I looked down at Baron Moncl, who had collapsed against the wall.
'Did I overdo it?'
Though I won, I couldn't continue fighting.
Well, considering the era when I was called the Sword King hasn't come yet, it was natural to suffer this level of injury when facing someone in the realm of a Sword Master.
Comparing my previous life to my current eight-year-old self, the difference is significant, but I'm far from reaching my peak potential.
"I can't help it."
After all, I've only been in this body for a few years.
Huff-
Siegfried, who had watched the entire fight, clapped his hands.
Clap clap clap clap.
"To defeat such an opponent with a sword you're not yet accustomed to, my teaching must be extraordinary!"
Praising himself in this situation.
"Oh, of course, you, who defeated someone about to become a Sword Master, are amazing too!"
I pressed down on the shoulder wound inflicted by Monestiere to stop the bleeding and replied.
"Not bad, right?"
"Not bad, it was fantastic."
"Then teach me how to slay a dragon now."
"It's too early for that. I'll tell you when the time is right."
"Until when?"
"Well... when you earn the title of Sword Master, I'll consider it."
"You promised."
"Yes, you know I keep my promises, don't you?"
If that were true, he would have told me already.
"Yes, Master."
Brunhilt, who had reverted to her cat form, poked at Moncl's head.
"This guy is still alive?"
"...?!"
I couldn't believe it. Despite being stabbed in the heart, he wasn't dead.
I immediately checked Baron Moncl's breathing.
"It's true."
"He's out of energy."
"Yes, I can feel it too. But the fact that he's still breathing after being stabbed in the heart-"
Thud.
There was a sound of the ground sinking behind me. At the same time, a massive presence was felt.
'An enemy?'
No, there shouldn't be anyone with this level of skill among Marquis Pierre's soldiers.
'...No.'
There was no murderous intent.
I slowly turned around to identify the figure who had suddenly appeared. When I saw her face, a smile spread across mine.
"Sister?"
Valentine was standing there.
"It's been a while."
She smiled brightly at me, a look I had never seen in my previous life.
Thud.
I unknowingly collapsed where I stood. The relief of seeing her made my legs give out.
"Are you alright?!"
Valentine quickly ran over and supported my upper body.
'It seems like the gods are really helping me in this life.'
For Valentine to come to Legion in such a situation meant that the conflict with Marquis Pierre could be resolved easily.
"Yes, sister."
"I heard everything from father. He told me to help you wage a full-scale war against Bourbon."
I didn't know how much she was aware of, but mentioning a full-scale war meant she understood the situation well.
"Is that so."
"Yes, and I'm glad you're alive. Monestiere was about to be appointed as one of the five generals."
"?!"
"Father strongly recommended him to the Imperial Army. It would have been a disaster if that had happened. He was pointing his sword at us."
She grabbed my arms and lifted me up effortlessly.
Hug.
She gave me a light hug and rubbed her forehead against mine.
"If it weren't for you, we would have faced a great crisis."
"..."
"It feels a bit early to say this to you, but you are indeed the future of our Strange family."
I didn't know how to respond.
Receiving such praise from her and having such a long conversation was unfamiliar to me.
I replied to her with the brightest smile I could muster.
"Thank you for thinking that way, sister."
Valentine, the Crow of Judgment.
Her mere presence organized the castle. The remaining knights and mercenaries of Bourbon surrendered at the sight of her.
Even the Imperial Army, unable to distinguish between friend and foe, returned to their barracks to avoid involving themselves in this battle.
Half a day passed, and the sun began to rise beyond the castle walls.
My first war as a member of the Strange family and my victory against Bourbon here.
This was a perfect opportunity to make my name known across the continent.
* * *
The knights and mercenaries of Marquis Pierre belonging to Bourbon within Legion were dealt with.
This news spread rapidly through the Imperial Army, reaching the royal family and the Holy See.
"They dared to wage war in Legion, a neutral territory?"
Even the five generals, considered the pillars of the continent, heard about it.
"That coward Pierre did something so audacious against Strange. Is someone backing him?"
A girl with short brown hair, hugging a skull as big as her upper body, sneered.
"Of course. The Strange family is an area even the Emperor wouldn't dare touch. How could that fool dare!"
A muscular man wearing only blue shorts on his bare body raised his eyebrows in anger from the opposite side.
Unlike the negative comments from the two, a man with short white hair in a white coat stroked the head of a snake wrapped around his neck and gave a positive response.
"Marquis Pierre is not weak. He must have had a reason unknown to us to act like that."
The girl holding the skull pointed her finger and shouted.
"Idiot! Do you think it's possible to win against Strange?"
The muscular man nodded.
"That's right. Though Gunter and Hysteria are gone, Valentine still remains with Lois."
The white-haired man nodded at the fierce opposition from the two.
"Ah, I understand. Your opinions are clear. Anyway, since three out of the five of us are here, let's proceed with a vote."
"What about the others?"
"They couldn't make it. But they said we could proceed since three are enough to reach a conclusion."
"Hmm..."
"They also said they'd follow whatever result we come up with."
"Well, if they say so. Let's get started then."
Thud.
The muscular man placed a black box on the table. Without hesitation, everyone wrote something on the paper in front of them.
Scribble, scribble, scribble.
Then they put the papers into the black box.
"Is there really a need for anonymous voting when there are only three of us?"
The muscular man asked.
"Yes, this way we avoid conflicts later with those who have different opinions," the white-haired man replied.
"But if the result is two to one, we'll know who voted for what anyway."
"...Please, be quiet."
After finishing their conversation, they took out the papers from the black box.
「1 vote for Strange」
「2 votes for Bourbon」
As expected, the votes were split. But they didn't show any reaction.
Only the one who voted for Strange knew the answer to who wrote what.
"Does anyone object?"
The girl and the muscular man shook their heads.
"Then the vote is concluded. The result is 1 vote for Strange, 2 votes for Bourbon."
The white-haired man stabbed a knife into the map at Bourbon's castle.
Bang.
"Accordingly, we, the Five Star Generals, will hold Marquis Pierre responsible for all the damage caused in the neutral region, deeming this incident a Bourbon issue."
* * *
If Strange and Bourbon clashed, the consequences would naturally reach the Emperor.
With Strange hesitating, Glaser's momentum was soaring. If those close by fought in a situation where the balance of power was broken, what would happen?
On the day Legion was overturned, the Emperor was deeply troubled.
He decided to meet with his loyal servant to resolve this matter.
"This issue will be resolved by Pierre and Lois meeting directly for a dialogue."
This was the best command the Emperor could give.
If he took sides, officials from various countries would protest. The resolution required the heads of the warring families to meet and settle things directly.
This way, the royal family wouldn't be responsible for whatever the outcome was.
Both families had justifiable reasons for the battle and for the urgency without a formal declaration of war.
Thus, the heads of the two families gathered at the cathedral within Legion.
In preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, an archbishop from the Holy See would mediate between them.
Thud.
Lois placed his sword on the table and spoke.
"We're ending this, but you started it."
Pierre shook his head slightly, his hands trembling.
"What do you mean we started it?"
"You tampered with the potions, ambushed the Strange mansion in Legion, and attacked civilians in the process."
"...Proof?"
"If you want to die, keep spouting nonsense, Marquis."
They glared at each other.
One had the fierce gaze of a lion, master of the forest, while the other, like a hyena following its tail, darted his eyes around nervously.
"You even targeted my youngest son. What were you thinking?"
"Ah, no! That's a misunderstanding. I just-"
"Shut up. I've already confirmed everything!"
The archbishop lightly waved his hand between them with a gentle smile.
"Please, both of you calm down and follow the Emperor's command to reach an amicable agreement through dialogue."
Lois glanced at the archbishop, then fixed his gaze back on Pierre.
"I won't drag this out. Choose: money or your life."
"Money or my life?"
"Yes, considering our past relations, I'll confiscate your family's assets but spare your life."
"You bastard... Do you think our family is a joke?"
"Does that mean you want to see this through to the end?"
Marquis Pierre glanced around nervously before lowering his head and answering.
"No, that's not it... How much do you need?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything. I will take everything with the Bourbon name."
This was an attempt to both break Pierre's spirit and financially pressure him.
'Damn it.'
But Pierre couldn't refuse.
If he did, he would die here and now.
So he nodded.
Even knowing that the tower he had painstakingly built would collapse in an instant.
"...Understood."
To live, he had no choice but to give such an answer.
"Then this conversation is over."
As Lois left, he muttered.
"I hope Verdin likes this."