Chapter 350
Chapter 350
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Knight Talks with the Butler (1)
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Thud-.
…Could I ask a favor of you?
The baby unwittingly opened its eyes at the sound of 'Mommy's' voice.
However, it was still naptime.
Unable to fight off the sleepiness, the baby blinked its eyes again and drifted off once more to the lullaby-like tone of its mother's voice.
…Heh heh, speak as you always do.
…This will be the last time. Butler.
…Heh heh.
…Please, Albert.
…Hm, very well. Let's end our 'contract' here. Thank you for everything, Princess….
Thud-.
What was a contract?
It was far too complex a conversation for a newborn to comprehend, and the baby quietly fell asleep amid it all.
Endlessly peacefully.
…Honestly, it wasn't something worth getting that angry over.
Politicians often repackage others' achievements as their own—wasn't that a common tactic?
Even in his past life, when a fellow sergeant on leave saved a civilian from a heart attack, it wasn't the guy who got the praise; it went to the battalion commander.
To sum up the commander's spiel: 'I trained him well, so this was possible!' He stole the spotlight just like that.
After using his subordinate like that, the commander merely patted the guy's shoulder as if to say 'good job'—no real reward in sight.
And this was the same guy who'd given up his leave because of the commander.
- You okay?
- Sigh, I didn't save him expecting anything in return… but it still feels off.
He hadn't wanted recognition, but having his good deed stolen and the honor go to someone else? That feeling was just…
- Dirty.
Yeah, that's what he said.
Even the kindest acts or best intentions were worthless if no one acknowledged them.
If you didn't brag first, no one would notice.
From then on, the once-conscientious guy turned cynical.
The trash-picker from the streets? Nowhere to be found—he just walked by without a glance now.
'Why should I clean up after others?'
'I only threw it out because it grossed me out…'
Anyway, the point was, having your own merits dressed up as someone else's achievement was utterly infuriating and bitter.
Especially when exploited politically—it was the kind of thing that made anyone sigh.
So…
"Just come to the palace by morning. Here's the invitation and script. Follow it to the letter when you arrive tomorrow. Make sure you've memorized it perfectly by then. Otherwise…"
"Hey."
"?"
It wasn't all that strange for him to snap either.
…Especially not with that attitude.
"W-What did you say?"
The palace attendant stammered at the sudden informal speech.
As if such rudeness was a first for him.
But he didn't realize his attitude was just pouring oil on the fire.
"You never heard the rumors about me?"
"R-Rumors…?"
"Newbie, huh? Otherwise, you'd know my temper."
Thud.
Lee Han casually placed a hand on the attendant's head.
He might be a palace attendant with a noble title, but he didn't even have time to rage at the insult.
Crunch!
Grabbed by the head, he floated into the air.
"Gaaah…!"
"Who the hell are you to come barking orders? You think I'm your pet? Go when told, bite when told? I'm already pissed, and now you're provoking me too?"
Groan…
"──!"
As the pressure on his skull intensified, the attendant's screams faded.
Pain so severe he couldn't even scream anymore.
There were soldiers with him as escorts and aides, but they didn't intervene.
They couldn't.
"You guys know me, right? Seen my face a time or two?"
"Y-Yeah, probably more than a couple times…"
"Then shouldn't you have warned this idiot? You know my rep, my temper. Hell, is this even how you invite someone?"
"W-Well…"
The soldiers broke out in cold sweats, unable to meet his eyes.
While inwardly:
'That crazy noble bastard!'
'We told him! Why poke the bear?!'
'What an idiot—dumber than dirt!'
They cursed the attendant every which way.
Yeah, they got it.
Royal nobles were a breed ignored by most nobles, living their whole lives like that.
But arrogance had to be selective.
Messing with Sir Lee Han, of all people?
'That' Lee Han Turtle?
Looked like he just wanted to die.
'Dumbass. If you're gonna die, do it alone!!'
No soldier was ignorant of the rumors—half-truth, half-legend—about Lee Han Turtle swirling among them.
Hospitalizing the entire White Silver Lion Knights.
Slaughtering assassins sent by vengeful knights.
The families behind those assassins crumbling one by one.
And lately, smashing down a city wall—which only lent credence to the tales.
So the soldiers knew: Sir Lee Han Turtle was insanely strong, and nobility meant nothing—he wouldn't pull punches.
Hell, he'd beat you senseless.
But this clueless arrogant fool…
- Hah, he's just a lowly knight at best, isn't he? Three years—no, four now! Four years in the order and still that low? Proof he's just a brute with muscle, no brains. Mercenary trash. Think a mercenary scum can ignore royal authority? No way! Lowborns naturally bow to it. I guarantee, the moment he sees me, he'll drop to his knees!
Spouting that twisted logic, and as you can see, the result was:
"Guhh…"
Him on his knees—no, in an even more pathetic state.
Drip…
Lee Han tossed the fainted, pants-soaked attendant to the ground like trash and bared his teeth ferociously.
"Tell your boss or this idiot's boss: Send another punk like this, and I'll rip his head off and chuck it at the palace."
Gulp…
"And tell him if he wants to test if it's a joke, he's welcome to try."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Snap!
The soldiers saluted instinctively in awe, then dragged the unconscious attendant away in a frantic retreat.
They fled like they'd seen a ghost, and as their presences faded, Lee Han's expression gradually softened.
"…Was I too harsh?"
He wondered if he'd overreacted.
The guy was just rude—no need to blow up like that.
And taking it out on innocent soldiers felt shitty too.
Made him think he was too emotional sometimes…
"-Heh heh, worrying over trifles, Sir Lee Han. You did well. Holding back from ripping his head off after that insult shows remarkable restraint. A knight from a great noble house wouldn't have tolerated it."
"…"
"Hm, more than last time. Ho! This table—you made it yourself? Impressive craftsmanship, Sir Lee Han."
"Uh… th-thanks?"
"No need; just an honest opinion."
Gentle smile and praise.
Lee Han appreciated it, but unfortunately, gratitude wasn't the top emotion.
"…Butler."
"Yes?"
"…Could you make some noise next time? Nearly gave me a heart attack."
'Terror.'
Lee Han broke into a cold sweat at the elderly butler who appeared out of nowhere—no presence, no scent, no aura.
Scarier than any horror movie ghost.
Albert was…
"Who knows? Can't promise. Teasing the young is a simple pleasure for an old man with few days left. Ahaha."
"…"
…Why were all the adults around him so terrifying and mischievous?
'Did I commit crimes in my past life? …Nah?'
Lee Han, who'd always been polite to elders—his only 'crimes'.
Lee Han first offered the rare visitor some tea.
"Ho, honey tea?"
"Gift from the bees on the back mountain. Pretty good taste."
"'Pretty good'? This rivals royal tributes. Practically an elixir."
"This?"
Lee Han blinked, questioning if the bees' honey was really that special, but soon accepted it.
He kept forgetting: they weren't ordinary bees.
Honey from spirit insects carrying mystical energy? Made sense.
"And I got zilch…"
"A knight of your caliber expects as much. You're past the stage where elixirs boost power. Though a Heart of the Demon King would be different—those aren't common."
"…"
"Something wrong?"
"N-No…"
So it was that impressive…
He'd known it was something, vaguely.
'Should've savored it more?'
A twinge of regret over the casual consumption, but Lee Han focused on the burdensome guest instead of dwelling.
"So, why'd you come, Butler? Not just for tea, I hope?"
"Am I a burden?"
"…No."
"Hm, you couldn't lie your way out anywhere, Sir Lee Han. It's obvious."
"Ahem…"
"Not a bad thing. Honesty in expression has its merits."
Albert remained ever gentle.
Courteous, kind, lenient.
However—
'…Can a person be like this?'
Lee Han couldn't relax for a second.
Shiver…
His hands trembled more than ever from the overwhelming dread.
His growth let him perceive it now.
- John Ray Albert.
This seemingly kindly man was.
'Stronger than the Sword Sage—that fox auntie.'
…Clearly above the Sword Sage, perhaps on par with Baltar.
Sword Sage Felicia was incredible, of course.
Lee Han still had no way to beat her.
But terrifying? Not really.
She was essentially a [seeker] living for the sword's pinnacle—almost saintly, in a way.
Strong, yes, but not dangerous.
A bit clumsy, a failing grade as a warrior even.
She'd admitted her talent was the kingdom's worst historically—not a lie.
In that sense.
'This guy's different. He's like…'
A heavenly killer star crammed into a thug's frame, compressed and refined into pure, massive killing intent.
If that 'something' needed a name, it was probably.
'The Deep Sea…'
An unfathomable abyss lurked there.
A vertigo-inducing unknown terror beyond human comprehension just from looking.
One step in, and you'd be sucked under; if it raged, you'd vanish without a trace.
'…No wonder I was scared.'
From their first meeting, he'd wondered.
Why did this kindly butler always terrify him?
No reason to fear, right?
Now he knew.
Stepping into the world of intent, facing great demons and such.
'This is human intent at its peak?'
Don't trust the kindness.
Don't relax just because there's no intimidation or presence.
This man could snap his neck with a smile anytime.
Really…
'Aura Users are all freaks.'
It was terrifying…
"Good, very good. You've improved a lot."
Albert, knowing Lee Han had gauged him, showed genuine joy.
Proof of growth.
A young man's progress was an elder's delight.
Albert was pleased.
Thus…
"You asked why I came."
"…"
"Not to push the king's invitation or make requests. I just wanted to meet you, Sir Lee Han—to talk and say something. …But now, it seems unnecessary."
Albert decided against any declarations; the meeting itself sufficed.
He was content as is.
"…Butler?"
Lee Han felt oddly unsettled.
Not because he held back words.
For some reason, this felt like…
'Why act like we'll never meet again?'
…Their final farewell.
Clink.
"Well then, today's meeting was a pleasure. Until next time."
Albert set down his teacup and rose slowly—it seemed agonizingly deliberate.
As he turned to vanish like always…
"Butler!"
"?"
Lee Han called out loudly.
He turned with puzzlement, and even Lee Han didn't know why he'd shouted.
But somehow, parting like this felt wrong.
They needed more talk…
A 'real' conversation.
And on impulse, courage surged—his mouth moved before his brain.
"Butler… could you spar with me? Just once?"
"…"
"I know it sounds crazy… but it feels like if not now, never."
He knew it was impulsive madness.
A novel suicide attempt.
…But weird, right?
"Hm, no regrets?"
"Yeah, probably. But actually…"
──This'll feel better.
Better than vague chit-chat—a straightforward clash!
"How can you leave me hanging like this? I'll never sleep right. For my sake, humor me."
"Heh…"
Lee Han flashed a provocative grin at the abyssal monster.
And at his taunting expression…
"As expected… should have found you before Baltar."
Albert's lips curved even brighter.
Delighted by the unexpected gift.