“You want me to teach that little kid swordsmanship?” Flora asked to make sure what she heard was right.

“That is correct.”

“I’m not much of a teacher, you know? Even my master just told me to observe how he fights and learn on my own. How the hell am I suppose to teach a kid?”

Of course, Arnold already knew that. Flora had never once been taught directly by her master. All she was told to do was observe and do the same things he does. It was like a chef telling his junior to watch him cook and follow the same example.

“I’m not expecting much from you, anyway. Just see what you’re working with. Have a few spars with the kid.”

With a deep sigh, Flora said, “What I see when I look at him is a frightened little animal.”

“Really? Anything else?”

“Not just his scrawny little body but his eyes tell me that he’s not fit for fighting. He has such a timid personality judging from what I’ve seen. Usually, there are people like him who have the determination to become a warrior but can’t even if they put in the effort. It’s like trying to fill a small glass with a lake’s volume worth of water. It’s impossible.”

“….”

Arnold looked at Flora silently. He tapped his finger on his lip.

She didn’t seem to be sarcastic judging by the serious expression on her face. No, the one evaluating Luke wasn’t the fallen princess but a future Master Swordsman.

‘But still, how wrong of a deduction that was, miss Flora.’

He was a human chosen by the gods. There was no way he wouldn’t be fit for fighting. Not even a level 100 DOP could take Luke down in the game. Even the top guild couldn’t beat the hero even if all of them attacked him at once.

After hearing that on the community, Liam, along with the rest of his guild members decided to not mess with the hero either.

He was destined to be a broken cheat anyway. Even if the bosses he slayed dropped epic loot, it wasn’t worth it to fight the hero over it.

“Tsk, tsk.” Arnold shook his head in disappointment.

“What? You saying you know better?”

“Not really. I developed my own style of swordsmanship so I can’t assess Luke like you can. I trained myself without using textbook methods so other than teaching him correct posture, I can’t do much else.”

“What do you mean?”

Arnold began explaining to Flora about his journey as a swordsman.

No instructor could teach Arnold how to fight with a sword. This had been the case ever since he had been a young boy. None of the textbook styles suited him. Not even the knights from the Imperial Palace could help Arnold.

He was known as an irregular.

His aura pool was massive yet he couldn’t use it effectively. This had all happened before Arnold was regarded as a prodigy of this generation.

But then, he managed to create his own style of swordsmanship. That was what made everyone call him a genius of his age group.

That swordsmanship style was…

《Flow of The Tide Sword Style》

It was a style of swordsmanship that combined the ferociousness of the speed of sound and the flow of a gentle river. That was why Arnold could cut everything his sword touches so cleanly.

“…..” Flora looked at Arnold in shock when she heard him. She looked at Lauran next. “I-Is that true? He made his own sword style?”

“Yes. But I have only heard this from others since I’m not well versed in swordsmanship. To me, all forms look the same.” Lauran answered so. She was a magic caster so it was obvious that she wouldn’t know the difference.

“…..” Flora’s mouth was opened wide. “T-That’s amazing…Even my master had to train for years to make his own swordsmanship…” She muttered.

“Come again?”

“N-Nothing. Ahem! Very well them! I shall teach Luke the way of the sword!”

Arnold nodded in satisfaction.

“I will take care of miss Flora’s lodging. One of the guestrooms ought to be free.” Lauran said.

“Ah, that isn’t necessary, miss Lauran. You need to rest.” Flora replied in a fluster.

“But…”

“Lauran.” Arnold looked at her who was still pushing the matter.

“You are the heir’s head servant. In the state you’re in now, you’ll just get in the way. Did I not just finish this discussion with you?”

“A-Ah, that’s right.” Lauran knocked her forehead.

‘Keeping her here was the right choice. Great job past me!’

He didn’t know what kind of trouble Lauran would get mixed into if she didn’t continue working at the castle. At least this way Luke could watch her.

“I’ll get one of the other maids to attend to you. Be grateful for my sincere generosity, slave.”

“Can you stop calling me that…”

The carriage suddenly came to a halt. They had arrived later than expected.

“Hm? Why is the coachman not opening the door?” Lauran leaned her head out.

--Why aren’t you allowing me entry?

The coachman approached the guard knight beside the gate.

-I apologize but lord Arnold must head to the castle as soon as possible. Lord Sebastian ordered us to protect the mansion before he left. The mistresses are still here but the rest of the family have headed to the castle.

-Huh? Why?

‘What? I should head to the castle?’

The mansion that Arnold had been staying at recently wasn’t the family’s main residence. It was mainly a second residence for the entire family. One could call it a vacation home. Then again, the second wife Judith was the one who told Marcus that he should build a second house for them.

He was reluctant at first but changed his mind afterwards since he knew that his two wives would always go at each other’s throats. To ease the tension the two may have, he decided that Judith and Jack must live at the mansion. Outside, on the same estate stood an annex building where the other mistresses lived.

It was rare for the entire family to sit at the same table. Just like yesterday.

‘Maybe the reason Arnold and the rest of the family was there at the manor that day was because Marcus ordered them to stay there? He must’ve kept Luke at the castle during that time.’

No wonder he found it odd that he woke up in the manor.

The knight answered the bewildered coachman.

-His Grace has been called to the Imperial Capital.

A confused expression appeared on Arnold’s face, followed by his face hardening.

Flora noticed his behavior.

“What is it?” She asked.

“…Nothing.”

-What!? I must head to the castle at once!

-Hurry. The duke won’t delay his departure any longer.

Chances were that he could die if this sudden was an order for him to go into battle. He probably wanted to see his family one last time.

-When did the message arrive?

-Yesterday morning after lord Arnold left. One of the court officials delivered it. Everyone has vacated the mansion and went to see him off by giving him a formal farewell.

It was rare for the Emperor himself to summon all the Great Nobles. One could conclude that whatever they were needed for was serious.

The main reason why Marcus went to the castle was probably because he went to fetch his war weapon.

“…His Grace is…” Lauran looked at Arnold after sticking her head back in and sitting down.

“---Heading off to war.” Arnold finished her sentence.

Perhaps not in the literal sense.

That was the conclusion they came up with. Since the messenger himself didn’t say why the duke was called, they could only assume the worst.

Arnold leaned out of the window.

“Let’s go to the castle. Now.”

“Y-Yes!” The coachman hurriedly jumped onto the carriage and flipped the reins.

They raced through the city to get to the center where the castle was located. Their mansion was like any other mansion in the noble district so there was nothing special to it.

The castle, however, was an entirely different matter.

‘It’s humungous.’

Arnold thought when he looked out the window. In his line of sight was a defensive fortress that stood majestically in the center of the city.

Two flags were on either side of the castle gates. The flags had a painting of the Legendary Beast, thee Golden Lion within its crest.

Many more knights were stationed around the perimeter.

“Has the duke left yet!?” The coachman asked hurriedly when they arrived at the gate.

The knight pointed to the courtyard. “We are getting ready to send him off. Our private army is standing by on the lawn.”

“I must take lord Arnold at once!”

The coachman flipped the reins and entered the castle gates.

“Must I fetch you clean clothes?” Lauran asked.

“No. Just go rest.” Arnold answered while gazing out of the window.

‘Really. Stop being so eager to work.’

“I understand….Thank you very much.”

He didn’t do anything worthy of her gratitude at that moment. Maybe she was thanking him for saving her.

Arnold glanced at Lauran, albeit briefly.

‘Why is she looking at me like that?’

He didn’t know why but her eyes looked at him warmly. Much more different than in the past. He always had to look at a stone-faced Lauran gazing at him with eyes of a murderer. That Lauran was nowhere to be found.

Arnold decided to ignore her change of behavior. He didn’t care what she thought of him as long as she was safe and by Luke’s side.

“I will get off first.” Lauran exited the carriage after it stopped. She jogged inside the castle after greeting the other servants. Of course, she used the back door.

‘I can hear many more people arriving to say farewell to father. They got hold of the news quick, huh.’

Arnold and Flora also got off the carriage. In his line of sight, Arnold could see multiple servants, knights, vassals and other personnel standing by.

All of them gazed at Arnold. Although, Arnold didn’t even acknowledge them. That was an extremely rude thing to do. Many of them glared at him as he ignored them.

“She seems much better than before.” Flora suddenly spoke.

“What do you mean?”

“Last night before she drifted off to sleep, she told me all the horrible things she had to go through because of you. The suffering she had to endure...Things like that.”

Arnold remained silent as they neared the front door.

“—Yet, somehow she’s smiling genuinely. It’s like she is free of her demons now.”

“Hmm…” Arnold didn’t respond and only grunted.

“You gave her that. It would’ve been romantic if the person who saved her wasn’t you, though.” Flora suddenly stopped.

“Huh? You’re not going with me?”

“This is a family matter which I am not a part of. I’ll wait outside.”

“Alright.” Arnold didn’t persuade her to enter with him. He left her and headed inside.

◇◇

“Father.” Arnold was about to kneel, however, Marcus grabbed his shoulder.

“Arnold.”

“Yes.”

Everyone else watched their exchange in silence. The duke was dressed in his Imperial General uniform. On his chest, there were nine stars. That was to acknowledge that he was a powerhouse of the nation.

Around him stood Adrianna, Judith holding Thomas, Jack, Anna, Melina and Luke. His most trusted vassals were also standing there: Baron Ukane, Viscount Repunick, Count Gregorick, and Earl Lewan(Grace’s father).

All of them had hardened expressions on their faces.

“While I’m gone, I want you and Luke to look after the castle in my place. Your mother will stay here and handle the management of the city with my most trusted aides. Sebastian will aid your mother so he will stay here as well.” Marcus left the company of his vassals and went into a corner to speak with Arnold.

There was uneasiness in his son’s eyes.

“Do not worry. Whatever it is that my old friend wants me to do, I will be sure to return alive.”

There was zero confidence in his voice. Whatever Jurnick, the Emperor wanted him to do was probably not an easy task.

‘There wasn’t any sort of event that explained the duke’s departure, was there?’

Al tried to rack his brains to try and remember.

His father turned around to everyone in the Great Hall. He adjusted his tie and took out his glorious spear, [Thunder].

Arnold had seen it for the first time in his life. It was a spear that was forged from the lightning bolt of a God who wished to punish this world but instead was defeated by his own creation.

It was only a myth but some believed it to be true. When the duke wielded this spear, he was the definition of a Thunder God of the Spear Arts. Much like Arnold who created his own sword style, the duke created his own martial art.

“With [Thunder] in my grasp, there is no need for me to fear my demise! If I do, however, meet an enemy who even I cannot hope to defeat alone, then I shall rely on the help of the knights I personally trained! They, who I raised with my own hands!”

The ground rumbled at that moment. The knights outside had heard their lord’s words and couldn’t help but be overjoyed.

Since the emperor had called for his arrival to the Capital, it was common sense to take his strongest knights in case there was a need for extra manpower.

The other three Great Nobles probably thought of the same thing, Arnold thought.

“As the duke of this empire, I will surely return to resume my duties.”

At his father’s words, Arnold stepped aside. He was hoping to persuade his father not to go since he wasn’t sure what was going on. There was no telling what dangers his father could be exposed to because of this unknown event.

Then again, even if he did try and stop his father, there was little chance of success.

Once Marcus made up his mind, few things could change it.

“Be safe, dear.” Adrianna approached Marcus and planted a kiss on his cheek.

He nodded. “Take care of the family for me while I’m gone.” Marcus looked out of the door at the knights gathered in formation.

“Come, my Knights! We must make haste!”

--OOOOOH!

The knights got ready to move out at his calling.

Marcus looked back at his family one last time before walking out of the door. His vassals followed close behind. They bade the family farewell.

Arnold watched in silence from the front door as his father marched with his men.

He wasn’t looking at the departing back of his father now, but a Great Noble of the Empire.