Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Redenen Marquis Household
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Like running into bandits on the road to the capital!
Or something along those lines!
Someone swooping in to rescue a damsel in distress and becoming a hero!
That's a proper carriage journey!
If someone spouted nonsense like that, Sion would smack them upside the head without a second thought.
As if bandits would be out collecting tolls right in the middle of the road to the royal capital. Insane.
Merchant caravans traveled with guards close to regular soldiers, and high nobles had their own private escorts.
If the kingdom had deteriorated to that extent, it wouldn't even deserve the name.
'Boring... I miss my phone for the first time.'
Carriage, city, carriage, some noble's territory, carriage again, city again, carriage yet again.
It felt just like his old army days, shuttling between the decorations warehouse, the teaching materials storage, and the spoiled goods depot.
Sion glanced around the inside of the carriage.
Lily had been using his lap as a pillow and dozed off a while ago, while Lucia had been silently focused on her mana manipulation training for over an hour now.
Rishida was riding outside on horseback from the start, so exclude him. Which left the protagonist, Kim Yu-hyun...
*Shing-clank—*
*Shing-clank—*
The sword slid in and out of its sheath, over and over.
No particular reason.
It was just Kim Yu-hyun's habit when spacing out.
"..."
*Shing-clank—*
*Shing-clank—*
'Intimidating guy.
Makes him even scarier than he already is.
Afraid he'll show up in my dreams, seriously.'
With that slack-eyed stare, he looked like a total psycho.
Splash some blood on his face, swing that sword around in that state, and he'd be the perfect grim reaper.
Or maybe a sword-dancing serial killer?
"Young Lord."
At the voice calling him, Sion cracked open the carriage window.
Rishida had pulled up right beside it, whispering as quietly as possible so as not to disturb those inside.
"They say we'll reach the capital by tomorrow morning.
So we were thinking of resting here for the night."
"And?"
"The other knights want to avoid that noble's city up ahead if possible."
Sion tilted his head, roughly gauged the date and distance, and let out a sigh of admiration.
This was 'that bastard's' turf.
'The Redenen Marquis Family.'
A noble house famous for producing fiery warriors.
The problem was their personnel quality swung wildly between ace and trash, creating stark extremes.
And right there, Kim Yu-hyun would clash with a certain thick-headed fool all the way through the novel's midgame.
"Rishida.
Aren't there no other nobles' territories near the Redenen Marquis lands?"
"That's what they say."
"Riding in the carriage and sleeping more feels off, and since Father knows the Redenen head somewhat, tell the knights it's better to drop by and pay respects."
"Yes, understood."
The silver lining was that the current head of Redenen, Volco Redenen, was at least decent.
He had some acquaintance with Margrave Lichten.
Not close friends or anything sticky like that.
More like rivals who kept a wary eye on each other.
The problem was that damn son of his.
'I remember the name because it's so memorable.
Ludwig Redenen.
Self-proclaimed knight to lead the kingdom's future.'
Don't get it twisted.
Self-proclaimed.
Not other-proclaimed.
He even introduced himself that way in front of people.
It made listeners cringe so hard their toes curled, but the guy himself was oblivious.
And the bigger issue? That wasn't the end of it.
Arrogant to his core, he excelled at looking down on and belittling others.
That's why things got rocky with Kim Yu-hyun from the get-go, and even when Hispania was in crisis, they were too busy growling and glaring to cooperate.
'At least the guy's skills were subpar, so he retired early.
Otherwise, Sion Clauzen might've ended up using mana.'
Ludwig would've been pissed if he heard that.
His beef with Kim Yu-hyun was bad, but with Sion Clauzen? Even worse.
Various reasons, but the biggest was his first love—a lady from another noble house—falling head over heels for Sion and treating him like dirt.
'Unnecessarily handsome bastard.
Did the author plan that or what...?'
Sion Clauzen had this oddly appealing setup where his face drew women despite everything.
Was mana affinity inversely proportional to looks or something?
By then, the carriage had entered Redenen territory.
As one of the kingdom's top ten noble houses, their prestige was evident from the outset.
They say even ruined rich houses last three years—Redenen had held out somewhat when Hispania got wrecked.
Of course, Saiq and Trisha Faker turned it into a total wasteland.
"What is this place?"
"Redenen Marquis Family. We're staying here tonight."
"Hmm.
Feels like they've got some solid talent here.
Dense mana everywhere."
Kim Yu-hyun had shaken off his blank stare, now peering out the window with sharp eyes.
He seemed intrigued by the presence of the decent knights scattered around.
Of course, to those two, knights were just 'prime experience points ripe for the taking.'
"Now, everyone.
Pay attention.
Focus."
"?"
"Before we enter the Redenen castle, two things I need you to promise."
"Like what?"
"First, don't freak out.
They're dead serious."
"Huh?"
"Second.
Don't be shocked.
That's just how he is."
Utterly baffling advice.
Lily, Lucia, even Rishida on horseback beside them, and Kim Yu-hyun—all tilted their heads.
The reason became clear once they entered the Redenen castle.
"Welcome to the Redenen Marquis Family, everyone.
Ah, I am Ludwig Redenen, the perfect knight candidate destined to lead Hispania's future.
Ah, yes.
Heir to this house."
"..."
Don't freak out.
They're dead serious.
Sion's words echoed freshly in the group's minds.
No, calling himself the perfect knight to shoulder the kingdom's future was funny enough—but grinning and winking while adding, 'Heir to this house'? They nearly collapsed.
If it was a joke to make guests laugh or a routine bit for visitors, that would've been fine.
But this was Ludwig's everyday life.
A man exploding with self-satisfaction and coolness every single day!
"But looks like an uninvited guest snuck in?"
He ditched the sleazy grin from moments ago, suddenly radiating menace.
Then he strode toward the man standing ahead with arms crossed, staring back.
Ludwig tilted his head up slightly—like dealing with an inferior—and continued in a voice dripping with contempt.
"Stealing even Margrave-nim's merits and claiming them as your own now?
Makes me pity that man for having such a useless son."
"..."
Out-of-nowhere provocation laced with insults.
So sudden, they wondered, 'Are they friends ribbing each other?'
But Sion's response proved otherwise.
"As heir to the Redenen Marquis Family, have some dignity, Ludwig."
"Ha!
Coming from you, that's rich?
You, who holes up in Margrave Territory chasing skirts and nothing else!
Dignity?
You got any right to say that?"
Don't be shocked.
That's just how he is.
Now it clicked for the group.
Sion, having foreseen this mess, responded calmly.
"Nope."
"...What?"
"No right.
I know exactly what kind of guy I am, so yeah, no right."
Clapping needs two hands to make a sound, but by dodging like that, Ludwig—who'd swung hard—ended up looking ridiculous.
One side throwing an immature tantrum, the other brushing it off like kid stuff.
'This guy?'
Ludwig was flabbergasted.
Sion Clauzen always blew up when provoked.
Ludwig would toss out, 'Prove it with swords if you're unhappy,' and Sion would shut up.
Each time, he'd land an irrefutable insult—coward scared of fighting—and watching Sion fume was a huge life pleasure.
But this time, Sion was different.
No more playing along; he was denying Ludwig any opening.
'As if!'
Did he think Ludwig would back off with an 'Oh, uh'? Big mistake.
He knew exactly how to sink Sion Clauzen.
Challenge to a sword bout, and the guy always backed down like a scared pup.
This time wouldn't be different.
"For the eldest son of Clauzen Margrave—the kingdom's shield—no less, to admit it so readily.
If it were me, I'd grab a sword and settle who's right."
"..."
"Shame.
If you actually liked wielding a sword..."
"Don't like it.
But I can use one.
So, wanna cross blades?"
"What?"
For a split second, Ludwig thought he'd misheard.
That Sion Clauzen? Pretty-boy scaredy-cat terrified of swords?
Challenging him—to Ludwig Redenen, knight to lead the kingdom's future!
"...What's your angle all of a sudden?"
The drastic change raised suspicions even for Ludwig.
Maybe some breakthrough in that short time?
Swordsmanship skyrocketing, breeding real confidence?
Rumor had it he'd earned merits in the war—related somehow?
"Nah, just a war hero getting tired of the disrespect.
You even know how much I suffered against Nudia, Ludwig Redenen?"
"..."
Ludwig sneered inwardly.
Sion Clauzen, of all people, charging into battle against Nudia?
The guy who dodged basic spars out of fear?
Now it made sense.
The pretty-boy before him had tagged along on Daddy's coattails to the battlefield, lucked into victory, and was strutting like he'd earned it.
'Idiot.
Knew it.
Got a bit tense thinking he'd seen real combat, but same old.'
Subjectively or objectively, he was an elite knight candidate.
He could already handle average low-rank knights!
Today, Sion Clauzen met his match.
'Pissed me off hearing he'd become a war hero heading to the capital. Perfect timing.
Gonna crush that pride into the dirt here.'
Resolved, Ludwig feigned brief hesitation—as if worried Sion might bolt—then shrugged helplessly.
"Fine, if you insist.
Follow me.
Gonna shower before heading to my room anyway. Might as well work up a sweat first."
"Right on, Ludwig."
Stupid fool. Don't know who that lady is, but I'll smash you proper in front of her!
Ludwig thrilled at the imagined ecstasy.
Prim, intellectual air—seemed cool at a glance, but stunningly beautiful regardless.
Staring at Lucia, he burned to crush this arrogant punk and capture every ungainly moment.
"Alright then, shall we begin?"
The training grounds weren't far, so Sion and Ludwig faced off with wooden swords soon enough.
Sion glanced at his companions.
Lucia looked the most tense, catching his eye first.
In this world, without mana control, even pure swordplay put you at a disadvantage.
Natural for her to worry.
Lily's hood hid her expression, but probably similar.
Kim Yu-hyun...
'Don't make that face.
It's creepy.
Damn, creepy as hell!'
Empathizing with a powerless guy's pride or whatever.
Kim Yu-hyun wore a faintly uncomfortable look.
"Let's see that battlefield swordplay you brag about."
Sion inwardly mocked Ludwig's taunt.
He'd just invoked 'real combat swordsmanship' himself.
To Sion, that meant free rein from here on.
"Simple way to decide the winner.
Point your sword at the opponent's throat. Done.
Objections?"
Stating the obvious.
None whatsoever.
Truth was, the moment Ludwig said it, he'd already lost to Sion.