84 – 21. Invitation (4)
“Welcome, Lord Lichtenauer. Welcome to Fiore.”
The worst was predicted long ago.
Lichtenau and Fiore are literally like water and oil.
Being called a master of swordsmanship within an empire, of course there is no choice but to be that way.
It is a relationship that wants to be superior to each other.
We can’t even look at each other smiling, and even if we do, we’re not laughing.
So, from Xien’s point of view, he had no choice but to be even more nervous.
But when she got off the carriage, no one looked at her with hostility.
No matter how many times I saw Fiore gnashing her teeth when she said ‘fiend’.
Even though he knew that Shien himself was of mixed blood between a demon and a human.
Fiore’s chivalry, vassals, and ordinary soldiers all had serious expressions.
‘… I’m surprised.’
From that appearance, Shien was able to gain two convictions.
Their loyalty to not commit any unsavory thing ahead of the inauguration of the new family head.
And the suspicious intentions of Etria, who had arranged the interior so thoroughly.
For now, I put the rest of my thoughts aside and said hello first.
Etria is still called Sogaju, but that will end tomorrow.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Lord Lichtenauer.”
“What. I didn’t expect to be invited.”
Even Cien secretly took the lead.
You said you didn’t know how to invite, because you hate Lichtenau so much.
Why did Fiore, who had been ignoring me for saying that I was of mixed demon race, invited me?
I was filling up the feeling I was asking.
At Shien’s words, the vassals and knights standing around frowned slightly.
It seems that he understood what Lichtenau’s head of state was trying to say.
At the same time, it seemed that he was worried that he was secretly looking at Etria.
“Isn’t it a nice day? And as a master of swordsmanship in the empire, it wouldn’t be bad to have exchanges.”
But Etria let it go so naturally.
It was as if Fiore had been interacting with Lichtenau from before and getting along well.
It was as if he had no ill feelings toward Shien.
‘under.’
In response, Shien unknowingly let out a sigh.
I couldn’t believe it, but I didn’t know that he would hide something so blatantly.
How many times have you bumped into Etria?
No matter what the family members could do, Shien himself could not be deceived.
Even so, if you see him maintaining such an appearance, he tries to provoke himself.
Or you could see it as a suggestion, like let’s not touch each other here.
Whatever it was, I knew for sure that I would not do it.
If it were not, it would be a foolish act to set the blade up first like this.
Shien looked at Etria with a slight smile on her lips.
“Exchange, exchange. It’s good. Even if you don’t, there are many good things in Lichtenau.”
Instead of provocation, this time he boasts about himself and Lichtenauer.
By now, the news of the subjugation of the Demon Lord should have reached this place.
Not to show condescension with a 3rd grade demon scene like Fiore, but to subjugate a 2nd grade demon spectacle.
It was a disaster that could be prevented without major damage only by mobilizing at least the Imperial Knights.
“… I heard the news.”
And, as expected by Shien, Etria’s expression stiffened slightly.
He would put up with provocations, but in a place where Fiore and himself should be the main characters.
It meant that Lichtenauer and Shien would absolutely refuse to step in.
“We’ll talk about the details later.”
Shien enters the castle of Fiore in a very leisurely manner.
Looking at her, Etria involuntarily felt nervous.
It is a child that was nothing until just half a year ago.
A woman whose swordsmanship was not enough, her family line collapsed, and all that was left was despair.
However, after recovering everything at once, he is now trying to overcome Fiore.
I try to go to a higher place by putting myself down.
‘not good.’
Etria stopped thinking and looked at Adele, who was following Shien.
They still say that he is a servant, but he already gives off a neat atmosphere to be seen as a servant.
It’s not that he doesn’t have the knack for understanding others, and that’s about the level of a decent knight.
‘I’ll have to take a look at it at the party tomorrow.’
Thinking so, Etria slightly bit her lip.
Was it really a good thing that he invited Shien?
At first I thought there was nothing wrong with it, but now it’s not.
Rather, the more I went, the more I was filled with regret and impatience.
Too covered, too bulky, and more shiny.
People are always drawn to that.
And now, that light was shining on Lichtenau.
I will make sure Fiore never falls behind Lichtenau.
Etria made up her mind once more.
* * *
Time passed, and finally the day came when a new head of household entered Fiore.
There is a saying that if there is Lichtenau in the north, there is Fiore in the west.
As such, in the west, there is no family to follow Fiore as ‘Mu’.
Since it was the day the head of the family changed, there must have been a lot of guests from the western family.
Because of this, the knights of Fiore took part in the event with their sharp eyes.
In particular, even the family head of Lichtenauer, which has been bumped into so far, is here.
In this way, there should not have been any more grievous mistakes.
“It is spectacular.”
Shien spit out those words unconsciously to Adele, who was standing next to her.
Even though this place was Fiore, even though it was the family of Etria who had been tormenting her so far.
The atmosphere of the swordsmanship of the west was definitely great.
“Is that so?”
“yes. Everyone is well-prepared.”
“… okay.”
After thinking for a moment, Adele nodded slowly.
As Shien said, that level was on the same level as the knights of Lichtenau.
Almost the same as or just below the level of the Imperial Knights.
From the standards of the Empire, the knights lined up there were definitely talented.
“How about your standards?”
But when this question was asked, Adele had only one answer.
“It is just that.”
“Why?”
“It’s overdone.”
Then, Shien tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.
I wonder if it’s bad to be sharp, and when I think of the stories of Adele and Wolfheddin.
Aren’t they the ones who stand out the most?
“Shin-nim.”
Adele continued talking as if she had read Shien’s thoughts.
“My colleagues and I were just fighting to kill. These are the ones who go out only to kill. But not them. They are the ones who must stay while advancing, and must protect while taking away. Then you need an intermediate one. If the blade is standing like that, it’s good to break it.”
It was a very ambiguous word.
Is there something that only Adele can see that she doesn’t know yet?
Shien just let out a light sigh at the thought.
“Maybe you can see it if you get a chance.”
Exactly what that opportunity meant, Shien didn’t know.
But I wondered if the opportunity he said would come someday.
“For a great sword that will never break, never break!”
“aaa!!”
If Lichtenau’s first words flow from guarding.
Fiore begins by discussing the sword itself.
Seeing that similar yet different appearance, Shien twitched his lips.
So far, yes. Until here, it’s Fiore’s time. It is the stage of Etria.
But from now on, will that be possible?
Shien smiled inwardly.
It is Adele who has made the decisive contribution to what happened a while ago.
I was worried that I might be condescending to the ball for no reason.
But Adele dismissed it as nonsense.
‘When a hound is good at biting its prey, it doesn’t sound good to the dog. Congratulations to the owner. Same thing. Having that hound is the ability.’
‘… Are you saying you’re a dog?’
‘yes? uh. Or should I say wolf?’
‘Don’t do that again. Why do they say that they are human but not human?’
When the bruise was so light, Adele salivated.
Then, Shien again said, ‘Do you understand?’ I said yes, he replied.
Anyway, Adele nailed it, saying nothing was wrong.
All that’s left is this Fiore’s glamorous party venue.
It was the moment to drop the cup of Etria that had been prepared.
* * *
Finally, I became the owner of this huge family.
There were some disturbing incidents along the way, but they didn’t pose much of a threat.
It was originally his own, but it was also a position he had won with his own hands.
“Lord of Fiore. Congratulations. Ah, since it’s only natural, can’t we call it a celebration?”
“no. No wonder. If I hadn’t been enough, I’m sure my father would have given me his place without hesitation. Ahahahaha.”
I’m saying it around the corner, but it means that in the end I became the head of the household because I excelled.
Then the nobles gathered around burst into laughter.
It’s like a joke, but I know it may not be a joke.
I have that much ability, so take care of yourself.
Etria’s words also had that meaning hidden, so it was only natural.
The world of nobles is always like this, hearing is not everything.
If you’re fast, you’ll get ahead; if you’re slow, you’ll fall behind.
In the meantime, if it’s too good, you buy a guard, and there are times when you have to pretend you don’t know.
This is why knights don’t even want to know about the aristocratic world.
It could have been that he was sick of it because he was running out of affection.
“… .”
That world, Shien had to get through from now on.
There are not even allies nearby, they are all enemies.
Adele is said to be here, but this is not a battlefield where you fight with a sword.
Another battlefield where people are killed and saved with only three chi tongues.
There, you have to create a crack and squeeze through the gap to enter.
“Lord Liechtenauer.”
As expected by Shien, Etria approached first, saying that she had invited.
If there’s anything that’s changed, it’s not Fiore’s sogaju, but it’s become a real household distillery.
“Are you enjoying the banquet?”
People intentionally keep me away, what pleasure are you talking about?
The word is right down the throat.
However, Shien has long since adapted to this life.
If I had only intended to shake this much, I wouldn’t have come.
“sure. Such a gorgeous banquet. That’s great. Lord Fiore.”
“Ahahahaha. of course. Please be at ease.”
Etria then turned her gaze to Adele, who was far away.
“You brought that attendant with you today too.”
“It’s my escort.”
“okay.”
“I’ve felt it for a long time, but you seem to be very interested in my servant.”
“of course. Originally, the talented recognize the talented, right?”
“hmm. It is. Because he played a big role in subjugating the demon realm this time.”
It was Cien who quietly started to get to the point.