'Let us meet here again in a week.'
After setting the appointment, Leo immediately left the tavern.
He had only pretended to deliberate when Exile said he would give him a gift if the deal went through so that he could make a show of how difficult the task truly was.
Leo remembered it clearly.
He remembered how severely his father had reprimanded Jamie in his previous life for all but driving Exile away.
His blood might have been mixed, but it was still Dwarven blood.
His father had wanted to see Exile's abilities for himself.
After all, any warrior who wielded weapons was bound to harbor a certain fantasy about the Dwarven race.
'I'll earn Father's trust by introducing him to Exile, get a weapon from Exile, and even build ties with him.'
It was quite literally killing three birds with one stone.
***
Meanwhile, as Leo met and spoke with Exile, the lord and the Knight Commander were conversing in the lord’s office within the Valantes Inner Castle.
"Then do you intend to go yourself?"
Magenta Valantes nodded at the question from the Knight Commander, Baron Vector Leger.
"I intend to depart in a few days. If the 'Death Knight' the soldiers spoke of has truly appeared...... I am the only one who can stop it."
The three pillars serving under Magenta Valantes.
The Knight Commander, Baron Vector Leger.
The Chief Administrator, Baron Kans Mekkelen.
The Magic Corps Commander, Baron Neville Talisha.
An urgent message had arrived for Baron Talisha, the head of the Magic Corps and one of those three pillars.
It said that a 'Death Knight' had appeared at Rutoa, the front-line fortress.
To verify the report, Baron Talisha personally met the soldiers who claimed to have seen the 'Death Knight.'
None of the soldiers he met were in their right minds.
Their eyes were blank as though they were possessed by something, and saliva dribbled endlessly from their mouths.
They spoke with slurred pronunciation as though they had lost the power of speech, and their flesh had wasted away until nothing but bone remained, as if they had starved for days.
"I will prepare the Valantes Knights."
Magenta shook his head.
"That will not be necessary. I intend to take only a few adjutants, so do not make a greater affair of this than necessary."
At Magenta's words, Vector let out a small sigh, his expression heavy.
"Even so, it would be better if we accompanied you......."
"You would be of no help even if you came. I do not want my soldiers to die like dogs."
At Magenta's words, the worry on Vector's face deepened further.
That was because he could not refute him.
Magenta was indisputably the finest knight in the kingdom. If even he found an opponent difficult, then it would be too much for Vector to handle, even as the Knight Commander.
Leading the order out to subdue such an opponent would be nothing more than sending them to die like dogs, just as Magenta had said.
Moreover.
"Winter will soon be upon us. The monsters and barbarians will begin their invasion, and it would not be wise to make the people anxious before then for no reason."
Someone also needed to remain behind and prepare for the forces that would come flooding in during winter.
"Is there no way to avoid fighting it?"
But Vector was uneasy about sending the lord he served there alone.
"There is. The problem is that I do not know what that way is."
Vector Leger looked puzzled by Magenta's ambiguous answer.
"What do you mean?"
"According to the soldiers who encountered the Death Knight, it said that it had to take someone away."
"Take someone away?"
Watching Vector's grave expression, Magenta slowly spoke.
"The one who has defied the will of Heaven must be taken away. Those were its exact words."
"The one who has defied the will of Heaven?"
Magenta slowly nodded.
"The one who has defied the will of Heaven......."
As Vector quietly murmured the phrase, deep in thought, Magenta continued.
"I asked the priests, the Grand Minister of Finance, and the Magic Corps Commander, but none of them could infer what it meant......."
"I will investigate as thoroughly as I can so that I may be of help."
Magenta nodded at Vector's answer.
The conversation had fallen into a brief lull when a knock sounded.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Enter."
At Magenta's solemn voice, the door opened carefully, revealing an attendant.
"Head of House, I have come because there is something I must report."
"Very well. Speak."
"Young Master Jamie has returned to the Valantes Inner Castle. However......."
The moment the attendant trailed off, Magenta's brow furrowed.
"Speak at once."
"He returned unconscious. According to the priest in the castle, it was not because of physical trauma. He will do nothing but sleep for about two days because of the alcohol......."
"I understand. You may leave."
After dismissing the attendant, Magenta heaved a deep sigh.
"Yes. Then I will take my leave."
The attendant answered, carefully closed the door, and stepped outside. Vector, who had been quietly studying Magenta's expression, spoke first.
"Are you all right?"
At Vector's question, Magenta pressed a hand to his forehead.
Though he was usually as cold as a sheet of ice and as devoid of expression as a block of stone, he displayed his emotions without reserve in front of Vector.
That showed how deeply he trusted his vassal.
"It is not as though this has happened only once or twice...... Haa......."
Watching Magenta sigh, Vector spoke cautiously.
"Not long ago, I saw Young Master Leo training at the training ground."
Magenta had been pressing his temples as though his head ached, but his hands stopped, and he slowly raised his head.
"Leo?"
"Yes. I believe it was the day he returned from Talisha Castle."
"I see."
After hearing Vector's answer, Magenta began pressing his temples again.
Vector watched his lord, his lips twitching as though he had something to say, before abruptly offering a remark.
"His skill was far greater than I had anticipated."
"Hmph......."
The first response that emerged was a scoff.
"He told me at dinner a few days ago that he intended to practice swordsmanship. But a bookworm who has done nothing but shut himself in his room and read until now...... has become skilled after holding a sword for only a few days?"
Vector composed his expression and answered Magenta.
"It is true. He was practicing Dual-Wielding Swordsmanship."
"Dual wielding? Who taught him such bizarre swordsmanship?"
"He could use a Mana Sword as well."
At Vector's next remark, Magenta's expression stiffened.
Seeing that expression, Vector continued.
"He handled his swords exceptionally well. Of course, he tired quickly because he does not yet have the stamina to support his skill, but even so......."
Magenta was all the more confused because those words came from none other than Vector.
In the south of the kingdom, Vector was acclaimed as the knight ranked second only to Magenta, ahead of the Heads of House from the other martial houses.
Hearing that Leo possessed skill worthy of Vector's acknowledgment changed the disbelief in Magenta's eyes into a glimmer of curiosity.
"My lord, I do not know whether I dare say this, but may I offer a thought?"
Magenta nodded at Vector's words.
"House Valantes is a prestigious house with a long and storied history. As befits a martial house, you and the successive ancestors have always risen to become the finest knights in the kingdom......."
No matter how much trust a vassal had earned, he had no choice but to tread carefully when speaking of the house.
"I saw that same bearing in the Second Young Master—the bearing of the former Heads of House who became the kingdom’s finest knights."
Vector placed particular emphasis on those final words.
When he finished, an air of silence flowed through the office for a moment.
Then Magenta broke the silence and slowly spoke.
"Are you telling me to change my heir?"
At Magenta's low, forceful voice, Vector tensed his entire body and straightened his posture.
"That was not what I meant."
At Vector's answer, Magenta wore a dry expression as he took a sip of the tea on the table.
"If he is skilled, that is all to the good. In accordance with House Valantes's traditions, Leo will be appointed Fortress Commander of Rutoa as an illegitimate son. If he has skill, he will be that much better able to defend it."
Vector struggled to hide his disappointment as he nodded.
In terms of talent, Jamie was indeed the rightful choice for the position of heir.
But in terms of character, Leo, despite being an illegitimate son, was far better suited.
"Of course, being skilled does not mean he will not die in battle."
Vector listened closely once more at Magenta's words.
"Death is not so light that it can be weighed on the scales of skill."
The battlefield was a place where even the most skilled knight could be struck by a blind arrow and turned into a cripple in an instant.
"To avoid death, he will need to eliminate as many risk factors as possible."
"That is correct."
Magenta continued immediately after Vector's answer.
"Lately, I have been considering reducing the risk factors at Rutoa."
"How do you intend to reduce them?"
"I am considering negotiating with the barbarians."
***
Meanwhile, after returning from his conversation with Exile, Leo immediately drew the dagger he had received from him.
'Just as I expected, it doesn't disappoint.'
Leo did not possess a professional blacksmith's knowledge, but he had seen countless swords.
Naturally, he had developed an eye capable of judging them to some extent.
A grip that fit snugly in one hand.
A hilt with a smooth texture ideal for throwing.
A black blade that contrasted with the golden scabbard.
And a keenly honed edge.
He would have to use it himself to assess its durability and certain other functions, but.......
Judging by the basics alone, it was clearly the finest secondary weapon he had ever used, including those from his previous life.
'The sword I actually receive will be even more impressive.'
If a secondary weapon was already this good, what would a sword intended as a primary weapon be like?
His heart was already racing with anticipation.
After finishing his inspection, Leo slid the dagger into its scabbard and fastened it to his belt.
Then he returned to the table, sat down, and spoke to Minatos.
'You worked hard today.'
-Not at all. I only lent you a little strength, you know?
'That was a bit strong for just a little, wasn't it?'
-I got excited and couldn't control my strength. Hehe. The thought of using my power in the Human Realm made me so excited.
The power of the wind that Minatos had lent him allowed Leo to move far faster than usual.
However, its effect had been far too strong.
Leo had practically flown from the door to where Jamie stood.
As a result, he had inevitably struck Jamie harder than he intended.
After the initial kick, Leo had felt a stab of alarm at the thought that he might have injured him.
Of course, he had not worried because he felt any sympathy for Jamie.
'If he gets hurt, he won't be useful later.'
Leo had intended from the outset to reform Jamie's mind.
Once his mind was reformed, he was a man who could become a blade stronger than anyone.
Thus, Leo had only worried that the blade might be nicked and unable to fulfill its proper function.
However, the sight of Jamie flying into a corner of the tavern after being struck by his knee had made Leo break out in a cold sweat for a moment.
At the same time, a chill had run down his spine when he saw Minatos smiling innocently at him.
'Be more careful with your strength next time. You nearly killed him.'
-Yes. I'll be careful. Hehe. I'm glad he didn't pass away.
'You worked hard today. You can head back now.'
At Leo's words, Minatos smiled brightly without a sound and nodded.
-All right, I'll be going now. See you tomorrow! Bye!
That cheerful farewell made him feel as though some of the fatigue that had built up had eased somewhat.
"Haa......."
But the feeling lasted only a moment. He now had to find a way to follow through on the things he had already said.
'I need to negotiate with Father both to obtain the Swordsmanship Secret Manual and to arrange Exile's meeting with him.'
His father had seemed to be in a foul mood ever since his recent trip to Talisha Castle, making Leo even more reluctant to broach the subject.
'I don't remember anything happening that could've made him this irritable.'
Both his sudden, unplanned trip to Talisha Castle and his dark expression after returning were signs that circumstances were beginning to diverge slightly from Leo's previous life.
'He must've told Baron Vector, right?'
Vector was his most trusted vassal, so he would have had every reason to tell him.
'I'd been meaning to meet him anyway.......'
Leo wanted to face his father directly, but given his current standing, his word carried less weight than Baron Vector's.
It was obvious that Magenta would trust Vector's word but not that of Leo, his illegitimate son.
'Good. I should meet Baron Vector first.'
Just as Leo finished organizing his thoughts and was about to rise from the table, a knock sounded.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Come in."
"Young Master, it is Hans."
"All right, Hans. Did you rest well? You must've been so busy working that you didn't even get to see May. Why didn't you go talk to her?"
"Young Master, that is not what is important right now......."
Thinking Hans was about to start nagging him, Leo had brought up May for no reason.
But Hans's reaction was different from usual.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Baron Vector Leger is here to see you."