The headquarters of the Uranus Merchant Company was located in the center of Vienna. There, Bahamut welcomed an unexpected guest.
“Welcome, Mr. Andersen. It is a great pleasure to meet you.”
“Yes, I’m sorry to meet you over such an unfortunate incident.”
“I sincerely apologize, Mr. Bahamut.”
Andersen, who spoke with a sense of regret, was accompanied by Isaac.
In response, Bahamut greeted them with a warm smile.
“It’s okay. There was no damage on our side, and the parties involved said it was not a big problem, so there is no need to be so sorry.”
While saying that, Bahamut glanced at the dark-haired woman standing behind him. She nodded lightly with an expressionless face, as if to express agreement.
Fortunately, Andersen and Isaac breathed a sigh of relief, reassured that the situation had not escalated into a major issue.
‘There are quite a few nobles who find fault with trivial conflicts like this, but fortunately, Mr. Bahamut isn’t one of them.’‘As expected… There’s no way that kind Mr. Bahamut would make this a problem. I was a little anxious, though…’
The two were relieved that things had been resolved without any significant problems. Observing them, Bahamut continued to speak in a bright voice.
“Come on, since we have such valuable guests, allow me to serve you a simple cup of tea. Please make yourselves comfortable.”
“Ah… yes, then excuse me.”
With Bahamut’s hospitality, the two of them sat down.
Shortly after, Andersen’s gaze naturally turned to the dark-haired woman with an expressionless face standing behind Bahamut.
‘Is that the woman who is said to have defeated Misa without even breaking a sweat…’
Just by looking at her, Andersen could feel her extraordinary presence. Isaac, who had a special talent for reading the strength of others, had spoken of her skills, proven through an actual duel with Misa, and Andersen could sense the extraordinary energy emanating from her even now.
Through this, Andersen was able to clearly establish confidence in her strength.
‘I never thought I’d meet such talented people in a place like this… No… If you think about it, maybe it’s only natural because she’s Mr. Bahamut’s escort.’
Although he was a warrior, Andersen was also well-informed about worldly affairs as the closest aide to the emperor. He understood how great the man in front of him, Bahamut Fernandez, truly was. As one of the greatest merchants on the continent, he was the only one whom even Bertina acknowledged. It made sense that the person standing as his escort was exceptionally strong.
While Andersen was reflecting on this, Bahamut, who sat before him, opened his mouth in a calm voice.
“By the way, I heard that Mr. Andersen has achieved great feats as the continent’s best warrior?”
“Haha, that’s too much praise. I just know how to handle a sword a little. The title of the best is always considered too much for me.”
Andersen smiled lightly, humbly responding to Bahamut’s words.
In response, Bahamut slowly shook his head and spoke in a slightly excited voice.
“No, as a merchant, I have heard the story of Mr. Andersen several times while keeping up with news from the continent. Isn’t Mr. Andersen the strongest warrior who repelled countless attacks from the Dragona Empire while supporting the Kingdom of Roland? Even the mighty White Dragon Princess is said to fear you.”
Bahamut’s demeanor conveyed a sense of admiration.
As a result, Andersen began to see a surprisingly intriguing side to this man, beyond his enormous wealth and capabilities.
‘It seems he has a keen interest in this aspect as well… Well, one wouldn’t pour such a colossal amount of money willingly unless there was a certain passion behind it…’
As a warrior wielding a sword, Andersen was driven by ideas of battle and war. Of course, the biggest reason was to protect precious things and destroy evil, but he thought that indulging in one’s passion for combat was also an essential part of the warrior’s path.
While Andersen was contemplating this, Bahamut addressed him in a slightly hesitant tone.
“In that sense, there is something I would like to ask of you, Mr. Andersen.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
Unlike before, Andersen began to sense some doubt in Bahamut’s voice, which seemed to carry a strange hint of anticipation.
Bahamut then expressed his request, albeit with some hesitation.
“If it’s not too forward of me, as the strongest warrior in the Empire, could you have a spar with this person… my escort, Ophelia?”
“Yes?”
Andersen showed some doubt at Bahamut’s unexpected request.
In response, Bahamut continued to speak in a calm voice.
“No matter how you look at it, Ophelia is the strongest warrior I and the Beden Merchant Company have. I’m not bragging, but she happened to compete with the White Dragon Princess before.”
“With the White Dragon Princess…?”
At that moment, Andersen’s expression hardened slightly.
Observing this, Bahamut continued speaking calmly.
“Yes, although it was a decision loss at the time. In that respect… to prepare for the upcoming war, would you, as the rival of the White Dragon Princess, test her skills?”
“Hmm…”
At Bahamut’s words, Andersen began to show interest, despite his concerns. His purpose for coming here in person was not just to apologize but also to learn about the woman who had defeated Misa—the female warrior introduced to him as Ophelia.
‘She could become a reliable ally in the upcoming war. It might not be a bad choice to assess her power this way…’
Additionally, since it was not a public match, there was no significant burden on his side. Andersen also secretly felt envious when listening to the stories of young Imperial Guards who had sparred on the roadside, although it was an issue that should be handled with seriousness in public.
In that respect, Bahamut’s proposal—to allow him to wield his sword legally without formalities—was one Andersen had no reason to refuse.
“Alright. I’ve been curious about the rumors that a rather talented individual has emerged, so I’ll give it a try.”
Andersen expressed his consent.
Seeing this, Bahamut’s mouth formed a smile filled with deep anticipation.
***
At a training ground owned by the Uranus Merchants Company.
Normally, this large space, where a considerable number of adventurers trained, was now occupied by only two people and a small number of spectators. The usual training tools had been put away, making the area look like an empty lot. In the center, the two stood facing each other with calm expressions.
Their weapons were iron swords, not wooden ones, but since this was only sparring, the blades were blunt. Of course, despite this, the iron swords allowed for sincere competition to some extent, unlike wooden swords which hindered condensation.
“It’s interesting to witness Sir Andersen wielding his sword,” Bertina said in a voice full of strange anticipation.
Bahamut, who was sitting next to her, nodded with a smile.
“I never thought an opportunity like this would arise. I always wanted to see it at least once.”
“Even so… will it be alright? I knew Ophelia was quite strong, but still, her opponent is Sir Andersen, the strongest in the Empire…”
“Hehe, don’t worry about that. No… Rather, I think there will be quite a few surprises for you.”
“…Yes? What do you mean by that…?”
Bahamut’s statement puzzled Bertina.
Seeing her confusion, Bahamut smiled confidently.
“You will see for yourself.”
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