AWDC Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Roy’s Story

That night, I had a long talk with Roy.

“Today had a bit of a setback, but I’m in favor of building the mansion in that location.”

“Even though it’s outside the castle walls?”

“Even inside the castle walls, most of the nobles were burned out during this turmoil. Even the royal palace fell easily. Whether it’s inside or outside the castle walls, it’s not safe.

If that’s the case, it’s better to make it a mansion where soldiers are always stationed.”

“If it’s away from the center, won’t there be problems with socializing with other nobles?”

“There will be some inconvenience. But if that place prospers, every noble will compete to come. Isn’t it your role to make that place prosper?”

When he said that, I couldn’t say anything. Anyway, I managed to get Roy’s approval. After that, I intended to proceed with the plans for the new mansion.

Roy had passed on the family name to his eldest son, John, and intended to completely withdraw from the management of Toriholi. George and Jim had also become independent and were now excellent executives.

Roy himself probably wouldn’t come to the capital anymore. Conscious of that, as we discussed the future of the village together, old memories blossomed.

“When I saw your swordsmanship, I was reminded of the previous lord.”

The previous lord was the hero, Mil Robertson.

“The previous lord appeared as Charles’s representative in the proxy war to decide whether Prince Charles or Prince Frank would become king.

At that time, although he was only 26 years old, he was the best martial artist among the royal guards as the prince’s aide.

On the other hand, Kalibu, who appeared from Frank’s side, was a veteran knight with the alias of Sword King. He had joined several foreign mercenary groups, gained experience and skill, and came to this country 10 years ago.

He was a famous swordsman with countless legends and rumors, such as, ‘He fought 10 people alone and killed them all, he cut down a grizzly bear with a single stroke, he has fought 100 battles so far and has never lost.’ The prediction for this battle heavily favored Kalibu.

There were no restrictions on weapons in this decisive battle, and armor and helmets, let alone chainmail, were prohibited. Fighting with real swords without wearing protective gear was extremely dangerous, truly a life-or-death battle.

If they lost in this fight, their reputation as a swordsman would fall, and they would never be able to hope for a chance to be active again. Both sides probably had such a desperate feeling. Rather than living out their lives with disgrace, they were determined to maintain their pride as swordsmen by losing in a serious match without using protective gear. There was also the idea that if the loser survived, resentment would remain.

Kalibu had a long sword in his dominant hand and a short sword in the other. The long sword was about 5 centimeters longer than what a normal swordsman would use. If the sword is long, it is advantageous, but it becomes difficult to wield, so normal people choose a sword that suits their strength. Kalibu wielding a long sword showed that he was that much bigger and stronger. And the short sword had a long hilt. Kalibu’s fighting style was to use this long hilt as a shield for defense.

On the other hand, Mil appeared with only a long wooden sword. The 20,000 spectators who saw this buzzed with excitement. Was he going to fight in such an important battle with only a wooden sword? Had Mil given up on the match? There was such surprise.

At this time, I was doing something like a page for the previous lord. I knew that the previous lord didn’t suddenly take out the wooden sword before the match. He chose a longer wooden sword as a countermeasure against Kalibu’s long sword.

The previous lord thought about how to counter Kalibu’s long sword and chose the wooden sword. He judged that it would be lighter than a sword and could be swung around. Of course, there were drawbacks. Since the wooden sword without a blade cannot injure the opponent, it would be considerably disadvantageous if the battle became a series of small cuts.

And even if the wooden sword is light, it cannot be easily swung around if it is long. So, he tried to use the wooden sword with both hands.

I, along with several other pages, played with the previous lord.

As a result, he probably thought that if he held the wooden sword with both hands, he could handle even a long one freely.

The actual duel was decided in an instant. Kalibu approached without seeming to be wary of the previous lord who only had a wooden sword, along with the start signal. The previous lord was the same.

Kalibu wanted to get within range of his long sword quickly. But the previous lord swung down the wooden sword a moment earlier. The length of the wooden sword and long sword were different, and the swing of the wooden sword held with both hands was faster.

Kalibu also seemed to try to defend against the wooden sword with his short sword, but the speed of the wooden sword was superior. And Kalibu’s long sword didn’t reach the previous lord’s body.

It was a momentary difference. I certainly saw the moment when the previous lord’s sword directly hit Kalibu’s head.”

“Your fighting style during the day reminded me of when the previous lord practiced with us pages.

We fought with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, but we couldn’t match the speed of the wooden sword using both hands. Even if we tried to defend against the wooden sword with a sword or shield, we couldn’t defend completely because the swing of the wooden sword was fast. We were wearing helmets and armor, so it was okay, but if we had nothing, we would have been seriously injured. In fact, shields were even blown away by the wooden sword. That’s how great the power of the wooden sword held in both hands was.

Towards the end of the practice, we fought the previous lord with three people at the same time. It was just like you today. His body movements read our movements completely in advance, and we were no match for him.

The previous lord was truly a talented person.”

“After that duel, why didn’t the style of holding the sword with both hands become popular?”

“That’s because the fighting style in this country is to knock off the opponent’s armor with a sword. They believe that if they have a shield, they can defend against the opponent’s attack.

I also tried to imitate the previous lord and hold it with both hands, but it didn’t work. I was easily defended by an opponent with a shield, and I couldn’t respond when counterattacked. I came to think that the two-handed sword was only possible because it was the previous lord.

However, if you can fight like you today, piercing vital points, vital points, there is no meaning in holding a shield.

Why don’t you become a swordsman now?”

The last words were completely a joke and couldn’t be taken seriously. More than anything, I was small for an adult male in this country. A swordsman is still a business where physique matters, and I am unsuited for it.

“What happened after that?”

“Prince Charles was 13 years old at the time and was a freckled boy, but he was decided to be the king. When Lord Midland approached and showed loyalty, Lord Gregg knelt before the prince and swore allegiance.

Lord Gregg, who had been at the forefront of opposing Prince Charles’s coronation, showed his loyalty. The opposition also followed suit all at once. That scene was truly moving. The 20,000 masses realized that nation-building would begin with the new king. After this, there was almost no grudge between the two ducal families.

However, foreign powers invaded, belittling the young king, and the two major ducal families and the previous lord were in a great uproar in response. The previous lord broke the enemy forces that had invaded from the east and west to the extent that the words running around were not an exaggeration.

I think this country overcame a major crisis thanks to the two great dukes and the hero Robertson.

Just like you are now starting nation-building together with Lord Midland and Lord Gregg.

I feel that those days and now are really similar. Please unite the country together with the three of you.” The last words were said in a way that entrusted the future of the country to me.

I returned to the village the day after the incident.