Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133. The Duke’s Smile
I dismissed the Status Window and asked him how he felt.
“How does it feel?”
“It feels as though I have been born anew.”
Arthas clenched his hand tightly.
A blue energy was rippling from his hand. Compared to before, the color was far deeper. Of course, compared to mine, it was only a drop in the bucket.
When I fought, I deliberately did not let the light flow out too vividly. If anything, I tended to conceal it.
Some arrogant experts would make the color as deep as possible to show off their strength, but doing that only revealed the limits of their own ability.
It was far more effective to pretend to be weak, then suddenly raise one’s Aura. In a battle where lives were on the line, winning was what mattered anyway.
“Haha...... To think I would reach a level like this......”
Seeing him clench his fist as blue light rippled around it reminded me of a certain prince from a game I had enjoyed in my past life.
Arthas took his eyes off his fist and looked at me.
“You said if something comes in, something should go out as well, did you not? Then I cannot simply stay still either. I will teach you the remaining five forms of the Merdiang Sword Art.”
Arthas spoke seriously. I expressed my doubt.
“If it is the Merdiang Sword Art, especially the latter five forms, are they not your family’s exclusive sword art?”
“They are.”
Apparently, the Merdiang Sword Art consisted of ten forms in total. I had only been taught the first five forms so far.
If the first five forms were basic swordsmanship, the latter five forms were applied and advanced swordsmanship. Arthas had not taught me that far before, but since I had raised his Aura by several stages, he seemed to want to repay me.
“I will gratefully accept your goodwill. But that is enough for today.”
“Why?”
“I am tired. I also have things to do upstairs. You would not know since you did not come, but today’s party was incredibly demanding. I had to keep talking without a chance to rest, and I even danced with the Young Lady.”
He was startled at the part about dancing with the Young Lady, but Arthas soon returned to a look of disbelief and widened his eyes.
“No matter how tired you are or how much work you have, this is about receiving my family’s secret art, is it not?”
“No, I am so grateful that you are teaching me the secret art that I could bow down before you. But you are not going to run away anywhere, are you? Hm? Starting tomorrow, I will train as much as you want, so let me off for today. I am on the verge of collapsing. Between the party and taking care of your Aura Circuit, I am about to run out of strength.”
I deliberately exaggerated. Arthas glanced at me sharply, then nodded. Whatever else might be true, guiding Aura and opening a path for it really was difficult work.
“Well. It cannot be helped, then. Fine. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you the remaining five forms.”
“But is it all right for you to teach me like that without your father’s permission?”
“I received a Fortuitous Opportunity. I should offer at least this much in return. What I achieved today may someday save my life.”
Mm, I acknowledge that.
“And even if I teach you the remaining sword techniques, it means nothing if you cannot freely wield the final tenth form. The rest is a matter of your talent and effort.”
Ah, so even if I knew the theory, it would be useless without enlightenment? But as I always said, I was special.
“Do not worry. I will understand it quickly anyway. I am a genius, after all.”
When I grinned, Arthas made an unhappy face. The thought that it might actually be true had suddenly occurred to him.
I had trained with him for a long time. He knew better than anyone that I had talent with the sword.
He must have thought I might really grasp the ultimate essence of the Merdiang Sword Art.
“We will see when the time comes. Then that is all for today?”
“Yes. If you have any questions about the Aura Mental Cultivation Method, ask me anytime.”
“Dilen.”
Just as I raised my hand and was about to turn away, he called my name. I turned back around and faced him.
“I have been curious about this for a while. Why do you help me so much? When I think about it, it feels a little strange.”
“You complain even when I give you something?”
“You do not ask for anything in return. To be honest, we have only known each other for a few months.”
“Are you asking what my ulterior motive is?”
“No, rather than that...... it feels like you are giving me too much. I just wondered if there was a reason.”
True, even setting this matter aside, I had helped him a great deal. I had given him the chance to serve as my lieutenant, and he had also received command authority during the previous tax audit. At one point, I had even given him money to change his weapon.
Winning his heart was one major reason, but I also just liked him as a person for some reason. Someone I wanted to befriend, someone I wanted to work with. There was a simple reason like that too.
“Does the amount of time we spent together matter? What matters is how dense that time was. I think we are close enough.”
“You really do have a silver tongue.”
“There is a bit of a reason.”
“What is it?”
“I am investing in you ahead of time because I want to do something big with you later.”
His eyes widened as though he had not expected that. Since this topic had come up, I decided to leak a little information.
“Right now, the Continent is in a time of peace. If a knight wants to earn merit, the only path is to win in battle. But in an era like this, is it not a little boring to become a knight and quietly shut yourself away in a territory?”
Arthas chuckled. After shaking his head a couple of times, he looked at me again.
“Fighting on a battlefield is not the only form of chivalry. Are you trying to say there is something wrong with keeping chivalry in everyday life while training?”
“That is not what I mean. I am saying it is a little regrettable. You are talented enough to do greater things.”
Perhaps he was not used to my praise, because he rubbed his nose once with his finger.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“I am going to start a large business. In fact, I am already preparing for it, and results are beginning to appear. I will need your help soon. I will bring you in on good terms, so keep improving your skills. It would also be good if you received a knightly title.”
“A business? Your dream was to become a butler, was it not?”
“A life with only one dream is not interesting. When my position changes, that dream changes as well. I have now become a baronet. I have become a Full Butler. Should I say that I have achieved my dream and simply enjoy the rest of my life in comfort? No. Now I have to run toward a new goal with a new dream.”
Arthas closed his mouth as though lost in thought. After a moment, he spoke.
“What is your goal?”
“To become the greatest man on the Continent.”
Silence flowed for a moment. Arthas blinked several times, then clutched his stomach and laughed.
“Hahahaha! If that is your goal, then I am curious what sort of work you are planning to do. I am not mocking you, so do not misunderstand. Fine! If you ask me to do something later, I will think positively about it.”
“Think positively? You should have no excuse even if you clung to my trouser leg and begged me to give you just one chance.”
“All you do is boast!”
Arthas still did not know that I was the Master of Metis.
I needed a little more time before I could reveal my identity to him. Only after I removed all the uncertainties around me would I be able to tell him comfortably.
“In any case, you are tired, so go up and rest.”
“See you at this time tomorrow.”
I raised my hand lightly and entered the mansion. However, Arthas’s shouts from the Training Ground did not easily cease.
***
The next day, after straightening my clothes, I took a carriage to the Bahamut Ducal House.
I was tired because I had barely slept all night. The person the Duke wanted to meet was not me but Suhyeon anyway, so it probably did not matter if I looked a little tired.
“If my prediction is right, the Duke will ask me to arrange a meeting. Then I will say I will do so, and a few days later, I can simply put on the Face Mask and come here.”
The plan was simple. I yawned and leaned back against the carriage.
The reason I had not slept was partly because I had spent time reading spellbooks, but it was also because of the Status Message that had appeared after I danced with the Young Lady.
My heart felt ticklish and excited.
I had not known she would reveal her feelings so suddenly. With that small, pretty mouth of hers, she had said this: that she was drawn to me.
“Has her perspective broadened after coming to the Royal Capital and going back and forth to the Academy? In any case, that is a matter for later. Right now, crushing the Delfino bastards comes first.”
I let out a sigh, then closed my eyes for a short while.
During that brief moment, I slept deeply.
I thought I had only blinked for a moment, but the carriage had already come to a stop. When I opened my eyes, the carriage had arrived in front of the Bahamut house’s mansion.
When I got out of the carriage, a familiar face greeted me. It was Elwin, the Senior Butler.
I lowered my head first.
“It has been a long time, Senior.”
“Welcome, Sir Dilen. I heard that you had gone to the Adeline main house. Congratulations.”
“I am embarrassed. But I will gratefully accept your congratulations.”
“Please come in. The Master is waiting for you.”
After exchanging formal greetings, I followed Elwin to Duke Mydas’s office.
The Duke, sitting in his office, looked busy. There was a large pile of documents beside him. I had thought someone at a ministerial level would have an easy ride, but apparently that was not the case either.
“I am sorry to disturb you when you are busy, Your Excellency. I stopped by because I heard you were looking for me.”
“Ah, Sir Dilen. Welcome. I have been waiting for you.”
Still, I did not feel particularly sorry, because the high-end fountain pen I had given him before was in his hand. He was using it very well.
As I had said, the nation’s major policies were being decided with that fountain pen. It gave me a fresh sense of emotion.
The Duke stopped writing for a moment and moved from his seat. I knelt on one knee before him and paid my respects.
“Rise comfortably, Sir.”
I stood and waited for what he would say next.
“I heard that you received a territory this time. You must be busy, since you have to work as a butler and as a lord.”
“It is only a small and insignificant village.”
“You should not speak of it that way. Marquis Chronos must have taken some care with it.”
I bowed my head and did not respond. Soon, the Duke brought up the main point.
“The item you, no, to be precise, the Metis Trading Company, presented as tribute pleases me greatly. The fountain pen. It is an extremely innovative item. I can now write documents three or four times faster than before. There is also less risk of spilling ink. And the writing feel seems to improve the more I use it. Should I say that work has become enjoyable?”
“Everyone knows that Your Excellency’s labor forms the foundation of the kingdom’s development. It is simply an honor.”
“Therefore, I wish to meet the Master of the Metis Trading Company. This fine item should be widely distributed and used to benefit the world. Since you must have visited Adeline, I assume you spoke with him?”
“I heard that he will soon come to the Royal Capital. When he does, I will tell him to seek an audience with Your Excellency at once. Would it not be best to discuss the details with the Master himself?”
The Duke nodded with a satisfied expression.
“I shall grant you a small reward as well. Since you have obtained a territory, I will have the items necessary for cultivation sent directly to your land.”
“I will never forget the grace you have bestowed upon me.”
“You may return now.”
I offered a respectful bow and left the mansion.
Now all that remained was to return here in a few days wearing the Face Mask. I had already brought a standard fountain pen and a ballpoint pen with me.
“I will show him the samples, propose mass production, secure exclusive rights guaranteed by the kingdom, and sell them all across the nation.”
I grinned and climbed into the carriage.
The carriage began to run through the city center. I quietly lifted the curtain and looked outside. How would it be if I established the Metis main store somewhere beyond that plaza?
“It is no longer just a dream.”
I closed the curtain again and leaned back comfortably.