How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

20 – 20. Morrison Detective Agency (3)

20.

Felicia received the book from Ellen.

Even though she was a magic major, her older brother, the First Prince, excelled in swordsmanship, so Felicia too had some familiarity with it.

Felicia, who read the book consisting of twenty-seven chapters without a word, frowned.

“So, you’re saying you drew this only by reading The Chronicles of Shuren? I think it’s unbelievable.”

“I think so too. Meia, what about you?”

“I agree with you both.”

“Oh, it seems Meia also knows a thing or two about swordsmanship.”

Allen laughed at Felicia’s words.

Meiya politely responded.

“It’s expected that if you serve the Duke of Mueller’s household, you should possess a certain level of swordsmanship skills.”

“Meiya would be stronger than me,” Allen said.

At Allen’s words, both Felicia and Stella widened their eyes in surprise.

“Is that really so, Allen?”

“It’s well-known that I’m the least talented scion of our family. There’s likely no one weaker than me in the Mueller household.”

Allen was nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders.

In fact, it was a famously known story within the emperor’s court. The youngest son of the Mueller household, Allen, was a dullard with no talent for swordsmanship.

Because of this, there were undoubtedly those who looked down on Allen.

If he weren’t a child of the Duke of Mueller’s household, a truckload of people would have picked quarrels with Allen.

Meiya said in a consoling manner, “Young master, you’re exceptional in your own right.”

“Never mind, that’s enough.”

“How interesting,” remarked Felicia.

She had known from the start that Allen, who – despite appearing unremarkable – was a formidable opponent, but hearing the story directly from him aroused peculiar feelings.

To have a servant more skilled than the master, with the servant consoling the master, was indeed an odd combination.

She could see a trace of pity mixed in Meiya’s gaze towards Allen.

“I wonder, who taught Meiya swordsmanship?” Felicia asked.

“My mother was my instructor. The Duke’s household’s style of swordsmanship didn’t suit me,” responded Meiya.

Felicia appeared to understand and agree with Allen’s words.

The Mueller family’s style of swordsmanship was a powerful one that represented the empire.

Known as the “Lion Sword,” it exuded an overpowering spirit that could easily back an opponent into a corner, making it daunting to face head-on.

A defense is entirely crushed under its force.

It was comparable to an overpowering martial arts move in wuxia novels that crushes and breaks the defence entirely.

‘Truthfully, while one can master these moves quickly, once past the peak, one ages more quickly.’

The Duke of Mueller once told her that his family’s swordsmanship shared this aspect.

At their peak, they boast such enormous power that it’s hard for anyone to compete against them. But once that time passes, they have to step aside.

The Duke of Mueller’s reason for personally training Allen in swordsmanship was linked to this.

He must have been eager to find even the slightest chance to refine the Lion Sword. But Allen, in reality, had no interest whatsoever in it.

“From Lady Müller herself? You heard it directly?”

Felicia looked astonished.

Which would make sense, Allen thought.

Apart from the fact that Allen’s mother, Sharna Blanc von Müller, was of Eastern aristocracy and of Kunryong descent, nothing else was known about her.

She didn’t show her face much in the Imperial social circles and was therefore regarded as the most mysterious person.

“…It’s true. I learned directly from the Lady.”

Even at the direct, simple response from Meiya, Felicia was unable to hide her surprise.

“So the Duchess was a master of swordsmanship?”

“Though my mother is very mysterious and not much is known about her, surprisingly yes.”

Allen nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

His mother was surprisingly the most exceptional when it came to Kunryong swordsmanship, which was classified as Eastern swordsmanship within the Empire, and no one in the Empire could compare to her.

Even his father, Duke Müller, when he was young, couldn’t defeat her multiple times.

“To borrow my father’s words, their duel record when they were young was 198 wins, 198 losses, and 2 draws.”

“Really?”

“I can’t believe it.”

At the reaction from Felicia and Stella, Allen chuckled.

Honestly, Allen couldn’t believe it either, but after witnessing her training Meiya himself, such thoughts completely vanished.

‘…I must never make Mom angry.’

Allen shook his head silently in agreement.

He clearly saw why his father, Duke Müller, was so cautious of his mother when he was training Meiya.

How could a person be so severe yet smile so gleefully?

Even the toughest drill sergeants at Nonsan training center would have to surrender before Allen’s mother.

“…I’d like to hear more, but let’s get back to the point.”

Felicia put down the book.

“Considering how finely detailed the drawings are, I don’t think they were simply drawn from reading a book. I sense you either tried the moves yourself, or had a live model to sketch.”

“So you think so too, your Highness.”

“It’s strangely suspicious. Also, I don’t understand what you’re trying to achieve by spreading these drawings around.”

“That’s what I’m curious about too. According to my brother, rumors suggest that there are people who have actually improved from these drawings.”

Upon hearing Allen’s words, Felicia slightly wrinkled her forehead.

“Has anyone actually seen results?”

“It’s just a rumor. That’s what my brother also said.”

Allen took a sip of his milk tea.

“And that made me wonder who drew this. Could someone maliciously want to cause bloodshed within the academy?”

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“Bloody incidents?”

“What if someone shows up claiming to have achieved actual results after seeing this?”

Allen tapped the book that was handed back to him with his index finger.

His gaze turned to Stella.

“Evans. What would you do?”

“I’d try my best to get that book.”

“Exactly. And they didn’t just draw one or two pages but twenty-seven of them. What does that mean?”

“They anticipated a power struggle.”

At Felicia’s words, Allen nodded.

Maya spoke.

“Right now, it only serves as a betting ground, but I heard people were getting hurt in the process, Your Grace.”

“That’s why we recovered it. You did a good job, Maya.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Felicia displayed suspicion at the conversation between Allen and Maya.

“Recovery? This?”

“Yes.”

Allen put down his empty tea cup.

“Maya gathered the drawings and put them into a book. Of course, if the same person saw volume 2 and sketched the sword movements and circulated them again, we don’t know, but for now, the only instance of all the sword movements from volume 1 being collected into a book is this one that I have.”

“All duplicate drawings were destroyed.”

“Well done. Anyway, there was a reason for retrieving this.”

“So it won’t heat up the competition. Is that why?”

Felicia was clever.

She quickly identified the reason Allen hadn’t mentioned.

At her response, Allen faintly smiled.

“So I’m going to bring this to Morrison’s detective office.”

“Morrison’s detective office… Ah! The detective club!”

“Given the circumstances, I’m not expecting much.”

Allen supposedly smiled.

“Princess Lynn also seemed worried about it. She even came looking for me. Will you join us as well?”

The Imperial Princess did not decline.

Felicia beamed.

“Alright. I accept the invitation, Allen Edga Von Muller.”

***

Morrison Detective Agency.

Among the clubs in the academy, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious. A lot of students came to this club, named after its founding member Morrison, to hand over all sorts of cases.

“I wish we could stop accepting random tasks like finding objects now.”

“If we stop, we’ll run out of club operating funds, boss.”

“I know that, but I want to take on a bigger case to get our name out there. Prove that we are capable detectives!”

Renox, the boss of the Morrison Detective Club, slammed his desk in frustration.

“This student assault case is also a big case, damn it!”

Across from Renox, a girl with leaf-green hair, Diabella, was flipping through a book.

“Boss, you’re too loud.”

“Bellsta, why are you so obsessed with reading books even though you’re in a detective club!”

“I’m just an advisory role. And I already advised against involvement in the student assault case.”

Her words were icy cold.

Diabella, essentially adjusting her glasses, said,

“You should avoid unnecessary heroism. It would help extend your life, boss. Excessive curiosity does not extend life.”

“You are too coldhearted!”

“Being cold-hearted is better. Rational calmness helps to extend life.”

Hit by a harsh comment, Renox was defeated.

“I didn’t become the head of the Morrison Detective Agency to live a dull daily life like this!”

“… Specifically, you are the boss.”

“Diabella, you’re too harsh!”

“Better than a boss with nothing but hot air in his head.”

Diabella overshadowed her harsh words by finally closing the hard-earned, expensive second volume of Shuren Electric Records.

The Morrison Detective Agency had long since become a club similar to a handyman who did miscellaneous tasks.

Lenox struggled.

“If I knew I’d be doing chores like these, I would’ve joined an adventurer’s guild, not a detective club…!”

“No matter how much you complain, the fact that we’re doing what an adventurer’s guild does isn’t changing.”

“Gosh…”

Diabella was about to rise from her seat when the door opened.

Lenox reflexively stood up and replied,

“Welcome! You’re at the Morrison Detective Office!”

Seems like a guest has arrived.

The sight of Alren, standing with the door wide open, was reflected in Diabella’s green eyes as she lifted her head.

“…Alren?”