Chapter 114. Calia (2)
Calia de Esperanza.
The marquis' daughter with crimson hair.
One of the few who inherited the Esperanza Marquisate's traditional swordsmanship, she was known for her outstanding martial talent, yet compared to her siblings, she was considered lacking in other areas.
Perhaps because of this, her sense of pride burned all the stronger.
Alongside her direct knight order, she often went out to subjugate not only bandits and criminals, but, with the approval of the Adventurers' Guild, even demi-humans and abnormal species.
Her reputation and influence stretched far beyond the marquisate's borders.
She always carried with her a white sword.
And with her relentless will that neither bent nor broke, she came to be known by the epithet, "White Steel."
Yet, her personality was so unyielding that her critics often disparaged her as a reckless noble unable to discern reason.
But Calia's true nature was, in fact, caution.
She always acted with conviction, based on information she had personally secured. The fact that she had never once suffered a disadvantageous outcome proved this truth.
And Calia's hobby, was finding talent.
Her judgment revolved around strength and character.
From time to time, she held small competitions, rewarding those who performed well, and if someone matched her taste perfectly, she would attempt to recruit them.
There was only one reason.
Not to bolster the marquisate's prestige, but to build a power base of her own.
She also had the habit of always dining at the same restaurant, enjoying her own personal course meal, and her usual routes were...
'Quite detailed.'
The notebook handed over by Perne.
It neatly summarized what Calia preferred, and what kind of personality she had. Thanks to that, Verden gained a vague understanding of who this noble truly was.
'Still...'
Verden lifted his gaze.
In the distance, the rising sun painted the world in its colors.
'So it's the New Year.'
Verden was twenty-six years old now. He did not feel that time had flown by, for he had spent every day buried in busyness.
Even now, he had no time, nor thought, to enjoy the New Year as others did. A brief glance at the sun would suffice.
He reminded himself of his purpose.
The small competition Calia held in celebration of the New Year, hosted in the Adventurers' Guild's training ground.
It was not a tournament, but a format where Calia's knights faced the participants, meaning that Calia herself would naturally attend.
After thinking it over, Verden realized there was no other natural way to approach her than by using this competition.
'Best to see for myself first, and then decide.'
That came first.
The next day, in the distance, a massive city came into view.
***
The great city of Rines.
The largest city in the eastern kingdom, and a fortress that defended the frontier like an iron wall. Even in winter, as Verden passed through the city gates, the throngs of people made the air feel heated.
It was the New Year, and the atmosphere was practically that of a festival.
'Good, I made it on time.'
According to Perne's notes, today was the third day of the competition.
As it was still before noon, the matches must already be in full swing.
Verden arrived at Rines central plaza.
Consulting the city map posted there, he confirmed the Adventurers' Guild's location. His destination lay to the northwest. Setting his feet toward it, he soon arrived at the training ground.
Cheers echoed from within.
'This may be the largest training ground I've seen.'
As befitted a great city, the Adventurers' Guild's training ground was vast.
It even had seating prepared for spectators, like a miniature arena.
Entering inside, Verden found a vacant seat and sat down.
In the center, two people were sparring, but his attention was elsewhere.
'That must be Calia.'
A woman seated in the uppermost place of honor among the audience.
Her appearance matched perfectly with the description from Perne's notes. Around her, fully armored knights guarded her with ironclad vigilance.
How to approach her.
No—how to catch her attention.
There was only one way.
To participate in the competition, and stand out. That was, for now, the most certain path.
At that moment, a match concluded.
The victory clearly belonged to the knight. The presiding knight judge shouted.
"Is there no next challenger!"
The crowd stirred at his words.
Several people looked hesitant, but seeing the level the knight had just displayed, they lacked confidence to stand against him.
'No need to wait.'
Verden stepped forward.
Wearing a light-green robe, he soared through the air and landed inside the training ground. His appearance drew so much attention that the crowd fell silent.
A knight approached.
"A mage, is it. Do you know the rules?"
Verden nodded.
The rules were simple—magic permitted only up to the 3rd tier lower level, and killing forbidden. Just two rules.
"Good, you understand. Then I look forward to a good showing."
The knight withdrew, and a mage holding a fine staff stepped forth.
He too was one of Calia's knights. The way he carefully suppressed and concealed his magic power made it clear he was at least 4th tier.
The mage spoke.
"You didn't bring any equipment?"
"I'll do it as I am."
No staff, no wand.
He could have taken it as an insult, but the mage, clearly used to such things, merely smiled faintly.
"Then I'll restrain my hand accordingly."
The instant those words left his mouth, the knight judge raised his flag.
As the entire arena fell silent, the flag fell, and the match began.
The mage immediately drew upon his magic power, forming a spell.
In contrast, Verden merely fixed his eyes upon the mage. The reason was simple. He had no intention of casting any magic in the first place.
Mana pressure.
Verden's blue magic power seized the stage.
***
Calia, resting her chin on her left hand, quietly observed the competition.
On the third day, with the final day just ahead, after watching dozens of duels, there was only one thing she felt.
'Boring.'
The format of the matches, knights selected from Calia's knight order facing the participants.
If the opponent was a warrior, then a knight.
If the opponent was a mage, then a mage.
For safety, they used blunted iron swords, and the allowed level of magic was limited to the 3rd tier lower level.
Because of this, none of the matches satisfied her eyes.
But it couldn't be helped.
If someone were to die by mistake, it would tarnish Calia's honor. And if word of that reached her father, the Marquis, she might never be allowed to host such a competition again.
'It's natural, but... this year is going too far.'
A new year marked new beginnings.
Calia hosted the competition with hope. Perhaps she could find a talent that matched her own taste.
Of course, there was no such thing.
There were a few with decent skill, but they were useless. Most of them were adventurers aiming only for the competition's rewards.
Even Calia wouldn't go so far as to openly poach guild adventurers. But aside from adventurers, the only ones left were worthless nobodies, proud simply for having crossed swords with a knight.
'At this rate, tomorrow will be a waste too.'
Disappointment colored Calia's face.
It was so dull that ending the competition immediately and going home to sleep seemed far more useful.
Then, someone draped in a light-green robe soared down and landed inside the training ground.
It was quite an eye-catching entrance.
Calia arched her brows, intrigued. She wondered if the match itself would be as refreshing as his appearance.
Though, she did not expect much.
At that moment.
"...!"
A storm of abnormal magic power surged.
'Mana pressure?'
A technique that suppressed an opponent's spirit with magic power, its force proportional to the caster's circuit completion and mana reserves.
Calia had experienced it many times while subjugating criminal mages.
But this mana pressure was on another level entirely.
"Urgh...!"
The legs of the mage opposing him buckled.
For a 4th-tier mage to struggle like that.
And stranger still, the audience watching the competition felt nothing.
Their confused expressions said it all.
The mana pressure was directed solely at the mage, and at Calia.
'Unbelievable control over magic power.'
But why, why is he targeting me as well?
Why?
She did not know.
But thanks to that, her boredom was gone.
Soon, the crushing pressure vanished.
What remained was Calia's mage, kneeling on one knee, drenched in cold sweat, and the light-green robed mage standing tall, unshaken.
Then, from beneath the robe, a pair of blue eyes met Calia's.
"Ha."
Calia was convinced.
This mage possessed both exceptional talent and ability. And, he clearly had some business with her.
"Vespa, captain."
"Yes, Lady Calia."
The White Crest Knight Order's captain, Vespa, who guarded her.
He answered respectfully, though his eyes never left the unfamiliar mage. He too had felt that oppressive mana.
"Let us end here today. There's nothing more worth seeing."
Calia's crimson eyes gleamed brightly.
***
The competition ended earlier than scheduled.
The audience, though disappointed, followed the instructions and departed at once. Nobles lived entirely different lives from commoners, and no one dared to question the reason.
Still, there would be tomorrow.
And besides, Calia's competitions were events that could be seen again from time to time.
Once everyone had left, Calia descended into the training ground with her knights.
Facing Verden, she smiled.
"It was lacking as a spectacle, but the most impressive match today. Still, I'd prefer if you showed your face."
"My apologies."
Verden lowered his robe as he answered.
His appearance was striking enough to draw admiration even from Calia, the daughter of a marquis.
"Oh? A noble-born mage, perhaps? Yet I've never seen you in the kingdom—are you from another nation?"
"Forgive me, but I am a commoner."
"Ah, my mistake. Then, from the magic tower?"
"I belong to no place."
Calia's interest deepened at his words.
Indeed, he bore no adventurer's plate, so he was no adventurer.
And neither his appearance nor his magic suited that of a mercenary from the guild. By no measure did he seem like a man who lived as a mere mercenary.
'Then, could he be a mage active in Gray?'
Yet she had never heard of such a mage with such a face.
Perhaps he was one who had appeared recently. The kingdom was vast, and it was never strange for the strong to rise up anywhere, anytime.
And there was something else that drew Calia's eye.
A body, so well-trained it hardly seemed like that of a mage. Though concealed by his robe, her eyes were not deceived.
'A magic swordsman, perhaps? Whatever he is, a curious mage indeed.'
For what purpose had he sought her attention?
Her curiosity burned too strongly to ignore. Approaching a stranger was dangerous, yet she felt she could not quench this thirst without at least speaking to him.
"What is your name?"
"Asher."
"Asher, a name fitting your hair color."
Calia turned her back.
"I am Calia de Esperanza. I don't know why you sought my interest, but I'll humor you this time. Since it is lunchtime, why don't we speak over a meal."
Calia left the training ground with her knights.
As the rumors said, her decisiveness was fierce. Even knowing Verden had approached her deliberately, she invited him to dine without hesitation.
Surely, it was her confidence in her own strength, and the might of her knights. Even if he were an assassin, she believed she could handle it.
'In any case, fortune smiles.'
With this, the first knot had been untied.