I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

11 – 011. The Grand Duchess (3)

The path towards the coastal cliff is simple.

Leaving the western gate of the fortress city of Loven, a wide forest unfolds. It was sparsely populated, but there were also hardly any monsters or wild animals. Just follow the path, and eventually, a view of the cliff will appear through the foliage.

‘Good thing it’s not uphill.’

I walked silently along the forest path. Occasionally, I’d meet a few residents collecting herbs or greens, but they only cast a lukewarm gaze and didn’t bother striking up a conversation.

“I remember it being around here…”

Rustle.

Finding a large, magnificent tree, I stopped moving and surveyed the surroundings. There should be a narrow side path here, hidden by the undergrowth on the left, centered on the tree.

“……Ah!”

Indeed, it was as I remembered. When I cut down the bushes with my sword, a narrow path just wide enough for one person appeared.

Had I walked along the side path for about five minutes? Soon, the salty smell and a cool sea breeze brushed past my cheek.

Swish-shhh-!

“……”

The view from the cliff was a perfect match for the word ‘spectacular’. The endless horizon, seagulls soaring in the blue sky. And at the edge of the cliff, there was a small tree growing.

“This place isn’t much different either.”

This space had a talent for making even the most rational people fall into emotion.

If you faced the waves crashing white against the cliff below, and the warm sunshine streaming down, wouldn’t anyone’s sharp edges become rounded, I wondered.

‘There is no… grave.’

Realizing that there was no tomb in the ‘Coastal Cliff Grave’ of the original story, I slowly started walking.

“……First, I need to get back.”

Lancelot’s mother wasn’t dead. There was no grave on the cliff, no sword stuck in the ground before it. What that meant was pretty damn clear.

‘It’s not too late. Lancelot’s mother is right there in the fortified city of Loven.’

And that meant the reward for Lancelot was right in front of me.

…Well, I didn’t take on the kid’s request for a reward in the first place.

My connection with Lancelot was only a few days old, but I liked him. His personality was pretty laid-back, and his upright heart to care for the weak would definitely be a great help in the future.

But then.

“……Shit.”

Something weird caught the edge of my vision just as I was about to head back.

Scuff scuff.

Someone appeared, coming from a side path. Surprisingly, it was ‘Maria Theresa’ from the victory parade today.

‘…Why the hell is that crazy woman here?’

My head filled with question marks.

Stay calm. It was undeniable that the woman had looked at me during the march. But to think that meeting her here was intentional was just too absurd.

Yeah, it was just a coincidence. It must be that she just happened to know about a scenic spot near Loven, too.

“Hello?”

“……”

Like someone meeting a fellow mountain climber while hiking, I naturally nodded my head and passed by Maria.

‘Please just stay still. Don’t look at me.’

The moment I passed her, her head turned to follow me.

My heart was pounding, not calming down in the slightest. Wishing she wouldn’t acknowledge me, I was planning to get out of here as fast as possible.

“……Stop.”

Thud.

The heavens had completely ignored my wish. At the same time, my leg, which had been moving forward powerfully, came to a halt. It was because Maria Theresa, with a blank expression, had spoken those words quietly at my back.

‘Damn it.’

Creak, like a broken doll, my body turned around. And then, the radiant beauty of the archduchess filled my vision.

“Is there something you need from me?”

The plan had gone to shit.

Well, I don’t know if I could even call it a plan. But what was certain was that the woman was showing a rather large amount of interest in me. Therefore, I answered as naturally as possible.

“What is your name?”

“……Frey.”

“Freira. That name doesn’t ring a bell.”

Maria, standing her ground, rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. Soon, her silk-soft blonde hair danced in the breeze, but I couldn’t offer any commentary.

‘This is… Maria Theresia?’

It was an illusion, as if an intangible force enveloped her. She transcended the ‘Hwagyung’ spoken of in the East Continent; her very existence was a strategic weapon. The pressure I felt just by breathing near her was no illusion.

“I see. Well then, I’ll be going.”

I bowed my head and hastily took my leave. Perhaps the future me could face that Northern Mad Sword.

But… I’m lacking in strength right now. Thanks to my attribute, I possess a dazzling talent, but it’s still raw, unrefined.

*Swish.*

“Why do you keep trying to run away?”

Once again, my steps were halted by Maria.

There was no time to wonder *when*. One blink, and Maria, who was behind me, was now blocking my path.

“You’re concealing something, aren’t you? But you cannot escape my gaze.”

Maria murmured softly, then circled me, her footsteps crunching on the grass. It was an incomprehensible act. Concealing? What?

“Conceal? Do I have something I’m concealing?”

Maria responded instantly to my voice.

“Of course, you do.”

Maria Theresia, calmly delivering her observation, approached me. At the same time, a sweet fragrance *whoosh*ed, tickling my nose.

“Really. You don’t have a single thing you’re hiding from me?”

With those words, Maria leaned closer, invading my personal space.

So close, I could almost feel her breath, I nodded slightly.

“Yes.”

“You’re quite an interesting person.”

Maria, the corners of her lips turned up, moved back a few steps. Then, her voice full of delight, she continued.

“Everyone in this world is desperate for even a single word from me. Yet, you’re actively avoiding a conversation with me.”

A piercing gaze fell upon me. Maria Theresia von Britzhart, the strongest swordswoman of the North, seemed curious about this.

“I won’t press it, but I cannot help but be intrigued. I shall keep my eye on you. This is a warning, as well as encouragement. If you walk down a wicked path, my blade will seek you out.”

*Swish.*

With that, Maria took off one of the rings on her finger.

The silver ring, devoid of any color or flair, was unremarkable for a duchess, yet the energy emanating from it was no ordinary thing.

Thwack!

“……?”

Her next action was even more shocking.

Maria reached out and grabbed my wrist. Then, she moved her fingers, splaying mine wide, and placed the ring she’d been wearing on top of them.

“Of course, a senior wouldn’t be able to maintain their dignity without a gift to match.”

“……This?”

“It’s one of the sacred artifacts of Britzhardt. When your name echoes across the continent, I’ll take it back.”

Britzhardt’s sacred artifact… a silver ring?

I knew this item. Of course I did. In the countless storylines of ＜Silver Ring＞, it was an item obtainable with an extremely low probability if you took the ＜Northern Grand Duke＞ route.

…

..

.

–

[ The Nameless Boy’s Heirloom ]

Type : Ring

Rarity : Legendary

Effect : Slightly increases all stats. Also grants a powerful bonus to earned experience.

“Boy, become a myth. If you can, then we shall march forward together.”

–

“You’re really giving me this?”

“You must phrase it accurately. I’m not giving it to you, I’m lending it to you.”

“……”

Her tone was oddly forceful, and I immediately shut my mouth.

‘Why the hell is she doing this…?’

This legendary-grade item as a gift? What makes her trust me enough to entrust me with such an incredible thing?

“My eye for people is accurate. The fact that I see no red or black aura around you means you’re someone shouldering a noble mission.”

Her deep, resolute blue eyes turned towards me.

It was a gift that came too suddenly. It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel good about it.

‘Jackpot, a huge jackpot.’

A psychopath who hunts down criminals and villains, chopping off their limbs and displaying them as trophies? A skull slayer who smashes the brains of nobles backing shady underworld gangs?

“……Thank you.”

No. It’s not right. Those b*stards deserve the most horrific punishment.

Maria Theresia von Britzhart… she wasn’t some madwoman from the North. She was our brother, no. Our sister.

* * *

“Where have you been wandering off to? It’s already sundown.”

As I returned to the hotel, Lancelot’s reprimand came flying straight at me.

Though his words were sharp, his voice was filled with a sense of hurt; it seemed he’d been quite bored spending half the day alone in Loven.

“I met a noble person.”

“A noble person…?”

Lancelot tilted his head, as if he couldn’t understand.

I didn’t bother explaining what I had experienced to him. It wasn’t that I thought Lancelot was the jealous type, but more like, ‘why bother?’

“I wandered around the central district while you were gone.”

“Really?”

Perhaps he’d been restless being alone in the hotel room, because what Lancelot said next was unexpected.

“So, did you find them? Mother and the Armand blacksmith.”

“No, I couldn’t find them. There was no one living in the central district mansions with the surname Armand.”

This was a bit surprising. I thought the Count Armand had given a considerable amount of support money when they registered Lancelot as his illegitimate child?

‘He doesn’t seem like the type to blow the money on gambling.’

With the situation unfolding like this, doubts came to the forefront.

Where on earth was his mother, Mrs. Armand, living? The cliffside grave didn’t even exist. That meant that she wasn’t dead and was still alive.

It was early the next morning when we came across some astonishing information…