The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– The Examination’s Result

Time marched on swiftly, and the day of the exam arrived.

Count Messiah greeted me with a smug air.

He seemed quite convinced I was destined to fail.

“I trust you won’t claim a lack of time now, will you?”

“Of course not.”

I studied diligently.

Though it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.

Even the foundational studies weren’t uniformly simple.

Arithmetic, history, and languages were surprisingly straightforward.

They merely required rote memorization.

However—

‘Politics and the Art of Kingship were a bit tricky.’

Perhaps it was due to being nobility, despite his youth?

Politics and the Art of Kingship were indeed included in the foundational curriculum.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too difficult, but still.

“Now, let us commence the examination without delay. I shall be the proctor.”

Count Messiah himself volunteering as the proctor?

Frankly, it caught me off guard.

Did the Count hold some kind of title with little actual work?

Just as the examination was about to begin,

Asia’s eyes met mine.

‘Just show them what you’ve worked for.’

Asia mouthed her words of encouragement to me.

Hearing those words, I recalled all the efforts Asia had made.

Coming to see me in the dead of night, so Count Messiah wouldn’t find out.

Sometimes even dozing off while overseeing my studies.

Asia’s efforts were many.

Therefore, I absolutely couldn’t afford to fail this exam.

For I am a black-haired being who understands gratitude.

With that, Asia left the room, leaving just Count Messiah and myself.

Alone in that situation, the examination commenced.

*

The Kingdom of Trinia, situated in the heart of the continent.

The Kingdom of Trinia possessed two prominent characteristics.

Elves, and the World Tree.

The kingdom founded by the elves, who guarded the World Tree situated in the heart of the continent, was none other than the Kingdom of Trinia.

Into such a Kingdom of Trinia, a group arrived.

This was an uncommon happening.

For the Kingdom of Trinia was known to shun outsiders.

Eltania, an elder of the elves.

Seemingly young, yet an elf well over five hundred years.

And she spoke to the visitors of the Kingdom of Trinia:

“It has been some time.”

“Apologies for the sudden visit.”

The visitor apologized to Eltania.

Her identity was that of a Saintess.

“I have come here due to a pilgrimage.”

“Hmm… I see.”

The reason the Kingdom of Trinia, so averse to outsiders, had accepted the Saintess?

It was simple.

Connections.

Eltania had once adventured with the previous Saintess, more than two hundred years prior.

More precisely, two hundred years ago, there was an invasion of the Demon King.

Eltania had been a member of the party to defeat the Demon King.

Therefore, a connection naturally continued with Leti, the current Saintess.

“By the way, what manner of person is this Hero?”

Though they shunned outsiders, they were not ignorant of information.

Eltania was aware of the news that a Hero had been found.

Therefore, she questioned the Saintess about the Hero.

However—

“Truthfully, we still haven’t found them.”

“What…?”

Eltania wore a bewildered expression.

They hadn’t found the Hero?

But her expression soon calmed.

“I see. So that is why you are suddenly on this pilgrimage.”

Eltania nodded, as if understanding.

The Saintess cautiously inquired.

“Perhaps… could you lend me some aid?”

Eltania immediately understood what the Saintess was asking her to help with.

“You speak of finding the Hero?”

“Yes….”

“Heh…”

Eltania suddenly laughed.

To which the Saintess questioned,

“Why do you laugh so suddenly?”

“Forgive me. It’s just… the old days have been on my mind.”

“The old days?”

“Yes. I suddenly remembered the previous Holy Woman.”

A longing, a warmth, touched Eltania’s eyes as she recalled the prior Holy Woman.

“You’re asking for help finding the Hero…”

“Yes!”

“If it’s that, you needn’t worry, you won’t need my help.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

Eltania began to tell a tale from long ago.

A tale the Holy Woman found difficult to believe.

Eltania’s story went thus:

The prior Holy Woman.

She, too, had been unable to locate the Hero until a year before the Demon King’s invasion.

Holy Woman Leti could scarcely believe these words.

“Is that truly the case?”

“Why would I lie? Ah—indeed, this should be kept a secret…”

Eltania shared a secret with Leti.

The previous Holy Woman had consistently received revelations from Leia.

Revelations meant to guide her in finding the Hero.

However, these revelations were so vague that the prior Holy Woman often badmouthed Leia, whom she served.

“Haha, that Holy Woman was quite amusing, you know. Badmouthing her daily, getting scolded with divine punishments. It was like a little comedy routine!”

“…S-such a thing occurred? But how does that relate to not needing to worry?”

“Relate? They are very much connected. It seems that’s how fate works.”

Eltania continued, her expression serious.

“The prior Hero was a mercenary. A strong individual. Strong enough that he didn’t need separate training…”

“A mercenary… I’ve heard of it myself. That the prior Hero was a mercenary.”

“He wasn’t weak enough to require training as a Hero. That’s likely why it took so long to find him. Why the revelations were so vague.”

Eltania muttered, ‘Leia must have known this, too.’

“Does that mean the Hero of this era is also strong, and that’s why the revelations are vague?”

“Perhaps? Though I cannot say for certain.”

“…That would be problematic.”

The Holy Woman’s expression darkened.

A strong Hero who required no training was, in fact, a benefit to the Holy Woman.

However-.

“You know this already. I must meet the Hero as quickly as possible.”

Regardless, the Holy Woman wished to meet the Hero as soon as she could.

There was a reason for that.

Eltania’s expression, too, grew somewhat somber.

“Ah… that’s right.”

And then, as if to comfort the Holy Woman, Eltania spoke.

“Even if that’s what you say, we might still meet by some twist of fate. Isn’t that how destiny usually works?”

“I can only hope that’s the case…”

As the Saintess was about to rise from her seat,

another revelation from Rhea descended upon her.

And the Saintess’s expression crumpled at the news.

Rhea’s message was brief.

Its meaning, however, was potent.

“W-we’ve already passed the Hero by…!!!”

The Saintess’s outburst bordered on frantic.

Eltania simply offered a gentle smile.

“Haha, Rhea remains as vibrant as ever, I see.”

*

Count Messiah was presently in a state of consternation.

“Is that truly the case?”

“Yes.”

Lord Modern, a baron by title and a scholar by trade, had overseen the grading.

He relayed Arthas’s test results to Count Messiah.

Full marks.

He had achieved perfect scores in every subject.

Count Messiah simply could not believe it.

“There must be some…misgrading. Forgive me.”

Lord Modern possessed a personality bordering on obsessive.

He would never tolerate such an oversight.

Recalling this fact, Count Messiah offered a swift apology.

“Lord Modern… is it truly possible to achieve perfect scores so easily in fundamental academics?”

“Well, it is possible.”

The baron’s words brought a measure of relief to the Count.

*That’s right. It wasn’t that the boy was exceptional.*

For some reason, the notion of the boy succeeding had been irksome.

Count Messiah himself couldn’t quite pinpoint the reason why.

The reason Count Messiah felt displeased with Arthas’s examination results.

Was because a promising fiancé candidate meant that one day the engagement would be official.

The fear of losing his daughter to an outsider.

That was why Count Messiah’s instincts had reacted negatively.

However, Lord Modern’s following words soured Count Messiah’s mood once more.

“It is easy, for scholars such as myself.”

Scholars such as himself.

That implied that it was difficult for those who were *not* scholars.

“…Why is that?”

“Well, while the difficulty itself is low, achieving a perfect score is, fundamentally, difficult. It’s basic knowledge after all. Most do not remember such details.”

“Is that so…”

So the betrothed candidate is clever too.

That was information worthy of rejoicing.

But why, then?

Count Messiah analyzed the reason his mood had soured.

It wasn’t long before he understood.

‘Is it… fear?’

Count Messiah recalled the relationship between Arthur and Asia.

A betrothal candidate.

With a high likelihood of becoming betrothed someday.

Indeed, if Asia gave her assent, a ceremony could be held immediately.

‘Asia, in matrimony…’

Count Messiah pictured Arthur and Asia married.

He started, startled.

Because, without realizing it, he’d thought it wouldn’t be so bad.

Count Messiah frantically shook his head.

‘I’ve lost my mind.’

To even entertain the notion that he might be alright with giving away his precious daughter.

His beloved daughter, to such a…

‘If it weren’t a political marriage, if Asia had brought the man herself…’

He might have given his consent outright.

Or… perhaps he wouldn’t have.

‘I don’t even understand my own heart…’

A heart without direction.

He’s a capable fellow, but I don’t want to give her away.

Even if Asia agrees, something feels wrong.

His head swirling with confusion, Count Messiah abandoned trying to sort it out.

“Erm, Count…?”

He jumped at the sound of someone calling him, Count Messiah jolting back from his reverie.

Mortified that he’d displayed such a spectacle, he cleared his throat to smooth things over.

“Ahem! Baron Modern, much obliged.”

“Yes? Yes, well then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Indeed, I’ll remember this favor.”

Thus, Baron Modern departed, leaving Count Messiah alone in his study.

He cleared his head and began preparing for the next examination.

But first…

“Is anyone there?”

He summoned Charles, the butler, who was waiting outside the study.

“You called?”

“Bring Asia to my study, would you.”

A month’s passage.

Count Messiah desired to know if Asia’s heart had shifted in that time.