Chapter 343
Chapter 343
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.72 – The Knight Wears a Suit (2)
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According to testimonies from those who entered the central boulevard of the royal capital, it was a place often described as another world altogether.
Construction workers who went in for repair work particularly insisted that even the air was different there, but people who heard this in taverns would click their tongues, saying such boasts were utterly useless if taken too far.
However, for those workers, it was an injustice.
"No, really!"
"The air is different from the start!"
"The streets are all made of marble, and the decorations around them are all gold and jewels! Plus, the water is free! No, there's a canal running right through the streets, and the water quality is so clean and cool you could just drink it straight!"
"There are fruit trees everywhere, so you can pick and eat whatever you want!"
...They all chimed in with such testimonies, but the longer they spoke, the colder the listeners' gazes grew.
Of course. Who would believe such tales?
The streets being made of marble was dubious enough on its own, but all decorations being gold and jewels, with incredibly pure water available for free?
Premium fruit trees scattered everywhere for the picking without issue?
This was just...
"Boasts have to be moderate to count as boasts. Cut it out, you lot."
The people scorned them.
Yet the accused felt wronged.
They had only spoken the 'truth,' after all, and no one believed them.
Shwaaaaa-!
Cool, clear water sprayed refreshingly from a massive fountain made of marble.
Mages cast purification spells on it daily, ensuring the water always stayed pristine.
But the truly astonishing part was the canals designed to let the fountain's water flow outward.
Trickle.
Even the canals branching out in all directions were spotless.
With hundreds of them, you'd expect moss or impurities somewhere, but alchemists' touches ensured not even that was allowed.
In this way, the pure water from the canals irrigated the beautifully landscaped fruit trees along the streets, and caretakers on constant standby warded off pests like insects.
The caretakers would occasionally hand fruits to young heirs or ladies wandering the streets and wanting a drink, and the children would carelessly drop half-eaten fruits or litter right there.
But...
Whoosh!
Separate caretakers swiftly cleaned it all up in an instant, leaving no chance for the streets to get dirty.
Magic, alchemy, and thousands upon thousands of caretakers scurrying unseen by nobles—this central boulevard was truly a [separate world].
So peaceful and beautiful, impeccably clean.
The nickname 'upper-class district' fit it perfectly.
Yet that nickname was equally fitting in another sense.
It was a zone you couldn't enter even with a knight's title—requiring at least a baron's rank.
Not just astronomically high real estate prices, but also scrutiny of titles, honors, and various conditions.
Children of prestigious noble houses with at least 300 years of history, or high-ranking officials; merchants with immense wealth and titles, or foreign diplomats.
Only their bloodlines filled the streets; commoners were nowhere to be seen.
The caretakers?
They were from bloodlines that had served prestigious houses for at least three generations.
In other words, practically nobles themselves.
So extravagantly luxurious, excessively so.
...Well, nothing strange about it.
Even in the world the knight remembered, equality was preached, but in reality, living areas differed by social status and wealth, with class-based discrimination as an unspoken rule.
In that sense, a capital city having a district reserved for the upper class wasn't odd at all.
It felt natural, if anything.
And into such a street.
Clatter. Clatter.
"Look over there."
"Hmm."
"It's Tristan."
"...Ha."
A single carriage entered, drawing glares.
It bore the red eagle banner symbolizing Tristan—a prestigious house renowned even in the kingdom, no, the south—so its presence on the central boulevard wasn't unusual.
They had the qualifications, after all.
Even so.
"It can't be His Excellency, so then..."
"Must be that adopted daughter of his. Ha! Ridiculous."
The nobles living in the central district unleashed their sharp scorn.
They knew.
The current Marquis Tristan had long retired from high society and preferred staying in his capital mansion over visiting such streets.
There was a collateral relative, Veil Tristan, but he focused on training and kept his distance from places like this.
That left only one person who could ride a carriage exclusive to the Marquis Tristan bloodline and set foot in 'their' district.
Levi Jan Dark.
Ridiculously, the woman who had caught Marquis Jenimia's eye and risen in status.
And the nobles found it ridiculous.
"Catching His Excellency's eye by sheer luck, and now she dares step foot here? Ha! Gutsy, but overstepping."
"What an unpleasant wench."
Nobles valued bloodlines.
No, in the south, it wasn't exaggeration to say they worshipped them.
Why?
Because the southern continent was land flowing with [mystique].
They even measured a person's worth by the purity of their blood.
Even low-titled houses with pure blood were respected in some cultures.
Thus, even as Tristan's adopted daughter, the nobles wouldn't acknowledge her.
No matter what, she was a woman without a drop of their blood.
Especially those in the upper-class district, who scrutinized bloodlines more fiercely, having been taught its importance from the cradle.
Unfriendly gazes were inevitable.
"This won't do. I have to say something."
"Please restrain yourself, madam. Starting trouble with Tristan will only harm you."
"No. How can one call themselves noble if they don't speak up even when crushed by authority? Besides, my father was a general in the military. Even Tristan can't ignore his authority."
"Madam...!"
The women looked at her with moved eyes.
Such bold courage.
Clapping that her claim of being a general's daughter rang true, their eyes moistening with silent cheers, the noblewoman marched straight toward the carriage.
As if determined to humiliate her and drive her out immediately!
'If you're debuting, go nicely to the palace. What is this filthy foot doing here!'
The palace was fine to enter.
But not here.
From the sculptures to the trees on this street, all built purely from noble wealth without royal aid.
Thus, it was their street, and not even royalty could casually invite outsiders.
Especially not lowly blood!
And so.
Creak.
"You...!"
The woman was about to bellow in fury the moment the carriage door opened.
[[[──.]]]
...No, to be precise, she had tried to.
'Had tried.' Past tense.
"......"
"Got something to say?"
"......"
"If not, move."
"......"
"?"
Whoosh, swish.
"...Why'd she faint and collapse in the middle of the street?"
"Who knows?"
The man tilted his head at the unresponsive woman after waving his hand in front of her face a few times, while the girl behind him blinked in confusion.
What was up with her?
And then.
Thud!
The moment the man stepped onto the street, the nobles quietly looked down.
Maybe an illusion, but the ground seemed to shake.
Crack.
Ah.
"What is this? Why's the pavement cracking?"
Not an illusion after all...
The instant the man stepped on the marble, the ground heaved and cracked, and the nobles quietly averted their eyes.
Pride, stubbornness, dignity, honor as nobles.
Considering all that, chasing out this unrefined-looking man was the obvious course.
But.
Pop, pop!
"M-Master, another button popped off."
"These keep falling off? I haven't gained weight..."
"You haven't gained fat, Master. Your muscles have bulked up instead—that's the problem."
"......"
"Cover your chest a bit. You're too tempting like that."
"...Bear-girl, don't say stuff like that elsewhere. I'll get in trouble."
"???"
"...This is driving me nuts."
...No one can shout at a wild beast without a leash.
"...Ahem."
[......]
The street fell silent.
Even in the upper-class district, it wasn't usually this quiet—conversations hummed despite not being rowdy.
Yet now it was eerily still.
Not that there were no people.
"......"
"........."
There were.
Quite a few, in fact.
With ball season underway, the upper-class streets bustled with shoppers, cafe-goers, or those strolling to enjoy the warm spring sun and cool breeze.
Horses, camels, birds, dogs.
Even pet lions and eagles let loose on the walkways.
Yet silence reigned.
Ferocious barking dogs that couldn't control their temper, birds chirping melodiously.
[Uh, uhh...]
Even the usually languid lion rarely rose, frozen in place.
Man or beast, predator or not, all maintained tension.
And the one instilling such discipline in the upper-class district was...
"Man, I really hate unfamiliar clothes."
"You still look dashing, Master."
A man strolling leisurely as if on a casual walk.
He had bulging muscles, but that wasn't particularly rare.
There were knights with even larger builds and heights.
Like Lionel's Black Lion or Mordred's bulldog—they'd seen them in person.
Yet for some reason, looking at this man felt more striking.
No, 'intense.'
Presence? Aura?
An inexplicable intensity stimulating survival instincts poured from him relentlessly. If a lion or tiger with its wild nature intact were released here, it'd feel like this.
Only because his form was 'human-shaped' did they not flee in panic; otherwise, running would be natural.
"Master, your energy feels unstable today. Something wrong?"
"Nah, nothing much. Just psyching myself up. This is the upper-class district, right? Didn't want some idiot picking a fight on our first date, so I'm on edge a bit."
"F-First date? M-Master, you don't have to—"
"Your words say otherwise from your face, though?"
"...Hehe."
The girl beamed happily, a heartwarming scene.
At some point, all eyes had gathered on the man, peeking at this exchange, but they stayed silent.
Overwhelmed by his psyched-up aura—no, 'bearing.'
He usually suppressed it, but now he exuded the bearing of a valiant warrior charging into enemy lines. No wonder even seasoned folk couldn't withstand it.
Especially since the princess had publicly praised his skill as just below Aura User—that bearing would daunt not just civilians, but most knights too.
Proof: even champion nobles were rigid.
The more skilled ones fully realized how terrifying it was.
"What kind of guy is he..."
If one visualized human bearing as an image, this man's was a...
'Volcano.'
Seemingly ready to erupt at any moment, exploding at the slightest touch.
Terrifyingly hot, but docile, merely smoking if left alone...
Yet that made it scarier.
For some unknowable reason...
'Why does it feel like it'll blow?'
Flames seemed poised to surge anytime.
Meanwhile.
"You sure this is okay? I wanted to take you somewhere fancier. Or straight to the hall."
"Mm... Sorry for fooling the maids, but honestly, I don't want to go there. Getting judged makes me sick of it now."
"Got it."
"Yeah! I prefer outings like this with you, Master. More than anything, parading me around means you trust me now! That's the best part."
"Don't get too happy. Makes me feel guiltier."
"But I'm really happy..."
"...Makes me feel like trash even more."
"Hehe."
"Jeez."
Tricky situation.
The man's pained mutter drew blinks from the nobles.
More innocent than expected, and...
'A gentleman?'
His bearing aside, he seemed straightforward and decent.
The talk had baffling bits, but otherwise wholesome and fresh.
Made them wonder if they'd misunderstood, tilting heads—even pets seemed to cheer the young couple warmly.
"Alright, let's get to it. Can't stand around forever."
"O-Okay."
"I'll demonstrate first. Your back... leave it to me."
"...Yes!!"
The girl nodded eagerly, happier than ever, and people felt embarrassed smiles forming at the cuteness—
"—How long you gonna peep on someone else's date?"
Thud!
─In an instant, the man's hand pierced the building.
Krunch!
!!!!
It happened so suddenly no one could scream.
What the hell was that?—they tried to shout, but.
Rumble!
"????"
"W-What is that?"
...They could only gape again.
What the man dragged out by the hand was none other than.
[KAAAA!!!]
A monster, no less.
"O-Orc!?"
Orc—a pig-shaped monster that devoured humans and kin alike.
Such a beast emerged in a flash, and as nobles recoiled in horror...!
Rumble!
[[[[Kaaaa!!!]]]]
The building's outer wall crumbled, revealing dozens of orcs.
Each radiating murderous intent now that exposed, they swiftly—
Snap!
"Not you lot—don't confuse things."
...toppled as their necks collectively severed.
Instant deaths.
"Sheesh, my mistake from the start."
Swish!
Lee Han shook off his hand with an awkward expression.
He'd wanted to look cool in front of his disciple, but botched it right away.
And then.
"Hmm, this time it'll be right."
Rumble rumble boom!
Slowly, Lee Han uprooted a pillar supporting the crumbling building.
And...
"Ah, spot on this time."
Whoosh!
He hurled the pillar precisely into the fountain.
Like throwing a spear.
And so...
BOOOOM!!!!
An apocalypse erupted on the street.