The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– The Mercenary Nation of Vladik

“…That blasted fellow.”

Redneal, the dwarven blacksmith with the red beard.

He was currently climbing a mountain, carrying a sword wrapped in cloth.

“He vanishes without a trace, and then he saddles me with this errand?”

To task him with such a trivial matter.

Redneal grumbled, yet diligently scaled the mountain with his short legs.

All because of a favor Arthas had requested.

“Ugh, this is rough…. I knew it was suspicious when he suddenly contacted me. How difficult do you think it is for these legs to climb a mountain?”

Dwarves had legs that were half the length of those of a normal human.

Therefore, they had to move twice as far to cover the same distance.

For a dwarf, climbing a mountain was akin to torture.

“But still, why would he ask *me* to do this?”

Arthas’s request.

It was to deliver the sword wrapped in cloth, the White Blossom Sword, to Hans Messiah.

“Come to think of it, this sword… it’s a masterpiece.”

He hadn’t unwrapped the cloth.

But Redneal could tell just from the weight and shape.

That this sword was a masterpiece.

Most likely, it had been crafted by a dwarf, like himself.

Redneal’s curiosity was piqued, but he had no intention of peeking at an item he was entrusted with.

So, he hurried his climb up the mountain.

“Phew, he lives in an awfully high place.”

The sword Arthas had requested was indeed the White Blossom Sword.

However-.

Arthas thought.

‘If I simply send the White Blossom Sword via Redneal, I’m sure to be exposed.’

The Sword Saint had instructed him not to reveal his location.

Therefore, Arthas’s method was theft.

Stealthily steal the White Blossom Sword.

And prepare dozens of other swords.

Scatter those swords indiscriminately throughout the eastern region.

To avoid any possible pursuit.

Thanks to that.

‘…You stole the White Blossom Sword? Do you know what a fuss that caused? I was so worried, thinking I’d lost it….’

‘Forgive me. This is all for the sake of the Sword Saint….’

And so, Arthas’s plan concluded successfully.

It was delivered safely to Rednil.

From the start, Count Messiah hadn’t shown much curiosity regarding the Sword Saint’s whereabouts, which also helped.

“Grandpa, the package Arthas sent has arrived.”

“Package…? Ah, the sword you mean.”

Hans Messiah’s gaze settled on the White Blossom Sword that Rednil carried.

“I’ll have you tell Arthas I won’t be doing errands like this again.”

“I have no way to contact that fiend. Well, perhaps this is the last time, so no need to worry, I reckon.”

“That’s a relief then… but, wouldn’t you mind unwrapping the cloth soon?”

Rednil longed to see it.

The sword he’d brought.

The dwarf’s instincts were clamoring.

To behold the masterpiece with his own eyes.

“The cloth? Well, I suppose it can’t hurt.”

As Hans Messiah unwrapped the cloth, the White Blossom Sword’s snow-white blade was revealed.

Rednil admired it, but a puzzled expression also crossed his face.

“Hmm? It seems familiar… Ah!”

“You recognize this sword…?”

“Th-that sword is!”

Rednil seemed to have realized something.

Hans Messiah’s expression hardened at the sight.

“It’s not the White Blossom Sword…?”

“…How do you know that?”

“That… the White Blossom Sword was forged by my grandfather. In that case, Grandpa, you must be…”

Rednil realized that Hans Messiah was the Sword Saint.

Hans Messiah, in turn, understood this fact and seemed slightly flustered.

But-.

‘That lad’s grandfather forged the White Blossom Sword, eh….’

The swordsmith who crafted the White Blossom Sword.

The Sword Saint remembered him.

And so, another question arose.

“Why are *you* here?”

If Rednil’s words were true, Rednil shouldn’t be in this place.

“Well… it’s something of a trial, I suppose.”

“A trial, you say… Come to think of it, yes.”

The dwarves of the Hoorn Kingdom.

They did not spend their entire lives within the Hoorn Kingdom.

Upon reaching a certain age, they embarked on a journey of craftsmanship.

To hone their skills.

Knowing why, Hans Messiah broached an important matter.

“Ahem, I hadn’t expected my identity to be revealed in this manner. To think someone here would recognize the Hundred Blossom Sword, of all things.”

“I, too, never dreamed the Sword Saint would be in a place like this.”

“Still, to discern me through the Hundred Blossom Sword at a single glance… come to think of it… haven’t we crossed paths a few times?”

“Even for a master craftsman, recognizing a sword solely from its scabbard is impossible.”

Hans Messiah had never once drawn his sword before Rednil.

Without directly touching or seeing the blade, the ability to identify it was beyond even Rednil’s capabilities.

Regardless, Hans Messiah spoke to him with a serious expression.

A faint killing intent laced his words.

“This matter…”

Rednil was quick-witted.

Before Hans Messiah could even finish his sentence, Rednil replied.

“The reason for the Sword Saint’s presence here will remain a secret. Surely you have your reasons for being in a place like this.”

“You’re perceptive.”

“Then, I shall take my leave now.”

“Yes, thank you for the trouble of bringing the sword.”

Rednil descended the mountain, his mind occupied by a single thought.

‘It’s been a while… perhaps I should visit my hometown.’

The Hundred Blossom Sword, crafted by his grandfather.

Seeing it, Rednil felt a sudden longing for his home.

*

Arthur was traversing the northern region of the Detiosk Kingdom.

A carriage approached from the opposite direction.

Emblazoned upon it was a strangely familiar insignia, and surrounding the carriage were holy knights as escorts.

Arthur immediately recognized the carriage’s owner.

‘Why is the Holy Maiden, who supposedly departed on a pilgrimage, in a place like this?’

Could she have already concluded her pilgrimage?

Surely, the Holy Maiden must be inside that carriage.

As Arthur suspected, the Holy Maiden was indeed inside the carriage.

From within, she gazed endlessly out the window.

“Ah… when will I be able to meet the Hero-nim?”

The Holy Maiden felt the carriage slowing down.

She questioned the coachman about the reason for the deceleration.

“Why have you suddenly reduced our speed?”

“Well, there’s another carriage up ahead, milady.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Holy Maiden quietly accepted the explanation.

She returned her gaze to the window.

And watched as the other carriage passed by.

One of the figures escorting the carriage.

A handsome young man with black hair and black eyes came into the Saintess’s view.

‘I wish the Hero was someone like him…’

The same hair and eye color as the first Hero.

Perhaps it was due to his handsome features.

He was a man who somehow radiated a special aura.

‘Could it be that he’s actually the Hero?’

But then the Saintess shook her head.

This was merely a dream she harbored.

Not every Hero necessarily had black hair.

Though it was a rare color, many possessed black hair.

In the first place, the Hero wasn’t chosen based on hair color.

‘Ah… I so want to meet the Hero soon.’

And so, Saintess Letty once again passed by the hero Arthas.

*

It was the border of the Detiosque Kingdom.

Just beyond this border lay the Vladic Mercenary Nation.

“Um… excuse me for a moment.”

Asia’s voice drifted from inside the carriage.

Retide, the squad leader sitting in the driver’s seat, responded.

“What is it?”

“Are you planning to simply pass through the Vladic Mercenary Nation?”

“Yes, that is the plan.”

Our business was in the Ho-orn Kingdom, so it was a given.

Our schedule was to pass through the Vladic Mercenary Nation and cross over to the Ho-orn Kingdom, bypassing the Pole Empire altogether.

Therefore, it was only natural to pass through the Vladic Mercenary Nation, as we had no business there.

However, it seemed Asia did have something to attend to there.

“Could we stay in the Vladic Mercenary Nation for a little while?”

Retide, the squad leader, retorted to Asia.

“Huh? Why there all of a sudden…?”

“Well…”

Asia hesitated, but made her opinion clear.

The reason she wanted to stop by the Vladic Mercenary Nation.

It was a competitive spirit, an admiration.

All thanks to her grandfather, the Sword Saint.

Because of an episode in which the Sword Saint went to the Vladic Mercenary Nation and requested a duel.

“Right now, I’ve hit a wall. I want to reach the advanced level as soon as possible.”

The advanced level…

I nodded, understanding Asia’s feelings.

‘For breaking through a wall, there’s nothing quite as good as sparring with an equal.’

I too, am a Prosecutor.

I could understand Asia’s desire to grow stronger.

And the Retide Commander was also one who studied the blade.

So, it seemed he understood Asia’s feelings as well.

“Understood. It’s not a particularly difficult or urgent matter, so I suppose it’s alright.”

He granted permission without much hesitation.

“However, finding you a sparring partner might be difficult.”

“Of course! I should find my own sparring partner. Grandfather always did. Besides, it’s not *that* hard, is it?”

Asia declared with confidence.

That look gave me pause, a possibility surfacing.

‘Could it be… she can’t get a sparring partner?’

Mercenaries were mostly rough men.

Would such rough men really…

Welcome a duel with a noblewoman, so obviously one at that, like Asia?

I had a bad feeling this would take a while.

And, beside me…

“Let’s make sure we shine this time.”

For some reason, Teddy was also burning with competitive spirit.

He spoke while gently stroking his beloved sword.