Sword Devouring Swordmaster-Chapter 94 : Chapter 94

Chapter 94 — The Domain (2)
The Verdy region lay in the southern reaches of the Iron Kingdom of Cherville—a land already considered a remote backwater. And among its rustic villages, our domain was the most forgotten corner of all.
Unlike the neighboring territories that at least had milk, cheese, or wine to boast about, ours had nothing. It was so barren that even calling it a “domain” felt generous.
In my memory, our home had always been a small, quiet village—humble but warm. A simple, peaceful countryside. A tiny, precious land that belonged only to me.
Yes… that was how it used to be.
Until now.
“This way is the West Plaza! The East Plaza is still under construction, but the North and South plazas are almost complete. Over there will be the commercial district, and the housing district for residents—”
“Plaza? Our domain isn’t even large enough to be divided into plazas…”
“With the funds you sent, we purchased the surrounding lands! On top of that, we’ve annexed nearby villages that didn’t have a lord of their own. You see, in the Iron Kingdom, any territory of a certain size must have a noble of at least baronet rank as its ruler.
“When I checked, you, Lord Arhan, barely qualified. You may be a fallen noble, but your baronet’s title still stands.”
“…There’s such a law? I thought these villages just made the oldest man their chief.”
“In backwoods like this, old customs linger. Inspectors almost never visit. Still, the elders are afraid of the law, so I explained it to them.
‘I’ll remain your legal representative,’ I told them. ‘You can keep acting as village chiefs like before. Nothing will change for you.’
“That was enough to convince them.”
“……”
“So now, all the nearby villages have been unified under our domain. The ones that resisted, I acquired through hostile takeovers using the money you provided.
“After merging more than ten villages, I recruited bards and hosted festivals one after another. Then the remaining villages came to us themselves, begging to join.”
***
There was one thing I had completely overlooked.
“Master… what exactly am I seeing here?”
「That’s what mages do. Happens all the time in the Empire and the Archipelago. The noble estates near the capital probably fight this kind of cold war every day.」
“……”
「For those old-fashioned village heads, she must’ve felt like a natural disaster in human form.」
I had been too focused on how young she looked—too used to seeing her as a helpless girl. But Hailyn was still a mage.
She had been force-taught by a black mage, but that didn’t change the fact that she possessed the education of one. And mages weren’t trained only in the arcane arts—they were also taught how to manage and expand their domains.
“I’m embarrassed it’s not all finished yet,” Hailyn said.
Embarrassed? That was an understatement.
She had turned a dying region into a thriving hub. Hailyn possessed an extraordinary, almost frightening talent for governance. With that talent—and a little formal knowledge—she had swept through the neighboring lands like a storm.
I stared in silence, watching her explain every expansion plan in detail, before finally coming to a conclusion.
“…Well. Bigger domain, bigger profits. I can’t complain.”
「Hah! Spoken like a true Karavan.」
It felt like I was slowly turning into my teacher. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or worry.
Thanks to Hailyn’s genius, the Karavan Domain was in the midst of a dazzling transformation.
Granted, it was still more of a large village than a true city—but compared to the desolate ruin it once was, this was a miracle.
Once upon a time, our land had been a wasteland, rumored to be cursed.
Now there were plazas, workshops, and the sound of people’s footsteps.
Hailyn had re-engineered Golems based on Jerry Selfit’s design to work the fields.
Workers from neighboring towns were helping to rebuild and expand.Apparently, there were even people who wanted to immigrate here. Since I was the nominal lord, she had waited for my approval, but I immediately agreed.
There was no point letting empty cottages rot in silence. Besides, the sight of life returning to these lands filled me with quiet joy.
I had believed this land would remain dead forever. But now it breathed again.
It wasn’t just satisfying—it was moving.
I imagined the faces of the servants, caretakers, and villagers who once called this place home.
They would’ve smiled to see this.
This land had been their home, their foundation—their entire world.
The thought made my heart ache with bittersweet warmth.
I told Hailyn she could withdraw whatever she needed from my Red Bank account. When she saw how much gold I had stored there, she started calling me “master,” but I managed to talk her out of it.
Our domain was bustling. Busier than ever. And I was proud.
“Not bad,” Audrey, the Witch, said as she surveyed the land.
“But running things this way isn’t efficient. It looks good now, sure, but in the long term, it’s wasteful. Hmph, it shows what kind of teacher you had. Short-sighted and greedy—typical of black mages.
“I heard Jerry Selfit was killed by the Heir of Steel. So you must be his disciple?”
I didn’t even have time to respond before Hailyn turned politely toward her.
“Yes, I was a black mage’s student. You must be Lady Audrey? You’ve probably received far better training than I have—both magical and academic. I’d be honored to learn from you.”
For a moment, I thought that might have been the end of it. But of course, it wasn’t.
“Hmm. But I can’t agree that this is wasteful long-term,” Hailyn said, tilting her head. “The approach you suggest would take far too long. We need visible, immediate results—quick progress that people can see. That’s the best way to persuade the surrounding villages to join us willingly.
“Frankly, the people of Verdy aren’t well-educated. You don’t convince them with theory—you convince them with results.”
She smiled.
“So, in this case… I’m right.”
The air froze.
“You’re arguing with me?” Audrey’s tone turned sharp.
“What you said might work here, but if you look at the bigger picture, I’m still correct. The principles I learned—”
“Yes, but we are in Verdy, aren’t we? What works elsewhere doesn’t always work here. You’re speaking like someone who’s never gotten her hands dirty. You’ve studied plenty, I’m sure, but you don’t know the field.”
“Y-you—!”
“Also, you can’t just measure profit in money. Time is a resource too. That’s what I learned, at least. Do the witches of the Sky Empire not count time as a resource? That’s… disappointing.”
“You—take that back!”
“I’ll take it back if you can explain, logically, why I’m wrong.”
“Y-you just wait! I’ll show you why I’m right!”
I didn’t need to understand their theory to know who had won. In any argument, the first one to shout is the loser.
A girl who had barely started managing a village had just out-debated a witch on estate management.
A terrifying prodigy indeed.
The two continued talking—arguing, bickering, debating—and to my surprise, they actually started to get along.
Good.
I’d been wondering how to deal with that annoying witch, but now Hailyn was doing it for me.
“You’re good at management, I’ll admit that,” Audrey grumbled. “But how much do you really know about magic?”
“Not much,” Hailyn admitted cheerfully. “I was kidnapped by a black mage and force-taught, so my foundation is weak. But you, Lady Audrey, were chosen by a god, weren’t you? Surely you’re far more skilled than I am. If this were a contest of magic, I’d concede immediately.”
“I-I never said it was a contest! I just—ugh! You’re impossible!”
“No need to be upset. I’m still learning. Would it be alright if I came to you with questions? About magic, or management?”
“O-of course! I can teach you anything! I was called the Clever Audrey of the Sky Empire, you know!”
And just like that, Hailyn gained both a rival and a teacher. Watching Audrey boast while Hailyn clapped and listened with wide eyes, I couldn’t help but smile.
A troublesome burden had just turned into a productive partnership.
In my mind, Hailyn’s evaluation rose again.
Before: A capable little mage.
Now: A problem-solver who handles my headaches for me.
A promotion well-earned.
***
With Hailyn keeping Audrey busy, the domain grew peaceful again. Their debates often ended up as useful ideas for improvement.
As for Seol Yoon, she disappeared into the training grounds as soon as we arrived.
“I want to polish what I’ve gained,” she had said.
So it ended up just Tom and me, walking together through the renewed village.
The streets were filled mostly with elders, not rowdy youths or taverns. Yet the quiet energy of life was everywhere, and it was enough.
It reminded me of before everything went wrong.
When my mother would call me in for dinner.
When my father would appear just to tease me.
When hunters scolded me for wandering into the woods.
When the butler lectured me about getting my boots dirty.
Smoke from chimneys, the smell of roast chicken in the air, a warm piece of food handed from a smiling neighbor—those were the moments that had once made this place home.
“Young lord,” Tom said softly beside me.
“Yes?”
“You look happy.”
“Do I?”
“You do.”
He smiled warmly.
“When we were in the Iron City, you often looked… restless. As if something were chasing you, as if resting for even a moment might mean death.”
“…I see.”
“But here, you seem at peace. This place must be precious to you. It suits you.”
His voice was warm and gentle—it reminded me of my family’s old butler.
We walked in silence until we reached a hill. At its peak stood a gravestone. Beyond it, the sunset painted the sky in deep scarlet.
“It’s beautiful,” Tom murmured. “I’m glad I came here with you. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this calm. A meaningful vacation indeed.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Yes. In old age, one learns to appreciate this kind of peace.”
He smiled again.
“Tom.”
“Yes?”
“You said you’d teach me how to care for the weapons I borrowed from the Hall of Honor.”
“Indeed. Old blades can live or die depending on how they’re maintained.”
He turned his back to the light of the setting sun.
“In the old days, there were many like me—caretakers of ancient blades. It’s a profession few remember now, but back then, people truly believed that swords had souls.”
“Souls?”
“Yes. A swordsman’s first blade was his lifelong companion. Even if it broke, he’d repair it again and again, because he believed his soul lived within it.”
He chuckled softly.
“The sword of a warrior, the knife of a mother defending her child, even the blade of a desperate man taking his own life—people believed every weapon held a piece of its wielder’s soul.
“They laugh at such things now. Hardly anyone bothers to collect or preserve old swords anymore. But I still believe. That’s why I loved tending the Hall of Honor—polishing the spirits of brave men and women so their light wouldn’t fade.”
He smiled, wistful and sincere.
“Young lord, you may think me a fool. Just an old man clinging to childish beliefs.”
The horizon deepened red.
“I told you before—I’m your fan. Watching you fight, I feel that same spirit. Strength, speed, technique—none of that matters as much as the soul behind your sword. That’s what I see when you fight. That’s why I admire you.”
He smiled again, a boyish grin that didn’t match his wrinkled face.
“Tom.”
“Yes?”
“Will you promise me something? That no matter what I say next, you won’t raise your blade against me? That you’ll stay my friend—and my fan?”
He didn’t ask why. He simply nodded.
“Under the Nine Goddesses and the Seven Lords, I swear it.”
“You’ll swear that without knowing what I’ll say?”
“I will. I’ve seen your soul in your sword. I trust that. So speak freely—I’ll listen.”
Hearing that, I erased all the excuses I’d prepared—the lies about thieves, about accidents, about losing the relics by mistake.
Tom hadn’t come here out of duty. He’d come because he cared.
So, standing under the crimson sky, I let go of every mask, every doubt—and for once, spoke like the boy I used to be.
“Tom.”
He turned to me.
“Do you know of a family called Karavan?”