Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Blank Check
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Kairun clenched his fist tight.
The pounding of his one-sided crush had been passed on to Kara, now out of his reach.
But the hot blood and admiration of a warrior now burned entirely for Barg.
The three pairs of eyes crossed strangely in the air.
Kara gave the boy returning her mask a warm, big-sisterly smile, as if proud of him.
She had no idea.
That this boy had just buried his first love in a corner of his heart.
And then there was me.
Arms crossed, gazing down at Kairun with a subtle expression.
'Why's this kid looking at me like that?'
There was no jealousy or hostility.
Instead, what filled that space was an overwhelming sparkle of admiration.
Like a kid meeting a real-life superhero from TV.
'...No way he's crushing on me, right?'
A chill ran down my spine as I cleared my throat.
"Ahem. Anyway, glad you're not hurt."
I had a bad feeling more entanglement would just tire me out.
I wrapped an arm around Kara's shoulders and hurried into the clothing store.
'Ow... that stings...'
Kairun watched my back—precisely, my shredded shirt—until the end, letting out a deep breath.
I just hoped no annoying trouble would come up.
But for Kairun, this was the day his world shattered and a new one opened.
The inside of the clothing store was noisy for a different reason than the commotion outside.
"We still have Behemoth leather left!"
Head Altarist Clozer shouted, his face flushed red.
He held the remaining black leather fabric in his hands.
"Just sign my receipt! I'll make pants that perfectly match this jacket and send them to your territory! Wearing just the top and something else on the bottom? That's an insult to fashion!"
"No, I appreciate the sentiment, but..."
The Eisen Baron fiddled with his wallet, looking troubled.
"Behemoth leather... How could I possibly afford that? Our family budget's already over the quarterly limit..."
"I don't need money! Just let me complete my masterpiece! Please!"
"I can't do that! A noble's honor is at stake. How could I exploit free labor? Paying fair compensation is core to my administrative philosophy!"
It was a tense standoff.
A craftsman refusing payment and a noble insisting on paying.
A bizarre clash of pride and principles.
Watching from the side, I clicked my tongue.
'...So heartwarming it's frustrating.'
Just take it when he offers.
But neither the Baron's stubbornness nor the altarist's fervor showed signs of breaking.
This could drag on till dawn.
Clunk.
At that moment, a heavy metallic thud echoed on the counter.
"......?"
The Eisen Baron and the altarist turned their heads simultaneously.
There lay a pure gold signet ring engraved with the family crest.
And standing there, having placed it down, was Kairun, brushing back his messy hair.
"We'll settle with this."
"Y-Young master?"
The Eisen Baron recoiled in surprise.
Kairun pulled the receipt toward him with an indifferent expression.
"Not just the pants, but all the other clothes those two picked out. I'll buy them all."
Scratch, scratch.
He grabbed the quill pen and boldly signed the bottom of the receipt.
Kyren von Northguard
The moment the Northguard Grand Duke's name was inscribed, that scrap of paper became as good as a blank check.
"No, young master! That's way too much money! Just the Behemoth leather alone..."!
The Eisen Baron tried to stop him in a panic, but Kairun snorted.
"It's cheap compared to the value of a life."
The young lord jerked his chin toward me without looking back.
"That man saved my life. Do you think the Northguard bloodline is worth less than a few pieces of clothing?"
"Ah...."
The Eisen Baron shut his mouth.
He had no counterargument.
If anything, it was a bargain.
Kairun tossed the receipt to the dazed altarist.
"Make the best clothes. Money's no object."
"Y-Yes, sir! Thank you, young master!"
The altarist clutched the receipt like a treasure and bowed deeply.
Situation resolved.
With overwhelming wealth and authority, Kairun cleaned up the mess and strode out of the store with a cool expression.
Ding-a-ling.
The moment Kairun left, I chuckled and muttered.
"Not bad, kid."
"But it's still chilly out, huh, Barg? The Baron's ears are redder than yours."
Kara, sharp-eyed but oblivious, glanced back and forth between the cold-sensitive Eisen's ears and Kairun's.
Outside the store.
The cold evening air cooled Kairun's fervor.
His escort knights fussed over him anxiously.
"Young master... are you really okay? You should get a full checkup back at the territory..."
"I'm fine. Not even a scratch."
Kairun brushed the dust off his clothes and spoke flatly.
Then he looked at his escort knight.
"And... from now on, don't call me young master."
"Pardon? What do you mean...? What should we call you then?"
The knight asked, flustered.
It was the nickname he'd been called since childhood, the standard for Kairun before his coming-of-age ceremony.
Kairun gazed up at the sky and said quietly.
"Just call me young lord."
"......"
"My brother will inherit Father's position soon... I can't keep being treated like a kid forever. I'm entering the academy too, so it's time I pulled my weight."
The childish whining from tailing Kara earlier was gone.
His words carried the weight of someone aware of his position and duties.
The knight stared at Kairun in a daze, then smiled warmly and bowed deeply.
The immature young master had brushed death and returned as a man.
"Understood, young lord."
"Good."
Kairun took the lead in walking.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he stopped.
The image of Barg's back from earlier flashed in his mind.
That explosive leap toward the carriage.
The toughness of not even groaning as his back was torn open.
And crucially, that crude, massive axe hanging at his waist.
A symbol of raw, primal power on a whole other level from his own swordsmanship.
"Hey, Sesk."
"Yes, young lord."
"Maybe I should try using an axe sometime."
"......Pardon?"
Sesk's eyes went wide.
"An axe? But young lord, you're a swordsmanship genius! The youngest Swordmaster in imperial history!"
"Nah, just... swords feel kinda sneaky. A real man needs that one big hit, right? The satisfying thwack of smashing down heavy."
Kairun mimed swinging an axe in the air, muttering seriously.
Sesk nearly fainted.
The future of imperial swordsmanship was getting hooked on axe swings and considering a career change.
"No! Absolutely not! Young lord, please don't ruin my career as a sword instructor! The Grand Duke would kill me!"
"Joking, joking. What a reaction."
Kairun giggled at Sesk's horror.
But his eyes weren't entirely joking.
As he vanished into the evening sunset, Kairun clenched his fist again.
An axe might be too much... but I want that kind of power at least.
The boy's growth had veered in an odd direction, but it had begun nonetheless.
Thanks to Kairun swiping that blank check for the clothes, the Eisen Baron's budget finally got some breathing room.
No, it was more like a dam bursting with surplus.
We didn't bother going far; we settled for a home-cooked meal provided by the store owner, Clozer.
The altarists had cleared a corner of the workbench to set the table, but it was better than any restaurant.
Clean, quick, and above all, the meat was top quality.
I'd seen Clozer's wife rush out to buy meat beforehand, panting when she returned.
"Whew... When's the last time we bought meat on the young master's dime."
I overheard whispers of embezzlement, but compared to the clothing bill, it was pocket change.
"Mm... excellent."
The Eisen Baron dabbed his mouth with a napkin, looking satisfied.
"Saving on clothes really upgrades the meal quality. Thanks to this, my son's nagging might ease up."
He savored his wine in leisure.
"Eat plenty. It's a solid two days back to the territory even rushing. We'll rest midway, but expect long hours in the carriage."
"Will do."
I speared tender filet steak and fresh salad onto Kara's plate with my fork.
"Here you go, love. Eat up. Our little one's hungry too. Food here's clean and good."
"Yeah, it's delicious. Didn't expect the clothing store owner to cook this well too."
Kara chewed happily, clearly enjoying it.
Nothing happier than watching your wife eat well.
After the meal, we stepped out to find the carriage procession ready to depart.
But.
"......?"
It wasn't the cramped four-seater we'd arrived in.
Three carriages stood in a row.
The lead one loaded with tribal goods and border purchases.
Middle: the Eisen Baron's private carriage for solo travel.
And at the rear.
"What's that...?"
It was a massive special carriage, twice the size of the others.
A VIP luxury bed carriage.
Admiration welled up inside me.
Whoa... this is the taste of capital.
We'd arrived crammed like luggage, but hours later, a limo was waiting.
The power of Kairun's seal hit home.
The Eisen Baron gazed at the carriages with relief and spoke.
"Truth be told... I'd arranged these three carriages before the young master gave his seal."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. But honestly, the budget bleed was severe... I was a bit conservative at the store. My emergency funds couldn't cover the Behemoth leather."
He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses.
But a strange sense of liberation lit his face.
And the faint upturn of his lips.
"Unfortunately... since the young master covered the full clothing bill, my son's workload just got lighter. No more receipt-processing lectures. What a dutiful son."
The Eisen feigned regret, but his smile reached his ears.
The bed carriage rental wasn't cheap—I'd worried inwardly—but with the biggest expense gone, he was free.
"Of course, the receipts back home might still make him faint... but whatever. I'm basically a retired old man in the back room now."
A retired family man's petty revenge and indulgence.
I chuckled and played along.
"Haha, lucky break for your son. Shall we head out, Baron?"
"Let's go! Light the lamps—night road's dark!"
The Eisen Baron stuffed a generous tip into the coachman's hand—one he'd have skimped on before—and whistled.
Shifting family duties for luxury felt pretty thrilling, apparently.
We boarded carriage number three as guided.
The interior exceeded expectations.
Standard seats removed, the floor covered wall-to-wall in plush mattresses and premium fur blankets. A bed compartment.
"Wow... a real bed?"
Kara kicked off her shoes and climbed up in awe.
I followed.
My massive frame couldn't fully stretch out—I had to kneel or prop against the window—but compared to the coffin ride earlier, this was heaven.
Creak.
The carriage started smoothly.
Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating Kara's face.
She wriggled closer, nuzzling into my chest.
"Mmm... nice and warm."
"Yeah. Should've done this sooner."
I wrapped one arm around Kara's waist, gently caressing her lower belly with the other.
Rub, rub.
Still early, so it felt like her usual firm abs.
Playfully, I said in a serious tone.
"Huh? You ate so much earlier... has our baby grown this big already? Your belly's poking out a bit."
Smack!
Kara swatted my hand.
"Don't tease! And that's... your fault for feeding me. I was full, but you kept piling on meat."
"Gotta eat plenty of good stuff."
I chuckled, dropped the teasing, and gently stroked her belly.
A faint warmth transmitted through my palm.
"Hee... tickles, Barg."
No outward sign yet, but my child was in there.
My family.
My bloodline.
The warmth reached my heart.
To protect this little life, I felt an infinite surge of responsibility and love—enough to smash empires or demon kings.
"...Gotta eat well to grow strong. Both of you stay healthy. I'll protect you."
To my quiet vow, Kara burrowed deeper into my arms and nodded.
"Yeah. I trust you, love."
The three carriages raced along the darkened border road.
Peering out, Norheim's snow-capped mountains were lost in shadow far behind.
Ahead, the empire's inland lights twinkled like stars.
Now the real thing begins.
Eterna Academy.
Stuck-up imperial nobles.
And the twisted original plot flow.
But I'm not afraid.
I've got this warm bundle in my arms and First Snow Fang strapped to my back.
Grow strong, little one. Dad'll handle everything.
I kissed the forehead of peacefully sleeping Kara.
The carriage wheels cutting through the night sounded like a marching anthem toward a new battlefield.