Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: More of a Playboy Than He Looks
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'What the hell is this?'
My mind had frozen for a moment thanks to Countess Irene, but the words "imperial decree" snapped me back to reality.
Why the hell should I accept an imperial decree?
No matter how I thought about it, all I'd gotten from enrolling in the Imperial Knight Academy was a few meals and a place to sleep.
Sure, they'd given me Bebeto, but that was nothing more than scrap inventory headed for disposal. And as for that gracious(?) favor of assigning me to the barren hellhole of Neruman? I was dying to know what they planned to do about that.
'I should at least hear it out.'
Still, it was an imperial decree.
Since I still held the title of junior baron of the Bazran Empire, I decided to bow my head once.
If things didn't sit right, I could just let it go in one ear and out the other, decree or no decree.
"Will you defy the imperial decree!"
'Whoa, this guy's got a short fuse.'
The knight bellowed at my moment of hesitation.
He was tall and skinny, with a face that screamed irritable.
"Cayer, what are you doing? Hurry up and accept the decree."
A man standing beside the smiling Irene.
'Baron Rosero.'
At 185 centimeters, with a cynical expression that matched his shining blond hair, a Sky Knight.
He flashed his signature bright smile at me.
Pa-ba-bat.
'Huh?'
The moment I made up my mind and knelt to receive the decree, a powerful killing intent radiated from beside me.
'Trouble's brewing.'
The beastkin were unleashing their killing intent toward the knight harassing me.
"Junior Baron Cayer de Neruman receives the imperial decree."
I dropped to my right knee and bowed my head.
"Thus do I invite the loyal knight of the empire, Junior Baron Cayer de Neruman, to my birthday banquet."
".....?"
'What? That's it?'
Just a few ridiculous lines of decree.
I lifted my head and looked at the knight reading it.
"What are you doing? Obey the decree at once!"
'Come on, shouldn't there at least be a "thanks for your hard work" or something?'
I'd invested my own blood and sweat—money and time—to safeguard Neruman's peace, and yet here was the emperor's command dragging my busy self to his birthday party.
"Junior Baron Cayer de Neruman receives the imperial decree!"
I shouted it loud and clear, pissed off as hell.
'Fuck, he's the emperor, so he thinks he can order busy people around.'
A torrent of curses boiled inside me.
"Sir Derbal, honored guests have arrived. Prepare the banquet."
"Yes, sir!"
I stood from the floor and issued the order to Derbal.
Kuaaaaa!
"Uwaaa! Whoa, the gold wyvern's going wild!"
At that moment, one of the gold wyvern males, still buzzing from being unsealed, took a dislike to the Sky Knights and flapped its wings irritably.
"Bebeto, stomp it!"
A single command to my loyal enforcer.
Kuaaaa!
Kwa-jik! Kwa-jik! Kwa-duduk!
Kueeeeeeee!
Bebeto launched powerfully into the air, delivering a sharp high kick with both talons.
The gold wyvern screamed bloody murder, nose gushing twin streams of blood.
Feuduk! Feuduk.
Following the kick, it pinned the wyvern's body, sending it into a groggy daze.
Kuo-ooooooo!
Bebeto let out a triumphant roar into the sky, as if it were a wolf claiming victory.
In my eyes, it looked no different from a local thug who'd just pacified the neighborhood.
"Some punks never know their place. You have to taste it to know if it's shit or soup. Tsk tsk."
I clicked my tongue and glared at the knight who'd been blabbering at me in that shrill voice about the imperial decree.
The scrawny knight flinched under my gaze.
Even the black wyverns bowed their heads to Bebeto's frenzy.
And the knight averted his eyes.
He'd finally snapped to his senses.
Surrounded by Neruman's knights—especially the bizarre-looking beastkin who hadn't retracted their killing intent—he must have felt the threat to his life.
'Some people need to see the stick before they listen.'
The knight who'd dared act arrogant before me, the master of greater Neruman.
Now he hid his teeth and claws, putting on a meek face.
"Haha, it's modest, but come on in."
I let out a hearty laugh and strode into the office.
Like a mutt that's fifty percent bolder in its own yard, I was the master of Neruman.
This was one hundred percent my world.
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Slurp slurp. Slurrrp.
'Oof....'
The situation had gotten awkwardly tangled.
The beastkin refused to leave my side, so I'd assigned them seats next to me. Countess Irene, Rosero, and the guard Sky Knight called Betres sat across from me.
But a problem arose.
'It's not like they're dogs... damn, they eat well.'
Having lived cut off from civilized life, the beastkin slurped down their soup in one go like it was a shot.
And as the food kept coming, they dug in with both hands, ignoring forks and knives.
I was dumbfounded.
It was a banquet for nobles, even if the etiquette was lacking.
Everyone stared blankly at the sight of the robed mage treating his robe like casual wear and the beastkin gorging on fine air plates.
"Eat slowly. You'll get indigestion."
The angelic Armis smiled warmly as she portioned out bread and meat from her share to the beastkin.
"Thanks."
Short and gruff.
Not even a polite "thank you," just a curt "thanks" from Hashipot.
"If you'd like more, just say so."
They looked human but had that feline beastkin vibe.
Armis showed no fear at the sight, only kindness.
She was a woman with a beautiful heart, no matter when you saw her.
"Sir Cayer, where did you get that gold wyvern outside?"
It was late afternoon, so the prepared meal was served.
The so-called banquet was modest: bread, soup, smoked pork, honey, and a few biscuits.
Countess Irene, who'd made do with a single piece of bread, stroked her silver hair with one hand, her eyes sparkling.
As expected of a Sky Knight, she showed interest in the gold wyverns of the Raviter Empire, Bazran's number one enemy.
"I borrowed it."
"Borrowed? A gold wyvern symbolizing the Raviter imperial family? And not just one or two, but over a dozen?"
Rosero gave me a look of disbelief and repeated my words.
"I told them about the Neruman Plains situation, and they lent them to me. Very kindly, unlike some place that doesn't give a single coin of support."
I lied without batting an eye.
No point telling the truth—it would just hurt my mouth.
Plus, with the beastkin to hide, I decided to brazen it out.
"Are you saying you've handed Neruman—His Majesty's domain of the Bazran Empire—over to Raviter!"
For some reason, Betres, who'd been scowling without touching his food, exploded.
'What? Bazran and His Majesty's domain?'
His tone grated like a stray dog I'd saved from sickness claiming it as his own after I nursed it back.
It pissed me off.
"I said I borrowed them. God, you really can't understand plain talk."
I tore into the bread in my hand roughly.
"Wha-what the!!!"
Betres, a full baron, turned beet red at my informal speech to a mere junior baron.
"And since when has the empire cared so much about Neruman? It might be healthier for everyone's sanity to just mind our own business, don't you think, Sir Betres?"
Since I'd decided to go informal, I smirked and rubbed salt in the wound.
"Do you realize the words you're spewing amount to treason! How can an imperial knight, living by His Majesty's grace, utter such rebellious nonsense! Countess Irene, we can't leave Junior Baron Cayer like this. Please take immediate action."
Betres invoked the empire and emperor like some knightly poster boy, branding me a traitor.
Cunningly, he dragged the silent Irene into it.
"I said he borrowed them."
"Pardon? You're believing that ridiculous lie?"
He gaped at Irene in shock, his expectations shattered.
"Then will you personally investigate how the gold wyverns got here? Or find proof that Sir Cayer committed treason and colluded with Raviter."
Irene's pleasant voice rang through the dining hall.
"....."
"And we're here as envoys delivering His Majesty's decree to Sir Cayer, not inspectors meddling in treason or territorial affairs. As you know, Neruman is a place the empire has half-abandoned. We should be grateful Sir Cayer governs it in the empire's name. If you're dissatisfied, I recommend volunteering here yourself."
Irene, more mature than before, exuded a refined aura.
She'd shut Betres down completely.
"Oh! That's a great idea. No need, though—with Temir scum swarming south on dozens of wyverns and pirates gathering in fleets, it's perfect timing. If you come, Sir Betres, I'll assign you to the front lines right away, giving you a chance to serve the Bazran Empire and His Majesty loyally."
'Dumbass. Heh heh heh.'
I hadn't expected Irene to back me so aggressively.
When the chance came, we had to strike together.
"Th-that's...."
Betres went pale, struck dumb like he'd eaten honey.
He knew.
Viscount Yaiks, dispatched to Neruman, had squandered most of his wyverns and fortune.
"Heh heh. As expected of Sir Cayer. From trainee getting a wyvern assignment and becoming a Sky Knight, now temporary lord with borrowed(?) gold wyverns. Impressive, Sir Cayer!"
"Haha, this is nothing."
Unlike the statue-stiff Betres, Rosero sided with me without hesitation.
He winked at me.
"With such honored guests, let's catch up properly over drinks instead of just dinner. I couldn't offer a full feast with the territory unstable, but my recommended beer will make you forget any grievances."
"Beer! The heat's got me craving it already."
"And you, Countess Irene?"
Amid Rosero's excitement, Irene smiled faintly at my question.
'Aw, man....'
A sudden memory flashed.
During flight training on Irene's wyvern, I'd accidentally grabbed her there.
Her enigmatic smile made my face flush hot.
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"Kyaa, this is killer! You can't get this taste even in the empire!"
The feast spread everywhere at my command.
Betres, forced outside, scowled and retreated to his assigned lodging.
Irene, Armis, Derbal, and I—with Rosero—set up on the watchtower overlooking the city of Denpos, chugging magically chilled beer.
'Money makes the world go round here too.'
Magic storage devices hard for commoners to afford in a lifetime.
Items rivaling modern refrigerators, used for noble luxuries.
The magic cooler from Rubis Merchant Guild that kept tuna fresh.
The beer stayed pristine in it.
Especially my master's secret recipe brew.
Mixed with honey and spices, it was so good it could make a dwarven beer master weep.
And the jerky—beef rivaling shrimp snacks and various meats—made the perfect beer snack.
"Lady Armis, which god do you serve as priestess?"
Irene, who'd been quiet, showed interest in Armis, who was sipping her beer.
"I serve the Goddess of Mercy, Neran."
Armis's cheeks flushed red after a few sips.
Her rare cute side warmed my heart.
Cough cough.
'This is insane.'
Thanks to the cramped watchtower, the beastkin had taken spots on the stone stairs leading up.
Each clutched a small beer keg, guzzling it down.
'This'll rack up quite the tab.'
I hadn't known the legendary beastkin were like this.
Even living apart from human society, this was too much.
They called me master yet clung like I was their mom.
Especially the busty cat-like female beastkin, who flustered me more.
Even with Irene and Armis there, they'd bump their bodies against mine whenever they could.
Like beasts desperate for their master's hot(?) love.
"A beautiful priestess of Neran...."
I'd always thought so, but Irene's eyes were hard to read.
Quiet, deep blue pools.
Like a vast lake unshaken by a breeze, inscrutable.
"Beautiful? I'm just a flawed servant. Without Cayer, even serving the goddess, I'd have lived eternally ignorant of her—a foolish sinner."
Armis spoke, gazing at me warmly.
"....."
Not the alcohol, but my face heated up.
"Sir Cayer... he's a good man."
'Huh? What's with Irene now?'
Irene looked at me with hot eyes, following Armis.
Suddenly, I craved beer.
I lived rough, but women's soft gazes melted me.
Especially from two fairy-like beauties—it was enough to set a young man's heart ablaze.
"Cayer, Neruman's cooler than I thought. Vast plains you don't see in the empire, endless blue sea... I could live here."
Rosero stood with his tin beer mug, voice excited.
"You're always welcome. For talents like Sir Rosero, I'd offer special treatment."
"Hahaha. Damn right. Talents like me don't come easy. Right, Countess?"
"Sir Cayer, I'm hurt."
".....?"
Irene suddenly sounded offended.
"Rosero's an unproven Sky Knight—special treatment for him? How would you treat me? Is that all our bond means? Forgotten our passionate past already?"
"Huh?"
Irene brought up our "hot" past seriously.
"Hohoho. Cayer looks flustered too."
Armis burst into laughter at my shocked face.
'When the hell were we ever passionate?'
Irene stared straight into my eyes, shameless.
My face burned.
"Ooh! Could the goddess of all Sky Knights, the countess, have feelings for rookie Sir Cayer? No way! No way!"
Rosero hooted, emphasizing "rookie."
But Irene didn't deny it.
'No, it wasn't a joke?'
This must be what drives people mad.
I'd thought it was banter, but she just smiled enigmatically.
Gulp gulp.
Beer to hide the fluster.
I downed it in one go to cool my blazing chest.
"By the way, Cayer, got a birthday gift for His Majesty? Tradition for invited nobles to give the most precious thing they have."
"A gift?"
"Guess you didn't know. No worries. Everyone knows Neruman's situation—no need to stress."
'Who the hell eats a chicken without plucking it first?'
Instead of compensation, a gift? Curses nearly spilled.
Penniless, with nothing to pluck—they're eyeing my stuff?
'But it's suspicious. Why summon me?'
No reason for the emperor to invite me via decree to his birthday.
A junior baron—not even full nobility.
Temporary lord of dust-dry Neruman, a poor youth.
Yet the emperor called for me.
"Lady Armis, I need a quiet word with Sir Cayer. Would you excuse us?"
"Of course. I was getting tired anyway."
"Thank you."
'Huh? Something to say?'
Irene, goblin-like, startling me all day.
She boldly cleared the room for everyone.
"Drank plenty—how about a night flight over the sea?"
Rosero drained his mug and slipped away, mentioning night flying.
"Master, I have business too...."
Derbal, who'd listened silently, bowed and left.
"....."
And everyone vanished in a flash.
Only the oblivious beastkin remained, hugging kegs they'd drunk from whole and now snoring on the stairs.
Probably drunk for the first time in their lives.
"I worried a lot, but now I'm relieved."
Under moon and stars, the land shimmered.
Fires on Denpos's walls flickered like candles.
'Irene....'
Irene gazed far off, saying she felt at ease.
Her voice had changed.
Soft as the gentle sea breeze.
"Cayer...."
Silver hair fluttering, she turned to me.
"Yes...."
I answered quietly to her call.
The mood demanded it.
I wondered at her intent in shooing everyone away.
"You're more of a playboy than you look."
".....?"
Irene, genius at dumbfounding people.
She grinned and called me a playboy.
'What nonsense! No girlfriend, and I'm a playboy?'
I felt wronged.
No official girl to fill the spot by my side, yet playboy?
"Here."
".....?"
Still with that unknowable smile, she held out a letter-like thing.
"A letter from a lady who misses you fervently."
'Fervently misses me?'
Nothing came to mind, but I took it anyway.
"You've stirred up a storm. Angered the crown prince, kidnapped noble wyverns, earned irreconcilable grudges with the magic tower and giant merchants... I pondered if you're brave or just stupid. But seeing the gold wyverns today, I gave up advising you. Claiming you borrowed the Raviter Empire's top-tier gold wyverns—the continent's mightiest force—I realized no more advice needed. Boldly inviting a countess like me, a commoner, to dine; naming me your flight instructor—that's neither brave nor stupid anymore."
Irene poured it out like she'd rehearsed.
She was enjoying it.
Like a wondrous toy tossed into a boring routine, she flashed perfect teeth at me, laughing.
Silver hair dancing in moonlight, she looked like a playful fairy.
"Reckless drive of one who fears no tomorrow... I judge you faithful to the now, giving your all to today's tasks over fretting futures. Right?"
She wasn't wrong.
The worrywarts live fearing earth's end tomorrow or sky falling.
But I was different.
I love this moment: eat when hungry, play when I want.
That's how I wanted to live, and did.
Tomorrow not come? Just worthless fantasy filth, less real than last night's dream.
"I'll leave tomorrow morning. Think it over and decide."
Wise ones need few words.
Decide by morning.
If I need Bazran name or power, follow her—that was the implication.
"Understood."
I nodded slightly.
Grateful for Irene's favor toward me.
"It'll be a great place to live. With a lord like you, Cayer, you'll build something unique on the continent. A rest stop for those free winds...."
True Sky Knights love the open sky and winds.
Irene spoke like a prophet.
A place to tempt even fickle sky winds, quicker to shift than hearts.
She felt the dream I envisioned.
Sarasara.
Cool evening breeze from the sea.
Irene's silver hair danced skyward.
Her unique scent wafted.
I inhaled deeply, eyes closed.
In this moment, I was happy.