Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Extra! Extra!
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133
1
“Extra! Extra!”
A boy wearing a newsboy cap shouted at the top of his lungs as he scattered newspapers in every direction.
Passersby snatched the papers falling from the sky and unfolded them.
[Simon Tower, Shrouded in Misfortune, Attacked Again by Unknown Assailants!]
Just over three months ago, Simon Tower had been attacked once before, and now another terrorist incident had shocked the public. Simon Tower was a new magic tower built with massive investment from the Hilfenberg Ducal House...
...Meanwhile, it was reported that the one who protected the citizens from this bombing was Theo Agrit, the eldest son of the Agrit Count Family. Testimonies continue that he also played a key role in a prior incident in the Hilfenberg Dukedom, drawing attention to his future activities.
The front-page story, which seemed to have been rushed into print, had rather rough phrasing.
But the content mattered more than the wording, so the reactions from those reading the papers were uniform.
“No way, how could this happen!”
“I knew it... I kept hearing those loud noises...!”
A bomb terror attack had occurred in the Hilfenberg territory where they lived.
Many residents had actually heard the explosions, while others had heard about it through the grapevine.
The opening ceremony, which should have been a grand event, had been ruined by a bombing, filling the citizens with anger and fear.
And in the midst of it all, there was a young man who had risked his body to protect everyone.
He had even stepped up for a territory that wasn’t his own.
It was only natural that stories of Theo Agrit were buzzing among the people of Hilfenberg.
In an instant, tales of Theo Agrit spread throughout the entire Hilfenberg territory and began reaching neighboring lands.
Of course, his own wishes were nowhere reflected in any of this.
2
“Look at this...!”
Lying in bed, I was handed a newspaper by Noel.
Wondering what this was about, I took it anyway... and couldn’t believe my eyes.
Why was my name plastered across the headline?
I quickly skimmed the article, thinking I must be seeing things... but no, it was real.
“‘As a true exemplar of noblesse oblige, Theo Agrit’s future actions are highly anticipated...’?”
What the hell is this?
Writing an article about me without my permission!
They weren’t just praising me—they were practically deifying me!
“Noel, where did you get this?”
“It was being tossed around in the streets! Everyone’s praising you so much...!”
“This is the worst...”
I rubbed my dry face, but my mind wouldn’t calm down.
While I was out cold, some quick-footed newspaper must have put out an extra edition.
I get it.
They couldn’t ignore reporting on a major bombing.
And a noble from another territory who threw himself into the fray?
That’s prime material.
From the paper’s perspective, not running it would be the weird choice.
“The worst...? Aren’t you happy...?”
“It’s annoying. That’s why it’s the worst.”
Noel tilted her head, unable to understand.
Well, she’s cut from the same cloth as Leon at the core.
Hardworking, upright, and way too noble.
Unemployed, getting 3 million won a month vs. working diligently and earning 5 million.
In a balance game like that, she’d pick the latter without a second thought.
There’s an unbridgeable gap between her and me, the former type, no questions asked.
Like how introverts and extroverts can’t understand each other.
Anyway, it’s the worst.
I just want to live a laid-back life like a NEET.
Now that the article’s out, my name will spread by word of mouth.
But I can’t just sit idle.
When lives are on the line right in front of you, stepping up is a given.
Ignoring danger just to stay low-profile would violate the Good Samaritan law.
Let’s think positive.
One article won’t make me famous overnight.
It might build up and get dangerous, but if I lay low for a while, it’ll fade.
“Mm...”
Noel still looked like she didn’t get it.
Stop looking at me like I’m an alien.
“Anyway...”
I already have enough on my mind, so let’s put the paper aside.
First and foremost, what’s bugging me is the emergence of Fayen Flo.
Fayen Flo, who never appeared in the original story, pulled off a terror attack that didn’t exist there either.
At this point, Fayen Flo is a complete wild card beyond my control.
Since we didn’t catch him this time, who knows what he’ll do next.
Ah, my head hurts.
The things I have to worry about just keep piling up.
Creak...
As I massaged my brow, Leon entered the room.
Leon, carrying some simple snacks, sat by the bed.
His red eyes weren’t as wide as before, but they held genuine concern.
“Are you alright?”
“I slept well, so I feel a bit alive now.”
“That’s a relief.”
Leon handed me a glass of water.
I gratefully quenched my thirst, but questions swirled in my mind like the water in the glass.
“What happened to Simon Tower?”
I couldn’t see what happened amid the smoke from the explosion.
I wasn’t in a position to check anyway.
With debris flying everywhere, I could only guess the damage was severe.
“Simon Tower sustained no major damage. Some of the exterior was destroyed, but thanks to the large-scale defensive barrier newly installed after the previous attack, the core facilities are fine. They’ll replace the damaged exterior in a few days.”
As expected of Lucius.
He didn’t just brush off the last attack—he learned from it.
Talk about turning crisis into opportunity.
“...Ah, that round thing on top of the tower—that was the barrier?”
“Indeed. To notice it from a distance—your eyesight is sharp as ever.”
Leon nodded, but it wasn’t anything special.
It wasn’t there originally on Simon Tower, so I just guessed.
Anyway, good that Simon Tower’s safe.
“Noel, what about that transforming gun?”
“Ah... I picked it up nearby without thinking and used it, so I returned it right away...?”
As I said, the kid’s too good.
“How’s the gun? Does it suit you?”
“Yeah! It fits perfectly in my hand, you know...? You can really tell it’s the latest model. It has power adjustment in the barrel, aiming correction, and multiple protective spells layered on...”
Noel excitedly rattled on.
It was mostly about how magic bullets work, so I let it go in one ear and out the other.
If it’s that technical, I wouldn’t understand anyway.
Looks like she loves it.
If Noel’s raving this much, it might be made by a renowned artisan.
“Leon, can you arrange a meeting with the gun’s maker?”
“I’ll look into it.”
Leon nodded, paused for a moment, then turned to Noel as if realizing something a beat late.
Only then did Noel seem to catch on why I was asking about the gun.
“Ah... You don’t have to go that far because of me...”
“It’s fine. We won’t know until we talk to the maker, so no counting chickens.”
“Counting chickens?”
“Don’t get your hopes up too soon.”
The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.
If the maker demands a fortune or flat-out refuses to sell, even I can’t do much.
Since Leon said he’d check, I’ll wait a bit...
But before that, I need to ask Leon about this too.
“By the way, does Simon Tower have any openings?”
3
Meanwhile, in a luxury mansion outside Eset City.
In a lavishly decorated room, Louis threw a punch with his leather-gloved fist.
Crackle!
Green currents wrapped around his fist sparked wildly in all directions.
Each time, ugly-looking skinhead thugs screamed and flew back.
“Whew...! That hits the spot!”
“You’re moving too aggressively, my lord. I can’t keep up with my support.”
At Kyriakos’s complaint from behind, Louis shrugged.
In truth, with several going down per strike, there was no need for support.
“I thought anyone bold enough to smuggle Apenbru must have guts... but big heads and that’s it. No need for your help.”
“I never abandon my assigned duties.”
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, Theo sticks me with this stickler...”
The two had raided the Haken Family, who were smuggling Blooming and Apenbru, purely at Theo Agrit’s request.
Even without Theo’s request, Kyriakos would have moved on his own since Blooming was involved.
That’s why Theo had assigned Louis to tag along with Kyriakos.
“Let’s wrap this up quick and head home.”
Louis withdrew the currents from his hand and squatted in front of the only man among the skinheads with hair.
“Hey, where’s the Apenbru?”
“I don’t know...”
“You really don’t? For real?”
Louis muttered in disbelief, sparks flying from the tips of his hair.
The tiny currents he emitted without incantation were practically static electricity.
But the Haken Family boss, having just witnessed Louis’s rampage, trembled with chattering teeth.
“We’ll find out if you really don’t know by asking calmly.”
“You’re quite aggressive today.”
“Sometimes you need aggression to get through.”
“I prefer a gentler approach.”
“Saying that while holding a sword doesn’t suit you at all.”
Faced with the two casually chatting while wielding weapons, the Haken boss shook his head frantically.
“I really don’t know! I don’t know anything!”
“Ah~ I can’t believe that. I lost trust the moment all your underlings are bald and you’re the only one with hair.”
“This is our organization’s tradition...!”
“That’s not my problem.”
Green currents matching Louis’s hair color sparked more fiercely.
A brief incantation followed, but its effect was dramatic.
In the face of the intense chaining currents, the boss finally squeezed his eyes shut and yelled.
“I’ll tell you everything! Everything, just spare me!!”
“Who’d think I’m gonna eat you.”
Only then did Louis withdraw the currents from his hand.
Kyriakos sheathed his sword and tilted his head.
“Wasn’t it?”
“What do you take me for...?”
“You looked pretty murderous to me.”
“Well...”
Louis glanced around the mansion interior.
It was a total mess from his flashy rampage.
At a loss for words, he smacked his lips awkwardly and sighed.
“Built-up stress. Why?”
“Is something wrong? I can listen if you need.”
“Nah. Same old problem every time.”
“Employment is dangerous after all.”
At Kyriakos’s serious mutter, Louis took a deep breath.
To continue residing in the Tekat Kingdom as a spy for the Karmut Federation, he needed a proper job.
The order to create a discrimination-free reading society had come from the Karmut Federation itself.
And now, that discrimination-free reading society had a tight grip on Louis’s ankle and wouldn’t let go.
‘Damn Federation. Go rot.’
As he cursed inwardly, Kyriakos gripped Louis’s shoulder and exchanged serious gazes.
“Hang in there. I’ll cheer you on.”
“You’re job-hunting next year too?”
“I’m aiming for year-end.”
Year-end meant the Mullat Contio tournament.
Placing there gets you special hires from knight orders and beyond.
Competition’s fierce, but worth a shot.
“You dropped out of prelims last year.”
“I had unavoidable circumstances. It wasn’t dropping out—it was not participating.”
“Saying it now doesn’t change anything...”
Louis shook Kyriakos’s hand off his shoulder, sighed, and turned back to the still-trembling Haken boss with a grin.
“So, shall we pick up where we left off? Let’s finish quick and go home.”