Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: If You Want Peace, Prepare for War
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The tense atmosphere lingering in Klauzen Margrave Territory eased somewhat with intelligence reports detailing Nudia's current situation.
There were no signs of Nudia's forces mobilizing, nor any movements to gather food supplies or warhorses in preparation for conflict.
Of course, the enemy might be using deception to conceal everything, but they decided to counter that by deploying more scouts.
Once the state of emergency lifted, everyone in the territory returned to their daily lives.
Knights and soldiers honed their skills sharper by sparring and testing each other's prowess.
The territory's residents focused on their trades while beginning to repair the lands damaged by the monsters' sudden assault.
"..."
Margrave Lichten stood by the window, gazing down at the garden for a moment.
More precisely, he was watching Sion, his half-brother's son, giggling endlessly over tea in the garden as if whatever they were discussing was endlessly amusing.
'...It's about time I started preparing to hand the territory over to that boy.'
He was still in good health, but no one could fight against the march of time.
Lately, his body felt heavier than before, and headaches visited him from time to time.
He was thinking he needed to prepare everything while his body could still fulfill its role.
"Lord Margrave.
This is Knight Commander Ryan."
It seemed the Knight Commander had come to report on last night's nighttime training.
At Margrave Lichten's invitation to enter, he stepped inside cautiously, bowing deeply to show the utmost respect to his lord.
"Is this the report on last night's nighttime training?"
"Yes, it is."
Daytime and nighttime battles were entirely different beasts—two completely distinct forms of combat.
With everyone fighting in dim light, every sense had to be mobilized more intensely than ever, making it a style even seasoned commanders dreaded.
"Hm?"
As Margrave Lichten reviewed the report from Knight Commander Ryan, he reacted with interest.
A name that had appeared recently had shot up to the top ranks in just a few days.
"...I expected as much from Knight Lishida, being an advanced knight and all."
"And even he was outdone by this Kim Yu-hyun fellow.
His origins and everything else are shrouded in mystery, but his skills are truly exceptional.
I was shocked and impressed just watching him."
It was no surprise.
After all, this was the man taken as a disciple by that 'Rido' himself.
His martial prowess alone would be outstanding, and his feats in the recent battle against Nudia or single-handedly slaughtering the intruders in the royal palace all proved he was on par with an advanced knight—no, beyond that.
Margrave Lichten nodded in satisfaction, read a bit more of the report, then set it down on the table as if that was enough.
"The training results aren't bad.
That's a relief."
"...This might be presumptuous, but you don't look well, Lord Margrave."
At the Knight Commander's words, Margrave Lichten let out an awkward chuckle, thinking, *Ah, he noticed?*
As Knight Commander Ryan stared silently, clearly awaiting a response, Margrave Lichten sighed softly and spoke.
"The monster attack destroyed a lot of our farmlands.
You know that well enough, don't you, Knight Commander?"
"...Yes.
It is so.
It's all my failing and that of the knights.
The residents' stability is the territory's future, and we couldn't even properly fend off those monsters, retreating into the castle..."
"I have no intention of blaming you all.
You did your utmost to prevent any loss of life—don't berate yourselves like that, Knight Commander."
"I apologize."
"Anyway, that's left our food situation precarious.
The fields we were farming until last year are now in fallow rotation, but the ones actively being cultivated took heavy damage."
Margrave Lichten tapped the report with his finger, his expression betraying his concern.
No matter how skilled the knights, they couldn't fix ruined farmlands, so Knight Commander Ryan looked dejected, watching his lord's face carefully.
"Lord Margrave.
It's Sebastian."
"Come in."
The butler of Margrave Territory—and another sword safeguarding Klauzen from the shadows.
Sebastian entered today in his impeccably tailored butler's uniform, greeting Margrave Lichten first, then bowing to Knight Commander Ryan.
He then explained the reason for his visit to the office.
"Lord Margrave.
We have a guest in the territory."
"A guest?"
Margrave Lichten looked puzzled, not understanding.
Knight Commander Ryan was equally baffled.
Sebastian smiled and continued.
"More precisely, a guest here to see Young Lord Sion.
They're passing through the castle gates toward the lord's residence now, but they wish to meet you first, Lord Margrave."
A guest for Sion was unlikely to be suspicious.
Margrave Lichten rose from his seat to greet them.
A short while later, upon entering the main hall, he couldn't help but let out an *Oh?*
"Greetings, Lord Margrave Lichten Klauzen.
It's an honor to meet you."
Even with her head bowed, her stunning beauty shone through.
Her voice, like the chirping of a forest bird, left the surrounding knights dazed, and a refined aura emanated naturally from her demure form.
"I am Helen Hynes, head of Hynes Merchant Company from the capital's royal city.
I've come in person to fulfill the trade contract with Young Lord Sion."
Hynes Merchant Company was known as the top firm in the royal city.
Though its reputation had suffered from an unfortunate incident, after King Edgar IV personally promised no punishment regarding the royal palace attack, it had begun recovering.
It was even said that supplying a peculiar beverage had expanded their clientele considerably.
*'More than that, the rumors were true—the company head really is an elf.
Damn, thinking they targeted our territory makes my blood boil, but as expected of that noble forest race, they're impressive.'*
Margrave Lichten cleared his throat to lighten the mood and spoke.
"Welcome.
Helen Hynes."
"Please, just Helen is fine."
"Very well, Helen.
But a trade with my son?
What do you mean?
This is the first I've heard of it."
"It seems Young Lord Sion hasn't mentioned it to you, Lord Margrave."
Helen recounted the events in the royal city—embellishing some parts slightly, expanding others, and trimming the unnecessary—with the wisdom of a woman who had led the company for years.
Thanks to her, Margrave Lichten learned that Sion had supplied Hynes Merchant Company with that amusing beverage and requested food supplies as payment.
"I've brought the first shipment myself as proof of fulfilling the deal, and by coincidence, I noticed extensive damage to the farmlands on the way here."
"We were just worrying over the ruined wheat and barley fields.
For you to arrive right on time like this—truly fortuitous."
"It might be improper to say this before you, Lord Margrave, but it seems Young Lord Sion has remarkable foresight.
I wondered why he insisted on food as payment when I agreed."
"Haha!
Lately, I've been thinking my son is just too exceptional.
Sometimes I wonder if he's really mine."
Unintentionally, Margrave Lichten found himself boasting about his son.
Helen listened attentively, a quiet smile on her face as she watched him.
―
*Achoo!*
"Ugh."
Sion suddenly sneezed and rubbed his ear.
They said a sudden sneeze and itchy ear meant someone was badmouthing you, and Sion was genuinely curious which bastard it was.
"What?
Sion.
Caught a cold?"
Winnie, sitting beside him, spoke in a worried tone.
Sion shook his head to indicate no.
Until moments ago, he'd been chatting animatedly with his half-brother Aden, and upon entering his room, Winnie had greeted him.
Lishida was sleeping off last night's nighttime training, while Lily had headed to the training grounds earlier to "have a proper go" with Kim Yu-hyun after another spat and hadn't returned yet.
Lucia was once again huddled over a magic tome, groaning—it seemed the inability to handle her magic output was causing her significant stress.
*'I should hint to Lucia soon.
Your talent isn't in casting magic, but somewhere else.'*
He had to be careful not to sound too blunt, lest it insult her efforts and time invested in magic research.
"Sion.
Where'd you go this morning?"
"The infirmary."
"Infirmary?
Someone hurt?"
"There were injured folks.
Most are healthy now; they just need to head home.
If not for the monster attack, they'd have gone home ages ago."
Even Jimmy Faker, whom he'd saved with his own body, was almost fully recovered.
Sion had checked that morning—no need to stay in the infirmary anymore.
Sion judged it was time to go meet Sarah and Trisha Faker.
*'Whew.
Not as bad as first meeting Kim Yu-hyun, but still pretty tense.'*
The novel had its share of lunatics, but ones as truly unhinged as Trisha—enough to make even Kim Yu-hyun balk—were rare.
She was unique among villains, ignoring the protagonist entirely to pursue pure destruction in her quest to burn the world.
That led to the Hispania Kingdom being razed by her hand, the royal family slaughtered, and the kingdom's fragile remnants collapsing.
Even the other Seven Evils, with similar power, found her distasteful—a legendary madwoman.
Readers nicknamed her Lightning Blaze or Black Flame Dragon.
And now he had to meet her.
*'...No way she's crazy from the start.
Her brother died, she went through hell, and that's what twisted her.
Since I'm saving Jimmy Faker and bringing him back, she won't turn into that novel's Black Flame Dragon Lightning Blaze Trisha, right?'*
Still, just in case, when he went to meet Trisha with Jimmy a few days later, he'd bring Lily, Lishida, and Kim Yu-hyun along.
If she showed even a hint of Seven Evil tendencies now, he'd eliminate her without hesitation.
"But Winnie."
"Nyaong?"
"Don't you have anything to do?
You're lounging in my room like you own it."
"What are you talking about?
I'm doing the most important thing right now?
Nyaong?"
Sion stared at her as if questioning what she meant, and the cat girl huffed!
turning her head away with a pouty voice.
"...As princess of the Myo-eun Tribe, protecting my benefactor—you—is the most important thing to me."
"This place doesn't seem dangerous at all?"
"To borrow human words, there's always a 'what if.'
I think I need to block even that slim possibility.
Am I wrong?
Nyaong?"
With that, Winnie shifted to sit on the bed by the sunlit window.
Precisely, right next to where Sion was resting.
Sunlight streamed through the window, shattering into rays that made her blue hair sparkle beautifully.
The two ears atop her head twitched constantly, reacting to Sion's slightest movements, while her tail swayed softly, unconsciously forming heart shapes.
Her golden eyes especially were like jewels—so stunning that even Sion, who didn't get too emotional about beauty, muttered *Wow* in admiration, staring blankly.
"W-What are you staring at like that?"
"Hm?
Oh.
Your eyes."
"Nyaong?"
"They're pretty."
"N-Nyaooong!"
Sion's straight shot made Winnie explode with a *boom!*
Her face flushed crimson, then she bared her fangs, thinking he was teasing her, and suddenly *Kyaaack!*—claws out.
"Wah!
W-Why all of a sudden?"
"Stop teasing me!
You think I don't know you're joking?"
"It's not a joke, you damn furball!
I just said your eyes are pretty, and now you're trying to claw your benefactor!"
At that, Winnie blinked *Nyaang?* blankly at Sion, then quietly closed her mouth and plopped back onto the bed.
She kept glancing at him nervously, her face hesitant, like she wanted to say something but couldn't quite form the words.
"...Um.
Sion."
"What."
"I-I'm curious about something.
Can I ask?"
"No."
Winnie's ears drooped with a *sag* at Sion's curt reply.
Sion sighed at the sight and stared at her, silently asking what she wanted.
"...Why'd you leave me alone in the carriage?"
"What?"
"Humans do that, right?
When an opposite sex is defenseless in front of them, they just pounce."
"What nonsense.
You're labeling all humans as potential criminals.
Not every human is scum like that, you foolish furball."
"...What does 'furball' even mean when you say it, Sion?"
"Cat. Kitty."
"What? That's it?
I hate it.
Just call me by name."
Winnie pouted sulkily.
Sion nodded quickly to appease her before she got truly upset and exhausted.
"..."
Silence fell again, until Winnie spoke up once more.
"Um, Sion."
"What now.
If you have something to say, spit it all out at once.
Why do you keep dragging it out?"
"Ugh!
It's my heart!
Can't I speak when I want?
Nyaong!"
"The human answering is getting annoyed, furball!"
"I told you not to call me that!
Haaack!"
Winnie snapped, but soon reined in her anger and sneaked peeks at Sion.
"Um, you know."
"..."
"Y-You're listening?"
"I am."
"O-Okay.
That's why I'm saying... Um, well..."
Sion seriously wondered if she'd get it out before sunset.
If he prodded, she'd snap and claw; if he waited, she'd drag it on like this. He was deep in thought on how to handle it.
"I-In the carriage, what you didn't do to me."
"...Didn't do?"
"Th-That.
M-M-M... M-Mating!"
"Eh?"
What did this girl just say?
Eh?
Mating?
Sion dug in his ear, thinking he'd misheard, but Winnie looked on the verge of tears.
"Ughhh!
Y-You didn't mishear, so stop!
Nyaong!"
"If I didn't mishear, then maybe you misspoke?"
"Our Myo-eun Tribe!
We have a custom: during heat, mate with the male who protected you!"
It was a nuclear bomb detonating out of nowhere.
Sion just blinked at her in the aftermath, while the cat girl—face burning with shame, yet not avoiding the gaze of her benefactor and favored male—drove the wedge home.
"W-With me!
M-Mate!
No!
D-Do it!
Like back then, like back then... T-Touch me gently!
Nyaong!
Nyaooong!
Nyaooooong!"