My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 221

221. Growth and Development (2)

Suddenly, a letter arrived from Aria.

“Why is she sending me a letter so suddenly?” Sian wondered, tilting his head.

It wasn’t that Aria *couldn’t* send a letter, of course.

She had asked for permission to contact him and act like they knew each other, and he had agreed.

But why now, out of the blue?

Sian frowned, but he tore open Aria’s letter nonetheless.

After quickly skimming through it, he realized it was an update on her recent activities.

In short, it was a rundown of what she’d been up to.

“Why is it so long?” he muttered.

The update was excessively detailed, filling two and a half pages of stationery.

It was content he wasn’t particularly interested in, so Sian continued to skim.

However, he couldn’t ignore the last part.

[By the way, did you hear? You became a Count, right? I heard there’s going to be an investiture ceremony [a formal ceremony conferring a title or rank]. I’ve decided to attend.]

“What?”

Sian was taken aback. Aria was saying she was coming to the investiture ceremony.

It wasn’t even a question; she was confirming her attendance.

Well… attending the investiture ceremony was a matter of personal freedom.

Anyone could attend, even without an invitation.

To be precise, they just needed permission from the Imperial Palace.

Even now, many nobles would be heading to the Imperial Palace without Sian’s invitation.

But that applied only to nobles of the Charlotte Empire.

“Why is *she* coming?”

Why would the Saintess [a woman officially recognized for her exceptional holiness or closeness to the divine] of another country come?

“I should tell her not to come.”

Sian made up his mind immediately. It was obvious that her presence would cause trouble.

First of all, Aria wasn’t an ordinary person.

The Saintess with the most powerful divine power in history.

Aria, who was called the reincarnation of Muriel [likely a deity or significant religious figure in their world].

Within the Holy Empire, she held a position of immense influence, almost on par with the Pope and the Cardinals.

In the Charlotte Empire, she held a position almost equivalent to a Princess.

Above all, her transcendent beauty, which seemed almost inhuman, was too noticeable.

If news of Aria’s arrival spread, it would attract the attention of the entire Empire and even the continent.

It was clear that countless people would flock to see Aria’s face.

In many ways, it would only lead to unnecessary trouble.

“Yeah, I should tell her not to come,” Sian muttered, shaking his head.

That’s what he was thinking when…

“No, wait.”

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.

Sian immediately took out his smartphone.

Ding!

《You’re not even accepting my teasing now!》

The notification popped up the moment he pressed the power button, a leftover from the Mobile Lord’s [a character or entity associated with the mobile game/system] earlier antics.

《Hmph!》

For some reason… the Mobile Lord seemed even more sulky.

Sian paused for a moment but pressed the X button on the notification.

Then, he tapped the 【Quest List】 item.

Click.

『[Story Main Quest] – ‘Unresolved Question’

▶Find the Relic.』

.

.

The Story Main Quest he had received from the secret archive of the Imperial Palace the other day.

To be precise, it was the Story Main Quest that had been updated after confirming Kyle’s memo.

The content of the updated Story Quest was to find the Relic.

However, from then until now, Sian had no idea what the Relic was.

He only knew that it was something the 7 Demon Lords were looking for.

Well, if you interpret it literally, it’s a Relic (聖物) [a sacred object].

It literally meant a sacred object.

And when it comes to sacred (聖), the Holy Empire immediately comes to mind.

So, Sian had been considering asking Aria about the Relic.

However, he had temporarily forgotten about it due to various events.

“Should I ask about the Relic at this opportunity?”

If that was the case, the situation was different.

Of course, it was true that Aria’s presence at the investiture ceremony would be troublesome in many ways.

“Instead of dividing the work unnecessarily, it would be better to handle it all at once.”

But did he really need to divide the work?

He was too busy preparing for war with Elandur to visit the Holy Empire.

But if Aria was coming, he could combine the investiture ceremony with inquiries about the Relic.

And then there was the 150 million gold for restoring Charlotte’s swordsmanship and information on the Story Main Quest.

“I can handle it all at once,” Sian nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he calmly raised his head and looked around.

-Didn’t you hear that you were overdoing it even when you were sparring with the Black Lion members a thousand years ago? I think Kyle said something back then, but you’re doing it again?

-I, I’m sorry…

It wasn’t that difficult for Sian to hear Leia nagging Kendrick.

And Kendrick was hanging his head low, being scolded by Leia.

For a moment, he wondered if it was right for a Master-level knight to be scolded like that…

Well, he didn’t dwell on it.

“Leia, if you’re not busy, can you help me with something?”

-How can that habit still be there after a thousand years… Huh? What did you say, Sian?

Leia tilted her head and asked, surprised by Sian’s sudden words.

Sian chuckled and said, “Stop bothering Kendrick and help me restore Charlotte’s swordsmanship.”

None other than Charlotte’s swordsmanship, Zodiac Sword.

And the 150 million gold to receive from Conrad.

As expected, Charlotte’s swordsmanship remained in . [likely a feature or location within the game/system].

But it wasn’t 100% perfect Charlotte’s swordsmanship.

To be precise, it was the swordsmanship that Charlotte taught her knights.

But even so, the original form of Charlotte’s swordsmanship remained.

And Leia, unlike other knights, was the one who directly received Charlotte’s swordsmanship from Charlotte a thousand years ago.

Although a thousand years had passed and her memory had faded, the remaining memories had not completely disappeared.

Therefore, there would be no difficulty in restoring it with Leia.

However, the time remaining until the investiture ceremony was two weeks.

Considering the travel time to the Imperial Palace, it was tight even if they started right away.

-My brother’s swordsmanship?

“Yes.”

-Sian, with you?

“Yes. With me.”

Leia’s expression went blank for a moment at Sian’s nod.

But that was only for a moment.

-Well… okay.

Leia nodded without any particular questions.

Then, she turned her head slightly and smiled shyly.

Why… is it good to do something with Sian?

Leia was like a shy girl.

Seeing her like that, he wondered if she was really a vengeful spirit from a thousand years ago.

-But… here?

Soon, Leia asked Sian again.

Sian also slowly looked around, following Leia’s gaze.

The training ground was shattered beyond repair, the aftermath of the sparring with Kendrick.

It was a landscape that made it hard to tell whether it was a training ground or ruins.

It was impossible to do anything here.

Of course, if they carried out restoration work, they could restore it quickly…

[Currently holding gold] – 122,000 G

Ding!

《If you want to restore it, pay up!》

Click.

“Let’s do it at the training camp.”

Sian immediately moved.

#

Time passed quickly, and the investiture ceremony was approaching.

And in front of the main gate of Ruben.

“I’ll be going now.”

Sian started towards the Imperial Palace.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay going alone?” Lucas asked Sian, looking worried.

It wasn’t concern for Sian’s safety; what level was Sian at now that anyone would worry about that?

Lucas’s worries were of a different nature.

“I’ll prepare the knights of Ruben right now. If it doesn’t work out, even I…”

It was the fact that Sian was going alone, with just his own strength.

The investiture ceremony was an important event to officially become a Count.

It was honestly a bit much for Sian to go alone to such a place.

A Count was a high-ranking noble among the nobles.

Even if he didn’t care about formalities, he still needed some semblance of an entourage.

There was no need to show off his power, but he couldn’t just go empty-handed.

It wasn’t that Sian didn’t know that.

Even so, Sian didn’t bother to bring soldiers.

“It’s okay. It’ll only interfere with your training if you follow me.”

It was more important to increase their power than to worry about prestige right now.

The war with Elandur, which would take place soon.

Sian had naturally informed the territory residents of that intention.

And while people showed signs of fear, they were determined and faithful to their respective roles.

So, Lucas, along with the soldiers and knights of Ruben, were continuing their training, supplementing their swordsmanship through the swordsmanship remaining in ..

Sera and the Dark Elf magic corps were also raising their level based on Elodie’s magic remaining in ..

Finally, Semir and the dwarves of the Hammer Anvil tribe were learning the secrets of Morcru remaining in , and they didn’t turn off the fire in the furnace day and night.

In that way, Ruben was constantly growing and developing in each field.

He couldn’t interfere with their training.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

Sian headed towards the Imperial Palace alone.

#

Elandur Manor, located in the Elandur Marquisate in the eastern part of the Empire.

Inside Durak’s office.

“······”

Durak was sitting in his office chair, tapping his index finger.

Across from him sat a woman with hair the color of a pure white lily.

A woman who exuded both a bright and calm aura.

“Cardinal of the Holy Empire. A priest who has been excommunicated.”

None other than Rachel, the Cardinal of the Holy Empire and the leader of the Twilight Sect [a secretive or heretical religious group].

“It’s true that I was *almost* kicked out… but I haven’t been excommunicated *yet*,” Rachel said with a small smile.

“Why is an exiled Cardinal doing this here?”

“Well, because Isabel, the mistress of Elandur, made this place for me?”

“I know you know that’s not what I mean.”

Rachel smiled again at Durak’s words.

Durak looked at Rachel and spoke again.

“That word that you shouldn’t attack Ruben now. What does it mean?”

“It’s as it sounds. Elandur shouldn’t attack Ruben. As much as it’s a must, Elandur won’t be able to beat Ruben.”

Durak’s eyes turned fierce in an instant.

A chilling force erupted from his whole body as his lips tightened.

“Where do you think this is?” Durak’s voice was cold.

“Elandur, right? One of the two pillars that have supported the Charlotte Empire for hundreds of years. On the other hand… Ruben is a tiny territory that hasn’t been around for long.”

“But Elandur can’t beat Ruben?”

“Yes.”

Rachel nodded firmly.

A moment of silence.

“I’ll ask again,” Durak continued.

“Why is an exiled Cardinal doing this here?”

At the same time, an immense force erupted from Durak.

A distinct murderous intent craving the death of existence.

Durak, the greatest swordsman of the continent.

His reputation was not in vain; his murderous intent alone felt like it could sever one’s mind.

However, Rachel continued to speak with an indifferent expression.

“A thousand years ago, demons suddenly appeared and plunged the entire continent into chaos. No one could stand against the demons. The demons were… absolute evil.”

Even with Rachel’s sudden words, Durak did not withdraw his energy.

“Has the Marquis ever encountered a demon?”

To Rachel’s subsequent question, Durak showed no response or gesture.

“Demons are more powerful than any monster that exists now…”

“They are nothing more than specters of the past. Just monsters that existed a thousand years ago.”

Durak spoke without changing his expression.

Arrogance and conceit.

But it was the confidence that the continent’s greatest swordsman could display.

And.

“The Marquis will not be able to defeat a man named Cyan.”

It was also a delusion that Durak held.

Twitch.

At Rachel’s words, Durak’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

His consistently calm expression now held deep anger.

“Right now, the Marquis is ahead. But this is only temporary.”

“Who do you think I am?”

Durak’s surging energy intensified even more.

The air trembled, and the entire office vibrated greatly.

A spectacle created solely by his energy.

However, Rachel showed no particular agitation.

“You are the greatest swordsman of the continent.”

“To surpass someone like me, what does that mean—”

“Until now.”

Rachel continued.

“How many people have held the title of the greatest swordsman of the continent?”

Durak’s eyebrows twitched once more.

Rachel continued to speak with an indifferent expression.

“As many as the history of the continent. And the history of the continent is very long.”

The recorded history alone spanned a thousand years.

If the history before records was included, it would probably be endless.

Accordingly, there were countless individuals before Durak who were called the greatest swordsman of the continent.

Durak was merely the greatest swordsman of the continent in the current era.

In other words, he was one of the many greatest swordsmen in past history.

Let’s say all those who have been called the greatest swordsman of the continent, including Durak, could be gathered and lined up.

Then, who among them would be the one truly called the greatest swordsman?

The answer would be, we cannot know.

Because assumptions are just assumptions, and it was an impossible event to actually realize.

Because it was impossible to revive beings who had been buried and disappeared over time.

It was impossible to compare their superiority.

However.

“The true greatest swordsman of the continent was only one person.”

Rachel was speaking decisively.

Past and present.

Across all time, there was only one being who could be considered the greatest.

“He was a being who even terrified the demons that plunged the continent into chaos. The nightmare and fear of demons. The being who created that ironic contradiction.”

Rachel spoke slowly.

“A man named Cyan is walking the path that being walked.”

“Enough with the nonsense.”

Durak retorted in a cold voice.

An obvious murderous intent could be felt in between.

“I know you won’t believe it. It’s hard to believe. But… I can bet my neck on it.”

At Rachel’s words, Durak paused for a moment.

“Bet your neck?”

“Yes. If my words are not true, you can cut off my neck.”

“I could cut your neck right now.”

“Oh my. Would you really do that?”

Durak stared at Rachel silently.

Soon, Durak’s energy subsided in an instant.

“How will you prove it?”

“No matter how much I talk, you won’t believe me… How about the Marquis confirms it himself?”

“Confirm it myself? Just a moment ago, you told me not to attack Ruben, didn’t you?”

Rachel nodded lightly.

And then said one word.

“You don’t necessarily have to fight to confirm, do you?”

A strange smile hung on Rachel’s face.

#

Darkan, the capital of the Charlotte Empire.

The Imperial Palace, the heart of the Empire located in Darkan.

The Imperial Palace, which should have been more solemn and dignified than ever.

Now, it was filled with an enormous crowd of people.

“Halt. State your identity and purpose of visit.”

“It’s Baron Erchel Demire. I am visiting to attend Count Cyan’s peerage ceremony.”

Nobles gathered to attend Cyan’s peerage ceremony.

“Um… Knights. Can’t you make an exception?”

“Only authorized personnel are allowed to enter the Imperial Palace. I’m sorry, but please return.”

And commoners who wanted to attend Cyan’s peerage ceremony.

The front of the Imperial Palace was literally packed with people.

As a result, the entire Royal Knights were deployed for crowd control.

Among them, the area controlling the entry of commoners.

“There are so many people, sir…”

Tomal, a new member of the Royal Knights 3rd Division, sighed deeply.

Seeing this, Kazim, Tomal’s senior knight, tapped Tomal’s helmet and said.

“This bastard is already slacking off. Complaining with just this much?”

“But there are too many people…”

“You’re new, so you don’t know, but it’s always like this during peerage ceremonies.”

“Is that so…”

Tomal’s voice drooped.

Kazim chuckled and looked ahead.

The endless line of people.

All of them were people who came to see Cyan’s face.

“Well, even considering that, a lot of people came.”

Even considering that, it was rare for commoners to do this.

It was a part that showed how much Cyan’s reputation was in the Empire.

Perhaps that’s why.

“I heard that the Rothschild family is also coming. It’s not certain, but there’s talk that Marquis Egret is coming in person.”

“Y-Yes?? Marquis Egret, you say?”

Tomal shouted in great surprise at Kazim’s words.

The Rothschild family, one of the two pillars supporting the Empire.

Egret Rothschild, the head of the Rothschild family.

He was a great mage who had reached the 8th Circle [a high level of magical power] and an absolute powerhouse on par with Durak.

He was also a person who rarely moved his butt.

That’s usually the case with mages.

They were holed up in their laboratories and didn’t wander outside.

What more to say about Egret, who held the title of Marquis.

Egret did not move unless it was an event presided over by the Emperor.

For such Egret to come to Cyan’s peerage ceremony.

That was nothing short of a huge deal.

“But Rothschild and Elandur don’t have a good relationship, do they? But why…?”

“That’s Elandur’s situation. Count Cyan is no longer Elandur.”

“Ah.”

Tomal was quickly able to nod at Kazim’s words.

He hadn’t been in the Royal Knights for long, but he knew that much about the political situation.

“Besides, there’s also a rumor that the Saintess of the Holy Empire is coming?”

“Y-Yeeees?!?!?”

Therefore, Tomal could only be horrified and surprised at Kazim’s subsequent words.

There was no need to explain the reason.

The Saintess of the Holy Empire.

These words themselves were the reason.

“S-Saintess of the Holy Empire… you say? I-Is that really true?”

“I don’t know, that’s what I heard.”

Tomal couldn’t help but be truly astonished.

At this rate, wouldn’t all the famous figures of the continent, let alone the Charlotte Empire, be gathering?

“Is Count Cyan… that great?”

This immediately showed how much influence Cyan had.

“Well… should I call this great?”

“What do you mean? Come to think of it… you went to Ruben, didn’t you…?”

In the past, the vacation of Crown Prince Conrad and Princess Elena.

The Royal Knights 2nd and 3rd Divisions had visited Ruben as their escorts.

And Kazim and Tomal belonged to the Royal Knights 3rd Division.

Tomal, being a new recruit, couldn’t go, but Kazim, a senior knight, had been to Ruben.

“How was it? What does Count Cyan look like? Does he have a halo and aura?”

“Not really. He looks like a noble, but just an ordinary noble? Honestly, he only looks like a dazed idiot. I probably wouldn’t recognize him as His Excellency if I saw him for the first time.”

“A dazed idiot? What’s that?”

“Well… ah, yeah. He looks exactly like that person.”

Kazim pointed to a certain place with his finger.

The place where Kazim’s finger was pointing.

It was one of the crowds lined up in a long queue.

To be exact, it was a man walking towards them, cutting through the crowd lined up.

A man with a somewhat dazed look.

“Ah, is that the feeling? He certainly looks like a dazed idiot.”

Tomal was able to understand Kazim’s words at once.

Tomal nodded and looked back at Kazim.

But why.

“······!”

Kazim’s eyes were wide open.

The emotion visible in between was some kind of surprise.

“Senior…?”

Tomal asked suspiciously, but Kazim had no particular answer.

Just as he was wondering what it was.

The man Kazim pointed to had already come right in front of them.

And then, he was about to ignore them and enter the Imperial Palace as if nothing was wrong.

A man who was about to enter the Imperial Palace without permission, let alone ignoring all the people in the front line.

“Hey! What do you think this place is to enter without permission!”

Tomal shouted and blocked the man’s path.

It was a deed that fulfilled his duty as a Royal Knight, even though he was a new recruit.

Tomal swallowed his proud feelings and looked at Kazim as if asking if he had done well.

But why on earth.

“······!!!!”

Kazim’s expression looking at Tomal was not good at all.

His wide eyes were widened as if they were about to tear.

The gaping mouth was engraved with clear astonishment.

It was as if he was shouting, ‘Y-Y-You crazy bastard…! Stop it right now…!’

Leaving Kazim’s expression behind, the man in front of him smiled awkwardly and said.

“Ah. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it because I was short on time.”

Tomal clicked his tongue and said.

“Looking like a dazed idiot… tsk tsk. Where are you putting your mind. If you know now, go back. This is not a place where you can enter without permission.”

“H-Hey, you…!!”

Then Kazim screamed in horror.

Why is he doing that.

Just as he was thinking that.

“I’m Cyan. I visited the Imperial Palace to receive the title of Count at this peerage ceremony.”

It seemed like something… something he shouldn’t have heard.

What did this dazed idiot just say?

Cyan? Did he say Cyan?

“W-What did you just say…?”

Tomal asked back with an absurd expression.

But he quickly changed his expression and shouted.

“Where do you think you are!”

That’s because there was no reason for Cyan to be here.

This is a place where the entry of commoners is controlled.

It was a space where they occasionally let in those with confirmed identities or those who were invited.

If it was the real Cyan, there was no way he would come here.

There, where the nobles’ carriages are lined up.

He would have entered with a splendid carriage and numerous soldiers.

There was no way he would come alone like this, with just his body.

Cyan was a noble with such high prestige that even the Saintess of the Holy Empire and Marquis Egret would attend.

There was absolutely no way he would come alone so shabby.

So this man was clearly impersonating Cyan.

And in the Empire, the crime of impersonating a noble was a severe crime.

Tomal distorted his expression fiercely.

And just as he was about to draw the sword in his hand.

Thud—!

“You crazy bastard!!!!”

“Ugh—!!”

Tomal’s body fell forward as it was with Kazim’s urgent cry.