A man in his fifties stood with his eyes closed in a large room that possessed a sanctity akin to a cathedral.
His hair, cut short, and his unkempt beard framed a body honed to perfection. Even through the regal, glittering attire he wore, it was evident he was still an active warrior. Though he appeared kingly, the man’s true nature was that of a warrior, one who constantly sought battle and stronger opponents.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was bloodthirsty, but he opened his eyes as he detected approaching footsteps from the silence.
The room was always open, so there were no doors, and no need for knocking.
With a click of his heels, a red-haired girl clad in a red combat uniform appeared within the room. She appeared to be in her late teens. Though tall and beautiful, she exuded a certain coldness.
“Father—Pfeil failed to assassinate Hannelore Alway and Olivier Alway.”
“Is that so? You’ve done well to report, Rosa.”
The girl, called Rosa, knelt on one knee beside her father and reported Pfeil’s failure. However, instead of disappointment, the man wore a beast-like smile.
“Is Pfeil dead?”
“No, he is alive. He seems to have been shown leniency by those he opposed, likely to extract information.”
“However, he isn’t trained to reveal information through mere torture.”
“But Pfeil is not an assassin.”
At his daughter’s words, the man let out a small laugh.
“Father?”
“Indeed, Pfeil is not an assassin. I personally trained him as one of my successors. If anything, he is a combatant. But, that applies to you as well, Rosa.”
“I am aware. I too am a warrior, not an assassin.”
“That’s right, a warrior. Nowadays, there are very few true warriors left. While titles abound—swordsman, knight, adventurer, magician—those worthy of being called warriors are a mere handful. Yet, the continent is overrun by them. It is truly lamentable.”
The man glanced at Rosa, who was listening to his words with bended knee, and ordered her to stand.
While satisfied with his obedient daughter, he worried that her being too subservient was a concern for a warrior.
“What about the client?”
“After Pfeil’s failure, there’s been no contact, so I’ve left it unattended. Shall I send someone if necessary?”
“One who hasn’t the resolve to dirty their own hands can be left alone, but I’ve become somewhat interested in the man who defeated Pfeil. Rosa, this task is yours.”
Rosa’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Me?”
“Do you object?”
“No, not at all, but is he truly an opponent I need to fight? I hear he struggled despite defeating Pfeil.”
“It is precisely to confirm that that I will have you fight him. The man who defeated one of my successors—Jared, was it?”
“Jared Murphy. He is Baron Daum’s grandson and Liz Murphy’s son.”
“Oh! A descendant of that sword demon and that eccentric magic-obsessed girl! In that case, it’s understandable that Pfeil lost. If so, it would be even more of a waste to leave him be. Rosa!”
“Yes, Father.”
Rosa, seeing her father so happy after a long time, knew he was about to mention something troublesome.
And then,
“Go fight Jared Murphy. And while you’re at it, indulge that foolish woman who foolishly attempts to usurp the Alway Ducal Family for a while. After that, fight him.”
“Will I kill him?”
“You may kill him if you can. However, if you deem him to possess enough skill to be worthy of your acknowledgment after facing him—bring him before me.”
“Surely… Father, you don’t mean Jared Murphy…”
Towards his daughter, whose voice trembled with disbelief, he replied,
“That’s right. It might be interesting to train him as one of my successors.”
He smiled with a childlike glee.
“Am I not your successor?”
“You are merely one of those I am training as a successor. Well, for now, you are indeed my successor.”
“Then—”
“—Rosa, you are not me. Find a trustworthy partner, marry him, bear children, and raise them as successors. Even if you do not become my successor, do not let your warrior bloodline die out.”
“Father, are you intending for Jared Murphy to be my husband?”
“That’s quite the leap. You’re getting ahead of yourself. However, if Jared Murphy possesses the strength worthy of becoming my successor, I myself will forge him. Whether he will then succeed me or become your husband, only the gods know.”
The man who continued to smile gleefully before his daughter, who harbored clear dissatisfaction though unspoken, was none other than “Waalthe,” the leader of Waalthe. He was a “monster” who had lived for several centuries.
Waalthe, able to laugh from the heart for the first time in years, was grateful to Jared. Having lived for so long, he had thought his heart had withered, but he learned that the world still held vitality.
“I hear that in recent years, an organization known as the Chaos Forces has been expanding its activities across the continent, or rather—primarily centered around the Wethered Kingdom. Their scale is not yet a threat, but unlike us, they harbor madness. While their rank-and-file might not be significant, their leaders undoubtedly are.”
“Will Father simply leave the Chaos Forces be?”
“Leave them be for now. I’ve received reports of them being encountered at commissioned jobs several times, but it’s not worth worrying about. Besides, Waalthe and the Chaos Forces have different objectives and ideologies.”
Even Waalthe, with his immense lifespan, had heard about the Chaos Forces. However, he didn’t consider them a threat. To Waalthe, the Chaos Forces were not enemies to his own organization, Waalthe.
While this thought was arrogant, it was not unfounded.
He commanded meticulously trained assassins, his own successor candidates, and most importantly, Waalthe himself was a formidable force.
He was confident he could achieve victory even against a nation. However, he remained quiescent simply because there was no need for conflict.
To Waalthe, combat was preferable. Yet, dealing with kings and nobles, fighting against a nation, or participating in wars between nations was simply too bothersome.
In recent years, he had spent his time training his successors, and his heart had not leaped with excitement. Thus, it was more than enough for Waalthe to become interested in Jared, who had defeated one of his successor candidates, Pfeil.
“Now, my beloved daughter. Go and test Jared Murphy’s strength. Determine whether he is truly a person worthy of meeting me!”
“Understood. In the name of Waalthe.”
