Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Victory Celebration
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As the Victory Celebration approached, delegations from other families began to arrive in Decaron one by one.
Delegations from four families—the Plague of Disease, the magical House of Bellmarc, the Belvedere of Blood, and the wild Bwanga—made their way to Decaron.
Adding the Lauren family to the list, a total of five of the twelve noble families of the United Kingdom were attending the Victory Celebration.
Moreover, with the Crown Prince himself visiting Decaron, this year's event required even more careful attention than usual.
And that wasn't all.
Not only nobles from the vassal families of the twelve great houses, but countless minor nobles also flocked to Decaron, filling it to the brim.
Amidst the clamor both inside and out, Carlyle remained holed up in his room, refusing to move.
He despised anything bothersome, loud, or chaotic.
Instead, Carlyle discussed future plans in his room with Borodin, the chieftain of the Firehammer Tribe.
"For the time being, I want to focus on mining mana stones, and I'd like to build an armory in Decaron."
"You mean a factory for producing weapons and armor?"
"Yes."
"Excellent. Our tribe will provide the technological expertise of the dwarves to ensure we can produce the finest weapons and armor."
"Good."
The importance of weapons and armor in war was self-evident, so Carlyle was very pleased with Borodin's cooperation.
Dwarven technology was overwhelmingly superior to that of humans, so it went without saying that Decaron's military strength would grow even greater.
"Ah, and one more thing. I have a favor to ask."
"Yes, Young Master. Please, ask anything."
"Can you make something similar to this?"
Carlyle asked, showing something to Borodin.
"Hmm. This is a very crude device."
"Is it?"
"If you build it like this, it will lack stability, and you can't expect much power from it either."
"Do dwarves know this much about things like this?"
"When you're developing mines, you have no choice but to master such fields."
"I see."
Carlyle nodded in understanding.
"Then, can you make it the way I want?"
"How so?"
"Here."
Carlyle handed him a parchment with his requirements written on it.
"This won't be difficult at all. This kind of concept is new to me, but the technology itself is not entirely unused."
"But I need it within two days."
"It's possible."
"Good. I'm counting on you."
"Consider it done."
Borodin bowed politely and left the room.
"Just you wait. I'll give you a proper gift."
Carlyle thought of the Crown Prince and smiled chillingly.
* * *
The Victory Celebration was held on a grand scale.
As one of the most prominent events not only in the North but in the entire United Kingdom, its scale and splendor were considerable.
A festival was held, and people, whether northerners or outsiders, ate and drank together, celebrating the repulsion of the barbarian invasion.
Of course, even during all this, Carlyle remained holed up in his room, spending his time quietly.
"Young Master, Chieftain Borodin has completed the item you requested."
"He has?"
At Maranello's report, Carlyle shot to his feet.
"Then, let's begin."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Deliver the item."
"Understood."
"Be careful. You must not be seen by anyone. The royal family will have eyes and ears everywhere."
"I will keep that in mind, Young Master."
Maranello immediately went to Borodin, received the mana stone trap Carlyle had commissioned, and slipped out of the inner castle through a secret passage.
The place Maranello headed for was a shabby inn.
"Drink, drink!"
"Pour it up!"
"Let's drink 'til we drop!"
As it was the festival period, a wild party was in full swing at the tavern on the inn's first floor.
Maranello, his hood pulled low, approached Kudo and his companions, who were drinking.
"Let's talk for a moment."
"Oh?"
Kudo smiled meaningfully.
"Grim Reaper of the N—"
"Shh."
Maranello cautioned Kudo.
"I have something to discuss in private, so please spare me a moment. I'm asking you."
"Well, very well."
Kudo nodded, then said to Marder and Wilson.
"I'm going to have a quick word, so keep drinking. I'll be right back."
"Alright."
"Hurry back."
After they moved to a different spot.
"What brings you to me? A mere soldier."
"I have a job for you."
"A job... It's been a long time since I've heard that word."
Kudo lowered his head and smiled, amused.
A chilling glint flashed in Kudo's narrow eyes.
Maranello gave a gentle smile.
"That's not what I meant, so don't misunderstand."
"Then what did you mean?"
"It's a request from the Young Master."
"Oh?"
"Here, this letter details the job."
"Hmm."
Kudo read Carlyle's letter, then tilted his head in confusion.
"I roughly understand what it's saying, but why on earth are you commissioning something like this?"
"Please don't ask for details."
"Are you telling me to just do as I'm told?"
"You know full well that's not what I mean."
"That's true."
Kudo said with a grin.
"I trust you understand the nature of the job without me having to spell it out."
"At night. Without a soul knowing. Clean up afterward, leaving no trace."
"You catch on quick."
"The payment?"
"It's here."
Maranello placed a sack full of gold coins on the table.
"Oh? The pay is quite generous for such a trivial mission."
"Kyang kyang!"
The fox by Kudo's side also cried out, as if pleased.
"When would be best?"
"Tonight would be ideal. Everyone's attention is on the festival right now."
"I'll leave at once."
"You mustn't be seen by anyone. Maintain secrecy when leaving and re-entering Decaron."
"Of course."
Kudo nodded as if it were obvious.
"Please give my regards to Private Carlyle."
"I will."
Maranello immediately left Kudo's room.
"A job, a job... What in the world are you plotting, Private Carlyle?"
Kudo muttered to himself, picturing Carlyle's face.
* * *
On the final day of the Victory Celebration.
A grand party was held in Decaron's inner castle.
With not only the blood relatives of the Sigmund family but also the delegations from other families and the Crown Prince in attendance, the party's splendor was beyond description.
"Oh my!"
"They said the young lord of the Belvedere family was the most handsome man on the continent, and they weren't wrong!"
"I've never seen such a handsome man..."
Amidst it all, the one who received the most attention from the women was Serdian van Belvedere, the eldest son of the Belvedere family.
He had been famous for his good looks since he was very young, and now as a grown man, he was praised by all as the most handsome man on the continent.
Furthermore, he exuded the unique decadent charm characteristic of the Belvedere family, giving him a dangerous and captivating aura.
And Serdian himself was well aware that he was the most handsome man on the continent, so he secretly enjoyed the women's gazes.
'Parties are indeed enjoyable.'
Serdian smiled to himself, feeling the women's eyes fixed on him.
But that was short-lived.
Serdian suddenly noticed something strange and frowned.
A few women passing by showed no particular interest in him.
'What's this?'
Serdian was flustered by the unfamiliar situation and became intensely curious about the reason.
It was only natural, as he was used to being the center of female attention wherever he went.
'I've heard the women of the North are strong-willed and fierce. Is that why?'
But that couldn't be it.
The appreciation of beauty was a natural human instinct that transcended age and region.
Nevertheless, upon realizing that the women who appeared to be from the North weren't looking at him with any particular wonder, Serdian couldn't contain his curiosity and stopped one as she passed.
"Excuse me, may I have a word?"
"Ah."
"I am Serdian van Belvedere. Your name is...?"
"Knight Helen, at your service, Young Lord of House Belvedere."
"Ah, so you are Knight Helen."
"Is there something you need...?"
Serdian's mood soured once again.
Normally, when he initiated a conversation, women would be overcome with shyness and gratitude, not knowing how to act. But this knight named Helen was not like that at all.
In fact, her wariness was so apparent that Serdian, the one who had approached her, felt awkward.
'She must just be nervous.'
Serdian interpreted Helen's unwelcoming reaction this way and asked her.
"Pardon me, but I'd like to ask you one thing."
"Go ahead."
"If I may ask, Knight Helen, what did you think when you saw me?"
"I didn't think anything in particular."
"Hmm."
Serdian said, slightly flustered.
"Just in case, may I ask what you think of me, Knight Helen?"
"I don't know why you're suddenly asking me that."
"It just occurred to me. It seems I'm not considered a particularly attractive man here."
"Ah."
Helen gave a slightly cold smile, as if she understood what he meant.
"If you're talking about physical appearance, I think you are very handsome, Lord Serdian. I can see why you're praised as the most handsome man on the continent, but..."
"But?"
"Car..."
"...?"
"Car... *Huu*."
Helen took a deep breath as if the words were difficult to say, then spoke.
"In my opinion, Young Master Carlyle is far more handsome."
"Carlyle... you mean that northern degenerate?"
"That's right."
"*Tsk*."
Serdian's face twisted in anger.
Of course, it was true that rumors circulated about the northern degenerate's good looks.
But Serdian had always believed that was just nonsense spouted by northern bumpkins who didn't know any better.
"Thank you for your answer."
"Yes, if you'll excuse me."
Helen gave a cold smile and turned away from Serdian.
"Country bumpkin, no eye for quality. There's no way a degenerate like that is more handsome than me..."
Just then.
"Oh, my!"
"Woah."
"I've never seen anyone like that in my life."
*Murmur, murmur!*
The calm atmosphere of the banquet hall suddenly stirred, and everyone's gaze turned toward the entrance.
'What is it?'
Wondering what was happening, Serdian pushed through the crowd toward the entrance and received the greatest shock of his life.
A truly handsome man stood there.
Platinum blond hair that was almost silver, skin as pale as jade, incomparably mysterious violet eyes, a perfectly straight nose without a single flaw, and lips curved in a slight sneer.
Despite his sullen expression, he was so stunningly handsome that the word came to mind unbidden.
"Announcing the arrival of Young Master Carlyle van Sigmund."
"...!"
Only then did people realize that the identity of this sculpture-like man was [that degenerate], and they were utterly astonished.
Rumors had abounded that the northern degenerate was handsome, but to think that Carlyle, upon revealing himself, possessed looks that could overwhelm even Serdian, the so-called most handsome man on the continent.
"Ah, so annoying."
Carlyle muttered as he walked forward.
"Why do I have to come to a place like this and become a spectacle?"
"Just try to enjoy it. What's good is good."
"Enjoy what? It's just a pain. Ugh."
Carlyle shuddered as if the gazes of the people were giving him hives.
But the people, especially the women, couldn't seem to tear their eyes away from Carlyle.
Dressed in the formal attire of the Sigmund family, Carlyle's beauty was such that it was impossible to look away, even if one wanted to.
*Tremble, tremble...!!!*
Serdian shivered with an inferiority complex he had never felt before in his life.
The thought of being surpassed by someone in looks was something he had never even considered, not even in his dreams...
Regardless, Carlyle paid no mind to the likes of Serdian, walking on with a haughty expression.