Episode 44: Jackson Cutter (2)
As Sophia Russell followed the two priests, her mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
”…Is that really Damian Haxen?”
At first, she thought she must be mistaken. He had changed so much.
Damian Haxen used to be a frail figure, uninterested in exercise, with a sallow complexion from his daily drinking.
But now? His well-defined chest muscles seemed ready to burst through his shirt. His sleeves were stretched tight, and his broad shoulders exuded an intimidating presence.
Most striking of all was his gaze. The once nervous and shadowy eyes now gleamed with a sharp intensity.
It wasn’t just his appearance that had changed.
“Damian Haxen… defeated Jackson? How is that possible?”
Jackson Cutter was a formidable opponent. Sophia, who had watched him closely, knew this better than anyone. He possessed the strength and skill to hunt ogres single-handedly and had never lost a duel.
Yet Damian Haxen had toyed with Jackson Cutter as if he were a mere plaything.
“Am I dreaming?”
Sophia pinched her cheek hard enough to turn it red, but she didn’t wake up. This was reality.
”…Then why did he pretend not to recognize me?”
It had only been a few months since they broke off their engagement. There was no way he could have forgotten her face in such a short time. Especially since Damian had been so obsessed with her.
“Could he be sulking?”
Their breakup hadn’t ended well. Sophia had unilaterally called off the engagement and even asked Jackson to rough Damian up.
“Yes, he must be sulking. That’s why he pretended not to know me.”
Sophia chuckled. Damian’s behavior was endearing in its own way. Why else would he act so childishly to show he was upset?
It meant he still had feelings for her. He was trying to get her attention with this immature act.
“Men…”
Still, she didn’t mind. Regardless of the past, Damian Haxen had become an exceptional and renowned knight. It felt good to know such a man still cared about her.
“Not that it matters. I have Jackson.”
Sophia looked up at Jackson Cutter. But for some reason, the broad back that had seemed so impressive earlier now appeared lackluster. So different from Damian…
“What am I thinking…? Jackson is the only one for me!”
Sophia shook her head vigorously to dispel her thoughts.
“Master, please give me another chance.”
All the way back to the tent, Jackson Cutter pleaded.
“Give it up. Damian Haxen is stronger than you.”
“I was just caught off guard. If I face him properly, I can win.”
“Are you doubting my judgment?”
Jacques Noir’s voice dropped, and Jackson quickly shut his mouth.
“Don’t provoke me. Considering you disobeyed my orders and engaged with Damian Haxen, I should rip your arm off right here.”
The threat in Jacques Noir’s voice made Jackson shiver. His master wasn’t one to make idle threats. If he said it, he meant it.
“This is an unexpected twist. Who would have thought Damian Haxen was so skilled? Winning the tournament will be difficult at this rate…”
Jacques Noir muttered to himself, and Jackson’s expression soured.
“Damn it, why can’t I beat Damian Haxen?”
Jackson couldn’t accept or believe that Damian was stronger than him. Sure, Damian had improved, and Jackson had taken a hit. But he was confident he could win in a proper fight.
“I’ll prove it at the jousting tournament.”
He was set to face Damian Haxen in the joust. Jackson planned to defeat Damian there and prove that he was no match for him.
“Still, it’s baffling. How did he get so strong in just a few months?”
Jacques Noir mused aloud, and Jackson was equally curious.
It was certain that Damian Haxen had reached the level of a low-class knight in a short time, which was unheard of.
”…Could he be a genius?”
Jacques Noir paused at Jackson’s question.
“It’s not impossible. The Empire’s greatest swordsman reached the low-class level in less than a year after picking up a sword.”
“Are you saying Damian Haxen is a genius on par with the Empire’s best?”
“Do you think Damian Haxen is such a genius?”
Jackson shook his head. The fool who used to beg for his life couldn’t possibly be a genius.
“I think he stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter.”
There was a story of someone who had acquired a weapon imbued with the will of a master-class swordsman. That person had inherited the master’s skills and knowledge through the weapon, rapidly advancing to a high level.
Of course, inheriting a master’s memories didn’t make one a master, but reaching the low-class level was easier.
Damian Haxen must have had such a legendary encounter.
“Jackson, we need to add another goal.”
Jacques Noir turned to Jackson, who quickly composed his expression.
“What goal?”
“We need to acquire the fortuitous encounter Damian Haxen had.”
The next moment, Jackson felt a chill run down his spine. A smile spread across Jacques Noir’s face, as eerie as a doll’s grin.
“Treasure should belong to those who recognize its value.”
“Brother, how could you break your promise to Father already…?”
As soon as they returned to the tent, Abel sighed.
“It’s not my fault. The other guy started it.”
Damian Haxen replied with a shameless grin.
Abel wanted to argue but gave up. After all, Damian was right, and he wasn’t one to back down when provoked.
”…Still, you did well.”
“What, for putting Jackson Cutter in his place?”
“Yes, to be honest, I didn’t like those two either.”
Abel’s eyes darkened. The Russell family had not only unilaterally broken off the engagement but had also insulted the entire Haxen barony. Even the mild-mannered Abel couldn’t help but be angry.
“You’re a good kid. Sticking up for your brother?”
Damian slung an arm around Abel’s neck, who squirmed to get free. Just then, Victor entered the tent.
“Young master, there’s a banquet in an hour.”
“Oh, really?”
Damian Haxen decided to put thoughts of Jackson Cutter aside for now. He had more important matters to attend to—like setting up Abel with Lady Copperhead.
“Abel, let’s get ready to go out.”
“Yes.”
Abel opened his travel bag and took out a tailcoat. Damian frowned at the sight. It was so old and shabby that he couldn’t remember when it had been bought.
“Hey, what’s with that old tailcoat? You’re not seriously going to wear that, are you?”
“Old? I borrowed it from Father.”
“Why borrow such an ancient thing?”
”…We don’t have money.”
Abel looked at Damian with a hint of reproach, and Damian realized his slip. The Haxen barony’s finances had taken a hit due to Damian’s past mishaps, leaving Abel unable to afford a new tailcoat and resorting to borrowing his father’s.
“I forgot to give you the reward from the duke…”
Damian scratched his head.
“Don’t worry. Your brother bought new clothes.”
“You did?”
Damian opened a large bag, revealing a collection of colorful tailcoats. The fabric was beautifully dyed, and the designs were elegant. They were clearly high-quality garments, not easily found.
“Brother, where did you get these clothes?”
“There’s a boutique called Moonlight Wave in Landwalk City. I bought them there.”
“Really?”
Abel Haxen was astonished. Moonlight Wave was a renowned boutique known to every noble in the west. It was said that one had to wait at least three years to have clothes made there.
“When did you make a reservation? It’s notoriously difficult…”
“I didn’t make a reservation.”
“Then how did you get the clothes?”
“I bought clothes that other nobles had ordered. Don’t worry about the fit; I gave them your measurements and had them adjusted.”
”…”
Abel was speechless with disbelief. Damian reassured him.
“Don’t you trust my eye? My sense is sharp enough to get your size right…”
“No, brother! How could you just buy clothes that were already reserved?”
Abel protested, and Damian replied with a nonchalant expression.
“Hey, anyone would think I forced them to sell. I paid five times the production cost.”
When Demian offered to pay five times the production cost, the shop owner was so taken aback that he started suggesting other outfits instead.
Demian had a hefty sum saved up from the reward given by the duke, so paying for the suit was no issue at all.
“Even so…”
“Then go ahead and wear that old tailcoat.”
Demian pointed at Abel’s worn-out tailcoat.
Abel glanced back and forth between the old tailcoat and the one Demian had bought.
One was made ages ago and hopelessly out of fashion, while the other was crafted with care at a renowned atelier.
The difference was glaringly obvious.
”…Thank you, I’ll wear it gratefully.”
“Good choice,” Demian said with a bright smile, handing the tailcoat to Abel.