Chapter 10

The Netri estate had its sword on display for quite some time, and although I hadn’t seen it in person, I’ve heard that it once bore a golden hilt. As a result, the interior of Netri’s estate showcased the flowers of previous heads of the family in frames. Of course, there was no place for Sheuer there.

In contrast to Netri’s swordsmanship, which had a clear visual aspect, Blenga’s swordsmanship required emotional involvement and was unfamiliar to Scheuer. At the same time, it was frightening. Perhaps it was due to their abilities that the heads of the Blenga family had short lifespans through generations. The previous Grand Duke also met an early demise, and in his place, the Grand Duchess held the position, and Ragrain inherited the title as soon as he came of age.

“I checked the mansion just in case, but the only one who visited Blen’s castle was the Grand Duke.”

Netri’s lineage was not particularly precious, even with Netri, Erina, and Scheuer. Considering that there were even commoner lineages with such branches, Blenga without any common lineage was certainly unique. So, Blenga was soon to be the head.

In the original work, it was said that once Blenga used their sword, the emotions they had felt moments before became numb as if nothing could be read, like a blank sheet of paper. The only passage she could use to gauge Raygrain’s state was the expression that all emotions became blank.

Maybe that’s why Blenga was heard to be inconvincible in the center. They were not swayed by external factors, and not subject to temporary emotions or impulses. In other words, the standards and measures of one who wields a sword were what made Blenga move.

With no emotions, Blenga was not threatened by the authority of others, nor by morality, recognition, or beliefs. If you could write something on a blank sheet, who could engrave beliefs there again?

Stiff and unyielding because it was not influenced by the surrounding situation, but if it were to adopt the wrong standards, there was a significant risk of deviation.

Is it because of concerns about uncontrollable power? There was a brief mention that Blenga’s successors were strictly educated for generations.

“So, does that mean they’ll follow any order, no matter what?”

Thanks to this, Blenga’s influence in the North was quite strong.

The foresight of the previous generation couldn’t be denied.

“Just how remarkable is this ability if it can erase even our Grand Duke’s emotions? I need to see it for myself.”

Was it her strong determination that he felt? Raygrain placed the new robe he was wearing next to her and said,

“If you want to see the swordsmanship, keep it with you, don’t take it away.”

“I’m not interested in new things. Don’t worry!”

“At least your standards are clear, so that’s something to like.”

He swiftly put on his training attire. Before he knew it, Raygrain had reached Jes and received a wooden training sword from him. Jes’s stern gaze seemed to express some form of protest toward her.

“Are you feeling unjust or angry?” When she blinked, pretending not to notice, Jes openly turned his head away.

How childish.

Ragrain looked around at the knights and asked,

“Who wishes to spar?”

“Your Highness, I do. I’m here!” Navid, who was ahead of the crowd, raised his hand, but Ragrain casually ignored him.

“Jess will do.”

“An honor, Your Highness.”

Jes’s response was determined, and he held a practice sword with a live blade, unlike the one Raygrain held.

Scheuer rose from her seat and pointed at him, shouting,

“Why does Jes get a sword? The Grand Duke is given this stick, and that’s unfair!”

Raygrain responded calmly to her protest.

“Watch and speak again later.”

Before the sentence was finished, Jes charged at him. Raygrain, without any prepared stance, made a flawless motion through the air. Every stroke of his ruthless and merciless sword seemed to radiate vitality. This was Raygrain without using Gemma.

Scheuer realized belatedly that Jess’s tension was due to nervousness. She gaped in astonishment at the graceful and disciplined movements, which were clearly beyond anything that could be captured in words.

It was certainly a level of movement that couldn’t be captured with words.

“So this is what they mean by Blenga in the North,” she thought.

It was as if he was facing a ferocious beast rather than a person. In the original work, Erina dealt with people in the Central region, and Raygrain dealt with monsters, so it was not an incorrect statement. There was a clearly overwhelming difference, but as she watched his rugged movements, a sense of unease crept in.

“Still, in the end, we’ll be killed by the monsters.”

A year later, due to the abnormally increased number of monsters, most of the Northern Expedition forces would end up as sacrifices. By then, there were very few left who stood by Raygrain’s side in the North, who had completely lost his emotions.

Even the remaining knights had considered fleeing for their lives. Raygrain found himself isolated in the North, with no support from the central authorities. He had no time to wait for them. Without hesitation, he led the remaining troops into battle

“I don’t want to see that kind of thing.”

She would prefer it if it was just fiction. Now that she had seen him in person, the scenes were vividly imprinted in her mind.

Scheuer tightly closed her eyes, not wanting to think about his death. They never found his body, but Erina, who had commanded the expedition, and the male protagonist, confirmed that he had fallen to the monsters. Since he never returned from the expedition, it was the only logical conclusion.

“No, I shouldn’t have these negative thoughts.”

Scheuer slapped her own cheeks lightly with both hands.

“I won’t let it end like that.”

Scheuer opened her eyes and gazed at Raygrain. Whenever the sharp sound pierced her ears, she knew it wasn’t true, but her hands were sweaty.

She wiped her hands quickly on the robe that hung beside her. “In the original work, it was said that I had the ability to heal, but….”

Since becoming Scheuer, she has tried multiple times, but in reality, she couldn’t achieve any meaningful results. The story didn’t provide details on how to use the healing ability, as it was only revealed when the character was near death.

“I only worked with flowers… but why would a family known for their flowers be the ones to pick them?”

“Maybe it was a rebellion against the Netri Duke?” Scheuer pondered. As she contemplated, her shadow grew darker.

Raygrain, with his imposing stature, cast his shadow over her. Behind him, Jess’s frail figure was even more pronounced. Even without hearing, it was evident who had won.

Despite the cold weather, Jess was sweating, while Raygrain, who appeared as if he had just been sparring, seemed unfazed.

As thoughts of the original ending crossed Schuer’s mind, her eyes glistened with moisture. Raygrain noticed the change in her expression and calmly spoke without a change in his breath.

“Was it a lie when you said you wanted to see it?”

Scheuer nodded faintly and corrected his words,

“It wasn’t a lie; it was a concern.”

Concern – he seemed to ponder what that emotion meant for a moment, as if trying to gauge the depths of that feeling. Soon, he came to a rational conclusion.

“If it was going to be like this, you shouldn’t have watched in the first place.”

What reason was there to be concerned to the point of furrowing one’s brow over such a simple matter as sparring? Especially to the extent of shedding tears over the sight of him wielding a sword.

Compared to the much more perilous monster exterminations in the south, this duel was a mere breather. No one had doubted his ability to handle a sword. It was natural, and it had to be.

But it seemed different to the young lady from the south.

“That’s just what love is like. You want to see them, but when you do, you’re afraid that if you touch them, they might fall, or if the wind blows, they might fly away.”

Scheuer shyly poked his arm with her index finger.

“Smile Love”