Golden Cross - Chapter 17
. I Will Live the Rest of My Life for You
“What? I’m a maestro?”
“Hm. Although it was unexpected, I did demonstrate a maestro like maneuvers in the last fight.”
Perhaps, something might have changed when he arrived at an understanding, but it was still a mystery to Eugene. However, the fact that there was an achievement was a good thing.
Once one becomes a maestro, it was possible to obtain the poems by visiting the head quarter of the Brotherhood, and fame and wealth would be guaranteed.
“That’s that, but Bertha.”
“Yeah.”
“I need to go outside for a few minutes. I’ll be back after looking into a few things, and also need to take care of that Orc Den bastard, too.”
Bertha shook her head as she fell into a thought.
“No, there is no need. Let me just say that there is nothing more to teach you since you’re now a maestro? Of course, there are more things, but they could be pushed out, so let’s go out, right now.”
“You’re coming too, right?”
Eugene had planned to go out from there with Bertha, but he was curious as to what form of Bertha would be going out.
“Eugene, when I go outside, I would have been transformed into a sword. The sword which was staked into the boulder, inside the cave, is my form in the material world. Of course, if I was to go out, that shabby, old sword would be back to its glorious condition, so no need to worry.”
“So if you were to change into a sword, I would no longer be able to talk to you?”
I was feeling sad because we’ve grown close during the past few days. She was a shy spirit with a lot of complaints, but she was also naïve and pleasant. She has pushed Eugene so hard during the lesson times, but she was very considerate to Eugene.
“Yeah. That’s the way it is. Of course, there is a way, but it is too difficult for you, at this juncture.”
As Eugene became sad, Bertha came close to his face in an attempt to console him.
“It will be very helpful once I change into the sword. It is a great sword which does not take back seat to any other swords. And based on your intentions, the shape of the sword would change accordingly.”
“Is that right?”
That was a shocking statement. It was the first time that he has heard about a sword, changing its shape according to the owner’s will. For example, it could be used as a short dagger in indoor situations, and change it into a two handed sword when using it outside.
“Thanks. Bertha.”
“Not at all. I’m also happy to be getting out of here, too.”
Bertha’s countenance changed as she showed a shade of embarrassment then she gently kissed Eugene’s cheek. As she was so small, he did not feel much, but Eugene was sufficiently happy about it. Plush’s barking was heard from below.
“Come to think of it, what about Plush?”
“He will go out with me and will be embedded into the sword. So, don’t worry.”
“Then we should really go out, now?”
“Yeah.”
It was both sad and happy as the time came to leave the space. Although he wasn’t sure, it has been approximately over 2 years. He looked around the white filled space one time, and he began to move.
“Alright!”
When they came out, moaning Orc Den’s swordsman came into his view. Based on the flow of the time, he and Eugene came out into the material world within 1 second of each other. Staring at him, Eugene thought about what to do him.
‘Cut him up?’
Grace was not something to consider for an evil person.
However, it wasn’t easy to take care of a dead body, so he has decided to restrain himself. Taking out a sword from his waist, Eugene smashed the back of the man’s head with the weighted part of the sword.
“Kaack!”
When he smashed him hard as he wasn’t concerned whether the man was going to die or not, with a short scream, the man fell flat to the ground. After putting the sword back in to his waist holster, he looked at the rusty sword. The sword still looked old, damaged, and unpleasant.
“Hm….”
Eugene reached for the sword without saying anything.
Shhhhrrrr-.
What used to be unmovable easily came out of the boulder. Bertha had said that the sword would change its shape according to Eugene’s will.
‘Let me try.’
When Eugene willed it, the sword changed into an imposing broadsword with a basket hilt. On top of that, there also appeared a sword housing as well as a sword belt which were top notch in quality.
“Wow!”
Eugene was naturally impressed. There could never be another magical item like this one. In fact, the expression of it being a magical item did not do the justice as it was Bertha, herself.
“Bertha.”
He called her name, hoping to hear any kind of reply, but there was no reply as expected. Should special conditions were met it would be possible to draw her out, even in this material world.
However, until then it appeared as if she would remain inside the sword. Eugene thought of Bertha being asleep next to cute Plush. She did say that she was going to have minute consciousness, so she would be observing the material world, so what he was thinking about what Bertha would be doing might not be exactly accurate.
“Well, someday, I would be able to call Bertha out.”
Although he felt regrettable, he consoled himself, thinking that at some point he would be able to see her again. Taking the fallen Orc Den swordsman, he headed to Rotstein.
He had the captured swordsman placed inside the dungeon prison. Eugene did not have any authority, but with Ava’s influence, he was able to make that happen. Djacovo, the captain of the guards, did not think kindly of Eugene, so he wasn’t very cooperative, but he took the Orc Den’s swordsman to the prison when he heard that he had trespassed into the lord’s private property. After that, a message came from Franza, the capitol city of Roydenfonsk, which was next to the castle of Rotstein. It said that there appeared a most wanted swordsman, and Djacovo has sent the Orc Den’s swordsman to the city in response. Eugene did not know what happened afterwards as he lost interest after having turned the swordsman over. His interest was only on Ava.
“Ava!”
As soon as he entered Ava’s office, Eugene jumped her as he yelled. Ava was examining some documents and she soon froze in surprise as Eugene hugged her and began to feel her.
Although Ava has grown very fond of Eugene, she did not know how to react when he rushed her so suddenly. She remained still as Eugene hugged her tightly.
“I missed you.”
As he had been training at a distant dimension, it was almost 2 years since Eugene was seeing her. However, as far as Ava was concerned, it has been only a half a day. But then he missed her? Ava suddenly felt that this man was truly 6 years junior to her.
‘Ah.’
At least for that time, she thought that Eugene was being playful. She stroked Eugene’s hair, suppressing from laughing.
“You’ve become a baby in a short time? Hohoho. Impossible.”
However, Eugene was so happy to see Ava again that he did not let her go. Ava was sheepish, but finally she hugged him back and stopped reading the document. What woman would push back against the person that she loves when that person was showing affection.
“Hohoho. You’re impossible.”
“Ava-aa.”
Eugene finally released her after a long while. As a result, Ava’s perfume was all over Eugene. Ava soothed him.
“Eugene, I have a lot of documents to go over, so will see you later. I’ll be with you throughout the evening, after dinner. Should we play backgammon or chess, later?”
“Hahaha. OK. You’re truly nice. I surely picked a good woman.”
“What?”
After kissing Ava on the lips, Eugene left her office. As it was still light outside, he was thinking about going to Franza. He slowly rode the horse prepared by the stable person. Ava’s castle was located about 1 kilometer away from her largest city, and it was for defensive reasons. The Rotstein castle in which her family lived for generations was strategically located for defense, and there was plenty of drinking water as there was a river in front of it. On the other hand, Franza was built on a plain, so the means of travel was good, but difficult to defend. It would be beneficial in ordinary times, but in chaotic times like this, it was not such a good thing. Fortunately, the castle walls were surrounding the city. However, the problem was that the walls were in the same form and shape as were in the ancient times. As opposed to the modern castles which could withstand cannons, that structure was certainly an outdated one. It was sufficient to stop troops, but it would be impossible to withstand the attacks by royal cannons of artilleries, such as the Calvins. A modification was truly needed, but the reality was that it was hard to make updates due to the budget constraints of the territory.
“Whoa-whoa.”
Slowing down the horse at the front of the city’s gate, Eugene showed a sign which indicated that he was a guest of the territory’s lord. It was a bronze plaque bearing the sword of the Ava’s Denemark family.
“Please enter.”
After verifying it, the person in charge demonstrated full decorum. The story that the duchess Ava has come with a man, and that the man had rescued her from the battle field was already well known. On top of that, it was also said that it was possible for the man to marry the duchess, so the attitude of the person in charge could be well understood. After finding a quiet bar, Eugene thought as he drank dark beer.
‘What should be done about Ava and future. I must bring everything to a closure before other prospective suitors hear the rumors.’
Eugene was certainly a young man with many worries. He carefully organized his thoughts. He knew very well that things didn’t work out well when they were hurried. Having had the experience of being persistent while learning swordsmanship, he knew that better than anyone. Eugene planned things out in the right order, one at a time.
‘First, make Ava mine. And prepare for the war with the material support from her.’
Even without the war, Eugene was already head over hills for Ava. Even if she was to deny his request for support, he wasn’t going to give her up. The date that they couldn’t keep last time made things a little awkward between them. Perhaps, it was more appropriate to say that they would just smile, unable to bring up that topic again. Eugene has ultimately decided to consummate his relationship with Ava. On top of that, having become a maestro made him to have that determination. In the past, being a chevalier status made him unqualified, but now, being a maestro, he has become a good prospect.
“There. Is there a place that sells gold nearby?”
Eugene asked the bar keeper as he stood up, dragging his horse.
“You have to go straight and turn into the right alley from the fountain. My lord.”
“Thanks.”
After tipping the bar keeper, Eugene got on his horse. Padidaaak-padidaaak.
The sound of the horse hoops hitting the paved road was pleasant. Eugene felt the butterflies. He was determined to make his relationship with Ava very clear this evening.