Chapter 106 : Chapter 106
Chapter 106. Banquet (3)
“Is this your first time at a banquet, Meram?”
“Yes. It is. Since I’ve only been with the Young Master and on Mount Lionelben.”
Meram looked around her surroundings repeatedly, amazed.
“…Sorry.”
“I am fine. Aside from that, there are so many people.”
“It’s the main family’s banquet. Everyone working at the main family has no choice but to come.”
Not just swordsmen. As it is a banquet of the castle, all servants were mingling together.
When their eyes met, they greeted the siblings.
Eventually, when their gaze moved to Meram, what had been pleasant turned indifferent or sour. Only the gazes of servants working at the West Villa were somewhat friendly.
“Hey.”
“It’s okay.”
Meram restrained Jahar, who was about to grab a servant who openly frowned.
It was a reaction she expected from the moment she decided on Mectera, and she had gotten used to it enough over the past time.
The supervisors at the exile mansion used to make similar expressions.
“I have no face. Even if it is Mectera, I didn’t know they would be like this even to a member of the same affiliation.”
“Really, it is fine. I am used to it.”
Meram looked to her side inadvertently.
If it were the main family, the Young Master who would have always been by her side was absent.
If it were Simurtr, he definitely wouldn’t have endured it even with her restraint.
‘He probably would have walked straight up and forcibly grabbed their face. Telling them to make the same expression while looking this way.’
It was something both the supervisors who died at the exile mansion and the servants at the West Villa experienced once.
Meram felt both ashamed and familiar with it. Maybe it was good. It meant he cared that much.
“I heard Mectera’s banquet is held outdoors, and it really was true.”
“It’s the main family’s banquet. Everyone thinks all they need is a sword and a training ground. Ah, since there are side dishes (entertainment), alcohol too.”
It isn’t called the Sacred Place of the Sword for nothing.
Even the servants know how to handle a sword.
That is why the servants could glare even though Meram was right next to a direct descendant.
They didn’t expect a direct descendant of Mectera to defend a magician.
“Still, I didn’t expect it to be right next to the training ground.”
Unless it is related to swords, they absolutely do not indulge in luxury.
All events held in Mectera were on the simple side. Different from the glamorous capital, academy, or Magic Tower Meram had experienced.
“That’s because that is the side dish. The 1st Sword Order’s training ground.”
The tables and chairs placed were all facing the training ground.
For the highlight of the banquet. The banquet’s side dish. The reason swordsmen who dislike events don’t skip the banquet.
“Look. Someone is going up there. It’s today’s first side dish. Senior Kehellan.”
“Ah. I heard a lot about him from Deban-nim. That he is very strict.”
Deban was very busy for the past year, but he never skipped visiting his siblings’ house.
Meram was always with him during those visits.
Because Deban was the type of human who didn’t feel awkward even with first-time acquaintances, he got along well with Meram.
“Yeah, yeah. Right. But Simyun couldn’t understand.”
“I think it’s because the Young Master is stricter on himself.”
“But Deban is a strange guy too. Senior Kehellan says he laughs even while getting beaten.”
“Strange indeed. A true swordsman.”
“Oppa is stranger though.”
Meram giggled listening to the siblings’ conversation.
The siblings were guests who visited the villa most frequently after Deban. Worried about her remaining alone in the villa. They are the Young Master’s kind older brother and sister.
“I don’t see Deban-nim.”
“True. Wasn’t he always stuck with Senior Kehellan?”
“I saw him chasing after the 1st Head of the Sword earlier.”
“Earlier? When earlier? Oppa met Deban?”
“I met him when you, Ael, left for the villa first saying you’d prepare with Meram.”
“Why didn’t you say so.”
“Sister. You didn’t tell me what you did after going first either.”
At Jahar’s words, Ael let out a scoff.
Going to the villa first? It’s been at least 2 hours already. Yet Jahar is still sulking about being left behind.
“Really petty. So why did Deban chase the 1st Head of the Sword?”
“Don’t know.”
“What?”
“He looked serious so I didn’t speak to him. The 1st Head of the Sword looked so too. There must have been important business. Since he didn’t notice Deban tailing him.”
Ting! A clear sound rang out loudly.
The noise of the banquet subsided in an instant, and all gazes focused on one place.
“Did you see Senior Kehellan throw his scabbard just now?”
“Yes.”
Meram also nodded, looking at the same place.
Kehellan threw the scabbard, and someone deflected it with their scabbard.
“I heard throwing a scabbard signifies a duel.”
“Yeah. Right. If hit by the scabbard, that person has to go up to the training ground. Becoming a side dish.”
“Can one dodge it?”
“Main family swordsmen aren’t the type to do that, right? If told to come up on a first-come-first-served basis, everyone would run up, probably? Likewise, it’s not skill that would miss by mistake either.”
The act of throwing a scabbard is a request for a duel.
The one hit by the scabbard must respond.
Mectera’s banquet has such a rule.
“For some reason, if it were Deban-nim, I think he would have dodged.”
“Uh, me too.”
“No. If it’s Senior Kehellan’s scabbard, Deban can’t dodge.”
“Ah, that’s true too.”
The designated swordsman does not hesitate.
He ran out to the training ground promptly, and at the same time, the duel began.
While the siblings chatted looking at the training ground, Meram turned her head. Instead of the duel, she looked at those watching the duel.
“Meram doesn’t seem to find it fun.”
“Pardon, pardon? Ah, no. It’s because I don’t know much even if I watch.”
“We can teach you. I heard you have a lot of interest in swords.”
“…….”
The siblings were regulars at the West Villa, and thus familiar with Meram.
Normally Meram would have chatted without awkwardness too, but the current Meram is not the usual Meram.
“Oppa, are you crazy?”
“Hm?”
“Did you forget everything Simyun said. Why sit there. Not moving seats?”
“Ah.”
“You got beaten with a scabbard until you memorized it all, why did you become a goldfish again.”
“Sorry.”
Jahar hurriedly raised his body.
He moved to the seat opposite Meram, blocking the view between Meram and the training ground.
“Sorry. I asked Oppa because my build is small. If I knew this would happen, I would have sat there first.”
“Sorry, Meram. I have no face to see Simyun.”
Ael gathered her hands and Jahar bowed his head.
“That…… when did the Young Master……?”
“This morning. When taking Meram, he earnestly asked to memorize it.”
“Ah.”
“Sorry. Nothing good comes from a secret being discovered. Even more so if divulged by others.”
“But it’s right to scold Simyun not us for that. Because he didn’t come together.”
“Ah, it is fine. It’s hardly a secret.”
Meram cannot look at blood.
The swordsmen hadn’t shed blood yet, but still.
It is a duel. Meaning blood will splatter eventually.
Such causality is firmly stuck in Meram’s mind. A trauma commonly held if one is a war orphan.
“I was just surprised. I didn’t know the Young Master would think even that far.”
Meram’s eyes went round.
She just thought he dumped it on the siblings because he was too lazy to go to the banquet together.
“Eh, no way. You know how much Simyun likes Meram.”
“Even if Simyun always grumbles, he is deep inside.”
“Not coming together is a bit, no, very ungrateful though.”
“Sister, there must have been a reason Simyun didn’t come to the banquet.”
At Jahar’s words, Ael nodded slightly.
Certainly, the returned Simyun changed somewhat.
He didn’t relax his concentration for a single moment. It seemed his nerves were sharp too.
Perhaps he hasn’t discarded the habits honed in Bahab yet.
“That is correct. Even if he doesn’t look like it, he is a truly kind person.”
Meram smiled brightly.
Even when deciding to enter the castle in the first place, Simurtr worried about Meram first.
“He is a bit scary when fighting though.”
Ael shuddered recalling Simurtr.
“Hmm. He was the specimen of a Sword Fiend.”
“There is no such Sword Fiend in the main family, Oppa. At least where is a swordsman who laughs like a crazy person when fighting…… Ah, sorry.”
Ael realized her slip of tongue while speaking.
“You mean the Young Master?”
“Ah, yeah. No, um. I mean he enjoys it. Tends to try enjoying anything. Right, Oppa?”
“Hmm, enjoying the thrill of risking life.”
Jahar clutched his shin.
“It is fine. I have already experienced on Mount Lionelben that the Young Master’s hand is scary.”
“Ah, back then.”
“Yes. That was the first time I knew the Young Master could handle mana.”
The siblings listened with interest to the incident at the exile mansion Meram recounted.
“I feel this every time I see, but Meram seems to really like Simyun.”
“We were stuck together every day for 7 years. It had to be like that. Probably even Ael-nim would have been so.”
“Meram’s tone is too stiff.”
Suddenly when Ael spoke, Jahar nodded.
Meram’s tone is always like that. Simurtr says it only changes when she’s angry, but the siblings haven’t experienced it yet.
“I apologize if it was uncomfortable.”
“No, no. Not scolding, just sometimes strange. Actually, maybe to adults, but no need to do so to us. Yeah, you can speak comfortably to us.”
“It’s a tone picked up long ago…… not easy to fix. I will keep my mind at ease.”
“Picked up from whom?”
“When I was attending the Academy, there was someone who offered me a disciple position.”
“Disciple? Magic Tower?”
“It was Sage’s Castle. I didn’t accept but…… still when I was at the Academy, he treated me like a disciple. I picked it up then.”
“Sage’s Castle? You refused there and came to the main family? Really?”
Ael’s eyes went round.
Unlike Jahar who was blank knowing nothing, Ael was aware of basic external information.
“If it’s Sage’s Castle, it’s a place called the utopia of magicians along with the Magic Tower.”
Furthermore, a disciple.
If one is a magician, it is an offer impossible to refuse.
Maybe if chosen by the Magic Tower, but what Meram chose is Mectera. A barren land of magic.
“Yes. It is a glorious position, but I wanted to come to Mectera.”
Meram laughed awkwardly.
“Why?”
“It is a personal reason.”
“Ah, Simyun doesn’t know either?”
“Yes. As the Young Master said, Ael-nim seems really quick-witted.”
Ael laughed back.
As expected, the most important to Meram is Simurtr.
If she didn’t tell him, there’s no way she’d tell others.
If they hear the reason for choosing Mectera from Meram, it would be after she told Simurtr.
“But about Mount Lionelben. Ah, is it rude to ask this?”
“Hm. If it’s there, we indeed have no qualification to ask.”
“I am fine. You can ask comfortably.”
Arnea is related to Simurtr’s exile.
But the siblings were not involved there. It was true, and Simurtr judged so as well. If it’s the Young Master’s decision, Meram doesn’t object.
“Why didn’t you return? I heard the dispatch period was 1 year.”
Just 1 year, but Meram remained until the end.
She spent a whopping 7 years with Simurtr in that corner of the mountain.
“I can understand staying 1 or 2 more years, but honestly 7 years is super long. Because you liked Simyun?”
“It is a personal reason so I cannot tell in detail but…… you can see it as a reason similar to the current Aran-nim.”
Though quite different from the purpose of coming to Mectera at first.
Meram smiled brightly. She neither regrets the time spent with Simurtr, nor thinks it was so wrong.
…It was then.
“Uh?”
The one who noticed first among the three was the sensitive Ael.
Amid the banquet noise, some impurity intervened. Ssseuk, ssseuk. Sound of something dragging was heard regularly.
“What sound is it.”
Those using the duel as a side dish also began to perceive the strange noise. Gasp. Sound of someone inhaling breath was heard from afar. It was a place close to the noise.
Ssseuk. The sound gets closer. The duel, possibly the umpteenth one, stopped. Even swordsmen swinging swords were looking at the source at some point.
…Eventually, the middle of the crowd opened wide. A path opened.
“…Simyun?”
Ssseuk. Ssseuk.
Simurtr is walking that path.
Deban was seen following behind. But…… the gap between Simurtr and the two is quite far.
Measuring that gap, it was a length exactly fitting for a person lying down.
“…Person?”
Yes, person.
Ssseuk. Simurtr was dragging a person.
Grabbing the collar of a limp person, slowly. Walking slowly. Only the face wasn’t visible. Hidden by Simurtr.
Was Simurtr that huge? Ael leaned back inadvertently. For some reason, she wanted to get away from him.
“…Daike, Great Swordsman……?”
Someone spoke.
Hearing that name, Ael realized.
Also because Simurtr got closer. As the angle opened, she ended up seeing the face.
Great Swordsman.
A title allowed only after reaching the stage of Sword Master, next to high-ranking swordsmen.
Daike is a swordsman of the 1st Sword Order.
Subordinate of 1st Head of the Sword Bahel Batra. One of Mectera’s vanguards.
…Such a swordsman became a wreck. The ruined and swollen face was only breathing.
Far from regaining consciousness, death looked closer. If the chest didn’t rise, Ael would have thought Daike was dead.
“Simyun.”
Should I be surprised that he beat a Great Swordsman?
Or that he half-killed a swordsman of the main family?
“Simyun.”
When Ael was speechless, Jahar uttered again.
Jahar didn’t say things Ael was pondering. Neither surprised saying amazing, nor scolding why he touched a main family swordsman.
“Meram is watching.”
Only covered Meram’s eyes.
Since seeing Simurtr and the dragged Daike, she was forcing her eyes open and trembling.
Even though trauma is piercing her brain, holding onto consciousness forcibly is because the one grabbing Daike’s collar is Simurtr.
“Just a moment is fine.”
“Should I take her out.”
“If possible.”
Simurtr saw Meram and smiled bitterly.
Pretended not to see Meram shaking her head.
“…….”
The wave generating first has no noise.
Only can be heard after reaching the land.
“…Still, not just the head this time.”
Deepest part of the banquet.
Medeoban and Orde. And Bahel Batra sitting opposite heard the sound. Saw the uninvited guest of the banquet.
“…Son.”
Perplexity and astonishment were contained in Orde’s face.
Medeoban too. The past Sword Master and current Sword Master had the ability to infer the situation looking at traces left on Daike’s body.
Simurtr’s body clearly has traces of battle left. Nothing to call a fatal wound, but not just light either.
…But Medeoban and Orde were certain the battle was one-sided.
Daike. Unlike Simurtr, no such thing to call sword wound was visible on that Great Swordsman.
‘…When the opponent tried to cut, Simyun didn’t try to cut.’
Simurtr swung the sword, but didn’t cut.
Just beat him with the flat of the sword.
Of course Simurtr’s age invited carelessness, and the position practically like a direct descendant limited Daike’s skill but…… still.
Still, a Great Swordsman of the 1st Sword Order.
“You must remember the banquet hall. A worthy reason will be needed.”
Swordsman’s eyes inferred battle instinctively, but what’s important now isn’t that.
Great Swordsman is one of Mectera’s important assets. Furthermore if the affiliation is 1st Sword Order, the value rises immeasurably.
Unless there is a justification corresponding to that…… Medeoban or Orde cannot protect Simurtr.
It was a spar? Not a state where such excuse works. Daike had to meet a healer right now.
“Meram’s expulsion. Is it the old man?”
“Huh?”
“If you don’t know, forget it.”
Saying he would smooth it over if just a plausible justification is attached somehow.
Simurtr kicked Medeoban’s goodwill.
“I will handle it myself.”
Bahel Batra was looking at Simurtr with glaring eyes. Then hands, collar, Daike breathing barely.
“Is it you?”
Daike’s body is thrown roughly.
When Bahel’s gaze moved following it, Simurtr drew his sword.
“Come up, son of a bitch.”
The scabbard struck Bahel’s chest hard.