Butler Apel entered meditation in search of enlightenment two days ago.
During that time, a fierce storm raged relentlessly in the training hall.
And by the afternoon of the next day.
The storm gradually began to subside.
That meant my stamina training break was coming to an end.
That hellish training was about to start all over again.
And this time, it would be Butler Apel, now stronger and leveled up, who would be in charge.
Ugh, I really don’t want that.
I was processing documents with those thoughts in mind when the Head Maid entered, and I flinched, tensing up as if she had read my mind.
“I’m sorry…….”
“No, it’s fine.”
Ah, now I feel guilty for no reason.
The Head Maid had rushed in and saved my life back then.
But I still can’t shake the fear from when she soared through the sky.
Whenever I see the Head Maid, I can’t help but flinch, feeling like a mouse before a cat.
I really need to relax.
“The Duke has asked that you come to the training hall after you finish your work today. He said by then the Butler’s enlightenment should be complete.”
“Yes, understood. I’ll head down and won’t be late.”
The Head Maid delivered the message and, as always, left behind a cup of Selbinas tea before leaving.
The rich aroma of the perfectly brewed tea filled the office.
Yeah. This must be what life in the Helpion Duchy is normally like.
The Head Maid soars through the sky, the Butler suddenly awakens, and the finest tea is enjoyed as a matter of course.
I really need to get used to this.
I took a sip of tea and resumed my paperwork.
That evening.
The sound of wind howling in the training hall for two nights straight finally died down.
Instead, the laughter and sobbing of Butler Apel echoed through the hall.
“Hahahahaha, to become an Intermediate Swordmaster at my age, boohoo!”
“Have you calmed yourself?”
“Heheh, yes, I have!”
Duke Helpion brought the entire household to the training hall as the winds subsided.
It was to celebrate the Butler’s enlightenment.
“As expected, the flow of your Mana and your physique are much more balanced now. Congratulations.”
As Duke Helpion said, Apel now looked far younger than before.
His face, once wrinkled and bearded in his sixties, now appeared that of a man in his forties.
Wait a second.
The Head Maid also looks incredibly young for her age.
Could it be that the Head Maid is even stronger than the Butler?
No way…… surely not.
An Intermediate Swordmaster is a rare level, even across the Empire.
And above that is the highest level, the Grand Swordmaster.
The only one in the world with that title is Duke Helpion.
Could there really be two such people in this house?
That’s just speculation.
While I was sorting out my thoughts, a huge shadow suddenly loomed in front of me.
It was Butler Apel.
“Butler?”
At my call, the Butler dropped to the ground and bowed deeply.
What the—this is way too much!
I hurried to grab his shoulders and help him up.
What is this? He’s like a boulder, no, a fortress wall!
He doesn’t budge at all!
“I, in gratitude to the one who led me to enlightenment, swear to help you three times with anything—so long as it does not harm the Helpion Ducal Family or go against my duties or will.”
“No, really, all I did was spout some college-level pseudo-philosophy with my classmates over drinks…….”
“The Chamberlain was right. Whether straight or curved, a line is still a line if it’s connected—why was I so obsessed? And that’s not the only name I’ve fixated on. This old man failed to recognize your wisdom, Chamberlain, and made a grave mistake. Will you forgive me, even now?”
“No, seriously, please get up, I’m fine, really!”
This is honestly making things so awkward.
Did he really need to go this far with everyone gathered around?
“You. The Chamberlain says it’s fine, so let it go and stand up.”
It was only after the Duke spoke that the Butler finally rose.
Phew, I’m sweating bullets here.
“Now, more importantly, shouldn’t we see how you swing a sword?”
At the Duke’s words, the Butler drew his sword as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
The other two retainers also moved to the corners of the training hall, eyes gleaming with anticipation—a rare sight.
I too slunk off to a corner, almost as if escaping.
By the time the onlookers had all taken their places, the two duelists seemed ready as well.
Butler Apel took a tense mid-guard stance with both hands, while Duke Helpion, standing before him, relaxedly lowered his sword, looking as if he were simply enjoying the night air.
And in the next instant.
Butler Apel’s sword traced a slow arc through the air.
Yes, slowly.
The Butler’s sword was truly mysterious.
Even before he fully swung, sword light flashed near him.
Before the sword had even struck, it surged at Duke Helpion, and from within the scabbard, hundreds of afterimages bloomed.
It was like watching a sapling rapidly grow into a towering tree.
Butler Apel was creating a world of his own with his sword.
So this is the level of an Intermediate Swordmaster.
But even more overwhelming was—
Duke Helpion’s swordplay, which erased all of Apel’s technique with nothing more than a single, light stroke.
It was a power that could erase the world itself.
“Amazing.”
The words slipped out before I realized it.
Before long, Butler Apel and Duke Helpion had stepped back and sheathed their swords.
“Not just twice, but three times—you’re impressive.”
Duke Helpion wore an intrigued expression.
“Three times? What do you mean?”
“It means I blocked the Butler’s sword with three swings of my own.”
“Uh, that’s impressive, but… I mean, is that a big deal?”
Confused, I tried to clarify, and Butler Apel answered in a voice full of emotion.
“My lifelong wish was to make the Duke swing his sword twice, but now I’ve made him swing it three times in one go. I could die without regret.”
“Tsk tsk, why talk of dying? Now that you’re healthier, you should strive to make me swing it ten times.”
Two times, three times, ten times.
Intermediate Swordmaster and Grand Swordmaster.
It’s only a difference of one level, yet the gap is that huge?
It’s truly remarkable. To think my employer is that strong.
“Your swordplay was free, unbound by beginning or end. It’s no empty boast to say you might make me swing my sword ten times. If you continue to train, you could do it in a year or two.”
Oh no, the Butler looks like he’s about to cry.
“It’s all thanks to the Chamberlain’s help.”
The Butler credited me, and everyone’s gaze turned to me.
There’s the chef, and the Head Maid.
Their stares are a bit scary.
It’s like they’re looking at a gold coin dropped on the ground.
Just then, Duke Helpion approached and made a suggestion.
“So, Chamberlain, how about taking on a new task?”
“A new task?”
Aren’t I already writing letters, handling paperwork, doing all sorts of things?
“Your way of thinking is certainly different from us martial types. So, would you be willing to teach me?”
What sort of bizarre request is this?
“It’s embarrassing to admit, but for nearly ten years I’ve been stuck at a wall, making no progress despite diligent training. Seeing the Butler’s case, I thought perhaps you could help me as well.”
This was a surprising offer.
It meant not just being a Chamberlain, but becoming the Duke’s personal tutor.
My social standing would rise, and I’d have a solid backer.
And as a bonus—
If this battle-crazed monster learned some common sense, it would make letter writing so much easier.
“They say a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. But I wonder if the opposite could be true—could a healthy body reside in a healthy mind?”
After collecting my thoughts, I spoke.
“Duke.”
“Yes?”
“Will you pay me well?”
At my words, the Duke and everyone around him let out a helpless chuckle.
Why are they laughing? Money is a serious matter.
For me, it’s a matter of survival.
“Haha. Good. Everyone but the Chamberlain, leave us. I have more to discuss with him.”
When the Duke finished speaking,
The Butler bowed once to the Duke, then to me, and withdrew.
The chef and Head Maid followed the Butler out of the training hall.
No words were exchanged, but their gazes burned with congratulatory pride.
“Laward Gordem, Chamberlain.”
“Y-yes!”
Why use my full name? That’s intimidating.
The Duke looked straight at me.
“Now that you mention money, I’m reminded. Yesterday, you requested a loan, didn’t you? For ten thousand gold.”
I scratched the back of my head.
It had been a while since I sent a letter to my younger sibling.
It was about time to secure some spare capital and stabilize the chaotic market prices in the Helpion Duchy.
Aside from the tavern, I needed to prepare to face the other two factions:
The Grizzly Mercenary Corps and the Village Women’s Association.
For that, I needed starting funds.
With an investment of ten thousand gold, I could probably earn ten, no, fifteen times that.
“Yes, well…….”
“I understand.”
“With that capital, I could trade more easily—wait, what?”
“I’ll invest one hundred thousand gold. Use it as you see fit.”
The Duke’s generosity far exceeded my expectations.
It was almost unbelievable.
“Are you serious?”
I had to ask again.
I needed to make sure he wasn’t joking.
The Duke, hands behind his back, gazed up at the sky with a relaxed expression.
“Honestly, I gave you a month’s opportunity, but I didn’t expect much.”
That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?
“In my territory, full of warriors, I didn’t expect a civil officer to achieve anything. So I had no high hopes. But everything you’ve done has exceeded my expectations. No, rather, it’s been astonishing.”
I followed Duke Helpion’s gaze up to the sky.
It was a beautiful night, the moon and stars shining brightly in the clear, white expanse.
“So this time, I’m going to hope. What will you show me? Will you meet my expectations, or will you surpass them again? Maybe you’ll bring new change to this duchy, sealed off as it is by the demons.”
I fell silent at the Duke’s words.
I couldn’t answer easily.
Ever since Deon Craphy started bullying me at the Academy, no one had ever said they expected anything of me.
Everyone at school either resented or hated me, and the professors or patrons who once had hopes for me left in disappointment.
My parents, who believed in me, passed away, and my younger sibling resented me for years.
So—
It’s been so long since someone expected something from me, I don’t know how to respond.
All I can do is—
“I’ll do my best.”
Truly, with everything I have.
All I could do was resolve to try my hardest.
Today, I witnessed something truly rare.
A duel between Swordmasters.
There were many stories about Swordmasters in the Akashic Record.
Wielders of swords that could cut the sky and split the sea.
It was said that ordinary people couldn’t even follow their swordplay with their eyes.
Was that really so?
I’m not so sure.
I may not have seen all of their swordsmanship, but still, the swordplay of Butler Apel, who had reached enlightenment as an Intermediate Swordmaster—
And just once,
I clearly saw the line Duke Helpion’s sword drew.
I almost felt like I could imitate it.
Lying in bed, I raised my right hand and traced the vivid trajectory of that line.
“Hmm?”
Strange.
The curved line I used to cut down a fly before was easy.
Why can’t I follow this line?
Is it like this? Or like this?
Several more times after that,
I kept swinging my hand, trying to recreate Duke Helpion’s line,
But I fell asleep without succeeding even once.