BBYW Vol. 4 Chapter 68 (WN)
Chapter 68 – The Sword Saint’s Melancholy
【POV: Benamis Saverne】
“Jeez…that man was so terrifying…”
My name is Benamis Saverne.
I am the current head of House Saverne, a swordsman bestowed with the honored role of swordplay instructor for the royal family, and the title of “Sword Saint”.
In the battle with Dying Maxwell, I was fatally wounded.
The final blow unleashed by that man was so powerful that even using the Magic Tool meant to save the user from fatal damage, I was not able to leave unscathed.
I was thus on the brink of death: I somehow managed to heal my wounds with a Potion and rest my weary bones in a nearby thicket.
“This is precisely what I hate about dealing with people not mentioned by fate…you never know what they might end up doing.”
I raised, not without effort, my right hand and put it under my left one. My left eye then started glowing, and a pattern resembling the hands of a clock appeared on the iris.
That was my true trump card, a Magic Tool as valuable as the Baal Empire’s “Zeus”.
“Chronos”, that was its name, allowed the user to see into both future and past.
Thanks to this mystical eye, I could gather many other Magic Tools, and acted in order to prevent a certain “future of inevitable destruction”.
“Dyngir Maxwell really threw a wrench in it all, though…what is hiding his future, I wonder…”
Chronos allowed me to see the future, but for whatever reason the visions never included Dyngir Maxwell.
Either the gods of fate did not accept his existence, or it was an irregularity in this world’s future…
Every time Dyngir got involved, my future visions became inevitably compromised.
“Well then…time to report. Though I definitely am not looking forward to…”
I took out another Magic Tool from my pocket.
I pressed my lips against the egg-shaped jewel, painted in rainbow colors, and whispered, as if in the ears of a lover.
“Benamis here. My graceful princess, can you hear me?”
“…what is it? Sir Saverne.”
After a brief time, a voice returned from the egg.
The Magic Tool was named “Nachtigal”.
It was two items in one, and allowed the holders of such items to communicate over long distances.
“I believe the time of your scheduled report is long past…staying up so late is detrimental for the skin, as you know.”
“My humblest apologies, o princess.”
The slightly irritated voice coming back from the egg made me curve my lips in a bitter smile. I then delved into the main topic of my report.
“Concerning the plan you ideated for the western province…I am afraid it has failed. The “Terror Armies” have been repealed, and Nahib Massab has died.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
My interlocutor’s irritation turned into palpable anger.
I could tell how her face was twisted into an angry grimace, even if I couldn’t see her directly.
“Fort Giza had been conquered, as per the plan, right? What could have caused it all to fail this time?”
“Well, you see…the House Maxwell heir brought reinforcements. And his actions are what helped them drive the “Terror Armies” out, it seems.”
“That man…again…!!!”
I informed the lady on the other side about what happened — as if I had nothing to do with any of it — and heard the sound of something shattering. She might have smashed a glass against the floor, out of frustration.
“Why won’t he stay out of my life…! If only he wasn’t around…”
“…………”
Words drenched with resentment poured from the Magic Tool.
I decided to let my princess pour her heart out, without turning my ears away for a moment. Eventually, I took the chance to add a rational comment.
“Well, I believe we have bought plenty of time, though. House Sphinx is going to be occupied with reconstruction for a good while.”
“…hopefully, they will. I suppose a clash with House Maxwell is inevitable, though…”
“…if possible, I would like to opt out of facing Dyngir directly. Otherwise, I’d be killed.”
“That is true…it would be ideal to get rid of him with direct confrontation, like we did with Valon Sphinx…”
The silence from beyond the egg suggested that the princess was reflecting.
After a short while, her voice spelled new orders for me.
“Fine then. We are going to withdraw from the western province. You will return too.”
“Understood. I will head back to the capital.”
“I will give you new orders soon. Take care of your wounds in the meantime.”
“Oh? You knew I was hurt?”
“Naturally. Hearing your voice tells me everything about your condition.”
The communication then was abruptly cut from the other side. I gazed at the silent Magic Tool for a while, then sighed.
“Our dear princess, always working so hard.”
I rolled the egg in my hands, looking up at the sky. The moon shone bright and clear, with no clouds to conceal its light.
It felt like a metaphor of House Sphinx, piercing through all the plots and conspiracies over the western province.
“It’s all…meaningless, though.”
So I mumbled, towards the shining moon.
“In the end, everyone and everything will be destroyed anyway. It doesn’t matter what Sir Dyngir, or the princess, do…”
My future-seeing golden eye looked up at the night sky, and I shook my head in despair.