Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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After Beonald washed Alterio in the river and returned to the mansion, Sein attended to him, pretending to serve while actually assisting.
She hadn't found the right moment to speak, as Heidi was practically glued to his side like a bodyguard, and even Erasol, the son of Sir Maldrov, clung to Beonald and whined, making it awkward to broach the subject.
"Young Master! Please, I beg of you. Bestow upon me as well the grace of martial arts you have shown!"
"No, you are the heir of Sir Maldrov... You are formally a member of another martial house, so it's problematic."
"But isn't Miss Heidi in the same situation?"
"Miss Heidi is different because her family head, Baron Zelkerd, explicitly entrusted her to me. Erasol, Sir Maldrov asked you to assist me, not to have me raise you as a knight. Especially since I haven't even received knighthood myself, I can't formally take you on as a squire."
"Then what should I do, Young Master?"
From Sein's perspective, Erasol, seeing Miss Heidi's skills skyrocket at an impossible rate after being near Beonald, had concluded there was some secret and was pestering Beonald to reveal it.
But the other party was the son of Sir Maldrov, a senior knight. He was formally the son of an independent martial house, so Beonald couldn't recklessly take him under his wing or teach him.
Naturally, Erasol must have learned his family's secret arts and martial skills. Even approaching him could be misconstrued as an attempt to steal them, which could be seen as making an enemy of Sir Maldrov.
"Hmm, the methods would be for me to become Sir Maldrov's disciple first and then accept you, or to completely erase the fact that you are Sir Maldrov's son... Both seem rather impossible, don't they?"
"......"
"As Sir Maldrov's son, even if it seems a bit late now, if you diligently follow the teachings your father gave you, you will undoubtedly reach a certain level. Bloodline and effort do not lie. It's just that each person's innate talent is different."
Beonald was careful with his persuasion, avoiding any insult or slander towards Sir Maldrov's family.
But from Erasol's perspective, it was a ridiculous notion.
Born as the son of Sir Maldrov, a renowned knight in the region, he had lived his entire life under tremendous expectations and pressure. Seeing Heidi next to him growing stronger at a maddening pace, becoming stronger by the day beyond even the realm of knights, only made him more impatient.
"Besides, even if you learned my way, there's no guarantee it would work. Miss Heidi learned from Baron Zelkerd, but only built the most basic foundation, so it was applicable. But haven't you already learned and practiced all your family's secret arts?"
"I... don't even have that foundation."
"And there are too many other problems... It would be too difficult. I'm already marked as a troublemaker within my family, you see. I'm truly sorry."
In the end, Beonald bowed politely and apologized, so Erasol couldn't say anything more. However, he looked at Heidi, who continued to follow Beonald, with a determination not to give up.
And finally, thinking the storm had passed and she could speak, Sein followed Beonald into his room.
"Young Master Beonald, I have something to tell you."
"Hmm? What is it, Sein? Is there a problem?"
"It's a very important matter, Young Master. It's about Madam Meira."
"That... is bound to be important."
Hearing Madam Meira's name, Beonald's expression changed completely.
Sein finally told him everything: that the Countess had drawn her sword with the Count's approval, and that knights from her family home would arrive within a week. She also relayed all the information she had.
Now the die was truly cast. She waited for Beonald's reaction, trying to calm her pounding heart.
"...That is all."
"Hmm, as expected, since she gave no opening, she finally exploded? So she pretended the Teal Slums incident was a failure... Well, that didn't go as I thought either, but it can't be helped. Ugh... Knights. If she anticipates me and Heidi, that's two... four... six, perhaps? And one week..."
Beonald tapped the armrest of his chair, calculating.
If it were just about killing him, maybe, but she also recognized Heidi as a knight-level combatant. Sir Zed is a mid-level knight, so adding one more mid-level knight and filling the rest with low-level knights, support of at least six was expected.
Seeing this, Sein thought, 'As expected, Young Master Beonald's mind works quickly,' admiring him while speaking.
"Yes. You must do something within that time..."
"No, I can't let this good opportunity slip. Heidi, she said a week. Then let's see... We'll train at the base for the remaining five days and prepare for actual combat."
Sein was bewildered by Beonald's words.
She had told him about Madam Meira's plan so he would move before the supporting knights arrived, but Beonald was strangely planning to deal with those knights.
With Sir Zed included, six more knights would be added. Arithmetically, the possibility of two people winning seemed low, but even Heidi looked excited, which only increased Sein's confusion.
"Let's see. Madam Meira's family home... It was the Royen Viscountcy, right? If we kill all six knights, it'll be quite a blow. Should we take hostages?"
"Th... That might be difficult."
"No, I'll go too, so it's not impossi..."
"Um, Young Master, there's one more thing I must tell you."
Beonald thought this was a perfect opportunity to give Heidi some excellent real combat experience, but when Sein suddenly spoke, he flinched slightly and looked at her.
Thinking there might be more information he'd missed, he decided to hear her out, but what came from her mouth was completely unexpected.
"Please save my mother. She is currently at the Royen Viscountcy's main house. If Young Master Beonald deals with the Viscountcy's knights and upsets Madam Meira's mood like this... Not only will I be punished, but my mother will also be in danger."
"Hmm, so that was the situation. Well, they'd need to have such a weakness to feel safe placing you by my side."
"Did you... perhaps suspect I was on Madam's side?"
"No, I didn't specifically suspect it, but from the start, I was wary of everyone in this household. Except for our adorable Alterio and Heidi, whose loyalty has been confirmed, of course."
"Ah..."
She should have felt bad about being a target of suspicion, but Beonald's attitude, speaking so casually as if it were obvious, was oddly persuasive.
Then Beonald rolled his eyes, calculating, and looked at Sein before speaking.
"You want me to save your mother? Then we'll need a place to take and entrust her. It's fortunate we have Baron Zelkerd. Otherwise, we'd have to bring her to our hideout and assign someone to look after her."
"You'll take her in?"
"You're asking the obvious. The fact that you're betraying and asking for help despite having a hostage means you've already made up your mind, doesn't it? However, time is tight, and we're short on people, so it will be difficult, but I'll gladly do it. So, Sein, make sure you aren't discovered for having said this to us and act as usual. If there's any threat to your safety, tell Erasol, Sir Maldrov's son, and ask for his protection."
"Ah... Yes!"
Even though she had brought it up herself, Beonald agreed to save her mother almost too easily and immediately began to move.
Beonald, with Heidi, immediately began preparing to counter Madam Meira's counterattack. He especially recalled Erasol, whom he had just sent away, and requested he protect Sein.
"I... will do so."
'He agreed, but his face shows he's not very pleased. Well, I just refused him so bluntly and now I'm giving him a task, so it's only natural... Hmm~'
*Tap tap tap...*
Beonald rapidly turned the gears in his mind.
Leaving the request as is wouldn't be bad, but considering Sein's safety might not be fully secured or he might act carelessly swayed by emotion, he decided to take additional measures.
"If her safety is guaranteed... Normally, this should be kept secret, but I'll give you one surefire help to become a knight. It's unrelated to swordsmanship or mana breathing techniques, but I can guarantee it."
"...Is that true?"
"I swear on the names of the Goddess and Callermain."
"Ah, understood! I will definitely protect her!"
The instantly changed attitude and reaction felt a bit mercenary and disappointing, but the situation left no choice.
It was a shame to reveal information about the ley line, but Sein was an absolutely indispensable card in the current situation. Suppressing his regret inwardly, he headed to the training room with Heidi.
On the way, Heidi spoke to him.
"Um, Young Master, aren't you putting too much effort into that maid named Sein? I'm grateful she provided information, but still, to get such a firm promise from Young Master Erasol... I can't help but wonder if it's necessary."
"Hmm? Ah, of course, it might look that way on the surface. But I highly rate her qualities and willpower. Think about it. She was formally under Madam Meira, her family held hostage, tamed through threats and violence, right? In that situation, to attach herself to my side with a request that isn't even guaranteed to succeed, with uncalculated odds? Do you think that's easy?"
"Uh... Certainly... It would be difficult. More than that, how did you notice she was being subjected to violence?"
"Why wouldn't I notice? Every time she tended to me, the smell of medicinal ointment on her wounds and the scent of blood wafted around, and her movements were different too... Of course, I didn't know the details, so I watched without saying anything, but not knowing would be strange."
It wasn't the first time he suspected something else. In noble households, maintaining discipline among servants, attendants, and slaves through violence and corporal punishment wasn't unfamiliar. He just couldn't intervene without knowing if it was his place.
And now that she had revealed it herself, he had perfectly grasped the cause and effect of that punishment, so he could finally stop it.
"Honestly, Madam Meira is unbelievable. To treat a talent with that much courage and willpower in such a manner... Anyway, by my standards, she's someone worth this much effort and cost to bring over."
"Is... that so?"
"Why that reaction? Ah~! Don't misunderstand. I have no intention of forcing possession if she doesn't come of her own accord. Of course, she has her charms, so I'll try to win her heart, and if she shows interest in me, I have no reason to refuse."
"...Yes, I see."
'Times change, and even after 500 years, a woman's heart remains the same.'
Though not said outright, Heidi's reaction, clearly jealous about Sein, seemed cute to Beonald.
Despite her large frame, seeing such feminine behavior made Beonald smile. He dove into full-scale planning and training with her to perfectly secure Sein.
And while pretending nothing was amiss, he began preparing Alterio's equipment, using hunting as an excuse to go outside and replenish supplies at the base, making all possible preparations before the week was up. He also started thinking about how to deal with Madam Meira, subsequent negotiations, and what to do with this Callermain Earldom from now on.