I Picked Up a Witch With Amnesia

4. Island Lumentium – 15

…Article? You want to become a knight of the Duke of Estelle? Being the only heir to the Duke of Tournigen and one of the few soldiers in the empire who has reached the level of master, he begged me to become a knight of the Duke of Estelle? Is this guy really insane? I was so dumbfounded that I asked him a question in a polite and cultured tone.

“…Are you saying this out of your mind?”

I looked up and down silently at Lucian, who suddenly appeared in front of me and started talking nonsense.

I silently looked at Lucian and patiently waited for the real thing to come out of his mouth, but unfortunately, Lucian’s eyes were so serious.

“I am sane. Cain von Estel. It’s not a joke, it’s not bullshit. I am speaking to you from the bottom of my heart.”

Seeing Lucian shake his head and say that he meant it even though he made a hole to escape, I burst into laughter without knowing it.

“…This one, it’s completely crazy.”

What are you sorry about? Why did a guy who could even join the imperial family’s knights if he wanted to, volunteered to become a knight for the poor and poor Estelle duke?

I didn’t know about anything else, and I knew for sure that he wasn’t insane, so I sighed softly and gestured to Aria, who was standing in the bay. Aria understood my hand gestures even from far away and hurriedly came running.

“Yes. What’s going on, Cain-nim?”

I pointed at Lucian, who was standing in front of me, looking at Aria, who was shining brightly, wondering if she had something to do.

“I’ll assign someone, so take this person here to the Duke of Tournigen. You’re out of your mind right now, you don’t know where you’ll run away in the middle, so don’t take your eyes off it.”

“…What rude thoughts are you thinking? Cain von Estel. I am sane.”

“Yeah. I know you’re sane. All sane people say that.”

“…Ha, please listen to me to the end. I mean, I haven’t even gotten to the point yet.”

While saying that, Lucian made an expression as if he was seriously pulling the ball.

“…Okay, give me three minutes. Try to convince me to understand the crazy bullshit from earlier.”

As soon as my permission was given, Lucian’s mouth opened as if he had waited for that.

“There is only one reason why I want to become a knight of the Duke of Estelle. It is because, in the duel with you, I succeeded in seizing the clue to overcome the wall I am facing now.”

“…A clue?”

“okay. A year ago from now, I was able to reach the level of Master. But, at the same time, it was there. No matter what kind of training I did, no matter how hard I tried to push myself, it was impossible to jump over the ‘wall’. The realm of swordsmanship was at a standstill, and none of them had the feeling of progressing properly. I was in despair wondering if this was my limit.”

After saying that, Lucian’s shoulders trembled.

“But I felt a certain inspiration through my duel with you. No, should I say sensation? If I focus on that sense, I feel like I can overcome the wall that is currently blocking me. Exactly, that is why.”

“…..”

So, to sum up Lucian’s words briefly, is he hoping to become a knight of the Duke of Estelle because of me?

It was obvious, but it wasn’t very pleasant. It wasn’t a very pleasant word to say that a boy was interested in her.

…But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t let the guy’s words go unnoticed. It’s because I also felt some of the feelings he muttered earlier.

‘Did he also feel something during the duel?’

What I felt was nothing other than a sense of incongruity.

‘…Lucian, his aura matched so well with mine. Strangely enough.’

According to what the princess taught me, it is extremely difficult to steal someone else’s aura through ‘Flowing Star’, and even if you succeed in stealing it, controlling that aura is a completely different thing. This is because Aura is not a simple energy, but an existence that is directly connected to the caster’s psyche and is no different from a part of the person’s body.

Then, why on earth was I able to manipulate the flow as I wish without stealing Lucian’s aura?

“…..”

I was lost in thought for a moment, then asked Lucian a question.

“Lucian, I have something to ask you.”

“Something?”

“The swordsmanship you learned, what’s your name?”

“Your name? The name of the swordsmanship I learned is called ‘Dusk Moon’. It is an arcane swordsmanship passed down from generation to generation in the Duke of Tournigen.”

“A dusky moon…?”

You seem to know something. For some reason, I thought that the princess might be able to explain this sense of incongruity. No, if he ran to the princess right now and asked her a question, he would surely be able to come up with an answer right away. However, if you want to commit suicide, there are many ways to die painlessly, but you don’t have to choose that way.

“Hmm…”

Seeing me like that while I was silently thinking, Lucian spit out words nervously.

“…I want to hear the answer. Cain von Estel. Can you accept me as a knight for the Duke of Estelle?”

Looking at Lucian like that, I unknowingly clicked my tongue.

“Then why do you want to become a knight of the duchy? Is there no option to stay as a guest?”

“Then wouldn’t it be a nuisance? I don’t know how long it will take until I get over the wall I’m facing, but I just wanted to do what I can during that period. After all, that’s the only thing I can do.”

“…Did you get permission from the Duke of Tournigen?”

“It is a matter that has already been approved by my father. I told you it was an opportunity to break down the wall I was facing, and he obediently accepted it.”

I didn’t know anything else, but I knew very well that the Duke of Tournigen was a very bold person. To allow him to be the knight of the man who publicly defeated his son in the middle of the banquet hall where everyone was watching.

“Are you really okay? Aren’t you thrilled by the fact that you’re going to be under the opponent who insulted you after defeating you in a duel?”

“What does defeat matter? And what is an insult?”

“…What?”

“From the moment I took up my sword, I was prepared for defeat. Insults are the same. Of course, that doesn’t mean that defeat or insults are nothing. Insults are nothing but trivial things indeed.”

“…Well, he must have been a soldier down to the marrow.”

I muttered heartily as I listened to him. Lucian was also the same type of human as the princess. A lunatic who gave his all to the pursuit of swordsmanship. Listening to his answer, I was able to decide which option I should make.

“I will give you my answer. I will decline your offer. Lucian.”

In response to my answer, Lucian threw a question at me with a calm face without any change in expression.

“Can you tell me why?”

“That’s not difficult.”

It’s not that I don’t want to greet a warrior who has reached the level of a master as a knight. But this was a matter of simple arithmetic. Accepting this guy did far more harm than good.

“First of all, the environment of the Duke of Estel is incomparably worse than that of the Duke of Tournigen, and it is filthy and inferior. I assure you, whatever you imagine, it will be more than that.”

I continued talking with a self-deprecating laugh at Lucian. This was the truth. At the very least, it was certain that the young master, who had gone bad in front of him, was in an environment where he could not concentrate only on training.

“We are very busy. At the very least, I am not free and I don’t have the time to do that, to the extent that we have to grumble about side dishes while doing the aftermath of the young boy who is bound to complain about the environment we are in.”

“…..”

“One more thing, your status is too intrusive. Isn’t it obvious that the status of the son of the duke of Tournigen will burden other people wherever he goes? I don’t want the Duke of Estelle to have one more master.”

Saying that, I waved my hand toward Lucian.

“So please refuse. I understand your situation, but we are not in an environment that is rich enough to be considerate of others.”

However, Lucian’s expression did not change at all. Without showing any signs of accepting my words, he took something out of his arms and held it.

“Cain von Estel. How about this?”

Took-

Saying that, he threw out a small pouch.

“What is this? Is it a bribe?”

I laughed out loud. Could it be that he was an immature youngster who thought that money could solve anything? If you think that I will pass so easily for just a few pennies, then you are really mistaken.

“…umm.”

However, I began to wonder what was in these pockets. If I give it back to him after briefly checking the contents, there will be no problem. Thinking so, I opened the leather pouch and checked what was inside.

“…..”

“It is an advance payment. If you accept me, the same amount once every three months…”

snap-

“…welcome. Lucian. As of this time, you are the family of the Duke of Estelle.”

“…..”

It was too much money to reject the guy’s offer as it was.