Published at 16th of December 2020 06:19:15 PM
Chapter 69
Chapter 69 – The Brave and the Sword Saint (III)
The Kingdom of Lyon was a rich country with one of the best grain fields on the continent, with a relatively mild climate and abundant water and forests. Since the advent of the Demon King, the damage caused by the demons had increased every year, but since the Lemmrousell Empire and the Kingdom of Petersia existed between it and the kingdom controlled by the Demon King, it remained a peaceful land with little damage from the demons.
Born the first prince of that great kingdom of Lyon, Raul was introduced to a master swordsman by his father, the King of Lyon, when he was a child. It was an older woman of the Kingdom of Cassiat, which was in the southwest of the Kingdom of Lyon, and had the title of “Sword Saint” in her time.
He want him to be a strong prince.
The King of Lyon called the renowned “Sword Saint”, one of the strongest people on the continent, as a teacher for his son who had just turned six.
“I want to be the strongest.”
“Heh, the strongest… just because you study with me, doesn’t mean you’ll be the strongest, right?”
The day he met the Sword Saint for the first time, she asked Raul “How strong do you want to be,” smiling with a mixture of bitterness.
“Master, you are the strongest in the continent, right? I want to be stronger than any other.”
Anyone who aspired to be a fighter, plus a child, dreams of being “the strongest” at least once.
“It is true that I am counted as one of the strongest people, but I have never crossed swords with the ‘Sword God’ or the ‘Sword Artisan’, nor have I fought against the ‘Great Sage’ or the ‘Heavenly Demon’, the highest level of wizards, so I am not really the strongest. And besides, the title of ‘Sword Saint’ is only the strongest within the framework of a human being and cannot be won by magical beasts such as dragons or high-rank demons.”
While saying that, the Sword Saint gave a sword to the still young prince. It was a sword classified as a dagger, with a thin blade so that even a child could wield it.
“Whoa… it’s a sword.”
Raul’s eyes glowed at his first sword, and he quickly pulled it out of its sheath and looked at it.
“If we were to face the Great Sage and the Heavenly Demon from a distance, the swordsmen would be no match for them. Moreover, it is precisely because we are humans that we cannot win against beings that surpass our existence. If you are still willing, I will teach the prince the way of the sword. Master it. It’s easy to say, although not easy at all to achieve, but if you can get to the top, at least as a human, you will be as close as you will ever get to the place called ‘the strongest’.”
“So, master, aren’t you really the strongest person in the world?”
“Yes… God or the Devil King, I don’t know if they are real, but it is said that the Dragon King is the strongest, no, as long as God doesn’t intervene in the world, the Devil King and the Dragon King are the strongest true existences there are.”
“So, how can we defeat the Demon King? Can he be defeated and save everyone?”
“Defeating the Demon King… is impossible for a human. Haven’t they told you already, Prince? Defeating the Devil King is…”
“…Yes, father taught me that.”
“He was the Sword Saint of the previous generation. Even if he were so powerful, he could not resist the power of the Demon King.”
“…So even if I became stronger, couldn’t I defeat the Demon King? Can’t I protect everyone in the country?”
“That depends on the Prince.”
Although he was only six years old, the prince’s desire was to protect his country. With Raul’s words, the Sword Saint laughed with amusement.
“It is true that demons are more powerful than humans, and there is not one thing in ten thousand that a person can do to defeat the demon king. However, if they surrender from the beginning, they will not be able to achieve victory, even if they have the chance. Those who do not have the will to fight, will not even be allowed to fight the Demon King. If you do not have the will to defeat the Demon King, you will not be able to do it.”
Then, the Sword Saint turned her kind glance to the little disciple who was observing her with dedication.
“I know. I could not do it, but perhaps the prince could.”
…Nine years passed since then, now Raul was fifteen. With the death of his master, the Sword Saint, Raul was officially recognized by the Great Temple of Emerdia as heir to the title of Sword Saint of his time.
Four years passed since he became the youngest to inherit the title of Sword Saint. Raul Orto Lyon was already 20 years old.
He had become one of the strongest men at a young age, and was revered, revered and admired not only by people of the Kingdom of Lyon, but also by people of the whole continent who were being tormented by demons. Although his native land was not yet at the forefront of the fight against demons, and he had not joined the Continental Alliance because of his position as Crown Prince, he was ever ready for battle and to fulfill the expectations of his people when the time came.
Then one day, the person who was taking care of Raul heard a story.
“The Brave?”
“Yes. Members of the clergy of all nations, not just our country, have heard the word of the Goddess.”
“According to the oracle, the ‘Brave’ is the existence that serves as a counterpart to the Demon King, the strongest existence found at the zenith of the world for living beings.”
“And what about that?”
Raul laughed.
The “strongest”, someone who had only received that title because it had been given to them by an oracle from the Goddess. A place where the previous Sword Saint, Raul’s master, could not even reach. It was so funny that it was ridiculous.
“What is that person like? The one who was named by the church, that Brave or something like that.”
“Well, they said something about a young girl who wasn’t quite your age…”
At that time, Raul thought that the “Brave” was a kind of illusion created by the ranks of the church that had begun to lose their authority due to repeated attacks by demons, which had created it as propaganda to maintain their prestige.
“Hmm. If there really is such a person, I would love to meet her and arrange a meeting.”
‘If I defeat an existence that they recognize as the “Strongest,” the church will have no choice but to recognize me as the Strongest. Even if it were a temporary title, if I can get them to admit that the one they call “Sword Saint” is the strongest, everyone will see how great my master was.’
Would they eventually meet on the battlefield?
But the meeting between Raul and the Brave would come sooner than expected.
She who was blessed by the Goddess, the Brave was coming to visit. The church that believed in Anastasia, the goddess of creation, was located in the Great Temple of Emerdia. And to reach the Great Temple of Emerdia, leader of the great Continental Anti-Demon Alliance, one had to pass through the Kingdom of Lyon.
A great ceremony was to be held at the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Lyon to welcome the Brave.
In front of the throne was the King of Lyon, and while the nobles of the Kingdom, the renowned generals and military officers were lined up, Raul, the Crown Prince, was also standing by the throne, waiting for the Brave to appear.
And…
The door to the hearing room opened and two girls came in. One was dressed in an elaborately decorated robe and her long ears indicated that she was an elf.
‘Is that Tiara Sciurus Velf, the Great High Elf Sage? So that means…’
The other girl who was being led by Tiara. Tiara was small for her age, but the other girl was even smaller than her, or rather, she was a younger girl.
They made their way to the front of the throne. There was a small murmur during the audience.
“Is that the Brave?”
“She’s just a kid…”
“But… she is beautiful, like the living embodiment of a goddess.”
“Yes… but that…”
A bewildered murmur of confusion mixed with astonishment and admiration for the Brave.
‘She looks like a doll.’
As she advanced to the front of the throne, Raul, who was waiting beside the king, could see the face of the Brave from the front.
A girl with a neat look. She may have been only about ten years old, but she had a beautiful appearance and an aura of holiness. She was enough material for the church to use as propaganda. However, her eyes were full of fragility and melancholy, making them feel somewhat empty.
‘Is she the Strongest?’
It is as if she is not interested in anything in the world.
‘Someone like that… someone like that is the Brave who will defeat the Demon King?’
The two advanced in front of the king while Raul stared at them. Tiara knelt… and Leticia stood there without bowing her head. But there was no voice of condemnation heard. Not even the king complained. This was because the church recognized the Brave as existing on the same level as an emperor, king, or high priest of the temple.
The King of Lyon said some words of encouragement, but it was especially Tiara, who knelt before the king and bowed, who also responded to his comments.
To the girl known as the Brave, when asked her name, she simply said “I am Leticia von Mavis”, and the rest of the time, she stood there with Tiara, in a daze, unattended.
Raul stared at the girl with a strong gaze. Watching her every move. This was supposed to be a provocation for Leticia.
However, it was not Leticia who reacted to Raul’s attitude, but those present in the courtroom. The military officers, as generals and knights, were the first to notice Raul’s actions. Nobody opened their mouths while they were talking to the king, but there was a wave of voiceless agitation among the dignitaries.
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But Leticia did not change her expression. She did not even look at Raul.
Even Tiara, who was exchanging words with the king, had a slight tone of bewilderment on her inexpressive face, and occasionally turned her face toward Raul, but Leticia did not even look at him. She was looking directly at the king, or perhaps not even at him.
She was just indifferent.
Even receiving such an aura from Raul, the Sword Saint, she did not even care. This hurt Raul’s pride quite a lot.
‘Am I too trivial for you? Very well. If that’s what you really believe, whether you’re the Goddess’s chosen Brave or a church-adorned muppet, I’ll outdo you!’
…And at the end of the audience with the king, at the festive banquet in the great hall.
“Leticia von Mavis the Brave. Would you mind if we put on a little show?”
Raul threw the challenge to Leticia.
In the room where the banquet was held, there were many people of all ages, young and old, men and women, from all over the Kingdom of Lyon, both noble and rich. The center of the back of the hall was a few steps higher than the main hall.
There were seats reserved for the King and Queen of Lyon, as well as for Leticia and Tiara, the stars of the banquet, and at the foot of the stairs, a long line of guests had formed, who in turn came up to the platform to greet the King of Lyon, Leticia and the others. Those who had already finished greeting each other chatted and greeted each other here and there.
As if to wade through them, Raul, who arrived late at the great hall, advanced abruptly to the platform where the guest of honor was sitting. He carried a practical knight’s sword on his waist, and although his clothes were elegantly decorated on his shirt to facilitate his movements, he wore a white leather armor that was not appropriate for this occasion.
He was dressed as an officer challenging the review ceremony.
The guests and the Royal Guard Knights, upon seeing an out-of-place young man running around the center of the room without being seen, frowned and tried to stop him, but when they realized that the young man was Raul, the Crown Prince of their country, they rolled their eyes and looked away with a scowl. Raul’s behavior immediately attracted the attention of those around him, and when the guests realized he was heading for the platform where the guests would be sitting, they opened a path to get there. Then, as expected, the people on the platform noticed Raul’s presence.
Seeing the figure of the Crown Prince, who was moving unhurriedly along the open road, the King and Queen of Lyon looked at each other as if they were confused, and Tiara refrained from saying anything. Leticia also turned her face toward Raul.
For the first time since they appeared in the audience hall, the glances of the Brave and the Sword Saint crossed for the first time.
“Raul… what is it? What are you wearing?”
“Father, I’m sorry to bother you.”
Raoul bowed reverently before his father, the King of Lyon, and turned toward Leticia.
“…Your Majesty. What does this mean?”
“Tiardono. This is my son, Raul.”
“As I remember, the Sword Saint.”
Raul met Tiara’s gaze and also bowed to her and Leticia.
“Raul Orto Lyon, the Crown Prince of this country.”
“This is Tiara Sciurus Velf.”
“…Leticia von Mavis.”
“So, Raul, what’s the matter with you all of a sudden? It is disrespectful that you are so late.”
“I apologize for that. But…”
Raul apologized to the King, and then looked back at Leticia. Then he raised his voice loud enough to be heard by all the people in the great hall who were watching with bated breath.
“I will be direct. Leticia von Mavis the Brave, would you mind if we put on a little show?”
“A show?”
“Yes.”
Raul nodded to Tiara, who frowned in Leticia’s place when he called her.
“I would like you to cross swords with me! The Church says that the Brave-dono has the power to destroy even the Demon King, which I do not doubt, but if it is true, our people will be filled with hope! Although I still think that I have not been able to reach the level of my master, I have been granted the title of Sword Saint. By fighting against me, I want to show that your power is real, and bring hope to my people as well!”
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A noise of commotion passed through the great hall.
“Surely, with a power that not even Raul-sama can match, he can give his people great hope.”
“Excellent idea. It is important to see the power of the Brave-dono who will fight the demons in the future.”
While the nobles and military officers of the Kingdom of Lyon were getting more and more enthusiastic, the high officials of the church were paling.
As for the Church, which was the leader of the army of the Continental Anti-Demon Alliance, the reason why they made Leticia stop in the Kingdom of Lyon on her trip to the Great Temple of Emerdia was because they also had a plan to raise money in the name of support for the Brave. Not that they doubted the oracle, but it was also true that when they saw Leticia visiting the temple in this country, they felt uneasy because of how young she was. It would be a shame if she fought against Raul here and lost.
“W-Wait a minute!”
One of the country’s bishops, who had been invited, rushed to the top of the platform.
“Your Royal Highness, do you have any idea how rude your behavior is on a stage like this? The Brave-dono is the one who has the priesthood approved by the High Priest of Emerdia.”
“Even though the High Priest has approved her, we have not yet seen her power. Therefore, here and now! Right here, where everyone’s attention is focused! I want her to show us that power!”
“B-But, no, this is…!”
“Don’t worry, Bishop. The fact that I defeated her doesn’t negate the word of the Goddess, who said she was the Brave. It is also because the Brave-dono is still too young to show all her power.”
“In fact, that would be… since the Brave is still young, it might be a little difficult for her to face His Highness, who is the Sword Saint, and…”
The Bishop was relieved to hear Raul say that even if Leticia lost, this would not immediately deny the existence of the Brave. However, that look of relief was immediately frozen.
“Well… if she is still unable to show her strength, then I can serve as the master of the Brave-dono. She can stay in my country until she masters her powers!”
“How ridiculous! It is necessary for the Brave-dono to go to the Great Temple!”
“This Sword Saint is going to be her master. Are you do not short of someone capable?”
“Yes, that is… but the Brave-dono must go to the Great Temple as soon as possible and become a banner of humanity in the war against the demons…”
“She is still young. Then she’d better study with me. That’s right, I can become the banner of the Alliance until she is the Brave in the fullest sense of the word.”
The current leadership of the Continental Anti-Demon Alliance was held by the Great Temple of Emerdia. Raul also knew very well that humanity, which was in a disadvantageous war situation in the fight against demons, had to fight as one.
At present, the Great Temple of Emerdia, which apparently declared to be neutral toward all human countries of the continent, had the leadership of the Continental Anti-Demon Alliance. But taking advantage of this, the Great Temple of Emerdia had been forcing nations to provide funds and other several goods, besides strengthening its authority over internal affairs of nations. But if Raul kept Leticia under the protection of the Kingdom of Lyon as his apprentice, the Kingdom of Lyon would take over the leadership of the army of the Continental Anti-Demon Alliance.
A murmur filled the Great Hall when people realized the intention in Raul’s statement.
“That will not satisfy the rest of the countries.”
“When she becomes the Brave, she will take the lead in the fight against the demons. Meanwhile, all I have to say is that my country will protect her, and I will be her master.”
In fact, the Kingdom of Lyon was to take complete control with the Brave as its puppet.
But…
“…My Master?”
Leticia murmured to herself. The small voice was drowned out by the murmur of the people, barely reaching the Tiara’s ears, who was at her side.
“…Letty?”
Tiara, who was worried about the young Brave who was about to be considered an instrument of political war between the two forces, the Kingdom of Lyon and the Great Temple of Emerdia, saw the same light in Leticia’s eyes as she had when she faced a demon.
“No one else will teach me. My Master is the only person in this world who can do so…”
The murmur of the people in the Great Hall diminished as they noticed that Leticia, who had previously remained motionless in her seat like a doll, quickly stood up. Raul, who had been talking to the Bishop on the platform, also noticed the change in the people and turned around. As Leticia stood up and took slow steps forward, she drew her sword at her waist with a quick and fluid gesture.
…The Brave could be a puppet of the church, and it could also be that at that moment Raul, who was nothing more than an ornament to unite each country, realized that he had made a great mistake.
She simply drew her sword. But only that ordinary action manifested her physical power. A gust of wind blew through the great hall with Leticia as its focal point.
The sudden gust of wind caused people to scream as they covered their faces and bodies. At the table near the platform, the dishes with food were blown away, as well as the cloth, and the beautiful flowers that adorned the entire room were scattered and carried away by the wind.
Finally, the gusts of wind died down, and people turned their attention to Leticia, who was facing Raul in the room.
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The impressed glances of the people focused on the young Brave who had expressed her power, and they were fascinated by her eyes. In the eyes of Leticia, who was with her sword drawn, the fragility and melancholy color that had been floating in them a moment ago disappeared, and a strong glow of will, not of emptiness, dwelt in them.
The fleeting impression that she could disappear at any moment vanished completely, but, on the contrary, she remained there exuding a strong presence.
The atmosphere changed.
“Did you say before that you wanted us to put on a show?”
Leticia’s fine and beautifully clear voice spread through the great hall, which had been silenced by the unexpected situation.
“Do you want…”
to die so badly?
The moment those words were uttered, a chill ran down Raul’s spine.
The pressure was so great that it was difficult to even breathe, much less speak.
Even though she was the Brave, she drew her sword before the king. Normally, this was a situation that had to be controlled by the Royal Guard Knights immediately.
But, however, no one could move from the spot. Among the guests were some high-ranking military officers who had been to many battlefields, but all were unable to move. They felt the pressure, or even more, as if they were facing a large army of more than ten thousand.
She who is on a par with the Devil King. She who is the closest existence to God, that is the Brave!
Raul struggled and looked at Leticia, making eye contact. Yes, he was tall enough to look down on her. And yet he was intimidated by her, as if he were going to be swallowed up.
Raul already knew this. He knew that Leticia was the Brave, the strongest person in the world. Still, he wanted to see it for himself. So, he opened his mouth, as if squeezing the words that would come out of it.
“I want you to show me if your power is real. I want you to let me see with my own eyes if you can give people hope.”
Raul turned around and jumped to the bottom of the platform. Then he went directly to the center of the great hall, the place where they danced to the melody played by the musicians of the court before. Leticia also followed him.
The people cleared a path for the two of them, and then came to an open area in the center. In this place, it seemed safe to have a little duel.
“We will only use the sword.”
Leticia nodded at Raul’s words as he stopped, turned and spoke.
In the center of the great hall, a circle of people formed around the two youths who drew their swords and stood face to face. At first, when they were in position, whispers could be heard from here and there, accompanied by somewhat suffocating breaths, but which gradually faded away and the surroundings became silent.
“Let’s go.”
Raul’s voice, which marked the beginning, echoed in the silence.
The next moment…
What the people saw was Raul, who attacked with a sword that had been cut from the middle of the blade, and Leticia, who had her sword blade around his neck.
An amazing resolution.
Not only those who had no knowledge of the martial arts, but also those in the position of general and high-ranking military officers who were here, could not even comprehend the movements, let alone the sword glimpses of the Brave and the Sword Saint.
Just a moment.
But it was true that this match was performed with an overwhelming degree of martial skill. A deep crack was piercing the ground where the two feet had stepped.
While silence reigned, the tip of Raul’s sword fell to the ground as it was cut and lifted into the air. At the same time that a sharp metallic sound resounded, a shudder of joy and emotion rushed down the backs of all those who witnessed the battle on the spot, and the high officials of the church, while saying a prayer of thanks to the Goddess, bent their knees and cried.
Leticia von Mavis.
In fact, being “the closest existence to God”, being the “Brave”, the hope of humanity was definitely there in front of them now. And at this moment, Leticia would receive a new title.
…Sword Princess.
This is the end of the meeting between Leticia Von Mavis and Raul Orto Lyon, which would be transmitted to future generations through the revolving poems and the many stories of the bards.