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chapter 76
If Adbelor had built the honor of the Adlabor Kingdom, then Pieta had forged the dazzling reputation of the Sisto Empire.
After the magic tower explosion, Adbelor, now a high-ranking noble of the kingdom, naturally began to form ties with the Pieta family.
Adbelor and Pieta maintained a fairly close relationship. Thanks to that, Gloria had once seen the aura of the previous Count Pieta with her own eyes.
“Your father showed an even more refined aura than that. It felt similar to skilled magic,” Gloria said.
“That’s right… Grandma had seen it too…”
Noah’s eyes carried a hint of sadness as he recalled those cherished memories. Gloria wondered if she had said too much.
But Noah didn’t seem burdened by her words. On the contrary, he started asking questions as if excited.
“How does it compare to Father’s?”
“Of course, it’s clumsy.”
“Don’t be too harsh…”
“Your dad was really strong.”
He had even sparred directly with him.
The aura of Count Pieta that Gloria remembered could only be described in one word:
“…Art.”
Even that word wasn’t enough.
The aura that radiated from the blade wielded by Count Pieta was more beautiful than most famous swords. The elegant blue aura perfectly reflected the noble honor of the Pieta family and embodied his upright and righteous beliefs.
“When his aura spread, it was as if pure blue diamonds, completely free of impurities, were scattering everywhere.”
He had been such a strong man…
“….”
Gloria stopped speaking and forcibly suppressed the surge of emotion rising within her.
‘What an unlucky bastard.’
She still couldn’t believe that someone so strong and remarkable had died. Especially with a bloodline so identical to him standing right in front of her.
‘Looking at him now, he really does resemble him.’
Noah bore a striking resemblance to the deceased Count Pieta—his biological father.
‘If the Empire found out…’
She wondered how they would react.
One of the main reasons cited for the Sisto Empire’s defeat in the war seven years ago was the fall of the Pieta family.
The Pietas had opposed the war. They openly criticized the Adlabor invasion led by the Empire and the allied forces and refused even the noble duty of participating in the conflict. They had even relinquished their titles.
‘They were among the few sane people in the Empire.’
Yet the consequence was annihilation. The count and his wife were murdered, and their two daughters went missing, though most believed they had died in the war.
Thanks to that, Noah and Clare were able to secretly hide in the kingdom under new identities.
“…So, how do you feel?” Gloria asked.
“Do you think I could do it like him?”
“Not yet.”
But Noah’s honest expression wasn’t entirely hopeless. In fact, he seemed filled with anticipation.
“However, with consistent practice, I’ll be able to.”
He had waited seven years.
Leaving his parents’ bodies in the Empire, shedding tears of blood, and crossing into the kingdom—he had waited a full seven years.
“Compared to what I went through in the Empire, this training is nothing.”
He was filled with confidence, convinced he could handle it with enjoyment.
That emotion radiated clearly through the aura of Mars he held in his hand.
The aura, which had barely stabilized, now surged restlessly like turbulent waves, changing the atmosphere around him.
“Focus your intent,” Gloria clicked her tongue.
“This training hall is the only place that can handle your aura. How are you going to manage if your emotional swings are already this extreme, hmm?”
If the training hall collapsed, where would he practice then?
“Focus!”
After Gloria’s scolding, Noah quickly regained control of his emotions and completely contained his aura.
However, Mars, placed back into its sheath, still gleamed like a brand-new sword.
“Well, that’s a step forward,” Gloria said, going over the tasks ahead.
“First, you’ll need to continue the training you’ve been neglecting. From now on, your training will proceed here, independently.”
“What should I tell the other soldiers?”
“That’s my responsibility, so don’t worry too much,” Gloria said with a sly smile, noting this was the perfect opportunity to leverage the stubborn reputation of the commander.
‘Not really a bad reputation…’
Regardless, Noah breathed easier, deciding to accept his grandmother’s help.
“Next is the Femina issue?” Gloria asked.
“What about Femina?”
The Pieta family’s pair of swords were split by gender—the wife wielding the male sword, and the husband the female sword. They shared the use of the two blades.
“Shouldn’t it go to the rookie?”
“Maybe, but…”
Noah couldn’t answer definitively. He wasn’t sure whether to reveal his secret to Leto. This was separate from his feelings of affection for him.
“My parents’ bodies are still in the Empire.”
“Mars and Femina are clues to finding your parents’ remains.”
“I can’t explain the full details yet.”
Gloria had intentionally left clues, anticipating this day. Perhaps Noah would remain calm, just as he had when he learned he was Adbelor’s adopted daughter.
‘It’s just my hope,’ she thought.
Noah suddenly felt embarrassed recalling the past, when he had scolded Leto for keeping secrets.
Gloria didn’t press him. After all, Noah was a noble from a foreign nation. Revealing that fact wasn’t easy, especially as it involved young Clare, who didn’t know her origins.
“There’s plenty of time. Let’s think it through carefully.”
“Okay…”
“Still, that rookie seems loyal enough that even if you sold out the country, he’d probably wag his tail and follow you,” Gloria teased.
Noah chuckled at her sly joke.
Thus ended the first training session.
Returning from the training ground, Noah rejoined the unit.
“Hey, you little brats.”
Captain Adbelor, who had come along, immediately sought out Leto.
“Where’s our rookie?”
“Sir…”
Before Ice Colonel could even point to the command office, Leto appeared, responding to sounds from outside.
“Captain!”
He hurriedly examined Noah’s body.
“Any pain? Are you okay?”
“I just returned. Nothing is injured.”
“You’re such a drama queen,” Adbelor said, annoyed, kicking Leto away.
“Don’t you have a conscience?”
Gloria understood why Leto was causing a fuss but couldn’t openly defend him due to the others around.
“….”
Noah, however, couldn’t take anyone’s side. His tied-up blonde hair exposed his red ears pitifully, and his sudden back pain wasn’t imagined.
“Anyway, enough.”
Adbelor finally stepped back after venting his frustration.
“Let’s get to the main point.”
“W-what is it…?”
Leto had to hold his aching thigh, wincing. He had committed offenses, and ever since learning Noah’s grandmother was the commander, he had calmed down considerably.
Captain Adbelor spoke:
“For a while, I plan to take Captain Velo and train him personally.”
The unit murmured in surprise.
“You idiots, don’t misunderstand.”
The captain clarified before any unnecessary misunderstandings could arise.
“You know the closed training ground, right?”
Some nodded knowingly, while others whispered, not knowing what it was.
Leto explained:
“There’s a training ground deep inside headquarters. It’s closed now for safety, but it was used for swordsmanship training. More precisely, it was favored by the last Aura Master of the kingdom.”
Adbelor, seemingly without a conscience, lied effortlessly.
“It’d be a waste to leave it unused, so I plan to refurbish it.”
“Why take Captain Velo there?”
“He’s the best swordsman in headquarters.”
In short:
“Labor,” Adbelor said, pointing at Noah with a mischievous thumb.
“I wouldn’t openly favor one soldier, would I?”
She assured the elite soldiers not to be jealous, but their expressions worsened.
“…So he’s being treated like a slave!”
“Captain, you’re being worked harder than even the lieutenant…”
“Isn’t he exploiting him more than you, sir?”
“There’s no one as diligent as Captain Velo…”
The soldiers’ worry wasn’t that Noah might get promoted due to catching the captain’s eye.
“Captain…”
Leto protested.
“Just put me to work. Who else dedicates themselves to the navy like Captain Velo does?”
“….”
Only then did the elite soldiers realize their misunderstanding, and Adbelor exploded in anger.
“You idiots!”
The barracks resounded with wails of frustration.
The next day
News arrived that former Director Plancy had been brought to trial.
The black-and-white photo on the front page of the morning paper showed Plancy, haggard, boarding the transport vehicle.
“You didn’t torture anyone, right?”
Noah glared sharply at Leto and Gloria as he read the newspaper.
“Come on, our navy doesn’t do that.”
“Do you think we’re savages?”
Annoyed, they silently formed a cross with their fingers behind their backs to avoid the curse of lying.
“Finally, he’s being punished.”
As As ate the carrot left by Clare, he said, “He won’t escape the death penalty.”
“Grandpa, what’s the death penalty?”
“It’s a very severe punishment—you never leave prison.”
Gloria had softened the words for young Clare, but the death penalty As referred to left no room for ambiguity.
“Good, that’s one less person in the air.”
With that, Gloria went to the trial earlier than usual.
“By the way, Captain Epere and the rest of the offenders are being transferred today too, right?”
“Yes, they’ll be moved to civilian court in a few days. Since their crimes were committed in the military, the sentence will be harsher.”
While the adults discussed these difficult topics,
“I’m ready for school!”
Clare, dressed in her bright white summer uniform, lingered in front of the shoe rack.
“Want to wear something special?” Noah asked.
“Unni,” Clare said with a determined expression.
“Do you have shoes with sharp nails?”
