I Unleashed a Gossip Gallery in Another World - Chapter 44

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Unleashed a Gossip Gallery in Another World ◈

Chapter 44: The Oath

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“Master?”

After staring blankly at Ciel for quite some time, I finally spoke through a cold sweat.

“So, right now... to sum it up...”

My mind still was not working properly.

But I was gradually starting to grasp what repercussions this situation would have.

“You became my knight?”

“Yes.”

“Not the Emperor’s knight... my knight?”

After all, the Empire’s strongest knight had become mine overnight.

“That is correct, my liege.”

A knight’s oath was one of the few legal master-servant rituals formed by a covenant between two people.

The master’s mana was engraved upon the oath-taker’s soul, and proof of it was left on the sword used in the ritual.

That was why traces of my mana had been carved into the beloved sword Ciel always wore at her waist.

“Uh...”

“...”

“Isn’t this treason?”

The problem was that a knight who ought to belong to the Emperor had become the property of a mere count’s second son.

And not just any knight, but the commander of the Imperial Knights, known as the Empire’s Finest Sword.

“...It is.”

Yet Ciel remained calm despite having done such a thing.

“But... please do not worry.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing will change.”

With an utterly composed expression, Ciel concealed my mana engraved on her sword beneath her own Aura before finally rising to her feet.

“I am still the Emperor’s hound.”

“...”

“I will continue to wield my sword for things I do not want to do, and commit acts that go against chivalry.”

She slowly began walking toward me.

“Sometimes, I will stain my hands with dirty blood.”

She stopped directly before me, then raised the corner of her lips in a smile.

“But...”

“...”

“It does not matter anymore.”

Ciel looked happier than she ever had before.

“Because I have found something to protect.”

Unable to hold it in any longer, I finally asked her.

“Then why does it have to be me?”

Silence settled between Ciel and me.

“A knight is someone who serves one liege for their entire life.”

“...”

“But until now, I was only half a knight, unable to find a liege to serve.”

In the silence, Ciel’s expression suddenly became wistful.

“...Once, I had people to protect.”

One of her eyes clouded slightly, as though she were recalling a distant past.

“You see, there was once a girl in the back alleys who took up a sword to protect her friends.”

This was likely the first time she had ever told anyone about her past.

“That girl once held grand ideals.”

“...”

“She became absorbed in knight novels she had barely managed to find in the back alleys, and believed she too would become a knight of justice.”

Hesitation filled every word she spoke.

“But when the friends closest to me were blinded by a few gold coins and blinded one of my eyes...”

“...”

“...From that moment on, my sword lost its direction.”

She was an undefeated knight who had never allowed another person to strike her since becoming a knight.

No one had known why one of her eyes was blind.

“Elrod Durgel. You are my benefactor, who helped me regain that direction, and my one and only disciple.”

That was probably why I was the only one to hear this truth directly from her.

“You still look like you do not understand.”

“Haha...”

“I will tell you why I went this far.”

Even so, I was still confused, unable to understand why Ciel had sworn herself to me.

“It is because you showed a path forward to me, who had lost both an eye and my way.”

Ciel suddenly shifted her gaze to the bruised hand I had been hiding behind my back.

“The origin of my sword technique was... a shield to protect everyone.”

“...!”

“I had forgotten that until now. Naturally, my swordsmanship could not improve.”

She took my bruised hand as I stood there in shock, then gazed steadily at me.

“You saw all of it?”

“From beginning to end.”

“Ah...”

I had assumed she had already left after receiving the Emperor’s summons, so Ciel witnessing my duel with Penelope was an entirely unexpected variable.

“With the single thought of protecting you, I even tried to use a technique deemed forbidden.”

Then, the next moment.

Rumble...

A familiar energy began flowing from Ciel’s body.

“And thanks to you... I have finally learned how to use this technique properly.”

Right afterward, I flinched and doubted my eyes.

“...!”

What Ciel was displaying now was the forbidden technique she had intended to use against me as Gossip Gallery Eraser in the Gossip Gallery Duel.

But unlike then, its output was not unstable.

Life force as steady and pure as what I had used in my days as the Hero radiated from Ciel’s body.

“Lord Elrod...”

As I stared blankly at her, Ciel slid her sword into its scabbard and gave a faint smile.

“Do you not think the Unauthorized Gallery’s tier list will soon change?”

Of course it would.

That was no longer the warped suicide technique the knight commanders had passed down as they pleased. It was Ciel’s new sword technique, containing the essence of my Hero swordsmanship.

Having attained such a technique, Ciel could proudly join the ranks of the continent’s strongest.

And if my prediction was right, she might become the continent’s finest sword before long.

“You are... quite an enviable man.”

“...?”

“Are you not?”

As I quietly nodded at that thought, Ciel suddenly glanced at me and muttered.

“The strongest swordswoman on the entire continent belongs to you.”

It was then that I remembered an important fact I had temporarily forgotten.

“Why not give a light command, just once?”

“...”

“Whatever command it may be, your sword shall carry it out, Lord Elrod.”

Now, if I ordered her to die, she would have to die.

Legally and magically, Ciel’s human rights now belonged to me.

“Still... please refrain from overly mischievous commands.”

“...”

“Well, even if you do give one...”

As though she had read my thoughts, Ciel began murmuring in a low voice.

“I would be forced to comply through tears, all while reproaching my disciple for betraying her master and forsaking her forebears...”

After saying that, Ciel watched my reaction, then quietly looked away with a flushed face.

“...?”

The moment I stared at her and felt a strange sense of familiarity...

“Do not worry too much, Lord Elrod.”

Still avoiding my gaze, Ciel spoke softly again.

“Even the Emperor cannot treat me carelessly now.”

“...”

“I have that much power now.”

At first, it sounded as if she were reassuring me.

“Still... let us keep it secret for the time being.”

But the next moment, a chill ran down my spine.

“Because... would that not be more thrilling?”

Ciel met my eyes again, her expression now filled with a sense of forbidden pleasure.

“...My young liege.”

As I stared blankly at her, I unconsciously took a step back.

“Master...”

“...”

“This is just a relationship between a knight and her liege, right?”

Honestly, I was somewhat flustered, but if it truly was a wholesome relationship between a knight and her liege, I could somehow accept it.

It was a little dangerous, but I would have a reliable backer among the continent’s strongest in real life.

“The knight novels I read when I was young...”

However, it seemed Ciel had something slightly different in mind for our relationship.

“...Were romance novels.”

Having finished those words in a shrinking voice, Ciel lowered her head, her face bright red.

“I, I will only say this much...”

Then silence fell over the walking path.

“Th-then, I shall be going...”

In the silence, Ciel fidgeted as though she had confessed to someone she loved, watching my reaction before turning away before I could say anything.

“...Hm?”

Then Ciel suddenly stopped walking.

“...”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at the wooded artificial forest beside the path.

“There is a rat.”

“What?”

“Fortunately, it seems to have only just slipped in.”

After a moment, Ciel, still facing away from me, muttered meaningfully.

“There will be no risk of tonight’s conversation leaking out.”

“...?”

“By the way... um...”

Then Ciel suddenly turned her head, pointed behind me, and made a surprised expression.

“Ah, Lord Elrod!”

“...!?”

“L-look over there!”

At that, I reflexively turned around.

“What all of a sudden...”

But there was nothing on the path behind me. I turned back toward Ciel in confusion.

“Mm.”

That was when I felt a soft touch against my lips for the second time in this life.

“...”

And how much time had passed?

“...Mmh.”

Only after Ciel quietly stepped back did the sticky sensation that had pressed into my lips and wrapped around my tongue disappear.

“W-why?”

I staggered backward and asked, unable to hide my confusion.

“You are asking that now?”

But Ciel had already turned her back to me.

“Elrod Durgel.”

She glanced over her shoulder and said something I never could have imagined hearing from the righteous female knight infamous for being rigid and inflexible.

“You seduced me first, did you not?”

* * *

“...”

How much time had passed after that?

‘Fuck.’

Still covering my lips with one hand as I trudged toward the ducal estate, I clenched my teeth after seeing the posts Ciel was writing, presumably while returning to the Imperial Palace.

(Author: Knight Commander Ciel)

[Anonymous: Knight’s oaths <<< It is definitely impossible to dissolve one voluntarily, right?]

(Author: Knight Commander Ciel)

[Anonymous: What do you think about a woman dating a man ten years younger than her??????]

(Author: Knight Commander Ciel)

[Anonymous: If a woman whose lowborn status has been revoked gets married, there will not be any problems for her child, right? Urgent hehe]

‘You said you did not like me, you fucking bitch...’

The back of my head throbbed.

Where had things gone wrong?

Lady Yurian’s incident had been the same, but this time, I could not even begin to guess how to resolve it.

(Author: Knight Commander Ciel)

[Anonymous: Do younger men prefer being led by an experienced woman? Or a woman who does not know anything?]

ㄴAnonymous1: How much dating experience do you have, if I may ask?

ㄴ(Author): I have never even held a man’s hand...

ㄴAnonymous2: No matter what you do, if your virginity shows, it is better to quietly let the man lead you hehe

ㄴAnonymous3: No, no. It might be cuter to act experienced while your virginity is obvious lol

“Fuck, fuck, fuck...”

The posts Ciel was writing in the Noble Ladies Gossip Gallery were terrifying.

‘She probably got ridiculously strong after mastering Hero swordsmanship...’

What would happen to me if Ciel got serious?

Should I use the knight’s oath to stop her from approaching me?

But just as she served me, she would also gain the right to demand compensation from me, would she not?

“...”

After staring blankly for a moment, I closed the Gallery and seriously considered it.

‘Should I dogeza to Penelope even now?’

With that useless thought in mind, I slumped my shoulders and returned to the tea party.

“Ah, Lord Elrod.”

“Where have you been until now?”

“Come, please sit down.”

Perhaps everyone had been waiting for me, because several young ladies quickly made an empty seat.

“Lord Elrod, why is your hair such a mess?”

“My headache was bad, so I took out my hair tie...”

“Oh my, is that so?”

Lady Yurian was nowhere to be seen, but I had no time to consider why.

For now, I thought I should calm my body and mind with some sweet pastries.

“By the way, Lord Elrod... You have talent for swordsmanship too?”

“You are so cool... Hehe.”

“Lord Elrod... Could you spar with me as well?”

But as I reached for the snacks on the tea table, I heard some rather strange remarks around me.

“Pardon?”

My hand stopped halfway there as I looked around at everyone.

“Ah, it seems you still do not know.”

“Oh my, hehe...”

“Even being so oblivious is cute...”

Cold sweat poured down my face again as I hurriedly lowered my head and opened the Gallery.

‘No, right?’

Then I saw it.

(Author: Celia, Captain of the Shadow Unit)

[✪(Live Coverage) Elrod Durgel VS Penelope Tea Party Duel]

“...”

It was the worst development I could imagine.

(Author: Celia, Captain of the Shadow Unit)

[✪Elrod Durgel Tea Party Duel Results]

(Author: Celia, Captain of the Shadow Unit)

[✪Detailed Analysis of Elrod Durgel’s Swordsmanship Potential]

(Author: Celia, Captain of the Shadow Unit)

[✪Elrod Durgel Tea Party Duel Mad Movie Edit]

The incident at the twelfth Arena in the Noble Ladies Gossip Gallery.

That nightmare was repeating itself.

Anonymous1: How did you even film this??????

Anonymous2: The camera angle is pretty weird?????

Anonymous3: Did you film this while hanging from a tree?

Anonymous4: Fuck, Elrod has a stalker now too lol

Anonymous5: Did they just breach the ducal estate’s security?

ㄴAnonymous6: Dodging the ducal estate’s security and Ciel’s eyes just to act like Elrod’s obsessive fan lololololol

Then, the next moment.

“Elrod Durgel.”

A cold voice suddenly rang out before me.

“Today’s events...”

I blankly raised my head to find Lady Penelope standing before me with a cold expression.

“...I will remember them.”

Leaving those words behind, she immediately turned around, marched out of the tea party venue, and disappeared.

[✪(Breaking News) Penelope has fallen lololololol]

[✪Penelope <<< Did anyone see her face turn red the instant she turned around? lololololol]

[✪He seduced a ducal lady, the Saintess, the knight commander, and the eldest daughter of a swordsmanship house. Give it a rest lol]

[✪Elrod <<< Did he eat some kind of pheromone-pheromone fruit?]

[✪Upvote if you think he will seduce even the Goddess at this rate lol]

“...I need to use the restroom for a moment.”

After staring dead-eyed at the live posts filling the Gossip Gallery, I quietly rose from my seat.

“Take your time, Lord Elrod.”

“The night is still young. Hehe.”

“I will be waiting...”

The young ladies’ sweet voices followed behind me as I staggered away.

‘...Should I flee overseas?’

* * *

How much time passed after that?

(Author: Celia, Captain of the Shadow Unit)

[✪This concludes today’s Elrod coverage.]

“Haah...”

Only after it was time for most of the guests to return to their rooms did I secretly slip out of the restroom, still blankly browsing the Gossip Gallery.

(Count’s Family Maid Dorothy): Why are you suddenly stopping? Are you crazy?

ㄴ(Author): The Imperial Knights have deployed.

ㄴ(Author): I am also extremely heartbroken.

ㄴ(Author): I will do my best to return promptly and resume coverage.

The tea party topic in the Gossip Gallery was gradually cooling down as the people posting live coverage began disappearing.

(Count’s Family Maid Dorothy): Have you ever considered becoming a servant for the Durgel count family? I can make one opening for you hehe

ㄴ(Author): I left a private message in your Gallery Log.

‘There is more than one crazy bitch here...’

Of course, the aftermath would remain, so I could not relax at all.

‘Still, that is fortunate.’

Even so, one fortunate thing was that Ciel and my oath had not been broadcast through the Gossip Gallery.

‘If that had been discovered too, I really would have had to run away.’

Ciel was a Swordmaster. She had only done it after confirming that no one was nearby.

So that secret would not leak.

For someone cornered from every direction, that was at least one small comfort.

Tap tap tap...

Around then, I suddenly sensed someone behind me.

Whoosh!

Before I could react, someone grabbed me in a tight hug from behind.

“Elrod!”

For a moment, I thought Big Sister Elosia had appeared.

“What are you doing here?”

“...Lady Yurian?”

“Call me Yurian, Elrod.”

But the person playing that terrifying childhood prank on me was not my sister, but Lady Yurian.

“Judging by your reaction, the rumor was true after all.”

As I stood there dumbfounded, Lady Yurian suddenly began murmuring in a low voice.

“I heard that if someone holds their breath, then hugs you from behind... you absolutely love it...”

Only then did I understand why Lady Yurian was doing this.

‘Fuck, Big Sister.’

What the hell had Big Sister Elosia been saying in the Gossip Gallery?

‘It is hard to gossip about my sister while using my master administrator username. This is driving me insane...’

I had never shown anyone except her such a pathetic side of myself, so I could not even block her under the rules of anonymity. It was so frustrating.

“Besides... hehe.”

“...”

“I also heard it is true that even when you squirm and try to resist, you are too weak to shake them off...”

As I thought that, I felt Lady Yurian, pressed against my back, rubbing herself against me. I narrowed my eyes and spoke.

“There are... a lot of people watching.”

“...That is the point.”

“Yurian, please...”

But Lady Yurian ignored me, wrapped around me completely, slipped her hands inside my cloak, and tickled me all over.

“By the way, Elrod, there is something I am curious about.”

“What is it...”

“It is nothing much...”

Because of that, I did not notice that her tone had suddenly changed.