WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Sword Master of the Fallen Kingdom

Chapter 44

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The Weight of Honor (1)

After leaving the library with Lena, Kyle went straight back to his room.

It was still dawn. He changed quickly, lay back down on the bed, untied the sword at his waist, and set it by his pillow. The moment he closed his eyes, sleep crept in.

Kyle did not resist it. He slowly let go of consciousness. Maybe it was the fresh air, or maybe he had finally untangled the thoughts that had been weighing on him for so long, but he did not dream of the past this time. When he opened his eyes, bright sunlight was pouring through the window. His mind felt clearer than ever.

So it's already morning.

Kyle checked the pocket watch on the bedside table. Nine in the morning. He had fallen asleep around four at dawn, which meant he had gotten over thirteen hours of uninterrupted sleep. On top of that, he had spent the past week resting in his room and reading, so he had no lingering fatigue. His body felt light. He could hardly remember the last time he had felt this good.

He dressed at an easy pace. His freshly washed clothes and cloak carried a warm, clean scent. He fastened his sword at his waist as always and tucked the Inventory Pouch holding all his belongings inside his coat.

Knock, knock.

That was when he heard it.

"Kyle-ssi. Are you still asleep by any chance?"

Lena's voice, now familiar. Kyle, already prepared to leave at any moment, opened the door. As usual, she was wearing a blue robe and holding a tray piled with breakfast.

"I thought we could eat together. You promised yesterday."

"..."

"Um... Kyle-ssi?"

"Ah, sorry. Come in."

Kyle stared at the tray for a moment, then stepped aside. Lena entered, looked around the room, and widened her eyes when she saw last night's dinner still on the table in the corner.

"Is that... yesterday's dinner?"

"Yeah."

"You didn't eat it?"

"I ate some and left some. It's fine. We can eat both."

Kyle pulled out a chair and sat at the table. Lena walked over hesitantly and sat across from him.

"Quite a spread."

"Right? I picked everything carefully."

The tray Lena brought had even more food than last night's meal. It felt less like a simple breakfast and more like a final feast before heading into battle.

"But can you really eat all of yesterday's leftovers too? It's already cold and probably doesn't taste good, so maybe just eat what I brought..."

"It's fine. Let's eat."

Kyle picked up his utensils and started. Lena began a beat later.

Clinking dishes. The sound of chewing. Breakfast went on in silence. Normally Lena would have chattered about her day and bits of gossip, but today she seemed drained, like she was coming down with a cold.

"Speaking of which, your grandfather?"

The silence broke when Kyle had eaten about half his food.

"Huh?"

"Is he very busy today?"

"Ah, yes. He's probably in the Tower Master's office right now."

"Because of what happened with Elder Marsen?"

"That too, and Grandfather is usually busy anyway. He said he has a mountain of work piled up because he couldn't do his duties properly while he had Magicite Syndrome."

"I see."

An elder of the Lenore Magic Tower would naturally be busy, both politically and in his official work. He had been half dead and only survived because Kyle treated him, so he was probably making appearances everywhere now, with little room to breathe.

"You returned the pass?"

Kyle asked again. Yesterday, before they split up for their rooms on the first floor, Kyle had handed Lena Gerard's pass, the water droplet necklace, and asked her to return it with a request to settle the relics as soon as possible.

"Yes. He said it was a shame, and that you could have looked around slowly without rushing."

"I already got everything I needed. Staying longer would just be a burden."

"You're not a burden at all... Ah, and this. Grandfather told me to give this to you."

Kyle was drinking the rest of his milk after finishing the meal when Lena took out a leather pouch he had never seen before, not the Inventory Pouch she usually carried.

"This is?"

"A new Inventory Pouch. Grandfather made it himself for you a few days ago. Please check it."

Kyle opened the pouch Lena handed over. It was packed with Gold coins worth several thousand Gold at least.

Not just Gold, there were also close to a hundred Top-grade Magicite. Even by a rough estimate, it was over fifteen thousand Gold in total. About the same as what he and Lena had received when they settled the haul from the ruins before arriving at the tower.

"Half of it is Magicite, on purpose?"

"Yes. He thought that would be easier for you to carry."

Kyle had the ring now, so he no longer needed Top-grade Magicite for mana use. Money was different. Magicite had countless uses. Even the Magic Stone Lamps lining the streets of Magic Tower City Kabiles were Magic Tools powered by Magicite. It was almost as liquid as gold, so he could always sell it quickly whenever needed.

"Tell him thank you."

Kyle finished eating, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood. He tucked the new pouch into his coat beside the old one.

Lena, who had also nearly finished her food, looked up at him with trembling eyes.

"Are you leaving right away?"

"But at least lunch... no, at least a final goodbye with Grandfather..."

Kyle shook his head. Just like with Veil and Katrin, when he could leave, leaving at once was best. The longer he stayed, the longer regret clung to him. If regret lingered, his feet grew heavy. Kyle had to guard against that, especially as someone who lived with death beside him.

"Leaving now is the right call."

"..."

"Thanks for everything. It was short, but it wasn't a bad journey."

"I, I'll at least walk you to the main gate!"

Lena sprang up. Kyle looked mildly surprised, then nodded.

"Sure. If that's what you want..."

Kyle and Lena returned the empty dishes to the dining hall. They went down to the first floor and exchanged short farewells with the mages he had gotten familiar with. Outside, the sky was clear without a single cloud. Sunlight and wind swept pleasantly over Kyle's whole body.

"Nice weather."

"It is..."

Kyle started walking slowly. His destination was the Magic Tower's main gate. Lena followed half a step behind.

"What are your plans after this?"

"Huh?"

"Your grandfather's treatment is done, and you've returned to the Magic Tower. Are you starting your research again?"

He spoke while taking in the scenery inside the tower grounds. Usually, a Magic Tower mage's rank was determined by research results and magical attainment.

"I probably will. I have a lot of delayed research and piled-up papers."

"That sounds rough."

Lena gave a bitter smile at Kyle's blunt comment.

"What about you, Kyle-ssi? Do you have a destination in mind?"

"A destination..."

Kyle trailed off. Lena glanced at him as they walked side by side.

"I'll find one."

"Find what?"

"A reason to live."

"..."

"And... a place to die."

"You're joking, right? A place to die, what..."

No answer came back. Lena stared at his profile for a moment, then lowered her eyes. She had so much she wanted to say, but now that goodbye was close, every word seemed to jam in her throat.

I wish he wouldn't go.

In nearly a month with Kyle, Lena had learned many things. To her, he was strong, dignified, and learned. Though he looked cold on the outside, he was kind underneath.

She had lost her parents early and spent her childhood with only her grandfather. To her, it had almost felt like gaining a dependable older brother.

Should I ask him again?

Yesterday he had clearly said he had no fixed plan or destination. If he wanted to settle somewhere in the south, there was hardly a better place than the Lenore Magic Tower. If she asked politely once more, maybe he would change his mind. Just as Lena lifted her head.

"Kyle-ssi?"

Kyle stopped walking without warning. Lena followed his gaze.

"I thought it was oddly quiet..."

Kyle's low voice drifted out. Lena looked around with shaking eyes. Unlike usual, there was a huge crowd nearby.

Not far away, a group stood as if blocking the main gate.

"Isn't that Elder Marsen and Veronica?"

"What's going on this early?"

"Looks like they're waiting for someone."

"A knight from House Krabel? Why is a knight at the Lenore Magic Tower..."

Murmurs rose from all sides. Veronica, who had been staring lazily into the air, saw Kyle and Lena and smiled. She strode toward them. A beat later, Elder Marsen and an unfamiliar knight followed.

"...Veronica."

"It's been a while, Lena. Have you been well?"

Lena muttered through clenched teeth. Veronica wore a deep smile.

"What are you doing here this early?"

"What do you think?"

Veronica sneered. Lena answered in a voice gone cold.

"I don't really care to know."

"..."

"Move if you're done. Stop blocking the way."

"What if I'm not done?"

"What?"

"Do you remember what you said to me last time? Not you, that mercenary you hired."

The eyes behind Veronica's smiling face held naked contempt. Her gaze landed on Kyle, dressed the same as before.

"That lowborn mercenary from common stock put a sword to my neck. What did he say then? That once you're outside the Magic Tower, Kingdom law applies more than Magic Tower Law, right?"

"You...!"

"Ah, don't misunderstand."

Veronica raised both hands in an exaggerated gesture.

"I won't fight like a coward using my rank inside the tower. I won't use regulations either. I won't pull dirty tricks behind the scenes. That's too barbaric, isn't it? Like that mercenary. So crude."

She mocked him. The others were not much different.

Snickering sounded from all around, not even hidden. Kyle looked past Veronica. Behind Marsen and Veronica, mages who looked like their followers were covering their mouths as they stared at Kyle and Lena.

They were the same mages who had barged into Gerard's room with those two before. There also seemed to be additional faces now.

And the knight.

Kyle's eyes met the knight in the finely forged breastplate.

They did not exchange a single word, but Kyle learned plenty in that short moment.

The quality of the gear on his body. The way he had walked a moment ago. The way he stood now. He was a highly skilled knight. He gave off the same air as an elite knight from a major noble house. He probably was one. They must have handpicked one of their best from the family. They came here fully expecting not to lose.

Only then did Kyle understand.

The reason they had stayed quiet for the past week was to bring in a family knight. This way they could stir trouble without touching him directly. Politically too. A duel was a noble's legitimate right. He had expected this, but not that they would follow the plan this closely.

This worked better for him.

"...What do you want to say?"

Lena seemed to have grasped the situation by now, because her voice came out smaller than before.

"What do I want to say?"

As if she had been waiting for those words, Veronica slipped a hand inside her robe. Almost at the same moment she pulled it out, something flew at Lena. A purple handkerchief, the same color as Veronica's hair, struck Lena's chest and dropped to the ground.

"Lena Hartion."

Right after the handkerchief settled on the floor, Veronica spoke in a low voice.

"I, Veronica Krabel, eldest daughter of House Krabel, challenge you to a duel here and now. Just like your hired mercenary said, this is a family-to-family honor duel with no relation to the Magic Tower."

"..."

"Under Kingdom law, every noble has the right to demand a duel over an insult. Separate from Magic Tower Law. Your side said that then, remember? You didn't forget, did you?"

Veronica sneered at Kyle. The knight beside her stepped forward.

"You can refuse here if you want. You'll handle the consequences yourself."

Lena ground her teeth. Everyone was watching. Even when she tried to speak, her lips would not part.

It's a trap.

This was not a simple duel. It was a duel between houses. And behind it stood Elder Marsen, the face of the radical faction. It was basically a proxy war between moderates and radicals.

Just from Elder Marsen standing behind Veronica, it was obvious the houses had already spoken. In noble society, where reputation was everything, refusing a duel requested over insult was usually difficult. It branded you a fugitive. Driving out the only granddaughter of Gerard, the leader of the moderate faction, from the Magic Tower would be enough for them. Even securing grounds to do so would be enough. Gerard cherished Lena, his only family.

I have to refuse no matter what.

Even to Lena, who knew little about this, the knight standing before Veronica looked extremely strong. If she accepted and lost, she would hand them the excuse they wanted. In a family-to-family duel under Kingdom law, even the Magic Tower side could hardly intervene. Better to be pointed at as a coward, even if the fugitive label followed her for life.

I can't accept.

If it were only herself, maybe. But she could not stain the name of Hartion.

She did not want to burden her grandfather.

So she had to refuse...

"Lena."

"Kyle-ssi...?"

Lena looked up at the calm voice. Kyle stood there as always, his expression composed.

"One last additional request."

Kyle slowly turned and met Lena's eyes. His pitch-black eyes beneath black hair shone with the same cool light as when they first met.

"Will you do it?"

He added nothing else. He only looked straight at her.

In that instant, Lena could feel all the unspoken words that had passed between them. They had spent a dense week together in the ruins, enough to understand each other with only a glance. That was exactly why she could not say it out loud. The burden was too heavy to throw onto someone already about to leave.

"I..."

Her gaze shook as she looked down at the floor. Her throat tightened, and the words would not come.

"So..."

"That's enough."

Kyle did not wait for the rest. He lightly patted Lena's shoulder once, then again, and picked up the purple handkerchief from the ground.

"I accept the duel."

Murmurs spread again like wildfire. Kyle walked forward without caring. He ignored all the eyes fixed on him.

He was the one who had given them an opening first. Even if it had been to treat Gerard, that did not change it. More than anything, Kyle was not soft enough to carry grudges behind him. Among nobles, feuds often lasted until death, so ending this here was the right choice.

For his own sake. Just like with Marquis Filein.

"You..."

Before anyone noticed, Kyle was standing in front of Veronica. Ecstatic delight curled at her lips. The knight beside her reflexively put a hand on his sword hilt. Kyle burned the handkerchief in his hand to nothing with pure white flame.

"I'll let you choose the place."

Veronica's eyes widened as her handkerchief turned to ash without leaving even a speck. Kyle gestured behind him with his chin and said evenly.

"I am Lena Hartion's representative. Put forward your champion, Veronica Krabel."

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