Zion quickly mentioned the Third Princess while glancing at Enrite. Although Enrite still seemed aware of Leshia, he showed interest in the Third Princess. She was a direct royal family member, a skilled knight, and the last wielder of a Magic Sword.
‘Did the Third Princess approach first?’
Enrite felt suspicious but quickly understood. The Lychness Knights were renowned and prestigious, and any knight would naturally take an interest in them. The Third Princess probably considered joining the Lychness Knights but sought another way due to her status and background.
‘…Without Zion Laird, the Magic Swords wouldn’t have been gathered.’
Enrite recalled meeting Zion and was captivated by that sensation again. A man with a fateful quality, the owner of Exceed Rain, and a seer of the future. Following Zion's lead enabled him to achieve his long-awaited goal.
‘He said he had no confidence.’
Zion had predicted the invasions of the Shadow Dragon and the Abyssal King and prepared for them. The prediction of the Shadow Dragon was almost accurate, but the Abyssal King not only destroyed Arleard Castle but also pressured the Magic Sword users and the Setinos Quasar. Zion had even mentioned that future predictions could be wrong, making Enrite a bit nervous.
‘No, Zion Laird has done well so far. From now on, I must help him.’
They couldn’t rely on Zion forever. Simply leaving everything to him would force him to risk his life as he did in the battle against the Abyssal King. Although Zion became stronger, the process involved considerable risk.
‘No one should die.’
“No one” included Enrite himself. The idea of sacrificing oneself to save others was unacceptable. Although Zion had chosen to do so, Hanette found it unacceptable. Enrite felt the same and decided to exclude the concept of sacrifice.
‘Even if I sacrifice myself, others won’t accept it.’
During the battle with the Shadow Dragon, Zion had said that life should not be risked recklessly. One fights to live, not to die. Enrite deeply embraced those words and strongly reprimanded Zion for his mistake.
‘…That’s why El Tesoykve and Brehit resonated.’
Despite knowing he would die, Zion refused to abandon his commitment. He made a promise to Hanette and followed through with his intention. As a result, the flames of Brehit imbued the blade of El Tesoykve, allowing them to withstand the Abyssal King’s attack.
‘However… I don’t know if it’s possible with other Magic Swords.’
There had been three instances of resonance between Magic Swords: Exceed Rain with Brehit, El Tesoykve with Exceed Rain, and El Tesoykve with Brehit. Enrite had experienced the resonance of El Tesoykve and Exceed Rain long ago, but the resonance with Brehit defied the laws of nature.
‘Hanette Adelaira obtained the Magic Sword without communion.’
Enrite had heard from Zion and Hanette how they came to possess Brehit. It was a unique method, even beyond Enrite’s understanding, as if Hanette had been born with the Magic Sword.
‘She said she couldn’t summon the Magic Sword….’
The issue with Brehit was solely Hanette’s. If she owned the Magic Sword, there was no reason she couldn’t summon it. However, Hanette was effectively drawing out Brehit’s power, making the matter practically irrelevant.
‘Hanette Adelaira has something special.’
Enrite pondered deeply, locking eyes with Hanette. Being extraordinary suggested creating new possibilities. Perhaps the Flame Magic Sword, Brehit, held a power beyond its origin.
‘Is it possible to awaken it?’
Enrite speculated about the awakening of other Magic Swords but wasn’t sure. Although the Magic Swords were categorized into primordial and subsequent types, with El Tesoykve and Exceed Rain having personalities, Brehit fell outside these parameters, potentially leading to awakening.
‘If the resonating Magic Swords could awaken….’
“Just wondering, would the Lychness Knights lose anything if they allied with the Third Princess?”
Seran broke the silence, seeking answers. Zion, aware of Enrite’s presence, answered him.
“That’s a good question. Let me explain the drawbacks first. Being a direct royal, she will have the Royal Knights escorting her. They might interfere with our actions.”
“Having the Royal Knights escorting her is both an advantage and a disadvantage?”
“Exactly. They could be strong allies, but they might hinder the operations of our knights.”
“What if we receive orders from her since it’s an alliance?”
“That’s also true. We can’t surpass direct royals in authority.”
Oz, satisfied, fell silent again. Leaving a good impression was crucial, and speaking more might invite criticism and demotivation.
“…Handling accidents will be difficult.”
“That’s the biggest problem. She should fight with us, but if she’s excluded due to her status, we’ll be stuck.”
Being a direct royal was a significant drawback for a Magic Sword user. Constantly monitored under the guise of protection, they couldn’t act freely. In serious situations, the Lychness and Sylase Knights might end up protecting the Third Princess.
“If she were the heir, this wouldn’t even be a discussion. It all depends on the King's decision.”
“I understand she hasn’t received the King’s approval yet. Conditions might change later.”
Ultimately, the King’s directives would determine the overall direction. If he trusted the Lychness Knights, he might lift restrictions on the Third Princess. If he doubted them, he wouldn’t allow the alliance or the formation of a new knights’ group.
To ensure a clear decision, the Setinos Quasar, who participated in the battle against the Abyssal King, needed to present their recommendations.
“What if the Setinos Quasar intervenes?”
“They might view it positively. However, they also reported on reckless fighting, so not all evaluations will be favorable.”
“……”
There was no room for excuses. He had fought recklessly, essentially risking his life. Every soldier had witnessed it, making lies impossible. While some might praise him as a hero, knowledgeable knights might criticize his recklessness.
“The best scenario is if only the Third Princess and Barhen come over.”
Hanette, entering the conversation late, glanced at Enrite. In this discussion, Zion and Enrite had the strongest voices. With Zion already on board, convincing Enrite was the next step.
“That might be difficult. They’re direct royals and Marquis’ children.”
“There should be some Royal Knights, increasing the number of soldiers.”
“The palace won’t send too many Royal Knights. They might send skilled ones instead.”
“Fewer soldiers make it easier for us. Better to have skilled soldiers than unskilled ones.”
“……”
Enrite pondered silently. As a member of the Setinos Quasar, he could recommend matters concerning the Third Princess. Working with the Lychness Knights might change the King's perspective slightly.
“If the Third Princess joins, all Magic Swords will be gathered. The Earth Magic Sword hasn’t found its owner yet but tried to commune upon arriving in the capital. We don’t know what will happen once they’re all gathered, but we should find out.”
Even Zion and Enrite couldn’t predict this. The original story hadn’t covered this scenario, and Enrite instinctively felt the need to gather the Magic Swords. They hoped to use the seven Magic Swords to defeat the Three Demon Kings and the Four Calamities.
‘Gathering the Magic Swords is important.’
Leshia, watching silently, understood the significance. Though unaware of the exact reasons, she knew the seven Magic Swords and their wielders needed to unite.
‘Was it Hanette? She’s quite unique.’
Leshia also observed Hanette. Despite owning the Magic Sword, Hanette couldn’t manifest its form, indicating incomplete communion and ineffective use. Yet, Hanette naturally harnessed its power.
‘Zion embodies darkness….’
Zion absorbed all the darkness of Exceed Rain. Concurrently, Exceed Rain awakened, reborn as Zion’s unique Magic Sword. Zion and Hanette could potentially transcend their limits as Magic Sword users.
‘Both seem capable of defying fate.’
Duke Adelaira’s residence, Zion’s room.
Since being summoned to the palace yesterday, Zion had been deep in thought. He never imagined such an opportunity would come his way. Despite earning it through significant achievements, he felt unprepared.
‘They’re offering me land….’
Zion had never owned land before. In Alain Kingdom, acquiring land wasn’t easy, even with money. Most territory was owned by the palace, with nobles controlling the rest. Land could only be granted through deserving achievements, and its benefits were substantial, making it rarely sold.
‘What kind of land should I choose?’
Zion had some knowledge of Alain Kingdom’s territories. However, the described details were limited, and he couldn’t recall everything. He vaguely remembered the value of certain lands.
‘Gold mines, special products, tourist spots….’
He aimed to select land that was either materially valuable or personally useful. His options were limited, given the restrictions on what he could receive. Most importantly, Zion had a primary consideration.
‘To live with Hanette, I need land where I can build a castle or mansion….’