Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: No Choice! Protagonist Deployment!
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No helping it!
Protagonist drop!
“Are you alright?”
Huh?
Did I just hear wrong?
Sion blinked at Kim Yu-hyun.
It was rare for the protagonist, who didn’t usually worry about others, to ask something like that.
‘Did this guy eat something bad?
What’s up with him all of a sudden?’
For a moment, Sion wondered if this guy wasn’t just into women with unique tastes, but actually into men.
That thought alone sent chills crawling all over his body.
‘No way?
No, right, Yu-hyun?
I know everything about how you flirted like crazy with all those women in the martial world, bro?
Was it just flirting?
You played with fire and shared love too.
Huh?’
Fortunately, Kim Yu-hyun’s next words were enough to put Sion at ease.
“Lucia was really worried.
It was heartbreaking to even watch.”
It seemed she’d heard about Sion from Risikida and been extremely concerned.
Enough that even Kim Yu-hyun openly admitted he’d noticed.
Sion casually raised his arm to show he was fine, then lowered it back.
“More importantly, what’s this about moving somewhere to talk?”
“Ah, I was thinking of keeping it secret from Lucia, but it might be better if you, her guard, know what happened here.”
“...What happened?”
As Kim Yu-hyun echoed back, Sion tapped the table with his finger, amplifying the vibe of agonizing over whether to spill or not.
Thanks to that, Kim Yu-hyun had no choice but to stare at him with an expression saying, ‘If you’re gonna talk, just talk. Otherwise, don’t even start.’
‘First, one sigh.’
Hoo...
Sion let out a deliberate sigh, loud enough to be heard.
Then, as if pondering, ‘Ah, should I really tell even you, or not?’, he opened his lips, closed them, let out an “Ahh,” then shut them again, repeating the process.
“...”
Kim Yu-hyun was a powerhouse called the Sword Sage in the martial world, lived as a top figure in this other world, and later became a monster even the heavenly race feared.
But in the end, he was still inescapably Korean.
And one trait of Koreans was getting incredibly frustrated when someone trailed off mid-sentence.
“You’re holding back unusually for a Young Lord Sion.”
That’s what he said, but Sion could clearly read the subtext: ‘This is frustrating as hell. Just spit it out already.’
Yeah, you’re Korean too, punk!
Muttering that inwardly, Sion decided to get to the point.
“At first, I thought it was just goodwill.
The carriage was totally wrecked, the horses injured, so I asked the Konean Viscount’s family for replacements, and they readily agreed.
So I went to the viscount’s castle to at least give thanks.”
“And then?”
“Suddenly, the viscount calls in a woman, saying he has a gift.
I thought she was carrying the gift, but no.”
“...?”
Kim Yu-hyun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
From ‘I don’t really care about your story but I’ll listen’ to ‘Spill more details. Unless you want to see me die of frustration.’
“The woman herself was the gift.”
“...Pardon?”
“In short, a slave.
There was a slave market in the basement of the viscount’s castle.”
At the word “slave,” Kim Yu-hyun’s aura sharpened noticeably.
He’d experienced slavery himself in the martial world, leaving both body and mind utterly ravaged, and the woman he’d given his heart to had been handed to enemies by traitors, forced into slavery, and met a horrific end.
“He even guided me to the slave market.
I was floored. I wanted to get into politics, sure, but I never imagined he’d run slaves so openly.”
“...Young Lord Sion.”
Kim Yu-hyun fell silent while listening, then spoke.
A faint but clear undercurrent of anger laced his words.
“Aren’t you this country’s hero, Young Lord Sion?”
“I don’t see it that way, but others are calling me that.”
“Then shouldn’t you act worthy of that title?”
“What are you saying, Kim Yu-hyun?”
As Sion shot back, Kim Yu-hyun’s eyes and voice grew steadily colder.
‘Whoa, scary as fuck...
This is intense.
Straight-up terrifying.’
If eyes could kill, it’d look exactly like that.
Or like in movies, shooting ‘laser beams from his eyes!’ or something.
“I heard from Master that this country has banned slavery.”
“That’s right.”
“Then why did you back off after seeing the viscount’s deeds?
Others call you a hero—why turn away from injustice? That’s what I’m saying.”
Sion stared quietly at Kim Yu-hyun.
He seemed to catch the ‘You asking because you don’t know?’ vibe, but he didn’t avoid Sion’s gaze, demanding an answer.
Sion let out a loud, deliberate sigh and laid out his reason—no, his bait.
“You’re just a swordsman swinging a blade.
But I’m different.
I’m a noble living among those flashy-on-the-outside, rotten-to-the-core bastards called nobles.
If I’d punished the viscount, he could’ve turned it around and dragged me down, blowing the whole thing up.”
“But...”
“You’re right, I’m a war hero.
But crushing external enemies doesn’t mean I can wipe out all internal ones.
Internal enemies can’t be cut down with a sword like external ones.
One flick of the tongue can behead someone, or get your own head chopped off. That’s the world.”
“...”
“If I acted on my own there, it’d spiral out of control.
I’m no margrave, and I can’t just manhandle a viscount with an official royal title.”
If Viscount Konean heard that, he’d probably protest, ‘You already handled me roughly! Several times!’ But Sion didn’t blink while lying.
The greatest sin in lying was getting caught with an obvious fib and dogshit acting.
At least, that’s what Sion thought.
If you’re gonna lie, manage your expression, package it well so it doesn’t get exposed—then both the liar and the fooled can make sense of it.
“So I sent someone secretly to the capital for an investigation team. I figured testifying as witness and slowly uncovering the truth was best. Plus, I’m staying here while waiting for Lucia anyway.”
“Why Lucia...”
“Because she’s Lord Raido’s daughter.
Daughter of the former court mage, one who ranks among Hispanya’s top fingers in magic.
Her testimony adds credibility here.
You wouldn’t know, but around here, power sways people more than logic.”
It was true, actually.
If the Klauzen eldest and the former court mage’s daughter told the same story, no matter how logically Viscount Konean explained, theirs would ring truer.
The weight of “Raido” wasn’t light, nor was the Klauzen house some average noble family.
“But meanwhile, those inside...”
“Ignoring them and pretending not to know wouldn’t save them. This is the best I can do.
If you’re disappointed in me, no helping it. I’ve got a lot on my shoulders and a lot to do.”
“...”
“Honestly, not even sure if the capital will make this public.
With the Kashugar rebellion not fully quelled, poking the slave market and hunting those involved could make cornered rats bite back.”
He subtly gestured: Don’t trust the royals too much.
In summary: You’ve got nothing on your plate and nothing weighing you down, so make a fuss in my place.
Exactly that.
Kim Yu-hyun fell silent at Sion’s words, his eyes flashing as he spoke.
“You said the slave market’s in the basement of the viscount’s castle?”
“Yeah.
Ridiculous, right?
Who the hell hides the path to a slave market inside the castle’s training grounds, in a warehouse for sparring gear, of all places.
Gotta report every detail to the capital.
More importantly, Kim Yu-hyun, you...”
The presence beside him vanished abruptly.
Sion glanced sideways and confirmed Kim Yu-hyun had disappeared from his seat in an instant.
“...Kukuku.
Kukukuku!”
Screw not trusting the royals— with this evidence, he could pressure the viscount himself right now.
But Sion had acted helpless about the slave market, hinted the royals might hush it up even if they knew, leaving those trapped slaves to suffer more—who knew what—and dangled the bait for Kim Yu-hyun.
‘And our no-backdown protagonist bit hard!’
Giggling inwardly, Sion cleared his throat, wiped the grin off his face, and headed upstairs.
He knocked on a door and entered to find Lucia, who’d just taken off her coat and was unpacking, with Risikida helping her.
“Young Lord Sion?
What brings you...”
“Care for a walk, Lucia?”
At Sion’s suggestion, Lucia blinked, then her face flushed bright red.
She knew exactly what he meant, and had zero reason to refuse a date invite.
“Master?
Just the two of you could be dangerous.
At least some minimal guards...”
Risikida, of course, wasn’t thinking romance—just danger.
But Sion knew how to persuade this loyal knight-maid.
Dangle tasty snacks and a reward, tell her to wait.
“Risi, come here a sec.”
“Yes?”
Pulling the knight-maid close, Sion whispered in her ear.
“I got something precious, so I’m giving proper reward.
Trust me, wait quietly here, and I’ll give you a huge reward.”
“A, a reward?”
“Yeah.
The one you want most.”
‘Reward, reward, the reward I want most...!’ Risikida muttered, then nodded vigorously, getting the point.
Of course, Sion knew she wasn’t one to slack off.
She’d scout the surroundings without interfering—obvious.
“B-but is it really okay, Young Lord Sion?
The attack was so recent.”
As they left the inn, Lucia ventured cautiously.
She’d been thrilled at first, but soon remembered the situation, her worry endearing.
“Just don’t stray too far from the inn.
More importantly, Lucia?
Off the record, you don’t need the ‘Young Lord’ bit.”
“Huh?
But...”
“Feels weird when only I use your name.
It’d be nice if you did too.”
“St-still...”
“Weren’t you the one who said you wanted to get closer to me?”
That was the finisher.
Lucia hesitated, then nodded and carefully opened her mouth.
“Si, Sion.”
“Yes, Lucia.”
“Ughhh!
Th-this feels weird.
Super weird!”
“You’ll get used to it.”
Lucia flailed about how weird it was, while Sion reassured her.
The pair walked in silence for a bit, then resumed chatting.
“Lots happened at the capital too, huh.”
“Tell me about it.
Feels tougher than fighting Nudia.”
“That bad?”
“Of course.
Nobles subtly clashing—exhausting.”
“Father said he got sick of nobles’ antics and left the capital.”
Precisely, staying longer risked him becoming the court mage who beat nobles to death.
Though that wasn’t the main reason.
“Um, Sion.
Can I ask one thing?
Might be weird, or a huge rudeness...”
Sion nodded for her to go on, and she continued carefully.
“...Is there room for me to squeeze in?”
“Pardon?”
“Leaving Lily aside, I felt it from Klauzen.
Risikida’s gaze on you isn’t just knight-to-master.
More than simple loyalty, like... deeper feelings?
And at the capital, that... uh, with the princess, this weird vibe...”
“Lucia?”
“I mean, I’m... worried.
Jealous too, a tiny bit... hate it.”
Lily or Risikida, maybe, but this poised woman saying that left Sion flustered yet relieved.
Worry and jealousy were positive signs for him.
Stopping, Sion smiled and replied.
“Do all attacks get blocked just because someone’s in the way?”
“Huh?”
“Depends on the attacker’s will, right?”
“W-well, yeah.”
Fish tank management?
Damn right.
Sion could say it proudly.
Too bad to give up any.
They were prime cards for his future escape routes—couldn’t discard one for another.
If possible, grab both, no, three, no, all of them.
If he survived the heavenly race war unscathed, he’d gladly manage a harem any size.
‘Fuck!
True villains don’t hesitate over evil deeds!
To live as Sion Klauzen, think and act like him.
No wavering.
I’m trash, I’m trash, I’m fucking garbage!!!’
Oblivious to Sion’s inner rant, Lucia just hid her embarrassment by changing topics.
“Uh, anyway, Yu-hyun’s gone.
Out for air?”
“Oh, Kim Yu-hyun?
Who knows.
Maybe a real walk, like you said?”
Total bullshit, of course.
Sion knew exactly where Kim Yu-hyun went and what for.
Like the ‘Im’ character from Stars’ War, leisurely prepping the nuke after crushing foes.
Gazing at Viscount Konean’s distant castle, Sion snickered inwardly.
‘Protagonist deployment detected.
Puhahaha!’
―
“Hoo.”
Think positive— it actually worked out.
With Margrave Klauzen backing him!
Viscount Konean thought that as he secretly sent a chest full of gold coins to the inn where Sion Klauzen was staying.
It was blood money, child money, but better than total ruin.
‘Damn.
Suddenly boiling with rage.’
Normally he’d return to the castle to rest, but irritated beyond measure, Viscount Konean headed to the basement slave market.
Perfect timing—three new beastkin women were still fiercely resisting. Perfect stress relief.
“Viscount.”
“How’re the goods?”
“Same as ever.
Still gagged.”
Inside the tent, three beastkin women were bound tight.
Naked as the day they were born, breasts and intimate areas fully exposed.
Grrr!
Kyaaak!
Still snarling savagely, but they sensed their fate.
Their shaky eyes betrayed it clearly.
“Normally I don’t train the goods myself.”
A man’s hand trailed up a woman’s inner thigh.
She twisted desperately, but the viscount smirked, advancing slowly, surely toward her privates.
Finally, his fingertips grazed between her legs. The beastkin woman shuddered, glaring with eyes full of fury and shame.
“Let’s see how long it lasts.
That proud pride of yours. Whip.”
He held out his hand backward, barking the order.
“Whip!”
Normally, it’d be slapped into his palm pronto.
But for some reason, no one handed him a whip.
Already pissed about the Sion Klauzen mess, with workers spacing out too, the viscount was about to spew curses when—
Thud—.
Something heavy landed on his hand.
He gripped it reflexively, then realized it was wrong.
Not a whip—a sheathed sword.
“What the...”
Shing—.
With a clear ring, the blade slid free.
The youth who appeared behind the viscount swept his icy gaze around.
“...Kuk.”
Sneering coldly, he approached Viscount Konean.
“Uh, uhhh...?”
The moment Thanos descended on Viscount Konean’s slave market.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
First, about illustrations!
Already commissioned two artists!
Wait and new ills will be up!
Stickers are just for readers to enjoy!
Kyayayak!
And chain updates!
Will do on the returning weekend!
Lots of recs before then, might hit 4+ chain!
Sticker event winners announced Tuesday release!