Historically, a large number of princes was the norm. Since every prince was a potential candidate for the throne of an absolute monarch, it was considered more stable to have as many as possible. Thus, except for nations with very specific traditions, every country teemed with royalty. The Iron Kingdom of Chervil was no exception.
The newly crowned monarch of Chervil took seven wives, and his unofficial concubines were even more numerous. Every one of the monarch’s women seemed to bear a child every year. While this should have been a blessing, the vassals were deeply concerned. There were simply too many youths of the Royal Family. It reached a point where there were so many princes and princesses that it was difficult to even memorize their names.
The vassals’ concerns were only natural.
The Iron Kingdom of Chervil was a realm governed by the law of the jungle, where the logic of power served as the only true order. Ironically, the Order of Steel established by the Iron Kingdom gave an opportunity to everyone of the King’s bloodline. As long as one could prove their worth, even the youngest could inherit the throne. Under the laws of the Iron Kingdom, men and women were equal, and this applied strictly to the Royal Family as well. Whether a princess or a prince, anyone could sit upon the throne as long as they proved themselves superior.
Thus, the vassals were wary of the bloodbath that would one day sweep through the court. Hadn’t the current King himself ruthlessly purged his own kin to inherit the throne? Historically, whenever the succession drew near, a whirlwind of blood always ravaged the Iron Kingdom. It wasn’t just the royal bloodline caught in the purge; nobles who clung to the wrong side would fall in droves.
So, every time the number of princes and princesses increased, the court trembled in anticipation of the future purge. However, their worries soon became moot. On a day when the rain poured incessantly, the most horrific event since the founding of the Iron Kingdom took place.
Now, the vassals and nobles no longer had to worry about confusing the names of the princes and princesses. Of the swarming children of the King, only one remained. Everyone except for a single Iron Prince had left this world. In other words, they only needed to remember one name now.
No, they didn’t even need to remember a name. For now, the title ‘Iron Prince’ existed for only one person.
Ian Chervil.
* * *
It was suffocating.
Even when I looked again, the man’s appearance remained the same. I hadn’t misseen him. The Iron Prince was truly standing before my eyes. The sole successor destined to rule this kingdom, the madman who had buried all his siblings in the earth with his own hands. The monster who commanded Swordmasters at his whim.
The Iron Prince, Ian Chervil.
“Hmm, you’re silent.”
Ian Chervil spoke nonchalantly as he sat on a shabby chair. His voice was more aristocratic than anyone’s I had ever heard in my life. I’m not talking about the typical authoritative tone of royalty; Ian Chervil’s voice possessed authority in and of itself.
It wasn’t just his voice.
His appearance, the subtle expressions on his face, and every single gesture exuded power. That wasn’t something that could be learned or faked. It was as if he had been born to be the master of the world—as if God had ordained it so.
“I can’t see it because of your helmet, but for some reason, I feel like I can see your expression.”
Ian Chervil smirked.
His eyes, which resembled sharp blades, sparkled. Ian Chervil’s gaze seemed to pierce right through the rusted helmet I was wearing.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?”
“……No, Your Highness.”
“Liar.”
Ian Chervil sat back, leisurely resting his chin on his hand.
“Of course it’s uncomfortable. It’s been like that wherever I go since I was a child. Everyone welcomes me with their mouths, but their eyes say otherwise. I was a being that no one truly welcomed.”
“…….”
“But what can be done? Such is the nature of the seat of an absolute ruler.”
Every time Ian Chervil moved slightly, his ash-colored hair swayed gently.
“And whether it is uncomfortable or unpleasant, what does it matter? What matters is my amusement and my will. In this kingdom of steel built upon blades, there is nothing I cannot do.”
“……Your words are perfectly just.”
It was an arrogant statement. Upon hearing my answer, Ian Chervil spoke in a bored voice.
“You—did you say you were called the Sword Demon?”
“Yes. I carry such a nickname.”
“I haven’t seen it personally, but from what I’ve heard, your exploits are quite interesting. Displaying a struggle that Goddess Lefri would love, wielding your blade to make the lowly citizens of the Steel City go wild, and then selling the prize gifted by the clowns of the Arena as soon as you received it…… Puhuhu, very interesting. In my eyes, you have the talent to be a clown yourself.”
“……I am honored.”
“I especially liked what you did at the end. I came here personally after hearing that news.”
Ian Chervil’s eyes glittered.
“You see, I love interesting things. Do you know how futile the life of a prince in the City of Blades is? The life of the Iron Prince is a dull, predictable, ash-colored existence devoid of joy. It was actually more enjoyable when my older brothers and sisters were still around.”
“…….”
“Do you know what thoughts I’ve been having lately? I find myself hoping that at least one of my brothers or sisters miraculously survived. I hope they return to the palace and fight me. Or perhaps, I wish some audacious necromancer would resurrect my brothers so they could start a rebellion. That is how starved for amusement I am these days, lowly fighter.”
Ian Chervil’s voice was plain.
The eyes that spouted such mad nonsense were also perfectly calm. Strangely, that made the madness feel even more intense. It was a different kind of madness from the one that lingered in the Arena or the savagery of the Orcs. It wasn’t a madness that burned like a flame, but one that was sticky and thick like filth.
“That is why I love the lowly ones who live to provide entertainment. I love the fighters, I love the clowns, and I love the bards and storytellers.”
“…….”
“Ah. I loved my precious brothers and sisters too. My older brothers and sisters did many, many very interesting things for me. Yes. There were many interesting events back then. The various families that fled to the outskirts to survive the blades I swung. The countless nobles! All of it was fun.”
Ian Chervil laughed as if he were truly enjoying himself. It was chilling.
“Sword Demon. Lowly fighter.”
“Yes. You called?”
“You decided to sell the Dragon Sword as soon as you received it as a prize. You ignored things like honor or duty and followed the logic of gold. Just like the citizens of the Free City.”
“Yes, I did.”
“What if that wasn’t a gift from the clowns of the Arena, but a gift I personally bestowed upon you? If it were a blade gifted to you by Ian Chervil himself…… would you still have sold it?”
At that moment, Ian Chervil’s eyes flashed. After a brief moment of thought, I answered.
“No. How could I sell a gift given by such a great person……”
“Ah, I don’t want to hear boring words. Speak your true mind.”
Ian Chervil cut me off mid-sentence. Then he added:
“I will not take issue with whatever you say. I swear upon my soul to the nine goddesses and the seven chief gods. So tell me. Give me the opinion of the man who committed such an intriguing and fun act.”
Ian Chervil’s voice grew slightly excited. Soon, I answered slowly.
“I would have sold it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Is there not much to be gained from selling it?”
“True, you would gain many Steel Gold Coins. But what if I am not pleased?”
“That cannot be. Did you not say it yourself? That you love interesting things.”
“…….”
“If I sell the item you gave me immediately, I gain a mountain of Steel Gold Coins and I also draw the attention of a great being. What lowly bastard would dare to immediately sell an item bestowed by the Iron Prince? No one would have done it because it is sacrilegious. But…… even if it is sacrilegious, isn’t it interesting? It’s certainly not predictable.”
“……Puhu, puhuhuhu.”
“You wouldn’t punish a fighter who performed such an interesting act. On the contrary, you would give him more and provide more opportunities—just to watch how far that sacrilegious fighter could take his antics. Then I would run wild without hesitation. I guarantee you, I could even sell the crown that the Iron Prince wears.”
“Puhu, puhahahaha—! You, I like you quite a lot. I like you very much!”
Ian Chervil burst into laughter, his voice louder than before.
“Sword Demon. If your sword were just a bit sharper, I would have taken you to the City of Blades right now. And I would have cherished you as much as my Carlos.”
“……It is an honor.”
Carlos.
I flinched slightly at that name, but I managed to suppress my emotions. I must not show my feelings. Not now.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed this hard. Puhuhu.”
“I am honored to have been a source of joy.”
“Then, will you be a source of joy once more?”
“In what way……?”
Ian Chervil said, “It’s no fun if I tell you the details in advance.”
“…….”
“I shall watch your lowly, amusing struggles and think about it. Isn’t there one last duel left in this noisy riot hosted by the clowns of the Arena?”
His eyes gleamed with madness.
“The Infinite Duel. Entertain me once more there. Then, I shall give you a reward.”
Having said that, Ian Chervil slowly rose from his seat.
“Sword Demon.”
“Yes.”
“What is your real name? I shall remember it.”
I remained silent for a moment at Ian Chervil’s question. Then I replied.
“Wouldn’t it be boring if I told you in advance?”
Ian Chervil laughed contentedly at my answer.
“I knew I liked you.”
Leaving only those words behind, the Iron Prince, who had arrived like a storm, departed.
* * *
Even after the Iron Prince’s visit, numerous other guests came by. However, the proposals they offered no longer reached my ears. Ian Chervil’s visit had been that intense. Countless doubts swirled in my mind.
Why did the great Iron Prince visit me personally and reveal his madness so openly? Why did he converse with a fighter of uncertain status and declare that he would reward a mere Sword Walker? I didn’t know. I truly couldn’t understand any of it.
If the Iron Prince were truly just a bored prince obsessed with amusement, it would be understandable. But would the monster who carried out a blood purge unprecedented in Chervil’s history and ascended as the sole successor be nothing more than a simple madman? I didn’t know. The swirling doubts tormented me.
What kind of person was the Iron Prince? Why did the sole successor travel in person, hiding his identity, to join a festival of the lowly? How should I act in the final duel, the Infinite Duel? Numerous questions arose, one after another. Among them, the one that tormented me the most was this:
The sword of Carlos, which destroyed everything I had…… by whose will was it wielded? Was it a mad act committed by Swordmaster Carlos alone, or was it the will of the Iron Prince he serves? I knew nothing. There was nothing I could know. In the vast Iron Kingdom, I was but a single swordsman, nothing more than insignificant dust.
Whose malice was it that stained my territory with blood? Why did we have to disappear? Why on earth did such a thing have to happen?
There was nothing I could know. That was why I still couldn’t accept it.
I couldn’t accept that I knew nothing of it. I couldn’t accept that no one had been punished by heaven despite such a horrific event. And I couldn’t accept the fact that the Swordmaster who took away my precious things was being praised and living under the same sky as me.
It was confusing, but nothing changed. In the end, I had to fight. In the end, I had to take up the sword.
If I weren’t a mere Sword Walker—if I weren’t just an insignificant and lowly fighter barely making a name for himself in this Steel City—if my sword were sharp enough for everyone to fear, everything would have been different. Therefore, I must become a sword that can reach anyone.
Yes. The conclusion was the same.
To avoid being swept away by the raging whirlwind, to stand firm in the center of the vortex, I had to become strong. I had to reach a place incomparable to where I was now.
[Young descendant.]
“Yes.”
[There is no need to be swayed. As always, you only need to walk the path you must walk.]
Liam spoke calmly.
[Right now, you will be swayed endlessly. You will feel like an infinitely small being, and it will seem as if your swordsmanship can leave no trace upon this world. But that is not true.]
“…….”
[The Iron Prince, that brat, said he only pursues amusement. He babbled like a madman, saying anything is fine as long as it’s interesting. He treated you, who reached this point without breaking, like a clown, and laughed, saying he would make your struggles his diversion.]
“…….”
[I guarantee you.]
Liam’s eyes were like blades—blades incomparably sharper and harder than those of the Iron Prince, Ian Chervil. True eyes of Steel that the master of this kingdom could never hope to match.
[The moment the Steel Blood flowing in your body truly awakens, the Iron Prince will no longer find you ‘interesting.’ He won’t even be able to laugh in front of you anymore.]
“…….”
[In my era, ‘Iron-blood’ was a term reserved only for the Caravan.]
Liam smirked.
[There is only one Steel under heaven. Because of you, the world will once again learn the truth it had forgotten. In a way it can never forget again.]
As always, my master presented me with a clear path. Only then did the questions swirling in my head subside a little.
And then.
“……Can we talk for a moment?”
That night, another unexpected guest arrived.
“……I have something to ask the Descendant of Steel.”
The Witches.
It seemed the whirlwind was not over yet.
* * *
The outskirts of the Steel City, Ferma.
Unlike other places that were noisy ahead of the upcoming final event, the Infinite Duel, one inn located on the outskirts was strangely quiet. There were no fighters chatting over beer, and no drunkards debating who would win. The inn was empty because a high-ranking person had rented out the entire establishment.
Thus, on the first floor of that inn, there was only one man sitting in silence. Silence flowed around him, and the usually talkative landlady and waitresses didn’t dare open their mouths.
After that uncomfortable silence had stretched for a long time, the door of the inn creaked open.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
The one who entered the inn was a young man with a youthful face. To be precise, a young man standing between boyhood and manhood. The moment he entered, he removed the hood covering his head. With that, his ash-colored hair fluttered beautifully. The waitresses and the landlady didn’t dare look at that hair. How could a citizen living in the Iron Kingdom look directly at the true master of the realm?
“Was the lowly fighter interesting?”
“Yes. His eloquence was as good as his swordsmanship.”
“Then you should take him and make him your conversation partner.”
“I’d like to do just that. But how could I?”
The young man, the Iron Prince Ian Chervil, walked forward. His steps stopped right in front of the man sitting quietly.
“A true Descendant of Steel cannot be made into a mere conversation partner for someone like me.”
“…….”
“You broke your promise, Carlos.”
Ian Chervil’s eyes dryly observed the man, Carlos.
“There were remnants of the Caravan left. You clearly said you had completely erased the traces of Steel from this land.”
“……I did erase them completely.”
“Right. You were speaking by your standards.”
Ian Chervil gave a thin smile.
“He wasn’t over eighteen. Moreover, his heart hasn’t even properly ripened yet. If I hadn’t looked closely, I might not have recognized him. He was so soft and tender.”
“……If you wish to punish me, I will gladly accept it.”
Ian Chervil burst into laughter at Carlos’s words. A chilling, mad laugh.
“Punish? Why would I punish you?”
“…….”
“Well done! You did very well! Neither the night walk I enjoyed on the way to the Steel City, nor the cool breeze, nor the night scenery made me this excited. The Infinite Duel? I felt a moment of amusement at the event the lowly ones enjoy, but now such things don’t matter at all.”
Saying so, Ian Chervil thrust his face forward.
“As expected, coming here was a very good decision. Even the nine goddesses and the seven chief gods must have pitied my boring daily life. That is why they left me an amusement I can enjoy. My brothers who crumbled so easily! My sisters who sobbed and begged me not to do it as I skinned their children! My weak father who sobbed and told me to put down my sword because he would make me his heir! My aunts who hanged themselves after my brothers and sisters died! I feel like my heart, which those soft and weak people couldn’t fill, is finally being filled.”
“…….”
“Breaking the promise? It doesn’t matter. Isn’t that more interesting in the first place? You see, I was worried that I would sit on the Sword Throne too easily. I was worried that I would break those who entertain me too early, and that my life would be too smooth and boring until the moment I die. But, fortunately, one still remained. One blade aimed at me still remained…….”
Puhu, Ian Chervil couldn’t help but laugh again.
“I’ll have to move up the schedule. The bloodbath will blow a little earlier.”
Carlos looked at Ian Chervil with a stoic face, showing no change in expression.
Ian Chervil said, “That guy. He was more audacious than I thought, Carlos. Do you know what name he used while active as a fighter? Liam. He entered the Infinite Duel using that very name.”
“…….”
“That alone showed how ignorant of a human he is. Because of this Infinite Duel, that name will spread across the entire continent. And everyone who remembers the forgotten era will take an interest in him. The specters of the war era.”
Ian Chervil laughed.
“I hope he doesn’t get swept away by a small wind and die. Ah, if I had known there would be such boring days, I would have treated those who gave me small bits of fun more gently. Who knew they would all break after just a little bit of playing?”
“…….”
“I must pray that the last remaining Descendant of Steel doesn’t get caught in the whirlwind and break. When I return to the palace, I should call the High Priest and offer a prayer. O gods, please do not take away my last toy…….”
Carlos looked at Ian Chervil. As he read the Prince’s expression and voice, he realized that there was not a single lie mixed in his words. This mad prince was truly happy that a descendant of the Caravan was alive. Truly, sincerely.
“Carlos.”
“Speak, Your Highness.”
“Most records of the Caravan have been erased. Even I don’t know much about them. That is why I want to ask. Can the last descendant of the Caravan point a sword at me before he turns eighteen?”
“I do not know.”
He didn’t know; that was the truth.
“No one knows what realm his sword will reach. Only the nine goddesses and the seven chief gods would know that.”
“What if he reaches the same realm as you?”
“That is impossible. Historically, there has been only one swordsman who reached the level of Swordmaster at such a rapid pace.”
“And that one person is the Caravan. That is why I am asking.”
Strangely, Ian Chervil had an expectant look on his face after making such an assumption. Like a person who desperately hoped someone would point a sword at his throat.
“……It is an impossible task. However, I will speak assuming that such a situation really occurred, against all odds.”
“Yes. Go on—”
“If the last Caravan forges his sword, no one will be able to stop him.”
Carlos spoke with a resolute voice.
“A new order will be forged upon this continent. And every one of its seven races will bow before it, begging for their lives.”
“…….”
“Just as they did in the distant past, during the Age of Iron.”
Ian Chervil fell silent at Carlos’s words. A light slowly returned to the Iron Prince’s vacant eyes—a brilliant, shimmering light. As it did, his cheeks flushed a deep crimson. His mouth split into a grin so wide it nearly reached his ears.
“Ah.”
Ian Chervil murmured in a voice brimming with ecstasy.
“I knew it… I really do like you, Carlos.”
“…….”
“And this world… where the diversions never cease.”
