Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Fissure (5)
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Leon’s office.
In the awkward silence, Simon stared blankly at Lian’s escort.
“Hey, you.”
“Yes?”
“You look young, but your swordsmanship must be quite impressive.”
Pablo examined Simon’s gaze with a puzzled expression.
Was this some sarcastic roundabout way of mocking him?
But all he sensed in the man’s eyes was pure curiosity.
“No, not really?”
“Really? I assumed you were quite skilled, given that you attend your master alone.”
“Ah...”
He was asking why someone of Lian’s stature, leader of a merchant caravan, would bring only one escort.
Moreover, the size of one’s escort was also a means of displaying authority.
If he’d had five or six, the soldier guarding the gate earlier would have easily guessed Lian’s identity.
“Actually, it’s the opposite. None of us are skilled enough to protect Master Lian... We’re not even sure who’s supposed to protect whom. He says we’re just a nuisance.”
“I see.”
“Honestly, I’m less of an escort and more of an errand boy.”
“Have some confidence. That means he doesn’t see you all as mere disposable tools to die in his place.”
Pablo scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
Still, it would be nice if his boss trusted and relied on him as an escort.
Having an overly competent superior was a problem in itself.
“I’m a bit envious.”
“Pardon?”
“No. Just talking to myself.”
On the other hand, Simon felt a pang of bitterness as he thought about how the man he’d served loyally for years viewed him.
Though irreverent, if he could choose his superior, he’d pick Lian too.
How common was someone with such outstanding ability and character?
‘That means he’s not one to remain under someone else.’
Just look at how he’d gone from slave to caravan leader in a mere year.
Come to think of it, it was fortunate that Leon had rejected Lian’s proposal.
Otherwise, they surely would have clashed constantly.
Pillars stand firmest when facing parallel, not head-on.
Clunk—
By then, the office door opened, and Leon emerged with Lian.
“My Lord. Seeing off your guest?”
“No. I’m heading to the eastern watchtower with Lian.”
“But that place...”
“Is there a problem?”
“No. None at all.”
Simon hurriedly bowed his head.
Blood can’t be fooled, it seems.
Even as his advisor, his superior wouldn’t tolerate so much as a word of counsel.
‘I’m little more than an errand boy myself...’
It was a day filled with an unusually high number of mixed emotions.
Lian walked the long corridor with Leon.
A procession stretching out with numerous soldiers, even though it was his own home.
Was this normal?
Or was it because he was accompanying an outsider?
For now, there was no way to know.
Crackle—
Kyahahaha—
As they proceeded, mad laughter mingled with spirit whispers echoed from somewhere.
Undoubtedly the magic of Delico Matron he’d felt at the plantation.
“Tell your escort to wait here.”
“Pablo. You heard him?”
“Yes. Safe travels.”
Lian ascended the wall tower abutting the sheer cliff alone with Leon.
Something felt off, though.
The whispers from Delico Matron’s magic came not from atop the tower, but from inside the cliff face.
“Even though I grew up in this castle, there are hidden places everywhere that I never knew about.”
Leon paused midway on a landing, pulled a wall torch bracket, and twisted it clockwise.
Rumble—
The wall parted, revealing a passage.
It connected to a hidden crevice in the adjoining cliff.
“Truth be told, this is tame. The underground is a maze unto itself. And who knows what else my father hid there besides Delico Matron—I can’t even imagine.”
“Wouldn’t the court magician know something?”
“Well, probably.”
Leon averted his gaze slightly as he answered.
An attitude deliberately avoiding the topic of the court magician.
Just like with the kingdom’s army yesterday, something must have gone wrong with that old man.
Crackle—
Lian peered beyond the crevice, following the now-closer spirit whispers.
A secret garden unfolded before him, light seeping through the hidden valley, filled with a gnarled tree and blooming flowers.
“It has a similar vibe to the plantation. Is Delico Matron here?”
“Yes. Right there.”
But no human shadow was visible in the direction Leon nodded toward.
Further in lay a sheer dead-end drop.
No place to hide.
Yet Leon wasn’t lying.
Lian shifted his gaze, guided not by eyes but ears.
“Delico Matron.”
He called out to the low, hunched tree standing alone.
“...You’re Isabel’s dog.”
Then the thick bark split, and the tree opened eyes and mouth.
“You’re persistent. Even in this state, you crave revenge? Used by others because of it. You still haven’t come to your senses, Matron.”
“Hmph. A limbless torso or a rooted tree—there’s not much difference.”
Lian observed the tree-bound Delico Matron closely, subtly resting a hand on his sword hilt.
Yet it differed from that monsterized girl, Sofi.
For one, no core-like organ was detectable, unlike before.
Instead, magic permeated evenly from roots to leaf tips.
“You’re the foolish one. With such extraordinary talent, you stoop to being that harlot’s pillar husband.”
“It’s the life I’ve dreamed of since childhood.”
“Hmph! Get lost. I’ve no mind for idle banter with you.”
Delico Matron closed her eyes and mouth again.
From past experience, she’d learned that lengthy talks with Lian only revealed her hand.
“You don’t even ask about your children. Do you truly feel no affection for them?”
No response.
The tree was silent.
‘I’d love to end her now...’
If he could cleave the tree in one stroke, perhaps.
But he had no means currently.
Moreover, Leon’s watchful gaze burned into his back.
‘Better not do anything that could get me in trouble.’
At least not in front of him.
Lian released his sword and turned to survey the surrounding flowerbed.
Magic was clearly infused, but unlike the plantation’s barrier, it posed no real danger.
Before any control, she simply lacked her former power.
‘No sign of abandoning revenge. So why turn herself into an immobile tree?’
What would happen after time passed remained to be seen.
Emerging from the secret garden in the cliff crevice, Leon asked with a triumphant expression.
“What do you think? Now do you understand what I meant?”
“Honestly, I still don’t quite get it.”
“Tch. Being too cautious can be a flaw too.”
Even if her essence was a magician, wasn’t he overly wary of mere a tree?
A tree’s life was one of endless giving.
Roots only bound it further to the earth, branches stretched in vain without grasping anything.
“See? What can someone who can’t move a step do?”
“She couldn’t walk before either.”
“No one but me can enter here freely. No slaves to command like at the plantation.”
“Delico Matron’s magic uses plants as medium. Now she is the plant?”
Lian gritted his teeth.
What did this man have to be so confident?
She wouldn’t have become that just to be a endlessly giving tree.
There was surely another ace up her sleeve.
“Be honest. Who willed her into that form?”
“The result of following my command.”
Not a lie, but evasive.
“Let me see the court magician. I need his opinion too.”
Leon responded with uncomfortable silence.
“My Lord. You didn’t promise to deal with Isabel in exchange for her cooperation, did you?”
It was worth considering the reverse.
Why would Delico Matron cooperate with Leon?
Just as Lord Francis had.
The most effective way to handle her was surely her grudge against Isabel.
“Who knows. To be frank, do you even need Isabel anymore?”
“Pardon...?”
“The merchant house is as good as yours already, isn’t it? That’s what everyone thinks.”
“No. The owner is unequivocally Isabel.”
“So what? Make it fully yours already. Lian, you’re the most capable person on this island. You deserve it! If you need help, I’ll provide it gladly.”
Leon revealed his true intentions openly, flashing a sly grin.
This man was indeed the vulture Isabel had described.
“Cunning as ever. You avoid specifics to leave an escape hatch.”
If things went south, he’d claim no such intent.
“No, surely you don’t actually love Isabel?”
“Well, she’s my type.”
“I get it. Few young women match her beauty. Though how long that lasts...”
At most ten years.
Lian would still be young and handsome, but Isabel?
Moreover, she was one who’d stolen a family from another woman with youth and beauty.
So it was obvious she’d scheme when roles reversed.
“Sincere advice for your sake. A husband killed once—no guarantee there won’t be a second.”
“You know this, My Lord. It stemmed from Delico Matron’s vengefulness.”
“No. Isabel used that vengefulness to murder her husband and stepson.”
“If that’s what you want to believe.”
“You—”
Of course, Lian knew Isabel’s cruel nature well.
That’s why he’d always been cautious to avoid mistakes.
Conversely, he knew Leon’s temptations weren’t for his benefit.
He simply saw Isabel as an obstacle to controlling Lian.
Lian glared at Leon with cold, insolent eyes.
“This is a warning. Married yourself, do you not understand? Don’t touch my family.”
“A warning? Have you forgotten who stands before you—the lord?”
“Have you forgotten who sent your father to the execution block?”
Leon’s face hardened rigidly.
Easy to tame meant easy to betray.
But untamed was a problem too.
His patience was reaching its limit.
No, it had long surpassed what could be called patience.
“Lian. My goodwill toward you stemmed from believing we walked the same path.”
Forcing one who wished to part ways was like baring one’s throat for the knife.
“Really? I don’t recall receiving any.”
“Now I see we’re truly fated enemies.”
“Husbands and wives resemble each other, don’t they?”
And father and son resembled each other viciously.