Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Let's Be Friends
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Na and Rex arrived at the capital after a week of peaceful travel.
Excluding the bandit and wild monster encounters every three hours, the journey had been peaceful.
[Was there always this many bandits?]
"This region is like that."
And for good reason.
"The lord abandoned public order."
In truth, the lord was in cahoots with the criminals, but that was a spoiler, so there was no need to mention it.
The only fact Rex needed to know was one thing.
"It seems the bandits find you... appealing, Rex-nim."
[You meant easy pickings, right? And 'appealing' is rude too?!]
"My apologies for the slip. Still, from the bandits' perspective, the two of us make for an attractive target."
At my words, Rex scanned himself and me.
And then...
[You, Duke!? But the guild master and doctor seemed to know you...]
"As a wandering knight, I wore armor."
A dented helmet, scrap-metal plate armor, a greatsword dulled to the edge, and a red plume like a rooster's comb.
That had been the wandering knight Duke's appearance.
Compared to that, now I wore no armor at all, let alone black.
No one knew my bare face, so it was natural the bandits didn't recognize me.
(For reference, before meeting Rex, I'd kept my face hidden for a mysterious persona.)
[Ah.]
Rex nodded in understanding at my explanation.
[Still, thanks to you, the trip was comfy.]
"My honor."
I recalled the original story as I watched Rex bow his head slightly to me.
'In the original, he traveled alone and got tossed around everywhere.'
Though Rex's support abilities could challenge 8th circle beyond 7th, his combat prowess barely exceeded 1st circle.
He'd somehow reached the city by playing assassin with his minimap, but he was a total wreck upon arrival.
Compared to that original tale, Rex's journey in this world was leisurely enough to call a vacation.
Today alone, I'd snapped necks with telekinesis before his minimap even flagged them red.
Rex had been baffled at first watching red dots vanish solo, but by day two, he got used to it and stopped checking the minimap.
Thanks to that, I could reminisce a bit too.
'This has been a while.'
Bandits had ambushed early in the trip, but once I donned the red-plumed tin can, they fled, making the road boring.
'Later, I chased them down.'
So I did. Why weren't they coming to me?
That got me blacklisted in the bandit network, but anyway, it happened.
Lost in those thoughts, Rex messaged (texted) me.
[What if you hate slaves or...]
Rex eyed me cautiously.
As if worried I'd hate sharing a table with A.
'Hmm... average personality for this world.'
Daring for a slave to dine with a knight? Beating them to death with a club right there was common sense.
Rex worried I might be that kind of scum.
Separate from his loyalty and good nature— a knight's common sense was another matter.
But Rex was mistaken on one point.
"A knight's honor stems from respect, not violence."
The final boss Duke Awik wasn't that type.
True, my goal was to block certain protagonists as the final boss, but only toward them.
To my subordinates or allies, I had to exude boundless soft charisma.
In other words, to Rex's future subordinates and people, I needed to be the fairy-tale knight incarnate.
'Plus, this is the transition phase.'
I wasn't even in final boss mode yet.
I had the power, but not the social status.
Even a demon king needs a demon castle to rule.
Same for me.
Later, as Rex's sword—the final boss—I'd invade other territories and nations, but now was organization-building time.
What I needed was charisma to win hearts, not tyranny.
So I addressed Rex, already fretting needlessly.
"And to earn respect, one must first respect others."
Even if A was a slave, it meant I'd respect her.
'Why build walls with the future empress?'
Mess up, and the empire splits between empress and second-in-command.
Better get close now.
As I thought that, Rex sighed in relief.
"Phew..."
Even while sighing, he eyed me.
"..."
Unable to stand it, I spoke to him.
"Rex-nim."
[Yes?]
"I understand if you fear me. You're unsure how bound I am by the blood oath."
[...]
Rex flinched, hit on the mark.
To him still watching me, I bowed my head.
"A liege should never eye his knight warily."
Over the past week, I'd noticed Rex watched me too much.
This would make me the shadow power, not second-in-command.
That couldn't happen.
Then internal affairs and paperwork would dump on me, he'd pawn off the tough stuff and rampage—ruining my plans.
'I'm the loyal knight!'
A knight wielding the king is a treacherous minister, not loyal. Against my character.
Before things escalated irreversibly, I made it clear to Rex.
"I won't ask you to trust me. We haven't known each other long. Instead, I'll prove it with actions. Until you trust me, Rex-nim."
No use persuading this timid protagonist: 'You're the liege, I'm the vassal.'
Better stoke guilt: 'It saddens me you don't trust me.' He'd awaken liege consciousness himself.
My method worked wonders.
[Sorry...]
Instant effect.
No fix for the apologies, but casual speech was a big win.
I hid my twitching lips and landed the finisher.
"No need to apologize. If I haven't earned your trust, that's my failing."
Wobble!
Rex reeled from the guilt stake.
The capital of Karognar Province, Karognar.
Here, we continued our search for A.
'Ah, not Cargokar—Karognar.'
In my original life, I'd visited few provinces lifetime.
Hundreds per kingdom, hundreds of kingdoms.
Provinces the size of past-life nations, subdivided into cities—names blurred together.
No issue solo, but as second-in-command, I needed to mind it.
'Good, minimap labels it.'
The shared minimap UI corner showed the city name.
Didn't update on entry; Rex fiddled in air to refresh—manual logging, it seemed.
Made me look cultured too.
But current issue wasn't that.
"Karognar is quite vast."
Province-sized, its capital rivaled Seoul.
Karognar split into inner citadel for lord and vassals, outer for commoners.
All we knew: slave trader's name, likely in outer city.
'Knowing the name's useless.'
No navigation without it.
'Sigh. No acquaintances.'
Rex scanned with clairvoyance, but no luck yet.
[Province is huge...]
Awkward Rex echoed me.
I had nothing to add.
As we wandered Karognar,
Crash!
A random event popped before us.
"Your fault my armor's wrecked! How'll you compensate?!"
A knight harassed a middle-aged woman, pointing at dangling chainmail.
Sneaky mustached knight forced her to kneel.
Powerless citizen begged mercy, bowing; passersby distanced themselves.
As if natural.
I instinctively checked their levels.
'Citizen level 7... knight 24.'
0th and 2nd circle.
Even in a magic-easy world, 0th circle was plain folk, not superhuman.
Most citizens stalled at level 9 despite training.
Aging unchecked during stagnation weakened them till lifespan ended—normal lives.
9 to 10 was one circle, but a towering wall.
Tough without fortunes like opportunities; effort alone rarely sufficed.
'I knew all the opportunities, so no blocks for me.'
Levels weren't the end post-wall.
Even 1st circle superhumans often stagnated decades at 9, dying to age-lifespan combo without fortunes.
But crossing rewarded sweetly: tenfold growth below.
'And 19-20 has ten men's walls.'
Thus, the 2nd circle knight's street arrogance made sense.
Goblin-ruled 4th circle research city was the outlier.
To normals, a lone 2nd circle knight felling hundreds was disaster.
He knew, hence the public bullying.
'Sigh. That's why training needs character cultivation.'
So thinking, I focused on the knight and poor citizen's talk.
"Milord, what did I do wrong..."
"Huh? You don't know? Really asking?"
"Sorry! I'm lowly..."
"You didn't clear gravel right—chain snapped!"
Ah, classic routine.
Gravel wrecking armor? Nitpick, obviously.
Excuse to torment her.
All on street knew, none protested.
Law distant, sword near—phenomenon.
Slap!
Knight slapped her cheek.
Thug knight's blow floored her weakly.
Frowning scene, but Rex just gritted— no action.
Thug knight spat at fallen woman.
"Ptoo. Shouldn't strut training your son."
She sobbed seated, calling presumed son's name.
That recalled my past; sigh escaped.
- "Disciple. Your level's too high."
Master and seniors tried killing me for rising too fast.
Efficient superhuman leveling here: murder.
Kill similar level: gain levels. Higher: break 9-wall.
But riskier vs higher, so kill peers catching up.
Even lowers nearby gave wall-break exp.
Karma tick minor trade-off—rational.
Thus superhumans tensed at adjacent levels.
Higher preempts backstabs; lower eyes opportunities.
Lucky leap to knight/lord: revenge on predecessor, repeat cycle.
'Master panicked at my catch-up, stalled at wall.'
Ultimately died naturally by my hand—unimportant.
Back to now, focused on woman.
'She won't die.'
Killing 0th circle just karma hikes for thug knight.
But he'd torment steadily—karma ignored.
Freshly reincarnated, these scenes hit hard; 200 years numbed me.
Not 30-year-old Rex, though.
Beside me, clenched-teeth Rex entered view.
'Hmm...'
Not in original, but... fine.
For buildup, I spoke to Rex.
"Are you alright?"
[Fine. Not fine. Can't lie to you, Duke.]
Casual now, imperfect but nodding.
[No choice. Count Karognar's turf. Intervening in lord's knight handling locals is rude.]
I eyed Rex's bowed head.
True, his words right.
No good-evil in karma-loophole world.
Power mattered.
Morality: strong's law.
But thus, Rex missed one fact.
'Endure? Why? I'm here?'
Original early Rex endured such injustice, resolved better city. (Became empire.)
Meaningful, but frustrating read.
I felt it too.
No more.
"Rex-nim."
[Yeah?]
"Here, you holding my sword are the law."
Rex now above the lord this instant.
Realizing, Rex's pupils shook.
I bowed to him.
"Command me."
[...]
Rex bit lip, agonizing.
Head swirling, probably.
Could he bear my sword's responsibility?
I waited silently.
Soon, Rex typed...
[Nosy maybe, but can you save her? Without later trouble.]
Nosy urge, no complications.
Self-mocking smile on contradictory request.
Pretending ignorance of his wry smile, I bowed.
"Your will be done."
I headed straight to thug knight.
Kept dignified stride.
No armor, sword, helmet now.
So when my shadow loomed, thug knight barely reacted.
"What, punk? Looming?"
2m frame didn't faze—sensed me 1st circle.
I'd not planned dropping this low, but per Rex's no-attention wish.
Fresh reaction from thug knight after ages—not what I wanted.
No reply; slowly released presence before him.
Arrogant till I hit 2nd, paled at 4th.
At 5th...
"Sorry!!!"
Smashed head, cracking ground.
5th was lord-circle.
Provoking such...
'No complaints if killed.'
Like his 2nd bullying 0th, I had right.
His cherished common sense.
Could execute here.
But...
'No big issues, he said.'
Remembering, coldly overlooked knight.
"You manage decorum well."
"Sorry, my lord... er, milord!"
"You blocked me and my liege, wasting time. How will you atone?"
Thug knight's crime: offending mood.
Bullied with gravel? Repay with time.
Grasping, he bowed deeper, yelling.
"Didn't kill her heir! Just..."
"Not what I asked."
"I'll apologize to the lady too!"
"Hmm. But why's your head aimed at me?"
Knight switched, apologized to lady.
Pride?
Brandish it, die—this world.
Thug knight shed all pride, begged lady forgiveness.
Lady seemed unforgiving...
"Just leave me be..."
Suppressing fear, she spoke; knight bowed nonstop, vowed never return, fled.
'Hmm...'
Bit disappointing.
Lady's trauma-dictated words—I wasn't satisfied.
Out of sight, telekinetically crushed knight's shoulder.
Gravel snapped chain? Match injury.
"Urk!"
Sudden pain, clutched shoulder, but fled on.
'Shoulder bone mercy.'
Didn't kill son, so this end.
Knight's life is shoulder—death sentence sort of...
'Whatever, heal magic if he affords.'
US-grade heal costs high, but if rich, back to knighthood.
Dispatched thug, 'diligence' forehead-written youth dashed over.
"Mother!"
Half-face swollen, apprentice knight rushed.
'Level 19.'
Threat-level for thug knight.
Diligent knight fretted kneeling mother.
"Mother, you okay?"
"Son, your face..."
"Don't worry. This heals quick."
I left worrying mother-son, turned away.
'Whew. Touching scene.'
Stoic-faced, so thinking, distanced from pair.
En route to Rex, idea: ask apprentice directions.
'Patrols know city layout.'
But charismatic cold knight Duke can't ask now.
Needs cool back-view exit.
'Ah... need directions though...'
So thinking, hustled to Rex.
- Knight!
Pitiful call behind—never turn.
Vanish naturally for true charisma.
Ignored apprentice's call, returned to Rex.
When Duke returned, Rex reflexively bowed.
[Sorry for dragging you into...]
Duke's words flashed: - If you can't trust, I'll prove with actions.
Recalling, brief dilemma, edited message.
[Good work.]
Apology to mission-fulfilling knight insults as liege.
Only thanks and praise needed.
Duke grasped, smiled satisfied.
"My honor, my liege."
Affinity +5!
No actual sound, but echoed in Rex's head.
.
.
.
.
[But... can't ask that apprentice directions?]
Duke subtly trembled at Rex's question.
Duke's mind: emergency sirens.
- Wee-ooo! RP breaking!!!
- So cool exit, now back for asks!?
- Nooo! Well, practical!!
As Duke desperately brainstormed, apprentice approached.
"Um... knight?"
Apprentice bowed deeply to Duke.
Duke thought fast.
'Good! Your turn, Rex!'
"I'm but a sword. Voice thanks to my liege."
Unsure apprentice's intent,
but pass to fate-favored protagonist? Things'd work out.
Calculation spot-on.
"My rudeness! Didn't realize!"
Apprentice apologized for bypassing liege,
"Any help I can give, I will!"
Opened door to our top need.
'Yes! Just request guiding...'
Duke eyed Rex expectantly.
Then realized miscalculation.
'Oops.'
Drdrdrdrdrdr
Rex vibrated like jackhammer.
Extrovert-diligent apprentice approached sans blinker—panic mode.
'Argh, damn.'
Thought social anxiety eased; only okay with familiars.
[Thththanks pls saveme Dukeke!!]
Typos flying overhead; Duke swallowed sigh.
Still, achievable sans RP ruin.
Duke acted telepath-received, turned to apprentice.
"My liege wishes you guide us."
"Really!? Honor!"
Liege-via-knight common; no character doubt.
"I'll lead!"
Apprentice ahead.
Duke checked Rex.
Rex gazed admiringly.
[Talked to save me—awesome!] with message.
Receiving all praise, Duke...
'Is this right...'
Slight self-loathing amid hotter acclaim than post-thug praise.