The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Side Story – [Sword Saint, Hans Messiah]

Side Story – [Sword Saint, Hans Messiah]

The realm of the Sword Master.

Hans Messiah stood on the very precipice of that realm.

“Enlightenment is what I lack.”

With those words, Hans Messiah departed his earldom.

Leaving everything in the care of his still-young son.

And so, Hans Messiah began his journey.

He crossed blades with holy knights in the sacred nation of Hevis.

He battled the beastkin of the Huernit Kingdom.

He sought out the Multi-Racial Alliance, testing his mettle against various peoples.

Even the renowned mercenaries of the Vladic Mercenary Nation.

The result—

“At long last… I’ve ascended.”

Sword Master.

The aura was distinctly different from the aura he wielded as an Aura Knight.

The aura that once shimmered blue, now bathed in a golden hue.

An aura of greater power.

With this alone, he could face a multitude of Aura Knights.

Having reached the level of Sword Master, Hans Messiah did not return to his earldom.

“I have merely placed myself upon the starting line.”

For there were many others on the continent who had achieved the same level.

Hans Messiah desired to become a being who surpassed them all.

And so, he sought out Sword Masters who revealed themselves and those who remained hidden, engaging in duels.

Years passed in this manner.

Finally, Hans Messiah became satisfied with his own mastery.

He resolved to return.

“It is time to go back.”

Hans Messiah returned to his homeland, the Detiosk Kingdom.

The kingdom began to honor him, who had become a Sword Master, as a Sword Saint.

Hans Messiah did not feel an overwhelming sense of excitement at this.

For he had always believed that, like his grandfather before him, he too would one day become a Sword Master.

A destiny foretold.

This was how Hans Messiah saw it.

Hans Messiah received the title of Sword Saint and returned to his family estate.

The Messiah Earl Family.

There, Hans Messiah encountered a new connection.

A very small and lovely child.

Hans Messiah met his granddaughter, Asia.

“…This child is my granddaughter?”

A child so lovely, unlike his own son, Andrew Messiah, in his younger years.

To Hans Messiah, it was simply wondrous how all the facial features fit on that small face.

He hadn’t felt such emotion even when his own son was born.

“It seems I’ve gained a new joy in life.”

Hans Messiah, who stood at the pinnacle of power.

Now, he felt a profound emptiness.

The loss that came from no longer finding a stronger opponent.

The consequent feeling of desolation.

In truth, Hans Messiah desired an even higher realm.

But that realm beyond remained unseen.

If there was a stronger opponent, he could glimpse their level.

Yet, there was no one stronger than him on this continent.

Hans Messiah harbored such complex emotions.

His granddaughter’s existence soothed his heart.

“Aigo, our Asia. Does your grandpa please you so?”

Count Andrew Messiah watched his father playing with his granddaughter.

A chill ran down his spine.

‘Father had such a side to him.’

Count Messiah recalled his own childhood.

The past brought forth a sigh from his lips.

The father he remembered was not like this.

His father had been harsh even to the young him.

A strange feeling of resentment arose within Andrew Messiah.

He spoke with sarcastic undertones, observing Hans Messiah’s current behavior.

“Ahem, it seems you are very pleased to have a granddaughter. Unlike back then, that is.”

“Haha, you should have been born a daughter, shouldn’t you have.”

“…Forget it.”

Count Andrew Messiah understood.

Being born a son, he should not expect such affection from his father.

And so, Hans Messiah lavished his love upon his granddaughter.

*

Hans Messiah stared at the sky with a blank expression.

“Fifteen years…”

His body was covered in wounds.

To look at him, one would wonder how he was even alive.

“I must fulfill the promise.”

Hans Messiah had to keep his word.

To do so, he had to leave Count Messiah.

“I worry about Asia.”

The child was only six years old.

She blossomed into a lovely child, nurtured by the abundant love she received.

As if in reciprocation, Asia clung to Hans Messiah.

It was precisely that which gave rise to his worry.

“I only wish she wouldn’t grieve so deeply if I were to suddenly vanish…”

There was no way to avoid leaving.

Fifteen years, if he were to achieve his goal.

Hans Messiah could endure that long, he knew.

And so, Hans Messiah departed the earldom without a word.

.

.

.

A villa nestled on the mountainside.

It was there that Hans Messiah made his visit.

“Hmm… they surely won’t find me here.”

Hans Messiah was certain, even if they unleashed people to search for him, this place would remain undiscovered.

He unpacked and began his life in the mountains.

“There are more irksome things than I anticipated.”

Living alone, day ten.

Hans Messiah found himself troubled.

If he neglected cleaning for even a day, insects swarmed.

His cooking was atrocious.

“…Should I hire a servant, perhaps?”

But then, Hans Messiah recalled his circumstances.

It would be problematic should someone who recognized him appear.

And yet-.

The thought didn’t last long.

“I simply can’t live like this for fifteen years.”

Living like this bordered on impossible.

Ultimately, Hans Messiah resolved to find someone to hire.

And so he visited Melliro, located in the eastern reaches of the Detiosk Kingdom.

To find someone suitable.

And the first to greet Hans Messiah there was…

“Hey, got any coin on you?”

“Old timer, wandering around a place like this on your own? Shameful.”

Street thugs in a back alley.

Hans smirked at the weak malice they exuded.

“Wouldn’t you say it’s best to cherish your lives? Young men.”

To avoid creating unnecessary trouble, Hans held himself back.

However-.

“Hahaha, this old geezer’s gone mad, hasn’t he? Cherish our lives? Why? Is the geezer going to kill us or something?”

I dearly wished to cleave them in two with a single stroke.

But Hans Messias restrained himself.

If things grew complicated, his true nature might be exposed.

It would be most inconvenient were he to attract undue attention.

However, restraint applied only to the cleaving.

Hans Messias’ fists knew no such limitations.

“Ah, s-spare me, please!”

“We were wrong, we beg you… we’ll cherish our lives!!!”

And so, Hans Messias delivered his brand of justice to the thugs.

He brushed his hands off, flicking away the dust clinging to his clothes.

“Please, help me!”

A child’s cry echoed from the depths of the alley.

That cry made Hans Messias turn, his gaze drawn to its source.

A girl, a stray from the streets, judging by her appearance.

“…Are you speaking to me, child?”

“Y-you’re strong, grandfather. Please, won’t you help me!”

Hans Messias was momentarily taken aback.

The girl’s plea for help, so direct and unprompted.

In his younger days, he would have ignored such a request and moved on.

But-.

‘She reminds me of Asia.’

Was it because she appeared to be the same age as his granddaughter?

He decided to at least hear her out.

“Alright, what is it you need help with?”

“…I want you to save the dark-haired brother.”

“Dark-haired brother? Is he family of yours?”

The girl shook her head.

So, not family.

“His name?”

Again, she shook her head.

They didn’t even know each other’s names.

Hans Messias was perplexed.

“He isn’t family, and you don’t know his name, so why are you asking me to save him?”

“…Because I owe him a kindness.”

The girl said she was indebted to the dark-haired boy.

For a single meal, no less.

And yet, she hadn’t forgotten his generosity.

“Hmm… and what manner of trouble has befallen this ‘brother’ that you need me to save him?”

“He provoked some notorious toughs from Muldrid. And I distinctly heard them…”

“Heard what?”

“Those b*stards would kill your brother to retrieve that thing, you say.”

Hans Messia considered it a moment.

Extending a hand into such affairs was not in his nature.

And yet, why was it…

“Very well, I will assist you.”

He found himself offering his help so readily.

Hans Messia could not fully understand his own decision.

Was it because he saw Asia in that girl?

It was more than just that.

He had a fair inkling.

‘Is this what they call fate?’

He felt a powerful pull, a draw.

As if appointed by the gods themselves.

And so, Hans Messia ascended the mountain in search of the black-haired boy.

And there, Hans Messia bore witness to a rather curious scene.

“Dragons die and leave behind their scales, but humans die and leave behind their names.”

“What drivel are you spouting all of a sudden?”

“Just saying I’ll announce my name before I die. Arthas. My name is Arthas. Though, I have no surname.”

An amusing sentiment.

Humans die and leave behind their names, indeed.

However, something else piqued Hans Messia’s interest even more.

A boy, facing his imminent demise, yet remaining so composed.

It was an uncommon thing.

As if he had already experienced death, an attitude utterly devoid of fear.

That was what fascinated Hans Messia.

Hans Messia felt a sudden urge to keep the black-haired boy by his side and observe him.

What would become of such a child, should he grow?

And the timing was fortuitous.

Hans Messia happened to be in need of a servant.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to have him attend to my needs for a while, and see how he develops.’

Hans Messia found himself wanting to keep this boy close and watch him.

And so, Hans Messia saved the boy and put him to work attending to his needs.

*

Before he knew it, the boy had become a young man.

That young man departed for the sake of his granddaughter.

“Hmm… Asia has genuinely grown fond of the fellow, has she…”

The boy… Arthas’s words echoed in his mind.

What if his granddaughter were to fall for him?

Certainly, it wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

Ten years.

All that time, Hans Messiah had grown quite fond of Arthas.

Perhaps even more so than of his own son, Andrew Messiah.

Though, certainly less than his granddaughter.

“…Well, I suppose I have to admit it. Just…! If he intends to marry my granddaughter, he absolutely must not take a concubine.”

Taking a concubine was something Hans Messiah would absolutely not tolerate.