Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 8 : Novel Revision (3)

Novel Revision (3)

Kwaaaang!

The moment the sword, previously sheathed, was drawn, an explosive roar erupted as if a cannon had been fired.

"Uaaagh!"

I let out a shriek-like shout, gripping the sword tightly as it shot forth with a deafening crash.

Woodudeudeuk!

A sound of twisting bones came from my right arm, which was holding the sword.

Through Setting Addition, I gained the ability to use the complete Hidden Star Sword, but my body couldn't keep up with it.

"Kraaah!"

Unable to withstand the torrent of power that surged like a raging stream, the sword swung wildly in an unintended direction.

But that alone was enough.

The first technique of the latter part of the Hidden Star Sword: "New Star".

The power of the sword pressure unleashed by the draw technique, which put everything into a single strike, was beyond imagination.

Baian was flung several meters by the sword pressure released as the blade was drawn.

'Damn it, my hand...'

Though I'd escaped disaster, the recoil was tremendous.

My left hand, which had been holding the scabbard, couldn't distribute the shock properly—every finger was broken, and my whole body tingled with numbness.

But there was no time to stand there whining about the pain.

I had to end it before he came to his senses.

Without hesitation, I dashed toward the fallen Baian. As he gasped for breath and tried to get up, I kicked up against his chin.

"Keuk!"

Teeth, red with blood, scattered through the air as Baian's body snapped back.

Yet even at that moment, his gaze was fixed on me. His eyes still showed he hadn't given up.

Even as he toppled, he swung his sword at my legs.

"I—I won't end here! I can't let it end here!"

Seogeok!

The hand holding the Deoric house's famed sword flailed through the air.

"No."

I looked at his settings as I spoke.

[Baian Deoric]

The word 'villain' had disappeared from his settings.

I realized instantly what that meant. His fate was being rewritten right in this moment.

Who had revised (改撰) his fate?

It was me.

I rewrote it.

"Baian."

Immediately after, I stomped down on his chest with my right foot and drove my sword vertically toward his heart.

Baian's expression changed as the blade neared his heart.

On his face, there was no longer the image of a noble knight.

Nor a beast consumed by madness.

Only a frightened extra remained.

"You have no story after this."

The second son (an extra) of Count Deoric's family.

That was his new setting.

* * *

"Young master, young master! Are you all right? How did you get hurt this badly?"

"... It's fine, just keep some distance, Monet."

I mumbled weakly, lying on my sickbed.

But perhaps my voice was as faint as a mosquito's, because Monet didn't seem to hear it.

Seeing her slicing an apple with a face ready to burst into tears made me feel genuinely sorry.

'I got hurt far worse than I thought.'

There was barely an unbroken joint among my right fingers, and even my arm felt cracked in several places.

At this point, wielding a sword anytime soon seemed out of the question.

"Sir Vanhart, how is your condition?"

Just then, someone pulled back the tent flap and stepped inside.

A middle-aged man with bright blonde hair and a splendid imperial mustache.

I looked at him with bleary eyes before belatedly realizing who he was.

"Du-Duke Gale!? Kuahhh...!"

Startled, I tried to sit up and was met with a wave of excruciating pain.

When I groaned and couldn't manage words, Duke Gale rushed to me, looking concerned.

"Oh dear, it seems I came too suddenly. Please, lie down."

"Ho-how could I dare to...?"

"This isn't about manners. How can I expect decorum from the man who saved my life? If not for you, I wouldn't be alive right now."

Hearing Duke Gale say this as he personally laid me down, I thought of Viscount Delmore.

'He conveyed the message properly.'

Everything I'd pulled off this time would have been impossible without Delmore's help.

Naturally, he knew most of what I had planned. Later, we'd have to corroborate our stories about the switched poison.

'I've got leverage on him, so he'd never blurt it out carelessly.'

Even if he'd told Baian everything before the plan, I could have implicated him in embezzlement too, dragging him down with me.

He wasn't the type to risk his own life, so he'd never do that.

Besides, for him, too, this was only a benefit.

Though he'd helped me out of necessity due to the embezzlement, now he could rightfully call himself one of the heroes who saved Duke Gale's life.

This way, I could maintain a good relationship with Viscount Delmore and continue to use the leverage I had over him whenever needed.

"Viscount Delmore said he'd kept a close eye on Baian Deoric because he'd been acting suspiciously."

"Yes. And Kinzel discovered he had poison meant to assassinate Your Grace."

"Hmm, I heard as much. I heard you discussed with Viscount Delmore what to do with the poison, and he lent you his wisdom."

"... Excuse me?"

"If I didn't get poisoned, Baian might hide or use another plan, so you switched it to a different poison and watched the situation unfold?"

"Ah, yes... that's correct."

"That was indeed wise. Orchestrating the situation so your opponent walked right into the trap himself..."

Duke Gale looked at me with genuine admiration, wearing a satisfied smile.

"I must have underestimated you and Viscount Delmore. Had I known you were this capable, I'd have entrusted you with greater responsibility. Tsk tsk."

I was baffled at how much Duke Gale was crediting himself for.

'Just how much did he exaggerate his role in all this?'

In truth, I'd done almost all of it myself, but Duke Gale seemed to think Viscount Delmore and I had acted together.

'Well, maybe that's to my benefit?'

I did receive help, and if I claimed to have figured out and executed everything by myself, it would have been more suspicious.

My reputation up to now wasn't good enough to pull that off.

But with the support of Delmore, the quartermaster, no one would doubt it.

"Especially you, sir Vanhart. Were you hiding your swordsmanship skills all this time? To think you defeated Baian Deoric single-handedly."

"It was just luck. He exhausted his stamina while fleeing, and I also had the poison on my side."

"Even so, the Baian Deoric you beat was an advanced-rank Sword Expert. At your age, there are few as strong as that, not just in the kingdom but the entire continent."

That part was true.

Baian's swordsmanship was almost terrifying in its brilliance. Skill has its tiers, and Baian was among the highest even among geniuses.

"It's regrettable that such talent died so easily... but with you here, sir Vanhart, I am reassured."

"You praise me too highly."

"No, truly. If you recover, I would like you to join the Fenril Knight Order immediately."

"Th-the Fenril Knight Order?! Ow!"

I shouted so loudly that the pain from my broken bones surged again.

The Fenril Knight Order was the house order of Duke Gale, and aside from the royal knight order, it was the finest in the Talua Kingdom.

For a knight, it was a dream come true just to hope for a position there.

Yet I was being offered a chance to join.

"Hmm? You don't look too pleased."

"I-I'm sorry. It's just..."

"Haha, don't worry. I did speak too suddenly. I have no intent to ignore your feelings."

Thankfully, Duke Gale didn't seem too bothered by my reaction.

"But I do hope you'll stay by my side for the upcoming operation."

"... You mean the surprise attack taking place in two weeks?"

"Oh, as expected of you, sir Vanhart! Yes, that very operation."

Of course I knew. I knew all about it, including how it would end.

'I've already checked through the Synopsis.'

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Duke Gale burst out in laughter.

"Don't worry about your body! As luck would have it, some priests have arrived at our camp."

"Priests?"

"They say they saw a silver light fall from the sky nearby. Believing it to be a sign from above, they stopped by while on pilgrimage. Among them is a remarkable priest; he should be able to heal you in no time."

Oh, no. The light from the sky—wasn't that the one that fell when I used Setting Addition?

'Is this good fortune or not?'

If my body healed, I'd have much more freedom of movement.

That would make it much easier to prepare for what was to come.

The only problem was Duke Gale.

He couldn't stand to see talent left idle.

Though it was a blessing to catch his eye, in this situation, it could become a restriction.

"Since we're talking about it, why not go meet them now? After all, my main reason for visiting today was to introduce you to the priest."

"I should prepare..."

"Ha ha! Anticipating that, I brought other attendants. They'll help you get ready!"

He was completely thorough.

That drive left me speechless.

"Young master, I'm so relieved you'll heal quickly!"

"Mm... well, yes."

Seeing Monet's face go from tears to radiant joy, I thought perhaps recovering really was for the best.

"Carefully move Sir Vanhart, so as not to aggravate his injuries!"

The attendants, true to their house's reputation, wasted no motions and acted quickly.

It was as if they were a single body, seamlessly moving the stretcher.

As I was carried through the heart of the camp, soldiers and knights whispered as they spotted me.

"Isn't that Sir Vanhart? I heard he held off Lord Deoric by himself..."

"Held off? He killed him in a single stroke, they say."

"I heard it was Sir Vanhart who exposed the poisoning of the duke too."

"No, I heard that was Viscount Delmore."

"Didn't Viscount Delmore do everything?"

"But the knights who searched the place said..."

This was the first time I had ever attracted so much attention.

Previously, people would sneer at me as a fallen noble, but now, admiration and jealousy mingled in their eyes.

It was like watching the crowd witness the birth of a hero.

'Hmm, hmmm.'

I tried hard to suppress the smile tugging at my lips.

This wasn't so bad, after all.

But the moment of joy was short-lived.

"Oh, by the way. Sir Vanhart, it would do you well to show due respect to the priest who'll be healing you."

Duke Gale came over, speaking in a careful voice.

'For him to put it that way, this can't be an ordinary priest.'

I'd assumed we'd just ask for help from some passing priest, but that didn't seem to be the case.

For him to say it like this, it had to be someone at least on the level of High Priest.

'Wait. Could it be...?'

At that moment, a certain figure mentioned in the Synopsis came to mind. It was a bit early timing-wise, but only one fit the description.

"May I ask the priest's name, Your Grace?"

"You may already know her."

"If it's someone I know..."

"It's Priest Michelle Atell, descendant of Saintess Grancesia Atell."

Michelle Atell.

A member of the Atell family, house of Saintess Grancesia, known for her immense holy power, rivaling a high priest through her talent alone, even aside from her family's prestige.

'Why is he appearing already...?'

An event that would occur here in the distant future.

Michelle Atell would be at the very heart of it.