Chapter 32 (1/2)
Chapter 32. Nigel Viscounty (2)
Translator: Warriormonk
Editor: Isleidir
Angela and the knight captain of the fiefdom, Lapal, were taking a stroll in the training field. Angela's eyes widened at the ferocity with which Luke and Kurotan bashed and hacked at each other.
”Oh my… What a fierce and harsh training method.”
The knight captain's eyes were glued to the training field.
”What do you think, Sir Lapal?”
”It's hard for me to say with certainty, but…”
Lapal frowned in concentration as he began to explain what he was seeing.
”It's certain that Kurotan, who will be competing in the knight's compet.i.tion, is an aura expert. Those kinds of movements are simply impossible to execute without the control of your aura.”
”I see, so I was right.”
”His swordsmans.h.i.+p, however, is fundamentally at a basic level. It seems that it hasn't been that long since he has started training in the sword.”
”And what about Sir Luke?”
”He is the complete opposite of Kurotan.”
”How so do you mean?”
”He also seems to be an aura expert. However, his control over aura seems to be shaky. His swordsmans.h.i.+p is excellent, however, making up for this lack of control.”
Angela let out a short sigh in amazement.
”How impressive, to have become an aura expert in his mid-twenties.”
”It would be a stretch to call him a genius, but he is definitely talented. It is by no means easy to become an aura expert by your mid-twenties.”
Angela suddenly blushed as she continued to watch Luke and Kurotan train. Lapal gave her a knowing smile.
”Even the lord would not object to a talent of that level.”
Angela started at Lapal's words and hurriedly shook her head.
”I-I don't know what you're talking about!”
Lapal only smiled wider as he remarked.
”I would agree as well, my lady. He is truly talented enough to become my heir as knight captain of the fiefdom. He seems to know how to deal with people as well, seeing as how he has already taken a va.s.sal under him at such a young age…”
”Pl-Please don't joke about such things. I have no special feelings for him…”
Angela quickly rubbed her face as if it would make her blush disappear. She continued to steal glimpses at Luke unconsciously.
Luke and Kurotan continued to train without rest for ten days, when the day of the knight's compet.i.tion approached.
The location of the knight's compet.i.tion was near the mountain where the controversial mine was, and both parties had agreed to meet there on a certain date, along with a representative sent by a great n.o.ble.
”Earl Jason's younger brother, Viscount Luter has been chosen as the Earl's representative.”
Both Baron Tarpan and Viscount Nigel were paying taxes to the great n.o.ble, Earl Jason, who would be a fair judge of the compet.i.tion.
”That's good. We just have to be victorious at the knight's compet.i.tion to win mining rights to Hols Mountain.”
Viscount Nigel narrowed his eyes as he shot a questioning glance at his butler.
”Have there been any signs of Baron Tarpan hiring knights from outside of his fiefdom?”
”There hasn't been any signs so far, my lord. We know that the Baron has made a couple of offers that have been refused.”
”It makes sense. Few lords would be willing to throw away the lives of talented knights for a foreign affair.”
Viscount Nigel currently had two aura expert knights under his command, Lapal and the vice knight captain, Jeff. Baron Tarpan also had, at least publically, two aura expert knights under his command.
Viscount Nigel smiled in leisure.
”We were very fortunate to have been able to hire another aura expert, thanks to Angela.”
Viscount Nigel nodded and rose from his seat.
”My escort is ready, I presume?”
”My lord, fifty cavalry men await your orders.”
”Good. Let us embark.”
Kurururung.
The castle's gates rumbled open as two carriages emerged from the castle. Dozens of soldiers on horses surrounded the carriage.
At the front of the party were knights. They were knights that would take part in the compet.i.tion.
Dudududu.
The party traveled at a rapid pace on the main road leading away from the castle. Luke and Kurotan were at the back of the formation of knights.
”Does the armor fit you?”
”Yes. Heuheuheu, it fits me perfectly.”
Kurotan's grin threatened to reach his ears. The castle's blacksmith had pored over the armor that Kurotan was currently wearing, there was no questioning the armor's quality.
Kurotan was decked out in full plate armor. Viscount Nigel had been rather generous, seeing as how Kurotan would be fighting for him in the knight's compet.i.tion. Kurotan scanned himself from toe to shoulder, suddenly looking bitter.
”You said I could only have the helmet and chest plate?”
”Yup. We have to return the rest to the Viscount.”
”Can't we just keep the armor and forego the reward money?”
”Don't kid yourself. Full plate mails are for wartime anyway.”
”Well, I suppose.”
Kurotan shook his head sadly. It had taken him an entire hour with two servants sweating over him to get in to his current get up. To wear it on a daily basis was impractical.
”d.a.m.n, I guess I'll have to give it up.”
”Don't get too disappointed about it. Once you reach a new level with your aura cultivation, there may be another answer.”
Luke nodded his head seriously.
”There's a type of magic armor that only aura masters can wear, called Hers.h.i.+on.”
”Do you remember the aura master that ma.s.sacred the holy knights, when we were chasing my fiancé?”
Kurotan's face tightened slightly.
”I do. He was a terrifyingly strong human.”
”The armor he was wearing was Hers.h.i.+on. It's normally a chest plate, until the aura master injects his aura into it. It transforms into a full plate mail when the aura master does so.”
”If that's true, it should be extremely expensive.”
”It defies your imagination.”
”Then how will you buy it?”
Luke smiled.
”If you become an aura master, I will buy one for you one way or the other.”
Kurotan's eyes burned ferociously.
”I will double my training time from today on. I will reach the aura master level.”
Luke rolled his eyes at the determined look in Kurotan's eyes.
'Simple fool. Does he think that becoming an aura master is that easy?”
If one became an aura master, the king of his country would usually reward him with the t.i.tle of a great n.o.ble, land, and also allow him to marry a royal princess, bringing him into the royal family.
In other words, aura masters were rare to find and harder to become.
'Well, I suppose it wouldn't be too difficult to buy him a Hers.h.i.+on if he did become an aura master.'
Luke smiled bitterly as someone approached him.
”What is it?”
”Lady Angela wishes to see you for a moment.”
”I see.”
Luke jerked on the reins of his horse, careening off to the carriage in the back.
The window of the carriage opened to reveal Angela.
”h.e.l.lo, Sir Luke.”
”My lady. Why did you call for me?”
”Well, it'll be a while before we reach our destination. Would you mind being a conversation partner while we travel?”
”Ah, gladly. My b.u.t.t has been hurting from riding.”
Luke smiled and unclasped his feet from his saddle.
”Would you back up a little bit?”
”That's dangerous, Sir Luke. I will stop the carriage…”
”No need, my lady.”
Luke handed his reins to the knight riding beside him before jumping from his saddle and landing on the steps of the carriage. His acrobatics were only possible due to his reaching the aura expert level.
”Oh my…”
”Then, excuse me for a while.”
Inside the carriage were Angela and two maidservants that had followed her. Luke stretched after plopping himself on the seat across from Angela.
”Looks like I'll be able to ride comfortably thanks to you, my lady. I don't know how I can repay you for this generosity.”