Chapter 42: 42

Callavan von Jervain.

A man who became an adopted child of the direct line while Callius was absent. I'd met him once before inside the forest, but he wasn't a man I liked at all.

Or rather, ‘Callius' didn't.

And so –

The tip of my sword naturally deviated to point towards Callavan. It wasn't like I'd known he was going to show up, but things worked out.

Elburton was wearing a strange a smile, but just seemed to be watching the show.

"Callavan. What were you doing while we were fighting?"

I didn't add his surname.

This was not due to a characteristic.

It just came out naturally.

Not trying to suppress him, or something like that.

Perhaps it was just the will of the original Callius.

Because, he –

Was crazy to the bone, after all.

Still, he had been a Jervain, and proud of being a descendant of the direct line.

That's why he couldn't stand Callavan, here of all places.

This was not the forest, but the centre of the Jervain territory.

Because this place was Jevarsch Castle.

That's why, Callius' will was expressing itself so strongly.

"What were you doing?"

Callavan kept his mouth shut.

But it wasn't a silence stemming from admitting his faults.

There were many types of silence.

Most had negative connotations.

Callavan's silence proclaimed an injustice being done upon him.

With a sullen face, and clenched fists.

He was trembling.

Not from fear.

From anger.

"I am also grieved!"

The eyes of the Knights who'd been squinting at him now opened wide at his sudden scream.

"Because I know that it is my responsibility to take the lead and protect the North more than anyone else! So I am even more grieved!"

Responding to the charges of sin with anger was a more effective tactic than expected.

Because how it contrasted against his usual behaviour.

The Knights understood his meaning without even having to be told.

"I am not in a position to speak of them right now, but there were some unavoidable circumstances. As I struggled to save the Knights immured in the White Forest, my response was delayed. But I shall do my part and dedicate my life in the coming war, for the sake of my pride as a Jervain of the North. So please refrain from these unnecessary disputes and suspicions."

"Haaa."

What are you trying to say at a time like this?

"You mad, huh? The guy who farted is mad about the smell?"[1]

At Callius' vulgur sarcasm, Callavan stared at him silently for a moment.

"Callius. I know of the brave deeds you've performed on the battlefield this time, but I am the current direct descendant of the Jervain family."

Don't be so impudent.

That's what he meant.

"You said you couldn't fight for unavoidable reasons, but you heard of my deeds. Did you really hear them? Or did you see them in person from afar, trembling like a coward?"

Sreung!

Callavan pulled his the sword from his waist and pointed it at Callius.

"I cannot stand any more insults."

"What if you can't stand it? Are you going to throw down your gloves?"

Throwing down your gloves signifies that you are asking for a duel.

Callius had nothing to fear in that regard.

He'd gained confidence in his new skills, and his abilities were finally crystalizing[2]. He might've gotten sick of using them for the war, but a fight with Callavan would be a good test of his strength.

Bernard once said that he might be an enemy. That Elburton himself was suspicious of Callavan.

Judging from that, he was probably the main culprit behind this situation.

There's nothing good about keeping an enemy alive.

‘Once a traitor, always a traitor.'

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Those who would devour the northern parts of the Carpe Kingdom must be destroyed, root and branch.

Only then the North, and Carpe –

And I – can keep living.

While everyone was frozen in silence –

Callavan looked at Callius with sad eyes and turned his back on him.

"A lot of blood has already been spilled. There's no need to spill more between us."

"Are you running away?"

"If my blood and Jervain's blood should be shed anywhere, then it's on the battlefield, not here and now. Callius."

Ttt. Callius clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword.

"Aristocrats can't be afraid, so you have to dress it up to sound dignified. Is that it?"

Callavan's footsteps stopped for a moment at Bruns' sarcastic comments, but soon they started moving again.

Bruns was of course completely useless, but for now, Callius' lips curved in an arc.

Seuk, seuk.

"Oooh, this sword is really amazing. This red colour is weirdly ominous, like it's covered in blood."

Next to Callius, who was sitting cross-legged on a chair, Bruns was sitting on the ground, sharpening a sword with a whetstone.

Predator Sword – Loas.

There was also Lucen, that Callius had taken from Esther, nearby.

As the truce stretched longer and longer, Bruns had gotten anxious because he had nothing to do. This morning he said he'd found a good whetstone, and he'd been doing this since then.

"It's done! Master, take a look at this. A great job, even if I do say so myself!"

"Well…"

Predator Swords sharpened their own blades naturally when they absorbed blood. So Bruns didn't even need to use a whetstone, but…

"Not bad."

"Right?"

As it climbed into the ranks of Spirit Swords this time, the blade that had been serrated like a saw had changed into a normal shape.

It had become an impressive sword with a blade tinged with red, engraved with wave-like patterns that resembled animal teeth.

Reminiscent of the sharp maw of a growling beast.

It was a pattern that well befitted the name of the Predator Sword.

"Well done."

"It's nothing special! Heh heh!"

It was funny how he kept trying to prove his worth.

The variety of his talents was nothing short of amazing – although there was no talent in swordsmanship among them.

"By the way, master."

"What."

"You don't need this sword anymore, do you?"

"Why do you ask?"

Bruns was talking about Lucen.

Since there was the Predator Sword, the lower ranked Lucen was no longer necessary.

He kept wearing it around his waist as a spare, but ever since the Predator Sword had become a Spirit Sword –

He hadn't needed to take it out.

During the war, there were many times when he passed by Bruns while running around frantically and wielding his sword. Bruns knew it, so that's probably why he was bringing it up.

"Do you want it?"

I don't really want to give it to Bruns.

Even if I don't use it anymore, it's still a very meaningful sword for me.

"No. I already have my dagger. Besides, I'm not good at wielding a longsword."

"Then why?"

“… Miss Emily.”

Emily?

Emily's name somehow cropped up.

"I heard her mumble that the sword she's using has become too light."

"Is that so."

That might be the case. The blockages in her divine blood has been cleared, and that child prodigy is now walking her own path by manipulating her spirit power.

Of course, her physical ability has also increased exponentially, so her original double-edged rapier would no longer be suitable.

"That's something I hadn't thought of."

Bruns is quite smart.

Even at the aspects that I don't care about.

Of course, a father should take care of that kind of inconvenience.

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Even if the word ‘father' is still awkward, and even if I don’t think of her like a true daughter.

Either way, he's really sharp-witted.

‘If only there was some talent for swordsmanship, he would have been much more useful.'

That's the saddest part.

His body is naturally well-forged with strong bones and muscles, so he has the strength and stamina to never get tired, but he has no talent for swords…

It's not that I haven't taught him.

After that day, whenever I had time, I gave him a sword and trained him.

But his swordsmanship didn't grow.

‘No. Even if it's not the sword…'

If he turns to martial arts like Cedric, learning even a little will make him more useful.

Callius looked at Bruns with curious eyes.

Send him to Cedric, and ask to make Bruns useful.

Cedric already owes me enough that he can't refuse.

"Why, why are you looking at me like this? Am I doing something wrong…?"

"No."

Cedric is yet to return.

It will take at least a year.

Besides, now is not the time to think about that.

Callius shrugged off his thoughts about Bruns and pulled out Lucen that Esther had given him.

Life Sword – Lucen.

A spare sword. A sword given to him by Esther.

The proof of her defeat at his hands.

There were many such modifiers, for example the sword with which he used his martial skills for the first time.

However, it was now a sword that was not used often, because of the overwhelming superiority of the Predator Sword in comparison.

"Take it."

Whirlick. He smoothly turned the sword and offered the handle to Bruns without hesitation.

"Why not give it directly…"

He had a keen eye for detail.

He seemed to have already noticed that there was some connection between Emily and Callius.

After all, Bruns had been present when Callius first met Emily.

"Well. This sword must also want a master who'd use it more. So you can pass it on."

Giving it directly would be a little different.

Things were still a bit too awkward between them.

"Now, what's up with Callavan?"

"Oh, I don't know the details, but anyway, he's going to take command in the next battle and lead the troops on the battlefield… he was babbling about honour."

"I see what's going on."

From Elburton's point of view, there's really no excuse for kicking Callavan out, since he had been the one to adopt him as a son and even appoint him as the next Lord.

The only sin he committed was to not join the battlefield sooner.

‘It can't even be called a sin.'

The trait of a maniac was activated while we argued so I'd spoken of him that way, but that's all it was.

Since no problem has been revealed to the outside, it's natural for him to have the power of command.

Perhaps Elburton is waiting for me to do something about it.

‘That attitude of trying to test me is like he's my superior.'

But it's a reasonable attitude.

Unlike before –

Even if I'm still the same family idiot, there's a clear difference between one who has a use and one who doesn't.

"Bruns."

"Yep!"

"The guy you said was injured last time."

"Oh, you mean Allen?"

Didn't he hurt his eye?

Unless you reach a certain level –

If you injure one eye, you wouldn't have gotten used to the changed depth perception so soon.

"Call him."

"Yeah, okay. Then this, I…"

"Take it to Emily."

"Yes! I will obey your order!"

Stop making a fuss.

While I was observing the map of the battlefield spread out on the table with a grin, I heard somebody's voice.

"Come in."

The tent cloth was lifted.

A boy with blonde hair entered, looking a little anxious and perplexed.

"I heard you called for me."

"Right."

One eye was covered with a bandage.

The white bandage was stained with blood as if the wound hadn't healed yet.

"Is your body alright?"

"I'm fine!"

Just how a Knight should answer, even if he were on his last legs.

Although he was young, he was a Knight.

"Then I'm glad. I have a mission to entrust to you."

"Give me your order. I will do whatever Master Callius orders."

Good.

It was for the quest, but saving the lives of the Knights was repaid by the loyalty they showed me.

A debt of life must be repaid with life. That's how the Northern Knights are.

"Do you know Callavan?"

"Yes."

"He's probably got command of the battlefield this time."

I'll probably have to go to the area he assigns to me.

I'll either be assigned to a place to make a last stand, or asked to wait without any chance of being active.

Since there are Knights following me, there is a possibility that he will treat them as expendable troops and entrust them with absurd and bizarre missions.

"If he points his sword at me, I will do the same."

"By that you mean…"

"I'm going to kill Callavan."

"!!!"

No matter how the quest progresses, killing him is already a fact.

I have to kill him.

But not right now.

"You just spread the rumours."

Jervain's enemy.

And Callius, who says he wants to kill the adopted son from the collateral branch.

"If I do that, and he harms Master Callius…"

"Now that he has command, he might try to drive me to a dangerous corner."

There is a high probability of that happening.

"Then…!"

However, I rather welcome that possibility.

"It's not bad. It's better than taking orders from a chain of command with him at the top."

The trait of a maniac is quiet now, but you never know when it'll act up again.

Rather, it's better –

To stay away from Jervain.

"… I don't know. It's hard to follow your wisdom, Master Callius."

"Then you can just see it with your own eye."

How my plan unfolds. Even just one eye will be enough for you to see.

"What my orders will cause."

So now is the time to spread the word.

Going by the character of the guy –

‘He will self-destruct on his own.'

Editor's Notes:

[1] 방귀 뀐 놈이 성내는군 (lit. the guy who farted is mad) means to get angry at others for your own mistakes, translated here literally since no close idiom came to mind.

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[2] 물이 오르고 (lit. water rising) refers to plants or trees, frozen during winter, reviving in the spring. As a metaphor it is used to signify that some situation or ability has improved. The next sentence uses 바라던 바다 (lit. desired sea) to refer to a fight or argument you're hoping for, which might be a wordplay by the author (sea, water). Unfortunately, that can't really be preserved in translation.

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