Episode 145

The next day, the Chetwind estate was bustling from early morning.

As soon as I woke up, without even knowing what was going on, I was seized by the head maid and had to get dressed up in a splendid red uniform.

“What on earth is going on, so early in the morning?”

I asked, being dragged around by the head maid and the other maids.

“As the new master of the holy sword Kirios, you will perform a brief ceremony according to Chetwind tradition,” the head maid said, dressing me with an excited expression.

“A sudden ceremony for the sword?”

“Oh my, I surely told you about it last night.”

If it was last night, I had been completely exhausted after dealing with the whole Bergeus situation, so after returning to the mansion, I had been half out of it.

Now that I think about it, maybe she did mention something while preparing my bed.

Although, I had already been told through Harry before coming to the south that there would eventually be a ceremony to award the sword.

Still, I hadn’t expected it to happen so suddenly.

A ceremony for the sword…

“I’ve lived a life far from swords, and yet, somehow, I ended up like this…”

I let out a small sigh, feeling something was off.

At that, the maid, who was carefully tying up my hair, laughed and said,

“They say life before and after being chosen by Kirios is completely different. Becoming the master of the guardian sword that protects the south is a great honor.”

Life before and after being chosen by Kirios…

Thinking back to yesterday, it definitely seemed true.

The fact that someone like me, who had never even held a sword before, could wield sword energy at all was already surreal.

Desar and Peter, who had witnessed the scene, even said they thought their eyes were playing tricks on them.

“Alright, you’re ready. How could the knight’s uniform suit you so perfectly?”

At the head maid’s words, I paused while looking at my reflection in the mirror.

With my long blond hair tied up high and wearing the neat red knight’s uniform, I unmistakably resembled someone.

Tias Diselre, who I once saw blooming like a single flower on a desolate battlefield in a dream.

To be honest, no matter how much Askan insisted I was her reincarnation, it had never felt real.

Since I had no memories, I could just consider her a stranger.

But now, looking at myself, I realized I resembled her quite a lot.

“…….”

Come to think of it, even the swordsmanship I used while facing Bergeus yesterday was similar to the techniques Tias had used in war.

Feeling a sudden sense of déjà vu and subtle emotions, I avoided meeting my own gaze in the mirror.

* * *

The Chetwind Castle’s banquet hall.

There, already, members of Chetwind’s collateral families and many nobles who dominated the South had gathered.

For something that was supposed to be a simple ceremony, there seemed to be over thirty people assembled.

Amid the solemn atmosphere, I walked up to Harry and knelt before him.

There were only two people in the Empire who could bestow the title of knight.

The Emperor and the Count of Chetwind.

Usually, it was customary to receive a knighthood from the Emperor during the annual knighting ceremony, but there were exceptions.

When Chetwind’s treasured sword, Kirios, chose a new master, the ceremony was exceptionally conducted by the Count of Chetwind.

And this ceremony was the first time in fifty years that a knighting ceremony was held by Chetwind.

Harry, holding out the holy sword Kirios to me who was kneeling before him, said, “As the one chosen by the holy sword Kirios, you shall shoulder the honor of Chetwind and work for the peace and well-being of this land.”

“I shall humbly receive your noble command.”

After receiving the holy sword and paying the proper respects, I stood up and drew the sword from its sheath.

As I did, Kirios resonated fiercely as if it were connected to my very heart.

Soon, applause erupted from all around.

Through this brief ceremony, I officially received the title of knight.

Following that, since the ceremony had been held early in the morning, a breakfast banquet was arranged in the hall.

“A young master of the holy sword, it can only be a good omen.”

“Indeed. And to think she is Isabella’s daughter. Regaining lost blood ties is a blessing beyond compare.”

The gathered nobles enjoyed breakfast while offering their congratulations to Harry and Catherine.

As for me, overwhelmed from the morning’s hectic schedule, I slipped away to the terrace to get some fresh air.

From the terrace, an endless expanse of blue ocean stretched out.

While feeling the cool breeze, the terrace door opened and someone entered.

Turning my head sharply, my eyes widened at the unexpected figure.

“Lord Daniel?”

He was Lord Daniel, the heir to the Count of Chetwind.

“Congratulations on becoming the new master of the holy sword, Little Duchess of Drenihan,” he said with a smile.

“Ah, thank you for your congratulations, Lord Daniel.”

I responded awkwardly to his congratulations.

Had it not been for me, the rightful successor of Kirios would have been Daniel as originally intended.

Feeling slightly guilty for somehow intercepting it midway, I didn’t quite know how to face him.

As the rumors said, he had a gentle and kind appearance.

Despite surely being disappointed at not being chosen by the sword, he came to offer his congratulations first.

Looking out at the sea, he said, “It was the first time I saw Kirios resonate so fiercely, who only ever faintly responded to me. It seems to have taken quite a liking to you, Little Duchess.”

With a slightly bitter expression, he continued, “You seem far more suited to be the Count of Chetwind than I.”

At his words, I waved my hands vehemently.

“That’s not true. I always thought there was no one more suitable than you, Lord Daniel.”

“Is that so? Haha, thank you for your words at least.”

Then Daniel, gazing at me, said, “There’s a saying that when the holy sword chooses a new master, it’s to prepare for an upcoming calamity.”

“To prepare for an upcoming calamity?”

He smiled and nodded.

“Yes, isn’t it fascinating? Just a mere sword, yet as keen as a beast at sensing nearby danger.”

The corners of his lips, which had been smiling gently, began to twist strangely.

“…….”

Daniel’s atmosphere subtly changed from a moment ago.

Sensing an ominous feeling, I instinctively stepped back.

At some point, Daniel’s brown eyes had turned into a murky red.

“Haha, why are you backing away in fear?”

The atmosphere changed so swiftly that I instinctively reached for the hilt at my waist.

It was like déjà vu of the scene I had seen at Aisil Lake.

“Who are you?”

“My, you do catch on fast.”

In an instant, Daniel drew his sword and launched an attack at me.

Chaeng–!

I quickly drew Kirios and blocked his attack.

Facing him up close, his red eyes gleamed eerily.

“…Herz?”

With a completely different voice, Daniel spoke to me.

“Ah, that damn sword. It ruined so many of my plans. Every time I think about how that damn thing sealed the demon gates I had opened, even after centuries, I still grind my teeth.”

In the blink of an eye, he rushed in, reaching out for the Kirios I was holding.

“This time, you won’t stop me.”

Just at that moment.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang–!

A sword flashing with brilliant light shattered the terrace door and flew rapidly toward Daniel.

The bluish blade grazed Daniel’s hand, making him drop Kirios.

“Ugh…!”

“[Sierra, use my power to purify him like you did with Bergeus!]”

Following Askan’s urgent voice, I seized the opportunity, rushed at Daniel, and grabbed his shoulder.

A dazzling light spread into the air.

I infused Daniel with purification energy, just like I had done for Bergeus.

Twisting in agony, Daniel soon collapsed helplessly to the floor, freed from Herz’s control, and fainted.

Looking at the sword that had destroyed the terrace door, I muttered,

“That’s Ludwig’s sword.”

Through the crowd drawn by the sudden disturbance, familiar faces appeared.

“Sierra, are you alright!”

It was Ludwig and Bergeus.

“Ludwig! Yes, I’m not hurt badly.”

Ludwig, checking me over, let out a small breath of relief after confirming I was okay.

“How did you two know to come here?”

Pointing to Bergeus, Ludwig said,

“This one sensed a massive surge of magic power here, so we came.”

Bergeus said in a subdued voice,

“Looks like the bastard is finally making a move. Trying to seize Kirios first, it seems.”

“What do you mean…”

Just then, a knight came rushing over, panting heavily.

“A disaster has struck!”

Struggling to catch his breath, the knight said with a face pale with fear,

“Massive demon gates are opening all over the southern region!”

“…What?”

Massive demon gates.

Everyone here knew exactly what that meant.

The blood-soaked history of the Great Demon War, seen only in history books, was about to repeat itself.