why did you take the necklace from Hirie Gaidan?”

– “I don’t even know why I did that. In a way, it felt ominous, and I tried to snatch it and break it, but no matter what I did, it wouldn’t break. My companions only replied indifferently… Ah, could it be related to that Evil God you said the prince defeated?”

– “Yes. It was related. So what did you do with the necklace?”

– “I threw it into the sea.”

This was too bizarre. Why? How?

If not for {Godly Insight}, I wouldn’t be able to recognize the Ashin, and neither the priests nor even the Cardinals noticed Oriax’s existence; what special quality did this knight have that he could sense it? Did he snatch it from Hirie?

There was only one answer.

Sir Bart was destined to become the fourth Swordmaster controlling Oriax.

There was supportive evidence for this inference. In the fourth beggar siblings episode, I heard from his fellow knight at Noyar Harbor upon first meeting Sir Bart.

While he was hiding out at Noyar Harbor after losing the prince, it was said that Bart’s skills had skyrocketed. Later, he learned swordsmanship from everyone whom he considered comrades.

This was deeply related to the timing of growth and emergence of other Swordmasters recorded in {Noble Society} intelligence.

The two Swordmasters from the North, Baron Arpen Albasete and Count Jacob Modred, became Swordmasters around the end of the Nine-Day War. It was the time their fathers were killed fighting over the right to the throne, and their sons came forth, calling themselves kings.

Baron Arpen and Count Jacob Modred were both mediocre knights before the internal conflict broke out.

Arpen’s case was particularly dire. Coming from a barbarian background, he started his knightly career assigned to the Third Knight Order after placing in the Maunin-Letii tournament.

The order of the knight order is not particularly significant, but starting from such a low point indicates his initial skills were not remarkable.

Count Jacob Modred was of noble birth and started his knightly life as a royal guard. Interestingly, he only became commander of the royal guards after becoming a Swordmaster, and I’ve never heard of him having served as a commander before that.

He had a meteoric rise.

This implies that… maybe Baron Arpen and Count Jacob Modred became Swordmasters because Malhas was trying to split the Asran Kingdom in two? To counter the Malpas and Halpas that are divided among both kingdoms?

On the other hand, in contrast to these individuals, Count Hermann Forte walked the optimal path a knight could take.

Born in a prominent knight family, when he reached adulthood, he became the youngest knight in the First Knight Order, signaling the start of his illustrious career.

He became the youngest knight commander in history and the youngest commander of a knight order ever. Moreover, he became a Swordmaster by the age of thirty, remarkably right after Caroman de Tatalia, the King of the Belita Kingdom and the Astroth, ascended the throne.

If Count Hermann Forte, Baron Arpen Albasete, and Count Jacob Modred were divine forces arranged by the heavens to counter the Ashin, the same could be said for Sir Bart.

If Bart felt ominous vibes from the necklace belonging to Hirie, then what kind of feeling did they experience while gazing upon the Ashin, the king himself?

Perhaps, feeling intensely anxious, they shielded the prince and buzzed about the royal palace… This was Minseo’s speculation.

Thus, the seemingly simple happening of Hirie Gaidan and Prince Palace Tertan, which appeared unrelated to Lena and her friends, intertwined with Sir Bart and held significant meaning. We had merely used it to incite Marquis Harvey Gaidan to join the rebellion in the right kingdom.

Letting out a sigh, Minseo concluded his thoughts. Regrets ended here; it was time to consider what to do next. He recalled the quest bestowed by the gods.

[ Quest: Guardian, 1/4 – Barbatos ]

Are they telling us to capture your Ashin? That leaves Oriax from the Conrad Kingdom and Malhas from the two northern kingdoms, and Astroth from the Belita Kingdom…

[ Please choose a scenario reward. ]

At that moment, text rose above the darkness where the ending credits had vanished. As if saying that time was up.

Hurry up.

It was always like this. But Minseo brazenly continued pondering.

Do you not even give me time to think? How unreasonable. If I’m back like this, shouldn’t you give me something as a human gesture?

Nevertheless, the ending reward text from the engagement scenario simply radiated indifferently regardless of Minseo’s grumbling. Not expecting anything, Minseo acknowledged that indeed, he had time to spare as he reflected deeply.

This was the only reprisal he could carry out against that damn god.