Reincarnated as the Adopted Son of a Prestigious Swordsmanship Family

Chapter 96: Bellows-work (2)

“Just give my regards to Jugelseu. And to Semenu, if possible.”

I sent Elmar off.

He was a busy snake. He had come in a hurry after receiving a call from James while on a mission. It was because he was the closest snake to Hella.

“Outside? Are they with you?”

“No. Only Sir Homer and Sir Kanan are inside.”

“And Haryun?”

“It seems she is outside the Butcher Shop with Sir Jeremiah.”

“There won't be another attack, will there?”

“No! Hejel Bahab is confident that Alex Bemal will surely succeed.”

“Then, well. It probably doesn't matter.”

I scratched my head.

‘Should I have killed him secretly?’

Come to think of it, there was no need to kill him in front of Haryun. Black Snake Elmar was with us, and there would have been plenty of opportunities to kill him before he entered the castle.

‘But then I wouldn't have been able to kill him with my own hands.’

I had endured it well so far, but this was the first time the situation had been so blatant.

When dealing with Renate Noel? Actually, I had barely held back then as well. I wanted to kill all the knights of Bahab.

The only exception was Jeremiah, Haryun's guard. As long as he didn't get in the way in the future, I wouldn't kill Haryun or Jeremiah.

“Did she seem to be in a bad state?”

“I don't think it was that bad, but……”

James glanced at me.

It wasn't because he found it difficult to gauge Haryun's condition.

‘Could it be that my lover was unfaithful.’

Setting aside the family.

To James, Simurtr and Haryun were a rather well-matched pair. Both were taller than average, so they would stand out wherever they went.

Although Bahab's appearance was a matter of taste, it seemed to be working in a positive way for Simurtr.

‘Should I report this.’

Should I report this to the hidden phantasm?

James thought, looking at my frowning face.

Even at this moment, his lover was worried about Haryun.

“Ah. I didn't say that.”

“If you tell me, I will go and deliver the message.”

To the hidden phantasm as well.

“What? Why bother. I’ll just go and tell her now.”

“She seemed very serious. Going now would have a negative effect.”

“Is it that bad? Didn't you say it wasn't?”

“Upon reconsideration, it is that bad.”

“Really?”

My expression became serious again.

James didn't like that, and he was anxious.

What if he really was unfaithful? What if he had feelings for Haryun? How should he report this fact to the hidden phantasm?

“Yes. On top of that, Sir Homer and Sir Kanan are still waiting for the benefactor.”

“Ah. Right. Then could you deliver a message for me? It'll just cause problems if I say it later. It's better to get it all out of the way now.”

What on earth was he trying to say?

“If she wants to become a new Bahab, tell her not to listen to the orders given by Akarr Bahab.”

“If you say it like that, it might be confusing as to which order you mean……”

“Ah. You're right. Tell her not to think about seducing me. I have no intention of getting involved with a Bahab anyway.”

“Ugh! Yes!”

As expected!

James's anxiety was put to rest.

***

“…My lady.”

“I know.”

Haryun scratched her palm.

Simurtr had Alex Bemal's head.

He didn't want Haryun to have the body.

“Simurtr, he did it for me.”

“Yes. Sir Simurtr knows that you need time, my lady.”

Jeremiah was certain.

Taking Alex Bemal alive would have been a bad move for Haryun.

Akarr Bahab knew that Hejel had ordered Alex to kill Haryun. She knew and condoned it.

It was proof that the position of successor was not firmly established. It meant she would not interfere in the succession dispute.

“If we had taken him as he was, it would have been like returning Alex Bemal to Hejel.”

“Yes. He will realize that there is no risk even if he fails.”

Soft. Unbefitting of a Bahab.

Haryun was realizing her own nature.

Hejel Bahab would be at ease and plot a new scheme. When Haryun set out for the next Bellows-work, he would plan a bigger obstruction.

“But not anymore. He will have become vigilant.”

But Alex Bemal was dead.

What Haryun had tried to save, Simurtr had killed.

Alex Bemal was called an elite of the Swelling Flame. He was the strongest card Hejel possessed.

“Sir Simurtr probably won't say that he killed him. Her Grace will also remain silent.”

The ones who killed Alex would be Haryun and Jeremiah.

The northern slum. Alex's intentions had the opposite effect. The stealthy Black Snake was also added.

There were no witnesses, and they could fabricate Alex's death as they wished.

“That's right. Now Hejel will be cautious.”

Alex, who was his biggest card, had failed.

Haryun, who had reluctantly endured the underground banquet in Pakun, had killed Alex.

Now Hejel would perceive that Haryun had changed. He would start to consider risks he hadn't even thought of.

He would be anxious about losing another card by failing again. He would have no choice but to be cautious for a while.

“It’s easy.”

She had dealt another blow to Hejel.

It was a blow on a different level from the one at the birth banquet.

“It didn't even reach him when I did it.”

All of that, Simurtr had done.

When she had struggled all by herself, she had accomplished nothing.

“It’s easy. Hejel was nothing. Really.”

How long had it been since she got involved with Bahab?

Haryun compared her own situation to Simurtr's.

“If Simurtr had been Haryun Bahab, Hejel would have kneeled long ago.”

There was no need to go to the present.

He would have probably shown his talent since he was a child.

His nature didn't suit Bahab? Haryun recalled the moment Simurtr had killed Alex.

It was the act of killing a person. And it wasn't something that happened suddenly in an extreme situation, but killing someone who couldn't resist.

Haryun couldn't imagine such a mentality, such a firmness. It was too far away.

“Sir Jeremiah wasn't wrong to suspect that he had gained experience in the Black Land.”

“…Indeed.”

They were only similar in age, but other things were incomparable.

While Haryun couldn't fight back and was only troubled, Simurtr had openly screwed Hejel over.

While she was struggling in the Evil Eye, Simurtr had single-handedly killed a baron of the Doom Species.

He had killed Alex without a moment's hesitation.

“You do not need to compare. Everyone has their own path. You just need to walk your own path, my lady.”

He was not a subject for comparison.

From the moment he heard that he had killed a Doom Species above a baron, Jeremiah had been concerned for Haryun.

“Are you talking about talent?”

The one loved by the sword.

Once, Jeremiah had used such an expression to describe Simurtr.

“I am speaking of everything.”

“……”

“To use myself as an example… when I was young, a saying like this was popular among knights. One should not chase after the one loved by the sword.”

Knights aspire to be Sword Masters.

And Sword Masters aspire to be the one loved by the sword.

Jeremiah was also like that. He was certain because he had chased after it.

“Because you can't catch up?”

“If you are talking about the level, you can catch up. You might even surpass them.”

“Then why?”

“When speaking of level, the world prioritizes mana. To me and other knights, it is something that is both relatable and not.”

“Why?”

“We are knights. If we had wanted to boast about such things, we would have dreamed of becoming magicians instead.”

No matter how much mana one had, or how skilled one was at operating it.

In the end, it is manifested in the world through the sword. A knight's oath is made by comparing their sword to their life.

“In a way, it is similar to a swordsman. The reason why many knights call Mectera barbaric and yet secretly envy them is because they purely hone only the sword.”

“Do you also feel that way, Sir Jeremiah?”

“I did once, but it has been a while since I stopped.”

It was when he became Haryun's guard.

From then on, Jeremiah had stopped chasing. He had come to his senses before he tore his groin.

“I've been talking for too long. To conclude, it means that we cannot imitate them. The sword. That, at least, is absolute.”

That was why, eventually, the moment when they had to aspire to them would come.

Some would try to find vicarious satisfaction by taking them as disciples, and some would try to kill them out of jealousy.

Or they would struggle to at least catch a glimpse of their backs.

“So if I try to be like Simurtr, I'll tear my groin?”

“My lady, your words……”

“It’s true, isn't it.”

“……”

Simurtr.

Was not someone you could follow just because you wanted to.

It wasn't just about talent. It was the vessel. Jeremiah was talking about the essence.

“Sir Simurtr and you are different, my lady. He cannot be compared to Hejel Bahab either. If I were to pick a comparison, I would dare to think of Her Grace, the Duchess of Bahab.”

“…That much?”

“Yes. I am certain that he is a genius who is destined to one day enter the ranks of heroes.”

If only he was given time.

As long as he didn't die, Simurtr would surely reach it.

“What about me?”

“……”

“Honestly.”

“…You are better than Hejel Bahab, and better than the young direct descendants of Basor.

You are not lacking to become the Duchess.”

“The scale is different, though.”

Haryun smiled bitterly.

She had told him to be honest, but wasn't this too honest?

“You should stop scratching. You might not be able to hold a sword during training tomorrow.”

“It’s fine. My calluses are so thick.”

Haryun smiled brightly.

Her palm, her right palm was thicker.

Now, it wouldn't peel even if she scratched it all day. It wouldn't bleed.

“It was an Evil Eye, they said.”

Haryun said suddenly.

It was hard to understand, but Jeremiah realized that Haryun was trying to talk about the events at the auction house again.

“I was caught in it, and they said it was an illusion that shows you what you desire most.”

“…What illusion did you see.”

“My mother made me her successor. She said I had finally become a Bahab worthy of Bahab. That she would pass down the ducal seat to me.”

Jeremiah looked at Haryun.

The finger that had been scratching all along had stopped. She was not scratching her palm. Haryun did not accept the illusion she had dreamed.

“It was my first time at an auction. They sell all sorts of things. Did you know that too, Sir Jeremiah?”

“If it’s the auction house in Hella, it’s one of the largest in the Empire.”

“Exactly. They were selling elves too. People.”

“……”

Jeremiah had visited Hella only a handful of times.

Even then, it was because of the knight order's duties, and he had never been involved in anything related to the auction house.

“Simurtr is a Mectera, after all. He acts like a real punk… or maybe not. He seems mature, and there are many things to learn from him. Well, anyway.”

Haryun thought of Simurtr.

She replayed the conversation he had with the man next to him, Hor.

“He knew a lot about the hero Exa Mectera too.”

“Wouldn't that be because they are from the same family. You too, my lady, about Her Grace……”

“No. I don't know anything. Simurtr said I wasn't, but I am an idiot.”

“My lady.”

“Look. Even now. I didn't know Bahab was such a shitty place until now.”

Tear.

Jeremiah looked at where the sound came from.

The thick calluses were being torn off.

“Sir Jeremiah might know better than me. I have a question. I always thought it was a lie, but maybe. No, it seems like it's the real truth.”

“……”

“My mother, they said Akarr Bahab and Exa Mectera didn't get along. No, they said their relationship was fucking terrible. Is that true?”

“…There were such rumors at one time.”

“Then it must be true.”

She decided to believe the rumors from now on.

If it was about Bahab.

“When they first met, he called him a lowly bastard who was kicked out of Mectera? Telling him to be a substitute sacrifice instead.”

Haryun.

Remembered every word of the conversation between Simurtr and the man.

“…It’s true. He always picked fights, calling him lowly. He nitpicked at every little thing, interfered with operations for no reason, and forcibly separated the units.”

“……”

“He was going to let the people of Bahab's territory die. Said they lacked respect. And the hero Exa Mectera took care of it.”

Drip, drip. Drops of blood forming on her palm fell to the floor one after another. Jeremiah did not dare to stop it.

“I didn't know. Does Mectera not have anything like that? Is it because they have nothing to hide?”

“…There were also rumors that the hero Exa Mectera was a scoundrel.”

“Rumors? Are those rumors too? It would have been nice if ours were just that.”

Haryun smiled brightly.

Jeremiah thought that smile was not unfamiliar.

“Instead of dreaming such an illusion, I think it would be better to tear my groin. Yes. I think that's right.”

Her finger stopped.

Simurtr would not do such a weak thing.

Haryun smiled brightly.

“Lady Haryun Bahab.”

Until James delivered the message.

“…Damn it.”

Looking at her frowning face.

Jeremiah thought. At least her groin wouldn't be torn.