Chapter 148
Matis. If I had to summarize his personality from Walking Only on Flower Paths After Regressing in one phrase, it would be:
A fool who knows nothing but swordsmanship and his benefactress.
I had wondered for some time—just slightly—what would happen if the goddess’s blessing were removed from Liena and this fool.
The result was now right before my eyes.
“Just imagining that I’ll meet the Sword Saint makes my heart race! Ah, I may finally witness with my own eyes the technique that has reached divine mastery!”
The fool who knew nothing but swordsmanship clutched his chest and shouted.
‘I never imagined my prediction would come true so perfectly.’
I reflected on how this situation had come to be.
Tara, following my request, brought Matis, who had returned from the imperial palace, to the villa.
At first, Matis fiercely refused to speak with me, but when I brought up the Sword Saint, he sat down, suspicious yet intrigued.
For reference, I knew from Walking Only on Flower Paths After Regressing that he respected the Sword Saint and wished to become his disciple.
In the novel, Liena tracked the Sword Saint both to fulfill Matis’s dream and to build a connection, but repeatedly came up empty-handed.
The Sword Saint, wanting no involvement with worldly affairs, was perfectly secluded.
‘Even Liena couldn’t easily find the greatest swordsman on the continent.’
If it had been easy, countless power-hungry figures would have found him first.
Yet, as always with a protagonist, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity appeared near the story’s end—bringing Liena to the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint had appeared to save people from the Monster Wave, a catastrophe unleashed on the empire by the awakening of the Evil God.
Acting as the goddess’s agent, he actively assisted Liena in her fight against the Evil God and, incidentally, trained Matis.
After the Evil God was resealed, Liena intended to send Matis to the Sword Saint. However…
“Indeed, my childhood dream was to become the Sword Saint’s official disciple.”
In the story, Matis suddenly kneels before Liena and declares:
“But now, my dream is Liena herself. The great one who saved the world! I will prove myself as a Sword Saint by her side using my own strength, so please continue to watch over me.”
It was a moving scene showing Matis’s deep devotion—even his dreams had shifted entirely to Liena. That is, until the truth about the goddess’s blessing was revealed.
Even without the blessing, Liena was indeed Matis’s benefactress.
She had taken in a boy who couldn’t afford proper swords and supported him generously.
‘But to give up a lifelong dream entirely?’
Becoming the Sword Saint’s disciple wouldn’t even break his bond with Liena.
If he cared so much for her, he could simply study under the Sword Saint for a while and then return to Cassius.
Thus, I decided to remove the blessing from Matis and lure him with the bait of “where the Sword Saint currently resides.”
From the novel, I knew the Sword Saint was in a forest at the southern end of the Soro Kingdom.
For reference, the Soro Kingdom was a place I had even bought a house in, planning to move there after my divorce.
‘It’s one of the safest countries after the empire, especially with the Sword Saint there during the Monster Wave.’
I wasn’t choosing that location randomly. Though now, half of that plan was already moot.
Matis seemed skeptical at first, but when I handed him a newspaper article, his expression changed.
It was a small daily from a few years ago, reporting that several monsters had been slaughtered in the southern forest.
The event had been unremarkable, given the Soro Kingdom’s remote location, so it had been largely ignored.
Matis read the brief article carefully and muttered:
“Th-these dark-blue marks on the monsters’ corpses… This resembles the characteristics of his swordsmanship.”
The boy who revered the Sword Saint had caught even the slightest detail.
“I must depart immediately to verify this!”
Simple-minded Matis became excited instantly and acted without hesitation.
There was no hesitation or reluctance—nothing to suggest he was leaving for Liena’s sake.
In the novel, the man Liena called her dream gazed at the boarding pass I handed him, a slightly disappointed expression on his face.
“I would have liked to bid farewell to Miss Liena in person, but the ship’s departure is too soon—no other choice.”
He still regarded Liena as his benefactress, but he did not show blind loyalty that would make him give up his dream just to stay by her side.
I once again felt the power of blessings and told him:
“This month’s ship to the Soro Kingdom is the last one. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait a while.”
“It’s not a heavily trafficked route, but I didn’t expect such few departures.”
His remark was reasonable. In fact, there were several ships to the Soro Kingdom afterward, but I had canceled them with Terence’s help.
‘I’m sorry to anyone heading to the Soro Kingdom. Once Matis leaves, I’ll restore the schedule immediately.’
This was the only way to ensure Matis left without seeing Liena.
The ship departing the day after tomorrow would be tight even if he took a train now, so Matis jumped to his feet, eager to reach the Sword Saint.
“Sorry, Tara, but please explain everything to the lady. I’ll write a letter later.”
Hearing that Liena was enjoying a rare peaceful time with her family, Matis didn’t feel the need to see her in person.
“Leave it to me.”
“Oh, these are the precious artifacts I received from the lady. Since I’m leaving, I should return them.”
Matis took out the artifacts he usually carried, including the mirror-like artifact linked to Liena’s red hair ribbon, and handed them over.
“Then, I’ll take my leave. I will repay this favor someday.”
With a short farewell, Matis exited the villa’s reception hall with light steps.
For some reason, his back looked liberated. Was that just my imagination?
Perhaps the blessing had finally freed the longing for his dream that had been suppressed.
I held the mirror Tara had given me.
After a moment, it began to shimmer and vibrate—a signal to Liena.
“When the signal first came, I nearly panicked, thinking Matis would notice.”
Tara smiled faintly and replied:
“My hand was just one step faster.”
Seeing the glow from the bag Matis had set down, Tara had swiftly removed the mirror, pretending to fetch more tea and exited the reception room.
Once the signal stopped, she returned it to Matis’s bag.
Engrossed in the article and the Sword Saint’s story, Matis never noticed.
Though physically stronger, he was outmatched by Tara in stealth.
I remembered a previous conversation with her.
I had told Tara the truth about Liena’s disappearance and asked if she would cooperate.
From now on, her role went beyond simply repaying me for helping with revenge.
She would actively push Liena into a corner—her own benefactress and master.
“…I owe Miss Liena a great deal. But I cannot allow her to continue using that dark magic.”
After a brief pause, Tara explained:
“It manipulates a person’s will and creates twisted human relationships. I didn’t fully realize it when I was under its influence, but in the past few days observing the lady up close, I felt it vividly.”
Watching Mikhail, who loved Liena so dearly, clash with her had left a deep impression.
Seeing Matis leave without hesitation further solidified her resolve.
“Just as Idel awakened me from the dark magic, I want to save others from it as well.”
I reflected on Tara’s resolute words while thinking of Liena.
‘Don’t feel too wronged, Liena.’
All this was the result of the blessings she had used over time.
I told Tara to go ahead inside and instructed Laura to prepare new refreshments.
The next task awaited.
There was no time to waste, as many people had been caught by Liena’s blessings.
At the appointed time, with pounding footsteps, the reception room door swung wide.
“Viscount Lucibius! Are you really coming out like this?”
The visitor was the former princess and Liena’s devoted follower, the Duchess Luciano.
“Hello. Please, if it’s convenient, have a seat here.”
I welcomed her warmly, despite her visibly angry expression.
She sat opposite me, clearly displeased.
“Terence said to come to you if I wanted magical crystals.”
“Is that so? I suppose the royal family doesn’t have enough for their own use right now.”
According to what I heard from Terence yesterday, the Duchess had sent a letter first, saying she intended to visit him.
Why else would she come seeking a bastard she usually ignored? Of course, for magical crystals.
She didn’t want to obtain them from me and the temple’s crystals were too expensive, so the royal family was her best option.
I asked Terence to openly mention me when she arrived.
Given her fiery personality, she would immediately rush to me.
“How on earth did you lure my niece like that?”
“I don’t understand. Didn’t you come to buy crystals from me?”
I subtly hinted that she was the one at a disadvantage, and her face flushed red.
“So what do you want from me? You must have had some reason for ignoring my husband’s letters so childishly.”
“A reason? Well, there is one.”
“An apology? You want me to apologize?”
“No. I wish you would invite me to a certain gathering.”
I mentioned the gathering’s name.
The Duchess’s face went pale with shock.
“You… you know about that gathering?”
She probably wanted to ask how I knew, as it was a secret meeting with only a few participants.
“Once again, please invite me to Lisamo.”
Lisamo—the abbreviation for Lovers of Liena’s Gathering.
