EX2 – In the Drizzling Imperial Capital
—Imperial Capital, Alekheim.
The center of the empire was a megacity. The largest of the northern continent, and had a population of three million.
That day, the city was experiencing some out-of-season rain.
The capital was known for having fog during winter nights, but though it was nearing the end of summer, the fog was terribly cold and deep.
Amagina district—In a corner of the residential area, lined with the mansions of nobles.
In one of the larger mansions, a certain man was meeting with a guest.
“…It’s been a long time, Jin… Or should I say, Sword Saint?”
Jin Raido.
The old man wore a hood for protection against the rain. He did not answer, but just looked at the other man as if it did not matter to him.
The other man shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
“Nevermind then. Come in. I would never turn down a visitor like you.”
“…Aye.”
He then told his butler to prepare the drawing room as Jin entered the house.
When Jin took off the hood…in spite of his old age, he seemed quite unchanged. Perhaps it was just the strong light in his eyes that gave off that impression.
“You aged a lot. Zes.”
“That’s what nature usually does, Jin.”
Those were the first words Jin said after sitting down in the drawing room. Zes shook his head.
Then he chuckled as Jin scowled at the wine that the butler brought.
“Still a nondrinker then. Ah, I’ll have some lemon water brought for you then.”
“Aye.”
The butler bowed and left. And then Zes turned back to Jin.
“I received a report that you would be coming here. But why didn’t you send me a letter? Not just me. But His Majesty was distraught. Even if he didn’t say that he was.”
“…My intention. I didn’t mean to ever come down here again.”
Zes narrowed his eyes.
Well—it was no surprise.
Many thought that the Sword Saint would never appear in the public eye again.
In fact, hardly anything had been heard for nearly twenty years.
So he knew.
The old man had found his final resting place. And he would leave this world without anyone even realizing it. As a legend.
He had been like that when they first met. A man like the wind.
Appearing out of nowhere, saving many people, killing just as many, and leaving many myths.
And before you knew it, he was gone again…
“His Majesty would prepare a post for you, if you wanted.”
“An old soldier should just leave. Besides, this country has you.”
Melzes Rovel, also known as the Black Prime Minister.
The architect of unprecedented prosperity in the empire, driving financial reforms and technological progress.
But despite being a high-ranking noble, he had a unique blend of nobility and a commoner’s sensibility. Renowned for establishing a House of Commons within the Noble Council, he gained steadfast support from the masses. And as the Emperor’s trusted confidant, he was considered to be the greatest prime minister the empire had witnessed since its beginning.
“I have never done anything but walk on the path the emperor set.”
Loyally protect the previous emperor.
That was the only order left to him. Even if it went against the current one.
“The little boy that cried during that time. He has grown quite impressively.”
“…I wish you would stop talking about that.”
While he enjoyed old stories, Zes had a severe expression.
It was then that the lemon water finally arrived, and Jin received his glass with ice.
After he quenched his thirst and the butler left the room, Zes opened his mouth again.
“So… If you had no intention of coming down again. Why now?”
“There was something that I wanted to witness.”
Witness? Zes wondered, and then his eyes went to the katana that rested against the chair.
“The martial arts tournament.”
He nodded with realization.
The main event during the twin moons festival. The Imperial Combat Techniques Tournament. It used to be merely the ‘martial arts tournament.’
“You? Came just to watch that?”
“My apprentice will participate. Probably.”
But the Sword Saint had no apprentice…that was well known.
As Zes looked surprised, Jin shook his head.
“It is not what you think. I just found him in the mountains.”
“Found him?”
According to him, he was not quite twenty right now.
Zes felt a little relieved.
However… That meant he was an ‘apprentice’ in the truest sense.
“Still, not even twenty, eh? But he must be very…promising for you to have trained him.”
Jin’s lips contorted at that.
And then he chuckled.
Like a beast…that had found its prey.
“He is definitely a genius.”
“Genius?”
He had not expected that word to come from the old man’s mouth.
The Sword Saint seemed like someone who surpassed that word. He was like someone who had received all of the blessings with his whole body.
“In terms of the sword. He is getting close to reaching the same height as me.”
“What…?”
“Just one step left. And then he will be complete.”
An equal of the Sword Saint? This youngster?
It seemed like such a strange thing.
But what was this final step…
(The first of a new Sword Saint, eh?)
What would that mean for this age? For the country, no, the continent.
Civilization had developed so much with advances in magic engineering.
It was a different age. Both for the common people and the county as a whole.
Jin’s apprentice. The new Sword Saint.
For Zes, it felt like the coming of a storm.
(I must report this to His Majesty.)