Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.60 – The Way Knights Treat Beasts (4)
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...Knights are such annoying humans to deal with.
They nitpick over that damn honor of theirs at every turn, and their stubbornness is so intense it makes iron tendons look flexible by comparison.
However, paradoxically, if they weren't so stubborn, they wouldn't be knights at all.
They possess unyielding mental fortitude and ferocity, charging in without regard for danger to protect their lord's honor and orders.
So, while knights are certainly a pain to handle, they can't be ignored or dismissed.
No matter how weak their martial prowess might be, their 'stubbornness' and 'loyalty'—stronger than iron tendons—ensure they never break, even under overwhelming violence.
On the contrary, they view such pain and hardship merely as trials to prove their knighthood.
That was why Lee Han didn't like arrogant knights, but he didn't despise or look down on them either.
A [True Knight] deserved respect simply for what they were.
...Which was exactly why.
'This guy's no knight.'
There was no need to show respect to a mere [Fake].
"I-I was just following orders from above! To ignore the young lady and leave her be... I-It’s only natural for a knight to obey orders from his superiors, right...?"
Perhaps sensing his own expression growing colder, the man's words grew increasingly muddled with every sentence, cold sweat pouring down his face.
He knew it too.
The contemptuous gaze Lee Han directed at this so-called gardener-knight.
'This bastard probably became a knight through connections, or got knighted by some idiot noble—a total vagrant.'
There were those types occasionally.
Ones who called themselves knights but valued honor less than mercenaries and chased profits more than merchants.
'Mercenary knights,' or 'vagrants,' as they were called.
Lee Han was convinced this one was one of them.
After all, what kind of knight followed vague orders from 'above' instead of their own lord's? What kind ignored their lord's blood kin? What kind spilled information so easily after a bit of force...?
Even those fools who underestimated him as the White Cat wouldn't go so far as to bite their own master—they weren't that stupid or spineless.
The fact that he was whining about mere light restraint—without even torture—confirmed he was a fake.
'...But why am I so pissed off?'
Lee Han had no lingering attachment to knighthood anymore, but still being in this line of work, watching a pretender strut around like a peer filled him with disgust.
He wanted to pound the guy like ground beef for a hamburger patty, but he held back.
In this situation, it would be counterproductive...
'This trash might actually be useful.'
Just a slight prod, and information poured out like a magic fountain.
For Lee Han, where even a single piece of intel was precious, stumbling upon a third-rate thug masquerading as a knight might even be lucky.
Of course...
'Not that I'm letting him off easy.'
The self-proclaimed knight—no, third-rate thug Richard—opened his mouth again, oblivious to Lee Han's ominous glare.
"...The young lady was born without Modred's [Mystery]. I'm just a temporarily hired knight from outside three years ago, so I don't know much, but they say she's been like that since birth."
"A real vagrant, huh."
"Th-that's not the important part right now... Ahem!"
"Keep rolling your eyes like that, and I might accidentally gouge them out."
"......"
The word 'vagrant' was a term that grated on mercenary knights, and he showed clear discomfort—but as soon as Lee Han narrowed his eyes, he shrank back like it had never happened and spoke again.
"A-anyway, without Modred's Mystery, it's undeniable that the young lady is a half-blood. ...I heard rumors that the late wife even had an affair."
"......"
"I-it's just a rumor I heard somewhere! Th-the margrave himself declared there was no affair, and the young lady's hair color proves she's Modred blood. It's just foolish gossip among the servants."
"......"
"?"
Lee Han stayed silent, and Richard, who had been babbling, grew puzzled at the sudden quiet. Then Lee Han furrowed his brow and spoke.
"I didn't even ask, so why bring up the kid's birth, you moron?"
"......"
"Why the aggrieved look?"
"Urk..."
"Oh, one thing I'm curious about. Why would Modred hire a half-blood reject like you? Even for a great house, they wouldn't stoop that low."
"......"
"Not answering?"
"...G-gardens."
"?"
"N-not as a knight, b-but as a g-garden steward. B-but I am knighted. So I am a knight..."
Smack!!
"Gaaah!!"
"...A real half-blood like you dared call that kid a half-blood, you son of a bitch."
Lee Han could no longer contain his rage and swung his fist.
Information be damned—for now.
'Gotta beat this fucker first.'
Lee Han's mental health came first.
'In short, that's it. No tigers around, so the foxes are running wild.'
Lee Han shook off the filthy blood from his hands.
A human wriggling like an earthworm lay nearby, but stepping on the grass felt more regrettable than trampling this beast-worse-than-beast.
Instead, it was far more worthwhile to review and organize the information beaten out of him over 40 minutes.
'Five years ago as the turning point, the Modred family and most of the elite knights entered some place called the [Underground Annex] for some reason.'
They left only the youngest daughter, Louise, behind and went into Modred's annex, turning the family into a leaderless limbo state.
Of course, Margrave Modred wasn't a fool—he'd temporarily granted the head steward authority to manage the house—but unfortunately...
'The steward died of a sudden heart attack shortly after taking over, and with no successor to manage the territory, the collateral kin and vassal families went rabid like they had hydrophobia, starting a pointless power struggle over the main house like petty warlords.'
It was utterly foolish.
In the end, when the family head returned, all that fighting would mean nothing...
'Well, with the master away for five years, it's no wonder this happened.'
But the problem was the sole remaining direct bloodline: Louise.
No matter how much they schemed, the royal family would only recognize direct-line Louise as the next heir.
Thus, the collaterals found her existence an eyesore, but directly harming her would draw too much attention, so they simply...
'...Abandoned her.'
They figured a girl child left without adult help would die quickly.
In other words, leaving her to die in some 'accident' one day would be the perfect outcome for them.
How utterly...
"Hah, why are there so many scum worse than beasts?"
Disgusting trash overflowed.
So low, hoping a child would just die on her own...
Even hell's demons would applaud such character.
'Ghosts are better than humans, after all.'
At least they wouldn't be this repulsive, right?
Lee Han sighed bitterly and felt a pang of regret... when—
"Wait a sec? So right now, there's no one here to notice, huh?"
Mid-mutter, Lee Han realized one fatal fact.
No tigers in the house.
No direct lines with the [Mystery], not even the so-called elite knights.
They'd hidden it well thanks to the secluded environment, but now that he'd infiltrated the main base, the truth was out—and what that meant was...
"I've been doing something stupid?"
Lee Han sensed he'd bypassed a straight path for no reason, looping around needlessly, and felt a slight headache coming on.
This was like turning a straight shot into a maze run.
How idiotic was that?
'What the hell have I been doing all this time?'
Wasting time on disguises and bullshit—he regretted it immensely.
However.
"...Now that I've realized it's idiotic, I should fix it right now."
Regret shouldn't drag on; the wise way was to end it short and ensure no more foolishness by acting on it.
Lee Han muttered meaningfully and stepped forward vigorously.
"P-Potion, please..."
The thug mumbled something, but it fell on deaf ears.
Louise had a truly wonderful day today.
"Hehe, I made a friend."
Her first friend in life!
Not only did he save her, but he even carried her on his back.
For Louise, aside from her grandfather who was away for now, no one had ever been this kind, making her treasure this friend all the more.
"N-next time he comes, I should give him this too—!"
Clink.
Louise gazed at the money she'd saved, beaming with smiles.
Harboring a tiny wish that giving it would make him stay her friend longer.
Then.
"Young lady, I'm coming in."
Clank!
"!!?"
Louise startled at the woman bursting in and reflexively hid her money.
"Why so surprised? It's not like it's the first time."
"......"
Louise shot her a sullen glare.
She knew exactly how nasty this woman—the head maid—was.
"Wh-why are you here..."
"Goodness, if not me, you have no one to talk to, yet you treat me like this. How hurtful."
"G-get out! This is m-my room!"
"...Must be because you weren't raised right? Such rude words to an adult."
"!!?"
"Yes, yes, don't get mad. I just have business and I'll go. Stamp this here."
"What's that...?"
"It's something. Anyway, stamp it quick. Blood seal would be best."
"Blood seal?"
"With blood. Your blood, young lady."
"Bl-blood!?"
"Yes, it's really easy, isn't it?"
The head maid smiled sweetly.
As if a mere blood seal was no big deal.
Terrified by the words, Louise hid her hands, refusing utterly.
But.
"It's nothing, really? It won't hurt, won't hurt."
"N-no! D-don't!"
"Come on, just—"
Clink.
"Oh? What's this?"
"Ah...!"
Louise screamed.
Her poorly hidden money pouch had been discovered.
"Wow, our young lady's rich! How much is this?"
"D-don't take it!"
The head maid snatched the pouch, and Louise reached out, tears welling up.
But a child couldn't match an adult's strength, and the maid easily ignored her sobs.
"I heard rumors you were earning money somehow—quite a sum. I thought it was just candy money, but you have talent. Thanks, I'll put it to good use."
"It's not yours!!"
"It is now, young lady."
"!!"
"Remember this well, young lady. People without power get everything taken away."
She smiled contentedly, as if imparting great wisdom, while Louise's tears streamed down.
But the head maid found the situation amusing.
The superiority of tormenting the daughter of that mighty margrave.
This thrill of feeling superior to nobility...!
-Drip.
"?"
"Listen up, you beast bitch. Unlike you, I'm not a beast—I'm explaining kindly, so pay attention. This is gonna hurt a lot from now on. Let's start with a four-hour taste."
The head maid didn't comprehend, unable even to demand the hand on her shoulder be removed.
Because.
Krunch!!
She'd become a hunchback in an instant.
"Aaah! Aaaaah...!"
Crunch! Cruuunch!
She screamed in agony.
But he paid no heed to her suffering.
She was noisy, so he stuffed a rag used for floor cleaning into her mouth, returned the money pouch, and had no intention of wasting more time on such vermin.
"...Santa?"
"Can't let them take something so important, young lady. Here."
"......"
"What's wrong, young lady?"
"S-Santaaa...!"
Louise tossed the returned pouch aside and threw herself into his arms, sobbing pitifully.
The moment she saw his face, relief washed over her.
So Louise just cried.
"Aigoo, don't cry, young lady. Santa won't come to crying children."
"Sniff! S-Santa's n-not a g-grandpa?"
"...There's another Santa besides me. Ugh, shouldn't have picked a fake name."
"?"
"Anyway, young lady. I think I can give you a gift, but I need your permission. Would you grant it?"
"Yes, I permit it!"
"J-just like that?"
"Yes! Santa's my friend!"
"...Hmm, permission should be given carefully..."
"It's okay! Oh, I can even be your guarantor!"
"......"
"Why?"
"...Just one question: has anyone ever asked you to be their guarantor?"
"Yes!"
"...Gonna need a lot of axes."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Thanks for permitting it, young lady."
"Hehe!"
Louise laughed innocently.
Unaware that her permission would upend Modred—no, all of Wales.
But even if she knew.
"Santa, thank you..."
"...Friends, right?"
"Heehee!!"
The child would have permitted it gladly.