Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Reason for the Foolishness
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After graduating from the academy, Lenis fell into deep despair over the fact that Brayden had rejected her, spending her days in a haze of depression.
Holed up in her room, steeped in melancholy, she kept wondering why she hadn't been chosen over Celine. In the end, she arrived at one conclusion.
It was her background—the one that had tormented her for so long.
Brayden had been a promising talent since childhood.
Not only did he have a handsome face, but he also possessed a sacrificial spirit that always put himself at the forefront to protect everyone, impeccable self-discipline that wouldn't tolerate even the slightest flaw if it meant setting a bad example for others, outstanding martial prowess to back it all up, and he never neglected his studies because raw strength alone couldn't make him a role model for all. On top of that, he had unwavering faith in the goddess.
He was the epitome of a perfect man, proficient in both letters and arms, no matter who looked at him.
Celine was no less impressive.
The second daughter of a renowned knightly family, she wielded tremendous martial skill, upheld the pride and honor of a knight, and wasn't just some brute soldier—she had the insight and wisdom to judge the flow of battle and the merits of strategies on her own.
She was the only one in the academy who could cross swords with Brayden on equal footing, and her natural beauty was stunning, complemented by rigorous self-discipline that gave her a toned, flawless figure without an ounce of excess fat.
By contrast, what about herself?
Her face was decent enough, and her family had the solid backing of being a count's house in the Pratea Kingdom. But everything beyond her born-pretty looks was fake.
Her family had originally been one of the continent's most renowned merchant houses, not just in the kingdom.
Her parents had amassed more wealth than anyone else on the continent through their exceptional business acumen and foresight, but they were distant from power.
As a result, they had to pour enormous sums in taxes and tribute to local lords and magnates everywhere, and they always had bribes at the ready just in case.
Her father, burdened by an inferiority complex over their merchant origins and lack of power, eventually bought a count's title from the Pratea Kingdom with money.
After acquiring the noble title, they poured a fortune into their territory, building a lavish castle more impressive than those of most duchies, complete with sprawling gardens and lakes, filled inside with expensive paintings, sculptures, and bonsai trees.
Lenis had forced herself to learn noble etiquette that didn't suit her at all, trying to blend into noble society, but no true noble ever sincerely acknowledged her or the Valentin Count family.
"A commoner playing noble with money." "Trash who thinks they're classy just because they surround themselves with luxuries." "Merchants who'd sell their souls for a profit."
That was how the kingdom's nobles evaluated her father, Count Valentin, and everyone in his house—including her.
Of course, whenever they needed money, they'd approach with smiling faces. But the image she projected, and the people who drew near because of it, were all fake.
Determined to overturn that judgment and prove her true abilities, Lenis entered the academy, awakened her talent as a mage, and there she made genuine friends who saw the real her: Ravi, Elfin, and Celine. She even fell for Brayden.
But even Brayden had ultimately chosen the true knight, Celine, over her, the fake noble.
Convinced that no matter what she built atop a foundation bought with money, she could never outshine someone like Celine, Lenis searched for something she could achieve purely through her own power.
At a grand ball for central nobles right after graduation, Lenis went around inquiring about the Pratea Kingdom's long-cherished national projects.
"Ha, cherished projects? Those aren't something you can achieve with money alone. If you're so set on trying, why not go purify Libertà or something."
Stung by a noble's mocking remark, Lenis resolved to take on the Libertà purification project herself.
Accomplishing something that couldn't be bought with money would be her chance to earn true recognition for her abilities. And who knew—maybe then Brayden would look at her again.
As she brainstormed ideas for the Libertà project, one noble approached her.
"It seems the lady of the Valentin Count family is seriously contemplating the Libertà purification project."
"And who might you be?"
"Ah, forgive my late introduction. I am Hiron Vector, head of the Vector Baron family. You can just call me Vector Baron."
"What brings you to me?"
"No need to be so guarded. Unlike the other nobles of the kingdom, I greatly admire your resolve to overcome any complexes about your origins."
"I see. Words alone, but thank you anyway."
"Hoho, it's no mere flattery. To show my sincerity, I'd like to offer some small assistance with the Libertà project. What do you say?"
"My father always said to be most wary of those who offer kindness without reason."
Vector Baron burst into hearty laughter.
"Hohoho, sound advice indeed. A veteran of dealing with people has sharp eyes. Truth be told, it's not kindness without reason. To be frank, I'd like to hitch my wagon to the Valentin Count family's achievements, so here I am, shamelessly making the offer."
"You mean sharing the glory?"
"Bluntly put, yes. At my age, still just a baron, I want to rack up some merits, but the world's too peaceful these days for opportunities. When I looked around, Libertà was all that caught my eye. But I lack the resources to tackle it alone."
Lenis crossed her arms and replied.
"So, what exactly are you offering to help with, Vector Baron?"
"I'll lend you my soldiers."
"My family has more than enough troops to mobilize. Why should I bother with yours?"
"Sure, that might make things easier, but even if you succeed that way, will the world drop its prejudices about you?"
"......"
It was irrefutable logic, so Lenis fell silent.
"They bought their title with money, their soldiers with money, and now this achievement is just their family's backing at work—they'd rush to downplay your accomplishments. I doubt that's why you're interested in the Libertà project. But if my troops are involved, it's different. Handling soldiers from another noble house tests your personal charisma and leadership. Succeed with them mixed in, and no one will dare belittle your feats.
We're mere barons, but the Vector family is still an old, legitimate noble house in the kingdom. Dismissing an achievement we share would be like the other nobles spitting in their own faces."
"I understand. You're lending me legitimacy and troops, while we cover the visible expenses and movements, and share some of the credit."
"Precisely. It's no suspicious freebie— I gain something too, so it's a fair deal. What do you think?"
After much deliberation, Lenis nodded and extended her hand.
"Fine. I accept the deal. The Libertà purification project—I'll make it happen, Lenis Valentin of the Valentin Count family!"
"I'll support your success from behind the scenes."
After that, Lenis made several trips, combining her family's troops with the Vector family's, heading to Libertà and repeatedly demanding evacuation.
Naturally, Libertà didn't comply, so after multiple visits, Lenis issued an ultimatum and headed there one last time, prepared to use force if necessary. And just as she was about to give the order, a brilliant light exploded ahead. ##### "...That's how it happened. But... I've never heard anything about powerhouses hiding in Libertà... Alvis, you think I don't know you're just trying to tease me? Those people couldn't all be dead! There were so many of them..."
Lenis, unaware of the Ebony Shadow Mercenaries' very existence, didn't know that even a mob of riffraff meant nothing before them. But there was something even more crucial. Holy Warrior Brayden NX was a piece-of-shit trash game, but out of pure love for the original web novel Loveholic, I'd choked down every last bit of that crap to the end. After all, it covered the overall worldbuilding and lore not touched on in the novel. Playing that garbage game so obsessively had made me able to recite, eyes closed from my seat, what lay where in every country. And that's why I'd just caught something utterly bizarre in Lenis's words.
"Lenis. The person who told you that—what's their name?"
"Vector Baron, you mean? Hiron Vector."
"He definitely said that? Hiron Vector of the 'Vector Baron family'?"
"...What did you just hear?"
Lenis delivered the confirmation kill. The question wouldn't leave my mind. Because in the world of Holy Warrior Brayden NX, no Vector family existed. Not anywhere.