Lucas stood on a barren hill just outside the east gate of Crossroad.
The southern gate of Crossroad had its defenses, the western gate led to a communal cemetery, and the northern gate connected to another city.
Unlike the other three gates that were always bustling with people, the east gate was always a quiet place.
That’s why Lucas often came here when he had things to ponder alone.
"Sigh..."
With a faint sigh, Lucas took something out from his belongings.
It was the hilt of [Bestowed Sword].
The blade was broken and gone, leaving only the worn and crude hilt shaking pitifully in Lucas’s hand.
It had lost its function as a sword long ago.
Yet Lucas kept it, always carrying it with him.
Because it was both precious and painfully significant.
- Hey, Lucas. You still got the hilt of the first sword you used?
Ash’s voice, who had casually asked that question not too long ago, flashed across his mind.
"..."
His master.
Had he really forgotten everything?
That day’s events, and the oath of that day...
As Lucas tightly closed his lips and looked down at the hilt he held,
"Young Master!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice of a middle-aged man reached his ears.
Startled, he looked up to see a scruffy middle-aged man with a full beard, running toward him with a cheerful smile.
"Mason...?"
"Yes, Young Master! The eternal loyal servant of the McGregor family, Mason!"
The middle-aged man, Mason, was enormous. His broad shoulders and thick build resembled that of a bear.
Strapped to his back was a great sword almost as big as a man.
This burly middle-aged man ran up to Lucas and stopped before him. A surprised Lucas nervously uttered his name.
"It’s been a long time, Mason. How many years has it been?"
"Since the McGregor family’s swordsmanship dojo closed, it’s been roughly 8 years. You’ve grown splendidly, Young Master...!"
Mason seemed deeply moved by this long-awaited reunion, his eyes tinged with red.
"I heard through the grapevine about your military exploits on the southern front. To think you’ve grown into a fine knight that doesn’t tarnish the McGregor name... This Mason is overwhelmed!"
"..."
Feeling the weight of the compliment, Lucas gave a forced smile.
The McGregor family, where Lucas was born, was once a prestigious knightly family that had produced the Empire’s best swordsman for generations.
That was, until about a hundred years ago.
Before the head of the McGregor family was implicated in treason a century ago.
Although the family narrowly escaped complete extinction due to their previous accomplishments, the head lost his life, and the family diminished.
Since then, they had not even produced a respectable swordsman, becoming an inconsequential declining nobility on the verge of disappearing.
When it came to Lucas’s generation,
They were struggling to even maintain the family, ultimately closing down their long-standing swordsmanship dojo.
Mason had been an instructor at the McGregor swordsmanship dojo. At the same time, he was also a lifelong servant who had faithfully served the McGregor family.
When the dojo closed and the McGregor family was about to vanish into the annals of history, Mason had tightly hugged Lucas and wept inconsolably.
They had lost touch since then.
Now, they were reunited in this southern hinterland.
"You probably know that I’ve been serving as Prince Ash’s guard..."
Pointing his chin toward Crossroad, Lucas looked at Mason and asked,
"So how have you been all these years, Mason?"
Mason grinned and said,
"After that day, I enlisted under the command of Prince Fernandez, the second prince."
He declared his allegiance openly, without any reservation.
"Because he had long supported our McGregor family, it was only natural."
"Ah..."
Lucas, caught off guard, stammered and then chuckled awkwardly.
"Is that so? Even now?"
"Yes. I’ve been working with Aegis Special Forces since then. My primary duty is..."
Mason finally said it outright.
"Espionage."
"..."
"I was dispatched this time to monitor the activities on the southern front."
Lucas’s voice turned icy, his brow furrowing.
"Mason, what are you trying to—"
"Do you know, young master? The Aegis Special Forces I belong to is a gathering of people who are backed into a corner."
Mason nonchalantly blabbed, scratching his scruffy beard.
"People who have nothing left to sell but their souls to the devil gather in this special force."
That was the way of the Aegis Special Forces.
They exploited the vulnerabilities of those who had lost their footing, taking hostage what they would give their lives to attain.
Any mission given, they would gladly undertake.
"I was no different. To achieve my goal, I willingly sold this soul to General Fernandez."
Lucas opened his eyes wide and asked coldly.
"And what goal is that?"
"The revival of the McGregor family."
Staring into Lucas’s piercing blue eyes, the old servant still loyal to the McGregors recited menacingly,
"That is the only thing I desire."
"The McGregor family is already over, sir."
Lucas continued to gaze at the hilt of the ’Bestowed Sword’ in his hand.
A rusted sword with no blade.
The day the blade of this sword broke years ago marked the end of the McGregor family’s fate.
"Let go of that lingering attachment now. Live your own life."
"No! It’s not over. The blood of the noblest knight flows in you, young master Lucas! Doesn’t it continue through you?"
The noblest knight’s blood, he said.
The absurdity made Lucas chuckle without realizing it.
The blood coursing through him was far from noble or knightly.
If he had to pinpoint it, it would be the blood of a mad dog.
A creature unsure where to sink its fangs, unable to even recognize its own master... the blood of a rabid dog.
Oblivious to Lucas’s self-mockery, Mason continued.
"I have never forgotten the revival of the McGregor family."
"..."
"Vulcho Mason, solely for the future with you, young master! I’ve endured all kinds of humiliation and days of disgrace. And finally, the time has come."
Mason grinned, twisting his beard, and leaned in close to Lucas.
"At my constant request, General Fernandez has made a promise."
"... A promise? Of what?"
"General Fernandez said, ’If you uphold the old oath, I will absolve the family of its remaining sins, restore its honor, and reclaim its former territory and property.’"
The old oath...
At those words, Lucas’s eyes momentarily closed and opened again.
- Swear to me, young McGregor.
The face of Fernandez, who once looked down at him from the throne, gentle and intolerable, resurfaced in his mind.
He had lived forgetting that old event, but it seemed he was the only one who had forgotten.
The past was relentlessly catching up to Lucas, thrusting an indelible mistake back in front of him.
"Young Master Lucas. General Fernandez will become the Emperor."
Mason said it with conviction. Lucas took a deep breath.
"Isn’t General Fernandez currently clashing with Crown Prince Lark, who has the world’s best army and commander in the Imperial Capital? How does he plan to stop that?"
"Physical strength is meaningless. This war isn’t about that. I, who have honed my skills in the Aegis Special Forces for eight years, assure you. The ultimate victor of this war will be Lord Fernandez."
Mason grinned.
"For the future of the McGregor family, consider carefully what your next move should be."
"..."
"What’s the point of remaining loyal to that wasteful Third Prince in a backwater like this? Hasn’t that prince done nothing but exploit and torment you all your life?"
Mason’s logic was straightforward and clear.
Abandon the useless Third Prince, who was holed up in a remote area and exploited his loyal subjects without any compensation. Instead, align with the clever Second Prince, who would soon grasp the Imperial throne.
Fulfill the vow you failed to keep long ago.
And then... even a fallen family could rise again.
"..."
Lucas chuckled bitterly, about to reply to Mason.
That’s when it happened.
Creeaak—
The east gate of Crossroad suddenly opened wide.
Whoosh...!
A crowd of people poured out from within.
"Huh?"
Crossroad’s east gate usually saw little traffic. The sudden appearance of dozens of people all at once was odd.
Lucas looked in that direction. Mason, who also sensed something strange, did the same.
ThudThudThudThudThud—!
People were rushing toward them.
Leading them was...
"Lucassss!"
...Ash.
He had run so fast that his face had turned red, and the Third Prince of the Empire yelled out loud.
"I’ve found youuuu!"
Arriving before Lucas in an instant, flanked by dozens of soldiers, Ash shouted without even catching his breath.
"Catch that guy—!"
"Yes!"
Dozens of soldiers raced forward with their spears, immediately surrounding Mason and—
Tackling him to the ground.
"Wha—?!"
Thud!
Mason was swiftly subdued without resistance. His hands were tightly bound with rope as he yelled out.
"What is the meaning of this! I am a refugee from the north, and—"
"Huff, huff, quit your bullshit, you spy."
Ash growled, catching his breath roughly.
"I was willing to turn a blind eye. Whether you guys stir the pot or gather information, as long as it wasn’t too serious, I was willing to ignore it."
Caught off guard, a flustered Mason stuttered.
To Mason, Ash shouted while pointing his finger.
"But how dare you secretly try to scout a player from my team during the current season?! That’s tampering, you unethical scum!"
Ash vented his frustration, throwing around terms commonly used in Earth’s sports contracts.
"If you want to make a scouting offer, do it officially through me! State how much the transfer fee is! I’ll at least hear you out! Not that I’ll ever let him go!"
"Wha, what..."
"Forget it! Just throw him in jail!"
Watching Mason being dragged off to prison, Lucas broke into a cold sweat.
Mason glanced at Lucas with pitiful eyes, but given they hadn’t had an honest discussion, Lucas couldn’t help him.
In front of Lucas, Ash smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Lucas, want a raise?"
"Uh, what?"
"Or maybe a title? Lands? What do you want? This prince will grant it all! Any grievances, complaints, or suggestions, speak up! Oh, is it equipment? Should I arrange better gear for you?"
While saying this, Ash suddenly noticed what Lucas was holding.
It was the hilt of an old sword.
"Huh?"
Snatch!
Ash grabbed it from Lucas’ hand and smiled brightly.
"There was the sword you were demoted for!"
"Ah...!"
"Found it! Hey, do you have any idea how worried I was, thinking you might’ve messed this up? Whew. Thank God you found it, really."
Slipping the hilt of the sword into his grip, Ash grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
"I’m gonna turn this into an amazing weapon for you. You can look forward to it. With this, you’ll really soar, won’t you? Just trust me, alright!"
"..."
Lucas stared blankly for a moment before slowly uttering,
"My Lord... You told me earlier to only trust in you, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I did."
"So, do you trust me, My Lord?"
"Of course! Who else would I trust if not you?"
"What if I..."
Lucas slowly dropped his bright blue eyes...
And gently aimed at Ash’s throat.
"...told you that I once betrayed you?"
The very throat he had once sought to tear open long ago.
--TL Notes--
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