Chapter 10
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 10. The Wolf and the Dog
Ulfric Grombalt doubted his own ears.
"……What did you say?"
What did that black bastard just say?
Lower my eyes?
My eyes? Lower them?
In front of this Ulfric Grombalt?
Dare he?
Ulfric's brow furrowed.
His yellow irises narrowed vertically, pupils dilating and contracting repeatedly.
"I don't know where you rolled in from."
Ulfric slowly opened his mouth.
"Dare to flap your snout like that in front of me, the Blood Wolf Ulfric?"
40 years of ruling the North called the Blood Wolf.
In those long years, he had never received such a blatant insult.
'I'll teach you. What happens when you flap your snout recklessly in the North.'
Kooong-!
Magic power exploded from Ulfric's body.
Blood-red aura filled the tent.
Aura dyed with the blood shed thousands of times on the battlefield.
Beast blood, enemy blood, sometimes even comrade's blood.
Murderous intent, condensed from all of that, filled the tent.
Torches flickered madly, and goblets on the table danced with a clattering sound.
At this level, even a decent Imperial Knight would fall to their knees.
The North's Number 2. Blood Wolf Ulfric. That nickname was not a false reputation.
"Hiek!"
Lucia stepped back. Freya put her hand on her sword hilt and hardened her expression.
Right. This is the normal reaction.
Ulfric glared at the Black Knight with satisfaction.
Try kneeling.
And beg.
Then, considering my niece's face, I'll spare your life at least.
Of course, I'll have to rip off an arm or so.
Aren't I generous?
However.
The Black Knight didn't budge an inch.
"Is this all you've got."
And the next moment.
Wooong-
The space cried.
Black haze overflowed.
'What……?'
The pillars supporting the tent screamed. The silver utensils on the table began to tremble.
And the momentum Ulfric was exuding was devoured in an instant.
Like placing the sun next to a candle.
'……Crazy.'
A chill swept down his spine.
'What is it? What is it? What is this?'
Ulfric is a warrior. He has crossed numerous lines of death. He has fought giant yetis and clashed with demonic beasts.
But this is the first time for something like this.
The instinctive rejection felt by a herbivore standing before a predator.
'I have to fight.'
Naturally, his hand went to his sword hilt.
He wanted to draw it right now and cut off that bastard's head.
He wanted to smash that helmet, tear apart that armor, and shut that arrogant mouth forever.
But Ulfric's hand didn't listen.
Instinct whispered. If you draw, you die.
That isn't an opponent you can fight and win against.
'What is that. What the hell is that!'
His brother, Valter Grombalt.
Even compared to his brother, who was called the Strongest of the North.
'Similar, or perhaps…….'
Higher.
Cold sweat poured down from Ulfric's forehead. A drop of sweat that flowed down the scar on his cheek to the tip of his chin fell to the floor.
'…….'
Drip.
That small sound echoed inside the tent.
His nieces were watching. Lucia. Freya. The gazes of two nieces were stuck in his back. Subordinates were also watching. Subordinates who looked up to him as the 'Blood Wolf' all their lives.
Everyone was watching.
He ground his teeth. Fingernails dug into his palms.
'Calm down. Calm down, Ulfric.'
He had to swallow the humiliation.
A cold voice whispered in his head.
'It’s meaningless if you die here. The Axe Festival is just around the corner. The Grand Duke's seat is right before your eyes. You can deal with that bastard later.'
Right.
Let's endure for now.
Let's wait for the time.
Ulfric forced, truly forced, the corners of his mouth up.
"Kuh, hmm!"
He burst into a hearty laugh on purpose. Of course, he couldn't help the laughter trembling slightly.
"Haha, this is amusing! As expected of the Princess's guard, overflowing with spirit! In our North, we respect the strong. I like you, Sir Knight!"
Stance switch.
To survive in the North, this much flexibility is essential.
"Now, now! It’s not something to talk about standing up!"
As if what happened just now was a light greeting.
"A guest came, and I acted too stiff! Isn't the North's greeting a bit rough? Ha, hahaha!"
Laughter echoed hollowly in the tent.
Ulfric pointed to the table. His hand was still trembling minutely.
"Sit, sit! Hey! Don't just stand there stupidly, bring alcohol! Our precious niece has come, so bring the strongest and most expensive stuff!"
He turned his gaze from the Black Knight to Lucia.
Niece. Daughter of his dead sister. Poor thing rolled in from the Imperial Palace.
But that niece brought a monster.
And the words that flowed from that monster's mouth were──
"Called a wolf, but tucks tail like a dog."
'……!'
It was humiliation.
Wolf. Valter Grombalt. The real Grand Duke. The true ruler of the North.
Then what is the dog?
The younger brother wagging his tail under his older brother. His brother's shadow.
One who lived his whole life with the modifier 'Valter's younger brother'.
Ulfric Grombalt.
"Kuk……!"
It was a lifelong complex.
No matter how strong he became, no matter how much merit he established, people always compared him to his brother.
'Ulfric? Ah, the Grand Duke's younger brother.''Blood Wolf? He fights well. But not as good as his brother.''Still, he is the Grand Duke's flesh and blood.'
But his brother disappeared. Finally, his era has come.
He could stand with his own name, no longer 'Valter's younger brother'.
However.
By a bastard he sees for the first time.
By an unidentified black guy rolled in from outside.
He is being treated like a 'dog' again.
I will definitely kill that bastard.
Ulfric's fingernails dug deeper into his palms.
Even if not right now.
Someday. Definitely.
'Good. Resolved properly through conversation.'
Inwardly, I was proud.
It is a fairly peaceful resolution.
For the first time in months of Black Knight life, a 'civilized' resolution was achieved.
Without violence. Without bloodshed. Without limb amputation.
Eventually, sincerity works.
Of course, there was something similar to a slight battle of nerves in the middle.
Ulfric spewed aura first, and I just accepted it out of courtesy.
Is this like a business card exchange in the North? A culture of sharing aura instead of shaking hands?
I can understand enough.
Since it’s a neighborhood more familiar with fists than words, and axes than fists.
As a result, the atmosphere improved.
Ulfric is laughing too, alcohol came out, and a conversation table was set up.
At this level, it is a successful first meeting.
Perhaps I am improving little by little too.
"Kuhaha! Here, drink! It is etiquette to empty your glass in the North!"
Ulfric suddenly burst into hearty laughter. Of course, the laughter trembling slightly and his pupils shaking anxiously must be my imagination.
"A guest came, and I acted too stiff. Since the winter wind of the North is a bit fierce! Hahaha! Sit, sit."
Ulfric forced the corners of his mouth to his ears and pointed to the table. His stance switch is considerable.
They say in the North, they serve alcohol first when a guest comes. Quite a decent custom for a barbarian.
Soon, fierce-looking servants brought bottles and glasses.
"Let’s drink! Welcome, Niece! And… that Sir Knight over there too!"
Ulfric emptied his glass in one gulp.
Freya downed her glass without hesitation. As expected, blood doesn't lie.
The problem was Lucia.
She held the glass carefully with two hands and sipped just a tiny bit.
"Ugh, ueh… It’s bitter…"
Immediate reaction.
She stuck out her tongue and scowled.
Cute.
Wouldn't the expression of a puppy licking a lemon be exactly like that?
No, anyway.
Making a fragile Princess drink such strong alcohol, isn't that abuse?
As a Black Knight, I cannot stay still.
I naturally reached out and took Lucia's glass.
"Eh? E-Excuse me, that is my glass…"
It’s a Black Knight for a Black Knight. (Note: 'Black Knight' is also Korean slang for someone who drinks in place of another).
Clank.
I lifted the visor of my helmet a little.
Gulp.
A burning sensation as if my throat was on fire.
Keuh, as expected, alcohol tastes like this.
I put down the empty glass with a thud.
"So?"
"N-No, nothing…"
As the atmosphere loosened up a bit, Lucia carefully opened her mouth.
"Uncle, actually I came because I have a favor to ask."
This is the main topic.
Ulfric nodded arrogantly.
"Speak. Would this uncle not grant a request from his niece?"
Lucia took a deep breath and spoke clearly.
"As you know, the Imperial Palace has fallen to a rebellion. Father was confined, and my brothers… all…"
Her voice trembled minutely. But she didn't cry.
"I cannot stay like this. I must reclaim the Empire. So I need the North's help, Grombalt's power."
Lucia bowed her head. A desperate appearance of bending her pride as a Princess and asking for help from a blood relative.
"Reclaim the Empire, you say…"
Ulfric fiddled with his glass.
"Hmm. Right. You should. Since you are a Princess."
Thud.
He put down the glass. The sound was quite loud.
"But you see, Niece. What has the Empire done for us until now? Every time demonic beasts poured out, it was us Northerners who bled."
It was a cold question.
"What did those central nobles call us? Barbarians. Beasts of the North. Meat shields…"
He ground his teeth audibly.
"Even after 150 years, nothing has changed. And your mother, my sister Teresia… how much she was despised in the Imperial Palace and died lonely, you would know more painfully than anyone."
Lucia bit her lip. Because it was an irrefutable fact.
"I still can't forgive that."
Ulfric clenched his fist tight.
"I love the North. This barren land, these rough people, our family. Now that Brother is absent, someone must protect the North."
His eyes glistened greedily.
"And that is solely my share."
His true intentions came out.
"I'll speak honestly. I think it’s better for the North to become independent at this opportunity. The Empire? I don't care if it ruins itself, or if the rebels stir-fry and boil it. We just need to go our own way."
"Uncle! That is… The North alone…!"
Lucia shouted urgently.
"Alone what? Can't endure?"
Ulfric snorted.
"150 years ago, our ancestors fought against the Imperial Army. It is the same now. The Northern Army is the Empire's strongest. Who would touch us who fight demonic beasts every day? Rather, the Empire can't endure without us. If the northern barrier collapses, demonic beasts will pour into the heart of the Empire; knowing that, who would dare touch us?"
It is quite logical.
"The North just needs to go the North's way."
Ulfric drove a wedge cruelly.
Lucia's face turned pale. The moment the last bastion she trusted collapsed.
Then, Ulfric changed his expression completely and smiled softly.
"Well, that doesn't mean I intend to cast out my niece. Since blood is thicker than water."
He scanned Lucia up and down. A sticky gaze.
"Stay here. I could pick a decent guy among the warriors, strong and sturdy, and marry you off. Or well, you could contribute to the family in other ways."
A meaningful smile.
What is 'other ways'?
What is it.
It means he will use his niece as a political tool.
Lucia? My Lucia?
My blood boils.
The aura of the Abyss writhes.
Right now, that dog head…!
"I will think about it."
Lucia answered with difficulty.
Right. Let's endure.
If I kill the uncle here, Lucia will be in trouble.
But I will remember.
Ulfric. You just crossed a line once.
"Right, think slowly. Let's talk again after the Axe Festival ends. By then, the situation will be sorted out."
We came out of the tent.
Lucia didn't give up. She visited the tents of other influential figures.
But the results were miserable.
"Your Highness Princess… I apologize, but if I help Your Highness now, my position might become difficult…"
A warrior glancing at Ulfric's tent.
"I also have a tribe to lead. I cannot move recklessly. I ask for your understanding."
Rejection, rejection, and rejection again.
Everyone avoided Lucia. No one wanted to grab a rotten rope.
Lucia's shoulders drooped more and more.
Her steps became heavy.
Clack, clack.
The sound of heels that was cheerful at first.
Before I knew it, it had changed to a dragging sound.
One side of the square.
A fountain where even the water stream froze into a grotesque ice sculpture.
Lucia stopped.
The north wind blew and messed up her blonde hair.
"……."
Without an answer, she put her hands on the fountain railing and lowered her head. Her blonde hair flowed down powerlessly, covering her face.
The platinum hair that sparkled in the sunlight looked just pale right now.
Small.
In the vast snowfield, her back looked too small and precarious.
"As expected… I have no one on my side."
A voice wet with moisture.
But that is wrong.
No one? You have me.
In the middle of a vast snowfield, a small and lonely Princess's back.
And the knight in black armor standing behind her.
I didn't know what to say.
Should I say 'It is okay to cry'? No, that would sound like a threat that I'll make her cry. Should I say 'I am here'? That would obviously be translated to 'You are mine'.
So just.
I decided to stand silently behind her back.
Since being by her side is something I can do.
After staying like that for a while.
Lucia slowly lifted her head. Her green eyes turned to me.
"To reclaim the Empire, I need the power of the North. I have to win at the Axe Festival. To do that…"
She inhaled deeply.
"I need your power."
I cheered inwardly.
Of course I should accept.
'I will gladly become your sword. Wherever you want, whoever the enemy you point at, I will defeat them. Use me. Because I exist for you.'
"Good. I accept."
What a relief.
This time, no nonsense came out.
Of course, not even 1% of the prepared lines came out.
But it’s okay.
Short and bold, a cool acceptance. Perfect.
"Yes. The price… I know."
She nodded.
"Mm?"
Price?
What price?
I just innocently said I would help.
"Kuh… I know even if you don't say it!"
Lucia's shoulders trembled.
Clenching her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.
A grim determination as if she had resolved herself for some tremendous sacrifice radiated from her whole body.
Why does she have such a grim expression?
……She seems to be misunderstanding something.
No, it should be fine.
Misunderstandings can be resolved later.
What is important right now is that she needs me.
That she reached out her hand to me.
For now, that alone is enough.
The rest, I just need to show my sincerity slowly from now on.