Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Somewhere Between Black Flame Dragon and Blackening
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After finishing his conversation with Lillete, Sion headed back inside the house.
He had already finished all his thinking, so now it was time to put it into action and see what happened.
Sion glanced at the knights still filling the house and ordered everyone except Reshida to wait outside.
Once the knights were convinced there was no more danger, they left close protection to Reshida, with some standing guard at the entrance and the rest returning to the carriages to avoid causing unrest in the village.
Now, the only ones left in the siblings' house were Sion, Lillete, Reshida, and Kim Yoo-hyun leaning against the wall.
Ah, of course, Ria was perched on the roof.
“Sending all the knights away.
What's your scheme?
D-don't tell me you're planning to hunt this body!”
“...”
Hold back, damn it.
Hold back!
If he could make use of her, it would be almost like acquiring Kim Yoo-hyun MK2.
Until he could repel the celestials without much trouble and guarantee perfect safety and peace, it wasn't enough even if he collected SSR-grade cards endlessly.
“Ha.”
Kim Yoo-hyun clutched his forehead as if he couldn't stand it anymore, while Reshida glared sharply at Trisha.
Ria, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation from the ceiling while scanning the surroundings, let out a dumbfounded 'Nyaaang?', and Lillete let out a short 'Pfft!' of laughter.
“T-Trisha!
I told you to behave, didn't I, bro!”
The one who was utterly flustered to the point of nearly fainting was poor Jimmy.
In the end, he flailed around before delivering a solid knuckle to Trisha's crown that looked like it hurt quite a bit.
“Ow!
W-why'd you hit me!”
“Mind your manners, Trisha!
That person is our territory's next count!”
“Hmph!”
“Is that all?
He's the one who saved me.
The one who risked his life to save me from dying on the battlefield!
If you keep troubling him, I'll really get mad!”
Normally, that scene should have been an adult brother scolding his immature single-digit-age little sister.
But what Sion was seeing now was a nearly adult young woman in her chuunibyou phase getting scolded by her slightly older brother.
'It doesn't sit right.
Real siblings aren't like that.
Even in a novel, this is infuriating.'
Hypnotizing himself like that, Sion waited for Trisha to calm down a bit.
Fortunately, to her brother, she wasn't the Dark Dragon Trisha but just little sister Trisha, so she pouted her lips but didn't say something like 'How dare you strike this body!'
“...I know.
That he's the one who saved you, bro.”
“Then act politely.
Your behavior right now is far too distant from the proper lady I've been teaching you to be.
Right now!”
It was like a 4-year-old miss who could do no right no matter what and her strict young father teaching her harshly.
Kim Yoo-hyun still looked exasperated, and Reshida had a dumbfounded expression.
Only Lillete and Sion reacted positively to Trisha, who had become somewhat obedient.
“Thank you.
...For saving my brother.
...Sir.”
As Jimmy widened his eyes, Trisha grudgingly added the honorific.
It was polite enough that even a noble's child wouldn't complain if called out for less, but Sion decided to let it slide graciously.
Yeah, since this girl in front of him would properly blacken in the future and become a total madwoman known as 'self-interest,' if he could turn her into his weapon, he'd endure anything and accept anything.
“Even a Dark Dragon who looks so dangerous knows how to give thanks.
Great beings always bow their heads and greet when the time calls for it.”
“Huh?”
Trisha looked slightly flustered as Sion smiled subtly and played along with her Black Flame Dragon cosplay.
She glanced at Jimmy beside her before slowly opening her mouth.
“Of course, sir.
Because I am a being who inherits the great will, sir.”
Was it possible this girl already knew about the stigmata on her body?
If the full activation and awakening of the stigmata happened after the celestials' return, the possibility was very low, but he couldn't rule it out entirely, which gave Sion a headache.
“...Thank you for bringing my brother back safely, sir.”
“No need.
I only did what I had to.”
“You're a noble, yet so gentle, sir.”
“And you're just an ordinary territory folk, yet you don't fear me.”
In truth, it wasn't that she didn't fear him—she had no intention of treating him with respect at all.
'The way to turn this chuunibyou character into a usable card is really just one method.'
Make her blacken and awaken.
Then point that spear tip somewhere other than at him.
“Jimmy.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Actually, the reason I came all this way is because there's a good reason.”
“A reason, sir?”
“One of my knights, Lady Reshida, just joined my service, but she doesn't have a squire yet.
I haven't found anyone suitable, but you seemed perfect.”
For reference, the squire here was someone who handled a knight's auxiliary duties and could also train as an apprentice knight—a social position like that.
In other words, for Jimmy, it was like a pumpkin falling from the sky vine and all.
“M-me, a squire?
N-no, how could someone like me handle such a heavy duty...”
“I saw you fight on the battlefield a bit, and more importantly, you had a clear reason to fight and win.
For my standards, that was enough to pass.
What do you think, Reshida?
Good enough as a squire?”
This was a part with no prior agreement with Reshida.
But she nodded without showing even a hint of dissatisfaction.
“Good.
Reshida approves too.
Now, we need the person's opinion.
What do you say, Jimmy?
You could work as a squire and gain apprentice knight qualifications. No interest?”
“O-of course it'd be an honor if you let me, but someone talentless like me as a squire...”
It's fine.
Having a good little sister is a talent too.
They say luck is a talent, and connections are a talent.
If he still lacked confidence, Sion aimed elsewhere this time.
“Hmm.
Jimmy says no.
Trisha?
Is your brother really that talentless?”
“What are you talking about!
My bro may be a bit dumb and too nice, but his skills are ones even I acknowledge!
Sir!
He could do a knight's attendant duties blindfolded!”
“That's what she says.
Jimmy Faker.”
“E-even so...”
“Of course, we'll handle room and board in Klauzen.
We'll prepare a house inside the castle for you to live in.
If you're worried about Trisha, she can be a squire too.”
“You're serious?”
“M-Master?”
Jimmy lit up, while Reshida paled in shock instantly.
Even for an upper knight like her, the Black Flame Dragon-talking Trisha was too much to handle.
But Sion was prepared to make that sacrifice, unfortunately.
'Sorry, Reshida.'
Apologizing inwardly to his guard knight, he continued.
“I've conveyed my intentions.
The rest is up to you.
You can decide now or take some time.
But I don't like dragging things out.
You might miss out while hesitating, and I could pick another squire.”
“Y-yeah.”
“If you know, decide quickly.
I'm planning to leave the village in 30 minutes.”
“...”
“If you're worried about luggage or moving, that's for me to handle, not you. Don't worry.”
With that, Sion stood and headed outside.
Lillete followed, then Reshida, Kim Yoo-hyun, and finally Ria hopped down from the roof to trail behind Sion.
“Master.
Do you really plan to take both siblings as your squires?”
“If possible.
Why, Reshida?
Any issues?”
“...I'm not questioning your decision, Master.
But seeing those two does make me worry.”
“They're both far from knight material?”
“Yes.
Unless my eye for people is wrong...”
No, it's spot on.
As Reshida thought, neither Jimmy nor the current Trisha had the makings of knights.
'But there's no other way to quickly bring those siblings to my side.'
Reshida still had no squire, so no one could object or suspect.
He needed to pull them in fast, keep them close to watch, and prepare to wield that scary woman later.
'If they don't take the bait, the only option left is a forceful plan.
Come on, just take it, Jimmy.'
Sion sat in the carriage, watching the knights preparing to depart.
As the 30 minutes nearly passed, a careful knock came on the carriage door.
“Master.
Jimmy Faker is here.”
At Reshida's words, Sion opened the door and looked out.
There stood Jimmy, face set with resolve after much deliberation.
“Your answer.”
“I'll do it.
I want to.”
Good, that was the answer he expected.
Sion smiled and told him to grab the essentials and board the carriage.
Of course, his sister Trisha too.
He also reminded them not to worry, as workers from the castle would move every speck of dust to their new home.
“...”
Reshida watched Jimmy dash home for luggage and his sister with half worry, half anticipation.
Having a squire was convenient for a knight, but once you became one, the schedule was far harsher than a regular soldier's.
The 'apprentice knight' qualification wasn't obtained easily.
“Reshida.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Come closer.”
At Sion's words, Reshida approached cautiously.
“If you end up with both, treat Jimmy decently, but work Trisha like crazy.”
“...Pardon?”
“Train her so harshly that she says 'It's too tough, I can't do it.'
Torment her with personal grudges if you want.
Crush her so she can't even dream of poison or whatever.”
“M-Master.
What on earth do you...”
“But treat Jimmy very well.
The complete opposite of Trisha.
Of course, when they're together, act nice to Trisha too.”
Reshida looked utterly confused by Sion's intentions.
Sion raised his hand and gently stroked her lips.
“Reshida, Reshida.
My loyal knight.”
“Y-yes.
Master.”
“I know what you're wondering.
But I can't explain everything now.
Later, I'll definitely answer all your questions, so just follow along quietly.”
He gazed deeply at her as he said it—essential.
Reshida let out an 'Ahh' sigh and nodded dazedly.
Regardless of logic, her will to obey Sion was strong.
“Good.
I know you'll meet my expectations, Reshida.
Right?”
“Of course.
Just leave it to me, my Master.”
Sion finished with a flourish by softly caressing her cheek.
Then he entered the carriage and leaned back comfortably in his seat.
'Phew.
Bait is cast for now.
All that's left is for the Black Flame Dragon to bite.'
For Trisha, deep in her chuunibyou Black Flame Dragon phase, there was only one way to control her at will.
Steal the brother she relied on and followed blindly, and take his place.
'As seen with Reshida, if someone you follow and depend on starts distancing themselves, the despair and betrayal are immense.
Reshida is an upper knight and mature woman, so she blamed herself, but Trisha will be different.'
She's the woman who spammed 'Ahaha!' while burning Hispania even on her deathbed.
If she saw her trusted brother suddenly laughing with some strange woman, could she keep her illusions about him? Sion was very curious.
'That's when I slip in.
Then erode bit by bit, make her confirm it.
The one who can protect and wrap you up isn't some brother—it's me. Sion Klauzen.'
From her character structure and antics in the novel, Trisha wouldn't be an easy subordinate like Reshida.
But the reason Sion chose this method was simple.
'Doesn't a proper villain need at least one obsessively devoted character by their side as basic manners?'
He felt a slight worry that he was walking into hell himself.
But having decided to capture the Black Flame Dragon, such a relationship was the bare minimum reality demanded.
Make her obsessed, make it 'you or no one,' and in extreme terms, instill a 'if I can't have you, I'll destroy you' mindset.
Only then would she become a card useful for dealing with the remaining Seven Evils later.
'...Thinking about it, this ended up being me saving another girl.
I went out of my way to set the mood that it wasn't.
How do I explain this to Lady Lillete?
Damn.'
The debt he owed Lillete grew with each passing day.
Sion thought he might need to start eating stamina-boosting foods in advance to survive.
――――――――Author's Note――――――――
The ultimate skill cooldown is ready again, you know.
Recommendations seem lacking!
Cooldown reduction is too slow!
Recommendations...
I need recommendations!
And!
Someone's illustration is complete!
Want to see? Recommend as usual!