Chapter 112 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 112

The reaction was so strong and violent that even I, who cannot directly handle magical power, could sense it.

A whirlwind began to blow, centered on Aaron, who was enveloped in a hazy light.

It is a common phenomenon caused by a sudden change in magical power.

When casting a powerful spell, or when someone possessing comparable power loses control of their own strength.

For example, when one has just entered the realm of a Sword Master…….

I could be certain.

‘My words had an effect.’

I told him, wondering what the point even was, and he truly broke through the barrier.

And at that, two or three years earlier than before the regression.

Indeed, it seems natural that geniuses are difficult for ordinary people to understand.

In any case, the aftermath of Aaron’s enlightenment was spreading in all directions.

*Whoosh—!*

Petals, leaves from the garden trees, small branches, and the like were swept about by the wind.

“Eek!”

“Oh my!”

The skirts of the noble ladies were flipped up, and hats, bonnets, and such were torn off and sent flying.

“Ah, Aaron?”

The Duchess of Müzen, startled by her son’s sudden state, tried to approach him.

I reached out and grabbed her.

“You mustn’t, Your Grace.”

“But my son……!”

“I’ve heard that when a knight or mage reaches a new realm, they enter a temporary state of self-oblivion. The young Duke appears to be in such a state now.”

“What? Then?!”

The Duchess, who had turned pale with worry for her son, flushed with color.

I deliberately looked up and asked Arpad.

“What do you think? Does it seem I am correct?”

Even if one searched the entire continent, currently only Arpad and the Emperor have ascended to the realm of Sword Master.

Thus, they are the only ones who can speak about that realm.

Of course, the two had the advantage of inheriting the dragon’s bloodline, but they are Sword Masters nonetheless.

If he affirmed it, the Duchess would be somewhat reassured.

Arpad looked at Aaron with a displeased expression, then reluctantly nodded.

“You are correct. It would be best not to touch him or get too close now.”

“Then, could it be… are you saying Aaron has entered the realm of a Sword Master?”

The Duchess asked, clasping her hands together, her voice trembling.

As Arpad nodded in affirmation, intense astonishment spread around them.

“Good heavens, is it truly so?”

“Then are we witnessing the birth of a Sword Master firsthand?”

Arpad added an unnecessarily ominous remark, trying to dampen the mood.

“That is, if he returns to consciousness safely.”

I poked Arpad in the side.

I scolded him in a whisper so those around wouldn’t hear.

“Say something more positive!”

“I merely spoke the truth. There are cases where one never regains consciousness if they fail to return from that stage.”

“Must you say that in front of the Duchess!”

I poked Arpad’s side more vigorously.

However, Arpad’s steel-like muscles were completely unaffected.

On the contrary, I poked too hard and only hurt my own hand. Ouch!

Just then, Arpad stroked his chin and muttered lowly.

“Surely… he won’t cling to you… to repay the debt of enlightenment?”

Was he worried about being bothered? I smiled brightly and said.

“But wouldn’t that be even better?”

Arpad’s expression suddenly turned ominous.

“…What?”

But that ominousness was directed not at me, but at Aaron.

It felt like he would say something to Aaron if I misspoke even a word.

I decided to be straightforward.

“If a knight who has become a Sword Master swears loyalty to you, of course that’s a good thing.”

“…Was that what you meant?”

Somehow, Arpad’s irritable mood seemed to ease a little.

He soon shook his head.

“But why would that fellow follow me?”

It was useless, but I poked Arpad’s side again.

“No matter how quietly you say it, what do you mean ‘that fellow’? Be careful. What if the Duchess hears!”

“Let her hear. If you get this angry, you’re not qualified to be your Head Lady-in-Waiting.”

While Arpad and I were bickering.

The air surrounding Aaron slowly began to stabilize.

The whirling wind calmed, and the light that had been shimmering around Aaron’s body disappeared as if absorbed.

And a moment later.

Finally, Aaron opened his eyes.

The Duchess, who had been anxiously watching from the side, unable to intervene for fear of causing harm, called to her son.

“Aaron, are you alright?”

Aaron did not answer immediately.

He blinked as if waking from a long dream, merely clenching and unclenching his hands.

Then he asked his mother.

“Mother, how much time has passed?”

“Huh? Not much. About twenty to thirty minutes?”

Aaron made a puzzled expression.

“It feels as if hours, no, months, or rather… years have passed……”

Seeing her son ramble, deep concern settled on the Duchess’s face.

“Are you truly alright?”

It seemed she recalled what Arpad had said earlier.

That he might not wake or something might go wrong.

Even I, who knew he would safely become a Sword Master, felt somewhat uneasy hearing Aaron talk nonsense.

‘He is alright, right? What if I spoke for nothing…….’

Fortunately, it became clear that my and the Duchess’s worries were unnecessary.

After looking around blankly for a moment, Aaron met my eyes and grinned.

Then he picked up the broken sword again.

The sword whose hilt was shattered and blade broken in half by Arpad, now unusable.

Aaron unhesitatingly gripped the half-sword with both hands.

The next moment.

*Hum—!*

The blade sang. Simultaneously, a deep blue light burst forth and enveloped the half-bladed sword.

It was as if the blade were made of light.

“Aura!”

“A Sword Master!”

“Good heavens! Lord Müzen has truly become a Sword Master!”

Intense reactions erupted from all sides.

Everyone except Arpad and me reacted that way.

For me, it was because I already knew, and Arpad was a superhuman who had already reached that realm from birth.

I looked at Aaron with a proud expression.

Just then, a soft click of the tongue reached my ear.

“Tch.”

What?

When I turned in puzzlement, Arpad was looking not at me, but elsewhere.

His face was full of displeasure.

Why is this man acting like this again all of a sudden… My thoughts were cut off.

Because not only Arpad, but everyone’s gaze was fixed on me.

And I soon learned the reason as well.

The knight Aaron, having manifested his aura and proven his ascension to the realm of Sword Master, was approaching me.

“…Uh, Lord Müzen?”

While I was bewildered, a long sigh from Arpad settled on my shoulder.

Gnashing his teeth, he whispered in my ear.

“Lift your head, straighten your back. This is an important occasion.”

“…Huh? What?”

What nonsense is this?

Arpad pulled me close and then released me, correcting my posture.

So that I would stand straight and dignified before Aaron.

“I’m only tolerating this because I’m your husband.”

Before the meaning of those words fully registered in my mind, Aaron Müzen thrust his sword into the ground before me.

The aura-enveloped blade smoothly split the marble floor and embedded itself.

Simultaneously, Aaron knelt before me.

“Knight Aaron Müzen. I pledge this sword solely to Your Highness for the rest of my life.”

It was a knight’s oath.

I was flustered.

‘No, why are you doing that for me?’

I had thought Aaron would swear an oath of loyalty to Arpad.

And rightly so.

‘Even before the regression, Aaron never swore a knight’s oath to Evangeline either!’

When Ludwig became Crown Prince, he did swear an oath of loyalty. But that was as the heir to the House of Müzen.

Not as a knight, nor as Aaron the individual.

A knight’s oath is even more significant and weighty than an oath of loyalty.

It means a knight pledges his sword for life.

Aaron, who had been one of Evangeline’s followers, swore a knight’s oath to no one.

This was natural for the heir to the Ducal House of Müzen.

If a Duke were bound by a knight’s oath, it could even undermine the independence of the ducal house itself.

That is how significant and weighty a knight’s oath is.

And yet, Aaron was now offering it to me.

Realizing the situation, the Duchess of Müzen stiffened her expression and called to her son.

“A-Aaron!”

But Aaron Müzen was unwavering.

“The words Your Highness spoke to me became my light. It is only natural to offer the sword completed by relying on that light to its rightful owner.”

“…….”

“Please accept it.”

The hilt was offered to me.