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Chapter 9
Chapter 009 At Sea (2)
Returning to my cabin, I immediately sat cross-legged.
Lately, I had been engrossed in reading Knights of Elderwood, neglecting my practice.
‘Benkou Vision.’
Merely operating the heart technique periodically brought the effect of refining body and mind.
W е̊ b̈ñ о̌ve l Е́n ūḿа
The mindset of constantly honing one’s spirit and aiming for composure was the fundamental virtue of an Empire swordsman.
Wooooong—
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As my vision plunged into darkness, my hearing was drenched in ghostly wails.
Violent sensations pressed down on me.
Neglecting mental cultivation would make passing this stage arduous.
Sssssss.
W e b̂ n̆о v̀ѐl Ẽ n û m̌а̊
I safely settled into the abyss.
The moment I opened my eyes, an image formed: flames of two furnaces blazed in my pupils.
‘……!’
Suddenly, an unfamiliar and eerie sight unfolded before me.
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A gust of wind, sharply blowing from an unknown direction, began to take a sinuous form above the altar.
It resembled a coiled snake, but at the head of that snake was a human face.
Е̇ nüm̆ǎ
Accompanied by ghostly wails, it was unmistakable.
‘B-Brandt……?!’
The vengeful spirit floating in the air plummeted into the furnace imbued with the achievements of Imperial swordsmanship.
The ash-gray flames flared once before burning calmly again.
‘……Hah.’
There was no other way to interpret it: the man whose life I had taken with Imperial swordsmanship had become kindling for my achievements.
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Following the empty furnaces, this was yet another situation absent in my previous life.
‘I can gauge my progress.’
Perhaps the heart technique itself had advanced to a new level.
I clenched my physical fists tightly.
All that remained was to persevere and move forward.
* * *
Е.n ü m̈ ӓ
The next day, I went up to the deck early in the morning to feel the sea breeze.
The useless, impure thoughts accumulated within me seemed to evaporate in the salty wind.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Oh, Young Master Bihen! You’re up early today?”
It was Jewelina.
This woman thought I was just lazing around, holed up in my cabin.
I meant to ignore her, but my gaze was stolen by a woman beside her.
Ẃе̂ b n о v̆е̌ l̆ É n̂umа
A woman I hadn’t seen yesterday, staring at me with strikingly defiant eyes.
“Ah, this is my bodyguard, Maserin. Yesterday, she was suffering from the monthly pain women endure, so I told her to rest.”
“…….”
I wasn’t particularly curious.
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I only snorted because it was laughable to see a novice clumsily mimicking a swordsman while glaring with such intensity.
Perhaps misinterpreting my reaction, both women subtly furrowed their brows.
Ẅе b̆n ӧv е̄l̆ Е ṅū m̃ а
“…What? Were you just scoffing? I can tolerate a lot, but I won’t stand for my people being mocked.”
“That wasn’t my intention, so don’t mind it.”
“Fine then.”
She was a flexible woman in many ways.
Looking at Jewelina, who quickly flashed a grin, and Maserin, whose face seemed incapable of any expression but stoicism, I casually asked,
“Have you ever heard of the Kingdom’s chivalry?”
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Jewelina’s eyes widened.
“What’s this? How does the Young Master know about chivalry?”
I was the one surprised.
I hadn’t expected a pampered merchant’s daughter, who seemed only versed in money games, to know about chivalry.
It was just a question thrown out to preempt pointless chatter.
“You know about… chivalry?”
Ӗ_nũm а
“Of course. Merchants like me are sensitive to trends. Whether it’s the Empire or the Kingdom, we always keep our eyes and ears open.”
“Trends…?”
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Uncharacteristically, I struggled to hide my emotions.
The ‘lightness’ of the word “trend” sparked a sense of repulsion. Her response was lukewarm.
“Yes. Trends. And ones that passed long ago, at that.”
“Could you… explain a bit?”
Е̊ n um̌а̃
Tilting her head, Jewelina puffed out her already plump cheeks even more, tapping them with her fingers.
It looked like she was choosing her words.
“Well, let’s see. I heard this from my father, so it’s from before you or I were born. Back when the Sharon Faction was at its peak, they made a fuss about knights’ duties and moral codes, and it spread like a trend among the Kingdom’s upper class.”
Trends typically flow from top to bottom.
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Once they gain traction below, they gradually meld into custom.
Even I, a man ignorant of worldly affairs beyond the sword, knew this basic fact. Jewelina, prattling on, shrugged her shoulders.
Е ñ u mа̀ . ï d̀
“But now, it’s worse than outdated—it’s forgotten. Well, that makes sense. From the perspective of the common folk, why would they care for the lofty tales spun by bandits who plunder even the last crumb of bread they need to survive? If it were me, I’d be so dumbfounded I’d die of rage.”
“…….”
“And then, as the Langster Faction rose and the tides turned, chivalry vanished like mere bubbles.”
If yesterday’s talk about the Kingdom’s state left me puzzled, today’s story was easier to accept.
‘Since it’s a custom that vanished long ago, it’s only natural I wouldn’t know it. If chivalry had been dominant among the Kingdom’s knights, I’d have heard of it frequently during the war.’
But being forgotten and being gone are different.
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In my previous life, I met the Old Knight. To me, at least, he was the embodiment of chivalry.
That Old Knight is surely still out there, somewhere in the Kingdom, proclaiming chivalry. Like Cervantes.
“What’s the most famous region ruled by the Sharon Faction?”
“As I mentioned yesterday, most knights in the Kingdom’s territories generally align with the Sharon Faction. The higher their noble rank, the more they value appearances. But why do you ask?”
Jewelina habitually tapped the wooden deck with the pointed toe of her shoe.
I stared at the latest fashion item fidgeting before me and said,
W̌ е̂ bn о̀ v̀е̄ľ Ё nu m ä
“I want to learn about chivalry. That’s the biggest reason I’m heading to the Kingdom for my martial pilgrimage.”
I hesitated briefly but saw no reason to hide it.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
This fact didn’t seem like it would become a weakness.
At that moment, Maserin’s eyes twitched as she looked at me.
Having been expressionless all along, I easily noticed her subtle change.
Jewelina suddenly draped an arm over Maserin’s shoulder, an action that seemed like she was hastily cutting in.
W е̊b ñо̆v е l̆ Е̌ n ūmа̀
“I’m seeing you in a new light, Young Master Bihen. Truly.”
“If you know anything, tell me. About regions where traces of chivalry remain, or Sharon Faction knights who follow it—anything at all.”
Jewelina tapped her lips with her finger, looking every bit the merchant calculating her moves.
“Young Master, how about traveling with us for a bit after we reach the Kingdom?”
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“Travel together?”
“Yes. As I mentioned yesterday, the Kingdom’s a mess, so… we could use some extra hands.”
Ӗ ń ū m a ..ìď_
I let out a hollow laugh, incredulous.
If she wanted money for information, I could give her everything I had.
But working under a merchant, especially the Gunbel Trading Company? That was an entirely different matter. I am a proud warrior of the Empire.
“I thought you were just reckless, but you’re fearless, too. Are you asking me to help with your trading company’s work?”
“No. We’ll dock and visit a few places—our trade partners in the Kingdom, so to speak. All you need to do is stay with us for this one deal.”
“Just stay by your side?”
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“Yes. Exactly.”
Wasn’t this even more suspicious?
I’m the type who believes there’s no such thing as kindness without motive and a merchant, especially from the Gunbel Trading Company? Doubly so.
Jewelina quickly added,“It’s hard to explain everything right now. Let’s just say your presence alone benefits us in some ways. But what’s certain is that you’ll get what you want, too.”
“Things related to chivalry?”
“Yes. I guarantee it.”
E̊ǹum̆.à . ї d
I weighed the pros and cons of the two paths before me.
One was to reject the offer and move alone as planned.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
With no specific destination and the Kingdom’s east being unfamiliar—unlike the west—I’d likely waste time adjusting.
The advantage? Well, perhaps the lack of encumbrances since I’d be alone.
The other was to accept the offer.
The worst case? Jewelina betraying me.
Ẽṅ ù m â . і d
But I couldn’t even vaguely guess what that might entail.
What could this woman gain from a low-ranking warrior family’s heir like me? More importantly, even if her entire group came at me with swords, they’d pose no threat.
If, as she claimed, I could truly find traces of chivalry…
‘It’s a gamble worth taking.’
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Setting aside my personal feelings about Jewelina, I was also curious about what the Gunbel Trading Company was up to in the Kingdom.
“Fine. I’ll travel with you for a bit.”
Е n̄ùm̊а .і́ d
“Good choice, Young Master.”
As she turned away, still with her arm around Maserin’s shoulder, Jewelina said,
“From now on, just call me Jewel.”
* * *
In my cabin, I balanced heart technique practice with light strength training, ensuring proper rest.
I also reread Knights of Elderwood whenever I had time.
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Though a translation, diminishing its significance, I could recite its striking passages with my eyes closed.
Rather than growing closer to Jewel, it felt more like I was getting used to her.
Such days continued.
Comparing this to the Empire’s warships from my previous life would be absurd, but… I even began to wonder if I’d spend my entire life at sea this time around.
“Land ahoy—!”
The loud cry of a sailor rang like a bell of salvation.
Еn̊ü m̂_а̀ ..i d́
Indeed, a vast shadow loomed on the horizon.
“Welcome to the Kingdom, our Young Master Bihen?”
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I had no energy to mind Jewel’s teasing beside me.
Though it wasn’t my first time in the Kingdom, a thrill rose in me, as if stepping into a new world.
It was a strange, unfamiliar sensation.
“Check the supplies thoroughly, and keep a constant headcount. If anyone goes missing, it won’t end with just a pay cut!”
W еb̂ nȯvе l. Ё nu_ṁ a
The work crew leader, who disembarked first at the dock, shouted at the sailors.
People who had filled the lower deck began moving clumsily under the sailors’ directions.
I slipped into the crowd and got off.
I hadn’t noticed before, as they all wore long, face-concealing robes, but now I saw the group was diverse in age and gender, with only children absent.
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There was little uniformity among them.
Creak.
Ӗńu m ӓ
A woman beside me stumbled, perhaps missing a step.
I grabbed her arm to keep her from falling.
“T-Thank you.”
“Be careful.”
As I spoke, I doubted my eyes. The robe over her abdomen bulged noticeably.
Stepping onto land, I stretched widely.
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No one else voiced sentiments about reaching shore, so I, too, could only swallow my excitement.
‘What a strange feeling. The image of a land ravaged by war is still vivid.’
Looking around, I saw only a few people—likely fishermen—coming and going, typical of a peripheral port.
The Gunbel Trading Company’s sailors bustled, unloading cargo and herding the lower-deck passengers, their voices echoing loudly.
Jewel, still on the bow, was discussing something with a company officer.
I watched the scene absently when a voice cut in.
E n um̀а . і.ď
“Don’t show them excessive kindness.”
It was Maserin, who had approached like a ghost.
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My surprise stemmed from hearing her voice for the first time.
“Why?”
“They’re not good people.”
Her gray hair framed piercing blue eyes that glinted calmly.
Ẃ е b̂nо̌ v ěl̄ Eǹ uṁ ӓ
The reason to avoid helping them was that they weren’t good people…? Her appearance and words confirmed my first impression: a naive kid ignorant of the ways of the world.
“There’s no need to fuss over good and evil just for lending a hand, little one. It wasn’t even excessive kindness.”
“I’m not a little one.”
And here was a kid staging a rebellion the moment we reached the Kingdom.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Could a person change so drastically just because the setting shifted? Even I couldn’t let this slide.
“Insolent. How dare you…”
Е̃ nu m̌ а̂
“I’m not from the Empire.”
I blinked.
“You’re from the Kingdom?”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
Maserin, with a sword as long as her body strapped to her waist, sauntered off.
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