Chapter 147 – Marquis Laksir (5)


    “……”


    A chilly silence descended.


    “You’ll let me live, you say?”


    “Where have I heard that before?”


    “……?”


    “I heard you said something simr to the elves. ‘Attack the dwarves, and at the very least, I’ll let you live.’”


    “……”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Marquis Laksir, who had been ring at me for a long time, soon burst intoughter.


    “Well…… Am I talking to a human noble, or the representative of another race? It’s bing hard to tell.”


    Still, he seemed to have enough pride to feel embarrassed, befitting a self-proimed gentleman.


    “Do you fish?”


    “Somewhat.”


    I had spent my entire life on the battlefield.


    Sometimes, I ate fruits from nearby mountains, or I hunted wild boars. Of course, if there was a river, I would fish and grill whatever I caught.


    At times, food was scarce, and I had to survive in isted regions by being self-sufficient.


    However,


    ‘There was someone I truly wanted to fish with.’


    I once dreamed of such a thing.


    After the war ended, I would grab a fishing rod and take off with Andy. Leaving behind a nagging wife, I wanted to take a trip with my son. Just the two of us.


    But now, that dream was unattainable.


    “When you fish, you must first empty your mind. They often say you’re not catching fish but time itself, don’t they?”


    Whirrr!


    The contest had already begun. As we continued our conversation, Marquis Laksir kept pulling in fish.


    It hadn’t been long, yet he had already caught about ten fish.


    “Youngsters often yank the line the moment they feel a bite. It’s all because of impatience. Due to this, the fish which merely nibble below the surface scatter immediately.”


    “I see.”


    “It’s the same in life. Impatience always ruins things. There’s ack of caution in everything, just like you now. Ah! Don’t misunderstand. I’m merely talking about fishing.”


    His words, akin to lecturing me, continued without pause. While he teased me, he kept pulling up fish with ease.


    I couldn’t help but admire his skill.


    ‘The continent’s greatest angler, they say. He certainly lives up to the title.’


    No wonder he so readily epted my challenge. Marquis Laksir showed no signs of holding back.


    The gap between us only widened with time. By the time he had caught thirty fish, I had barely managed to catch ten.


    “Indeed. One cannot beat a person who enjoys something to the point of obsession.”


    Shaking my head, I finally raised both hands in surrender.


    “Hahaha, giving up already? Keep going. I’d like to chat with you for as long as possible.”


    What he meant, of course, was that he wanted to keep teasing me.


    “Well, I feel the same.”


    “Or would you like me to teach you a thing or two?”


    “No. I’ll teach you something, instead.”


    “……?”


    Before Marquis Laksir could voice his confusion, I slowly approached the riverbank.


    Then, I gently ced my palm on the surface of the water.


    Hummm!


    A deep, resonating hum filled the air.


    “……!”


    Startled by the sudden surge of mana, the hidden bodyguards appeared. They had concealed themselves well. At least thirty of them were surrounding me now.


    Shiiing! Shiiing!


    They drew their swords and pointed them at me. However, I didn’t stop.


    ‘It doesn’t need to be strong. Just spread the waves as widely as possible.’


    Hum! Hummm!


    The mana flowing from my hand spread over the river, rippling farther and farther.


    Then, all at once.


    Saash!


    “……!”


    A loud explosion erupted, and water sprayed everywhere.


    Shhhhhh!


    Amidst the cascading water, Marquis Laksir sprang to his feet. Dozens of fish, belly-up, floated to the surface of the river.


    Their number easily reached hundreds.


    “What do you think you’re doing!?”


    “This is how I usually fish.”


    This wasn’t a lie, but the truth. In the midst of war, who had the leisure to fish patiently?


    With an enemy attack possible at any moment, I had to devise ways to feed many people quickly.


    This was the result borne out of such a situation.


    “Are you joking?”


    “Surely, you’re not going to call this cheating? There weren’t any restrictions on methods, as far as I recall.”


    “This isn’t fishing! It’s simply chaos!”


    “Well said.”


    I nodded calmly.


    “Nor was what you did at ck Swan. It wasn’t war, it was chaos. Petty destruction because you didn’t want others to have what you couldn’t.”


    “……!”


    For the first time, Marquis Laksir’s eyes widened.


    “That wasn’t gentlemanly behavior. It was unworthy of your reputation, Marquis.”


    “……”


    “And…… How about we all lower our swords now?”


    Still, the des pointed at me didn’t waver.


    “……I’ll warn you once. Twice won’t end with words.”


    “Baron!”


    Marquis Laksir shouted, his face red.


    “I can’t understand you! Aren’t you human? Why side with other races?”


    “It’s simple. I dream of being the first human lord to coexist with other races.”


    “……!”


    Marquis Laksir’s eyes twitched.


    “Madness…… Do you really think that’s possible? You clearly don’t understand the depths of their hatred for humans.”


    “That hatred was created by humans.”


    “To be exact, it was created by our ancestors!”


    “If our ancestorsmitted wrongs, it is our duty as the descendants to make amends.”


    “I see you’re an idealist, Baron.”


    “I’d rather be an idealist than a brute who swings first and thinkster.”


    “……”


    After a long pause, Marquis Laksir finally gave an order.


    “Lower your swords.”


    Clink, clink.


    The des surrounding me were sheathed.


    “Will you ept the oue of our wager?”


    Without a word, Marquis Laksir clenched his teeth.


    “……”


    From the shadows, a pair of eyes quietly observed the entire scene.


    When passing by the main gate of Marquis Raksir’s estate,


    “Huh?”


    I stopped.


    “Have you been waiting for me this whole time?”


    Amidst the crowd of knights, there was a face I recognized all too well.


    “I just happened to have business here.”


    Marquis Foltaine replied nonchntly.


    Judging from the expressions of the knights from the Laksir estate, it was easy to grasp the situation.


    Their expressions were the definition of sheer misery.


    “You didn’t threaten them into opening the gate, did you?”


    “Enough chatter, let’s leave. These scoundrels have made this ce unbearable for an old man like me.”


    With that, we left the estate of Marquis Laksir.


    “Did everything go well?”


    “Yes. I won a wager.”


    “A wager……?”


    I exined the details of the event. As the story unfolded, Marquis Foltaine’s expression became more puzzled.


    “You used a trick like that, and he still epted the oue?”


    “If he didn’t, it would’ve been the same as admitting that his own tactics at the ck Swan were just as underhanded.”


    “Oho?”


    Marquis Foltaine let out a small chuckle.


    “Heheheh. You’ve got a good grasp of how much noble pride is worth.”


    “He didn’t even seem to realize it was a trick. Isn’t it amon delusion among us humans? ‘If I do it, it’s romance. If you do it, it’s adultery.’”


    “For someone as prideful as Marquis Laksir, it must’ve been quite the eye-opener.”


    “Are you close with him?”


    “No, I’ve never been fond of hypocrites like him. Our paths diverged a long time ago.”


    Come to think of it, Marquis Laksir had long been a part of the royal faction, unlike Marquis Foltaine.


    In any case, Marquis Foltaine’s straightforwardness was refreshing.


    “Anyway, I’m curious to see how he responds. What if he doesn’t hand over Abidal?”


    “I already warned him. If he keeps being uncooperative, I’ll chop his head off.”


    “Ahahahahaha!”


    Marquis Foltaine burst intoughter.


    “A mere baron dared to speak to a marquis like that? I thought you went to negotiate, but you ended up causing chaos.”


    “Well, at least one person…… Or rather, one elf probably viewed my actions favorably.”


    “Huh?”


    Marquis Foltaine tilted his head, puzzled.


    I was particrly sensitive to energy. There was no way I hadn’t noticed being observed.


    ‘Even if she thought she was well-hidden.’


    Of course, I hadn’t intended to be so conspicuous, but some unintended consequences can be beneficial.


    “Since I’ve shown my sincerity, I’m sure she won’t cause much trouble.”


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the royal pce’s training grounds.


    Under the bright moonlight,


    Drip, drip, drip.


    Sweating from her rigorous training, Winley tilted her head.


    “Where have you been?”


    She noticed the dark-haired beauty approaching from afar.


    “A walk.”


    Erina, the red-eyed elf, replied curtly. Of course, entry into the royal pce required strict identity verification.


    However, Erina had almost unrestricted ess to all areas, except for the main royal quarters.


    ‘Eri, the youngest child of the Karot Barony.’


    That was Erina’s new identity. The Mask of Night had yed a major role in creating this. The organization covered a wide range of operations.


    They were mainly known for dealing with information. As such, manipting information was another one of their specialties.


    To them, creating a new identity was child’s y.


    ‘But…… Creating one capable of deceiving even the royal household must’ve been quite a feat.’


    Winley had been genuinely impressed.


    To move freely without suspicion in the pce required at least the status of a noble family member.


    The Mask of Night had spent an unbelievable fortune embedding operatives within noble families across the continent. Some were there from birth, while the others were bribed muchter.


    Thanks to that, Winley was able to understand why the Mask of Night was known as the continent’s greatest information organization.


    “By the way, you’ll have to prove yourself to be my bodyguard. I can’t just appoint someone on my own. You’ll need approval from the Guard Pce as well……”


    Trailing off, Winley smiled bitterly. Thinking about it, was there a need to worry?


    The person before her had bested two Masters from her own homnd.


    Her concern wasn’t about Erina’s skills, but the potential for her to go overboard and cause unintentional issues.


    “Don’t worry.”


    “Alright, Erina…… Or rather, Eri. I’ll leave it to you.”


    “……?”


    “If we’re going to pull this off, we should do it right.”


    “……”


    After observing Winley for a moment, Erina nodded.


    “I have a personal question.”


    “……!”


    Winley’s eyes widened in surprise. Erina had always spoken only when necessary, as if it was her nature.


    Asking something personal was unheard of, until now.


    “Ask me anything!”


    Winley eagerly jumped down from the training tform.


    However,


    “What kind of person is Ancelot?”


    The question waspletely unexpected.


    “……Huh? Why the sudden curiosity?”


    And yet, the real shock was yet toe.


    “I’ve be interested in him.”


    “……!”


    Winley’s pupils quivered violently.


    “I-Interested?”


    ***


    The next day, at Milon’s mansion,


    “He’ll reallye, right?”


    Ne red at me with narrow eyes.


    “He’lle. He’s already been contacted.”


    “And you think he’ll just hand him over?”


    “That’s what we’re about to find out. Look, here hees.”


    “……!”


    Ne followed my finger and saw what I had spotted. Sure enough, leading the group was a green-haired figure bound in ropes.


    Having said that, there was a slight issue.


    “……Are you sure this was peacefully resolved? From what I’m seeing, it looks like they’re challenging us.”


    Following the group, over five hundred heavily armed knights marched towards us.


    * * *


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