121 — 13 (2)

Someone had been knocking violently on the door. Louis looked at the swaying hips of the woman. Two peaches brimming with luscious juice. Was this the 23rd? The number of female slaves Louis had received as gifts was roughly around 51. Even Louis did not know the exact number. That was not important. What mattered to Louis was also what mattered most to the citizens. The things Louis decided were directly connected to people’s lives and happiness. No matter that Louis was the legitimate ruler, he could not fail to feel that weight. Some nobles fell into debauchery because they hated that responsibility.

‘Whew… the Pope’s blessing is working in unexpected places.’

The Pope’s blessing increased vitality regeneration by 250%. Naturally, Louis’s nightly vigor improved by 250% as well. He lay down on the bed and stretched his body. The woman had long brown hair. Her skin was taut with youth. Her full chest and hips revealed she was a southern woman. His desire did not subside. The woman’s eyes sparkled as if she were not tired at all. Every woman had been like that. He could now vaguely understand it. After the Pope’s visit, the women had become noticeably more proactive—not only the slave women, but even noblewomen. Linsia had sent letters. Already five of them. Louis had sent about two in return. They were simple replies.

Her flowing brown hair scattered from his lower abdomen upward. From the center she climbed up toward his neck. He felt the cooled desire ignite again.

Morning. His eyelids were heavy. But his body was frighteningly honest. He stretched. The soft chest of the tangled woman slid away. As if hinting at last night’s events, the woman was still in dreamland. Naturally so. The brown-haired southern woman… her name was Hei… what was it… Anyway, he liked her, and the night had been passionate. Yet his body was still in perfect condition. Thanks to the Pope’s blessing. Surely it was not intentional that he gave a blessing in this… form? Surely not. He tilted his head when the door knocked.

He looked at the window. Outside between the curtains was quite dark. The sky was gloomy with thin clouds. It looked like rain. A good phenomenon. Rain would provide sufficient nourishment to the vast territory. Starting today. Yes, today. It was time to recruit the army in earnest.

“Did you rest well last night, Duke?”

A familiar face entered. The butler.

“Bring my clothes. I should head out early today.”

“They are prepared.”

The square. The Hanging Gardens were always crowded. Since the Pope visited and declared a miracle, there had never been a single time when people decreased. It was crowded even until dawn, so the floating population in Louis’s territory ranked around 2nd or 3rd in the Eron Duchy. The Hanging Gardens always maintained the same appearance. Yet they were beautiful at night and beautiful by day. But today people bustled more than usual. At dawn, three soldiers had posted a public notice. On it was content that made many young men’s hearts pound—large-scale recruitment. The greatest first advantage of the universal upkeep reduction obtained after choosing the Military institution was that the army could be expanded without financial damage.

Only then did the people begin murmuring in a crowd. Because some could not see the notice inside, one spoke to another.

“Hey, what kind of notice is it that nobody even thinks of leaving?”

“You have a son, right?”

“I do, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“Duke Louis is recruiting soldiers. It’s a chance for advancement. I envy you for having a son. I only have daughters.”

A middle-aged man with a torn ear corner burst into a wide smile as soon as he heard it.

“Really? If that’s true, drinks are on me today.”

“You’ve been teaching your son swordsmanship now and then, haven’t you? You’ll finally see the benefit.”

Everyone talked about the same thing. Soon the square became noisy beyond measure. Fathers with sons hurried back home. The city was starting earlier than usual because of a single notice.

Louis was immersed in morning training. As sweat poured down, he struck away swords coming from both sides. The four centurions looked tense. Though the iron swords were blunt, they bruised and hurt when struck—and if unlucky, could break bones. But that was only a concern before starting. Two clerics stood waiting to one side. All were intermediate clerics capable of healing magic. The method Louis was using now was a very rough training style. An ordinary noble would never train like this. It was a method only possible if one was truly accustomed to the sword.

Yet Louis’s expression was relaxed. After deflecting the incoming blade, he seriously wondered whether to add one more opponent. He dominated the surroundings to that degree. Once someone became a mana user, releasing mana was easier than suppressing it. During battle, suppressing it was impossible. One centurion was sent flying together with the blade he held. Dust rose upon impact. The balance collapsed. It took only minutes to subdue the rest.

Jodan watched Louis in shock. In Jodan’s memory, there had been a time when Louis trained his swordsmanship. Calling this explosive growth an improvement would be insufficient. At Louis’s current level, he could practice with Fred using real blades. Louis’s growth—personally and externally—was frightening to even speak of. Every time one blinked, he had advanced several steps. Talent was usually fixed, but in Louis’s case it felt as though it increased day by day. Jodan immediately spoke to Louis.

“Duke. It is time. It is time to see the recruits.”

“Good. We’ll end here.”

The four centurions rolled on the ground and awkwardly rose to one knee. It had been extremely intense for morning training. They were astonished as Louis casually went to his next duty. The secret was the blessing given to Louis by the Pope… In any case, once Louis left, the waiting priests gave the centurions simple healing. Their expressions, however, were displeased. They looked as if using divine power on centurions was a waste. Of course, for Louis they would gladly pour out all divine power with a satisfied smile.

At the newly built training grounds a little outside Pontina territory, youths overflowed beyond capacity. Considering its size, an enormous number of people had gathered. From those who had never held a sword to young mercenaries seasoned by combat—everyone gathered here with admiration for Louis. And this was happening in real time. Even mercenaries working in other regions heard the rumor and were abandoning their current work to travel to Pontina territory to become Louis’s soldiers. The roads were unbearably crowded.

Curses flew everywhere, but violence did not occur. The soldiers watching each sector with hawk-like eyes were fierce, and orders had been given for immediate expulsion if trouble occurred. However, the greatest contribution to suppressing impulses was the three Sword Experts under Louis. Beyond the original two, Mihoff and Anok, even Kaiser had newly joined their ranks.

The three organized recruits in each sector. The aura naturally flowing from them captured anyone’s gaze at once. It was the first gate of the realm all who lived by the sword admired. Since each managed a different unit, applicants had to divide among them. The most popular among applicants was Mihoff. Not only his handsome face, but also his comparatively slender build helped.

Kaiser was popular too. Once it became known that he had once been a gladiator slave, people’s hearts were moved. The least popular was Anok. Anok shed tears internally while looking at Mihoff. Even during recruitment, women gathered far away in groups cheering for Mihoff. For Anok, who had barely even held a woman’s hand, it was infuriating.

At that moment, a stout soldier cleared his throat, climbed atop a wooden platform, and shouted.

“Duke Louis is coming here now! All applicants clear the way immediately!!”

Despite the tangled crowd, the path surprisingly opened smoothly. More than anything—Duke Louis was coming. He was really coming to see them? It’s an honor. All kinds of chatter stirred everywhere. Soon cheers erupted from the back. The reason became clear. Not only the people here but also the armed guards stationed everywhere adjusted their attire. Appearing from the far end was Louis. There were now few in the city who did not know Louis’s face. Thanks to several large events, every citizen knew him, and painters even sold portraits of him to the public.

The central path opened naturally.

Louis walked through amid cheers. He looked around. So many youths had gathered that counting was foolish. Louis knew he had firmly captured their hearts as predicted. Prediction and confirmation brought joy of entirely different kinds. In any case, he could easily accept and train one-third of them. Thanks to the newly opened Military institution trait. Opening institution traits required not only points but social prestige—just like research required a certain amount of Science.

Today he planned to check the recruits’ condition and observe progress. They were the stones that would move his next move.

The cheering did not stop. Everyone’s faces were excited. Louis had become both their object of admiration and someone standing in an absolute position. The post-war incidents—the clash with House Boarne, the Pope’s visit, and especially defending against the arrest attempt by Holy Knight Commander Evantes—all were enough to inspire awe.

There had been no food shortages common after wars; instead the territory had advanced by two stages. It was proof even internal affairs were perfect. At a time when even nobles clicked their tongues in amazement, citizens could not help but like Louis.

Louis stepped onto the high platform. The sky was still dark, but the gazes below sparkled. Even for Louis, speaking before a massive crowd was never entirely comfortable. There was always tension. Before saying something, the mind always went blank. But as always, Louis soon found his answer.

“Protecting what is yours is always honorable for a man. Family is always like that. For me, the territory is that, and the citizens are that. Welcome. I, Pontina Louis, head of House Pontina and holder of the ducal title, am now seeking honorable applicants.”

Though low, the voice carried clearly to the crowd through mana. That alone made hearts race. Louis himself stood at the position of Sword Expert they admired endlessly. The rumor that Louis was a Sword Expert became fact. Effort and skill, not deception, could not be denied by anyone. Though born a duke’s son, everyone indirectly understood he had struggled desperately.

Three seconds of silence passed after his voice ended—and then thunderous cheers erupted, loud enough to startle even those elsewhere in the territory.