Chapter 52. It Was Strange.

The Sword Saint was so full of life it was hard to believe he was a man locked in prison.

He looked so much younger than when I had met him on the night the emperor died.

The Sword Saint's upper body was glistening.

Now that I looked, he was completely shirtless.

Sweat was running down his firm body, which didn't suit his age at all.

When I looked up at the ceiling of the cell, I saw a few bar-like things embedded in it.

He must have been hanging on by grabbing those—

‘He's a truly strange person.’

I felt the kind of extraordinariness one might only encounter on Subway Line 1.

Surprisingly, I was the only one who was taken aback.

The jailer and Simon, who were watching from a short distance away, seemed used to it, and Pol, lacking in concentration, was looking around the prison with his mouth agape.

They say that in a village of one-eyed people, the one with two eyes is the abnormal one.

I, who was reacting normally, had become the strange one.

“It is a pleasure to meet you for the ‘first’ time. I am ‘Green Snake’ Ben. I have heard much of your renown, Sword Saint. It is an honor to meet you.”

Feeling the jailer's gaze on my back, I greeted the Sword Saint.

The setup was that this was my first meeting with the Sword Saint.

Since he was the Sword Saint who had been locked up ever since the emperor's death.

It was set up that Simon, who had rushed over after hearing rumors that Luke Ivers had appeared in Dejong, had discovered a talented mercenary and recommended him to the Sword Saint to be taken in as a disciple.

“Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

The Sword Saint replied, holding back his laughter as if he found my pretense amusing.

This man, it seemed he had no talent for acting.

It was a reaction from which a sharp-witted person could have noticed that we had met before.

It was to the point where I wanted to ask if he was that eager to see me go to the gallows.

Of course, in this situation, I couldn't even utter such words.

While keeping an eye on the jailer, I poked Pol in the side.

“Pol. You greet him too.”

“Yes? Ah- Yep. I am ‘Bloodstained’ Pol. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

Pol hurriedly bowed his waist.

He was acting like a simpleton, embarrassing the person next to him.

Though, it wasn't as if he didn't have a somewhat simple side in reality.

“Hmm-?”

The Sword Saint asked with his eyes, ‘What's with this one now?’

“This friend is also talented. It is Mr. Ben’s recommendation.”

“And you haven't verified it?”

At the Sword Saint’s question, Simon shrugged his shoulders.

Technically, I hadn't gone through a separate verification process either—but whose body was this.

“So lazy. Simon, you never try to do more than what you're told.”

“Ahahaha. It's not like you would take special care of me just because I worked harder, Master.”

“What? Are you shifting the blame to me?”

“I am saying you should give me a reason to be motivated when you give me orders. And please don’t just try to work your disciple for free.”

Simon.

It was admirable.

Seeing him spend his precious vacation following the Sword Saint's orders, I had thought his loyalty to the Sword Saint was immense.

But he retorted for every word without backing down once.

Clang!

The Sword Saint angrily struck the iron bars as if he didn't want to hear anymore.

A fist had hit iron, but it sounded as if iron had struck iron.

The middle of the fiercely shaking iron bars had snapped.

“Tsk. To be this flimsy.”

The Sword Saint clicked his tongue once, then straightened the bent iron bar and roughly fixed it.

‘What did I just see?’

He snapped an iron bar with his hand?

And then straightened it and put it back?

The fact that he could do that was surprising enough, but what was frightening was that it didn't look like he was being serious at all.

If he truly put his mind to it, it would not be difficult for him to break down the wall and escape.

It made me realize anew that he was not human.

“I raised my disciples poorly.”

After throwing a fit, he seemed to have calmed down a bit, and the Sword Saint grumbled in a subdued voice.

The Sword Saint was also a man who couldn't speak kindly.

The Sword Saint.

Simon.

And even Luke.

Could it be a coincidence that the master and his disciples all had astonishingly twisted personalities?

At this point, shouldn't I consider that the swordsmanship these people learned contained some kind of demonic temptation?

As if answering the confusion in my mind, Simon spoke.

“Sadly, that is the truth. Seeing as there are so many who have gone astray among your few disciples.”

Right.

The education was at fault.

“Do you think you'll be safe hiding behind those iron bars?”

The Sword Saint growled.

He didn't say much, but his anger was palpable, and it was frightening.

“I would appreciate it if you didn't complicate matters. You haven't forgotten where this is, have you?”

If the Sword Saint put his mind to it, breaking the iron bars and coming out would be a piece of cake.

However, this was inside the Imperial Palace.

At a time when things were already unsettled not long after the emperor's assassination, if the Sword Saint, who was imprisoned for the responsibility of failing to protect the emperor, caused another incident inside the Imperial Palace, it would be impossible to handle.

Even for the Sword Saint, wouldn't he be unable to avoid execution?

Whether the Sword Saint would meekly accept execution was a separate issue, though.

A touch-and-go situation.

Pol, who was watching nervously, cautiously tried to stop Simon.

“Still, he is your master, so aren't your words a bit harsh……”

“Haha. Our master is not so small-minded as to get upset over something like this.”

I didn't know if it was just Simon who had a personality that challenged the Sword Saint, or if most of the Sword Saint's disciples were like this.

In any case, it didn't seem like they were genuinely picking a fight with each other.

“Y-You. All talk, as always.”

The Sword Saint clicked his tongue at Simon and then turned his gaze to Pol.

“Anyway, this one is unverified. I can't just take anyone as a disciple.”

“I told you Ben vouched for him.”

Simon clung to the Sword Saint’s words to the very end.

In a way, it was amazing.

Wasn't he scared?

“What meaning would that have? Ben. You say it yourself. Do you have the ability to judge others?”

The Sword Saint said sarcastically.

The sparks flew to me again.

Of course, even if it hadn't been Simon, it's not like the Sword Saint would have spoken kindly.

“You will know when you see.”

It was true that I lacked the ability to distinguish talent.

However, the one who chose Pol was not me, but Luke Ivers.

Weren't both Simon and the Sword Saint acknowledging Luke's skill?

There must have been a reason for Pol, chosen by Luke, that even the Sword Saint could not ignore.

“Hmm. Come closer.”

As the Sword Saint beckoned, Pol approached hesitantly.

The Sword Saint's gaze as he scanned the completely frozen Pol was cold.

He didn't ask him to move; he just stared silently for several tens of seconds.

“...You did well to find such a fellow. He’s useful.”

...What did he do?

The words that finally came from the Sword Saint's mouth were close to an acknowledgment.

“Is, is that so?”

Whatever it was, Pol's face brightened at the fact that he had received acknowledgment from the Sword Saint.

“Yes. Not as much as Ben, but I can see the bud of talent in you too. If you hone it, you might be able to beat Simon.”

“You're saying that for me to hear, aren't you?”

“Of course. If only you had passion, you wouldn't be compared. To think you're content with such a mediocre level.”

…….

Was the Imperial Central Knight Order a level that could be called ‘mediocre’?

“Learn from your Sahyung! Even if his talent is inferior to yours, he puts in the effort, so-”

“But he was caught up to by Luke, wasn't he?”

“Damn it! That son of a bitch! What the hell was his problem!”

Crash!

The Sword Saint, who flew into a rage at the mention of Luke, kicked the iron bars.

The iron bars, which must have been firmly fixed, crumpled and flew out towards us.

Tang, tateong.

Fortunately, the iron bars did not reach us.

It was thanks to Simon's silently drawn sword cutting them apart.

“You finally broke them completely.”

“Keu-at! Mr. Jailer. I'll need some repairs here!”

The jailer let out a deep sigh and then left his post, seemingly to report the situation.

“Hmph. So be it. They are the seeds I have sown. I must teach these boys well, if only to catch that bastard.”

The Sword Saint plopped down on the cell bed as if he had lost all his energy.

Even though the iron bars were gone, he didn't seem to have any intention of coming out.

“That's also a story for after you get out of here, Master.”

“Tsk. I'll be out soon, so don't you worry.”

“As if I would worry about you, Master.”

“Worry a little! Don't you feel pity for your old master!”

I didn't want to interrupt the cozy conversation between master and disciple, but if I left them alone, it seemed they would use up all the short visitation time.

I cautiously addressed the Sword Saint.

“Has your release date been set?”

“The day the Crown Prince's coronation as emperor is held. They say they will pardon all imprisoned criminals to commemorate the new era. Not that there will be many, though.”

The Sword Saint answered sarcastically.

So this place had a culture of special pardons too.

As I harbored this strange thought, I realized something was odd.

“Was the emperor's throne still vacant?”

It had been a month since the emperor died.

I had naturally thought that the crown prince would have ascended to the throne as soon as the emperor died.

“Ascending to the throne is not as simple as it sounds.”

The Sword Saint looked at me as if I were pathetic.

No, did I say something that stupid?

“In a situation where the emperor was assassinated, if the coronation was rushed, rumors could spread that the crown prince killed the emperor, so they observed for a while.”

Simon supplemented the insufficient explanation.

I remembered a similar conversation had come up when we were talking at Simon's mansion earlier.

About the possibility of it being an assassination aimed at power.

Since there would be no small number of people suspecting the crown prince, it seemed they had focused on expressing mourning.

Were they trying to create a picture of him ascending to the throne unwillingly but out of necessity?

“That’s good. We can wait while enjoying the festival. A coronation ceremony. A festival rarely seen in a lifetime will take place.”

Simon grinned foolishly and patted my shoulder.

“Did you like festivals?”

That was unexpected.

Simon's personality didn't seem to suit festivals.

“It's fun, isn't it. The excited people, the growing chaos, the few who struggle to maintain order somehow, and the disastrous aftermath.”

Uh... could this be considered liking festivals?

I got the feeling that something was very wrong here.

“What nonsense. Don't just think about playing around; teach them the basics. I will check everything later.”

“Nah. I don't think that'll be necessary.”

Simon slowly waved his hand.

“It's not perfect, but he already knew how to use a sword. The basics are in place. Though I'm not sure about Pol.”

“Pol can also use a sword to some extent.”

Though in the eyes of the Sword Saint or Simon, it would probably look like child's play.

In any case, if we were just talking about whether he could use it or not, he was on the side of being able to.

The Sword Saint made a rarely seen bewildered expression.

“How? Was his talent that great?”

“No. That's-”

I heard a murmuring sound from outside the prison.

It seemed people were gathering to fix the iron bars.

I became aware again that our conversation could leak out to others.

Even if the jailer had left his post, other ears could have remained.

It was dangerous to utter words about Luke's remaining memories and what not.

Therefore, I simply lifted my helmet slightly and pointed to my face instead.

The Sword Saint's eyes narrowed for a moment.

He understood, right?

“Now, then, since they have to repair the iron bars, let's head back now.”

“Understood.”

We passed the soldiers coming down to the prison and went outside.

I had only been in the prison for a few minutes, but the bright light and fresh air were welcome.

And above all, it was good that my vision was secured.

After confirming that there were no people within a few dozen meters, I quietly spoke to Simon.

“Sir Liatro. Regarding the new emperor's coronation ceremony……”

“Yes. It's highly likely that some kind of problem will occur.”

The excitement and chaos that follow a festival.

The perfect conditions to cause an incident.

If they were the ones dreaming of the empire's collapse, there was no way they would miss this opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

A broad smile spread across Simon's face.

What?

Looking forward to it?

Was I the strange one for being worried?

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