I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

9 – 009. The Grand Duchess (1)

“South Korea, Seoul.”

*Shhhing!* *Whshh-!*

“Guh-erk!”

Scattered droplets of blood blossomed. Like flowers blooming in the darkness, the abundant petals failed to defy gravity and plummeted to the ground.

“We’re caught! Attack!”

The middle-aged man, who had looked so amiable, shouted with his face contorted into a demonic grimace.

As expected. They weren’t stragglers from the main force. The way they wielded daggers and crude blades showed they hadn’t even received proper training.

“The audacity!”

Soldiers in Imperial Army uniforms, those who even called themselves regulars, using weapons fit for bandits or brigands.

Lancelot’s eyes blazed red, fully grasping the implication.

From the start, Lancelot had shown me, a mere mercenary, immeasurable kindness simply for our shared war experience. This act of attacking stragglers and looting supplies was more than enough reason for his fury.

*Slice!* *Thud!*

“Guh-eurk!”

“S-Strong! These b*stards aren’t mercenaries, they’re knights!”

“Did you kill them? Did you kill all of the Imperial soldiers?”

It was obvious what fate had befallen the ‘actual’ straggling soldiers at their hands. But it seemed he needed to hear it from their lips, the young knight’s blade vibrating violently.

“Not low-grade knights. At least mid-grade, or higher!”

“R-Run away!”

“Monster, it’s a monster!”

*Whshh!* *Slice!*

A sword has no eyes.

A merciless blade sliced through the enemies. It took less than five minutes for almost a dozen foes to become cold corpses.

“…Shit.”

Lancelot, having shaken the blood from his sword, sunk his gaze deep.

His face was etched with thick disgust. He seemed to have thought of even mere soldiers as comrades with the same goal, a subtle sense of self-loathing mixed in.

After that.

He briefly searched the surroundings. It was to ensure at least some safety, in case any ambushing bandits were still hidden.

Flap!

Approaching the wagon situated in the corner of the campsite, I pulled back the tarp.

“This is…”

My brow furrowed sharply as I examined the contents.

The wagon was full of corpses. Old men, younger men, young women, even children. Seeing the most bodies were adult males, it was clear they were imperial soldiers murdered by these b*stards.

“Ugh.”

Lancelot, who had approached after hearing my startled tone, also hardened his expression.

“Bandits, or perhaps murderous robbers. Judging by the decay of the bodies, they don’t seem to be ones who operate around here in the first place.”

“Likely. This area is under the peacekeeping jurisdiction of the Golden Lion Knights. There’s nowhere for the likes of them to gain a foothold.”

“Haa.”

I let out a soft sigh and lowered the tarp. Resting here right now was out of the question. We two couldn’t possibly manage over twenty bodies on our own.

“…Let’s move. I’ll send word from a nearby village.”

“Yes, that’s probably for the best.”

With those words, we resumed our journey. Although darkness had filled the surroundings, making our progress slow, we had brought a torch, so it wasn’t too difficult.

“There’s light!”

It was about an hour later that the village Lancelot had spoken of came into view. Perhaps because it was near the fortress city of Loven, the village was full of bright lights even late at night.

“Rest up. I’ll be out for a bit and then return.”

Lancelot secured a room at an inn, and immediately went out. He was probably going to report the recent battle to the Knights.

Left alone, I briefly cleaned myself and sprawled on the bed, lost in thought.

‘Loven, the fortress city of Loven.’

For me, who had only ever drifted between Orc camps and the Golden Lion Knights’ base, this was the first city I’ve visited from the ＜Silvering＞. It was the largest city in the northern empire, ruled by the Northern Archduke.

“If I’m lucky, I might see the triumphal parade… perhaps I’ll even be able to meet that woman.”

There was a sad legend about the Northern Archduke’s family, the Britzhart family.

[ It’s true that the current Archduke is benevolent and capable, but their martial prowess is pathetic. ]

The open secret circulating the Empire was, in a way, inevitable.

The current Grand Duke had ascended to his position at the mere age of five. Naturally, his uncle took the seat of ‘Regent,’ and the grown Grand Duke waged a bloody civil war against his uncle, who sought to usurp his title.

And after that?

Though victorious in the civil war, the Grand Duke still faced enemies both within and without.

Closely, the Knights Order and Magic Corps of his territory, and further out, the local nobility were his adversaries. A Grand Duke who dedicated his entire life to the stability and development of his lands, where would he have the time to train in swordsmanship or magic?

However.

Doesn’t it go that a tiger’s child can’t be a dog?

The Northern Grand Duke couldn’t spend time on personal training, but it was a different story for his children. The Empire’s most powerful family, even in decline, still had ten years of power left. The Grand Duke’s eldest daughter, who had blossomed with innate talent, proved this point.

‘Maria Theresia von Britzhart.’

The Grand Duchess was young and beautiful. But there was a problem, that was, her absolutely extraordinary talent and vicious temperament were intertwined together.

Detailed information had never been made public.

However, players predicted she was a monster of the 8th circle, over level 90. Meaning she was a skilled individual on par with a Sword Saint, despite her young age. Some players even argued that, like a Heavenly Demon or Sword Saint, Maria possessed a ‘unique trait’.

‘If it wasn’t for that crazy nature of hers, she’d have a lot of fans.’

Maria Theresia was the spitting image of the word ‘psychopath’… a truly ‘mad woman’, so out of her mind. Enough to make players with deep playstyles beat their chests in lamentation.

Anyway.

Tomorrow we arrive at the fortress city of Loven. I surrendered to the encroaching sleep while pondering this fact.

* * *

Day broke.

As always, we left the village at dawn, and thankfully reached the fortress city of Loven before noon.

“Whoa…”

I tried my best not to look like some country bumpkin, but my brain refused my commands when I faced the gigantic city gates. The majestic walls, the endless crowds. And on top of that, the forest of buildings that stretched endlessly beyond the gates made me involuntarily exclaim in awe.

“Is it the triumphal return today? Can’t wait!”

“There’s also a victory festival, so I’m going to loosen my belt and drink!”

“What? The triumphal return starts soon? Let’s go! The best spots must be long gone.”

The clamorous voices of the city residents filled my ears.

The road was already filled with carts laden with goods, and a few soldiers were moving in one direction, led by a knight.

“Haha.”

A grin involuntarily crept onto my face.

It was an experience similar to when I first encountered Lancelot. The sensation of a big city in this game unfolding vividly before my eyes had a knack for providing a kind of pleasure.

“Let me introduce you. This is the fortress city of Loven.”

“Unbelievable. Seeing it like this, in person….”

Lancelot spoke with his usual expressionless face. But, beneath his voice lay a deep pride and self-respect.

“Let’s go. We arrived just in time, it seems we can catch the victory parade.”

Victory parade, victory parade, huh.

Without realizing it, my heart thumped. It wasn’t that I was particularly interested in the festival itself. It was just curiosity, wondering if that woman might be among the Northern Grand Duke’s procession.

Anyway.

Entering the city, I had to try my hardest not to get lost. It was the day of the victory parade, and the streets were flooded with more people than ever.

“Lancelot, let’s get a room first. We’ll be here for a few days anyway.”

“Hmm. Alright.”

Lancelot, with that short answer, guided me towards the city center. Passing through the commercial district near the gate, we soon came across a surprisingly quiet street.

“What is this, there aren’t many people here?”

“This is the heart of Loven. Most of the people you see here are nobles, mages, knights, the wealthy, and such.”

“So that’s why there are so few people.”

“That’s part of it, but also, the victory parade will begin at the city gate. It’s only natural that the crowd will gather there.”

With those words, Lancelot walked in silence. Then, he stopped in front of a high-class hotel, a place that was clearly priced at a premium.

“What, we’re staying here?”

“…Yeah. I couldn’t even dream of looking at this place as a child. Yet, coming here so casually feels rather funny.”

“Good for you. You’re a guy who knows how to spend it when you need to.”

Lancelot let out a soft chuckle. A b*stard child between a noble and a commoner. He probably couldn’t have imagined a hotel on this fancy street during his childhood.

“We’ll get a room, then meet up after a quick wash. The event should start soon.”

“Right. It would be a shame to miss it. It might be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

After agreeing on that, we headed right into the hotel. I had expected Lancelot to book a two-bed room, but surprisingly, he went all out.

“Two rooms for five days and four nights? Isn’t that a bit much?”

“It’s enough. You know, I currently belong to the Almans County. And Frey, you don’t have a single penny anyway.”

…Why are you poking at sore spots again?

Time passed, and we met in the hotel lobby a little later as promised. Feeling refreshed after washing, we walked towards the main street that stretched from the city gate to the lord’s castle.

Waaah-!

Did we arrive just in time?

Not long after, a tremendous roar echoed from the streets, engulfing the entire city.

Naturally, peeking through the crowd, I saw disciplined cavalry and infantry marching in formation.

“Your Grace, congratulations on the victory!”

“Long live Duke Kazimaesh! Long live Britzhart! Long live the great Empire!”

“Th-the Grand Duchess is here too!”

“Good heavens, so beautiful… I’m so moved.”

Had the Duke’s party appeared in the procession? The crowd’s reaction instantly grew even more fervent. Among them was a middle-aged woman dabbing at her eyes, and seeing that, I grew inexplicably impatient.

“Damn it. Can’t see a thing.”

“Mm.”

Driven by curiosity, I craned my neck. Lancelot was just as curious, it seemed. The guy who’s always so stiff was even standing on his tiptoes.

“…!”

That was the moment. I finally achieved my long-awaited goal.

“Kyaaa! Grand Duchess!”

“How can such a sacred beauty exist…!”

The Grand Duke’s daughter, Maria Theresia, boasting radiant blonde hair, was waving at the citizens from atop a noble white steed.

“…Huh?”

The bizarre exclamation that escaped me wasn’t just because her appearance was as radiantly beautiful as I’d heard.

Dangerous. Dangerous. That woman is truly dangerous. I didn’t know why, but a sensation bordering on instinct was warning me. I needed to get out of this place. Otherwise, I would eventually be swallowed by that viper.

Thinking that, I unconsciously turned to leave.

“……Oh my?”

A thin, lilting voice tickled my ear. Something that should have been impossible, given the cacophony of the crowd.

*Swoosh.*

Unbidden, my body turned back. At the end of my reversed view, the Grand Duchess, Maria Theresia, was still waving her hand on her white horse, her blue eyes focused directly on me.