Chapter 30
‘It truly is a treasured sword.’
Jade smiled faintly with his eyes closed as his ability manifested without the slightest prickling sensation.
He could feel that not only his mana but also his mental strength had increased greatly.
Thus, Jade leisurely went through the memories remaining in Marquess Madrain’s treasured sword.
‘House Madrain’s mana cultivation method isn’t much better than that of the Imperial Knights. It doesn’t feel particularly original, either.’
Jade smiled wryly to himself.
House Madrain’s mana cultivation method was certainly an advanced one.
It was not far inferior to the one Jade was currently practicing, at least.
But unfortunately, there was little Jade could take from it.
‘It’s true that they’re a renowned sword family, but that’s only by the standards of the Kingdom of Polstein. They aren’t famous enough to make a name for themselves across the continent.’
It was an extremely cold assessment, but it was also reality.
Besides, House Madrain would no longer exist in the future.
Even at that very moment, House Madrain was heading toward annihilation under Lloyd’s direction.
As the Second Prince’s closest aide, Lloyd was attacking House Madrain with ruthless determination.
Of course, the same was true of every noble family that had sided with the Second Prince.
‘Still, experiencing it indirectly is certainly a great help.’
Though House Madrain was renowned as a sword family, it had surprisingly produced few Sword Masters.
Even the late Marquess Madrain had been the first to reach the realm of Sword Master in a very long time.
‘I’d like to obtain the ducal house’s secret techniques, too. I wonder if I’ll get the chance.’
Like House Madrain, the ducal house was also renowned as a sword family within the Kingdom of Polstein.
That made Jade eager to obtain its secrets.
Although the current duke was not a Master, he was known to be a top-level Sword Expert.
Since there was every chance he would become a Master in the future, the duke still had plenty of potential.
‘Hmm.’
But that thought went no further.
Jade soon focused on the sword’s memories.
He was watching the most recent memory—the battle with Arrelia.
‘She’s definitely strong.’
Though Marquess Madrain had fought desperately, Jade, watching as an outside observer, could tell.
Arrelia had been at ease throughout the entire fight.
Arrelia had not even properly used spirit arts at the beginning.
She had driven Marquess Madrain back through pure swordsmanship alone.
‘The wound in his chest was severe.’
Through the sword’s memories, Jade could feel Marquess Madrain’s mana control and state of mind.
And even his swordsmanship.
There was little worth taking from the mana cultivation method, but there was certainly plenty to gain from that experience and swordsmanship.
“Phew!”
-How was it? Did it help? Does it seem like there’s anything worth taking?
“The mana cultivation method was nothing special, but there’s definitely something to take from the swordsmanship.”
-It seems the royal family has its eye on it, too. Even if House Madrain is destroyed, it would be a shame to waste its swordsmanship and mana cultivation method.
Silestin and Elestra hurried over.
But Whid reached Jade’s arms before they did.
“It’s true that it would be a waste from the kingdom’s perspective as well. The wielder was at fault, not the sword. They’ll probably entrust it to someone suitable. The same went for House Madrain.”
-Heehee, you figured out that much?
“Now that both my mana and mental strength have grown stronger.”
-Heehee! Do people know that Jade is good at stealing, too?
“It isn’t stealing. I’m just taking a peek. And there are more restrictions than you’d think.”
Jade denied it firmly.
It wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t exactly right, either.
Knock, knock.
As he stroked Whid, who had waited quietly while he spoke with the two spirits, a knock sounded.
Then came the voice of the servant who always attended him.
“Lord Jade, Lady Arrelia has come to see you.”
“Please let her in.”
“Yes.”
The door opened with a calm, unhurried reply befitting a middle-aged man.
Then Arrelia appeared, accompanied by a fresh, gentle fragrance.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Have you been well?”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been doing well. Unlike our forest, this place feels too artificial. The stares are a little uncomfortable, too. There are also many nobles who pretend not to notice while ogling me with lecherous eyes.”
“I’ve heard that quite a few nobles purchase slaves of other races.”
“The Kingdom of Polstein is fairly uncompromising about that. The royal family has elven blood in it, after all. Of course, it’s become very faint by now.”
Arrelia shrugged.
She seemed to be thinking of the two siblings who had no affinity for spirits whatsoever.
Yet there was no sign of pity or sympathy on her face.
“You’ll be leaving soon, then.”
“Yes. I only planned to stay until things were settled. Haines is almost fully recovered, too. Of course, he won’t be able to return to his former skill, but physically, he’s healed.”
“That can’t be helped. He is getting on in years.”
“I’m once again reminded of how short human lives are. Perhaps that’s why people burn through their lives so fiercely.”
Jade nodded.
He felt there was some truth to that, even in his own case.
Some geniuses really did burn through brief, intense lives before dying.
‘I wonder how long I’ll live.’
The mention of lifespans suddenly made Jade curious about his own.
Having undergone a body change, he was certain to live longer than an ordinary person.
He was certain to live for at least another hundred years, but he had no clear idea beyond that.
“Lord Jade?”
“Ah, forgive me. The subject of lifespans came up so suddenly.”
“Hmm, no wonder Rainy would be offended. To have a beautiful woman right in front of you and think about something else. Could it be your preference…?”
“Not at all.”
Jade put on a stern expression.
But Arrelia burst into laughter at his reaction.
He seemed to have denied it far too forcefully.
Of course, even if that had been his preference, she would have respected it.
“I don’t mind either way, so you don’t have to look so serious.”
“Really, it’s not that. I like women.”
“Then you should make it obvious. Looking at a beautiful woman is a natural instinct. Men, in particular, are hardwired to follow their instincts, heehee.”
Arrelia naturally folded her arms.
It wasn’t as pronounced as when she had provoked Marquess Madrain, but her chest still stood out slightly.
“You seem quite open-minded, Lady Arrelia.”
“You may call me Ria. It’s my nickname. You may speak casually with me, too. You certainly have every right to, Lord Jade.”
“I’ll do so once we become a little closer.”
“Heehee, do we still need more time?”
Arrelia made a look of dejection that did not suit her age.
But Jade saw through the act at a glance and did not take the bait.
“What brings you here?”
“Before I leave, I’d like to have a spar with you, Lord Jade.”
“With me?”
“Yes. Others don’t seem to know, but I know that you’re a Master, Lord Jade. You seem to be keeping it a secret, so I haven’t told anyone.”
Arrelia smiled sweetly.
She had come to the Kingdom of Polstein to help the two siblings, but she was not close enough to Jade to tell him everything she knew about him.
Strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to say that she had come to provide support because Clora had asked for help.
“I’m grateful.”
“From what I can tell, Haines doesn’t seem to know at all. Well, I understand. Even among elves, there aren’t many spirit mages capable of summoning high-grade spirits.”
Arrelia smiled meaningfully.
Her expression and tone suggested that she knew more but had no intention of saying it.
Moreover, she subtly glanced back and forth over Jade’s shoulders.
Although she could summon only intermediate spirits, that did not mean she was unable to sense Silestin and Elestra.
-They shouldn’t be able to see us.
-That’s for sure. But sensing us is another matter. With a Master’s keen senses, and given that she’s an elf, it’s possible.
The two spirits spoke freely despite Arrelia’s gaze.
They knew she was only guessing and couldn’t actually see them.
-But how can Whid see us?
-Maybe because we were there when he was just born? Or perhaps Whid is unusual. It’s rare, but there are monsters capable of handling spirits. To put it bluntly, dragons make contracts with spirits too, don’t they?
-That makes sense.
Silestin nodded.
That explanation made sense now that they had heard it.
-He is a dragon, after all.
Elestra stroked Whid’s cheek with a warm smile as he nestled quietly in Jade’s arms.
But perhaps Whid was still sulking, because he abruptly turned his head away with a sullen expression.
Yet even that was adorable to both Elestra and Silestin.
“I understand if you refuse, Lord Jade.”
“All right.”
“I knew you’d accept.”
“I’m a swordsman, too. So let’s have a spar using swordsmanship alone.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Arrelia smiled and bowed her head.
She knew very well that using spirit arts would leave her at a major disadvantage.
She wouldn’t lose easily, but she couldn’t be confident of winning, either.
She had not fully gauged Jade’s abilities, either.
“Shall we move somewhere first? There are too many eyes at the royal palace for a proper spar, and it’s cramped as well.”
“We can’t risk harming anyone else. Silaphe.”
At Arrelia’s call, the intermediate wind spirit Silaphe answered.
Like the Silaphe contracted to Jade, it had taken the form of a pegasus. Yet even though Arrelia was its summoner, Silaphe gazed at Jade with bright, eager eyes.
“You truly are loved by spirits.”
“It’s a blessing.”
With a gentle smile, another Silaphe appeared before Jade.
Now that Silaphe responded to his thoughts alone without him even needing to call its name, Jade smiled faintly and gently stroked the back of its neck.
-Whid will be able to carry Jade once he grows a little more.
-I think he could carry Jade even now, though it would be a little awkward. He’d probably be slower than Silaphe, too.
Silestin muttered as he watched Jade mount Silaphe.
He thought that at Whid’s current rate of growth, it would not be long before Whid could carry Jade around.
-I can carry him even now!
-You can’t call that riding.
Elestra gave him an incredulous look.
To begin with, Silestin was a wind spirit that did not weigh anything.
So saying that he had ridden on Whid’s back made no sense.
-Either way, riding is riding~!
While the two spirits bickered, Jade told the servant waiting outside the door that he and Arrelia were going out.
He thought the servant might be startled if the two of them suddenly disappeared.
Unnecessary scandalous rumors might spread, too.
With so many people watching them, there was no harm in taking precautions.
Riding Silaphes, the two rose to a high altitude and quickly left the royal palace.
Since they were both Masters, they looked for a place far enough away where they could use their power freely.
“Follow me. I have a place in mind!”
“You had it all planned out.”
“Spars like this are rare. I’ve already sparred with the elves from my village until I was sick of it.”
“I’m envious. A Master, spirit mages, and mages all gathered in one village.”