Sword Saint’s Disciple Vol 1 Chapter 1

1. Letter from the Royal Capital

“Say, Cathy. Won’t go to the Royal Capital as my subst.i.tute?”

Grandfather[Jii-sama] suddenly said while I was wiping my sweat in front of the well after finishing my daily training.

“The Royal Capital? It’s extremely far from here. Also, what did you mean by subst.i.tute?”

Grandfather looked a little sullen. I wonder if it’s something difficult to talk about? He said ‘subst.i.tute’ so that probably meant that the task is exclusively for Grandfather.

“Let me tell you about my old days as a Knight of the Royal Guards. I spent a long time together with the former King Spike in the battlefield…”

I heard that story before. It seems like they have a friendship beyond those of a King and his va.s.sal. I presumed that much from what I’ve heard.

“By any chance, the letter that arrived to the village yesterday…”

It had an awfully extravagant binding and high quality paper. It’s also unusual for a deliveryman to come all the way to this village.

“Hmm, in short it’s a letter of summons… apparently, the present King Alan who was the son of the former King Spike, suddenly died without appointing a successor. The former King has three grandchildren who are successor candidates, First Prince Edgar, First Princess Lily and Second Prince Caryl. But it seems like he intends to back-up his granddaughter Lily so he wants to ask for my support.”

It appears like a political struggle is somehow taking place in the Royal Capital. It’s the first time I heard of it.

This is the result of being deep in the countryside’s mountains…

And from what I’ve heard, this country doesn’t automatically appoint the eldest child as the heir.

The King who has the authority of appointment died, so it appears like it’s necessary for them to claim a just cause in order to gather supporters before they are named King.

“Even so, why was Grandfather summoned? You’ve already retired. Besides, why would a Knight of the Royal Guards with little influence needs to go back?”

“I’m very popular in the country. Even if you won’t understand now, the fact that I’ve received this letter proves just how influential I am until today. I’ve even called Sword Saint those days, you know?”

…Nn!? Did he just said something that’s incredibly chuuni?

“Sword Saint? Grandfather was called Sword Saint?”

“That’s a story when I was still in active service… but I wasn’t the one who gave that name to myself, okay!??”

Eeh, eventually he made a bitter expression because of that embarra.s.sing t.i.tle.

Now that I think about it, he still found it necessary to explain…

So he thinks Sword Saint is cool, huh? I smirked.

“Eei, that isn’t an expression that a young woman should make! Stop it!”

“—uwaaa! Please don’t throw that wooden sword! That’s dangerous!”