Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Duke's Proposal
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“Milord, milord. The way these nobles are looking at you is, well…”
“If you come out spouting nonsense about stripping naked, I’ll stuff you in a leather pouch for a month.”
“Kiek.”
At Eugene’s low whisper, the spirit of desire—which had been greedily chomping on cheese and chunks of lamb in both hands—vanished in a flash.
Eugene calmly scanned his surroundings.
From Count Winslow’s direct retainers to the nobles who had come at the count’s invitation from all over, everyone who met his gaze beamed with fervent eyes and bright smiles.
He could tell they all wanted him—even if it wasn’t to the point of stripping bare and sucking blood.
Yet Eugene had no intention of swearing fealty to them or placing himself under their wing.
“Is the food not to your taste, Sir Eugene?”
“I ate plenty earlier, Count. The chef’s skill is remarkable.”
In truth, he himself had barely eaten, but recalling how the spirit had devoured food like a demon possessed, Eugene replied that way.
“That’s a relief, then. Shall we step out for a smoke?”
“By all means.”
As Eugene stood with Count Winslow, a barrage of heated gazes fixed on the pair.
But since the host of this gathering—the count himself—was taking someone aside to smoke, no one dared interrupt. They could only swallow their regrets.
“Thank you.”
Eugene accepted the cigarette laced with mana stone powder from the count and placed it between his lips. A waiting servant cautiously approached to light it.
“I’ll do it.”
Surprisingly, the count lit it himself.
“My thanks for your consideration.”
“The gratitude is mine. Thanks to you, sir, the knight tournament ended successfully—and more than that…”
Exhaling a long plume of smoke, Count Winslow continued with eyes sparkling far too brightly for his age.
“It’s been stored away for ages, but now it’s found its true master. I’m deeply grateful and overjoyed. I have no doubt that you, sir, will make not only Sir Entaylor’s honor engraved on Wolfslaughter shine, but also the pride of the northern dwarves.”
‘Well, now.’
Seeing the count like an excited child eager to boast about a prized toy, Eugene quickly replied.
“Simply possessing such treasures for so long proves the count and House Winslow’s own lofty honor, doesn’t it?”
“Haha! Oh, you! Such kind words.”
He said that, but Eugene could tell Count Winslow was immensely pleased.
He’d sensed it several times before, but the count truly seemed to revere martial prowess.
Perhaps because he himself had never walked the path of a knight.
“No, I mean it. Wolfslaughter and Madarajika may have acknowledged me as their master by fortune, but none of it would have been possible without you recognizing their value first.”
It cost nothing, so Eugene freely continued with words sure to delight the count.
Naturally, the count’s face bloomed with smiles all the more.
“Haha. Hahaha…”
“But I have a personal curiosity—may I ask?”
“Anything!”
“To me, Wolfslaughter and Madarajika give off an oddly similar aura. If I may be so bold, how did you acquire them?”
“Heh heh heh. I wondered when you’d ask.”
As expected, Count Winslow had been itching to brag about the two treasures.
“In truth, they’re a matching set.”
“Oh ho! I knew it! And?”
Eugene feigned surprise, and the count grew even more animated.
“Wolfslaughter and Madarajika were gifts from one of our Winslow kin when my father inherited the title. That person was none other than Duke Bartla of Brantia at the time.”
“Oh! Isn’t Duke Bartla one of the highest and most honored nobles in all Brantia?”
Eugene had no idea who Duke Bartla was and couldn’t care less, but he pretended to know.
In any kingdom, a duke was among the top three great nobles, plain as day.
“Exactly. In any case, I don’t know how dwarven treasures from the northern lands ended up in Duke Bartla’s house. But Brantia has long warred frequently with the orc pirates of the north. I can only speculate they were gifts from some pact with the dwarves there.”
“I see. A truly fascinating tale.”
“Want to know something even more fascinating?”
“What’s that?”
When Eugene swiftly asked as if genuinely intrigued, Count Winslow chuckled proudly.
“The weapons I gave you aren’t the complete set. You need the shield and armor for perfection.”
“Hoo?”
Up until moments ago, it had been to humor the count, but now Eugene was sincerely surprised and interested.
“Alas, I don’t know where the rest are. But as the master of the Twin Crown born after sixteen long years, I can only hope you’ll claim the remaining pieces too.”
At those words, Eugene inwardly tilted his head.
Then why not give Wolfslaughter and Madarajika to a knight who’d achieved Twin Crown even before him?
But Eugene quickly grasped the situation.
“The champion from sixteen years ago couldn’t wield Madarajika, I presume. And Wolfslaughter had already been gifted to Sir Fairchild.”
“You’re perceptive indeed, sir. Correct. Yet you not only claimed Wolfslaughter from my son-in-law but boldly earned Madarajika’s recognition too. How could I not place my hopes on you?”
“I see. Your words weigh heavy on me, Count. I’ll do my utmost to meet your expectations.”
The count grinned at Eugene’s artful blend of humility and confidence, then spoke in a slightly lowered voice.
“That’s precisely why I say this, Sir Eugene. To be frank, you have no intention of swearing fealty to me, do you?”
“…If I may be candid, no. My apologies.”
Right after his regression, such a thing would have been unthinkable, but circumstances had changed.
From all he’d seen and experienced, joining a specific noble house brought more losses than gains, Eugene had realized.
“Hahaha. No need to apologize to me. I may lack knightly talent, but I pride myself on my eye for it. You’re no vessel to be content as a mere domain knight. I wouldn’t want a peerless knight like you lingering only in my shadow.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“However. Now that you possess both Wolfslaughter and Madarajika, a certain fate awaits. And that fate is tied to Winslow.”
What was he getting at?
Eugene focused intently on Count Winslow, who had grown unusually solemn.
“In the past, the reason he handed over those two treasures? It was because he challenged for Brantia’s throne and failed. Even if House Bartla fell, as long as Wolfslaughter and Madarajika were safe, the great blue blood of the ducal house would not vanish.”
Eugene didn’t know the noble world in detail, but he sensed something.
And as if driving the point home, Count Winslow stroked his beard and spoke gravely.
“Indeed. I propose you become Duke Bartla.”
“……!”
“I can’t say what state House Bartla is in now. War or no, contact was lost even before that. What’s certain is Brantia is in utter chaos.”
“Scripture… War.”
Eugene murmured, naturally recalling what Lancelo had said after seeing Luke not long ago.
The count nodded.
“That war fractured Brantia’s royal family. The continental church’s heresy debates shattered their ecclesiastical powers too. In such chaos, if you prove yourself as master of Wolfslaughter and Madarajika, no one can deny you succeeding Duke Bartla. Why?”
Count Winslow exuded the aura of a great noble, pointing to his own chest.
“House Bartla shares blood with me, Winslow. That means I hold significant stake in any legitimacy claim.”
Eugene understood completely.
But one question lingered.
“May I ask why you’d grant me such a grand opportunity?”
Nothing in the world was free. Even if the count cherished fine knights, this was another matter. There had to be some other aim.
Staring straight into Eugene’s steady gaze, the count smirked.
“Because you’re a true knight… would be a lie. I’ll be honest, Sir Eugene. Become Duke Bartla and check this kingdom’s royals.”
“Very well.”
“…Pardon?”
“If I become Duke Bartla, I’ll do so. I swear it on my honor.”
“Y-You won’t even ask why I want the royals checked?”
“You’ve shown me such consideration. What does the reason matter? In any case, with Wolfslaughter, Madarajika, and the missing gear, I can become Duke Bartla, right?”
“W-Well, yes.”
Count Winslow, unprepared for Eugene’s response, was visibly flustered.
But Eugene truly didn’t care much about the count’s grudge against the royals.
No—he’d already roughly surmised it, so there was no need to ask.
‘Essend too, and great nobles hate the royals.’
Grant them what they wanted, reap the benefits. Simple, and exactly what he excelled at.
“I’ll head to Brantia soon.”
“Sir Eugene! Y-You truly…”
Count Winslow was too shocked to continue.
Eugene had agreed only because he disliked complications and saw personal gain, but the count interpreted it as ‘boldness and loyalty.’
‘A knight this honorable exists in the world!’
Grab!
Overcome with emotion, Count Winslow seized Eugene’s hand, his shoulders trembling.
“I’ve nothing more to give you, and it pains my heart. Sir Eugene! If there’s anything else you desire, name it.”
‘Jackpot.’
Feeling an inner urge to leap for joy, Eugene spun his mind at light speed and spoke with utmost calm.
“Asking more from you here would stain my honor. Rather, I should offer you something, Count.”
“Oh! Ooh……!”
“Grant me leave to subjugate the demonic borderlands of your domain. Let me hunt high-tier monsters and show how strong the heir to House Winslow’s Twin Crown truly is.”
“E-Eugene, siiiir!”
Moved to tears, the count wept openly.
Utterly unaware that the vampire before him, wearing a faint smile, thought only of red mana stones.
* * *
“Me? You mean me?”
Lancelo’s eyes went wide.
“Why so surprised? And sir, you swore to grant me one request, whatever it was.”
“Ah… True, but.”
Lancelo’s handsome face turned sullen.
“The count approved too. Said to do as you wish. Anyway, does that mean no?”
“…I cannot break an oath sworn on my honor. Very well. I’ll follow Sir Eugene’s proposal.”
“Not a proposal—a demand. For the next three years, you obey my orders.”
Eugene hadn’t asked Count Winslow only for rights to subjugate the demonic borderlands.
He’d also requested to borrow Lancelo—the first knight since Galpredic to give him a good impression—for three years.
Having watched the tournament and noted how well Eugene and Lancelo meshed, Count Winslow agreed without hesitation. Naturally, he also figured having his own man nearby to aid and observe the one who’d promised to become Duke Bartla was wise.
And Eugene wasn’t the type to miss such intent.
‘If he proves even more useful, I’ll pull him in.’
He could deliberate concrete methods over the long three years.
“Kh! Understood. So, what’s the first order?”
“Get your affairs in order within five days.”
“What will you do meanwhile, Sir Eugene?”
“Subjugate the demonic borderlands.”
“You earned a fortune in tournament prize and ransom silver—still not enough?”
“Some things matter more than money.”
Red mana stones, specifically—but no need to tell Lancelo that, so Eugene brushed it off vaguely.
And Eugene’s nonchalant demeanor gave Lancelo yet another dose of ‘certainty.’
‘One thing’s for sure. Yan Eugene here chases more than gold and glory—he’s a knight who seeks beyond!’
Oblivious to how far off the truth it was, Knight Lancelo beamed brightly.