Chapter 19
Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Reaper of the Skies, Countess Irene
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A man with pale blue hair standing to the right of the woman issued a quiet warning.
He lightly placed his hand on the sword at his waist.
"....."
In an instant, the inn fell silent as a grave.
One word from the Skyknight had pacified the entire scene.
'The Force is strong with this one.'
Not just any ordinary Skyknight, but one of the elite Imperial Guard Skyknights of the Bazran Empire, masters of the continent's finest wyverns—black wyverns.
He oozed pure charisma.
"Ah, we just came for a beer after training... and these kids have the guts to start a brawl inside the capital?"
"What are you saying so harshly! I am the heir to the next generation of Viscount Raifon's house!"
The handsome man with a cynical air to the woman's left spoke, and Alfonso strongly emphasized that he was a lord.
"So?"
The red-haired blond man responded curtly, as if dealing with a neighborhood mutt.
'Whoa, he knows how to handle people.'
With one phrase, the man turned Alfonso's face beet red.
It was pretty cool.
"Wh-what do you mean 'so'? I am the son of nobility! Even a Guard Knight can't treat me so lightly!"
Alfonso desperately stressed his noble status.
"Puhahaha! What a clown! Do you think this is your backwater territory where you play king? A lord? An insignificant lord who doesn't even inherit a noble title, drawing your sword without permission in the capital? Don't you know that if you draw a blade and commit private violence or murder inside the capital, the Guard Knights can execute you without trial?"
The dashing man teased Alfonso, treating him like a country bumpkin.
He had such overwhelming presence that you could picture sharing a beer and philosophizing about life.
"Sir Rosero, that's enough."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The fairy-like woman with silver hair, who had been standing quietly, told him to stop, and the man called Rosero snapped to attention, shutting his mouth.
'Wow!'
An exclamation escaped involuntarily.
She looked so delicate, like she'd scream at the sight of a bug, overflowing with pure innocence—yet the aura emanating from her was no joke.
"Alfonso, was it, Lord Alfonso?"
"Y-yes, that's right."
His face drained of color by Rosero's death threat, the guy named Alfonso answered cautiously.
Unless he had a head made of rock, he'd realize the woman before him was no ordinary person.
"I am Countess Irene of the Imperial Guard Skyknights."
"Reaper of the Skies, C-Countess Irene!"
The title burst from someone's mouth in astonishment.
'Reaper of the Skies? It suits her vibe perfectly.'
Irene exuded such mysticism that you could mistake her for a priestess.
Draped in a red cloak, she looked every bit the goddess.
"Surely a noble's son knows this much: in all places under His Majesty's direct rule, imperial law takes precedence over customary noble privileges. And this is the capital, home to His Majesty and the Imperial Family. Anyone who disrespects His Majesty or the Imperial Family will die by the hand of the Imperial Guard Skyknights of the Great Bazran Empire, sworn to protect His Majesty's proud honor. Even if that person is a noble."
Countess Irene spoke each word with quiet, forceful authority.
'She's awesome!'
Cheers erupted in his chest.
"Now speak. Why did you draw swords and fight on this sacred land of His Imperial Majesty?"
Like a stern judge, she fixed her round eyes on Alfonso, his knight, Grick, and me.
The situation was getting interesting.
'Let's see what happens.'
He wondered if she would prove that the law wasn't biased toward the privileged.
"Th-that's... that guy...."
Pressed by Irene's sharp presence, the weasel Alfonso started sputtering excuses.
He didn't seem to have any real defense.
A guy who'd lived his life on easy street thanks to his noble birth.
No way he had a legitimate reason.
"I am Luciera of Baron Taimon's house. It is my utmost honor to meet the spears and shields that protect the Empire, the Imperial Guard Skyknights."
The snotty girl who started the whole mess bowed her head gracefully, wagging her fox tail.
"A mage, huh. Aspiring Skyknight?"
"Yes, Countess Irene."
The wicked girl smiled brightly at Irene's attention.
"If you know about this incident, you may speak. But you will be held accountable for your words."
"Of course. How could I dare lie to such noble personages?"
Even as a noble's daughter, Luciera spoke carefully to the Skyknights.
It showed the prestige of the Imperial Guard Skyknights.
"The truth is, I am mostly at fault. To prepare for the Skyknight selection trials starting tomorrow, I left my territory early, but on the way to the capital, I was delayed by a monster ambush. Just when I was in dire straits, Lord Alfonso of Viscount Raifon's house and his knights appeared, slaying the monsters and allowing me to reach the capital. But as luck would have it, all the high-class inns fit for nobles were full, and that's when we found this place."
'You gotta be kidding me.'
The bitch Luciera lied without batting an eye from the start.
She'd clearly said herself that she was grateful to meet Alfonso and get a room, but now she'd transformed the punk into some gallant knight.
"Exhausted as we were, we entered this inn, and following the teachings that nobles must uphold a minimum of decorum befitting our station, we requested the best room. But it was already occupied. We earnestly explained our plight and asked to switch rooms. But... this ignorant commoner scum, overconfident in his skills, resorted to force, leaving us no choice but to draw our swords to protect noble dignity. And that's how things unfolded."
'Is she aspiring to be a novelist?'
Her 100% pure fabrication was so vivid, a stranger would swear it was true.
Even I was getting immersed listening to it.
"I apologize once more for drawing swords and causing a disturbance in the capital. However, customary law states that when a noble suffers an insult, they may draw their sword to defend their honor, no matter the place or opponent. And Lord Alfonso and his brave knights took only the minimal actions necessary to uphold a noble's honor."
Even her evil was polished to a shine.
Whatever schemes she'd been taught, the venomous bitch Luciera spouted fluent lies without flinching.
I etched that image firmly in my mind.
'Next time we meet, repeat after me: I'm dead meat! Fuck!'
I stored the deep grudge in my long-term memory vault.
"Hmm, noble honor... Is that true?"
Countess Irene's inscrutable blue eyes questioned the truth.
I flashed a beaming smile at her vibrant, lovely gaze.
"Haha, I'd sooner believe an orc prefers grass clippings over meat than buy that story."
The continental equivalent of 'go eat shit.'
"A lie, then? Do you have proof of your words?"
The highly logical Countess Irene.
Her intellectual, mysterious demeanor warmed my heart.
"Well, I'm telling the truth, but would anyone here speak up for a nobody like me over the nobles? No guarantees."
Even I'd side with the nobles for safety, if not riches.
"Are you an aspiring Skyknight too?"
She suddenly changed tack.
"Yes. They say the Bazran Empire values ability over appearances, so I figured I'd give it a shot."
"Give it a shot?"
In my world, where people curse presidents freely, my casual speech seemed shocking; she furrowed her brow slightly and asked again.
Her faint frown was adorable.
"But I've changed my mind. No, what lunatic, in broad daylight, lets guys barge into their bath demanding the room just because they're bathing? Law exists to be upheld, not to be treated like a sack of flour left out for anyone to grab! You think it's believable that in a place where nobles can break in, assault you, hurl abuse, and even commit murder at whim just because they're nobles, that law even exists? And this is the capital, where His Imperial Majesty of the Great Bazran Empire resides—a lawless zone!"
I emphasized "His Majesty" and "lawless zone" with force.
"Y-you bastard...."
As soon as I finished, Alfonso and that bitch Luciera went pale.
They hadn't expected me to go this far.
'Take that, commoner my ass! Wham! Who do you think you're messing with!'
Raised with 21st-century higher education, how could I be like the half-slave commoners here?
I squared my shoulders, met Irene's blue eyes with confident defiance.
'Silver hair, crystal-clear blue eyes! My exact type!'
Even I admitted my ideal type changed shamelessly often.
But what could I do?
My soul was still free, unbound anywhere.
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"A man's word weighs more than a lump of gold. How could I flap my jaws with lies like some lightweight?"
"Hehe, what an amusing young man."
For the first time, Irene revealed her sparkling white teeth in a soft smile.
Just watching it refreshed my mood.
"L-lies! Don't believe that scum!"
Sensing the tide turning, Alfonso yelled in agitation.
'Idiot. Excitement means you've lost. Heh.'
Irene seemed sharp and discerning.
"Lord Alfonso, Lady Luciera."
Irene's clear voice rang quietly through the inn.
"Y-yes...."
The wolf and the fox cautiously opened their mouths, gauging her mood.
"Do you wish us to investigate these people and dig deeper into today's truth?"
Irene pointed at the inn's patrons watching with interest.
"....."
In an instant, the two villains were struck dumb.
"You all seem to be aspiring Skyknights. Rather than leaving it to me to judge, prove your innocence by passing with your skills."
'Smart too! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!'
No matter how truthful I was, nobles were nobles.
Even an Imperial Guard Skyknight couldn't manhandle a noble's spawn lightly.
In that bind, she'd found the perfect middle ground—Irene's wisdom shone.
"Uh, understood. We'll do as you say. We'll definitely become Skyknights and clear our names from today's events...."
Alfonso didn't forget to lace his trailing words with venom.
He shot me a glare burning with hatred.
"Reaper of the Skies, Countess Irene, I won't forget you for the rest of my life. Farewell."
Stumbling like a child, Alfonso showed raw hatred, but bitch Luciera fixed Irene with eyes even more laced with poison.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
Alfonso eyed his knights—who'd finally snapped out of it after my sword blows—with displeasure and gave the order.
Thud thud.
And so, without so much as a rude goodbye, despite our fateful encounter, they tried to leave.
"Hey, folks. Forget anything?"
"F-folks? Grr...."
Alfonso scowled at being called "folks."
"You'd better take your hunting dogs from my room. And if you can, get them some decent armor. Knights revered in your territory, and that's your armor? Even free knights wear better. Not beggars.... Tsk tsk."
Since I'd already opened up, I dropped the formalities for comfort.
The Skyknights clearly wouldn't stop me.
Casually, I lectured the noble brat.
"Grrrr!"
Alfonso ground his teeth instead of replying.
'Watch yourself too. Before I yank every last tooth.'
No dentists in this world.
Once they were gone, you'd bow to the Toothless Idiot King for life.
Rumble rumble.
A few knights, eyeing their master, went upstairs; moments later, they hauled out the two still out cold from electric shock and vanished.
"Puhahaha! This guy's got guts! Charging ahead fearlessly, and not even a noble!"
Once Alfonso's crew was gone, the knight called Rosero burst into hearty laughter.
"If you lack the skill, you'll answer for your actions yourself."
"Heh, gutsy fellow. Count yourself lucky. If you hadn't met our squadron leader—who doesn't care about birth—you'd be done for today."
Rosero made a throat-slitting gesture while advising me, standing by Irene.
'Pretty face, killer figure, countess noble, great personality, smart! Ahh, is there another woman in the world with this perfect combo?'
Irene seemed a good bit older than me.
She looked about twenty-five, but her skin glowed like a child's.
"If it's not too presumptuous, may I treat you to dinner?"
"What a fearless bastard. A commoner daring to invite an Imperial noble—a countess, no less—to dinner. Suicidal?"
The pale blue-haired man who'd threatened execution from the start radiated thick killing intent.
'What the hell's his problem?'
I'd invited them with maximum courtesy, commoner or not.
Yet this sharp-jawed guy in his late twenties was unleashing hostility.
"Enough. Sir Rosero, regrettably, I'll have to take a rain check on your invitation."
"Aw, can't be helped. My fault for suddenly asking high nobles for beers. Right, Sir Adolf?"
"Sir Rosero... don't call me by name so casually. Unless you want a duel challenge today."
'Trouble in paradise? These two don't get along?'
The target had shifted from me to Knight Rosero.
He seemed connected to the squadron leader, Countess Irene.
'Rosero, huh? I'll repay this favor tenfold.'
I'd liked him on sight.
He gave off the vibe of a free spirit with an open mind, just like me.
"Aw, a duel? How could a lowly commoner-born like me dare accept a challenge from Sir Adolf of the great Polaon noble house? If I've offended, I beg your broad mercy. Heh."
It sounded polite but was blatant provocation.
Chilly frost wafted from Adolf's face.
'Ah, he's a commoner too.'
Rosero looked mid-twenties.
Whatever path led him to Imperial Guard Skyknight, his silver tongue was impressive.
"What are you two doing! Have you forgotten the commoners are watching?"
Irene radiated displeasure.
Even her frown was charming; she really was a beauty.
"What's your name?"
Irene asked with an enigmatic gaze.
"Kair."
The second time today I'd given it.
"Kair..."
Irene murmured my name.
"I'll see if your skill matches that silver tongue."
'I'll pass for sure, Lady Irene.'
Forget Skyknight—today's slight to Kang Hyuk's manly pride demanded proof through strength, as she said.
"Young friend, give it your all. Pass, and drinks are on me."
Rosero winked encouragingly.
The three Skyknights turned, opened the door, and left.
Like a mirage vanishing over the desert.
'Imperial Guard Skyknights, huh...'
The strongest Skyknights, owners of the continent's mightiest wyverns.
A fire kindled in his chest.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.