*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
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ENJOY~ PYUUN~
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Sword Master Garrand (2)
Garrand Arden, the Sword Master, is a character whose appearance in the original story was limited, almost akin to an extra.
Among the strongest characters excluding the antagonists, he is one of the top three.
The righteous Danann, Erin Danua. The witch of space, Josephine Clara. And the Sword Master, Garrand Arden.
Josephine consistently aids the player from the middle to the final stages of the story. Without her support, it would be nearly impossible to clear the late-game battles, making her help essential.
Erin Danua is the strongest character after Tates Valtazar, on par with Ohad Bres without using the power of the sun. Her influence on the main story is significant, and especially for players following the spearman’s path, she is a crucial NPC.
Most importantly, Erin’s sacrifice is the decisive reason why the player can survive Tates Valtazar in the story.
Compared to these two, Garrand Arden’s position is somewhat ambiguous.
He is the strongest of his era, second only to Tates Valtazar in terms of strength. He is the setting sun, and yet no one strong enough to replace him has appeared.
Until the player’s arrival triggers a generational shift, his appearances are sparse. However—
“I greet the Sword Master.”
“It’s been a while, boy.”
I encountered this old man a few times in the previous timeline. Each time, I recall being scolded by him.
“You’re wasting your talent. Such a shame, such a shame.”
That was, in its way, a high evaluation. Strangely… everyone seems to overestimate me.
“Thanks to you, I got to enjoy a good view of the clouds.”
“Ahem…!”
It was when I went to the Sky Island to obtain Clau Solas. I remember the Sword Master holding back the giants while I defeated the Sword Ghost and repelled Dun Skai.
And I cut down the tree that connected to the Sky Island.
“How did you come down?”
“Since I was up there, I took in the scenery for a bit, then used them to step down.”
“…Used what?”
“The giants. I knocked them down and used them as steps to come down.”
“…”
Is that even possible?
“That’s… quite a remarkable feat. But what brings you here?”
“Do you plan to end this with just that?”
“Is there something you want?”
I decided to play dumb. I didn’t do anything. I don’t know anything.
“Well… it’s nothing much. Just pick one of my granddaughters and marry her. If you both agree, you can take both.”
“G-Grandpa?!”
This old man told me to take Lunia before, and now this?
“W-Why are you saying such things, Grandpa?!”
Alicia, flustered, patted the Sword Master’s back while Hua Ran furrowed her brows.
“Hehe. Lunia said she’s fine with it.”
“M-My sister said that? That’s impossible…!”
“I’ve been told I’m a senile old man who should stay out of it.”
The Sword Master chuckled, then heartily patted my shoulder, showing a lack of decorum for his age.
“A real man should be able to satisfy a few women. Don’t you agree, boy?”
“I think I now understand where Lunia’s mindset comes from.”
It seems everyone in this family is a bit unhinged. The only sane one might be Lunia’s mother, Sophia.
“Hmm. A spearman, huh… Brings back memories.”
That’s right. I needed to ask the Sword Master about my master, but he was already walking away, receiving the respectful greetings of the association staff.
“Korin Lork, sir. Please follow me.”
A staff member from the association soon guided us. Near the capital’s Central Guardian Association, a man with a kindly appearance awaited us.
“Oh~ Sir Korin! A pleasure to meet you!”
The man who suddenly extended his hand was, surprisingly, the chairman of the Guardian Association.
“Chairman Redic.”
“You know who I am.”
“Aren’t you a proud alumnus of our Merkava Academy?”
“Hahaha…! How is Lady Josephine?”
“She’s still in her prime.”
Redic Giorgio. A former 2nd-class mage and the highest-ranking member of the Merkava Association. By seniority, he’s 30 years my senior at the academy.
It might be unexpected, but the chairman of the academy’s association is not necessarily a strong person.
Of course, a 2nd-class mage is a high-ranking guardian who can walk around with some authority, but compared to a 1st-class knight, his stature isn’t that high.
“For the chairman himself to welcome me personally, it’s an honor.”
“Haha, the honor is mine. Aren’t you the next special-grade knight to follow the Sword Master from our Merkava?”
“You flatter me.”
“How is Lady Marie doing?”
Redic subtly inquired about Marie’s well-being.
Yes, the position of chairman isn’t one achieved solely by strength. Unless you’re someone with absolute power like the Sword Master, it’s a position gained through political maneuvering.
“Marie is currently in the south. I heard she’s arranged a dinner meeting with the branch manager there.”
“I see… Hmm… That branch manager is from Elizabeth Academy in the west…”
He must have been planning to use their shared alumni connection, but that’s not going to work.
“Oh, and when I mentioned I was coming here, ‘the Saintess’ asked me to deliver her regards.”
“The S-Saintess?”
I handed Chairman Redic a handwritten letter from Estelle. He seemed somewhat touched.
As a princess of this country and a saint of the Holy Church, her handwritten regards held weight. Even as chairman, he was ultimately a royal appointee, a position more honorary than functional.
The true value of the chairman’s position lay in the connections it provided with high-ranking officials.
That’s likely why Garrand Arden, who despises political intrigue, only holds the honorary chairman title without much interest.
“Chairman.”
But I’m different. I learned in the last timeline that saving the world sometimes requires playing politics, a lesson I got from Park Sihoo.
“I have an invitation to the secret social club ‘The Voice of the South.’ How about we go together sometime?”
“The Voice of the South?”
It’s a place run by the ruler of the southern region, Dunareff, and is frequented by bigwigs from the kingdom’s central political scene.
If you gain Dunareff’s support and represent their interests, it’s a fast track to high office.
“We can have a glass of southern wine there and discuss… you know?”
“Haha… Aren’t you still underage?”
“Oh, come now~ When men sit down to talk honestly and openly, alcohol is necessary. Besides, I’ll be of age next month~”
“Hahahaha…! You’re a bold one! Alright, a man should learn to drink from other men! I like that!”
“For today’s evaluation, I hope to count on your support.”
“Don’t worry! All you need to do is show them the power of that sun that stopped the army and get some signatures from the staff!”
Chairman Redic left with a broad smile. He was probably worried.
While Garrand Arden had no interest in the association’s positions, he had no idea what kind of person I was.
According to the association’s almost defunct rules, a special-grade guardian has the right to challenge for the position of chairman.
So how could he not be concerned about the possibility of losing the position he’d worked so hard to attain to someone stronger?
But since I had connections with Dunareff and the Holy Church through me, he’d likely be happy to hand over the chairman’s seat in exchange for a good position.
Hua Ran and Alicia, who had been watching this exchange, stared at me with astonished expressions.
“What?”
“It felt like I just witnessed a dirty deal between adults.”
“…Is it corruption?”
“If we’re going to take a position, there’s no need to smash the established order. It’s better to resolve things amicably.”
In the last timeline, I was exhausted from political infighting, investigations into corruption, and other such troubles. This time, if I can smooth things over, why not?
With Marie and Estelle on my side, what can’t I accomplish?
“With this, getting the special grade is almost a sure thing. We just need to fill out the paperwork and follow the plan.”
However, my plan was soon obstructed by an unexpected individual.
Those evaluating me were all high-ranking members of the association.
Just like during my 1st-class promotion, they would measure my basic stats, assess what I could do, and determine my limits.
“Everyone who needs to know Sir Korin already does, don’t they?”
“Indeed. Just thinking about the power that manifested the sun…”
“He overwhelmed the second princess’s subordinates in one-on-one combat.”
“His record of hunting monsters is also top-notch. There’s no need to prove anything further.”
The evaluators, influenced by the chairman, were busy showering me with praise.
In the previous timeline, they had nitpicked everything, saying I was too young, lacked experience, and my stats were low. Now, seeing them fawn over me was a strange feeling.
So this is what power feels like~
“Still, we should at least conduct a basic assessment. How about a demonstration of the sun’s power at the designated area to wrap things up?”
“That sounds good.”
“If that’s what the chairman wishes.”
“Sir Korin, you’re familiar with the training dummies in the training room, right? We have one specifically designed to measure heat resistance. Let’s use that for the test.”
I was relieved that I wouldn’t be burdened with a bunch of annoying tasks like in the previous timeline. I was about to accept the test when—
“How boring.”
A knight who had been watching the charade clicked his tongue and intervened.
“Who are you?”
“Sword Master Garrand?”
“Why is he here…?”
The Sword Master, who suddenly appeared, smirked as he stepped forward to stand in front of Redic.
“Hey, Chairman.”
“Yes? W-What is it, Great Sword Master…?”
Even the chairman didn’t dare to criticize the living legend, the supreme warrior of his time.
“I have a suggestion as the honorary chairman.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I will personally oversee Korin Lork’s ‘unlimited evaluation’ from this moment. Any objections?”
“N-No…”
“Good. Then I’ll take over from here. You all can leave.”
Sword Master Garrand Arden quickly silenced the evaluators. The moment Chairman Redic, who had been watching for his cues, retreated, my tacit agreement with him went up in smoke.
“Couldn’t you just let me take it easy?”
“I couldn’t stand watching that farce unfold in front of me.”
Garrand withdrew the fierce aura he had shown the association staff and smiled slyly at me.
“I came because I’m curious to see what someone who can perceive the ‘Black Domain’ will show me. Don’t disappoint this old man who’s gone out of his way.”
“Domain, you say? I can show you that anytime.”
“Against a dummy?”
The Sword Master approached the dummy that had been prepared for me, placing his large hand on it. He didn’t do much.
Just a light touch. It wasn’t even enough to be considered a slap…
-Crack! Crack…!
The dummy shattered into pieces.
“…”
Although we called it a dummy, it was actually made of a material akin to magic stone. Naturally, it was incredibly durable. And yet he shattered it with just a light touch?
Superhuman strength? No, it wasn’t that. There were no signs of force being applied.
“Do you think destroying a few fragile toys like this proves anything? It’s a laughable spectacle.”
The Sword Master stomped on the scattered fragments, continuing his words with a commanding presence.
“Beating on a dummy? How long can you endure? How much damage can you inflict? Slashing, thrusting, kicking, breaking, cutting, launching? Against a lifeless stone?”
He drew his sword. The Sword Master had drawn his sword.
The sword on his waist, the three swords on his back. Each of them one of the five legendary swords owned by the Sword Master, considered some of the greatest swords in the world.
The Twin Dragon Swords, the legendary blades that should have been in the hands of the Sword Ghost.
“Let me show you. That this kind of show proves nothing about true strength. Korin Lork, demonstrate your power.”
“…”
Tension filled the room.
The strongest of his era, who had yet to step down from his throne.
And me, a next-generation special-grade guardian. What would happen if the two of us clashed?
Anyone would be curious. Anyone would be excited.
“…Me? Why? I don’t want to.”
Except for me.
*****
NOVELASIUS
- TL: the guild
- Discord: https://discord.gg/GBKEa55867
- Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/topasius
*****
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