The Semi-Forced Imperialist
The Efficacy of Law (4)
[Name: Pexi von Argen]
[Born: Imperial Year 1012, November 1st, Capital City of Arcadia]
[Status: First Daughter of the Argen Family]
[Affiliation: Sentio Magitower, 5th-Rank Mage]
Pexi von Argen.
Within the nine-rank system for mages, she was considered quite high up. Considering there were only seven active 8th-Rank mages and zero 9th-Rank mages—with only three having ever existed in history—she was an elite talent on a clear path to reaching at least the 7th-Rank in her career.
Just like the Izenheims, she would naturally have a fine control over her mana. After all, the very method they used to communicate with each other involved mixing their own unique mana wavelengths.
"Ezel, the report…?"
Pexi tilted her head as she looked past Ezel to me. Ezel introduced me.
"This is Maximilian. He's a knight from the Sentinel Knight Order."
Pexi glanced between the two of us and gave a soft smile.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Pexi, a 5th-Rank Mage… Ah, I suppose you knights aren't familiar with such greetings."
"I am aware," I replied. "Mages are always sure to state their rank first."
"It's a rather embarrassing part of our internal hierarchy."
Her voice was that of a noble. Even her speech was flawless.
I asked nonchalantly, "Pardon me, but haven't we met somewhere before?"
"Hm… I don't believe so?"
She feigned ignorance without a single change in her expression. Fine, then I'll play ignorant for now as well.
"I see. I must have been mistaken."
"What business brings a Sentinel Knight here?"
"I'm currently in charge of a case. I was wondering if there might be a mage available to assist in a joint investigation…"
"Huh? Is that what this was about?"
Ezel nudged my shoulder. Pexi chuckled and asked again.
"I see. What kind of case is it?"
It was the question I'd been waiting for.
"I am pursuing the 'Head-Devourer'."
I watched Pexi's expression closely as I continued.
"You are aware of the Head-Devourer, aren't you? One of the victims was a mage, after all."
"Yes, I know of it. A terrible incident."
As expected, she was perfectly composed, showing only a conventional and natural reaction.
Beside me, Ezel grew serious as well.
"The Head-Devourer… Max, I think I can connect you with a tracking specialist mage. I just happened to meet with one last week."
"Oh, really?"
There was no need.
Pexi glanced at her wristwatch and raised an eyebrow.
"Ezel, please upload the report once it's finished. I have something to attend to. And to the knight, I truly hope you catch the culprit."
"Yes."
I gave a slight nod. Pexi turned and walked away briskly. I watched her back and deliberately murmured,
"…She's beautiful."
My voice was just loud enough for Pexi to hear.
Ezel let out a short laugh.
"You've got a good eye. She's quite famous."
"Really? Are you two close?"
"We met after I joined the Magitower, so it's been about three months. Why? Are you interested?"
I nodded at once.
"Yes. Could you set something up?"
A peculiar light flickered in Ezel's eyes for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by a grin as he nudged my shoulder again.
"You little… You've finally become a man, have you?"
The matter of our engagement was cleanly wiped from existence. Ezel's family had never approved of me, and Sebastian, for his part, had never cared about my personal life in the first place.
"Yes. I was also hoping to discuss the Head-Devourer case with her."
"I see. Using the joint investigation as a pretext?"
"Something like that."
Ezel wore a sly look as he patted his chest.
"Alright. Just leave it to me."
He said it with a bright, clear smile.
After returning home from the Magitower, it was time for my swordsmanship lesson with Priya.
Somehow, I found myself walking the path of Ebenholz once more, but I no longer had any complaints. Improving my personal combat abilities was essential. In a few years, I would become a prime assassination target for both the Revolutionary Army and the Izenheims.
"Hoo…"
Repeating the Ebenholz breathing technique, I drew up the pure crystals of power that had accumulated in my body since childhood. I spread mana throughout my entire being, tempering my bones, muscles, and blood vessels.
Thump-
The virus resonated with me.
Thump-
The breathing was harder than it looked. The particles of mana felt like they were scraping my insides, and it was quite painful.
"Kugh…!"
My eyes shot open amidst the searing pain that felt like my heart and lungs were on fire.
Somehow, Priya was standing right in front of me.
"Your breathing cadence is good. The mana circulating between your inhale and exhale is refined and pure. You have learned mana breathing very well."
"…Thank you."
"Now, stand up. Any more and your organs will rupture."
I pushed myself to my feet. Staggering, I looked at Priya.
Honestly, this person was still a complete enigma. Had someone like this even existed before my regression? I highly doubted it. It was likely a false name, of course, but I couldn't recall anyone even remotely similar.
"Now, show me your sword."
"Yes."
Time for the homework inspection.
I drew my longsword and swung it through the air. The blade extended in a fluid arc, like flowing water. I didn't use much force; it was just a natural slice.
—
The sound of the blade cutting the wind was a clear ring, as if it were slicing through space itself.
Into that space, Priya's dagger flew like a lightning bolt.
Swoosh!
"Whoa! What are you doing?!"
I jumped back in fright. The dagger grazed my cheek before embedding itself in the tree behind me.
"I believe I told you not to move."
Priya's reply was cold.
"What?"
"How crude. The sword of Ebenholz is a graceful sword. A sword that resembles the tranquil moonlight on a silent night. You must not move so clumsily, nor swing it so erratically."
"…"
I brushed my hair back. A flicker of anger rose in me.
Priya kept associating the Ebenholz style with the aristocracy.
"But what's the point of a sword being graceful? It's not like you swing a sword to look good for others—"
"Because that is the only way to reach the pinnacle (極意)."
"…The pinnacle?"
Priya extended her arm. The dagger lodged in the tree flew back into her grasp.
"I am not asking for mere superficiality for show. Affectation is nothing but pretense. Grace, on the other hand, comes from within."
"And what does that have to do with the pinnacle?"
"Consider the magic circles of mages. Do they draw them carelessly? No. Stroke by stroke, they pour their entire being into completing the magic. If even one line is slightly off, the spell is destroyed."
As she suddenly brought up mages, something clicked in my mind.
"The pinnacle of Ebenholz is more than simple swordsmanship. It is a perfect 'Formation of the Sword (劍術의 陳)' completed through the trajectory of the blade. That is the secret sword of Ebenholz. To achieve it, you must perfect your habits from the very beginning."
Priya swung her sword. A flash of light burst from its clean arc. My eyes widened.
"When you hold a sword, always maintain a composed and steady posture. Also, your second assignment: do not make a sound when you cut."
To cut without making a sound.
That was an even more difficult task than swinging the sword ten thousand times.
"Try it."
"…Yes."
I swung the sword.
Vroooom—!
A sound. Of course, it was impossible not to make one.
Vroooom—!
The more conscious I became of the sound, the duller and louder my swings became.
"Use your entire body, not just your arm. Eliminate all unnecessary waste of power."
Priya's calm advice.
I closed my eyes.
"Instead, focus on the minute movements beginning from the tips of your toes. Even if only the axis of the earth moves, your body will naturally follow."
The soles of my feet on the ground, the ankles kicking off the earth, the hips rotating.
The line of the sword style (劍式), formed through that entire chain of motion.
"Move your entire body as if it were the sword."
The arm is merely the final point where the 'swordsman's' power arrives. The sword is not wielded as a mere part of the body; you must learn to feel the sword as an extension of your body's entire flow.
As I did, the roaring sound of the wind gradually subsided.
I pushed aside all other distracting thoughts.
A nobleman does not show his emotions. He does not display them. He simply maintains his composure.
He is merely refined.
…A refined sword.
I trained until I collapsed from exhaustion, sprawling on the ground. The rustling leaves felt like a bed. The full moon hung in the sky.
Suddenly, Priya’s silhouette blocked half of its light as she looked down at me.
I looked up at her.
—When grace reaches its zenith.
Her words seemed to spread faintly, echoing in my ears as if I were underwater.
—It resembles the moonlight…
The blade flashed. Like the tranquil moonlight, dozens of silver streaks appeared in the air, overlapping.
It was dazzling.
It was brilliant.
And yet, it was not flamboyant in the least.
A silent sword dance (劍舞).
—It becomes the freest of swords.
There was no doubt. This was true grace.
This person, at the very least, was not lying.
I slowly closed my eyes.
I fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I went to work with an aching body and sat down at my office desk, where a document was handed to me.
At that moment, I realized I had quite a few obstacles in my way.
"…Damn."
In a knight's court, the knight's sentencing recommendation is practically a 'demand,' but the ultimate master of the courtroom is still the judge.
Even in this declining empire, there were still those who sought to uphold their conscience.
[Notice of Judgment Deferral]
Case: Conspiracy of Insurrection at the Paper Mill and Organizing a Revolutionary Group
Defendants: Daniel Mateo and 2 others (Fatima Müller, Maria Schultz)
Presiding Court: Third Criminal Division
Judge: Klaus von Rimperk
Order
• The verdict on this case is hereby deferred. The case is remanded to the presiding knight for supplementary investigation.
Reason
• The charges against the defendant Daniel Mateo are clearly acknowledged by the submitted evidence alone.
• However, the currently submitted evidence is grossly insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the charges of conspiracy of insurrection and organizing a revolutionary group against the defendants Fatima Müller and Maria Schultz.
• In particular, the prosecution's framing of certain defendants as a 'revolutionary group' appears to be based entirely on the subjective judgment and interpretation of the presiding knight, without any objective or physical evidence.
Therefore, unless clear and specific proof of the two defendants' level of involvement in said organization is established, this court cannot sentence them to death.
Accordingly, the court defers the sentencing and requests a thorough and complete reinvestigation and submission of additional evidence from the knight in charge of this matter.
The judge assigned to the case had rejected my recommendation for the death penalty.
"…"
I put down the notice and roughly swept my hair back.
It couldn't be helped.
I picked up my terminal and called Schatz.
"Schatz, it's time for your second assignment."
—Yes, I've been waiting.
Klaus von Rimperk. A member of the Revolutionary Army? I couldn't know for sure yet. But at the very least, a judge who would reject a case bearing the name of Ebenholz was not someone who would bend his principles, even if it cost him his job.
"Judge Klaus von Rimperk. Investigate him."
Therefore, for an effective negotiation, one must first find what the other party holds more precious than 'themselves.'
"Focus on his family relationships… especially his children."
You have to grab hold of those things and shake.
Author's Note:
I am always grateful to all the readers who take the time to read my humble work.