Chapter 7 : I Will Bring It Back
“I will bring back the Family Sword?”
It was an unexpected request from me, Hein Reichart.
Redin pondered for a while and said.
“How much support do you want?”
Redin is not someone who would not know what my remark means.
He accepted it as meaning that since I cannot go to retrieve the sword alone, I was asking him to spare knights to go together.
However, my answer completely deviated from Redin’s expectation.
“I do not need support personnel.”
“……!”
“I will go alone. Please just grant permission.”
“That place is a region that has not been completely pacified yet. It is a place where monsters still run wild, so it will be beyond your power alone.”
“I am prepared. Please see it as a meaning of atonement for the troubles I have caused meanwhile. If you grant permission, I will bring back the lost honor of the family.”
“…….”
Tonight, since the moment I stepped foot into Redin’s office, Redin’s pupils shook the most violently.
Redin, who was silent for a while, suddenly brought up a different story.
“I called Sir Belkent saying we would resolve it amicably. However, what was the result? The negotiation broke down and only all sorts of ominous threats were exchanged.”
Redin was speaking calmly, but the bones contained in those words were sharp like a knife tip.
“By the way, are you saying you will bring back the Family Sword single-handedly without even an escort this time?”
“If I thought it was an impossible task, I would not have made the request from the start.”
Redin withdrew the spirit he was emitting frighteningly for an instant.
“Good. When do you intend to depart?”
“If you just grant permission, I will depart as soon as the day brightens tomorrow.”
“The road will be difficult to go without even a decent sword.”
“If it is a sword, I have already requested and received one from Haineph.”
“From Haineph?”
I, knowing that one needs the Family Head’s permission to receive a sword imbued with the family’s magic, immediately added.
“Of course, it is an ordinary sword not imbued with magic.”
A prodigal who has never even swung a sword properly saying he will bring back the Family Sword alone holding just one ordinary sword.
It was an absurd remark no matter how one looked at it, but Redin became inwardly curious about my scheme.
“I have already finished all preparations. Father, will you grant permission?”
So he decided to respect his son’s will for the last time.
“Good. I will permit it.”
***
Late at night, the clinic inside Reichart Castle.
Even though it was a time when everyone was asleep, the lights here were not yet turned off.
“So, what did that immature child say?”
It was the power holder of the Vispon family, Rishu Vispon.
Like her fancy attire that did not have a single inch of disarray, the end of her speech was sharp.
“He said to withdraw the Trial. While saying that if we didn't, we would see a terrible sight.”
“A terrible sight? That immature child said such a thing? So what did you say, Brother?”
“I am on my way back after nailing it down so that I cannot withdraw it. Haha!”
Belkent put on a pretense of hearty laughter.
He judged that in a situation where Alain made a mistake today, he shouldn't show a timid appearance either.
“Even if it is a bluff that will be revealed soon, it is quite something for an action done by that spoiled child. The matter with Alain today too. It seems the rumor that Hein’s behavior has changed recently is true.”
Rishu tilted her head while making a bright smile that matched her waving blonde hair.
“Don't you think so, Alain?”
“I, I am terribly sorry. Aunt. I will ensure such a thing does not happen again.”
Alain, who received Rishu’s sharp gaze, bowed his head repeatedly.
The corners of Rishu’s mouth looking at him were smiling.
But he knew too well that those eyes were never smiling.
“I am sorry, Aunt, I will ensure there is no incident that goes against Aunt’s expectations again.”
Despite being a patient lying on a sickbed, Alain struggled to raise his body and apologized repeatedly.
It seemed that to Alain, the pressure given by Rishu’s gaze was much heavier than the pain coming from the wound on his buttocks covered in blood.
“Right, you should. Then Brother, I will get going now. Since I have sent word to the main house, medicine effective for Alain’s wound will arrive soon. Then, Alain. You take good care of your body too.”
“Wait, by the way. Rishu, because there is one thing weighing on my mind…….”
The one who caught Rishu trying to rise from her seat was Belkent.
He opened his mouth carefully.
“That Family Sword, wouldn't it have been better to just break it rather than abandoning it in the forest?”
“Brother, I must have told you last time. If you break the Family Sword, the mana imprinted on the sword explodes. Then people all over the place would have come to know.”
“Right, I definitely heard it like that but…….”
“If the whereabouts of the Family Sword became unknown, it might be different, but if a clear trace called a mana explosion occurs, the Family Head might dispatch the knight order and mages to retrieve the fragments of the sword. Then the traces of Alain touching the Family Sword would appear as they are.”
As if scolding an immature younger brother, Rishu raised her eyes.
“Do you want that, Brother?”
“Of course it is not that. But it is because there is something weighing on my mind. Somehow it seems that the prodigal knows the fact that Alain touched the sword.”
Alain, who was listening to the two people’s conversation, also slipped in.
“That is correct, Aunt Rishu. He said something similar at the Reichart Forge too. He shouted loudly in front of people saying I was the one who hid the sword.”
At the unexpected situation, Rishu felt curious.
‘How did he know?’
Clearly, they hid the Family Sword without Hein knowing.
Since she confirmed it through a capable subordinate other than Alain, it must be certain.
Even if he tried to reveal the truth of the incident, Hein did not have connections like that, so there was no way he could know.
But regardless, these things were not important.
“It does not matter even if he finds out.”
Rishu explained to the father and son who had surprised faces.
“Because that guy does not have the ability to reveal the evidence.”
To gather the traces of exploded mana in one place and analyze them accurately, a mage of the 5th Circle or higher is needed.
However, within the Reichart territory, there are almost no mages of that level.
Otherwise, they must call a mage from another territory, but that too will not be easy.
Who would do such a thing for the defense of the trial of a titular legitimate son who is a prodigal?
And against the Vispon family, who are men of power?
At that time, Alain opened his mouth carefully.
“Aunt, actually, there was something I wanted to ask regarding that problem. I wonder if there was a need to go as far as touching the Family Sword.”
“What?”
“Even if he had the Family Sword, I do not think Hein would have achieved achievements or accomplishments befitting the position of the Family Head’s son. But I get the thought that maybe we created a useless excuse by daring to hide the Family Sword.”
Although he plotted the task of stealing Hein’s Family Sword by Rishu’s order, actually, Alain had held doubts all along about whether he had to hide the Family Sword even while taking the risk himself.
Anyway, Hein is a prodigal despised by everyone in the territory.
Although the Reichart Family Sword is an excellent artifact, he thought Hein was destined to be weeded out on his own.
‘If it is this much, she might look at me a bit differently.’
Alain thought he pointed out the situation sharply in his own way.
Thinking of hearing Aunt Rishu’s praise after a long time, excitement rose naturally.
“Alain.”
“Yes, I am listening. Aunt.”
“The reason I did not blame you today is because I believed that the mistake you committed today also originated from loyalty towards me. But it seems my mercy today was excessive.”
Alain, having read Rishu’s unusual reaction, realized only then that he had been presumptuous.
“I, I am sorry. That I dared to question Aunt’s decision…….”
‘Mercy was excessive’, this one word from Rishu was enough to make the face of Alain, famous for being arrogant, turn white.
“Aunt. I am sorry. I will not commit a fault like this again.”
Alain bowed his head repeatedly with a face that looked like he would burst into tears at any moment.
Rishu asked again in a low voice.
“You definitely handled the disposal of the Family Sword, right?”
“Yes, of course. I confirmed with my own eyes that the goblins took it to the cave.”
“Cave?”
“Yes, it is the cave where Black Orcs inhabit. It is said they are dangerous guys to the point that no one in the vicinity goes near.”
Rishu was lost in thought with her eyes closed for a moment.
If it is a Black Orc, Rishu had heard the rumors too.
It was said that because they are so violent and strong, one must mobilize at least about a 5-star level knight to completely subjugate them.
If so, Hein finding the Family Sword single-handedly is a task close to impossible.
It was a matter she did not need to worry about anymore.
“Good, you worked hard. I will come again so take good care of your body in the meantime.”
Rishu left the clinic.
Before she knew it, the night was deep.
As she boarded the carriage waiting in front of the inner castle, the head servant asked.
“Where shall I take you? Grand Madam.”
“I am tired. Guide me to the bedroom.”
Over the window of the running carriage, the soaring inner castle of the Family Head was seen briefly.
Light was still leaking out from the office where Redin stayed.
Rishu bit her very lovely pink lips tightly.
Then she swallowed the rising anger.
‘Even if Hein is a prodigal, a biological child is a biological child. Redin, I will watch clearly for how long you can stay with that carefree face.’
***
Early dawn.
I, having finished preparations to leave to retrieve the Family Sword, called a maid.
“After the meal, I will go to meet Sir Bolpar. Send a message right now.”
“Di, did you say Sir Bolpar?”
“Yes. Sir Bolpar in the Magic Tower.”
“I understand. Young Master.”
For some reason, she had a hesitant face, fidgeting.
It was different from the maid’s usual reaction of immediately moving to execution if it was my command meanwhile.
“Why is that? Is it such a surprising thing that I am going to meet the Fox Old Man of the Magic Tower?”
“No. Young Master!”
The maid shook her head, but her expression was showing that my guess was not wrong.
‘Well, it is understandable she would be like that. Because the thing this body was most afraid of next to the Family Head was that fox old man.’
AKA ‘Fox Old Man of the Magic Tower’.
This was a term referring to the mage who took on the role of advisor to the Reichart family, Bolpar Greymoon.
According to the memories of this body, Bolpar is a 5th Circle mage, a person who protects the Magic Tower within the territory and has helped the family since my grandfather’s generation.
His loyalty towards the family and his skills were trustworthy.
‘Then it means he is an ally. Why was the owner of this body so afraid?’
The answer to this came out quickly too.
It must be because of Bolpar’s unique cranky nature.
Because there is no way a cranky old man, enough for rumors to spread, would have treated a prodigal like me kindly.
Since he is an existence that cannot be suppressed by nature, power, or status, I must have been trembling in fear.
I, having grasped all situations at once, accepted the excessive reaction the maid showed.
‘Since I am saying I will go to the North Tower on my own feet suddenly, it is natural to be surprised too.’
I sat at the table where the meal was prepared and inadvertently examined the maid.
Seeing that she was twitching her lips for no reason, it seemed she had something to say.
“What is it? Do you have something to say to me?”
When I stared intently, the maid blushed.
“Th, that is…… what you ordered yesterday, if I may tell you now…….”
“What did I ordered yesterday?”
Leaving the Reichart Forge, I remembered ordering her to find out whatever rumors there were about me.
Since there is nothing as accurate as rumors to confirm the current position within the family.
“Ah, right, that. Try talking now.”
“Um, if I may speak honestly…….”
“It is fine so try it.”