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315. Childhood ep – Marisa

“Bart! Step aside right now! Leah, are you okay?”

“Dear!”

“It’s the enemy! Draw your swords!!”

As Captain Tadian Lofero fell from his horse, chaos erupted on the stone bridge.

The soldiers and knights guarding Lady Hirie Gaidan and Prince Palace Tertan readied for battle, while the former royal knights who had ambushed them looked utterly baffled.

Count Hermann Forte appeared.

But he looks… way too young? Smaller than I imagined, contrary to what I’ve heard.

Still, there’s that shining Oblivion Blade. No matter who he was, he was undoubtedly the strongest knight in the continent, and before this boy, the royal knights hesitated, waiting for Bart’s orders. Oh dear, even Bart was more flustered than they were.

Marisa, Bart’s wife, shed tears in front of her blood-soaked husband. She couldn’t approach him, and Bart found it hard to speak.

“You’re… alive. Really.”

“…Marisa.”

“Why? Why didn’t you come for us when you were alive?”

Marisa covered her face and burst into tears. The emotion that spilled forth was closer to anger than joy or sorrow.

More than a decade ago, her husband had gone to work as usual and never returned.

The capital, Rutina, was in chaos.

Amid the turmoil caused by Prince Eric de Yeriel, Marisa clutched the hand of her eldest while carrying the second, desperately searching for her husband’s whereabouts. It turned out from his fellow royal knights, who were brazenly still in the royal castle, that he had fled with Prince Lean de Yeriel and Princess Reriana.

Gasping for breath, she hurled her resentment at them.

“What about you?”

The royal knights couldn’t bring themselves to meet her gaze.

Those who had betrayed their honor.

But Marisa didn’t blame them. Caught in the storm stirred up by the two titans, Prince Eric and Duke Tertan, the royal knights were merely drifting reeds in the wind. Marisa understood their choices.

They must have families to protect.

But her husband… she found herself resenting his choice. What did it matter, honor and loyalty, when faced with a storm like this? He even abandoned the children.

In a street crawling with soldiers following Duke Tertan and Prince Eric, Marisa was in shock.

Her husband was a traitor.

There was no way to go home. That was the advice from the royal knights as well. It was dangerous here. Her eldest asked her,

“Did daddy do something bad?”

“……No. Your daddy… honored us. Come on, we need to find him.”

“Wow! Really!”

The two boys laughed innocently. Marisa set off on a long journey with her two sons, in search of a husband whose fate was uncertain.

And now, ten years later, the husband she thought surely dead stood alive and well. Covered in blood, still obsessing over honor, honor, honor! What was this honor even about? He was still sharpening his blade.

With tears streaming down her face, Marisa glared at her resentful husband. The emaciated figure of Bart, stripped of any flesh, lowered his head and spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re so cruel… sniff.”

She had prepared words to pour out upon meeting him. But how could he look so gaunt? His pronounced cheekbones melted Marisa’s anger. The sharp words she had planned to unleash disappeared without a trace.

It was her grown sons who supported her swaying frame. While the younger glared fiercely at their father, the elder’s expression was more complicated.

“Father. It’s been a long time.”

“…You’ve grown so much.”

The elder, who looked just like Bart, had become a young man. He married and had resented his father. He had many things to say to Bart upon meeting him.

But it all felt pointless. Unlike his furious younger brother, he had come to understand his father a little more.

“I’m a father now too,” the eldest spoke mildly.

“Father, you are going to be a grandfather. I got married last year. My wife gave birth to a beautiful princess!”

“…”

“You have to come see her, Father. Are you just going to stand here?”

“……”

At that moment, clank, the soldiers, now formed up, began advancing. The knights of Duke Tertan’s house, all prepared, stepped forward, and the tension eased. The knight at the front shouted,

“Traitors! Execute them on the spot! And is that not Count Forte of the Belita Kingdom standing there? I don’t know why you are here, but please help us identify the culprits. They are wanted men in our kingdom.”

In fact, the reason they hadn’t charged in was due to the suddenly appearing Swordmaster. Checking on Leah’s condition,

“Are you hurt? Sorry for being late.”

As Lev turned his head to apologize, thankfully, Leah had no injuries apart from a bruise on her neck. Lev spoke first towards Bart.

“Bart, drop your sword. I will handle this situation.”

“…Who are you? You don’t seem like Count Forte…”

“I am Reb Bijan. I am someone who has the authority to command you and your comrades. Sir Iron, you too should step back.”

“…How presumptuous. No one has the right to command us except His Highness Kaderik de Yeriel, so watch your words, young Swordmaster.”

Bart showed no sign of fear. Though not wielding a sword, he still gripped it tightly, causing Lev to feel a growing anger.

It might be because they were at the Irotashi River. It reminded him of the time Leah and he were tragically murdered by these fellows.

However, through Minseo’s memories regarding the Beggar Siblings scenario,

Lev understood Bart’s circumstances and found out about his role. Also, with Leah’s hand on his shoulder, Lev was able to speak calmly.

“Prince Lean de Yeriel sends word. Bart, there is something you must help me with going forward.”

Bart’s eyes blazed. He could plainly see his wife’s distress, but this much he couldn’t tolerate.

“Why do you speak as if the prince is alive… I wonder if your swordsmanship is as impressive as your lies. If you mention the prince before me one more time, I will kill you.”

…What? This bastard is unbelievable.

“Lev.”

“…Fine. Bart, you really think you can’t trust my words? Alright then, let’s see what happens.”

Lean swiftly turned his back and shouted to the knights of Duke Tertan’s house.

“Prince Palace and Lady Hirie, please step forward! I have something to tell you, and I wish to clear any misunderstandings.”

“What? That’s not Count Forte? Who are you? Identify yourself and your status.”

Lev felt frustrated. In the previous round, the 18th Beggar Siblings scenario, merely stating his name had sorted everything out, yet he found himself tongue-tied with every word.

This is status. No matter what he did, he couldn’t surpass the authority Lean possessed. The only reason he could speak this much was due to the visible Oblivion Blade, feeling quite constrained, Lev again reiterated a name that would likely serve no purpose.

“…I am called Reb Bijan.”

The stone bridge fell silent.

Who is that? Do you know? Was there a noble family named Bijan? ─ The knights whispered amongst themselves. Lev’s pride was hurt, and exasperation welled up within him, until finally, Leah stepped up.

“Excuse me. I’ll pass through. It’s me. I’m the handmaiden of Lady Hirie Gaidan. Why are you searching me? I almost just died!”

Somehow, Leah managed to get through the stern guards. She approached Hirie’s carriage and bowed politely.

“Lady Hirie, it’s me.”

“What’s going on? I heard the story. Some rogues attacked, and an unidentified Swordmaster showed up. Do you know them?”

The door was tightly shut. Leah felt a bit bitter and said,

“…Yes, Lady Hirie. I think it’s time to ask for that favor I promised before.”

“…”

The door opened. Inside was a magnificent carriage and a noble lady, in stark contrast to the shabby handmaiden standing beneath it. Leah straightened her posture.

“Lev… I mean, the Swordmaster wishes to mediate this situation. He wants to speak with Lady Hirie and Prince Palace… Do you trust me? Just grant us a moment.”

“Lady Hirie, it’s dangerous.”

One of the knights guarding her chimed in.

He was on edge due to the sudden ambush. It made sense why Prince Palace had brought fifteen knights just for a matchmaking.

And then, as if waiting for this moment, the unidentified Swordmaster appeared.

Rather than seeking permission to marry the Duke Tertan’s daughter, he believed they should be getting back immediately. Of course, the decision rested with Hirie.

“Hmm…”

Hirie gazed sharply at Leah.

Despite some doubts about the situation, she appeared perfectly harmless. Her eyes were clear of any deceit. Hirie stepped out of the carriage in response.

“I need to see Prince Palace first. Palace! Excuse me for a moment.”

“Wha, wha? Hirie. It’s inappropriate for an unmarried lady to enter a strange man’s carriage…”

“He’s not a stranger to me!”

Though they recently began developing feelings for one another, Hirie boldly climbed aboard a cart belonging to the boy who was three years younger.

While they whispered and talked, Leah looked at Lev with worry outside the carriage.

He’s not that kind of person… Perhaps because of that dream of the incident, Lev’s attitude was sharper than usual. Almost unfamiliar.

It appeared Lev remembered the past vividly, far more than Leah did in her dreams. He must have endured a lot… It’s heartbreaking.

‘From now on, I need to help him more.’

Waving her hand vigorously at Lev, who was also looking over here with concern.

‘Don’t make that face, smile!’ ─ Making a dimple with her fingers, Lev awkwardly smiled back. Good. Well done. Leah gently patted her own head instead of his.

And then…

“What are you doing?”

“Ah! N-nothing at all.”

She led Hirie and Palace forward. But this was just the beginning, not the end.

Tadian Lofero was dead.

The ones who should have been furious were on this side, yet it was Bart and his royal knights glaring angrily, while the Tertan Duke’s side was dumbfounded.

Though Palace was young, as the heir to Duke Tertan’s house, he bore the responsibility of exacting proper retribution. Furthermore, Tadian Lofero was from the collateral side of the Tertan Duke’s family.

Also, their overall strength was greater.

Including the two knights guarding Hirie, they had sixteen knights and thirty soldiers. Meanwhile, the opposing side had merely seven. Mediation or not… they could just capture them, but the Swordmaster complicated things by intervening.

Of course, the royal knights thought quite the opposite. If not for the Swordmaster, they’d have probably slaughtered them all by now.

With a grudge embedded to the bone. Did Bar be planning to resolve this with a misunderstanding or something… Bart crossed his arms.

Lev opened his mouth again by (pointlessly) reintroducing himself.

“I am Reb Bijan. Though this isn’t a pleasant meeting, I’ll make it clear. I wish for you not to fight, and that you have no reason to.”

“…”

“…”

Bart fell silent, while Palace listened attentively. However, soon enough, a moment arose where Bart raised his voice.

“Firstly, His Highness Prince Lean de Yeriel…”

“I warned you not to mention the prince in front of me!”

“He is alive.”

Bart blew up. He instantly reached for his sword, but sensed something off in the atmosphere. Palace and Hirie were nodding.

…Could it be? As Bart’s expression grew blank, Lev continued.

“Therefore, there’s no reason for you to be here like this. And as for Duke Tertan’s side… it’s a bit difficult to explain, but first, Lady Hirie.”

“Did you call for me?”

“Didn’t you hear your mother has awakened? It’s a bit embarrassing for me to say, but I healed her. Marisa here will testify to that. Ah, no need to thank me… just give me that cherished necklace you wore.”

“This? Why?”

Hirie pulled out the necklace hidden in her cleavage. It was a pinkish hue made of a mix of silver and copper, with a deep red gem at its end.

And in that moment, Bart felt a chilling sensation engulf him. A strange sound echoed in his ears… an irresistible command surfaced.

– Destroy it.

With a dazed demeanor, Bart stepped closer, as the knights shouted, “Stop!”

Yet Bart wouldn’t cease. When Lev stepped in to block him, what turned him around was,

“Dear! Please. I beg you.”

His beloved wife, Marisa. Bart’s gaze returned to him.