kscans

1

“Lord Bard, I’m glad you made it in time. The outer gate is closed the day before the Martial Arts Tournament. Prince Julelan will arrive tomorrow,” said Seifert, the commander of the Parzam Frontier Knights.

If one were to head straight northeast from Parzam, they would reach the Lordvan Castle. However, the distance is vast, with deserts, grasslands, and territories of demi-humans and wild beasts in between. If one were to travel while following the inhabited areas, they would have to head north first and then east, passing through the ancient countries of Seion, Tylra, and Gaineria in the central plains. For Bard, these countries were distant enough to barely ring a bell. Julelan had visited these countries to engage in negotiations related to military and trade, but it seems that his last negotiation had just concluded a few days ago.

Seifert expressed his gratitude to Bard. One of the reasons was that he managed to maintain good relations with the Gerkaast tribe. The Zoi clan was a large tribe, and their nomadic course crossed the human trade routes. Rather, as the Parzam Kingdom expanded, the trade routes extended into the Zoi clan’s territory. If they were to become hostile to the Zoi clan, it would be a major problem. Especially if the cause was the misconduct of a member of the Frontier Knights, it would be an irreparable disgrace that could only be remedied by resigning from the position of commander. Since the duel proposed by Seifert had not been accepted, it was ultimately treated as if it never happened. Engdahl stopped by Lordvan Castle and learned that there were skilled warriors and delicious food and drink among humans, and then left. That’s not all. Chief Engdahl said, “Someday, Nged Bard Rowen will come to the Zoi clan to eat and drink. Bard will surely invite Knight Seifert,” according to Seifert. This was equivalent to inviting Seifert to the Zoi clan’s territory. It was a groundbreaking event for the Gerkaast tribe to invite humans to a feast. Not only did they resolve the conflict with the Zoi clan, which should have arisen due to the sins committed by the knights, but they also gained the utmost goodwill. It was a great achievement for Seifert as the commander of the Frontier Knights. The Gerkaast girl Ichinikemi brought back the hair of the knight Garpla, who was her enemy. (t/n: not sure why hair)

Another reason was the change in the attitude of Knight Maitalp. Maitalp, who was the most critical of Prince Julelan’s reforms, had completely changed his attitude. His rebellious attitude towards Seifert had diminished, and they were able to have honest conversations. Seifert seemed to feel that this change was greatly influenced by Bard. The other companion, Knight Lahorita, seemed to have caused some displeasure by boasting too much about Bard’s heroism.

According to Bard, Seifert himself had gained the trust of the Gerkaast and the knights through his own behavior, and Bard was also benefiting from it.

By the way, the representative of the Goriora Empire is the youngest princess of the Emperor. Unmarried young members of the royal family will meet. Shouldn’t this be seen as having some meaning?

When asked about it, Seifert said that if they were considering the possibility of marriage, they would not introduce the individuals to each other beforehand. Furthermore, it seems that this Martial Arts Tournament is lacking in the atmosphere of a matchmaking event. It is common for one of the organizers to be male and the other to be female, so it is not unusual. This way, it is clear who has the upper hand, making disputes less likely to occur. Furthermore, if they inquired further, they learned that the marriage situation was delicate.

Due to the Parzam Kingdom’s conquest of the powerful western countries, tensions with the even larger western country have increased. The Goriora Empire had just won a war against a major northern country and had reduced its territory, so the possibility of another war breaking out was high. In other words, for now, the Parzam Kingdom and the Goriora Empire have a common interest in not wanting to directly engage in conflict.

However, the two countries do not share a border and have never directly fought a war. As both have expanded their territories in recent years, the day may come when they compete for hegemony in the central part of the continent, but there is no immediate need for them to enter into a mutual non-aggression treaty secured by marriage.

Even as a sign of friendship between the two countries, the princess who was married off to influential people within the country is more suitable than the youngest princess, whose mother’s status is too low. In other words, it is inappropriate for them to propose a marriage alliance.

As for the Parzam side, two ducal families are currently trying to marry their princesses to Prince Julelan. It is unlikely that someone would try to outdo them by pursuing a marriage proposal with a princess from another country. After the Martial Arts Tournament, which is currently being organized, and after gaining achievements through visits and negotiations with various cities and countries, the coronation ceremony is expected to take place. That should take priority, Seifert said.

2

Prince Julelan called for Bard immediately after receiving greetings from the senior members of both knight orders on the day of his arrival. Bard was informed of a fact he did not know.

“Grandfather, it’s good to see you looking well. After you sent the letter announcing your departure, mother called for Lady Galliera. She bowed her head and asked her to send you off happily since you had devoted yourself to the Tercia family all this time and were finally starting to live for yourself. Galliera and everyone else were worried about how much you aged after the passing of Uncle Linz. They all hoped that the journey would bring you back to good health. That’s why they sent Cedermont, actually, to bid you farewell. We were all delighted to see you making a grand commotion at the Count of Linz’s mansion. Everyone was overjoyed to hear the story.”

Julelan referred to the previous head of the esteemed Tercia family, Vora, as his uncle. Julelan’s mother was Vora’s sister, making her Galliera’s aunt, the current head of the family. Two years ago, Bard retired from his forty-year service to the Tercia family and set out on a journey.

The princess said such things.

The princess mentioned such things. Idora felt grateful for Galliera’s understanding and acceptance. However, Galliera, Cedermont, and Julelan all seemed to expect too much from him, and he smiled wryly. Perhaps it was because the impression of Bard in his prime was still strong, but physical and mental strength decline as one grows older.

“I see. You’ve adopted an heir. Karz Rowen. He can be considered your direct disciple along with me and Cedermont Expenler. He will be my junior from now on. Hm? Grandfather, why are you laughing? Ah, and your mansion is untouched. I borrowed some money for a while. The armor needs maintenance, so it’s on loan. Young knights are living in the mansion. It would be good to pay a visit to the Tercia family with Karz. I will also write a letter,” Julelan said.

Bard didn’t disclose Karz’s original name or background to Julelan, and Julelan didn’t inquire about it. This kind of exchange was pleasant for Bard.

“Since you happened to be here at this time, you must have wanted to see the Martial Arts Tournament. As the host, I have the authority to invite you and Karz as representatives of the guest country. Currently, it’s held between two countries, but in the past, various Frontier factions from multiple countries competed in martial arts. Countries other than those sending their own delegations can also participate through invitation. It’s customary to treat major lordships as independent countries. You are the representative of the Grand Lordship of Jiguenza. The invited countries are not just spectators. While they cannot compete for rankings, they can have champions in each division and showcase exhibition matches. You will participate in the fourth division, and Karz will participate in the fifth division. Yes, this is becoming quite exciting, Chantillion.”

“Yes.”

The only remaining guard in the room responded. Chantillion Graybuster. He was a knight who had once served as an escort alongside Seifert for the envoy from the Bali Toad. He was acquainted with Bard as well.

“What do you think of Karz Rowen?” Julelan asked. By that, he meant how strong Karz was. Julelan seemed to think that Karz was quite strong.

“I don’t know. His strength is unreadable,” Chantillion replied. ========================================

“Oh, really? To make you say something like that. This only makes it more exciting. As you know, there is now a vacant spot in the fifth division. It would be inappropriate to openly redo the selection process. So, I’ve decided to send Chantillion. We’ll call it the whims of the prince, who wanted to see the new captain of the Royal Guard.”

With Julelan becoming the lord of the Hien Palace, Chantillion was appointed as the captain of the Royal Guard and served as the bodyguard of Prince Julelan, not the king. There was some reason behind this.

The Graybuster Earl family was a branch of the Agoride Duke family. The Agoride Ducal family was supposed to produce the next king after the late king. In other words, the deceased crown prince belonged to the bloodline of the Agoride family. However, both the crown prince and the king passed away, and King Wendelland ascended the throne. Consequently, despite bearing immense military expenses, the Agoride family couldn’t secure their own king. Not only that, but the mother of the crown prince couldn’t attain the highest authority in the harem because her son never became the king. In consideration of the Agoride family, the Senate proposed several attractive positions. One of them was the captain of the Royal Guard. While not a position befitting a high-ranking noble, it held influence in various aspects of the court and allowed for the establishment of connections. Moreover, if the former captain of the Royal Guard were to lead a large army in a significant war, they could become a general. Of course, if an inexperienced young person were appointed, it would become a laughingstock. Fortunately, there was a person named Chantillion in the Agoride branch family who possessed exceptional swordsmanship skills while having noble blood. The king agreed to approve him as Prince Julelan’s bodyguard. He was a person who was considered the most likely successor to the king and had been entrusted with representing the king. It wasn’t unnatural for the captain of the Royal Guard to serve as his protector. Thus, a young captain of the Royal Guard was born. After serving a certain period as the captain of the Royal Guard, he would take on a more prominent position provided by the Privy Council and eventually join the main Agoride family.

Seifert was worried about Chantillion. He was a young man with extraordinary swordsmanship, a rarity among ordinary people, and had a straightforward temperament. However, his lineage was too good. The Graybuster family itself was a prestigious family, and it would be even more so if he became part of the Agoride family. People who flattered him constantly surrounded Chantillion. If things continued this way, his sword and his heart would become warped. He would become a shallow and stubborn knight without depth. Seifert had confided this to Bard.

It wasn’t something to be casually discussed with foreigners. It showed how much Seifert trusted Bard. Although no immediate advice came to mind, Bard nodded understanding the weight of the matter while trying to comprehend it. In any case, they had to see Chantillion’s swordsmanship at the Martial Arts Tournament.

Nevertheless, it was delightful to be able to watch the martial arts tournament, but it was cruel to make this old body fight. Julelan, that mischievous boy, Bard chuckled, thinking that he never changed.

3

As soon as they returned to the room, a servant arrived, announcing the visit of the commanders of the Frontier Knight Orders from both countries. The ones who came were Taidé Nowingue, the Frontier Order Commander of the Goriora Empire, and Keiba Kohou, the Vice Commander. In addition, there were Seifert Bowen, the Frontier Order Commander of the Parzam Kingdom, and Maitalp Yagan, the First Battalion Commander.

Until just now, Bard’s position was that of a guest invited by the King of Parzam, so it had no relevance to the Goriora Empire. However, now that he had become the representative of the invited country for the Martial Arts Tournament, the responsible organizers, the commanders of the Knight Orders, came to greet him.

Maitalp took on the role of introducing them and first introduced Taidé and Keiba to Bard and Karz. Then he introduced Bard and Karz to the two of them. After that, Taidé and Keiba exchanged greetings, but it felt somewhat strange. Especially Keiba’s greeting was peculiar.

“I am Vice Commander Keiba Kohou, Viscount Shyarato. It is the utmost honor to meet the renowned two of you face to face. I, unfortunately, wield the Battle Hammer. If I may be so rude, where is Lord Godon Zarkos?”

“Lord Godon Zarkos has completed his journey and is diligently fulfilling his duties as a lord,” Bard answered. As he replied, doubts swirled in his mind. What did he mean by “the renowned two of you”? How did he know about Godon Zarkos? Seifert seemed to have something he wanted to say. Bard felt like he was being deceived, as if he had been sprinkled with bewitching powder by a spirit.

4

The meal at Lordvan Castle was not bad. The most surprising thing was the beef. The castle had a double structure with outer and inner walls, and between the walls, vegetables were grown and cows, horses, pigs, and sheep were raised. In Ova to the east, cows were seen and eaten, but they were primarily used as labor and the meat consumed was from old, tough animals. However, here, they raised cows specifically for their milk and meat. Bard was particularly fond of the juicy, blood-dripping roasted beef. It was said that beef was the king of meats in the capital, and Bard truly believed so. However, even this meat was considered second or third grade in terms of quality because these cows were primarily used for milk production.

Two days after Julelan’s arrival, a delegation from the Goriora Empire arrived. Although they were said to be a small group, there were around twenty carriages, nearly fifty mounted riders, and about twice as many on foot. It was a large gathering. Once the large group entered through the north gate of the outer wall, they passed through the inner gate to a separate building within the castle. The Goriora Empire group would be using the entire separate building. They brought all their own provisions and even their own cooks and servants from their country.

A distinctly noble-looking beautiful young boy approached Bard and the others, raising his hand in greeting.

“Yo,” he said.

It was Jurchaga.

Jurchaga naturally had a well-defined face, but he was always dirty. His hair was roughly cut and messy, and his face was always covered in dust. His clothing was shabby. He had thin limbs, a generally thin body, and he clearly looked like a lower-class commoner.

However, now his once sunken cheeks were plump, and his entire face had a radiant glow. Because of this, his youthful appearance was even more pronounced. His hair had been neatly trimmed and carefully styled. It seemed like he had applied some kind of oil, as his light yellow hair had turned into a bright blonde. With his distinct eye features, his large, round, light brown eyes were quite impressive.

But the biggest change was undoubtedly his attire. This was not the kind of clothing that a commoner could wear. It was the kind of clothing worn by aristocratic children from high-status families.

Jurchaga was a thief. In the area where Bard lived, he was somewhat known as “Gora Cesara” (Rotten Flesh Hunter). For some reason, he had attached himself to Bard’s solo journey. While traveling with the unexpected companions, Godon Zarkos and Karz Rowen, they ended up saving the knight Doriatessa, who was in danger. The swordsman Karz Rowen, who seemed to feel indebted to Bard, joined their group, and together they defeated a demonic beast, a Giant Red Bear. Afterward, Doriatessa, who embellished her reputation in the Goriora Empire, brought Jurchaga along as her messenger. It was probably because of Doriatessa’s accomplishment in defeating the demonic beast that she was able to become a participant in the remote Frontier Martial Arts Tournament. So, it was understandable that Jurchaga had come here with the participants from the Goriora Empire.

However, what was the meaning of this attire? He must have stolen it from somewhere, but the problem was that the other companions seemed to have allowed him to wear such clothes.

Just what had this man been doing in the Goriora Empire? Bard felt that he had a lot of questions to ask him.

4

(t/n: this part is a bit confusing. it was written like Jurchaga was telling story, yet it wasn’t written as having dialog quote. so i just use 3rd person view as consistently as i can)

Um, where should he start?

Oh, right. Master Bard. You remember that guy, don’t you? Knight Heridan. As soon as he returned to the country, he ordered his subordinates to report back to the Vodres Marquisate and went alone to the Fafarlen Marquisate. He met with Marquis Fafarlen, delivered Dora’s letter, and answered his questions. You know all this, right?

Marquis Fafarlen didn’t want to make a big fuss. But brother Arflaburne goes crazy when it comes to Dora. If he went to the Vodres Marquisate, it would turn into a war. So he convinced them, saying, “What are you going to do if you don’t go to meet Doriatessa?” And then he went with the second son to the Imperial Palace.

He wanted to resolve the situation peacefully with the Emperor. They’re fighting with various countries, and there are also internal issues in the country. They didn’t want to have conflicts between reliable marquisates. So they sent an imperial envoy to Vodres Marquisate under the pretext of a visit due to illness.

Meanwhile, the Vodres family was in turmoil. After all, their proud knight squad returned completely devastated. Moreover, they attacked Dora, whom they were supposed to protect, and were defeated. It’s incomprehensible. The reports from surviving knights and retainers are not clear. And then the imperial envoy arrived. Marquis Vodres swore to the envoy that it wasn’t his order and that he would cooperate in finding out the truth, accepting any punishment.

The parties involved were secretly gathered at the Imperial Palace, including Knight Heridan. In such cases, the testimony of a knight and that of a non-knight have completely different weight.

Oh, it seems like Heridan was quite a remarkable person. He served as the aide of the previous marquis and fought on the battlefield, even helping the previous Emperor. There was some incident, and he didn’t receive a peerage, remaining unmarried and devoted to loyalty. And now, he made his oath and testified.

He admitted to plotting the assassination of Viscount Doriatessa. He mentioned three knights who appeared out of nowhere and defeated them, rescuing Viscount Doriatessa. He said that he lost consciousness after being hit on the head with a battle hammer at the start of the fight and doesn’t know what happened afterwards.

It seems like he praised Master Bard a lot. Your demeanor and dignity were praised, confirming that you were a renowned knight. And he witnessed Master Bard carefully handling the enemy’s corpses and offering prayers. Ah, it’s a relief that they lost to him. They, the wicked ones, were defeated, and Viscount Doriatessa encountered a guardian knight in the remote mountains of the frontier, as if by magic. Truly, the gods are great, and righteous knights have the protection of the past emperors. That’s what I heard.

Knight Heridan never mentioned who ordered him to do such things. So it was decided that all the blame falls on Knight Heridan. Anyway, what happened after master Bard brought Doriatessa back is another story. If Dora happened to be dead, Knight Heridan won’t escape the death penalty.

However, the situation took a sudden turn. The head maid of Marie Scala, the princess’s mother and wife of Marquis Vodres, committed suicide. She left behind a suicide note addressed to the Emperor. Given the circumstances, the note was delivered to the Imperial Palace.

The note contained the facts witnessed by the head maid of Marie Scala. It revealed that Marie Scala had coerced Knight Heridan, who was reluctant, by invoking the previous marquis’s favor, into accepting the task of killing Dora. She provided various evil schemes to the two knights accompanying Heridan, such as manipulating the Lord of Bobard to cooperate or inflicting upon Dora an insult worse than death. She even ordered them to kill any witnesses.

Then, a certain chamberlain went to Marie Scala’s residence to verify the truth. Marie Scala was reported to have been screaming and confessing her actions in a deranged manner. It seems she also spoke ill of the Emperor. She claimed that it was because the Emperor favored lowly individuals, and because he didn’t pay attention to her. Uttering such things was inappropriate, and she was immediately ordered to be put under house arrest.

With one lady-in-waiting under house arrest and another committing suicide, it became impossible to suppress the rumors any longer. The atmosphere became dark and eerie.

And that’s when it happened. Accompanied by Arflaburne, Dora returned triumphantly. Moreover, she slew a magnificent and fearsome demonic beast, a Giant Red Bear. Everyone was taken aback and in an uproar. The previous somber atmosphere completely vanished. It was truly a remarkable welcome.

Immediately, a report meeting was held in the grand hall of the Imperial Palace to address everyone. But you know what? Dora, well, she doesn’t remember the detailed course of the battle or even know anything about master Bard.

So, what do you think happened next? Ahem, well, it’s my turn now. The great thief Jurchaga makes an appearance.

No no, when he was first called, he thought he had been exposed. Even though there was no way that could have happened. He hadn’t done any work on that side before. He let his guard down and got a little carried away, maybe.

Actually, it’s a place where someone like him isn’t supposed to enter. They dressed him up like a street performer. He even received a quasi-noble title. Otherwise, He wouldn’t be allowed to enter the inner part of the Imperial Palace.

He was brought before the Emperor and the distinguished guests. There was an old man next to the Emperor who kept asking him questions one after another.

“State your name and status.”

“U-Um… This is Bard Rowen’s humble servant, called Jurchaga. I am a lowly individual and carry out various tasks as a scout, spy, and messenger for my master.”

“And who is your master?”

“W-Well… My master is located a hundred and sixty ri to the east of the capital city of the Great Goriora Empire and two hundred ri to the south. There lies the trading village of Padelia in the Parzam Kingdom. Beyond Padelia, across the Great Ova, lies the city of Linz. Heading further east from Linz and crossing mountains and valleys for about forty-five ri, you will find the Pakula territory, known for the ‘Great Barrier.’ Every year, numerous demonic beasts sneak in through the gap in the barrier. The Tercia family, the rulers of Pakula, have been dedicated to slaying these demonic beasts since ancient times, for the sake of the world and its people. My master is the foremost knight of the Tercia family, who has fought against the demonic beasts and repelled bandits for forty years. He is revered as the ‘Knight of the People’ by both his subjects and neighboring communities. Therefore, my master left Pakula and embarked on a journey to Fyuza. I joined him along the way, accompanied by Lord Godon Zarkos, the prominent lord of Podomos, and my master’s adopted son, Lord Karz Rowen. Both of them are skilled warriors capable of defeating thousands in battle.”

Something like that. Ah, it’s been a while since he’s had such an enthusiastic audience. It increases his expectations for tips, you know. The scenes of slaying the demonic beasts were quite spectacular. There were even actual heads and fur displayed on the side.

“Speaking of which, the Giant Red Bear, as its name implies, was a towering demonic beast. When it raised its front legs, it felt as if it were looking down from the second floor. Without being daunted by its terrifying roar, Lord Karz Rowen lured the demonic beast from the front, while Lord Godon Zarkos delivered powerful strikes from the rear. Then, Lady Doriatessa swiftly approached like lightning, poised with her beloved sword, and fearlessly leaped into the side of the mountain-like demonic beast. Ah, yes, yes! The beast’s steel-like fur was impervious to arrows and even deflected the blow of a masterful spear. Lady Doriatessa’s thrust, empowered by the ancient and fearsome magic sword Sharli Ururu (Maiden of the Night) entrusted to her by the Marquis Fafarlen, pierced deep into the side of the monstrous creature. The mortally wounded demonic beast retaliated with its dying breath, sweeping Lady Doriatessa aside with its right foreleg. While the silver armor successfully protected Lady Doriatessa, the beast’s swing was like a fierce gust of wind. She was sent flying, and the demonic beast attempted to pounce on her. It was a critical moment for Lady Doriatessa. And then! Lord Bard Rowen’s sword flashed, severing the accursed beast’s head!”

At that point, a resounding cheer erupted. And then, afterward…

“Lady Doriatessa struggled to rise and approached the beast’s severed head, placing both her hands on it, like this…”

Using the actual severed head and gesturing with his body, he continued,

“She silently shed tears. But these were not tears of cowardice. They were tears of joy and gratitude, shed by a knight who had fulfilled her lifelong goal through the divine protection and benevolence of the successive emperors. In the presence of her fellow brave warriors, she couldn’t help but shed tears of shared emotion.”

“Huh? Well, I get it. The only one who actually cried was Godon’s husband. But well, that was for the sake of the performance, you know?”

“Huh? What are you talking about? You too?”

Anyway, like that, Jurchaga finished his once-in-a-lifetime storytelling. And then, you know what? The Emperor was incredibly delighted. He generously rewarded Jurchaga with many gifts. Well, that’s fine, but then this important person said something like this:

“Oh, what a tale it is! Truly the epitome of chivalry. To the maiden knight who dared to challenge the demonic beast in order to present a branch of glory to Princess Shernelia, the gods bestowed their trials. And the gods applauded the princess knight’s bold confrontation with those trials. It took on the form of a venerable old knight who has wandered the frontiers embodying the virtues bestowed by successive holy emperors! This severed head and fur are the undeniable proof. Oh, righteous ones, do not give up, for there will always be salvation. Through this miraculous tale, the successive holy emperors have shown us the way. If this is not proof of the prosperity of our Goriora Empire, then what is? With fear and reverence, I present this to the court. Soon, the esteemed knights of the kingdom will gather for the New Year’s celebration. This tale should be widely heard by them.”

Everyone got really excited. They told him to do the storytelling again.

“K-Karz! Why are you glaring at me like that?”

So, what did he do? Well, there was no way to refuse, right? If he refused, Dora’s face would get all ruined (t/n: he meant to say Dora reputation will be tarnished). Besides, he was a retainer sent by master Bard, who was invited to the Parzam Kingdom as a royal guest. In other words, he’s a proxy. He have an obligation to explain. He performed for seven consecutive days. Oh, but the part where the knight squad, who was supposed to be the escort, attacked them, he changed it to being possessed by demons due to a divine trial. It’s like the God of War, Madar-Veri, tests those who seek glory by giving them trials.

Well, he thought that would be the end of it. But someone suggested that it should be shared with the commoners too. So, in front of the Imperial Palace square, another seven days. Oh well, he received an incredible amount of tips. He almost forgot what his actual job was.

Well, that’s how it goes. It became a story of events sent by the gods and the spirits of successive emperors. Dora’s participation in the Martial Arts Tournament was confirmed. Princess Marie Scala, after Elsa’s marriage, will leave the palace and return to her family due to illness. Knight Heridan was entrusted with her disposition by Marquis Vodres, but in the end, he disappeared after receiving a lock of the head maid’s hair. They were lovers in their youth.

Dora is now the most popular person in the country. Oh, and also, Marquis Vodres handed over one-third of his entire territory to Marquis Fafarlen as a sign of apology.

Well, that’s about it for the interim report.

Huh? What happened to master Godon?

Ah, that’s right. Well, you see, this Knight Heridan was quite a remarkable person. They say that even when surrounded by countless enemies and beaten to a pulp, he shielded his lord and protected him until the end. They say he never once fell to his knees, no matter how many blows he took. He’s known as the “Indomitable Knight” or something like that. So when he was defeated with a single blow, people started wondering who Godon Zarkos, the one who defeated Knight Heridan, really was. He was asked about master Godon by various people. So, he explained it properly. Yes, Jurchaga did.

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