CHAPTER 21…………………………………

Adamas and Sapeiros didn’t arrive home until the sun had already begun to set in the west.

The forest in the late afternoon looked pale rather than green, and the house felt chilly, perhaps because it had been empty for a whole day.

Bang! Creak, creak!

Adamas, just about to unpack and sit at the dining table, jumped at the sound of the door rattling violently.

“Uh, Sapeiros… looks like we have a visitor?”

“It’s just the wind.”

“The wind? The wind sounds like this?”

It was breezy today, but if the door was banging this hard, wasn’t there something wrong with it?

Bang! Bang!

“This is so noisy. Is there anything in this house that actually works?”

Shaking his head, Adamas slumped into the chair.

Sapeiros quietly brushed the ashes in the fireplace to one side and gave Adamas, sprawled across the table, a casual glance.

Feeling that look, Adamas summoned a small flame and tossed it into the fireplace.

“Exhausted?”

“Hm… I was standing for quite a while yesterday.”

“You really need some exercise. You should grab a sword now—”

Sapeiros, eyes glinting, held up a new sword.

“Hey, hold on! That’s like… mass civilian slaughter!”

“Fine. Can’t we just rest today? It’s my birthday, after all.”

“It’s my birthday, not yours.”

“Well, I’m just as happy as you, so let’s call it my birthday too.”

“You… what an embarrassingly bold thing to say… you’ve been saying stuff like that all day…”

“Alright, enough. Forget it. Let’s talk about what the Marquis mentioned earlier. The thing he said needed to be done quickly.”

At Adamas’ words, Sapeiros blushed and looked away, answering hesitantly:

“You mean the desert expedition.”

“Oh, right. That. So, if the golem didn’t come from the desert, does that mean all the walls we built were pointless?”

“No. The eastern part of the marquisate borders the desert, so once in a while, severe sandstorms hit depending on the season. Even if the golem didn’t come from the desert, the eastern walls still needed repair because the sand eroded them. The issue is the height.”

“Height?”

“If it’s not a golem, there’s no need to build them so tall.”

“I see. Lower walls mean lower costs—nice.”

“Exactly. And you?”

“I could go even tomorrow!”

“I expected you’d say that. I feel reassured knowing you’ll come along.”

“Oh? So, Sir Sapeiros finally recognizes my worth. Am I starting to feel like a capable mage?”

Adamas shrugged.

“It’s not a feeling—you are skilled. The Marquis also values you highly,” Sapeiros said seriously.

“Ugh… you… wow.”

Why do compliments come from such a handsome face?

“Discovering the mine? That deserves a hundred praises at least.”

“Stop! Enough!”

Don’t say another word! It’s embarrassing!

“You’re a genius.”

“Ugh. Please. Stop! My hands and feet are cringing!”

A genius… Adamas hadn’t heard that since his father passed away.

The Francisco Academy he attended was full of geniuses.

Adamas had talent too, but it wasn’t in ordinary magic, so even there, he’d never been called a genius.

Feeling awkward, he quickly changed the subject:

“Uh… about the duel tournament yesterday. Those brothers are suspicious.”

Stephan, a one-armed spearman, and Pantheon, a lame swordsman with a limp in his right leg.

“Something felt off, so they ran away in a hurry.”

“You mean Pantheon. Have you seen him before, Adamas? I hadn’t.”

Bang! Bang!

“Well… it’s not the first time I’ve seen him, but I’ve never seen someone that skilled. And… this really is the wind? It’s banging so hard!”

“It really is the wind. Or a ghost!”

“A… ghost! Stop saying stuff like that!”

No way this marquisate has ghosts.

“I can tolerate many things, but not ghosts!”

Adamas said seriously. Sapeiros shook his head.

Bang! Bang! Creak!

This time the door rattled even louder. Sapeiros quietly moved his left hand and drew a dagger.

“Wait, Sapeiros. I wasn’t deliberately ignoring the conversation. Why draw your sword?”

“Shh—”

Sapeiros raised a finger to warn Adamas.

Adamas finally realized and quietly clutched the violet amethyst ring on his left thumb.

Sapeiros slowly approached the door with his dagger drawn, signaling to Adamas that he was about to open it. Adamas nodded.

The moment the door swung open…

“Huh?”

“Eh??”

“What the… why is guest reception like this?”

Stephan, the one-armed spearman, shoulder-length spear in hand, and Pantheon, limping and holding his sword with a staff for support, were standing there.

The two people who were supposed to have left the marquisate entirely were now—right here, in front of Sapeiros’ house.

Why are they here? They say demons appear when you mention them—did they hear our gossip?

“I thought you’d left the Mano Marquisate,” Sapeiros said.

“As you can see, I have a leg problem, and my brother… oh, would you like some tea?”

Pantheon, shameless as ever, tried to change the subject.

Sapeiros took a step back. The two brothers bowed lightly and entered the house.

Oh no… what’s their purpose? What if a fight breaks out here?

Both Stephan and Pantheon are skilled, but not as strong as Sapeiros. Still, if they teamed up, things could get tricky. Could Sapeiros handle it? What if they attacked me first to use me as a hostage?

Ugh, headache. Why are these people here?

“Come in.”

Sapeiros quietly stepped aside.

Adamas silently sighed, brushing his forehead.

Thus began another day in the Mano Marquisate—where not a single day passes quietly.

“Sit.”

Sapeiros placed cups of desert bean water before them, though the brew was already two days old.

“Drink.”

“…Is this the only cup?”

Pantheon’s cheerful face from earlier scrunched up instantly.

“Nope.”

Sapeiros shrugged.

“Oh, sir. You didn’t come here just for tea, right? Still, this is frustrating.”

Stephan, who had been quiet, snapped:

“Hey, Sapeiros. Let’s spar!”

Clearly, he was looking for trouble.

“Excuse me. What are you doing, barging in so rudely?”

“Relax, Adamas. Is there a reason he’s challenging me?”

Sapeiros asked.

“No reason. Just heard you’re strong all over the empire, so I want to try you,” Stephan replied casually.

Adamas frowned.

You really want to fight Sapeiros just because he’s strong?

Adamas didn’t think Stephan was a natural fighter—just someone pretending.

He couldn’t let a random person fight Sapeiros.

“If that’s your reason, it’s even worse. Sapeiros needs to rest—today’s a rare holiday.”

Especially today—it’s my birthday.

“It’s fine, Adamas. I’ll go out.”

“Okay, great!”

Stephan stood and moved outside. Pantheon followed.

Why would they fight on someone’s birthday?

“Sapeiros. Don’t fight. These guys seem shady.”

“I know. But I want to check their skill anyway.”

“But right now, you…”

“Don’t worry. I’m stronger.”

In the open space in front of the house, Stephan and Sapeiros faced each other. Stephan raised his long spear diagonally; Sapeiros drew his dagger.

Originally, Sapeiros used two swords: primarily a rapier, with a dagger as backup.

Even though Sapeiros was a genius, he had received a new sword less than a day ago. He wouldn’t be able to fight at full strength with it.

So he drew the familiar dagger. Adamas, worried, watched him closely.

Sapeiros’ blue eyes gleamed, Stephan’s golden eyes sparkled.

“Long sword’s just decorative? That flashy red gem looks tacky. Not in style. Too shy to use it?” Stephan taunted.

“It’s too good—you might never lift a spear again,” Sapeiros replied, bluffing.

“Then let’s see the skills of the empire’s famed genius knight.”

“Come anytime.”

Adamas felt his mouth go dry. This might be even more impressive than the duel tournament.

He also felt like he’d seen this person somewhere before… where?

Adamas leaned against the wall, glancing at Pantheon, quietly observing the duel.

“Um… why exactly did you come to the Mano Marquisate?”

“Ah, Lady Adamas? Right, you were the judge at the duel tournament.”

“Ah… yes, I am Lady Adamas. But really, why are you here?”

“I told you. To see Sapeiros. He’s famous, you know.”

Lies. Even a hundred years later, Sapeiros was only regionally famous in Mano.

“Your real goal isn’t the duel tournament, but Sapeiros?”

“Yes.”

“So that’s why the brothers kept forfeiting to create chaos?”

“You seem sharp-tongued.”

“Well, you said it yourself—Lady Adamas is the judge of the duel tournament.”

Trying to ruin our harvest festival? Do you know how important this event was?

“Haha.”

“Seems like laughing is the trend in the capital if you don’t want to talk.”

“How did you know I’m from the capital? Oh, the duel tournament record? I just made that up.”

This guy openly falsified documents?

“Of course. Anyone can tell Pantheon isn’t him. I can’t believe you’re not a noble.”

“Haha. You think I have a noble look?”

“Of course. You spoke like a freshly graduated capital noble from Francisco Academy.”

“But Lady Adamas, you’re from the capital too, right? Your accent says so.”

“Nope. I’m a local of Mano!”

“Ha, Lady Adamas, you’re shameless.”

“Only as much as you two brothers.”

“Shameless woman.”

“What does a fraudster say?”

“F-fraudster! How dare you, Lady Adamas!”

“What good is a pretty face if your acting sucks?”

“What? Wha… huh?”

“Pretty, I said. If you want to be a fraud with that acting, you’d better have a good face!”

“What! Hey!”

“Oh, now you’re not calling me Lady anymore. Too bad! Lady Adamas is hurt.”

Pantheon and Adamas’ verbal duel escalated into a flurry of colorful insults.

Amid the noisy standoff, a new voice spoke up:

“Ah, why is this mountain so rough?”

A massive bundle of luggage grumbled as it moved toward Adamas.

What? The package is moving? Huh?

If you want, I can continue translating the next part where the fight between Sapeiros and Stephan unfolds—it gets even more intense and funny.

Do you want me to continue?