Chapter 258 – 25. Clash! Dueling Trial (8)
What is a witch
It is a symbol of evil that often appears in orally transmitted stories such as fairy tales and folktales. It is a being that dazzles people by using strange spells and magic tricks. The reason they are described as having the appearance of an ugly old woman is because it is a title that only those who have accumulated such vicious karma get.
“It’s already tomorrow.”
Relying on a single candle in a dark room, Kenna was pounding poisonous weed with a pestle. She’s a witch from Britannia, so her ecology shouldn’t be much different, but she’s not that grotesque or unusual, she’s concocted a terrible drug like her wife doing her housework.
“Two hours ago, Baron Arden and his party came into the city. It seems that he will not visit the duke’s palace separately. I think she needs to rest for at least three or three days in order to get rid of travel and be fully prepared.”
Crush her downy leaves. Transfer the resulting juice to a small pot on the desk and boil over low heat. Meanwhile, Kenna tidying up her desk, she nodded as she looked at the man reflected in the window in front of her.
The knight Kenneth, a man from the same village as a witch, was impressive with his scarlet hair and freckles. The fiercely raised eyebrows along with the features that created a threatening atmosphere gave the impression that it was indeed the famous quick sword.
“Perhaps he was wary of tricks on our part.”
“Have the players been identified?”
“There was nothing to check. It seemed that there were only five of us on horseback and ran nonstop.”
“Although the trial by duel is a stipulated method throughout the Western Continent, only a few left a precedent in Gaul after the Religious War. It is also not common to decide participants on the spot without announcing them in advance.”
Gaul and Britannia are distinctly different countries. No matter how close they are, the two countries with the sea between the island and the continent share the culture of duel trial, while there are differences in the details.
Especially if it’s one-on-one, but it’s a great battle.
How much more, not in groups of three, but in groups of five.
I couldn’t help but look through the records of the law code. I had to do so without even being able to comfort myself with an empty but sensual night service by the side of the sleepless duke. At first, what was simply trying to sort out one person lightly turned into a situation where Dongbu’s fate was at stake.
“Do you think the royal family will accommodate the North?”
“We have made a lot of gains between millennials and aborted princes. The reason why I didn’t do it even though I could have had more forces by my side or with them was simply because they were enough.”
Even though he was the biggest enemy of Dear King Eugene, he was known as a loyalist to the outside world, Alexandre. Even after committing all sorts of evil deeds, the fact that there were only a handful of people who knew the truth until he died suggests how fearsome he was.
The same goes for the deceased. Even after his downfall, the man who still received the support of many aristocrats had a firmer cause than anything else. Even after realizing the conspiracy lurking in the famous family, the man who was burned with a sense of duty rather than fear was indeed a hero.
That’s why the Duke of LeBlanc chose a tug-of-war between the two.
“In any case, it is a great burden to reveal the true color that has been hidden. If the royal family’s decision this time wasn’t the result of our mistake, or simply a coincidence that it would be nice to keep the East in check at this point…”
“It must be quite a headache.”
Originally, Kena’s plan was to clear Henrietta LeBlanc and then occupy the center. It was thought that the knights, with Kenneth and Somerset’s former quicksword members as the main players, could afford to advance to the capital after a long period of disarmament.
“It had to be a blitz. It won’t be long before Gerard Lemoyn of the North will return. Unfortunately, things are getting more and more complicated. If the royal family’s hostility toward us stems not simply because they are a group of destitute princes, but because it contains the intention of rebellion, the resistance will be strong. The plan to quickly occupy Lumiere will also be difficult.”
Slowly, the witch who opened the chest of drawers took out a round glass bowl. She carefully poured the juice she had boiled into the pot and dried it gently with a fan brought from somewhere. In the meantime, I continued my conversation with Kenneth, who seemed to be pondering over my words.
“From what I can see, you seem to think there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“According to Arno, the knight named Romuald seems to be quite outstanding.”
“I heard that. But not as good as Kenneth Somerset here.”
Kenna silently shook her head.
“I have heard of Lumiere’s invincible knight. It is impossible to guess the level of the actual power with only one person, but if he has the same ability as the rumor, it will not be easy even if Gerard Lemoang comes back to life.”
“… Aha.”
“Anyway, each of the three Gaul siblings in the capital only needs to be on guard against one. The legitimacy of Alphonse de Gaullia’s royal power, the swordsmen and Somerset swordsmen following Jacques de Gaulia, and finally Albert Monet’s proclamation of a crusade supporting Marian de Gaullia.”
However, the legitimacy of the current king is powerless in front of military power. Except for Oliver, the Somerset Swordsmen’s Guild members following the deceased prince would be boiling. Albert Monet’s proclamation of a holy war is a very difficult task, but it will take quite a while from issuing the summons to the gathering of soldiers.
“Archduke Lucien of Tarne will not come back. The lunatic Albenice is just out of his mind, but he is not a fool, so if he knew what Millennial’s plot was, he wouldn’t make the mistake of freeing Lucien by killing him.”
“I think I said that even the Bishop of the West could not recover.”
“So those two are out of the question, and the only threats are those in the North or out of the country. However, in that Lemoen, a person named Baron Ardenne married the wife of the Marquis and married a new wife, so if you do well, you can make him face off against Gerard.”
Of course, some prerequisites are required for this to happen.
“Then, first of all, we should check whether the skill of the hero who led the Great Offensive in Limousin is as known.”
“Secondly, the North loses a duel with us.”
“Thirdly, power must be conserved. In particular, those five people who will be put on trial must be the most elite knights that the northern frozen land is proud of.”
Kenneth added with a face that he finally knew. Even then, I kept asking if there were any questions that popped up at all, but it was because he also thought that an intelligent witch would give an answer right away.
“But, speaking of knights over there, aren’t they the ones who served Gerard Lemoang as their old master? It is more likely to welcome the return of embedded stones than rolled stones.”
“On the contrary, that is a good thing. If Romuald Ardenn’s skills are as we expected, he won’t be a great man to die from betrayal. At least he’ll be able to get away, and once he does, the civil war in the north will be prolonged. It means we have room to move.”
“So you’re finally getting your hands on it, the final victory.”
It was a very dizzy world. It was very admirable that this kind of poetry was created by an evil young nobleman.
“When that time comes, I will reward you in full.”
Kenneth smiled and shook his head. It meant there was no need for that.
“It is only important for us to protect you. To Somerset’s quicksword, fighting for a benefactor is a reward in itself. So please stay safe.”
Looking at Kenna, who was concentrating on dispensing the drug while rolling up the sleeves of her clothes, she frowned as if the magical tattoos on her arms bothered her, then added,
“… It would be nice if I could erase that tattoo too.”
The restrictions left by the one who imparted her knowledge to the witch are still strong even after a long time has passed. In exchange for reviving her dying life and achieving what she had longed for, Kenna here had to pay a pitiful price.
“It is a dangerous seal. If you try to free them, your life will be at stake.”
“Is it difficult to solve even with your excellent knowledge?”
“This isn’t just magic, it’s a contract based on power in a specific field called mysticism. If it was a curse that contained a special feeling, it would have been able to be forcibly thrown off by mobilizing more powerful magic than the power contained here. Mystery, however, is a little different. As much as I stick to the form of a contract, if I keep my promise with this teacher, I will gain something in my own way. So rather than rushing out, it is wise to find a way to end the contract slowly.”
“Whatever it is, I don’t like it. Giving your life to someone.”
“It will be different depending on the person. The woman who gave me this tattoo was not very interested in worldly affairs. She was young, impulsive, and pitiful in a way. To live only after her beauty and pleasure at her age means that her birth was miserably twisted. She knows it herself, but she couldn’t have changed it.”
In any case, it will not stand in the way of Arno and her own ambitions. Having said that, Kenna spilled her semi-solid onto her wide dish as if she had finally finished her desired potion.
“She was a short-lived, vicious person, but she was a great teacher to me. Because she was also the one who gave me the innumerable knowledge necessary to intercept Millennium Ball’s plan. Whenever there was a blockage she did not know, her genius intelligence showed me a way out.”
“So you’re saying you’re okay?”
“Someday, I will have to free myself from the restraints of this tattoo. But because of her contract with her, I was able to gain her vast magical powers, meet Arno, and get to where I am today. So, whatever she may be, I consider her to be her mentor.”
And no matter how much you hate the existence of a teacher, you shouldn’t harm it carelessly.
“I know why you say that, Kenneth.”
“… Kenna.”
“Do not worry. I will surely survive even for Arno and her sake. And in that sense, I hope you will forgive me for insulting the name Somerset’s Quicksword. If other people don’t know, but Romuald, Baron of Ardennes, is the rumored greeting, this dying granule will help.”
Kenna is a witch. A witch is a symbol of evil. For the most part, such an existence does not cover any means and methods to obtain what I want. So, even after Kenneth was fighting for her, the woman who prepared her spleen, divided her hardened semi-solid into round and small particles in her glass bottle.
Finally, when I shined it in the moonlight outside the window, I saw something shimmering in the night sky, and my expression hardened.
“Kenneth?”
“I see what you mean. If anything, please come to me.”
“No, I didn’t ask if you understood me well.”
With a snap, the witch, who chose a somewhat rude summoning method against Somerset’s quicksword, pointed her finger at her window. She thought it was rude enough. She must have a reason for that behavior. She got up and approached him. She asked.
“Can you see that smoke too?”
“… Acting?”
The eastern night sky, flooded with moonlight, was just clear and dazzling. What kind of acting are you talking about in an area where you can’t find anything like a mirage or a haze? Kenneth, who naturally tilted his head, asked.
“You don’t see anything?”
“Yes, what is there?”
“… !”
“Kenna?”
It was a calling signal that only certain people could see. It was a beacon of magic that was difficult for even a wizard of moderate skill to detect. Kenna, who had finally recognized the owner of the smoke, muttered to Kenneth, who was puzzled.
“Lucille of Saint Bour…”
The name of an old teacher who was much younger than me.
