Chapter 111 : Chapter 111
Chapter 111: Bahel Batra (3)
“I didn’t know you would come.”
“I tend to come to pay my respects whenever I return. I didn’t expect you to be here either, 6th Head of the Sword.”
And with the fourth young master, at that.
Bahel’s eyes scanned Simurtr before shifting away. Empty liquor bottles. Three glasses.
…Father’s sword, still damp.
“The fourth young master is still a minor…….”
“I didn’t drink.”
Bahel looked at the glass placed in front of Simurtr.
Certainly, there was no moisture.
“It is a fine liquor the young master brought from Bahab. Wouldn't it be a waste to drink it alone?”
“…Is that why you came here?”
“Indeed. They say Akarr Bahab distilled it directly with the Swelling Flame. Even this guy wouldn’t have tasted this before.”
“Such a precious thing…….”
“It was the young master who decided. He felt it was a waste to give it to the former Sword Master over there, but he liked feeding it to this guy.”
“Thank you.”
Emotion welled up in Bahel’s eyes.
“Do you want a drink too?”
“May I?”
Just like his father, the former 1st Head of the Sword, Bahel was a guy who went crazy for alcohol.
“Of course. But surely you aren’t going to just detoxify it with magic or anything like that, right?”
“That would be an insult to the alcohol.”
It is quite easy to blow away intoxication.
Furthermore, for a guy of Bahel’s level, it gets blocked on its own even without conscious effort.
‘But this is Akarr’s use.’
If Bahel is like that, how much more so would Akarr be?
This fine liquor brewed with the Swelling Flame is for Akarr.
Not only is the proof filthily high, but toxins that hinder magic operation are also added.
‘Just how much does he like alcohol to make crap like this.’
Just how much does he like it that he wants to get drunk even while consuming poison?
As Simurtr, who didn't enjoy alcohol, it was something I couldn't understand. If I drank this with my current body, I’d just get sick.
‘This guy seems to have understood.’
Bahel had already taken a seat.
Since he held out the glass placed before his father’s sword, I poured him a drink too.
“…By the way, you are a wimp.”
Bahel’s robust body was identical to that of the former 1st Head of the Sword, but.
The only thing he didn’t inherit was the liver.
“Pardon?”
“I said the alcohol is delicious.”
“It is still too early for the young master.”
“Actually, I’m the same age as you.”
“Indeed!”
2 glasses.
In terms of time, only one minute had passed.
“The proof is high indeed. My tolerance increased recently so I lasted up to ten glasses.”
“Is it because poison was added?”
Simurtr let out a hollow laugh while looking at Bahel, whose face had already slackened.
“This. Will you remember it tomorrow?”
“I won’t.”
“Are you sure you aren’t just pretending not to remember because it’s embarrassing?”
“Even when Kehellan cursed heavily in a fit of anger, there were no repercussions.”
“It’s certain then.”
Even though I was speaking openly, Bahel didn't even look at me. He was tilting the bottle and catching the falling drops of alcohol with his mouth.
“Hey.”
“…….”
“Hey. Bahel.”
“Yes.”
His eyes were glazed over.
Whatever stubbornness it was, he didn’t seem to have any intention of operating his magic.
‘No. Is it that he can’t?’
Aran, meeting my eyes, nodded.
It meant the alcohol was that strong. Fatal, as befitting alcohol exclusively for Akarr.
‘He handles magic worse than me.’
Bahel’s beloved sword is a greatsword, so massive it looks ignorant. He didn’t use it in duels.
That was the reason the exchanges in the duel could be established. He is weak in the precise operation of magic. Even so, Bahel had adjusted to match Simurtr.
“You. Do… do you not hate Exa?”
“I hate him.”
An immediate answer popped out.
Simurtr opened his eyes wide while looking at Aran.
“Please ask more.”
“Why do you hate him?”
Simurtr asked immediately.
“Why? You were close when you were young.”
“That is why I hate him more.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I was the only one who thought that.”
Simurtr turned his head again.
Didn’t I tell you so? Aran was saying with his expression.
“On what grounds? They say Exa was close to you too.”
“Exa did not return to the main family. Even though he became a swordsman capable of becoming the Sword Master.”
“Why would he crawl back into a place that expelled him? What’s so pretty about it?”
“I can understand that sentiment. But that was a deserving treatment.”
That is true.
How could a swordsman who couldn't master magic aim for the succession rights?
Simurtr also thought Duke Medeoban’s treatment was correct. Medeoban at that time was certainly a good foster father.
“My father could not accept it until the end, but the main family had already taken all possible measures.”
“So?”
“Expulsion does not justify not returning to the main family.”
“So that’s why you hate him? Because Exa didn’t return to Mectera?”
“…That guy had completely forgotten the promise he made with me.”
“Promise?”
Simurtr tilted his head.
‘Did we make something like that?’
We probably did. But it’s a story from childhood.
A time when trivial or absurd things could easily become topics of conversation.
Looking to the side, Aran seemed to know.
“Exa as the Sword Master. Me as the 1st Head of the Sword. Thus, breaking Basor and dreaming of becoming the Empire’s only Ducal House together.”
It’s not entirely absurd either.
“…You kept the promise.”
“Yes. But Exa was not the same. The Doom War. When I met him again on that battlefield, he certainly possessed skills befitting a Sword Master.”
When I met him again on the battlefield, Bahel was quite glad to see me.
Although our compatibility wasn't great, a friend is a friend.
However, I had completely forgotten the promise.
“Exa says he’s sorry too.”
“He should be more sorry.”
“Still, he died. Can’t you let him off for that?”
“…That is why I cannot let him off more. The fact that he lived forgetting it all along and died just like that…… no, the fact that he died just like that was detestable.”
“It’s sad enough that he died.”
“It was even more hateful that he returned to Mectera only after dying.”
“I didn’t go because I wanted to.”
“If he wasn’t going to keep the promise, he shouldn’t have come.”
Simurtr nodded.
No matter how I thought about it, I wasn’t a guy who would die like that.
“…He wasn’t a guy who would die like that.”
His voice became quite gloomy, but fortunately, Bahel didn’t cry.
‘If he cries at that age, he should die.’
If it were a child, maybe, but it wasn’t my hobby to see a grown adult’s tears.
“He should have lived on, forgetting it all. Without dying, without coming to Mectera. He should have lived like that in Baperr. He shouldn’t have become a hero of Mectera.”
“…….”
“If not that. If we knew he would come without even a body…… we should have stopped the expulsion.”
Bahel finally spat out his inner thoughts.
Lingering affection for his friend Exa. Regret.
The reason Bahel didn’t give up on Simurtr…… and held on until the bitter end.
“Young master, do you know this. There is a scar on my head. My one and only friend gave me this, but…….”
…It’s getting.
Mectera is becoming burdensome.
***
Nothing much has changed.
Though for some reason, Bahel was added to the sparring partners, but that was all.
Simurtr decided to think of it that way.
‘He’s no good because he’s ignorant.’
The techniques Arnea mainly shows are those of the Sword Tower.
It means the fun of dealing with them is considerable.
It also evokes nostalgia for my past life.
‘…Since today is the last day. He said he’s leaving to inspect the branch families soon.’
But sparring with Bahel yields nothing.
Worried that the young master might get hurt, he doesn’t use his beloved greatsword.
However as time passes, he gets serious. It’s already burdensome, but he starts putting power into it.
“Bahel. Wouldn’t it be right for you to spar with Ael instead of me?”
While blocking the sword, an electric current flowed through both arms for a moment. Simurtr couldn't hold back and spoke.
“But Lady Ael is…….”
“She is stronger than me. Probably, if we judge purely by body, she’s stronger than you were when you were young?”
Jahar and Ael, Beden, Simurtr.
Among the young Mecteras, the sturdiest one is Ael. It’s thanks to inheriting the blood of her maternal family, Dujeu, thickly.
If we were to face off with pure strength, Simurtr cannot win in a contest of strength with Ael.
“And I’m sorry to say this, but you are of no help to me. Seriously.”
Maybe after I become stronger, but right now sparring with Bahel becomes poison. It’s an act that only whittles away my body’s lifespan.
Every time I parry the serious guy’s sword, the joints of my whole body throb.
‘If it’s going to be like this, I’d rather do it with Aran.’
Black Hemisphere.
That technique, which is particularly tricky among Mectera’s secret arts, was also what Aran enjoyed using the most.
Bahel cannot handle the Black Hemisphere as well as Aran. Contrary to his appearance, Aran was sensitive and skilled in technique.
“That’s right. I was just thinking the same thing. Isn’t our Simyun’s body still frail?”
Arnea, who had been watching quietly, came up to the training ground with shining eyes.
She was dissatisfied with having her sparring time taken away by Bahel. The time, which was already insufficient due to Beden coming down, had become even shorter.
“What are you doing?”
Just as Arnea was drawing her sword, Simurtr sheathed his.
“There is a guest.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. They said it’s the Information Bureau.”
“The Information Bureau?”
“Yes. They said it’s a nomination.”
“Our Simyun?”
***
‘The Information Bureau wants me.’
Arnea’s worry was wrong.
At least in this life, Simurtr hadn't done anything to be marked by the Information Bureau.
There was no messenger from the Information Bureau. When Simurtr arrived at the office, only Aran was there.
‘They nominated me, yet left without seeing me?’
Doesn’t it smell already?
Saying it’s the Emperor’s direct organization…… the Information Bureau hasn’t been perfectly consolidated yet.
‘It’s very different from the Information Bureau I knew. If it were the old days, they would have been bowing their heads until I arrived.’
The current Information Bureau is an organization that collects information and, at the same time, an armed group.
“If it’s information power within the Empire, the Information Bureau is superior to Degrate. However, their military force is not yet comparable. In the first place, the purpose of the Information Bureau was not military force.”
“I heard they started focusing on military force after the end of the war?”
“That is correct.”
It wasn’t like that in the old days. In the Melken of the past, there were many institutions for the Imperial Family.
The Information Bureau back then was a subordinate agency that provided collected information. A crocodile bird that helped with the clean-up of Mectera, the Sword of the Empire.
“But why suddenly? What about the Great Generals?”
Although the names have changed every time, the Imperial Family’s independent military organization has always existed in the thousand-year history.
The first thing that comes to mind is the Great Generals.
The position appointed directly by The Emperor, where Exa had also placed his body.
The Great General has the authority to establish and operate a unit independently. However, eventually, that will must be for The Emperor.
‘It was special for me because it was wartime.’
There were five seats.
Loyal subjects who could offer their necks for The Emperor.
“Only one remains. The remaining four seats are all vacant.”
“Why didn’t they select new ones?”
“The current Imperial Family is in a worse situation than the young master thinks.”
Skill.
And loyalty to the Imperial Family.
But the latter has already deviated significantly.
“Those skilled enough to be discussed as candidates for Great General are already under the influence of Basor or Bahab. In the first place, such strong people aren’t common. If they want to find one, they would have to look outside the country.”
Other institutions are the same.
Except for the Information Bureau, almost all have been devoured. They said there are many people from the Hero Families, Bahab and Basor.
“The Ember of the Swelling Flame?”
“Yes. They recommend employment in the capital to graduates.”
“But Bahab must be sincere?”
Bloodline, status. The elements Bahab cares about the most.
Bahab considers Melken the most noble in the world.
“Wouldn't that sincerity also be burdensome? It’s not necessarily good just because the loyalty is great. Bahab wants to interfere with everything related to the Imperial Family. Except for the Imperial Family itself.”
“And Basor is the opposite.”
“Correct. They are a consistent bunch.”
Basor. What those who rule the Magic Tower consider most noble is magic.
It was like that from the root. Basor mooched off Melken when it became an Empire.
Although they became a Hero Family, their loyalty to Melken cannot be called outstanding even as empty words.
For such people, Basor always wanted to gain freedom beyond the present.
They constantly tried to weaken Melken’s power, and there would be no better time than now that they have become heroes.
The Empire became stronger, but the power of the Imperial Family is weakening day by day.
“The Director of the Information Bureau has not yet completely seized the Information Bureau.”
The Director of the Information Bureau is a figure of the Imperial Family.
From a long time ago, from when the Information Bureau was established, it was like that.
If one is the head of the Imperial Family’s direct organization solely, one must be so.
“Is that possible? The Director selects all the agents there.”
“To be precise, the Deputy Director of the Information Bureau also has authority.”
“That guy is a person from a Hero Family?”
“It is Basor.”
“I suppose. Bahab can’t do that openly. It belongs to that precious Emperor. When was the appointment?”
A guy named the new Deputy Director who took office recently is shaking the Information Bureau.
“It was last year. After Bahab’s banquet ended.”
“It’s time for it to become obvious.”
Part of the Information Bureau must have been eaten away.
Some positions must have been filled with Basor’s people.
“Is the Director incompetent?”
“He is competent. However, he is busy enough to be checked inevitably.”
Busy.
It was something I heard from Deban someday.
The Information Bureau was one of the busiest groups in the Doom War.
But after the end of the war, they became busier than that.
“Doing what.”
“Isn’t every day peak season for a group that gathers information? Moreover, since they are also growing military force, there will be no time to catch their breath.”
“Did the Director tell you to say that?”
For a moment, Simurtr’s eyes shone.
While calling even Medeoban or Orde just Head of the Senate and Sword Master.
In front of Simurtr, Aran is not a human who takes someone else’s side. The targets for that can be counted on one hand.
Meram, Bahel…… Unless it’s that level of relationship, Aran follows Simurtr entirely.
“Seems like you have a good relationship?”
“Haha. I knew it would be like this. Correct. He told me to say so.”
“Who is the Director?”
“I cannot tell you.”
“Even to me?”
“Yes. He said he would kill me if I divulged it.”
“Aran, you? Is that possible?”
“It would be sufficiently possible.”
Simurtr’s eyes became round.
“You said they are still weak?”
“The Director is unique. The overall level of the Information Bureau is still lacking.”
“What about the Deputy Director?”
“He is a great magician, but…… not a participant.”
“So he’s an idiot?”
It means he is a theorist who avoided actual combat and rotted in a back room even though the war was in full swing.
The type of magician Simurtr detests the most.
“From the perspective of the main family, he is a correct magician.”
It means the Director is a participant.
Who is a skilled person who experienced the Doom War and can kill Aran?
“So. Are you telling me not to go?”
Simurtr fluttered the documents.
Direct nomination from the Information Bureau. It is not the intention of the Director. It is something done arbitrarily by the Deputy Director, a human of Basor.
“Yes. Although it says joint operation with the Information Bureau, the Deputy Director wants to figure out the young master. It must be Basor’s order.”
“Didn’t you say that if you have the bloodline of an Empire noble, it all gets recorded in the Information Bureau?”
It would be the intention of the Imperial Family, and a part where the ability of the Information Bureau within the Empire can be confirmed.
The Information Bureau has family trees of all Imperial noble families, and even Hero Families cannot avoid that.
“That is true, but…… the young master is a little different.”
Aran spoke slowly.
He also looked at Simurtr’s reaction.
“What is different.”
“Wasn’t there a time when I thought the young master was the young master’s successor.”
“So.”
“As you know, I happen to have a connection with the Director.”
It was before leaving for the Huit mission.
At that time, Aran thought Simurtr might be Exa’s disciple.
“So. What is different. Stop beating around the bush and speak.”
“I tried to prevent the leakage of information as much as possible. I modified all of the young master’s information recorded in the Information Bureau. Through the Director.”
“How much?”
“It is safe to see it as almost a new person.”
“Can the expression ‘new person’ be used like this?”
Doesn’t it mean he created a completely different person?
“How did you distort it? I should know a bit too.”
“There is no longer a need for you to know. Since the nomination came.”
“I’m asking because I’m curious.”
“Even if you know, it will be useless.”
“No. I said I’m curious?”
“That is not what is important right now. The Deputy Director. In other words, Basor has started to watch the young master.”
The first was the Black Tower.
When the Black Tower collapsed, an agent of the Information Bureau was hiding in Serepes.
“Black Tower. At the time of that incident, the Deputy Director was a different person. Therefore, the Director could easily cover it up.”
The one who destroyed the Black Tower is Mectera’s Sword Master.
Basor apologized for the atrocities of the exiled Black Tower but clarified that they were absolutely unrelated.
“I didn’t expect everyone to believe that apology. Have people’s heads become strange these days?”
Honestly, I thought there wouldn’t be zero damage.
I thought I had adapted to the existence of heroes in the current era to some extent.
“Some won’t believe it.”
“But most believed it.”
The world believed Basor’s apology.
They really considered it the Black Tower’s arbitrary action and think Basor is unfairly accused. Only a few experienced ones kept quiet.
‘Meaning whatever bullshit they do, it’s fine if they deny it.’
I realize the standing of a hero anew.
If there is no clear evidence and the person involved denies it…… they become innocent.
The world considers it a ploy to slander the hero.
“They aren’t heroes for nothing. And the evaluation of the young master is the best.”
“What’s the use of that. Only I can’t use that good thing. I should have resurrected, not reincarnated.”
“Was that something the young master could choose?”
“Of course not.”
Aran smiled bitterly and continued the explanation.
The Information Bureau agent dispatched to Serepes.
Although the Director silenced that witness and erased the recorded information…… the words already spat out did not disappear.
“The rumor that the one who destroyed the Black Tower is Mectera’s fourth is still circulating. It wasn’t big, but…… it was enough to flow to the newly appointed Deputy Director and Basor.”
“Do they believe that?”
Just hearing it, it is an absurd statement.
How could a guy who was barely 16 years old.
“Usually they don’t believe it. That’s why it was quiet back then, wasn’t it.”
The fact that Simurtr became a guest of Bahab became a problem.
“I heard Renate Noel is a knight with bright prospects even in Bahab.”
“Was he?”
“But the young master beat him to a pulp.”
“It was self-defense.”
“I suppose so. However, the problem is that credibility was added to the rumors circulating in the Information Bureau.”
Renate Noel, called the rising star of The Ember of the Swelling Flame, was defeated unilaterally.
Even though he is Mectera, a rival, Akarr openly expressed goodwill to Simurtr.
‘Basor thinks Bahab wouldn’t do that for no reason.’
It is a widely known fact in the Empire that Akarr has a tremendous desire for talent.
Something that could have been dismissed as just a false rumor…… now had sufficient grounds.
Maybe? Basor has developed such a suspicion.
“So they nominated me? To check if the rumor is true?”
If it were another place, maybe not, but Basor is worth doing so.
No, if they really held hands with Remeter…… they must do so.
“Yes. Since the young master is a target anyway. If such a target destroyed the Black Tower, naturally they would try to catch you.”
White Sword Master.
Regarding Simurtr, Basor and Remeter made a separate alias.
It means they are openly targeting him.
But on top of that, now they say he might be the true culprit of the Black Tower incident.
“The evaluation must have become better.”
Simurtr giggled.
Wouldn’t I have been upgraded from a guy good to catch to a guy who must be caught and remodeled?
“It is not something to be happy about. You should refuse the nomination, or go and pretend to be weak.”
“If it was last year, maybe, but now I can’t.”
Star-Breaking Style 5-star.
That achievement is a realm that cannot be hidden even if one wants to hide it.
“Even if I get caught, they probably won’t be able to move rashly? Akarr is going around advertising that he likes me openly.”
It was according to Haryun and Simurtr’s intention, and Akarr fell for it nicely.
Nobles following Bahab were even making a fuss saying news of an engagement would be announced soon.
‘There was definitely an effect. Nothing happened for the past year. Bahab was an excellent fence.’
It can’t be thanks to Herein Remeter’s oath.
Thanks to Bahab, those guys became unable to move rashly.
And that will not change significantly in the future.
‘As long as the relationship with Haryun is not discovered.’
Or unless Simurtr betrays Bahab first.
“Still, there is nothing good about getting caught. Please refuse.”
If it were an Imperial command, maybe, but the Information Bureau is not in a position to force Mectera.
“What does the Director say?”
Simurtr became curious about the Director’s opinion.
I don’t know who it is, but they maintain a close relationship with Aran.
‘He is helpful. Providing an excuse to go to Pakun was one thing. He also fabricated the Black Tower collapse. Although things got complicated now, that’s my fault.’
Hejel Bahab’s birth banquet too.
Wasn’t it all The Emperor’s influence that Mectera, who didn’t fit the party, participated?
The Imperial Family had wanted Mectera to participate in Bahab’s banquet.
‘He even blocked that. Although he couldn’t stop the participation, what came after.’
Nothing changed significantly afterward.
They said the Director succeeded in calming down The Emperor’s interest somehow.
‘I don’t know how far I can trust him but…… so far, he is a beneficial existence.’
Of course, it must be thanks to Aran…… but he hasn’t done anything harmful to this side.
“Did he say it would be better to refuse?”
“…He said if you go, you won’t regret it.”
“Then I should go.”
Unless it’s a common internal strife between the Director and Deputy Director.
A place related to Basor…… Simurtr had no intention of avoiding it.
Rather, I should welcome it.
‘I do have to learn magic too.’
If Aran knew, he would have a seizure.