Chapter 41 : Chapter 41
Chapter 41. Boy, Raise Your Sword (4)
The scroll Hansen handed to Blanc contained a handwritten letter from Frederick, the King of the Felix Kingdom.
"Thank you, Count."
"I am glad you like it."
The letter contained content guaranteeing Blanc’s identity and recommending him as a trustworthy noble.
"With this, you will be able to open an account for the Cadmus family at the Iron Bank, Baron Blanc."
"Thank you for your concern."
Bartomyu had learned through Weird that Blanc was very interested in opening an account at the Iron Bank.
Blanc had established a meritorious deed by conquering Tiday the Soul Collector’s dungeon and rescuing Stefan, Bartomyu’s son and the Knight Commander of Tolome.
It was only right not to end things by simply distributing the loot from the dungeon, but to give Blanc a reward befitting his contribution.
That was why he decided to give it.
The things Blanc wanted most right now.
Bartomyu knew Blanc’s circumstances inside and out. He knew what he wanted, what he needed, and what was most urgent.
"I do not know if the Cadmus family originally had an account, but regardless, starting a transaction with the Iron Bank has its own significance."
Bartomyu provided not only King Frederick’s letter but also a letter of recommendation from himself, the head of the Tolome family, and a document guaranteeing that Blanc was the sole successor of the Cadmus family.
If the Cadmus family happened to have an existing account, this would be useful in reclaiming it.
"Thank you for your consideration."
Even Blanc did not know whether the Cadmus family had an account at the Iron Bank or not.
Matters regarding family revenue were sensitive and complex issues. As the sole successor of the Cadmus family, Blanc would have eventually been educated on such parts by his father, Pallard Cadmus, but at the time the family was exterminated, he was not yet ready to receive such education.
Furthermore, the Iron Bank did not even exist in his past life. There was no way for Blanc to know if a Cadmus family account existed.
"When do you plan to move?"
"I plan to go after finishing the marriage with the Neudorf family."
Bartomyu and Berger had decided to hold Blanc’s wedding around autumn, after the coming-of-age ceremony was finished.
In reality, the wedding was only about a month away.
Blanc, who wanted concrete support from the Neudorf family, agreed with their opinion to hold the wedding as quickly as possible.
"That is a good choice. Stabilizing the inside first is the most important rule. Do not forget. Once Baron Blanc marries, you will become the head of a family."
"Thank you for your advice."
The fact that Bartomyu personally brought King Frederick’s recommendation letter to Blanc was practically permission for the Cadmus family’s economic independence.
Although it would be a nominal Iron Bank account right now since there was no income coming from anywhere, having a way to act independently outside of Tolome’s eyes would widen the scope of Blanc’s movements.
"Thank you, Count."
Blanc bowed politely to Bartomyu until the very end and left the office.
"……"
As soon as Blanc left the office, Bartomyu put down the documents he was holding, stood up from his seat, and looked out the window.
"……He has grown too big to swallow in one bite now."
Bartomyu was the head of the Tolome family.
All his decisions were solely for the benefit of Tolome.
When Blanc first came into his hands, he was nothing more than a chess piece that could be used well.
Although he was a grandson who shared his blood, Blanc was ultimately a Cadmus.
He was someone who could never become a Tolome.
If he could just coax the young Blanc well and use him like a puppet, he would have gained a barony that he could control as he pleased.
Furthermore, if Norington could be recovered, it would be akin to obtaining a territory, the long-cherished wish of Meritorious Nobles.
It would be the territory of the Cadmus family, but the shape of it would be that the owner of the Cadmus family was Tolome.
Bartomyu had intended to put Cadmus in the front and manipulate him from behind for Tolome’s benefit.
But Blanc’s overwhelming growth made that impossible.
Blanc was already surpassing most noble families with just his name value alone.
He had very cleverly borrowed the names of Tolome and Aselheit to build his fame and position.
"If I cannot possess him, it would be best to increase my influence as much as possible."
So he gave him Hansen.
Hansen was a knight who had been active in the Tolome Knights for his entire life.
Although he was now under Blanc, he was a man who could not become Hansen, the Knight of Cadmus. The Tolome spirit embedded in his bones would make that impossible.
A Knight of Tolome who would become the cornerstone of the Cadmus Knights.
The knights of Cadmus influenced by Hansen would naturally possess pro-Tolome tendencies.
This meant the same thing as placing one of Tolome’s hands on the handle of Blanc’s sword.
***
The coming-of-age ceremony carried the social meaning of becoming a dignified member of a society, as well as the religious meaning of being reborn before the Goddesses.
Therefore, unlike other ceremonies enjoyed like festivals, the coming-of-age ceremony was a serious ritual conducted under the supervision of priests.
There was a white-painted podium.
The podium was made of about twenty steps, and a red carpet was laid in the center.
And at the end of the podium, Cardinal Julio, a figure from the Goddess Order who had come specifically for Blanc’s coming-of-age ceremony today, was waiting for him.
Dressed in a white formal suit of the same color as the podium, Blanc stood straight and looked at Cardinal Julio at the very top.
No, he was looking beyond that.
'I have come this far……'
The regression plans established in the early stages had all turned to bubbles. Even now, not a single Regressor had contacted Blanc.
It was lonely and painful.
It was hard to accept the reality that he was the only one preparing for the colossal Void.
However, Blanc did not give up.
He gritted his teeth, climbed up, and established a foundation alone.
If the two Regressors saw Blanc now, they probably would have applauded him, saying he did well.
"Baron Blanc Cadmus!"
A middle-aged man standing next to the podium walked out with a smile and welcomed Blanc.
He was a man who grew a magnificent Kaiser-style mustache.
Laughing heartily, he handed a scabbard wrapped in white cloth to Blanc.
Blanc turned his eyes toward the emblem engraved on the man’s armor.
On the left chest of the gray armor the man was wearing, a fiercely burning torch was engraved.
The man who handed the sword to Blanc was Antonio, a regional commander of the Torch Knights.
As one of the commanders of the six regions independently designated by the Torch Knights, he decided to personally hand over Aselheit’s sword rather than sending a proxy.
"This sword is a sword directly ordered by Lord Aselheit."
It was not a fancy scabbard, but in the center of the scabbard, the torch symbolizing Aselheit was embossed large.
The sword he had received from Aselheit until now was the mop handle that Emilia cherished and kept.
But from today on, he would be able to speak proudly.
That this is the sword received from Aselheit, the Knight of Knights.
"Lord Aselheit used to order swords fitting the characteristics of the knights he personally appointed."
Antonio did not hide his happy feelings, seemingly enjoying this moment of explaining to Blanc.
"The sword given to the fifth knight, Lord Wesler Balthazar, was engraved with Tanzanite, which increases Aura condensation, but Baron Blanc’s sword has……"
As Blanc slightly pulled out the sword, the green light hidden inside the scabbard was revealed.
"Peridot, which emits light even in the dark night, is engraved."
Peridot was a gem that emitted light even in the dark night. Peridot, which never lost its light anytime and anywhere, was a gem that boasted excellent efficacy along with silver, especially in cutting down Evil.
It was a part where one could know what Aselheit expected from Blanc.
Blanc stood blankly for a moment and looked at the sword Aselheit had gifted.
It was a magnificent sword.
Throughout all his lives, this was the first time he had such a magnificent sword.
Blanc grabbed the sword handle as if possessed.
'This is…… my sword.'
Blanc could feel it as soon as he picked up the sword. That this was his sword.
Aselheit grasped the form of swordsmanship Blanc used with just a single sparring session and ordered the optimal sword for him.
It resembled an arming sword, which was a one-handed sword form, but the handle part was long so it could be gripped with both hands at any time.
It was a sword form perfectly fitting for Blanc’s swordsmanship, which extremely varied the distance with the opponent.
The form of the sword was one thing, but the softly emitting green light made Blanc’s heart comfortable.
Blanc recalled the aurora he saw in his past life.
It was a dark night, a cold night where even the soul seemed to freeze, but the green wave engraved in the sky back then was a magnificent sight.
'I really like it.'
Blanc put the slightly drawn sword back in.
Then he stood at the podium and nodded toward Cardinal Julio, who was waiting for him.
All preparations were finished.
Now, the only thing left was to move forward.
"Today, we have gathered here to bless a young soul who wishes to break the egg that encased him and go out into a new world."
Blanc, wearing the white formal attire, moved his steps following Julio’s words.
Every time he went up one step, people held their breath and watched the scene.
"He has already achieved many achievements difficult to attain at that age, but all this is just the beginning."
Cardinal Julio of the Goddess Order had officiated the coming-of-age ceremonies of many noble children until now.
However, among the coming-of-age ceremonies he had undertaken in his life, there was no moment as anticipated as now.
Other nobles usually came to him, a Cardinal, and bowed their heads to bless their children, but in the case of Blanc Cadmus' coming-of-age ceremony today, he had rather reached out to Bartomyu first.
It was because he wanted to see the boy named Blanc Cadmus, who gained fame at a young age, with his own eyes.
And now, Cardinal Julio standing here did not regret that choice.
"Now, there is a young boy entering anew into the eyes of the Goddesses who created this world."
The young lion who inherited Tolome’s blood was looking up at him from the red carpet.
"Please let him know the right path and do not let him wander."
The young boy, the last Cadmus, pierced through the malice of the three families of Gartaria and took a step toward the stairs.
"Mercifully help this young practitioner traveling the wind and waves of this world."
Aselheit’s sixth knight climbed up step by step to create a legend.
"Let him feel that the Goddesses are always by his side even when he passes through difficult and dark paths."
The knight who killed the fear of the era by upholding the will of the Goddess finally.
"Take everyone gathered here as witnesses and bless him."
He climbed all the stairs.
His deep and dark eyes did not waver.
Blanc, having climbed all the stairs, had now become an adult.
Becoming an adult meant releasing one of the shackles that encased the boy.
He was a person who knew well what he had to do.
Blanc Cadmus became an adult from this moment, and from now on, he would be able to exercise all authority as Baron Cadmus without hesitation.
As Julio’s words ended, Blanc drew the sword he received from Aselheit and raised it high above his head.
Then, the Knights of Tolome watching Blanc’s coming-of-age ceremony, and Hansen and Diez of the newly created Cadmus Knights, sent applause.
Bartomyu gazed at that sight blankly.
The sight of his knights sending applause toward Blanc Cadmus, who had just become an adult.
They were truly, sincerely congratulating Blanc.
The young head of Cadmus had already stolen the hearts of the Tolome Knights.
Bartomyu looked at Blanc.
'As expected, my judgment was right.'
Bartomyu confirmed once again that choosing to indebt him rather than directly controlling his grandson was right.
Bartomyu could feel it.
What flow of fate the boy named Blanc Cadmus was riding now.
And that the flow would take him to a higher place than now.
Blanc, having drawn his sword, lowered his head and looked down below.
There were people he could call his own there.
Emilia, Rakshar, Billy, Simon.
And even Hansen.
They were people who, in the past life, had either died, been stained by the Void, or were not by his side.
He had changed it. Their fates.
And his own fate too.
'It starts from now.'
Today, the boy broke the world of his past life and took a step into a new world.
He found the sword.
Received the sword.
And drew the sword.
The tips of these swords will be aimed in the direction the boy desires.
Boy, raise your sword.
And aim it at your enemies.
For you are one who returned to do so.