Chapter 157: The Battle for Harang (3)
‘…The answer is already set.’
After the old man left.
I, Harang, who had been frozen in expression for a while, snapped out of it.
Yes.
The answer was clear.
No matter how strong the enemies I had to face, no matter how vast the organization, it didn’t matter.
‘If my strength is lacking, I’ll build it. That’s all.’
I recalled the past.
When I was first brought into the village, I was far weaker than now, and the lower administrators seed like insurmountable mountains.
But now?
They were nothing.
The higher administrators, the General Manager, the Red Magician, and whatever lay behind them would likely be the sa.
Once surpassed, they’d be nothing.
‘Of course, to do that, I need to grow stronger much faster.’
I nodded, recalling the beggar old man’s words.
Focus on Philip Portville’s sword and emotions.
…Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could fully trust him.
But I had no other options.
Lately, my growth had stagnated, and I couldn’t find a breakthrough.
In such a situation, I felt I had to grasp at any straw.
‘Besides… if the beggar old man ant to harm , I’d already be dead. There’s no need for him to trick with words. No reason to go through such trouble.’
With that conclusion, I released my stealth.
Of course, my presence didn’t suddenly burst forth, so Ransel Grantz and Philip Portville still didn’t notice .
‘It’s a bit sudden, but I should explain and ask for a favor. But how?’
Observing Philip Portville’s sword was easy enough.
I just had to pay closer attention during a spar.
But gauging his emotions wasn’t so straightforward.
I studied Philip Portville’s expression.
The joy of winning the duel was the first thing I noticed.
But the emotions beneath were hard to pinpoint.
Perhaps those emotions were why he challenged Ransel Grantz to a duel.
‘Co to think of it, why did Patriarch Portville suddenly challenge Ransel Grantz?’
Was there so old grudge?
It didn’t seem like it.
If there was, Ransel Grantz wouldn’t have reacted with such bewildernt.
At that mont, as if to scratch my curiosity, Ransel Grantz, kneeling on one knee, asked Patriarch Portville with a grimace.
“…I acknowledge my defeat in the duel. As you wish, I won’t linger in Marzen anymore. I won’t wander around the Eddy rcenary Corps’ hideout either. I swear on my na.”
“Hmph! That’s right. Now get lost. You don’t expect an escort, do you?”
“Before that, I have one question.”
“What?”
“Why are you doing this to ? What grievance do you have to challenge to a duel and still glare at so sharply even now? I can’t understand.”
Ransel Grantz’s expression was full of injustice.
Having crossed swords, he knew.
Philip Portville was a far more skilled swordsman than known.
His stance alone showed how serious he was about the sword.
His discipline was clearly not lacking.
So why did such an impressive man act so rudely, like a street thug picking a fight?
There had to be a reason.
Ransel Grantz’s eyes, staring at Patriarch Portville, were filled with questions.
‘Hmph! You think I’ll tell you why?’
Of course, Patriarch Portville had no intention of explaining.
Honestly, he was embarrassed.
Admitting it was to monopolize , or revealing the true reason beneath, was hard to say considering his pride.
So, instead of the truth, he scowled fiercely.
As if to say, get lost, I have no obligation to answer a loser’s questions.
Just as he was about to shout—
“I’m very curious too.”
“What, you…!”
“…Harang? How, how are you here?”
“Oh, sorry. The duel seed too interesting, so I snuck in.”
“…”
Philip Portville wore a displeased expression.
Even though he liked , he wasn’t saintly enough to laugh off such a breach.
I knew that too.
But I felt if I missed this mont, I’d never get him to open up.
With that thought, I made a subtle proposal.
“As an apology, how about I buy you a drink… Would that be alright?”
“…”
“…”
“Of course, I don’t think this will fully appease you, but I want to show at least so sincerity…”
An unusually sociable offer for .
It carried a sly intent: ‘With so alcohol, he’ll reveal his emotions more easily.’
Of course, neither of them realized that.
Philip Portville twitched his eyebrows, and Ransel Grantz just glanced around nervously.
Silence lingered in the awkward atmosphere.
“…”
“…”
“…”
In that tense situation, I decided to use a slightly cheap but surefire thod.
“If you join for a drink and talk, I’m willing to spar with you, Patriarch Portville, once a week.
“...!”
“The sa goes for you, Sir Ransel Grantz. A teacher-student relationship is too much, but… how about the three of us et weekly to spar and discuss swordsmanship?”
“That’s great! I’m in! Patriarch, what do you think?”
“…Ahem, well… I’m not one to shy away from a drink.”
Philip Portville nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression.
Seeing this, I flashed a triumphant smile.
***
Unlike other kingdoms, the Nadan Kingdom was imbalanced, with most of its human resources concentrated in the capital.
This was especially true for swordsn—unless you were from the Nadan Royal Academy, joining the capital’s knight order was nearly impossible.
This naturally led to disdain and contempt for provincial sword families or swordsmanship halls.
Philip Portville had felt this humiliation for a long ti.
“Since my father’s ti. No, since my grandfather’s. It might even be inferiority or defeatism. It’s true that provincial families, including mine, are less skilled than the capital’s Graduates.”
“…”
“…”
“So when Sir Ransel Grantz, the capital’s top talent, ca to my hotown trying to monopolize you, Harang… I got unreasonably angry. Of course, even considering that, my actions today were narrow-minded and shaful…”
Philip Portville, speaking, downed strong liquor in gulps.
It was an act filled with self-reproach and reflection.
He should have overco his trauma himself, yet he tried to vent his frustration on Ransel Grantz, who had nothing to do with it.
He had no excuse.
Fortunately, Ransel Grantz wasn’t a narrow-minded person.
“No, I understand completely.”
He had never experienced it himself, but Ransel Grantz knew.
Swordsn from the Royal Academy often mocked and belittled provincial swordsn without reason.
The surface excuse was that provincial swordsn were far less skilled and lazy, but…
‘I realized today that’s a lie!’
How else could he, the kingdom’s third-strongest, lose to Philip Portville?
No, he wasn’t third anymore. Not even fourth—fifth.
There were two swordsn stronger than him right here.
“Anyway, I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize. You’re an excellent swordsman. Unlike the half-baked ones in the capital. I realized after crossing swords—you must have put in trendous effort to have such skill at your age. If only our family’s children were as diligent as you…”
“No, as I said, I understand. Above all, I’m sorry for trying to monopolize Harang. If I were you, I’d have been upset too.”
“Haha, isn’t that right?”
“Yes. I won’t try to monopolize Harang anymore. Isn’t he a treasure of the Nadan Kingdom, of Marzen?”
“Exactly. He’s a treasure for all of us, not to be monopolized by one person. Hahaha!”
“This feels good. Shall we toast, Senior?”
“No reason not to. Bring another bottle!”
“…”
Laughing heartily and drinking together, Philip Portville and Ransel Grantz acted as if they’d never fought.
I, watching them, wore an incredulous expression.
‘It’s like they’re talking about as their property.’
Absolutely not.
My body was my own.
If anything, I was the one showing kindness with these spars.
My incredulity only grew.
‘Of course, I need to interact more with Philip Portville to observe his emotions…’
But I couldn’t help feeling wronged.
Of course, no one cared about my feelings.
Philip Portville and Ransel Grantz kept clinking glasses, laughing without a care, while I, with a sullen face, drank alone without a toast.
***
Months passed since the duel between Ransel Grantz and Philip Portville.
The promise was kept without issue.
Through weekly spars with and countless duels with each other, Philip Portville and Ransel Grantz achieved significant growth.
This ant Ransel Grantz, who should have been in the capital, stayed in Marzen.
It wasn’t a big issue.
He had finished most of his urgent tasks, and minor ones could be handled by proxies.
Only a few in his family wondered, “What’s in Marzen that keeps him there so long?”
And one other person.
“…Is Ransel Grantz still in Marzen?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“Hmm…”
The second strongest in the Nadan Kingdom.
Xanthos Bogen watched Ransel Grantz’s actions with a displeased expression.
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