Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77: Bahab (4)
“As expected, that lowliness hasn’t changed…”
“You shut up. Where does a puppet get off interrupting when humans are talking?”
My master had visited during the war.
It was when I had cursed at Akarr’s bizarre and creepy smile.
“My dear Exa. Your mouth has gotten quite coarse.”
My master, having heard the chatter from Baperr and the others around, had said so.
“I went to all the trouble of correcting it, but it’s all become for naught.”
After being expelled from the Mectera Ducal House, Exa had lived as a mercenary for a while. Though he had lingered in the lower ranks due to his lack of magic.
It was from then that cursing became a habit. After becoming a disciple, my master had corrected that habit first.
“I didn’t want to, but it’s difficult. There are so many f*cking… no, bad things.”
“Let’s not do it in front of your master.”
“Yes.”
“I’m joking. If you did it, there must have been a reason. I understand.”
“Oh.”
“Emotion is the best fuel. Instinct doesn’t always, but it guides you to the right path more often than not. At least, it was so for this master, so it will be for you, my disciple.”
Such was Exa’s belief, which was originally his master’s.
“Cursing is a very fine means of expressing emotion. It is something this master has taught, so there is no reason to stop it.”
“Yes.”
“Just don’t do it in front of this master. No, you can do it when you’re badmouthing behind my back, just don’t do it to me.”
“Of course.”
“Yes. Do it as much as you like in front of others too. You can do more. It doesn’t matter to me if they see you in a bad light.”
“……”
“You can see them in a bad light too. There must be a reason. But to this master…”
“The one I like the most is you, master.”
“Yes. Then that is enough.”
At his master’s bright smile, Exa engraved his master’s teachings in his heart.
***
The underground banquet to select Haryun Bahab’s partner.
The banquet, not held in the banquet castle, let alone the Bahab castle, was like an annual event that continued every year.
The date was also fixed. A month earlier than Hejel Bahab’s birthday. Hejel would send invitations in Haryun’s name to families of count rank and below.
The only power Haryun had was to command a few knights and servants, so she had neither the power nor the justification to stop it.
On the other hand, Hejel had both that power and justification.
The nobles who received the invitations would try to look good to Bahab in the time they had to harbor doubts.
Hejel Bahab.
Even if Haryun said she disliked it, he would insist that as an older brother, he wanted to introduce a proper partner.
Though it was truly a hollow justification, Haryun had no power to counter it. The power structure of the Bahab castle was already tilted towards Hejel.
Akarr, the master of the ducal house, had naturally declared that if it were the same bloodline, the more outstanding Hejel was suitable as the successor.
‘If so, then why.’
That was the only element Haryun Bahab had yet to figure out. Even though it was already a foregone conclusion that Hejel would become the successor.
Hejel still used Haryun’s name, printed invitations, surveyed, selected, and sent them to families of count rank and below.
…That troublesome series of processes, Hejel Bahab was currently carrying out for the 4th time, including this year.
‘But why?’
“Why? Because he’s scared, of course.”
Suddenly, a voice was heard from the side.
Trampling his younger sister to become a partner. The final stage of that tiresome and disgusting birth banquet, as Haryun had named it.
“Can’t you tell just by looking? That bastard is doing it because he’s scared of you. Scared of having his successor position taken away.”
On the way to the underground dueling arena of the banquet castle.
Simurtr smirked, looking at the back of the leading Hejel.
***
‘Because I’m sorry.’
That was the reason he had called himself her partner and was now following behind Hejel.
What had happened at the end of the underground banquet was an unavoidable situation caused by Barote, but hiding his identity had been his own choice.
But Haryun had apparently been searching for the fictional Egna Harkinwagen.
‘They should have sent the invitation a little sooner.’
In the first place, if I had known Mectera would be invited, I wouldn’t have even participated in Haryun’s banquet.
There would have been no need to deceive her. Of course, thanks to that, I did discover the Black Tower, but anyway. To think that Haryun’s partner was for the sake of Hejel Bahab’s dueling sacrifice.
‘If I had known it was this kind of position, I would have said I’d do it from the beginning.’
Simurtr chuckled.
To think that he had refused such a good partner position, a chance to legally tease Akarr, all this time.
“Why would he be scared of me?”
Haryun muttered, looking at Hejel’s back, which was moving further away.
He had already heard the circumstances surrounding the banquet.
Haryun Bahab. The sense of unease he had felt from her was no illusion.
“That’s how those with half-baked talent are. They’re most scared of being overtaken.”
Akarr had been like that. She had been afraid of being overtaken by Exa. That was the reason for her betrayal.
She had been afraid that the authority and fame of Exa, whom she had considered so lowly, would stand above the noble Bahab.
“Half-baked talent…?”
“Yeah. That bastard.”
For a moment, Haryun mistook Simurtr for pointing somewhere else.
But there was only one person in front of them. The finger was clearly pointing at Hejel.
‘Half-baked?’
Half-baked talent, he said.
Hejel had reached the peak of the expert level at 18. At 19, he had perfectly polished that level.
The world did not hesitate to call him the next-generation Sword Master.
To the extent that even his mother, Akarr, was delighted and praised him greatly.
“Mother evaluated Hejel’s talent to be on par with her own.”
“That’s right. Half-baked.”
Genuinely surprised, Simurtr said reflexively.
Wasn’t that an accurate evaluation? Surprisingly, it seemed Akarr knew her own place.
‘Right, that’s why she betrayed me.’
Because she had no confidence in winning head-on.
“Mother…”
“A slip of the tongue.”
Suddenly, Haryun’s eyes narrowed.
The fact that no wrinkles formed around her eyes was quite familiar to Simurtr.
“You said you were Egna Harkinwagen.”
Haryun looked at Simurtr’s face with complex eyes.
Honestly. She was glad. The feeling of gratitude was still there, and she was happy that he was safe.
“She’s not letting this one go.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
“Is that your real name?”
“It’s Simyun.”
“Isn’t that also a pseudonym?”
“It’s a pet name, my real name is Simurtr. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”
But what she felt right now was a sense of betrayal.
Egna Harkinwagen. She had searched so desperately for such a person for the past month.
“The Black Sword. You were a Mectera? Not a Harkinwagen?”
A Mectera whom Harkinwagen followed.
To think that such a Mectera had impersonated a Harkinwagen.
“There were circumstances.”
“What circumstances?”
“Warp, the kidnapping aimed at you. You think it only came to Bahab?”
Lies beget lies.
Simurtr realized that anew.
“It came to the main castle too. They kidnapped my sibling. That’s why. Since the main castle was targeted, I thought it would come to other Hero Families too.”
The underground banquet. A place where the only military force was the guard Jeremiah and a few of his subordinate knights.
If they were after Bahab’s blood, there was no better opportunity.
“You pretended to be a Harkinwagen because the Hero Families have forbidden zones for each other?”
Haryun inadvertently nodded. Whenever she conversed with Simurtr, she would get caught up like this, without even realizing it.
“That’s right. But is it okay to talk like this? They’ll hear.”
Simurtr pointed at Hejel walking ahead.
“That’s why I’m speaking quietly.”
“They can hear everything if they enhance their hearing with magic.”
“He won’t. It’s not befitting his authority.”
“He can just pretend he didn’t hear.”
“It would be more embarrassing if he got caught after that.”
“You’re a Bahab, alright.”
“…Did you get permission from Harkinwagen? Impersonating a noble is a clear crime.”
Was it worry or a threat?
If it were a Bahab, the latter would be correct. But Haryun seemed closer to the former.
“Of course I did. They’re on our side.”
“Can I believe you this time?”
“Of course.”
“…I can’t believe you.”
“Even after I’m dueling for you?”
“Still, it would be right for you to apologize to me separately, wouldn’t it?”
“Is it enough if I win for you?”
“Pardon?”
“Is it enough if I beat that bastard for you?”
Haryun slowly turned her gaze.
Simurtr, looking at Hejel’s back, was revealing a glint in his eyes.
‘Why?’
Because Hejel’s words were insulting?
It was a plausible guess. Despite it being their first meeting, Hejel had exuded plenty of nuances that belittled Mectera.
But a heavy feeling found another reason besides that. That smile. It was the same as when they had first met at the underground banquet. No, it was brighter than that.
‘What’s so great about it?’
Looking at Hejel’s back, Simurtr was happy.
‘Does he like fighting that much?’
The dueling arena of the underground banquet.
The place Hejel was going to now was also a dueling arena.
Come to think of it, the moments Simurtr smiled were always before a fight. Wasn't it the same when he saw the kidnapper who had manifested the warp?
Like the Sword Demon Mectera, he liked to fight.
‘Or is it me?’
Simurtr was clearly sorry.
He had volunteered to be her partner and had agreed to Hejel’s duel.
All were things he could have refused.
But he had put his arm around her shoulder, calling himself her partner when Haryun was most in trouble, and they had even badmouthed Hejel together.
‘Sir Jeremiah had only sympathized.’
Against the eldest son of Bahab, that unhesitating badmouthing. Haryun had felt a pleasure she had never felt before.
She had never thought there would be someone who would curse Hejel first.
‘…It could be.’
For a moment, her face flushed.
The underground banquet came to mind. Simurtr had said he had come because he had predicted the kidnapper’s movements, but if that had really been the case, he would have quietly waited in a corner for the warp to occur.
‘He dueled.’
But Simurtr had stepped into the dueling arena. He had defeated all the other participants.
If he had really come only with the kidnapper in mind, it was a completely unnecessary act, and what was given to such a victor was none other than Haryun’s partner position…….
“What is it.”
At Simurtr’s question, Haryun smiled without even realizing it.
Though her face didn't move as she intended, so the other person wouldn't even know it was a smile.
“Don’t smile, just talk.”
“Huh?”
It must be so.
“Why. Did you think I wouldn’t know if you smiled secretly?”
There weren’t many people who could read a Bahab’s emotions just by looking at their face.
“I said talk.”
***
“But why did you drop the formalities?”
“We’re partners. Partners should be equal. You can speak comfortably too.”
“…I’m more comfortable this way.”
“Alright, then.”
“…Is Simurtr your real name?”
“I told you it is. How many times do I have to say it? Simurtr Mectera, the youngest of Mectera, adopted son.”
“You were adopted?”
“Why, do you suddenly dislike me?”
“No.”
He seemed even more amazing.
It meant that his strength was not something he had obtained with the support of his family.
“What about your age?”
“What?”
“How old are you? You said you were eighteen then. Was that also a lie?”
Simurtr hesitated for a moment before answering.
“…No, the age is right. I’m eighteen.”
He thought it might have been so. And Haryun Bahab’s age was seventeen.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You said there were three above you.”
“One of them is the same age. He’s not here.”
“Then how old are the other two?”
“They’re both two years, no, one year older than me… Are you suspecting me right now?”
“Of course. Isn’t it strange to believe you at face value? After all I’ve been deceived.”
“This time it’s for real.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“What should I do?”
“Introduce me to them. I’ll confirm it myself.”
“They’re shy, they don’t like that.”
“They?”
“Mectera doesn’t use ‘older brother’ or ‘older sister.’ We distinguish by skill.”
“I’ll confirm that myself too.”
“I told you they’re shy, so no.”
“I’ll confirm that myself too.”
“No.”
“Why.”
The underground staircase was longer than he thought.
It felt like they had gone down several floors, but he hadn’t seen a door yet.
“It’s for the sturdy facilities. Since it’s a castle for banquets, we have to be mindful of soundproofing too.”
“You can just patch it up with magic.”
“We did.”
“You’ve got it all. Why is there a dueling arena in a castle for banquets?”
“…It was my mother’s doing. There’s a good reason for it.”
“It wasn’t made to feed annoying people during banquets?”
“Of course not.”
“It looks like that bastard is using it that way.”
“……”
It seemed they had descended about five floors.
There was no particular floor number indicated, so it wasn't certain, but anyway. Hejel opened the huge door at the end of the hallway.
“Heh.”
The space was of a similar size to the banquet hall.
The ceiling was higher than that. About 10 meters. It was understandable why there had been no doors on the floors so far.
Excluding the space for the stairs. The underground floors had been integrated for this dueling arena.
‘They’ve wasted money again.’
The floor, walls, and ceiling were overlaid with steel.
Simurtr clicked his tongue at the refined magic flowing from the steel.
The steel covering all sides was plastered with soundproofing and defensive magic. On top of that, there were magic tools for ventilation and temperature control visible here and there.
‘There are even transmission crystal orbs.’
The banquet attendees would be amazed at Bahab’s wealth upon seeing such a sight.
Perhaps since all these facilities were for the duel, they might even praise their honor.
‘At that age.’
Akarr still hadn't come to his senses.
They had this much money? The continent, if not the empire, was said to have not yet recovered from the damages of the war.
Bahab had several large training grounds.
The same went for the training grounds for knights. There were also enough dueling arenas to compete for the honor of knights.
To think they had even wasted money like this underground. The fact that they had built a castle for banquets was ridiculous enough.
Authority is distinct but at the same time formless, so wealth is one of the easiest ways to express the authority one possesses.
But that means had surpassed the authority it possessed.
‘Shameless bastard.’
At least, that was what Simurtr thought.
From the perspective of knowing the truth, Akarr’s behavior was just ridiculous.
“Interesting. Very interesting.”
The prepared dueling arena was somehow familiar.
At that sense of déjà vu, Simurtr looked at Haryun.
“The dueling arena in Pakun was modeled after this place.”
“Pakun?”
“It’s the underground banquet venue. The invitation clearly… ah. You’re an impersonator.”
“It even has a name?”
“It’s a building managed by my older brother’s people.”
Simurtr roughly nodded.
Haryun wanted to recite the circumstances of the building one by one, but he had no intention of listening. It wouldn't be helpful to hear it either.
‘It’s really big.’
It was several times larger than the dueling arena he had seen then.
A hexagonal stage with iron bars erected, reminiscent of a slave dueling arena.
‘Even the slave dueling arena in the Black Land was smaller than this.’
Simurtr had never seen a dueling arena of this size. Naturally, that dueling arena also had magical defenses.
In particular, those iron bars were of such good quality that they could be immediately pulled out and processed into swords.
‘The world has certainly gotten better.’
In the old days, all that iron would have been supplied to the military.
Creak.
Hejel Bahab opened the gate of the iron cage with familiarity.
“You are the fourth opponent.”
Haryun, who saw him, whispered softly.
The previous three partners had been those invited to Pakun, and they had all been defeated in that dueling arena.
“And everyone except me lost?”
“This is not the time for jokes. Older brother Hejel intends to openly crush you.”
“Openly?”
“Come up.”
Before Haryun could answer, Hejel targeted Simurtr. Openly? He didn't know what it meant, but Simurtr stepped into the dueling arena for now.
“It is a bit much.”
Creak. The gate of the iron cage was heavy.
The purity of the iron was much better than what had been used for war supplies.
“Much? This is a place to test my younger sister’s partner. What is too much for the sake of my only sister?”
“Why do you get to decide that? One chooses one’s own partner.”
Simurtr did not correct Hejel’s misunderstanding.
That justification was disgusting. He was just keeping his younge srister in check before she grew, scared of his competitor.
“…Truly rude. It’s no wonder Mectera is called the Sword Demon. You are not fit to be Bahab’s partner, let alone attend the banquet castle.”
“Your mom invited me.”
There was something in Akarr’s way of speaking that grated on the nerves.
It wasn't that he was intentionally being sarcastic, but that he was speaking because he really thought so.
“The fact that you only know the sword is also true. Have you not learned etiquette?”
Hejel was the same. He sincerely considered Mectera to be inferior and Bahab to be noble.
“I said your mom invited me.”
Simurtr just smiled.
That feeling, like a rake scratching his insides, was something he had already gotten used to in his past life.
When dealing with Akarr Bahab.
They had cursed together and had even broken things around them, but.
“Do not show your lack of breeding. She is the hero of the Hero Family Bahab. She is not someone a thing like you can call so lightly.”
“Is the Hero Family Mectera light?”
There was a better way.
“It is relative. We are both Hero Families, but not all are the same. Compared to Bahab, it is light.”
“You’re an adult now?”
If you crushed them with force.
At least in that moment of defeat.
They would eventually shut up.