The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Lily (2)

Asia was in a terribly foul mood.

She was already aware of the reason for it.

Lily.

The one who suddenly appeared in the Vladick Mercenary Corps was to blame.

“Hey, Oppa, let’s get married, okay?”

“Ahem! Impossible.”

“Why? I’m better than some kid like her, aren’t I?”

Asia’s forehead bulged with a vein as anger flared within her at being called a kid.

“A kid.”

‘Just because I’m only sixteen!’

From the start, that Lily girl was no different from herself.

If there was anything, it was age.

And the difference in maturity that came with it.

But she decided to address the more pressing issue first.

“Ahem! Ahem! Did you say Lily?”

Lily narrowed her eyes, looking at Asia, who had called her name.

“Yes, that’s right. You must be Arthas’ fiancée *candidate*, aren’t you?”

The way Lily emphasized “candidate” rubbed Asia the wrong way.

“Asia. Asia Messiah.”

Asia subtly alluded to her family lineage.

Yes, they were only fiancée candidates, but her family, the Messiah family, had produced a Sword Saint.

It was a roundabout way of saying that their relationship wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

“Ah…you’re nobility. But Messiah…? That sounds familiar.”

Asia’s annoyance flared up at Lily’s lack of intimidation, even after she mentioned her family.

“Of course, Arthas…”

Asia finally realized something.

Up until now, she hadn’t properly addressed her own fiancé candidate.

‘Sir? Mr.? Or maybe… *oppa*?’

Asia imagined calling Arthas “Arthas *oppa*,” just like Lily.

An unfamiliar bashfulness warmed her face slightly.

‘*Oppa* is too much.’

Too embarrassing.

“Ahem! Arthas-nim is my fiancé, chosen by my grandfather.”

“Uh-huh… I see.”

Lily silently stared at Asia.

“But, did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Marriages, you see, are supposed to be between those of similar standing. Nobles with nobles, commoners with commoners. And vagabond-born…”

Lily glanced at Arthas for a moment.

Then, turning back to Asia, she smiled.

“Vagabond-born with vagabond-born!”

“Vagabond…”

Asia heard about Arthas’ origins for the first time.

A strange feeling of sadness washed over her.

‘Why didn’t he tell me?’

Even if it was a false engagement…

Still, they were contracted partners.

“So…will you give him up to me? Or, was it Asia-ssi? Anyway, Asia-ssi, do you *really* want to marry Arthas *oppa*?”

“That…!”

Asia moved to quickly deny Lily’s words, but just then, Arthur cut into their exchange.

“Lily, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t the time or place for this.”

Only then did Asia and Lily take stock of their surroundings.

Attention was focused on them, all eyes drawn to their little drama.

The picture of two women fighting over a man.

A wave of shame washed over Asia.

“Y-you’re right. We should move somewhere else!”

“Hmph. Doesn’t matter to me. Though, if *you* want to leave…?”

Despite Lily’s nonchalant declaration, Asia was tempted to stubbornly stand her ground.

But the embarrassment was too much to bear, and she surrendered.

“Yes. I want to move.”

“Then, allow me to guide you to a more suitable location.”

With Lily leading the way, Arthur, Asia, and Melia followed behind.

.

.

.

The spot where Arthur and Asia had been.

Two figures appeared there.

Commander Retid and Teddy.

Commander Retid surveyed the area.

But Asia, Arthur, or Melia were nowhere to be seen.

“Huh…? Where did Miss Asia go?”

Teddy echoed the commander’s bewilderment.

“Y-yes, indeed, where did they go.”

And so, only the two knights remained forlornly in the plaza.

*

The place Lily led them to was a building.

The sign read: Crimson Flame Mercenaries.

Likely the Crimson Flame Mercenaries’ headquarters.

“Come on in.”

Lily entered as if it were her own home, confirming she belonged to the Crimson Flame Mercenaries.

“Crimson Flame Mercenaries… I know them.”

I hadn’t known, but Asia did.

“What kind of place are they?”

“Well… I heard they’re led by one of the few Black-Rank mercenaries on the continent.”

A Black-Rank mercenary.

The reputation of a Black-Rank mercenary was comparable to that of a Sword Saint.

Though, of course, a Sword Saint held higher status.

A Black-Grade mercenary group, and she’s their leader?

Looks like Lily’s truly made something of herself.

“And also…”

Asia was about to say something,

but Lily cut her off.

“What are you doing? Hurry and follow me!”

And so we followed Lily.

“Oh, Lily, you’re here.”

“The Captain-Commander was looking for you, you know?”

“By the way, are those guests behind you?”

Mercenaries recognized and greeted Lily every step of the way.

It was oddly unsettling, seeing such rugged faces break into bright smiles.

“Father’s looking for me? Perfect timing.”

Lily led us straight up the stairs.

And stopped in front of a door.

But-.

‘…The person inside must be the Captain-Commander of the Crimson Flame Mercenaries.’

The force emanating from within.

It was extraordinary.

Normally, only Swordmasters exuded such presence.

The Captain-Commander of the Crimson Flame Mercenaries was undoubtedly a Swordmaster.

“Father, I’m here!”

A Swordmaster for a father?

This wasn’t just advancement; it was a reversal of fortune, life turned upside down.

Creak-.

As Lily opened the door, a man with a face flushed crimson entered our view.

Not literally ablaze, of course.

A man with thick, unkempt hair and a beard.

It was the red hue of his hair and beard that gave the impression of burning.

“Oh, Lily, you’ve arrived.”

“Yes. But you were looking for me?”

“Well, nothing much, just heard some interesting news, you see.”

“Interesting news? Ah, just a moment!”

Lily, continuing the conversation, noticed that Asia, Melia, and I were present and stopped talking.

“Let me introduce you. This is Arthas, and that is…”

Asia interrupted Lily, answering herself.

“A pleasure to meet you. You must be Captain-Commander Rodaeler of the Crimson Flame Mercenaries. I am Asia Messiah of the Messiah Family of the Detiosque Kingdom. The child next to me is Melia.”

Asia introduced herself and Melia with a courteous demeanor.

But-.

Lord Ailer’s reaction to the greeting was… odd.

Precisely at the part where I introduced her as ‘Messiah,’ Lord Ailer’s expression visibly hardened.

“Messiah…? Could it be, is there some relation to Hans Messiah?”

“Hans Messiah is my grandfather.”

*Crack-*

The sound of splintering wood.

Lord Ailer’s chair.

The armrest had broken.

From the force of Lord Ailer himself.

“Hahahaha, Hans Messiah, you say… How amusing. Very amusing indeed. But what business could the granddaughter of that Hans Messiah possibly have with me?”

“What? Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

A palpable malice began to emanate from Lord Ailer.

Asia began to struggle under its weight.

I had no choice but to step between them.

“What reason do you have to intimidate her like this?”

Lord Ailer’s gaze shifted to me, and with it, his murderous intent.

An edge-of-the-blade kind of malice.

Suffocating, as one might expect from a Sword Master.

Though, having experienced the old man’s killing intent before, it wasn’t quite enough to break me.

“Who are you?”

“Arthas. I am… something akin to the fiancé of the young lady Asia here.”

“Then why is my daughter calling you ‘Oppa’?”

“That is…!”

Lilly, who had been standing behind Asia, stepped forward, shielding me once more.

At the same instant, Lord Ailer’s malice vanished.

He had withdrawn it.

“This is the ‘Oppa’ I’ve been telling you about!”

“Ah! Now that you mention Arthas, I seem to recall hearing that name somewhere. So, then…”

“Yes, I intend to marry Arthas Oppa.”

I was utterly taken aback by Lilly’s audacious declaration.

Intends to marry.

From the beginning, that was never my intent…

Asia, who had been listening quietly behind me, cried out.

“No! He’s my fiancé… candidate, I mean.”

“Hmph, a ‘candidate’ means he isn’t a fiancé at all yet.”

“My grandfather arranged our betrothal, are you sure you should be speaking this way?”

A smile crept onto Lord Ailer’s lips.

“Grandfather… You think I’m going to be intimidated by that crazed Sword Saint?”

“C-Crazed! I won’t stand for such an insult!”

Tears welled in Asia’s eyes.

Tears, it seemed, sprang forth from an unendurable anger.

To mediate between the two, I decided to discern the reason behind Lord Ailer’s attitude.

“It appears you harbor a grudge against the Sword Saint. Has something transpired?”

“A grudge, you say… How could I not?”

Lord Ailer readily divulged the reason.

.

.

.

By the time Lord Ailer’s tale concluded, Asia’s face was crimson.

I understood the reason for Asia’s sudden mortification.

‘She must be terribly ashamed.’

Lord Ailer had called the Sword Saint mad.

And, listening to Lord Ailer’s story, he certainly seemed to be.

Asia couldn’t even offer a defense.

“Lady Asia… it seems… the Sword Saint was in the wrong.”

“Ah, I know. Even I think Grandfather was wrong…”

Lord Ailer erupted in a hearty laugh.

“Well, it’s not as if I intend to vent my anger on his granddaughter. Him, maybe. Forgive me for my earlier outburst. The name of the Messiah Family, well it just riled me up for a moment there.”

“I understand. It was to be expected.”

Lord Ailer was a victim of the old geezer.

A victim of an indiscriminate duel request.

Lord Ailer could not accept a result in a contest that was not even a legitimate duel.

And yet-.

‘The world now believes he was defeated by the Sword Saint.’

Enough to incite fury.

The now-calmer Lord Ailer spoke.

“So, a marriage to Lily, eh?”

Lord Ailer gave me a once-over.

Sending me an inquisitive look.

“I approve. If you wish, we can proceed with the ceremony immediately.”

“Oh, really? Father, I truly love you!!!”

“If my daughter desires it, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

The situation changed drastically, suddenly.

Caught up in the swirl, I cried out urgently.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding! I have no intention of marrying!”

“No intention of marrying…?”

Frankly, I held no particular feelings for Lily.

She approached with a friendly air, but in the end, she was a stranger.

One of the fleeting connections in life.

And-.

‘Can’t very well go against a request from the old man.’

Even if my status was only that of a fiancé *candidate*, I still had to play the part of Asia’s fiancé.

“Candidate though I may be, I already have a fiancée, you see.”

The obvious words slipped out.

And then—

As if moved, Asia, who was beside me, began to send me an intense gaze.