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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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“The terms of our deal were for me to ask one question, correct?”
“Yes, anything as long as I know the answer.”
That was true, but…
Could she be asking about something other than the relic?
As far as I knew, nothing was more important to Gwen than the relic.
“What if you don’t know the answer?”
“Then, I’ll give you another chance to ask a different question.”
For a moment, I wondered if that should count as using up one chance, but I didn’t want to be that harsh with her.
I knew quite a bit about ‘Hundred Braves,’ after all.
However, I couldn’t even begin to guess what she would ask about instead of the relic’s location.
‘What could be more important to Gwen right now than the relic?’
Her family, the Reedvals, were one of the most prestigious families in the Leim Kingdom.
That is, until they lost their heirloom, the Rose Sword.
This was because the relic ‘Rose Sword’ was directly linked to the [Precocious] trait passed down through the Reedval family.
The [Precocious] trait halted physical growth in exchange for accelerated skill mastery.
To overcome the drawback of stunted physical growth, the ‘Rose Sword’ was essential.
As time passed without finding the sword, the Reedval family gradually declined. They were unable to overcome the limitations of their stagnant physical growth.
In the end, only Gwen Reedval, the Rose Knight, remained as their sole hope.
The fate of her family rested on her shoulders.
‘But she’s asking about something other than the Rose Sword’s location?’
It was unfathomable.
It was hard to believe, knowing how much she cared for her remaining family and the hardships she endured to find the ‘Rose Sword.’
Despite her generally warm personality, she would compromise on nothing when it came to her family.
She devoted everything to finding the ‘Rose Sword,’ even sacrificing her own youth and lifespan.
So why now, of all times?
“In that case, my question is…”
The question Gwen posed next was something I could never have anticipated.
“Are you a Reedval?”
“What?”
What was she talking about?
“What makes you think that?”
It was true that I had inherited Gwen’s [Rose Emblem].
But there was no way she could have noticed it.
Or so I thought, until she spoke.
“I’ve suspected it since the day I first met you. No, I was almost certain. That you were connected to the Reedvals.”
The day we first met?
I recalled that day.
Fighting off bandits, slipping the letter through the gap in Gwen’s door.
And making a deal with her.
It was an eventful day, but I couldn’t pinpoint when she became so certain.
“Is it because of the rose emblem on the letter?”
“No.”
I tossed out the most likely possibility, but it seemed I was wrong.
“That did help, but the decisive factor was something else.”
She abruptly drew the sword sheathed at her hip.
‘Huh?’
And without a word, swung it at me.
Clang!
I barely managed to block the attack with the Gravitas Replicant.
“What is…”
She ignored me.
Silently, she continued her assault.
I, too, continued to parry each blow.
‘Something’s strange.’
I recalled Gwen’s swordsmanship when she fought the golems.
Compared to her speed and skill then, her current swordsmanship was lacking.
There was only one explanation.
‘Is she matching my level?’
I didn’t understand why, but there was no need to be afraid if that was the case.
I decided to actively utilize [Swordsmanship (B)].
As I defended against Gwen’s attacks, I finally saw an opening.
This time, her attack was quite sharp.
But the instincts honed by [Swordsmanship (B)] showed me a way to counter it.
Trusting my senses, I angled my sword against hers. Then, using my left hand as leverage, I swung my sword in a wide arc.
‘But…’
Why was her sword here?
The sword I had clearly pushed away was right in front of me again.
Caught off guard mid-charge, there was no way for me to defend.
“Haha…”
Gwen’s sword grazed my neck.
It was a close call, but fortunately, she immediately withdrew her sword.
For a moment, I thought I might have a chance at winning, but it was foolish to think so. The difference in our stats was simply too great.
“So, what was that about? Why did you suddenly attack me?”
“As I thought…”
Gwen said with an expression of complete certainty.
“That swordsmanship, though a bit clumsy, is definitely the Reedval style. Judging by how you deflected my attack, it’s closer to the original style taught in the main house.”
‘This swordsmanship… is the Reedval style?’
It went against everything I knew.
Until now, I had never given much thought to the [Swordsmanship (B)] skill.
Of course, it’s not like there weren’t discussions about how the same Swordsmanship level didn’t necessarily translate to identical skills. But I always chalked it up to hidden stats.
‘What if it’s not hidden stats, but the very nature of [Swordsmanship] itself?’
If that were the case, it would explain why, even with the same Swordsmanship rank, the performance and compatibility of the skill differed depending on who you inherited it from.
And my [Swordsmanship (B)], inherited from Gwen, meant I had inherited her style of swordsmanship.
And Gwen had recognized my swordsmanship as her own.
“So, what’s your answer? Are you still going to deny it?”
Deny it… Gwen seemed certain that I was a Reedval. But I was at a loss.
Because I wasn’t a Reedval.
As I racked my brain for an answer…
‘Come to think of it…’
Gwen’s unexpected question.
The ensuing spar had made me forget something important.
‘Why is she asking about this instead of the Rose Sword’s location?’
It made no sense for Gwen to disregard the Rose Sword.
Did this mean there was a problem that could be solved if I were a Reedval?
Focusing on that possibility, I quickly went over the possibilities.
‘If I were a Reedval…’
It was at that moment.
I met Gwen’s eyes, which seemed to be expecting an answer from me.
Her expression held a mix of anticipation and something else I recognized.
It was my own expression, from the past.
‘The look of someone about to give up?’
The look of someone on the verge of letting go of everything.
As I pondered why she wore such an expression, I finally understood.
I understood why Gwen had asked that question.
“Gwen, if you thought I could shoulder your burden for you… you were mistaken.”
“What?”
“Because I am not a Reedval. I cannot obtain the Rose Sword for you.”
Finding the Rose Sword was Gwen’s duty.
An incredibly heavy burden.
Until now, she had carried it because there was no one else, but she was always searching.
For a way out of her obligation.
And the escape she thought she had found, I was denying it.
Gwen’s expression crumpled.
“You’re not a Reedval? Don’t lie. Then what about your swordsmanship?”
“As I said before, I learned it from an adventurer. I don’t know if he was a Reedval or not.”
“Then how do you know about the Rose Emblem? How do you know I’m looking for the Rose Sword? Nothing makes sense unless you’re a Reedval.”
Her usual composure, her warmth, were gone.
Her desperation was almost painful to witness.
Even so, I couldn’t reveal everything.
“I’m not obligated to tell you that. Your question was simply whether I was a Reedval or not.”
It seemed Gwen realized that as well.
The truth was, I wasn’t a Reedval.
That meant she had no choice but to return to her duty.
“I’m… sorry.”
She instantly returned to her usual self.
Composed about her goal, yet kind at heart.
“It’s alright. It was just part of our deal. You have nothing to apologize for.”
If anything, I was more concerned.
From the moment she realized I understood the weight of her burden, she seemed incredibly fragile.
But soon, I realized my mistake.
“But are you sure you don’t mind not knowing the Rose Sword’s location?”
“It’s fine. I believe in the constellations, after all. They’ll lead me to the Rose Sword eventually.”
Gwen seemed to have completely let go of her hope in me.
She was strong, I thought.
And she was right. If she followed the players’ guidance, she would eventually reach the Rose Sword.
As our intense conversation drew to a close…
“Actually, can I ask you one more thing? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
There was no reason to refuse if I didn’t have to answer.
“Sure.”
“Then, you must know about the curse of [Precocious] placed upon our family’s emblem, right? Since you know about the Rose Sword.”
I nodded.
It was a natural conclusion if you thought about it.
“Well then, do you happen to know how long I have to lift the Precocious curse to have at least two more years to live?”
As I tried to grasp the intention behind her question, she changed her words.
“More precisely… if I want to have children, when do I need to lift the curse at the latest?”
It was a question I wouldn’t have understood before.
But knowing that Gwen longed to break free from her duty, I could understand.
She just wanted to live a normal life. She couldn’t abandon her duty, but at least she wanted to experience normalcy in the short time she had left after fulfilling it.
And for her, the standard of a normal woman was to have children.
I couldn’t help but answer.
“Thirty-three. To be exact, June of your thirty-third year. After that, you won’t be able to bear children.”
Hearing that, Gwen actually smiled.
It seemed like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Perhaps knowing a concrete deadline brought a sense of relief.
“Thirty-three… Only four years left? It seems I need to hurry.”
It wouldn’t be that easy.
From the constellations’ perspective, they would want to delay Gwen obtaining the Rose Sword as much as possible to maximize her growth.
But that was between Gwen and the constellations now. There was no place for me to interfere.
The Gwen I had raised once before came to mind.
The original owner of the emblem I had inherited.
Did she harbor the same feelings as the Gwen standing before me?
The Gwen who lost her youth merely a year after obtaining the relic, her body rendered unable to fight, confined to her room.
I had ordered her to keep raising her Swordsmanship to SS rank, even as she diligently practiced her Handicraft skill through knitting.
However, she who had always obeyed my commands firmly refused this one. In the end, her Swordsmanship remained at rank S+.
And that was the [Swordsmanship (B)] I had inherited.
I regretted countless times that if I had persuaded Gwen to reach SS rank in Swordsmanship, I could have inherited a higher-ranked skill.
But now I understood. It was impossible to persuade the Gwen back then.
Her words from that time resurfaced in my mind.
Words she uttered while watching children playing in the village.
‘When the day comes that I can no longer fight, I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my days in a place like this.’
It was a simple wish, but for her, it was everything.
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Sad.
Extremely heavy burden!