Chapter 112

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 112

Chapter Title: The Knight's Oath

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Even I, who couldn't wield mana directly, could sense the reaction—it was that strong and fierce.

A whirlwind began to swirl around Aaron, who was shrouded in hazy light.

It was a common phenomenon triggered by a sudden surge in mana.

This happened when someone cast powerful magic or when a person with comparable mana power lost control of their strength.

For example, right after stepping into the Sword Master realm...

I was certain.

'What I said actually worked.'

I'd tossed it out casually, wondering what good it would do, and he'd actually broken through to the next realm.

And two or three years earlier than in my previous life, no less.

Genius was on another level, beyond what ordinary people like me could comprehend.

In any case, the aftermath of Aaron's enlightenment rippled outward in every direction.

Whoooosh—!

Flower petals, garden leaves, and small twigs whipped about in the wind.

"Eek!"

"Oh my goodness!"

Ladies' skirts flipped up, hats and bonnets were swept away.

"Ah, Aaron?"

The Duchess Muzen started toward her son in alarm at his sudden state.

I reached out and grabbed her.

"No, Duchess."

"But my son...!"

"I've heard that when a knight or mage reaches a new realm, they enter a state of oblivion for a time. The young duke seems to be in that state now."

"What? Then...?"

The duchess's face, pale with worry for her son, flushed with hope.

I deliberately looked up at Arpad and asked,

"What do you think? Does it look that way to you?"

Across the entire continent, the only ones who had reached the Sword Master realm were Arpad and the Emperor right now.

So they were the only ones who could speak authoritatively on it.

Of course, both had the advantage of dragon bloodlines, but they were Sword Masters all the same.

If he confirmed it, the duchess would feel a little more at ease.

Arpad eyed Aaron with clear displeasure before nodding reluctantly.

"You're right. Best not to touch him or get too close right now."

"Does that mean... Aaron has stepped into the Sword Master realm?"

The duchess clasped her hands, her voice trembling as she asked.

Arpad nodded in affirmation, and gasps of astonishment erupted around us.

"Heavens, really?"

"Does that mean we're witnessing the birth of a Sword Master right now?"

Arpad, ever one to dampen the mood, added unnecessary words.

"Assuming he comes back to himself safely."

I jabbed Arpad in the side.

In a whisper so no one else could hear, I scolded him.

"Say something positive!"

"I was just stating facts. There are cases where they never wake up from that state."

"Do you have to say that in front of the duchess?!"

I poked his side harder.

But Arpad's steel-hard muscles didn't budge.

If anything, I poked too hard and hurt my own hand. Ow ow ow!

That's when Arpad rubbed his chin and muttered low.

"No way... he's not going to cling to me to repay the favor of that enlightenment, is he?"

Was he worried about the hassle? I smiled brightly and replied,

"But wouldn't that be even better?"

Arpad's expression darkened menacingly.

"...What?"

But that glare wasn't aimed at me—it was at Aaron.

It felt like one wrong word and he'd snap at Aaron.

I decided to just be straightforward.

"If a knight who's become a Sword Master swears loyalty to you, that's obviously a good thing."

"...Oh, that's what you meant?"

Arpad's irritated air eased a bit.

He shook his head soon after.

"But why would that punk follow me?"

It was pointless, but I poked his side again.

"Even if you're whispering, 'that punk'? Watch it. What if the duchess hears?!"

"Let her hear. If you're going to get mad over this, you're no chief maid."

As Arpad and I bickered,

the air around Aaron slowly stabilized.

The whirlwind died down, and the light roiling around his body seemed to be absorbed, vanishing.

And moments later,

Aaron finally opened his eyes.

The duchess, who'd been watching anxiously without daring to interfere, called to her son.

"Aaron, are you all right?"

Aaron didn't answer right away.

He blinked as if emerging from a long dream, flexing and unflexing his hands.

Then he asked his mother,

"Mother, how much time has passed?"

"Hm? Not long, dear. Twenty or thirty minutes?"

Aaron looked puzzled.

"Hours? No, months? Or even years... That's what it felt like."

Seeing her son ramble incoherently, the duchess's face clouded with concern.

"Are you really all right?"

She must have recalled Arpad's earlier words.

About how he might not wake or something could go wrong.

Even I, who knew he'd safely become a Sword Master, felt a twinge of unease at his nonsense.

'He's fine, right? I didn't mess up by saying something, did I...?'

Fortunately, it turned out our worries were unfounded.

Aaron, who'd been staring blankly around him, met my eyes and grinned.

Then he gripped his broken sword again.

The blade guard shattered by Arpad, the middle of the blade snapped—now utterly useless.

Aaron gripped the half-sword with both hands without hesitation.

The next instant,

Vmmm—!

The blade hummed. A deep blue light burst forth, enveloping the half-blade.

It looked just like a blade forged from light.

"Aura!"

"A Sword Master!"

"Heavens! Sir Muzen really has become a Sword Master!"

Reactions exploded from all sides.

Everyone except me and Arpad.

I'd known in advance, and Arpad had been at that realm since birth, a freak of nature.

I gazed at Aaron with pride.

That's when a faint tongue-click reached my ear.

"Tch."

What the—?

I turned, puzzled, but Arpad was looking elsewhere, not at me.

His face was full of dissatisfaction.

What's his deal all of a sudden...? My thoughts cut off there.

Not just Arpad—everyone's eyes were fixed on me.

And I soon learned why.

The knight who'd manifested aura, proving he'd reached the Sword Master realm, was approaching me.

"...Uh, Sir Muzen?"

As I stood flustered, a long sigh from Arpad settled on my shoulder.

He ground his teeth but whispered in my ear,

"Chin up, chest out. This is an important moment."

"...Huh? What?"

What nonsense is this?

Arpad adjusted my posture, pulling me straight and upright.

Making me stand tall and proud before Aaron.

"I'm only holding back because I'm your husband."

Before the meaning fully sank in, Aaron Muzen thrust his sword before me.

The aura-clad blade sliced smoothly into the marble floor.

And with that, Aaron knelt before me.

"Knight Aaron Muzen. I pledge this sword to Your Highness the Consort for the rest of my life."

It was a knight's oath.

I panicked.

'No, why to me?!'

I'd thought Aaron would swear loyalty to Arpad.

And for good reason.

'Even in my previous life, Aaron never made a knight's oath to Evangeline!'

He did pledge loyalty when Ludwig became crown prince. But that was as heir to House Muzen.

Not as a knight, or as Aaron himself.

A knight's oath was far weightier than mere loyalty.

It meant devoting one's sword for life.

Aaron, one of Evangeline's followers, had never made a knight's oath to anyone.

It was only natural as heir to a ducal house.

A duke bound by a knight's oath could compromise the house's independence.

That was how grave and significant a knight's oath was.

Yet Aaron was declaring he'd make one to me right now.

Realizing this, Duchess Muzen stiffened and called to her son.

"A-Aaron!"

But Aaron Muzen didn't waver.

"Your Highness the Consort's words became my guiding light. To offer the sword completed by that light to its owner is only natural."

"......"

"Please accept it."

The sword hilt extended toward me.