Dakuk.

Putting down the teacup, Bernard looked at the man in front of him, who exuded the aura of a sharp sword.

Although he looked middle-aged, his dignified bearing was enough to match even the sovereign of a nation.

The supreme ruler of the North.

Elburton von Jervain.

He was Count Jervain.

"Thank you for agreeing to my request."

"Nonsense. Shouldn't I even listen to this much if it's the Master of the North who's asking?"

But –

"What is the reason for keeping me in Jevarsch?"

"The hunting competitions during Fatalite's Wheel[1] do bring a lot of benefits to Jervain. But it's not always beneficial."

"… You seem to have something in mind."

"It's just an old man worrying."

The Count didn't explain.

But Bernard seemed to know what he was thinking.

"Are you suspicious of Callavan?"

"Jervain's name holds that kind of weight. If they harm the family, even my own children must die. Anything that endangers the survival of the North, must face my sword."

Whatever it is.

That is the only way to safeguard the family, the North, and the country itself.

Such is the Jervain Patriarch's way of life.

Since the old days, from the founding of Carpe, Jervain has existed and will continue to exist in that manner.

"One of them was kicked out, and the other one left the family on her own two feet. However, I still have to protect Jervain, and I still have to protect the North. So I have to be careful."

He was suspicious of Callavan.

Exactly what he suspected was unknown, but Bernard could guess that it wasn't something favourable to Jervain or the North.

"Then Emily…"

When Emily's name came out, the lines on the Count's forehead deepened.

"… That child has also inherited Jervain’s bloodline. It is inevitable."

"Are you just going to leave things as they are? That child can't even properly use her power because of the problems with her divine blood."

"Even so. It's not just her bloodline, even Emily's hair and eyes are completely Jervain's. I can't be seen to favour one side over the other."

At the Count's stubborn words, Bernard let out a deep sigh.

"Then Emily will die. She hasn't even seen the flowers bloom yet. There's no way he will leave Emily, the only direct descendant of Jervain's bloodline, alone. Even you, Count, can't pretend that you don't know…!"

"Death is surprisingly fair and natural. You may die at the age of ten, or you may die at the age of twenty. Death is a common and universal providence of nature. If you are weak, you die quickly, and if you are strong, you may live long."

It might have sounded cold, but both of them had been immersed in the harsh battlefields surrounded by savage swords for far too long.

Therefore, Bernard could not refute the Count's words despite his deep sense of urgency.

So, he took a different track.

"… Callius is in the North."

The Count's hand holding the teacup trembled. The tea surface rippled and swayed, and a drop of black tea dripped down the cup's side.

"He is no longer a Jervain."

"But the blood does not lie. I entrusted him to escort Emily."

"I think you did something useless."

I'd heard that he became a Pilgrim.

Even so, what would have changed if that scapegrace became a Pilgrim?

"He'd be lucky to not get caught up in the problems of this Wheel."

A meeting between a genius who can't use her divine power, and a trash swordsman.

Count Jervain couldn't help but laugh at the absurd combination.

The Count shook his head and stood up from his seat, turning his back and approaching the window.

It was a signal to leave.

Bernard got up from his seat as well, adding a last word of encouragement.

"Your son has changed quite a bit. It won't be long before my sword is taken away. This Wheel will change a lot in the North, looks like."

Kik – thump.

After Bernard had retreated, the Count murmured, looking intently at the small and childish old sword hanging next to his bookshelf.

"… Why did you come?"

This winter.

It's unusually cold, enough to make me shiver to my bones.

After the interview with the Count, Bernard returned to the chapel to watch the red sunset.

As many thoughts collided and interlocked in his head, it became heavy.

When he woke up, staring listlessly at the ground, the night was already deep.

However, his feet again wandered to the inn where the one in his thoughts was supposed to be.

"It's Bernard, right?"

"Um, yes, do you know me?"

"You're the one who destroyed my inn, so how can I not know? Hahaha!"

"Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, I didn't even compensate you for it. This is really…."

"No, no. Your disciple has already paid for everything."

Did he?

Bernard grinned at the mention of Callius.

"Did you come to see your disciple?"

"That's right. So?"

"Yeah, try going up. They went and bought some stuff from outside, then went up after eating dinner."

"Thank you."

Bernard's feet climbed the stairs and reached in front of Callius' door.

Ttok, ttok.

As he knocked on the door, it opened as if waiting, and those blunt gray eyes looked down at him.

"What's going on?"

"Looks like you've been waiting for me, but you're still making such a sullen expression."

"If you've gone senile with age, why don't you just quietly leave your sword behind."

"Age, huh! I'm still good enough for ten more years."

Bernard entered the room with a pleasant smile and sat down on a chair.

"Okay, are you ready?"

"We're preparing."

Fatalite's Wheel.

The hunting competition would span seven days.

So there was a lot to prepare.

You'd also need to pack food and supplies for camping.

"And Emily…"

"That cheeky little kid just came and tried to test me by swinging her sword."

At Callius's expression saying how absurd that was, Bernard burst into laughter.

"Hey, she's a bit arrogant alright! Remind you of somebody?"

"Don't talk bullshit."

"Actually, she still can't be compared to you, Jervain's idiot. Suddenly, I'm feeling sorry for Emily. I even said that she resembles the biggest trash in the world… Oh my. I'll have to go apologize to her right away, early tomorrow."

Bernard giggled, as if teasing his student made him feel very excited.

Of course, Callius faced him with a sarcastic expression.

"If you're only here to gossip, just stop. We're already quite busy."

"Why don't you think about the heart of the master who wants to spend even a little bit of time with his disciple who is going far away for so long?"

"What kind of nonsense is the person who made me go that far away saying?"

"That's hard to answer. That clogged up way of speaking is very much like the Count."

Bernard secretly scolded Count Jervain, muttering that he and his son resembled each other in some unfortunate ways.

"The door isn't locked."

"Fine, you can't even take a joke."

Bernard quickly erased his smile and opened his mouth again, pressing on his knees softly with his palms.

"I can't even take a single step out of the Jevarsch. As long as the Wheel spins."

"What do you mean?"

An uncaring attitude.

"It was the Count's request."

Callius' eyebrows twitched.

Protect the castle at the Count's request.

As long as Fatalite's Wheel is spinning? There is something fishy –

He couldn't help but think that way.

"The Count doesn't seem to fully trust Callavan, whom he adopted. Besides, he asked me to protect the castle because there were some strange signs."

"It's got nothing to do with me."

"Why not! You are also the eldest son of Jervain's bloodline!"

Bernard, who snapped and shouted, looked into Callius's gray pupils.

"You still haven't forgiven your father. What happened back then…"

Bernard's mouth twitched in hesitation and stilled.

"It was probably a good thing."

"Heh heh… The Count must fulfil his mission in his own way. His destiny leaves him no other choice."

"It has nothing to do with me."

Fine. Bernard shook his head at that stubborn attitude.

Three years ago.

Bernard and Callius were wandering the North. They spent most of their time in the White Forest and hunted the beasts, but they weren't the only ones there.

It was because Bernard wanted Callius to accumulate a lot of experience.

‘It was my fault.'

However, because of that greed, Callius met a person he did not need to meet and was seriously injured.

‘He must have been angry that his son who had been kicked out was still wandering around the North. Still, the Count was a bit too harsh back then.'

Bernard sighed and clicked his tongue, thinking of Callius and the Count.

At that time, what happened was due to his own greed, so Bernard had a sense of obligation.

After that, Callius went on his pilgrimage alone, and Bernard entered the castle by himself. Even though he used to be the one who never left the White Forest.

"… Then protect Emily too."

"Why do I have to protect the Count's hidden child?"

"Isn't she your sister?"

"I'm not from Jervain."

Bernard let out a sigh.

However, this time he stayed stubborn.

"Think of it this way. Have you ever seen your teacher tell you to do something wrong? It's all going to be helpful to you, so get along with that child."

"… What the hell is with that kid?"

"She's going to be important to you too. So, don't be silly and just follow what I say."

Druck.

Callius glanced at Bernard standing up from his chair.

"Are you going?"

"I've said everything I had to say."

Bernard, grabbing the doorknob, looked back at Callius and frowned.

Then he took a deep breath and shook his head.

"I'm going. No need to see me off."

"I wasn't going to."

"One day you'll be struck by lightning[2]."

Keung! Bernard snorted and left the inn.

It was snowing heavily outside.

Cough, cough.

The corners of Bernard's mouth, after a few heavy coughs, became moist.

Gathering some falling snow with both hands, he wiped his lips and started moving again quickly.

At the places he had stood while coughing, the pure white snow was strangely dyed red.

Ppuuuuuu –

The sound of horns shook the North.

The wandering Knights and Jervain's troops, who had crossed the border, headed for the White Forest one after another.

Their numbers were well above the mark.

A glorious and crowded procession.

It wasn't for just any reason.

For today was Fatalite's Wheel.

It was because it was the day the hunting competition started.

"So, they said that if you catch a beast and bring a token of proof, you will be counted. The schedule is a week in total."

Bruns rushed over and explained the rules of the competition.

The duration is seven days.

During that time, camping in the White Forest and hunting as many beasts as possible is what determines the winner of this competition.

"The honour and rewards from the Jervain family will go to the one who catches the greatest number of beasts."

Honour is the ultimate pursuit of a Knight.

The reward is a method of practicing divine power handed down from the Jervain family.

‘Both are useless.'

Of course, neither of these rewards were very desirable for Callius.

He was a Pilgrim who did not need the title of a Knight, and it had been a long time since he'd learned the legendary Six Peak Flowers technique.

"You can get a sword too, if you want."

It was Emily.

She was wearing a double-edged rapier on her waist. The attire was not a fluttering dress as usual, but an outfit that was comfortable and warm.

She was wearing light armour on the outside, so she still looked pretty cute.

"Anyway, it'll probably be a sword ordered from the Church. Maybe something in the Life Sword grade."

Callius pinched his nose.

If that's the case, you don't even need it.

If you already have two such swords, why would you need more?

"I'd rather get some artifacts. Damn things are hard to come by. I heard that this time we have some lavish stuff."

"Do you want to win?"

"I can't even think about winning. People with Jervain's bloodline are automatically excluded, but nonetheless, everyone thinks that the family's successor, Callavan, is the one who will catch the most beasts."

And that Callavan was aiming not just for the lives of the beasts, but also for Emily.

"Death while hunting a beast would be perfect."

"So don't die, you idiot. I don't like you enough to go erect something like a tombstone."

"Yeah, same here."

And after a while –

"What's this, what's a halfwit[3] who can't even use her spirit power doing here?"

"Right, right? Still, you do have a Knight with you. Who are you? Don't you know that the Knights following Emily will have to get out of sight[4] when our father becomes the Lord?"

In front of them, not beasts, but a pair of pale gray-eyed twins were chattering.

Editor's Notes:

[1] Since future chapters actually refer to the meaning of the name, we are changing the name to Fatalite – as in, derived from the word ‘fatality' (root Latin fatalitas), something decreed by fate.

[2] 벼락 맞을 (lit. struck by lightning) – something evil that should be punished by heaven.

[3] 반푼이 (lit. half penny) an idiot who can only use half her wits. See Namu Wiki.

[4] 눈 밖에 (lit. out of the eye) part of the idiom 눈 밖에 나다 meaning falling out of favour.