“Thank you.”
Albert’s eyes sparkled excessively as he tightly grasped both of my hands.
Ugh, stop it. When you look at me like that, it’s overwhelming.
Albert’s awakening was actually quite brief compared to Duke Helpion or Butler-in-Chief Apel Mark II.
About an hour?
During that time, Amin and I held our breath as we guarded Albert.
“Did you gain something?”
“Hmm… I’ve hit a wall. If I push past it with effort, I’ll reach Master.”
Sword Expert—top level, huh.
It’s definitely an impressive realm, but I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
If Lord Albert had become a Master in a situation where enemies like Lumpen Hound existed, we’d have a solid countermeasure in case of emergencies.
“Commander, that’s amazing! Seeing the wall means you’re at the top tier, right? Just one more breakthrough and you’ll become a Swordmaster?”
At Amin’s reaction, Albert nodded with an excited expression.
“Wow… Sage.”
Huh?
“Sage-nim.”
Amin’s eyes gleamed brightly.
But her gaze wasn’t on Lord Albert—it was on me.
Sure enough.
Albert’s eyes flipped into a triangular shape as he looked at Amin’s expression.
Ugh.
I thought that training and chatting together might help clear things up, so I’d been brushing it off, but if this keeps happening, I’ll go crazy from frustration.
“Well then, since today is a glorious day where Lord Albert achieved enlightenment, shall we end training early?”
“Hmm.”
“Got it!”
While Amin was busy tidying up the training ground, I quietly approached Albert.
“My lord.”
“Count.”
“Do you have time for a drink tonight?”
Lord Albert looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Wasn’t the plan to rest after training?”
“This concerns Amin.”
Albert’s eyebrows twitched upward.
“More precisely, it’s about the relationship between Lord Albert and Amin…”
“There’s a quiet tavern.”
He sure understands well when it comes to this kind of thing.
“Good. I’ll get my things ready—meet me at the mansion’s main gate in twenty minutes.”
“Understood.”
We exchanged glances and left the training ground quietly, avoiding Amin’s notice.
In the evening, Albert met me at the main gate and silently led me to an old tavern.
Creak.
The hinges groaned as if they’d withstood countless years like the tavern’s history.
Under the dim lighting, a burly man covered in thick hair stood there, similar to Albert.
“Albert.”
“Aberaham.”
They exchanged a casual nod, and Albert led me to a table in the back of the tavern.
Albert, as if familiar with the place, found a corner seat.
Though we hadn’t ordered, the owner placed two thick, dark glasses of stout beer and some jerky on the table.
Everything felt natural, like flowing water.
“This is a frequent spot. The taste’s good.”
“Then I’ll drink with confidence.”
We clinked glasses lightly and downed the beer eagerly.
“EO!”
The beer tasted better than expected.
The stout’s characteristic heaviness and sourness lingered on the palate, ending with a faint sweetness.
“Is there honey in it?”
“You have a sensitive tongue.”
“I just like alcohol. But this kind of beer is new to me.”
“It’s the Northern Sea style—fermented with fruit and honey. They drink it instead of water, or when feeling ill.”
Albert’s expression seemed slightly flushed as he spoke about the Northern Sea.
Even though he left long ago, the homeland remains the homeland.
“Northern Sea beer, huh. That’s rare.”
“Aberaham and I are both from the Northern Sea.”
“Oh, meeting someone from your hometown here must have been a joy.”
Albert shook his head.
“We were comrades in the Order of Knights.”
“Oh…”
Comrades in the Order of Knights.
But one became a Knight Commander, while the other was now the owner of a shabby tavern.
How ironic.
“Count Laward, I was surprised by your imagination. Seeing a sword and thinking of a wolf—I swing my sword hours a day but never thought of that. The power of imagination is strong. Since I awakened, anyway.”
Albert gulped down the remaining beer and wiped the foam from his beard with the back of his hand.
“Let me say again, thank you. Your enlightenment is a great kindness. Your wisdom rivals that of a Sage.”
“No, no, Sage? I haven’t done anything that big.”
After leaving the Helpion Duchy, I thought I’d finally be free of that ‘Sage’ nonsense.
Despite my frantic gestures to avoid being called Sage, Albert just stared into his empty beer glass.
“Whether it’s a crest or the world, knowledge is power.”
Just then, Aberaham approached with three beers—one for Albert, one for me, and apparently one for himself.
He sat down and downed more than half his large glass in one gulp, belching loudly.
“It’s just nightfall. Planning to close already?”
“You need customers to keep business going. Look around—you won’t find any besides those bastards. I have to drink to ease my mind.”
Wow… this guy can talk.
Albert rebuked Aberaham, perhaps reading my expression.
“Careful. This gentleman is a noble. A Count.”
Aberaham scratched the back of his head and bowed slightly.
“Damn, sorry. The only words I’ve heard are from drunkards in tavern basements, so my language’s a bit rough.”
“No, no. You speak well.”
“Compared to the lousy bastards here? I got out quickly because I was quick-witted, but this guy’s a stubborn bear who didn’t learn properly.”
“So you left early.”
“Those crazy bastards spent nights plotting how to torment us more. I’m smart, so I escaped early. This guy stayed because he’s dumb.”
He seemed worked up, gulping down the last of his beer.
“Damn. I wanted to drink slowly, but looks like I’ll ruin my finances. Hey, Count, you planning to pay up nicely tonight?”
“Haha, I’ve never been stingy with drinks, so just relax. Tell some good old stories and I’ll pay you extra.”
“Damn, then wait here. I’ll even bring a cask.”
True to his word, Aberaham returned carrying two oak barrels slung over his shoulders.
Earlier, he said he had a winning streak against Lord Albert in sparring, right?
Judging by the bulging muscles the size of my head, his effortless complexion, and light steps, it seemed true.
He placed the barrels down with a thud beside the table.
“From now on, drink as you please. I’m too lazy to pour for you all.”
“Understood.”
Thus, the three men’s drinking session officially began, with the past as their drinking stories.
“Thirteen years ago, the Demon King’s army invaded the Northern Sea too. Many tribes died, were destroyed, or fled. I, Aberaham, wandered with friends and family.”
“That’s when I found this place—the ruins of an Order of Knights no young person wanted to join, and even the few students had all run away.”
No wonder so many Northern Sea people were in the Squaret Duchy.
The Demon King.
He appeared about fifteen years ago and ravaged the world for two years.
Truly a disaster.
We reminisced about our childhoods during the Demon King’s Rampage Period while drinking.
When the alcohol had made us slightly tipsy, I began to broach my real reason for coming.
“By the way, Aberaham.”
“Hmm?”
Love stories are always the best.
“Do you know Lord Albert has a crush on a novice Knight? Hey, Albert, be careful with that fork! Isn’t that an aura?”
“Albert, why’s your aura level so high? Have you awakened?”
“No, Aberaham, that’s not the point—ugh! I just brushed past it! Help me out!”
“Hey, Albert, calm down. Hold on now. I said stop. This innocent bear has a crush? A crush! And on a novice Knight? Cripes! I’m already getting drunk.”
Luckily, Aberaham quickly moved behind Albert, grabbing his arms and neck to calm him down.
Wow, look at those forearm veins.
Such ignorant people.
If we weren’t careful, his epitaph might read: ‘Died after being poked with a fork while teasing a crush.’
“Let go! Let me go!”
“Count, this story’s worth a lot. I’ll cover all the beer you’ve drunk so far! So spill it.”
Phew.
Though I wanted to punish Albert for risking his life telling me this love story, I knew better than to cause trouble.
So, I decided to get back to the original purpose of coming here with Albert.
“Lord Albert, what I’m about to tell you will definitely help you. So please calm down and listen.”
“…What is it?”
“Do you know there’s a secret behind the romance between Duke Helpion and Lady Titania? Like beautiful words that turn a person’s heart, or love letters.”
Swing swords, awaken people.
I’ve heard plenty of weird ‘Sage’ nonsense, but after all, this is my main job.
The dim lighting in the tavern flickered once.
I calmly told them the story of Duke Helpion and Lady Titania.
Aberaham had let go of Albert and focused on the story, and Albert listened quietly, calmer than before.
When I finished, Aberaham clicked his tongue.
“This guy is amazing. If you stab the wrong person like this, the Grand Master will come after you with a sword. What nerve. Is a crush really that embarrassing?”
“If you stab the Count, Duke Helpion will come, but if you stab me, only the wife will come.”
“Damn it, call her sister-in-law.”
Aberaham grumbled, releasing Albert’s arms.
Albert rubbed his neck and shoulders and sipped his beer.
“Count, I know the romance was carried out by letters. Do those letters have something to do with you?”
My lord.
The reason I work so hard here is for Lady Titania’s safety.
So whatever happens here, even if you find out later, please forgive me.
“Duke Helpion is incredible. He defeated the Demon King and holds the title of the world’s strongest.”
The two men nodded quickly.
He became a Knight during the Demon King’s Rampage Period, right?
To men of military backgrounds who survived that time, Duke Helpion is somewhat of a legend.
Look at their eyes.
They’re sparkling like dream-stricken youths.
“But I can only say this because I serve him closely. The man is a fool who only knows swords.”
“Huh? What nonsense is that? Duke Helpion must be a perfect superhuman in all respects.”
“Of course, with swords, yes. When he first met Lady Titania, he saved her by effortlessly cutting a Drake in half.”
“Ha, that’s the Duke for you. Amazing.”
“From there, the Duke fell in love at first sight with Lady Titania, but… you know how stuffy noble romances can be. So they decided to nurture their love through love letters.”
“Mmm.”
“The problem is, the Duke only knows swords. He needs to write love letters, but all he knows is the sword. So he ended up writing about swordsmanship over and over.”
“Puhahaha! So Duke Helpion had such a silly side.”
“Ah… that’s why!”
Aberaham laughed loudly, even spitting a bit during my story, while Albert’s expression turned thoughtful.
“What? You know something?”
“Recently, Lady Titania became a Sword Expert. Those letters contain the essence of the Duke’s sword techniques.”
“What?! The Lady? Then what happened? Did she send back not love letters, but her true sword technique manual?”
“I don’t know. She doesn’t show the letters to anyone.”
Their gazes turned to me.
As long as she doesn’t show them, only I know the truth of those letters.
“My job was to receive those letters and gently interpret and refine them. Placing the words the Duke wanted, arranging lines that matched his true feelings perfectly.”
“Just with that, enlightenment?”
You fool! Is enlightenment really the important thing here?
This sword-obsessed idiot misunderstood the point of what I said.
“Hey! Enlightenment’s not the issue. A skilled wordsmith who can turn Lady Titania’s heart is offering to help you. If you fix that stiff way you speak and get married, wouldn’t that be great?”
Ha, Aberaham, nice approach.
His support was a work of art.
Albert’s expression grew serious after hearing Aberaham’s words.
When I was bullied by Deon Krapy, barely scraping by, I tried everything to survive.
One of the most effective was working as a street merchant.
As the eldest son of a merchant guild, I’m confident in catching clumsy suckers—or customers.
Especially with someone who only cares about swords.
Albert bowed his head slightly, deeply pondering.
“Understood. If it’s to help a benefactor, it must be meaningful. I’ll follow. What should I do?”
He nodded soon after.
Good.
“First, let’s start with basic sentence studies. I’ll find the books you need.”
Aberaham grinned mischievously.
“Haha, starting tomorrow, this guy will study—something not in his fate. That’s interesting. To encourage him, let’s drink tonight until we drop, Count.”
“Drink until we drop.”
“You’ll regret it, old man.”
“Ha! How could I not treat a friend’s love project to a drink? I’m not going to get rich selling a few drinks here anyway!”
I smiled brightly and raised my beer in response.
That night.
We finished five barrels of beer, and three of them were mine.
After three barrels, Aberaham’s face turned sour, and by the fourth, he begged if he could pay half.
Ha, it was a great night.