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chapter 8
I am Meyer Garden
One day.
No, half a day.
That was all the time Meyer had. But Meyer did not despair or feel disappointed at this fact.
Instead, he focused entirely on how to use that time without wasting a single minute.
“I’m not even a proper knight. I can’t be afraid of a mere Spawn.”
A strange thrill seemed to make Meyer forget the feeling of fear altogether.
“I’m not scared anymore.”
Seeing a sharp sword didn’t frighten him.
And even the sight of flowing blood didn’t make his heart pound.
Realizing he had changed from who he had been before, embarrassing memories of his past self came to mind one after another.
Meyer gripped his sword tightly while standing in the annex garden. The cold hilt fit snugly in his hand. It felt as if the sword had become one with his arm.
The sword was no longer something to fear.
On the contrary, holding it made him feel as if nothing could scare him.
He had changed from the past.
“I am no longer the old Meyer, nor the old Park Yeonui.”
Something created by the fusion of Meyer and Park Yeonui. But since both Meyer and Park Yeonui were still himself, it wasn’t exactly something entirely new.
“Two people have become one, and so my courage has grown accordingly.”
Meyer laughed, letting go of the complexities that twisted his thoughts. The reasons didn’t matter. What was clear was that he was no longer the person he used to be, and he had no intention of living like that ever again.
Meyer Garden, the imprisoned noble.
It was time to leave this cage he had been locked in. He hadn’t stayed in the old annex out of pleasure, so now it was time to leave proudly and demand his way.
“Let’s have a proper meal this time.”
After filling his stomach with the meat Huirun brought him, Meyer chuckled and patted his belly. It wasn’t exactly fancy, but boiled like bossam, it was satisfying and easy to digest.
Now, it was time to prepare.
With a swift motion, Meyer gripped his sword and lit up with resolve. If he was to face that Spawn called Morgan tomorrow, sleeping today was out of the question.
“Not sleeping for a day won’t kill me, right?”
Meyer smiled faintly and began moving his sword in his mind’s image. Clumsy and crude, he started with the Garden-style swordsmanship etched deeply into his mind.
After warming up his body, Meyer calmed his heavy breathing and lifted his sword before his sweat cooled.
And then.
Whooosh—!!!
Meyer’s sword cut through the air with a heavy impact, like Rando’s Nan’gong Sword, before swinging with force.
The next day.
As always, Meyer woke alone, fetched water to wash, and made a modest meal of leftover meat and vegetables from yesterday. He grabbed the sword propped against the wall.
“Huirun.”
Meyer called out to Huirun into the empty air.
…Of course, no reply came. But Meyer called again, as if he already knew everything. Soon, a sigh leaked from the adjacent room where no one seemed to be, and Huirun appeared.
“You were there?”
“How did you know?”
Wearing a perfectly pressed butler uniform without a speck of dust, Huirun looked genuinely confused.
Meyer smirked.
“I have sharp hearing.”
It was true. Having lived for years in a place where one could hear even the ticking of a wall clock, his hearing had become extremely acute.
But Meyer didn’t know Huirun was there because of that.
[Huirun Usher: ★★☆☆☆]
“How could I not know?”
Even if Huirun hid, the name tag above his head made it impossible for Meyer not to notice.
“I will find out for sure.”
Watching Huirun grit his teeth, determined to find out how Meyer knew, Meyer nodded knowingly.
“Looks like you applied the medicine again. Thanks.”
Meyer had crawled back into his room yesterday, barely able to move. Huirun frowned at him.
“Even if you’re young and recover quickly, overexerting yourself like this will ruin your body.”
Huirun had clearly been watching Meyer practice swordsmanship alone. Meyer smirked.
“You worry about my body too.”
“If I restore you and you come back in pieces again, what else can I do?”
Watching Huirun grumble about how expensive potions were, Meyer’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“What on earth are you? Who sent you?”
A 2-star butler. Just like the Iron Bear Knight Commander Stan, a butler of the same rank loitered around him, naturally drawing his attention.
But Meyer felt no hostility. He intended to make full use of him as much as possible.
“That swordsmanship.”
Huirun spoke without any hint of playfulness.
“Did you really master it in one go just from watching yesterday at the training yard?”
The Nan’gong Sword. Huirun had recognized the sword technique Meyer had used yesterday until his body was battered.
Although his body had been so wrecked that the sword had almost wielded him, Huirun still saw the Nan’gong Sword within it.
Meyer shrugged, thinking that Huirun was no ordinary butler.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Because Meyer wielded Rando’s sword, one couldn’t know its secrets without being told. Meyer didn’t mind Huirun thinking that way.
“Let him be mistaken.”
To shake off his long-standing reputation as the imprisoned noble, he needed something. Even if he couldn’t trust Huirun, letting word of this spread outside would do no harm.
“And.”
Though it started with a mere Spawn, Meyer didn’t plan to stop there. Defeating a single Spawn was not his real goal.
“Rando Bellins.”
Meyer’s true target was the strongest knight of the territory—Rando Bellins.
“To the training yard. Follow me.”
Meyer left the annex with a flick of his finger. Huirun, instinctively following, froze and shouted over Meyer’s shoulder.
“I am not part of the annex!”
“Is that so? Then come separately.”
Without hesitation, Meyer turned sharply and disappeared. Huirun looked at the place where Meyer vanished, gnawing his lips.
“Feels like it’s someone else entirely. Really.”
At most, it was a duel between two Spawns.
But what could be more entertaining than a little brawl or spectacle? Moreover, hearing that Rando Bellins would mediate drew considerable attention, and many people went to the training yard.
Rando’s aide Vector, and even several people from Viktor, as well as knights from the Iron Bear Knight Order impressed by Rando’s skill from yesterday, came to watch.
“Whose duel is it with Morgan?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Morgan is supposed to be Lord Stan’s nephew, right?”
Since Morgan was a noble, many knew about him. Soon, Morgan appeared with his group.
“Hmm. Physically, he’s impressive.”
“Seems like good training.”
Several knights nodded in approval at Morgan’s well-developed physique. A knight’s foundation was a trained body, and Morgan stood out among Spawns.
“Hmph.”
Enjoying the attention, Morgan’s eyes blazed. He wanted to crush this arrogant Spawn immediately.
At that moment, Meyer appeared.
Alone, carrying only a single sword, all eyes turned to him.
“…That one?”
“The difference is huge.”
“Never trained properly, huh?”
“The result’s obvious.”
Morgan’s nostrils flared as everyone assumed his easy victory over Meyer. But Meyer didn’t flinch, calmly unfastening his sword at his waist.
Soon after, Rando appeared.
Silence.
As Rando walked to the center with a stern expression, Morgan and Meyer followed.
“I am Rando Bellins, the mediator of today’s duel. This duel is sacred. Any objections will be considered as attempts to harm my honor. Finally, any who have objections, step forward.”
No one stepped up. Rando nodded slightly.
“Since there are no objections, the duel will proceed. As this is a duel between Spawns, no killing is allowed. Morgan Rapid, step forward.”
Morgan glared at Meyer, as if ready to devour him.
“And you,” Rando said, looking at Meyer. Meyer lifted his gaze and met his eyes. At that moment, he realized:
“He knows who I am.”
No need to hide, then. Feeling like a chick breaking from its shell, Meyer calmly said:
“Meyer Garden.”
“M-Meyer Garden?”
“Garden? Meyer?”
“The imprisoned noble!!!”
“Th-The lord’s son…”
One word from Meyer caused a storm. No one was unmoved by the revelation of his identity. Morgan was the same.
“M-Meyer?”
Meyer Garden. Morgan trembled at realizing the Spawn he had underestimated was the legitimate heir of this territory. Though everyone had looked down on him as the imprisoned noble, he was still Garden.
Morgan looked to Rando.
“I did not hide my identity to deceive anyone. So, Sir Rando, as the mediator, if I lose, I guarantee that no one shall bear responsibility.”
Meyer requested this immediately, as if anticipating it. Morgan’s expression changed. He imagined someone else instead of Meyer.
“If it were Kyle…”
Kyle Garden. A fully-fledged knight, adopted as Erigo Garden’s heir solely through strength. And Kyle would now have to compete with Meyer for succession.
If Meyer fell and his honor was tarnished, Kyle would be pleased. Morgan’s eyes gleamed—winning meant a hedge.
Moreover, this was a sacred duel.
As Meyer said, if he wished it, Rando would not hold Morgan accountable.
Morgan’s eyes burned with the thought:
“This is an opportunity.”
A perfect chance to curry favor with Kyle, the territory’s heir.
“Alright then.”
Some knights’ eyes changed at Meyer’s words. His request seemed fair and noble, contrary to rumors, showing he understood the sanctity of a duel.
“Duel start.”
As Rando stepped back, Morgan grinned maliciously and lunged at Meyer.
“Ah, so it was the young lord. Mistook my man. But your choice was wrong. Even in this noble duel, Garden blood makes no difference.”
Morgan laughed and raised his sword toward Meyer.
“Return to the annex where you belong, young lord.”
Morgan’s strike seemed impossible for Meyer’s slender arms to block.
At that moment.
Flash—!!!!
Meyer’s wrist, which had struggled to lift the sword, drew a silver arc in the air in an instant.
Though slightly later than Morgan’s swing, the arc traveled the shortest distance, reaching the same point faster than Morgan’s blade.
And then.
Clang—!!
Sparks flew as Morgan’s sword slid down Meyer’s blade. Meyer’s arms trembled as if he might drop his sword, but he held firm.
And.
Thwack-!!!!
“Ughhh!”
Crack!
Meyer’s sword handle smashed into Morgan’s face, cracking it and sending white teeth scattering. Morgan collapsed backward.
One strike.
Meyer had seized the advantage in a single blow.
Yet he had no intention of stopping there.
Smash-!
“Guhk!!!”
Meyer swung down cleanly with the flat of his blade across Morgan’s prone head.
