kscans

1

The Frontier Martial Arts Tournament had begun. The opening ceremony was simple, consisting of a speech by Seifert Bowen, the leader of the Seifert Bowen Knights, a prayer by a priest, and a rules explanation by the chief judge. There was no flashy music or extravagant decorations. With only a few people allowed inside the spacious arena, it appeared deserted to the casual observer. However, the space filled with powerful knights was filled with an intense atmosphere that could be felt by those who understood.

On the first day, the first division competition took place. It was a jousting match. A weapons storage area was set up in one corner of the arena, with multiple shields and spears placed there.

This time, the Parzam Kingdom provided the venue, so the weapons and shields were prepared by the Goriora Empire. One chief judge was from the Goriora Empire, while two deputy judges were from the Parzam Kingdom. The participants brought their own horses and armor, but used the provided weapons and shields. In this case, since the Goriora Empire prepared the weapons and shields, the participants from the Parzam Kingdom would choose their weapons and shields first.

There were four participants from each country in each division. From the first match to the fourth match, a knight from the Parzam Kingdom would always fight against a knight from the Goriora Empire. The order of participation was determined by drawing lots. The four winners would then compete in the fifth and sixth matches. The two winners would then compete in the seventh match, which would be the final.

The Goriora Empire’s gathering place was to the north, while the Parzam Kingdom’s gathering place was to the south. Upon hearing the summoner’s call, the players for the first match came forward from both gathering places. Both of them were enormous men. Bard’s eyes were drawn to the knight from Parzam.

Not only were they huge, but their presence was extraordinary. Covered in plate armor, their face and body were completely hidden, but Bard could see the strength in their muscles, like that of a beast. Sometimes there were humans born with bodies like wild animals.

But the knight’s peculiarity was not in their physique, but rather in their head. It was a strange helmet. It looked as if a kite shield was stuck to their face. It was flat and incredibly large. It even resembled the masks worn by barbarians.

Furthermore, for some reason, a tube was attached to the flat helmet, and a single flower was inserted into it. It was an ordinary flower that could be found growing in the wild. The strangeness of this knight’s appearance caused a slight commotion among the Goriora side.

The two knights chose their shields and spears and moved to their respective positions on their horses. The chief judge called out their names, and they bowed to the western organizer’s seat. The knight with the helmet-like shield was named Goz Boa.

The two mounted their horses. The horses were also wearing armor, but it was less decorative compared to the armor used in the jousting match.

Bard couldn’t contain his excitement. He had heard that in the great nations, there were tournaments where knights competed in martial arts, but this was his first time seeing it. The two knights received their shields and spears from their attendants.

Huh?

Bard became suspicious. Goz Boa, the knight from the Parzam Kingdom, turned to face Bard in the eastern VIP seat. It couldn’t be a misunderstanding. He clearly turned his head and stared at Bard. Although his face was hidden by the helmet, Bard could feel his gaze. After staring for a while, he turned back to face the front.

At the signal of the main judge, the bell rang. The two knights facing each other began their charge.

It was an incredible force. Knights were monsters of war. They were humans with the highest attack power, defense power, and mobility. The knight’s prowess was most clearly demonstrated in jousting.

Full-body armor made of abundant metal. Enormous horses raised and trained. Long and heavy metal spears. If they hit directly, they could kill even Gerkaast or demonic beasts with a single blow.

This terrifying display of violence charged towards them, causing the ground to shake. It took immense courage to not run away. The knights themselves were also wielding their spears while fighting their fear. Although the spears used in the match had rounded tips, they could still be deadly depending on how they hit.

The rules of the jousting match in this martial arts tournament were simple. If a knight fell off their horse, they lost, that was all. If neither fell off, they would turn around and exchange positions to charge again. If one of them lost twice, the match would end. The charges would continue until a winner was determined.

The two knights quickly closed the distance between them. The Goriora knight’s spear was deflected by Goz Boa’s shield. Goz Boa’s spear also hit the opponent’s shield. And then, the spear shattered the shield and pierced the opponent knight’s body right in the center. The opponent knight was thrown off the horse and fell to the ground.

“Goz Boa! One point!”

The voice of the chief judge echoed. The opponent knight didn’t move. Medical personnel rushed over to provide treatment. It was determined that the opponent was unable to continue the match, and Goz Boa’s victory was announced.

Goz Boa returned his horse to its original position, dismounted, and had his attendant help him remove his helmet. Bard held his breath.

Truly, a monstrous appearance. It was not a human face. It was the face of a monster. It was extremely long and large. It could be described as a flattened face that crushed a horse’s face. The eyes were sharply slanted and far apart, more to the side of the face than in front. The size of the face was overwhelming compared to the imposing body, creating an illusion of distorted perspective.

The knight with the horse-like face, Goz Boa, stepped forward in front of the organizer’s seat and bowed before returning to his gathering place.

2

In the end, Goz Boa won the jousting match. Unlike the winners of other divisions, the winner of the jousting match could not participate in the overall division, which was the sixth division. However, winning the jousting match was considered a great honor, and it meant that they could serve as the vanguard in any battle.

But there was one thing that didn’t sit well with Bard. The Parzam side’s knights were glaring at him. It was not his imagination. They were openly showing their hostility towards him. Seifert explained the reason behind this.

“I finally have some time. Lord Bard, first, let me apologize for the knights’ rudeness. You must have wondered why the knights from the Parzam Kingdom are showing hostility.”

It was because of Julelan. As the eldest son of the king and currently the only child, Julelan was generally welcomed. However, there were still many who looked at him with envy and hatred. Among them, Julelan was expected to ascend to the position of crown prince. Therefore, he had to demonstrate the qualities and virtues befitting a crown prince, but his methods were somewhat hasty and rough. He criticized existing customs at every opportunity and tried to introduce new ways. Seifert had advised him that this would only create enemies. In response, Julelan said the following:

“Yes, what you say is valid. Many people are kindly teaching me to adapt to the ways of this country. I should listen to them well and gradually try new ways while inheriting the old ways. However, His Majesty the King is not young anymore. I am not that young either. This country has been undergoing reforms for many generations, but the pace is not fast enough. There are many unsettling movements both inside and outside the country. We can’t afford to wait until the foundation is solid. Now is the perfect opportunity with the arrival of someone like me, an outsider. It’s difficult to directly touch the privileges of the nobles, so I will start by reforming the military, where His Majesty’s influence is strong.”

With this mindset, Julelan openly criticized the old systems and practices. He often used the phrase “There are better ways in the frontiers” when pointing out the shortcomings of the traditional ways. This naturally led to conflicts. While clashing, Julelan has been creating good and new things in various aspects. As a result, there are more people who appreciate Julelan, but there are also many who are dissatisfied. The dissatisfaction is now directed towards Bard, the person who taught Julelan the ways of the frontiers.

Those who aim to participate in the Frontier Martial Arts Tournament are young knights who want to make a name for themselves in the military but don’t have a prominent family background. If they achieve good results in the tournament, their chances of being selected for important positions increase significantly. Naturally, they are full of ambition and have a fierce spirit. They respect martial arts and don’t easily acknowledge those who lack martial virtue.

In this delicate situation, Julelan decided to invite Bard as the representative of the host country to participate in an exhibition match. If Bard shows an impressive performance, even the fiercely spirited knights will have no choice but to acknowledge Julelan. On the other hand, if Bard loses in a disgraceful manner, it would be a major setback for Julelan. It could even affect his chances of becoming the crown prince.

Oh well, things have become quite complicated. Bard just wanted to enjoy the martial arts tournament casually. He can’t afford to lose now. What a ridiculous request for this old man. How terrible.

Bard sighed.

3

On the second day, the second division took place. It was a duel between two-handed swords. They didn’t ride horses, but wore armor and clashed their long swords together. Although they all wore plate armor, it didn’t seem as heavy as the armor worn by the participants in the jousting competition. The winner was a large knight from the Goriora Empire, but the runner-up was a slightly smaller knight from the Parzam Kingdom. The smaller knight fought by evading the opponent’s sword. The winner and runner-up would be able to participate in the overall battle on the sixth day.

At night, Doriatessa came to visit. It was unusual for a participant, especially a noblewoman, to visit representatives from other organizations without prior notice, but she was allowed into the room anyway. As soon as she entered, Doriatessa bowed her head.

“Bard, please lend me your strength.”

Bard wondered what could have happened this time.

4

“I would like to ask for your assistance in the princess’s love.”

Bard was surprised by this request, but quickly rejoiced at the good news. When he asked Arflaburne about Princess Shernelia serving as the representative of the Goriora Empire in the martial arts tournament, this was the response he received.

“Oh, that is simply the princess seeking some amusement. After all, she has never been able to leave the palace before. It may be her only chance to enjoy a trip. And it’s true that she is looking for a potential fiancé. If a knight participates in the competition, he wouldn’t be a bad match for Princess Shernelia. Not from a royal or duke’s family, but from a decent background, young with potential and ambition, a knight who aims to make a name for himself in the military. It would be desirable for our country to obtain information about Parzam’s military and other matters, and to establish certain connections within Parzam. It would be a burden if he were directly linked to the royal family or a duke’s family. Social status is not an issue. In any case, they are planning to establish a new marquisate, right?”

Although he had heard from Doriatessa that it was a duchy and not a marquisate, Bard did not correct him. However, he couldn’t imagine finding a suitable partner for marriage so easily. When he actually met Princess Shernelia, Bard thought that the person she wanted to marry was probably not just a handsome and refined young nobleman who could attract women. She was probably looking for someone with substance, someone who could be a lifelong partner. And yet, a knight who could capture the princess’s heart appeared so quickly. Bard listened attentively to Doriatessa’s story, wanting to know who this fortunate knight was.

“The day before yesterday, there was a banquet hosted by the Parzam Kingdom’s invitation for the representatives of both countries. At that event, the princess had the opportunity to meet Julelan-sama. During the jousting competition, the princess’s gaze was strangely directed towards the Parzam representative’s seat, which caught my attention. Last night, the princess invited me to have dinner together. And during that meal, she only talked about Julelan-sama. Her eyes, her way of speaking, her sighs. There is no mistake. The princess has fallen in love with Julelan-sama!”

5

If that was true, it would be a joyous occasion. If there were no issues, they could proceed accordingly. But even if there were issues, Bard had no way to resolve them. What exactly was he supposed to do?

If the princess had taken a liking to Julelan, she could discuss it with her father upon returning to the empire. If there were no issues with the marriage proposal itself, they would approach it through the appropriate channels. The outcome could go either way, and Bard couldn’t predict it.

“It’s difficult for our side to initiate this marriage proposal. On one hand, Julelan-sama is the eldest son of the Parzam Kingdom’s Hero King and will soon become the crown prince. He is also the commander of the imperial army and holds various prestigious positions. On the other hand, the princess is the youngest daughter of the Goriora Empire’s emperor, with a low position in the line of succession and no special status. If we were to propose from our side, a considerable dowry would be required. No, that’s not all. Even if we propose, will he accept? It’s not just a matter of marriage policy, but rather… whether His Highness finds the princess endearing or not, whether they can be a happy couple. Of course, the princess is as wonderful as she appears, so I believe His Highness will surely be fond of her. But gentlemen have various preferences, and he may already have someone he is interested in.”

Doriatessa’s flustered state was somewhat amusing to Bard. In other words, was he being asked to find out Julelan’s thoughts about Princess Shernelia and report back? And if the response was positive, perhaps even write a letter.

“No, no way! It would be improper for the princess to write a letter herself. Of course, if it’s related to official matters, it’s a different story. But if she were to write a letter and it led to a marriage proposal, it would be seen as the princess initiating the proposal. That would be problematic. Ideally, it would be better if… well, if they could be introduced to each other. That way, the princess could confirm her feelings once again, and His Highness could get to know the princess’s wonderful qualities. He probably has marriage proposals pouring in from both within and outside the country. This is a rare opportunity.”

Bard couldn’t understand this suggestion. The two of them had already met. After the competition, there would be a banquet hosted by the Goriora Empire, where they would meet again. They could even arrange a meal or tea during the tournament.

“Royal discussions among members of the royal family are not so simple. The banquet follows a set format, with the two hosts standing side by side without making eye contact, and most of the topics and timing of conversations are predetermined. If they were to have a meal together without any official business, it would raise questions about what the knights of both countries are doing in a place where they compete for martial prowess at the risk of their lives. Furthermore, it would become a problem as to who initiated the invitation and meeting. It is a situation that cannot be easily resolved. However, Lord Bard is here. In our country, Lord Bard is known as the envoy of the war god, Mada-Veli. He helped me in my mission for the princess, so she also owes him a debt of gratitude. He is also the mentor and guide for Prince Julelan. Even if Lord Bard personally invited Princess Shernelia and Prince Julelan for a friendly conversation, it would not be unnatural at all.”

“This is extremely unnatural! In what world does a wandering knight summon a princess of a great nation and a prince of another great nation for a casual chat?!” she wanted to shout in anger for a moment, but she suppressed her feelings. Even if it was a transparent ploy, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if it provided an opportunity for the two to confirm their feelings while maintaining the dignity of both countries. She didn’t mind becoming a jester for that purpose. However, it was not certain whether the fact that the two had a meeting would be harmful. Julelan would have to make that judgment. Anyway, he decided to talk to Prince Julelan and then asked about something that had been bothering him.

“Is this Doriatessa’s idea?”

“Of course. When the princess mentioned that Lord Bard Rowen is also acquainted with Prince Julelan, it sparked an idea in my mind.”

“Hmm, it seems that even the old lady Ketta used Bango as a puppet in a similar way,” Bard thought as he looked at the makeup box on the table. Inside were colored sugar cubes. They were Bard’s current favorite. He thought he would have to work enough to earn the equivalent of these sugar cubes.

6

“Old man, that’s not a bad idea. Yes, not bad at all. It’s troublesome no matter who introduces them, but if it’s you, old man, it won’t be a hassle.”

Julelan responded to Bard, who had brought up the matter. He asked if it was okay since there were ongoing marriage proposals with the daughters of two ducal families.

“Ah, did you hear it from Seifert? Yes, that’s right. They’re aiming for the throne in the next generation. That’s why they want the position of the legitimate queen. Even without that, they can do as they please if they enter the harem first. That’s why they seem to be trying to sabotage other marriage proposals. But it’s unlikely that their influence will extend to foreign partners. I thought it would be impossible for powerful ducal families to control the harem. If it’s the princess of Goriora, I can make her the legitimate queen. They’ll be in a panic.”

Bard asked if it wouldn’t be troublesome to make them panic.

“It’s not a problem, but let’s make some adjustments. Let’s give the right of succession to Chantillion. Granting the right of succession is the king’s prerogative. The Senate recommends and approves it, and then seeks the king’s approval. It’s a great honor, and above all, it means that the throne can be within reach in case of an emergency. If His Majesty and I both die suddenly, His Majesty said that Chantillion would be the best choice, so I’m sure he will agree.”

Bard asked what were the intentions of the kings of both countries.

“For Emperor Goriora, it would be an unexpected opportunity. Both countries have immediate problems to deal with. It would be undesirable to get involved with troublesome high-ranking nobles. However, if it’s me, the situation is different. After all, it’s a chance for me to become the next king’s in-law. It’s a double-edged sword for us. It seems that the Empress Dowager has a low status and as the youngest princess, her position in the line of succession is low, making it difficult for Parzam to interfere with Goriora. But at the same time, it would be difficult for the other side to interfere with us. So, the princess’s qualities are the main concern.”

Then Bard asked how Julelan saw Princess Shernelia.

“She’s quite impressive. She pretends to talk to her maidservant and expresses gratitude for the cooking and preparations. She subtly shows concern for my well-being. She is also beautiful. I liked the cunningness of using you as an intermediary,” Julelan seemed to be quite fond of her. “But it’s strange for an old man to be a matchmaker. It doesn’t suit you.”

As Bard muttered to himself, “It’s quite audacious to work this old body so hard and then say it doesn’t suit me,” Julelan burst into laughter. After the third day of the competition, they gathered in Bard’s room for a discussion. They decided not to serve food and drinks, as it would require the presence of tasters from both countries. This was no joke.

7

On the third day, the competition was in the melee weapons category. The armory today was bustling with activity. Battle axes, battle hammers, clubs, flails, and more were all lined up. Even with just the battle axes, there were various shapes and sizes. It seemed that there were no long-handled ones. If anything, the flail types had a longer range. Bard couldn’t resist the temptation and obtained permission from the referee to take a closer look. Although touching was prohibited, he wanted to see if he could lift the largest club.

To his surprise, there was a contestant who chose that super-sized club. He was a knight from the Parzam Kingdom. His opponent in the first match was a morning star user with a shield in one hand. Foolishly, he tried to block the giant club’s strike with his shield, only to have it blown away. His wrist must have suffered severe damage. Nevertheless, he swung his morning star and launched an attack. The giant club warrior lifted his club without dodging and struck down. The blow directly hit the opponent’s helmet. The opponent collapsed and stopped moving. The head referee immediately declared the victory of the giant club warrior and called for a healer. Fortunately, it seemed that he survived. In the end, the giant club warrior became the champion, and the runner-up was a knight from Goriora who used two battle axes.

8

Evening. Bard’s room. Bard sat across the table from Julelan and Shernelia. In the four corners of the room were a knight from Parzam, a knight from Goriora, a maid from Goriora, and Jurchaga. It felt very cramped, but this was the minimum. Outside the room, knights and healers from both countries were lined up.

During today’s meeting, Julelan talked to Bard, and Shernelia talked to Bard as well. Julelan and Shernelia did not have a direct conversation. In other words, they each only spoke to Bard, and it was not a meeting between Julelan and Princess Shernelia.

“Grandfather, I heard you traveled from Linz to the territory of the Yadobalgi Grand Lord. It must have been tough to travel across the remote mountain valleys. Are the mountains and trees different between the north and south?”

Julelan asked. He seemed to understand, but until recently, he probably didn’t even know about the Yadobalgi Grand Lord. He must have studied a lot after going to Parzam. Bard answered that the shape of the mountains didn’t seem to be much different, but he felt that the trees in the north grew straighter with thinner leaves.

“I see. Then, I wonder if the blooming flowers are different between the north and south. What do you think about planting southern flowers in the north?”

This seemed like a question to Bard, but it wasn’t. It seemed like Julelan was asking Shernelia if she had any intention of marrying into Parzam, what problems there might be, and so on. So Bard simply answered, “Let’s go with the flowers.”

“Bard-sama, Doriatessa said that when she was with you, she could eat wonderfully delicious food every day. Are the tastes of the dishes different between the north and south?”

Now it was Shernelia who asked. Bard answered a little more politely. Even with the same fish, the taste differs depending on the river it comes from. Salt tastes different depending on where it’s harvested. Cooking methods and preferred seasonings vary by region. He didn’t know about the west of Ova, but if there is a significant distance between the north and south, the taste of the dishes should be quite different.

“Bard-sama, do you easily get used to different flavors wherever you go?”

After thinking for a moment, Bard gave an example in his response. In the territory of the Great Lord of Egzera, they often eat a dish made by boiling the seeds of a plant called Pran instead of bread made from refined flour. It has a peculiar flavor and becomes hard quickly if left for too long, so at first, it didn’t taste good at all. But one time, he encountered a well-cooked Pran dish that he found delicious. And strangely enough, once he got used to eating the local dishes, he felt that the Pran-made alcohol tasted even better and that the best way to enjoy the local cuisine was with Pran alcohol. From these experiences, he came to believe that each region has suitable ingredients and cooking methods, and the best way to appreciate the local cuisine is to pair it with the local alcohol.

“Well, it’s a wonderful story. I would also like to go to a new land and experience the ways and cuisine of that place. At first, I might be confused, but I believe I will eventually understand the taste after a while. And you know, Bard-sama, although it’s something far in the future, if I were to season the ingredients of that land with the flavors of my country, new dishes might be born.”

Upon hearing these words, Julelan smiled mischievously. It seemed that this princess was not one to simply obey her husband’s every command, but rather found amusement in it.

The conversation continued for a while. There were exchanges that Bard understood and exchanges that he didn’t. It was a very complicated indirect conversation, but it seemed that they both learned what they wanted to know and conveyed what they wanted to say. When he saw them off, Bard was completely exhausted. He thought to himself, as he drank his sake and nibbled on a sugar cube, Julelan has truly adapted to that world, as expected.

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