Mushoku Tensei (LN) - Volume 20 - Chapter 4.1

Interlude:

A Country Bumpkin Visits the City

“NINA, a letter.”

It was summer when a letter arrived at Sword King Nina Falion’s doorstep. The Sword Sanctum was always chilled by the year-round snow, but this day was as warm as early spring. The training hall’s master, Sword God Gal Falion, quit before noon; he said, “You gotta be an idiot to train on a day this nice, so you all can do whatever ya feel like for today,” and then marched gallantly to a napping spot.

Nina was a teacher’s pet, so her idea of “whatever ya feel like” was continuing her practice, but she paused when she heard of this letter.

“A letter? I…sol… Ah!”

Nina, drenched in sweat as she accepted the letter from the mail carrier, broke out into a grin. On the other 

side of the envelope that bore the emblem of the Water God Style was sketched a familiar name.

Isolde Cluel. The leading swordsman of the Water God Style whom Nina had trained with just a few years before. Nina recalled that she was now in the Asura Kingdom working as a sword fighting instructor while also managing a Water God Style training ground. Their relationship was friendly, but they’d grown distant since Isolde left the Sword Sanctum. Her letter was a pleasant surprise.

“Umm…”

More than just pleasant. Nina giddily tore open the envelope before whipping out the sheet of paper within. However, the sparkles in her eyes dimmed the moment she laid eyes upon the tightly packed bundles of words that the paper contained.

“What’s it say?”

Nina, uh, couldn’t read.

She could piece together an acquaintance’s name, but she hadn’t reached the level of comprehending entire passages. It never really came up here in the Sword Sanctum.

I’ll get someone else to read it, she thought. There were at least some people living in this training hall who’d grown up with proper schooling. Someone could read it. Probably.

Nina headed to the backyard. There, a few of the apprentices were taking in the sunshine as they cheerfully chatted away. It was typically Nina’s job to scold them when they looked like they were slacking off, so the apprentices hurriedly stood up straight and got their excuses in order. However, today was the rare day where the master told them explicitly to take the day off, so Nina said nothing about their behavior and instead asked if anyone could read her letter. The apprentices traded glances before one raised his hand. Nina handed the letter to the one who claimed that he “could sorta read human language” and asked him to do so.

The contents of the letter were quite simple. It summed up what happened in the past few years, as well as what had been happening lately. Reida’s death, the struggles of managing the training ground. Isolde’s intense quarrels with Ghislaine as a sword instructor. Nina smiled at that detail—she could imagine the orderly, straitlaced Isolde fuming at one of Ghislaine’s wild remarks.

But that smile turned serious when they reached the final message.

“Her Majesty Ariel’s coronation will be held soon. The entire month is a grand, nationwide festival. I’d love for you to come visit for the occasion.”

The moment Nina heard those words, she resolved to travel to the Asura Kingdom. There was no debate. The Sword God style preached that the first to make a move would be the victor for a reason. The moment she wanted to go was the moment she up and went.

***

The main street of Ars, capital of the Asura Kingdom, was absolutely flooded with people. So much so that the slightest wobble to either side of you would force you to bump shoulders, so much so that you couldn’t see more than a few meters ahead. Denser than a family of overgrown snow wolves—a packed pack.

The capital of the Asura Kingdom attracted people from around the world as it prepared for the upcoming coronation. Countryside folk who came in the hopes of catching even a glimpse of the ruler of the strongest nation in the world. Nobles dispatched from foreign lands who came to give their blessings in the name of diplomacy. Wandering swordsmen who figured that this would be the perfect time to find some work in the palace. Adventurers who predicted that the guild would be short on hands and came to land some simple, high-paying jobs. Outlaws who were on the run and bet that the best place to hide a tree was in a forest. Merchants who came to hawk shady wares—to make a killing off a huge and festive crowd. Every single race that lived on the Central Continent and some that lived beyond it packed into this nation. And on top of all that, the White Knights of the Asura Kingdom were going to be holding a parade today, so even the town’s own citizens were hitting the main street to see their beloved knights in their full glory.

“Whuuuhh…”

And in the middle of it all, Nina was turning her this way and that as she attempted to walk toward the center of the city. It was the first time in her life that she’d seen so many people. She had been to towns that she’d thought were pretty big, but seeing a crowd of people so massive that it dwarfed her imagination left her dumbstruck.

“Tch, watch where you’re going, you little sow!”

“Wha… Oh, you’re… Huh?”

By the time she processed that someone was pissed at her, they’d been swallowed up by the sea of people.

This was new to Nina. She was, for the record, a Sword King; with her sharpened senses, she could identify the guy who cursed her out and track him if she wanted. But he’d simply cussed her out and kept walking. He probably didn’t even bother to look her in the eye. Maybe that kind of rudeness is like a greeting in the city, she thought. If this were the Sword Sanctum, she would’ve sent anyone who talked to her that way right to a healing mage…but perhaps in the capital, being cursed at didn’t necessarily mean they were picking a fight.

“Hey there now, pretty lady, would ya like to have a look?”

“P-pretty? Who…me?”

After a few more unsteady steps, Nina found the person calling to her was a merchant. He was hawking something in a small shop nearby.

“Oh, but of course. Never before have I seen someone as beautiful as you… By the by, ma’am, you seem new to the capital, no?”

“Yes! However did you know?”

“Huh? Oh, you’re not a local. Getting flustered by a crowd like this is the truest sign of an out-of-towner.”

Hearing that she’d been bumbling along like a country bumpkin made Nina’s face turn beet-red. She thought she’d play it cool in the big city, but to real cityfolk, her idea of a big city was still the sticks.

“It sure is a huge crowd. I guess everyone’s here for the coronation?”

“That’s part of it, of course, but today is also the knights’ parade, so everyone’s gathering on the main street.”

“I see…”

“You saw all the signs, right? They said that anyone who wants to see the parade should go to the main street, while those who don’t should take the back road, Saalten Street…”

“Sorry, but I can’t rea—”

“Ah, I see, I see. Indeed! If you have no need to see the parade, then perhaps you could come by our store? It’s quite easy to enter Saalten Street from its back door.”

“Are you sure? But I can’t pay the to—”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of charging… Ah, that’s right. If you say you can’t read, then I suggest you purchase one of our products. It’s a picture book bundled with a figurine, but the end of the book teaches you how to read it. Rave reviews! Rave reviews.”

“I can’t really afford a bo—”

“Oh, worry not, absolutely no worries. Our books are far, far less expensive than what you’d find elsewhere. A mere two Asuran large coppers… Nay, I feel this must be some sort of fate, so I’ll lower it to a single Asuran large copper and eight small copper coins. What say you?”

Before Nina knew it, she was standing on a road that had cleared out considerably while holding a picture book and a figurine. Her wallet was now lighter by the exact weight of a single Asuran large copper coin and eight small copper coins.

She’d been bowled over by the salesman’s rapid patter. Nina was left with the sense she’d been press-ganged into something by the time she realized what had happened, but it wasn’t entirely a negative feeling. The speed of the merchant’s strikes reminded her of her training with Sword God Gal Falion.

Still, one large copper coin and eight copper coins. It might have been cheap by the standards of the book market, but it was quite expensive by the standards of Nina’s wallet. However, that merchant had shown her the way, so not paying her debt to him would have tarnished her name as Sword King.

This was for the best, Nina thought. And so, she began walking.

Saalten Street was cut two meters deeper into the ground than the main street. It was a bit damp and abutted plenty of tunnels–it felt like a shortcut for townies instead of tourists. The road itself was wide, and just like the merchant said, it was emptier than the main street. This was only relative, however, as the street was still jam-packed with people… But here, the flow of people was neatly split between those headed toward the center of the city and those headed toward the city limits, so Nina could make her way without getting jostled too much.

“I bet I can make it to Isolde’s training hall by nightfall now.”

The money she’d paid earlier was shaping up to be worth it. With that in mind, she took another look at the doll and picture book in her hands.

The figurine was a demon that held a spear, while the cover of the picture book had the same character drawn on it. Our hero, probably. And, unusually, he was of the Superd race. Nina didn’t know what kind of story the book told, but as a warrior, she had always wanted to do battle with a Superd. According to her friend Eris, the Superd were incredibly strong. If Eris, the Mad Dog who radiated a menace that could scare a devil, spoke of the Superd with respect, then Nina was intrigued.

Also, it it’ll teach me to read like that merchant said, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a study in between practice sessions, she thought while continuing to walk.

Her attention shifted when she heard loud cheers from the main street. It seemed that the parade was starting. Seeing such excitement made her wonder about this parade; she had meant to visit Isolde first, but it wouldn’t hurt to swing by the main street now to watch, would it?

“Huh?”

But then she saw a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of a redheaded woman who looked just a bit familiar.

“Eris?”

Why would she be here? Nina thought as she followed that woman with her eyes. Sure enough, it was her. On the main street, two meters above her, popped out the tip of a red-haired head. Nina could only see from behind, but that posture made her certain. No doubt, it was Eris. Nina didn’t know what she was doing here, but she couldn’t resist the nostalgia welling in her heart.

“Eri—” Nina attempted to call out, until something made her swallow her words.

“Up you go, Lucie. Can you see?”

“Yup! It’s all sparkly!”

That something was the little girl Eris lifted onto her shoulders.

“C’mon, Eris, I wanted to give her a shoulder ride.”

“No way. I know you just want to slobber all over Lucie’s thighs, just like you did to me last night!”

“Rude! I wouldn’t dream of doing something like that to my own flesh-and-blood daughter!”

“Oh, sure you wouldn’t!”

“I mean, it’s true that I love her enough to want to slobber all over them…”

This conversation was with the man standing next to Eris. She’d seen the man before, too. It was back during that awful encounter with the Demon King, Badigadi.

He was the magician who defeated him in a single blow.

He was the man who’d lately been known as “The Right Hand of the Dragon God,” with sightings of him being reported in locations around the world.

Rudeus Greyrat.

“…”

Nina realized she was processing a major shock.

She knew that Eris had gone back to Rudeus, to help him battle against the Dragon God Orsted. And since the letters stopped coming after that, she was certain that the two of them had been killed, but she’d also heard scattered rumors that they had appeared together in the Asura Kingdom. Rudeus became known as the Right Hand of the Dragon God after that, so Nina assumed that Eris had surrendered to the Dragon God as well.

She was sure that Eris had grown strong, far stronger than before.

But the Eris that Nina was looking at now was far removed from the one she’d imagined. This Eris was joking and laughing with a man. And the girl she now had on her shoulders was likely her daughter. It never once occurred to Nina that Eris could have gotten married, much less mothered a child. The Eris she knew—that untamed beast, that Mad Dog—was now doing…this. Coming to watch a parade and flirting with a clearly beloved husband…

“I’ll…just go see Isolde.”

With that thought, Nina looked away.

Nina had thought that becoming Sword King meant that she was finally on equal footing with Eris, but she was now left to bear this massive sense of defeat.

Nina didn’t see it, but this is important: Just out of Nina’s sight, obscured by the crowd, Roxy and Sylphie were standing next to Rudeus, with Zanoba and Julie close by.

***

Afterward, Nina headed to Isolde’s training hall. The solemn atmosphere and stench of sweat calmed her nerves. After greeting Isolde, Nina was introduced to the students. Every single one of them, boy and girl alike, carried the honest, humble air that only comes from never getting laid.

Yes, this is how a true practitioner of the blade should be, Nina assured herself.

After receiving a tour of the training hall, Nina was brought over to Isolde’s house. They’d made arrangements for Nina to stay overnight there during her stay in Ars, since the house that Isolde lived in had a spare room. The room was previously occupied by the Water God Reida, but it was fully cleaned out by now.

Nina was unconcerned about Reida, and instead found relief in the fact that Isolde showed zero signs of having a man. She was the Water Emperor, a sword instructor, and a knight; she would’ve been a real catch. If even Eris could be married with children, then the radiant Isolde could have easily scored a partner. It would’ve been no surprise for Nina to enter Isolde’s home and be introduced to her husband and child. She’d prepared for the worst and now she felt a proportional sense of relief.

“Nina, there’s actually going to be a small get-together once the parade ends. I’m sure you must be tired from your long trip, but would you mind joining us there? There are many people who’d love to meet the Sword King.”

Isolde proposed this idea while Nina was setting down her luggage and catching her breath.

“Sure, fine by me,” Nina immediately agreed. She didn’t know what this “small get-together” was supposed to be, but it wasn’t like she had any plans for the evening, anyway. She could put off her sight-seeing until tomorrow.

Or, so she thought.

Nina began to regret her decision within the hour.

Of course, her train of thought made several stops before it arrived, finally, at regret. It started with, Something’s off. This was when she saw that Isolde had brought her to a giant mansion near the royal castle. Huh? This looks pretty big for a “small get-together,” she thought.

I’ve been had, went her next thought. This was when she was brought to a fancy-looking room, made to choose a fancy-looking dress, and was half-shoved into it by several maids. This is definitely some kinda party for nobles, she thought.

I shouldn’t have come, went the thought that brings us to the present. Why had she agreed so instantly? Why had she tagged along so naively? Why had she allowed them to dress her up without putting up a fight? Nina would normally have fought her way to freedom. So why hadn’t she? It must have been that she wasn’t her normal self. She was wrapped in an unfamiliar dress, made to wear precarious high-heels that put her off-balance, and even stripped of the sword that had been such a reliable companion to her belt. This was the state Nina was in when Isolde dragged her to the party ballroom and introduced her to person after person.

But she soon realized something that gave her a scrap of relief: not everyone here was a noble. While many of them were, some came from worlds that Nina understood, such as the humble-born knight or the young hotshot mage pulled from another country. And among that crowd were people who, just like Nina, had been tricked into coming and now flopped around, fishes out of water.

People feel at ease when they realize they’re not alone. As she relaxed, Nina remembered that she was a Sword King. It was nothing for her to analyze her opponent and measure her odds of victory. Once she confirmed that everyone surrounding her was a weakling, she even started to feel a bit bold.

I’m hungry, thought the newly emboldened Nina. She had an appetite. It occurred to her that she hadn’t eaten a thing since noon. All practitioners of the Sword God Style were heavy eaters. Outside of times where her training required her to hole up in the woods or something, she didn’t skip meals.

And so of course her eyes were drawn to the smorgasbord of succulent cuisine laid out in the ballroom. And naturally, after attacking every delectable morsel in sight while her fellow partygoers stared, she found herself needing to retreat to the nearest bathroom. And the maid helpfully guiding Nina to the bathroom—Nina struggling to put her dress back on after finishing her business—the maid being long gone by the time Nina finally got it on—Nina finding herself lost in this maze of a mansion with no idea of how to reach the ballroom—all of this was, of course, inevitable.

This is really messing me up, she thought. Nina sighed to herself as she trudged down the dimly lit hallway. She’d been continuously overwhelmed by the atmosphere of every place she’d been to since arriving in the Asura Kingdom, and it kept her off balance, a bit disassociated. Her belief she could take on the world now that she was Sword King was in shambles.

“I used to do things without needing to think so much…”

Maybe it was because she was now a Sword King with disciples. Or maybe it was because she’d run into Eris and her personality rubbed off on her. Unlike the old days, she couldn’t act without thinking about the consequences anymore. She believed that this change had made her a better warrior, but…

“Oh, right, I forgot to tell Isolde about Eris.”

Eris was in the city, so Nina wanted to suggest another training session with the three of them. But the moment she considered it, the image of what she saw that afternoon flashed across her mind. She shook her head to put it out of mind.

That isn’t the Eris I knew anymore, she thought.

She wanted to forget it, to get back to the ballroom as soon as possible. To give some flimsy excuse and head home. This mansion might have been uncomfortable, but there were plenty of other famous sights to see in the Asura Kingdom. She could have Isolde show her around… No, her friend was sure to be busy, so she’d have to explore on her own. The town had some kind of festival going on, so she could surely find a way to amuse herself. Perhaps she could visit the town’s Sword God Style training hall.

Okay, fine… Hm?

Just after steeling her resolve, Nina happened to see a room with light leaking out from it. The door was small, certainly not one that lead to the ballroom. Still, there was likely someone in there who knew the way to it, so Nina figured she could ask for directions. Feeling half-relieved, she approached the door, and…

“…Your Majesty Ariel, surely you don’t want that being made public, now do you?”

That was a clear threat. She stopped in her tracks.

Your Majesty… Ariel? She realized. Even a country bumpkin like Nina knew that there was only one person in this country who would be addressed that way.

Ariel Anemoi Asura.

The queen whose meteoric return to royalty, after spending nearly a decade in the distant Ranoa Kingdom, captivated the hearts of her people. It would be putting it lightly to suggest that the festivities and fanfare throughout the capital of Ars were all dedicated to this single woman.

“Oh? Whatever could you possibly mean?”

“Are you saying you don’t remember?”

Nina treaded lightly as she approached the door. Once there, she peeked into the room through the open crack.

Oh!

Inside was a man and a woman; a blonde woman sitting in a chair, and a light brown-haired man standing to her side. The man had a face that looked familiar to Nina.

“Oh, please. That could be anything…”

“Oh no, in fact—”

Rudeus Greyrat.

Gone was the man who’d laughed with Eris just that afternoon. He drew his devilish smile closer to Ariel’s cheek.

A thought struck Nina.

He’s pressuring her into carnal relations!

Rudeus Greyrat was a man known for having two other wives in addition to Eris. Nina remembered rumors about him being rather…amorous, as well. Word on the street was that he’d also done a lot of work behind the scenes to help Ariel become ruler. If he really was under Orsted’s command, then he’d likely assisted Ariel as Orsted’s pawn. And now, he was blackmailing her into sleeping with him.

I’ll kill him, Nina decided in an instant.

No need to think. She didn’t know what secret Ariel was being blackmailed with. She didn’t know how strong Rudeus was. Isolde was under Ariel’s command. If the boss of a friend was being blackmailed, then there was no reason to stay her blade. She didn’t even have her sword, but none of that mattered; Nina would find a way to cut him down.

This would be the point where Nina, if she’d felt like herself, would tell herself to wait a moment…but the last few hours had taxed her past any capacity for self-control.

But before she could act, Nina’s senses altered her to an aura of animosity just behind her.

“Gah!”

She reeled around. There, a monster in a blood-red dress stood before her.

“Eris?!”

Nina hadn’t thought she’d be here, but Eris was always by Rudeus’s side. Since Rudeus was right here, of course she’d come as well.

“Nina?”

Eris’s expression slacked for a moment to one of suspicion, but her fury soon returned.

“Wanna tell me who you’re aiming all that bloodlust at?”

Crap, Nina thought. There was no stopping Eris when she got like this. If they clashed, then Rudeus would come running from that room. She was risking a two-on-one fight. Eris might not have had a sword, but being pincered with a mage on the other end was going to be…

“Huh? Back already, Eris?”

By the time that Nina had thought up the worst-case scenario, it had already come to pass. The door behind her opened, and out popped Rudeus’s face. Nina instantly understood that victory was off the table, but facing the impossible with the tenacity of a wild beast was the core of Sword God Style. Nina began to concentrate her strength into her core.

“Now then, Sir Rudeus, I believe it’s about time we join the party. We’re keeping our guests waiting.”

When Ariel appeared next to Rudeus as nonchalant as could be, all of Nina’s strength unraveled. Ariel’s expression didn’t belie a hint of desperation or intimidation. Something was wrong here. Again. That was a feeling she’d grown quite familiar with over the past few hours. 

“Were…you’re not being blackmailed?” she asked as she folded in on herself.

“Hm?” Ariel looked at Nina’s stance and simply tilted her head.

Nina and Ariel had never made one another’s acquaintance. But after comparing Nina’s posture and expression to Eris’s and reflecting a bit on the conversation she’d just had, Ariel pieced together what was going on.

“Oh no, I was the one who made a request to Rudeus, which he refused. I nevertheless wanted his assistance and so presented what I thought would be a weakness of his, but he outmaneuvered me… Could it be that you only listened to the latter half of that exchange, presumed that I was being threatened, and were coming to my rescue?”

Nina nodded weakly with her eyes still widened. Ariel lightly held Nina’s arm and helped her up with care.

“Thank you very much. I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Ariel Anemoi Asura, the incoming ruler of the Asura Kingdom.”

“Uh, ah, huh?”

Here was the future leader of a kingdom in all her glory, and she still felt it necessary to exchange introductions. Unable to process this series of events, Nina panicked and turned to Eris. She eyed Nina with suspicion, but she sighed and threw her a bone.

“This here’s Nina.”

“An acquaintance of yours, Lady Eris?”

“Yeah, she’s the Sword Saint Nina Falion. We trained together back in the Sword Sanctum.”

Nina realized she needed to head off the next part of the conversation, where Eris would inevitably say she had no idea what her former training partner was doing here.

“I-I’m a Sword King now! The same as you!”

“Oh… You are? Congrats.”

Nina fell silent after that faint praise. She looked like she’d just boasted about her title for no reason. All she’d wanted was to give a little context…

“I see, Lady Nina. Rest assured, tonight’s party was planned by Rudeus and me. I believe we’ll have a chance to talk later, but for now, please relax and enjoy the evening.”

“Oh, r-right…”

Ariel smiled warmly and walked down the hall with Rudeus. After seeing them off, Nina let out a massive sigh. This day kept throwing her off.

“So, what’re you doing here, anyway?” demanded Eris, who had stayed behind with her.

Nina turned to face her old friend. Her crimson dress and her updo suited her; her choice of necklace, earrings, and other pieces of jewelry were muted and tasteful. The subtle hallmarks of a real lady. 

“Um… Eris… Your dress, er, looks nice.”

“Heh heh, course it does! Rudeus picked it out himself!”

There was that spark. Eris hasn’t changed that much after all, Nina thought. It was hard to imagine that this proud woman who now puffed out her chest was the same person as that wild animal from before. But still…

Nina sighed and started unloading on Eris. “You gotta listen to this. So Isolde…”

***

In the end, Nina never quite figured out what the party was for. When she and Eris returned to the ballroom, they found Rudeus addressing the crowd:

“The Dragon God Orsted is your ally! Act now, and we’ll include this as our bonus gift absolutely free! Worry not, there’s no fee for signing up. All we ask is that you simply gather your strength in preparation for some war in eighty years and, when the time comes, lend that strength to the Dragon God Orsted. If you make this tiny commitment, the Orsted Corporation will guarantee its support for the next hundred years! The Dragon God Orsted will save you in your darkest hour, from perils ranging from the prophecies of shady, god-like figures, all the way to the terrors of home invasions. Please, a vote for the Dragon Orsted is a vote for a bright future!”

Nina couldn’t quite follow what he was saying, so she simply nodded along.

Rudeus seemed to be gathering allies. Assuming that their earlier encounter really was a misunderstanding, then she wasn’t opposed to helping out Eris’s husband. Nina didn’t quite understand what he wanted, though. A war would break out in eighty years, so he wanted them to assist Orsted when that time came…which meant he wanted them to gather strength until then. This was a little elaborate.

Nina wasn’t alone; many other guests appeared to be similarly confounded. But in the end, everyone nodded. It probably helped that not a single person in that room would turn down a request from Ariel.

After the party, Nina crashed at the mansion at Eris’s suggestion. Isolde joined them. It turned out that the entire place was a gift that Ariel had provided to Rudeus, so they were free to use it as they pleased, or so went Eris’s boast.

That night, the three of them reunited for their first conversation together in years. Eris continued to talk about absolutely nothing but Rudeus, and even Isolde was grumbling about how she was starting to want a partner of her own. Seeing those two bounce off each other somehow reminded Nina of the old days; the contents of what they talked about might have changed a little, but the fun she had in their presence hadn’t changed a bit. That alone made Nina’s trip to the capital of Ars worth it. And by the time that the next day arrived, her silly senses of jealousy and defeat had waned. She felt like her old self.

Nina sampled everything Ars had to offer until the conclusion of the coronation’s festivities. The sights, the crowds, the training halls. When she wanted to go somewhere, she went. And she didn’t go alone; there were many days where Isolde couldn’t join her due to work obligations, but for some reason, Eris stuck with Nina the whole time.

Eris would blabber about Rudeus every time she opened her mouth, so Nina had to wonder why Eris wasn’t sticking with her husband instead. But after spending so much time with her, Nina began to understand Eris’s thought process: she wanted Nina to seriously accept Rudeus’s proposition. Eris wasn’t great with words, which made it hard to follow what her point was, but her earnest, straightforward spirit moved Nina’s heart. Rudeus’s request went from incomprehensible gibberish so something she now seriously considered.

Nina returned to the Sword Sanctum after the coronation finished. She did some thinking along the way about how she agreed to join Orsted’s forces in eighty years. About how happy, bright, and cheerful Eris looked. And how Rudeus stood right next to her.

She thought about them as she spurred on her horse. She didn’t commit to it fully. But when she saw the person welcoming her as she pulled in to the Sword Sanctum, something clicked into place.

He was Nina’s cousin. A young man who followed in her footsteps to become Sword Saint, and was now on the verge of reaching Sword King, Gino Britz. Nina took one look at him and said the first thing that came to mind. There was no hesitation. The Sword God style preached that the first to make a move would be the victor for a reason.

“Hey, Gino. Wanna get married?”

Shortly afterward, the Sword Sanctum was home to a new married couple, but that is a story for another time.