Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Festival
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...
"Hehe."
...
The room fell silent. The only sound was the carefree laughter spilling from the girl with wolf ears, who called herself Silver Fang, as she climbed atop Yujin and rubbed her face against his.
"...Yujin, that child is..."
"I don't know either."
He looked to the mage instead. Meeting their gazes, she shook her head vigorously.
"I-I don't know either...! It was definitely a normal spell, but I have no idea why it turned out like this..."
"...The spell itself was fine, Yujin."
"Then?"
"...That child, or rather... Silver Fang must have something unique about her, or there was an issue with your blood. One of the two."
One of the two was the problem.
Hmm...
In that case,
"...Silver Fang's the issue."
She was a magical beast, after all. A legendary Fenrir, no less.
Of course, Yujin's own blood could be the culprit too.
In the end, they'd have to test both.
"...Anyway, Yujin. First things first, you should get some clothes on Silver Fang..."
"Ah."
"Clothes?"
Silver Fang tilted her head innocently.
He hurriedly dressed her first. The outfit Silver Fang now wore had belonged to Irene in her childhood, apparently. In the meantime, Yujin stroked her head several times.
Each time, Silver Fang squeezed her eyes shut and pushed her head forward even more.
'Definitely Silver Fang.'
No different from her wolf form. She had simply shifted into a beastkin shape and gained the ability to speak.
"...What will you do now?"
"...Not sure. The contract between Silver Fang and me is still solidly in place, at least."
Silver Fang had only changed forms; the magic contract remained intact. Her emotions were still flowing to him now, as if their souls were linked.
Right now, Silver Fang was...
'Master's the best!'
'So handsome!'
'Warm!'
...In that kind of state.
"Yujin, um... Maybe give Silver Fang a new name?"
"...Yeah, makes sense. She's in a girl's form now, so Silver Fang doesn't fit."
What would be a good name...
Yujin gazed into the blue eyes of the now-beastkin Silver Fang.
White hair and blue eyes. They resembled the Northern Grand Duke he had personally slain... but the impression was entirely different.
Silver Fang's eyes sparkled more brightly, clearer somehow.
'Hmm...'
...Ah, perfect.
"Yuseol. How about Cheong Yuseol?"
"Hmm, Cheong Yuseol... That's an Eastern Continent name?"
"Not good?"
"No, I like it."
Irene nodded, so Yujin turned to the girl who had been Silver Fang.
He had to get the person's own opinion.
And she...
"Like! Pretty name! Hehe..."
Absolutely loved it.
For now, he brought Silver Fang—no, Yuseol—back to the marquis's residence. Surprisingly, Yuseol could transform back into her small Fenrir form.
Not content with that, she suddenly leaped to Yujin's feet and dove straight into his shadow.
Flustered, Yujin glanced at the mage and Irene, who admitted it was a first for them too...
Worried something might go wrong, he called for Yuseol, and she immediately sprang out of the shadow.
'Turns out she can slip into shadows at will.'
Not just her master's shadow—Yuseol could enter Irene's or the mage's as well. And through their contract, Yujin could always sense her location.
'...Incredible.'
Her abilities were truly special.
The mage and Irene probably hadn't sensed her presence in the shadows at all, except for Yujin himself.
That made her ideal for assassination or ambushes. If any other noble had been her master, they'd have used her to wipe out their enemies.
"Anyway... I'll have to give her proper training next time."
Common sense, how to use a fork and knife, how to dress herself—
Plenty to teach.
'Maybe hire a governess?'
Hmm...
Time flew by, and at the imperial palace, he was finally granted promotion to duke.
"Congratulations, Marquis Banus. Or Duke now, I suppose."
The emperor clapped Yujin on the shoulder with a hearty laugh.
"I am grateful for your grace, Your Majesty."
"Nonsense. It's merely the reward for your devotion to the empire."
Yujin bowed even lower.
Ripe rice bends low, as they say. Especially before the emperor, deference was key.
One word from him could summon every master dispatched across the lands. Beyond that, the emperor was a benefactor in his own right.
"There's a short banquet afterward... Care to join?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Framed as an invitation, it was effectively a command. That was how authority was asserted.
Besides, the banquet celebrated his promotion to duke—odd for the guest of honor to be absent.
After passing time in the emperor-provided room with Irene and Lucia, the banquet was about to begin.
Yujin offered a hand to each. They claimed his arms, one apiece.
Entering with two partners at once was unprecedented... but it no longer mattered. He had the emperor's and Arkabella Duke's blessings.
Even as a duke, who would dare complain?
Unless a late emperor rose from the grave to slap him.
"The great bloodline of the empire blessed by the sun—Her Highness Princess Lucia Argentus, His Excellency Banus Marquis, and the Lady of Arkabella Duke enter!"
Escorting the pair into the banquet hall drew countless gazes to Yujin.
Jealousy, respect, envy, awe, shock.
Shock dominated. Nobles' eyes wavered as they glanced between Irene, Lucia, and Yujin.
"W-what is this..."
"...The duchess and Her Highness with His Excellency...?"
"...Rumors said he was lovers with those two... looks like it's true."
"...Come to think of it, I heard the Banus Marquis—no, Banus Duke family, Arkabella Duke family, and imperial family would all advance engagements at once."
"Why am I just hearing this?"
"...Such an unbelievable rumor, I brushed it off..."
Imperial loyalists voiced their speculations. Meanwhile, less politically inclined young nobles eyed Yujin with envy.
"Ugh...! Envious of His Excellency...! Snagging two of the empire's three great beauties at once...!"
"Only Marilsian Lady left now..."
"But didn't she have some signal with Crown Prince...?"
"...You'd best not bring that up. Forget what happened to that rebel who courted her? And Crown Prince lately... No, enough."
"You already spilled it. Tsk tsk."
"Pity for Marilsian Lady. Her ex-fiancé's Banus Duke Excellency—hard to find a new match. Northern Grand Duke rebelled, Crown Prince lost the throne race..."
"Ahem. Quiet down."
Noble ladies were no exception. Romance novels all the rage lately? To them, Yujin evoked a dashing wolf of a man.
"Kyaa...! So jealous of the duchess and Her Highness...! Held in those firm arms...!"
"Oh my, what a perfect match."
"Hm. Not one match—two?"
"Hm. Their vibe feels off... engagement news soon, maybe?"
"Too bad. I fancied His Excellency..."
"Still so handsome... can't stop looking...!"
Irene and Lucia smirked at the murmurs. Negative stares were scarce.
At worst, spiteful glares from the old noble faction...
"That filthy mongrel climbed so high..."
"...The noble order is defiled."
"How does a bastard become duke..."
Powerless now, they were beneath notice. Bashing Yujin fell on deaf ears—it only dug their own graves deeper.
Soon, nobles swarmed Yujin's group at the hall's center.
"Excellency Duke! Congratulations. I'm Viscount Dasia from the west..."
"I've long admired your tales! Please, just a word..."
"Excellency!..."
They all craved a connection with him.
Some young nobles out of pure admiration, crafty veterans eyeing ties to a rising star.
But their advances halted.
Second Prince Russel and Arkabella Duke had appeared from the side.
Russel sidled up and murmured quietly.
"Brother-in-law, we'll handle these with Arkabella Duke. Take my sister and the Arkabella lady to the balcony and enjoy."
Russel was clearly covering for him. Nobles were power-hungry hounds, ever opportunistic.
A fresh duke like Yujin risked troublesome alliances; they would sweep them away.
Yujin shot him a grateful look.
"Thank you for the consideration."
"Haha, think nothing of it. Go on."
Nod.
Leaving the nobles to Russel and Arkabella Duke, he led the ladies to the balcony.
"The moon's lovely tonight, Yujin."
Under the moonlight, Lucia's red eyes gleamed. She sipped from her wine glass.
"Indeed. What a night..."
He was a duke now.
From gutter bastard to duke.
It had been grueling. Malice and scornful stares, precious comrades turning to cold corpses on the battlefield.
Yet he had overcome it all to reach this pinnacle.
'Can't end here.'
He would elevate the family further. Etch his name in history—not as the wretched bastard, but as the era's absolute powerhouse.
Without fail.
Lost in reflection, Yujin gently drew their waists close.
"Oh my."
Irene chuckled softly, resting her head on his shoulder. As they chatted idly—
'...Hm?'
Suddenly, his senses picked up something off.
'This is...'
Demonic energy. Wrath's demonic energy. His expression hardened.
"Yujin?"
"What's wrong?"
Irene and Lucia looked puzzled.
"...Just in case, call for someone and wait here."
"Huh?"
"What does that—"
Without further reply, he leaped from the balcony, landing in the garden before dashing toward the source.
Step, step—
There stood a red-haired woman in a banquet gown.
"...Who are you?"
She turned at his question.
And there—
"...Jane?"
Jane. The one from the battlefield with whom he had vowed a future.