The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 31

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 31

The news of a duel between two heirs was something I was hearing for the first time, but I felt like I could vaguely guess the other circumstances.

Even in the Mado Allied Forces, the duties and rights held by the family of the Sword Saint were originally famous.

The Berkleighton Family.

‘The Empire’s guardian protecting the Pen Rota Imperial House.’

Their power comes from the duty of self-sacrifice to protect the Empire.

Only the strongest person in the Empire could become the head of the Berkleighton Family, and the family’s doors were open to anyone with power.

Age, gender, and origin didn’t matter.

Anyone with exceptional talent in martial arts could aim for the succession of the Berkleighton Family.

Only heirs recognized by the previous head and the Emperor could ascend to become the new head, which is why the Berkleighton Family had been called the Emperor’s sword throughout history.

This was also the source of why nobles who valued tradition and dignity had no choice but to respect and acknowledge them.

‘The current Grand Duke is even a Sword Saint. Could there really be an heir who would catch the eye of such a man?’

I naturally put my arm around the newspaper owner’s son’s shoulder and asked.

“So. Does the duel end when one person dies?”

“Who fights such barbaric duels in this day and age? Did you come out after being holed up in the countryside for about 4 years? We really can’t communicate, can we.”

A faint air of suspicion swirled in the two men’s eyes.

I used the ‘if you’re sick, you should die’ technique on these quick-witted upper-class guys.

“Please understand, friend. I was sick for quite a while. I was struggling between life and death in bed, so there’s a lot I don’t know. Haha, maybe I should have just stayed home. Right?”

The effect was excellent!

“Oh my. Such sad circumstances…”

“Huh? I didn’t know you had been sick! Alright, I’m in a good mood. If you have any questions, ask me anything. I’ll answer within limits that don’t cause me losses. By the way, my information is very expensive.”

What charming goodwill.

Just as I was about to ask, ‘So do you think relics of Dian Cecht still exist?’

An intense wave spread out from the center of the deck and struck our bodies.

“Huk, uaaah!”

I grabbed the arms of the two men who were about to be blown away like dust and checked the source of the wave.

It seemed the duel had already started.

‘Was her name Jin?’

The wave had definitely burst from the sword of a woman with long silver hair fluttering. Faint energy was scattered across the thin blade.

Sword energy.

‘At that age? She’s a genius, a genius.’

Fortunately, the deck was equipped with transparent barriers in case of emergencies.

The newspaper owner’s son trembled as he watched people bounce into the air and slide down after hitting the invisible wall.

“Ugh. I almost got a terrible trauma just now. Thanks for helping.”

“My goodness, that was sword energy just now. My skin is still tingling… But how did you withstand it?”

I casually answered the question filled with slight awe.

“With grit.”

They say the most interesting sights in the world are fights and fires. I focused on the duel, leaving behind the chaotic atmosphere of the spectators.

Actually, there wasn’t much to focus on. The momentum was far too one-sided.

Without even exchanging seven moves, Oster, who was supposedly 5th in the succession ranking, was already cornered.

“Huff, huff.”

I concentrated all my attention on Jin’s sword.

‘I thought my ears had been tickling for a while now.’

If it wasn’t my imagination, some kind of ‘sound’ was coming from her sword.

It wasn’t my imagination.

The sword was shouting.

―Come and I’ll finish it. Come! I won’t go easy. Hurry up and come!

How on earth could a sword speak?

But unlike Jin’s noisily chattering sword, Oster’s sword was quiet.

No matter how hard I listened, I couldn’t hear any resonance. I felt like I could vaguely understand the reason.

‘Oster hasn’t reached the level where he can impose his will on his sword.’

The difference in caliber I felt from the two swords surprised me.

‘But Duke Berkleighton had definitely said this.’

“Sir Andert, don’t put your ego into your sword. Leave the sword as a sword. The sword is a means, not a goal. It’s not the sword wielding you, but you wielding the sword.”

Wasn’t the one who actually put his ego into his sword achieving much superior results?

But what was important to me now wasn’t the correlation between the ego put into swords and achievement.

I could read the sword’s emotions.

How could that be possible?

‘…The realm of unity between mind and body.’

Was that incident the turning point after all?

This amazing insight seemed to be a new ability I gained a few days ago when I crossed the first realm of unity between mind and body.

Thanks to that, I suddenly became curious.

‘Would my sword resonate too?’

If it did, how would it resonate?

While I was pondering, Oster fell down, and Jin’s sword tip pointed under his chin.

As soon as the winner was decided, the newspaper owner’s son clicked his tongue.

“Until two years ago, those two seemed to be at similar levels. When did the gap become so wide?”

“Her opponent is Jin Berkleighton. I think it’s more than possible.”

“The duels that will be held for a week this year will have obvious results. Since the 1st in succession ranking didn’t participate, it’ll be Jin Berkleighton’s time.”

From what I heard, it seemed the Berkleighton Family’s heir duels would continue throughout the Nobility Council period.

‘Is it some kind of annual event?’

I was thinking such trivial thoughts like ‘there will be plenty to see’ when I was about to get up.

The chatter of the two men who had been talking non-stop suddenly became quiet.

And before I knew it, a swordsman who had climbed up dragging her body still heated with excitement was standing in front of me.

“Excuse me for the intrusion upon our first meeting.”

Jin Berkleighton.

“I am Jin Berkleighton. If it’s alright with you, could you spare me a moment of your time?”

Meeting Jin’s eyes boiling with unconcealed competitive spirit, I recalled the secret meeting with the Assassin Butler from two days ago.

“You said you’re attending this year’s Nobility Council? I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“I’m asking you to dispose of a specific person among the Nobility Council members boarding the airship.”

The Assassin Butler took out a black and white photograph and a few thin sheets of paper from the document envelope he had brought.

“The target is ‘Jin Berkleighton’. She’s one of the heirs of the Berkleighton Family and a patron of the Assassin’s Guild 【Clone】.”

I snatched the photograph from his hands.

The woman in the photo looked to be in her mid-to-late twenties at most. Her distinct features and sharp gaze gave an impression that was definitely not easy to deal with.

A person who was no less than an heir to a ducal family.

The Assassin Butler, whose purpose was survival, wouldn’t mess with her for trivial reasons.

Which meant.

“Did you, by any chance, work under this woman?”

The Assassin Butler’s gaze turned cold.

“Yes, this woman is the real owner of the Assassin’s Guild 【Clone】. If Jin Berkleighton dies, 【Clone】 will collapse. The reaper targeting me will disappear.”

“Killing her isn’t difficult. But assassinating a Nobility Council member in the isolated space of an airship would make things troublesome.”

“Don’t worry about that. What I want isn’t Jin Berkleighton’s death. I simply want her succession rights to be revoked.”

In the Berkleighton Family, revocation of succession rights meant becoming complete strangers to the family.

“【Clone】 is, to be precise, not individually owned but an Assassin’s Guild owned by the Berkleighton Family. If her succession rights are revoked, it will take considerable time for the next owner to be decided and a new system to be established. That gap is my opportunity.”

“…What’s the method?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Are you kidding?”

“Didn’t you also entrust me with cleaning up this pub? I’m simply trusting you as well. If this plan succeeds, our trust will become even more solid. Moreover, I’m not asking with just words.”

The Assassin Butler dangled bait that I could hardly refuse.

“I’ve obtained useful information. If you succeed and return, I’ll tell you about the clues to the Dian Cecht relic and information about its owner.”

And so came my first meeting with Jin.

Jin was, in a word, someone you couldn’t help but harbor doubts about.

‘This woman is the owner of 【Clone】?’

Jin Berkleighton.

Even though I never sent any special signals, she instinctively seeks me out and tries to probe me.

I’ve seen people like this woman several times on the battlefield.

A sword demon.

Jin is truly a sword demon who is bewitched by the sword, lives by the sword, and dies by the sword.

She doesn’t have the personality to run an Assassin’s Guild that engages in dirty and underhanded deeds.

‘The Sword Saint must surely think the same way. But why did he entrust 【Clone】 to this woman among all the many successors?’

Well, whatever the inside story may be, the answer I’ll give her is already decided.

“Oh my, what should I do? I’m sorry, but that seems difficult. I’m already a married woman, you see. Haha. I’ll pray that you find another good match, Miss Jin Berkleighton.”

“…A good match? Wait, that’s not what I meant…”

“Oh my goodness! Is it already this late? I’m going to be late for my appointment, so I must go.”

I quickly bid farewell to the Bank President’s Son and the newspaper owner’s son, then returned to my cabin.

This outing was sufficiently fruitful in confirming what kind of person Jin Berkleighton is.

‘Next time I should meet her after establishing a plan.’

That day I stayed holed up in my cabin all day, enjoying card games with Lu.

At least until the second day, everything passed by peacefully and tranquilly.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————