Jonathan Solma bowed his head to Zeke without hesitation and apologized.
Pride was one thing, and pragmatism was another.
Even a prideful family like the Solma Family couldn't afford to oppose the Draker Family on the Central Continent.
Moreover, the target was Zeke Draker, who then enjoyed the highest reputation on the continent.
Zeke looked at Jonathan, who bowed his head in apology, with surprise in his eyes.
"Impressive."
For an acting family head to apologize so readily depending on the situation was no small feat.
Especially for someone from a great family like the Solma Family.
Zeke sensed that Jonathan was a realistic man who, though stubborn and bullheaded, knew when to yield.
At the same time, he recalled how Jonathan had led the western resistance forces as a mainstay for a long time in his previous life before dying an honorable death on the battlefield.
Zeke decided to take a step back as he thought of such a Jonathan.
He too bowed his head and said, "I apologize as well for letting my emotions get the better of me and speaking rudely. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Zeke Draker."
Thanks to Zeke taking a step back, Jonathan Solma found it much easier to accept.
"I am Jonathan Solma, the young family head and acting family head of the Solma Family. It is an honor to meet the Honorable Knight of Salvation in person."
Only then did Aslan, who had been watching from the side, laugh heartily and speak up.
"Puhaha! Seeing these young and promising knights show such open-heartedness is truly a sight to behold. Young family head, please join us and have a meal."
Jonathan seemed uncomfortable about eating with Rick and Arin, who sat nearby, but with Zeke present, he had no choice but to take his seat.
Aslan, to liven up the atmosphere again, ordered his attendants to bring wine.
Once the wine arrived, he poured it generously for everyone, raised his glass, and proposed a toast.
"Let us toast to the young knights who will shine across our continent!" Everyone raised their glasses, but the heavy atmosphere remained unchanged.
It was then.
Rick, who had been too tense to speak properly, mustered his courage and looked at Jonathan before opening his mouth.
"Brother."
Jonathan glared at Rick with a hardened expression at the word "brother."
With resolute eyes, Rick said, "I want to challenge the family trial again." At those words, Jonathan's hand trembled as it held his knife.
Jonathan glared at Rick with murderous intent in his eyes.
He suppressed his anger as much as possible and spoke in a restrained voice.
"...Finish your meal and leave quietly. I don't want to cause any more of a scene."
At Jonathan's words, Rick set down his knife and fork and stood up from his seat.
He then walked over to Jonathan and knelt on one knee.
"Brother!"
Bowing his head to Jonathan, he said, "I know full well that I disappointed you by fleeing from the family trial. I understand that my pathetic display made you never want to see me again! But I've changed. Sir Zeke has made me into a completely new person! Please believe in me just once!"
In truth, Zeke hadn't done much for him specifically.
He had simply handed Rick over to Claire and Farel and told them to train him rigorously.
Since Rick had potential to begin with, Zeke figured that with enough drilling, he'd awaken on his own—and Rick had indeed shown excellent growth as expected.
But Jonathan, who had been deeply disappointed in his younger brother, seemed even angrier at Rick's words of remorse. He clenched his fist, trembling, and finally couldn't hold back any longer, shouting.
"Shut your mouth!"
Jonathan stood up from his seat, pointed at Rick, and yelled.
"Jeffric! You threw the honor of the Solma Family to the ground and trampled it! I could understand you leaving the family to go to Valhalla. But to quit Valhalla on your own whim, gather a bunch of greenhorns, play at being adventurers, and waste your time away—that behavior of yours is utterly unforgivable!"
Jonathan Solma was a genius who had been promoted to blue knight before turning thirty.
Moreover, having responsibly handled family affairs, it was understandable that he couldn't comprehend Jeffric's wayward actions from his perspective.
He looked at Rick and said in a cold voice, "You boldly declared you'd never return to the family. It's the family you abandoned. Don't expect the Solma Family to take you back."
Jonathan turned his head toward Zeke, observed proper etiquette, and said, "...I apologize to Sir Zeke for the impropriety caused by family matters. The Solma Family wishes to welcome you as an honored guest, so please stay comfortably. If there's anything you need, feel free to ask at any time."
He maintained decorum to the end, then left the dining hall without even glancing at Rick, who remained kneeling.
Zeke shook his head as he looked at Rick kneeling on the floor.
"The situation is more serious than I thought."
He looked at Aslan across from him and said, "Sir Aslan, could I have a word with you for a moment?"
*
"Whew! Coming out to the training ground makes me feel alive again. This leathery scent soaked in the knights' intense sweat! Hmmm! A knight truly suits swinging a sword outdoors in armor."
Zeke stood beside Aslan, who looked around the training ground, and said, "It seems you've been staying mostly in the castle since returning to the Solma Family." At Zeke's words, Aslan nodded.
"Hahaha! After thirty years, there's no place for me in the Royal Guard Knight Order anymore. Most of my old comrades have set down their swords and taken up positions as knight order captains, wielding pens instead. My brother the family head pities this foolish younger brother and suggests I take on even a small knight order, but how could a man who's swung nothing but a sword his whole life lead one?" Aslan was the very epitome of the old knights from stories.
In a good light, he was pure; in a bad light, he utterly lacked tact.
If he hadn't been confined to the mansion and had continued building on his reputation as the Cross-Sword while advancing his career, he might have become the captain of Thebea's Royal Guard.
After all, Flaubert Borges, the chancellor of Valhalla and former captain of Thebea's Royal Guard, had cherished Aslan as his most valued subordinate.
Yet Aslan showed no hint of regret about such things.
Aslan looked at Zeke and said, "I am grateful that Sir Zeke took in my nephew
Jeffric. Even though I come from the Solma Family, this place truly lacks freedom. After enduring the grueling family trial, there are far too many obligations one must shoulder afterward."
Zeke looked at the wistful Aslan and opened his mouth.
"Was that why you entered the Wraith's Mansion?" Aslan smiled wryly at Zeke's words.
"Sir Zeke, do you know what my dream was long ago? To be a wandering knight. Roaming aimlessly, rescuing the weak, and slaying terrifying monsters that torment villagers—a wandering knight. Isn't that dashing?"
"In these times, it's a romance you'd only find in storybooks."
"Hahaha. Indeed. Though this is our first meeting, perhaps Jeffric and I are alike in some way. That child must have dreamed of a freedom that doesn't suit the Solma Family's traditions." Freedom.
Zeke, who had wandered in search of it for so long, could understand Aslan's words.
He slowly opened his mouth.
"Is there no way to persuade Jonathan Solma?"
Zeke hadn't come to the Solma Family merely to obtain an invitation to Thebea's royal palace.
If it were just the invitation, going through the Solma Family would have been more cumbersome. As a guardian knight of the Draker Family, Zeke had plenty of other means at his disposal.
The reason he had come here, even taking on the role of matchmaker for Rick and Arin, was because the Solma Family had a role to play in the upcoming war.
Thebea was at the heart of the central kingdoms. The Solma Family moved Thebea. For close cooperation with the Solma Family, Rick, as a member of the Black Sword Knight Order, had to gain the family's recognition.
They could not cooperate properly in an awkward state.
In his previous life, Zeke had seen such cases countless times.
When they should have been uniting their strength, stubbornness about handling things alone led to them being picked off one by one, and in the end, the entire continent fell into the hands of the imperial forces led by Abel.
Zeke intended to solidify the foundation thoroughly to prevent such a thing from happening again.
At Zeke's words, Aslan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.
"There is one way."
He looked at Zeke and said, "The Solma Family is a knightly house that has upheld traditions for a very long time. Neither the family head, who values honor, nor the acting family head can ever deviate from that framework."
Hearing Aslan's words, Zeke felt something click in his mind.
"Unable to deviate from honor and tradition...?"
As if he understood, Zeke looked at Aslan and said, "Sir Aslan, please help us." *
The next day, the Solma Family's training ground was in an uproar.
From morning, Rick had gone to the training ground where the Solma Family knights were practicing and challenged them to a duel.
Since the acting family head Jonathan had ordered them to ignore Jeffric, they initially had no intention of entertaining him.
Then Aslan, who had come with Rick, spoke sternly to the knights.
"A member of the Draker Family's Black Sword Knight Order has challenged the Solma Knight Order to a duel. Backing down here would tarnish your honor as knights! Do you intend to drag the Solma Family's name through the mud?"
The Solma Knight Order members flinched at Aslan's shout.
It was one thing if it were just the individual Jeffric, but with the knight order's name at stake, it directly tied to their honor as knights.
They could not just ignore it and let it pass.
Left with no choice, the Solma Knight Order had to accept Rick's duel challenge.
One of the senior knights in the Solma Knight Order said to a knight beside him, "Roph, go show that prodigal son the might of the Solma Knight Order." At the senior knight's words, the other knights chuckled.
To them, Jeffric was nothing more than a coward who had fled without properly taking the family trial and knew no honor.
The knight called Roph smirked at the senior knight's words, picked up his sword, and stepped forward.
He looked at Rick, who seemed tense, and said, "Pleased to meet you, Sir Jeffric. Or is
'sir' even appropriate? Anyway. I've heard a lot about you. Let's see what you've got."
Rick steadied his breathing as he faced the arrogant knight and said, "You seem to have left your shield behind. Why not go fetch it?" The knight scoffed and shook his head.
"It's fine. Besides, this'll probably end quickly anyway. No need to worry—let's get to it."
The knight swung his sword playfully.
Rick gripped his sword with both hands and slowly advanced.
Watching this, the knight called Roph clicked his tongue and said, "With your body so stiff like that... I guess that's how they train in the Draker Family."
After uttering his dismissive words, he gripped his sword and charged forward.
"Chaa!"
As he rushed in, he swung his sword strongly at Rick.
But at that moment, Rick met him head-on and swung his sword.
Sssk—
Something unexpected happened.
Roph's sword was cleaved in two by Rick's.
"Huh?"
Rick immediately tripped Roph with his foot, sending him tumbling.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Rick lost his balance and fell, but he drove his knee hard into Roph's chest, pinning him down.
"Guh!"
The tip of Rick's sword touched Roph's throat.
It had all happened in an instant.
The Solma Knight Order members watching from behind froze, their sneers vanishing.
Rick, pressing down on Roph's chest, looked down at him with cold eyes and said, "Do you concede defeat?"
"Ugh! Damn it, this doesn't count! Suddenly the sword..." At that moment, Aslan spoke from behind.
"A sword is essentially a knight's everything. A broken sword is the greatest shame, and even if the sword's durability was poor, isn't that the knight's fault for not maintaining it properly?"
Roph could not retort to Aslan, who coldly pointed out each fault.
Crack.
As the pressure on his chest intensified, Roph nodded in panic.
"I-I concede! I concede!"
Only then did Rick lift his knee from Roph's chest.
Roph coughed violently as he returned to his group, and the senior knight looked at him disapprovingly before turning his gaze to glare at Rick.
He said to his subordinate knights, "Go fetch my sword and shield."
The senior knight stood up and said, "Young master, this time, let's have a go with me."