Chapter 414: Bipolun (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 414: Bipolun (3)
In this world, knights are classified into three ranks.
A Squire, who is an apprentice.
An Associate Knight, who has reached the level of an Aura User or below.
A Formal Knight, who has reached the level of an Aura Expert or above.
A typical order of knights consists of one formal knight and several associate knights.
However, every member of the knightly order charging toward us was a formal knight.
There was even a knight at the highest level of Aura Expert, a rank that could be considered the pinnacle of mastery.
Seeing him at the forefront, I guessed he was the captain.
“Sir Hyun-woo.”
“It’s fine. I don’t sense any particular hostility.”
I had Iris and Amelia step back as I approached the knights.
As if sensing my presence, the knights dismounted their horses amid a thick cloud of dust.
The man who appeared to be the captain walked toward me and respectfully removed his helmet.
He was a handsome man.
“I am Leonique Ullian Bipolun, Captain of the Silver Wing Knights.”
“I am Kang Hyun-woo.”
We shook hands lightly.
I’m quite large myself, but he seemed to be taller than me by about two handspans.
“By the way, if you’re a Bipolun…?”
“My father is Baron Bipolun. I am his second son.”
I had guessed he was a noble from his ingrained etiquette, but I never imagined he would be the son of Baron Bipolun.
“The Baron is fortunate to have such a fine knight for a son.”
“Fine, you say?”
Leonique offered a faint smile.
His gaze seemed to hold a hint of caution, yet it was also filled with respect.
“I am merely humbled in the presence of a genius who has reached the Master’s realm at such a young age.”
I was momentarily surprised by his words.
I was suppressing my magic and internal energy as much as possible. It was basic practice to hide one’s true strength when the opponent was unknown.
But for him to see through my concealment and read my energy…
‘So this is what it means to be a noble, huh?’
I could tell he hadn’t just mindlessly trained his aura; he had also dedicated himself to tempering his mind and body through systematic training.
With this level of talent, he would likely reach the Master’s realm within a few years without issue.
“You flatter me. But, Sir Leonique, what brings you to me?”
“Ah, I came to express my gratitude, Sir Hyun-woo. The magical beast you defeated just now was one we were originally tracking. If things had gone wrong, it could have led to significant casualties, but thanks to you, we were able to prevent that.”
Leonique once again bowed his head respectfully toward me.
The knights behind him followed suit, removing their helmets in a show of respect.
“As the second son of the Bipolun barony, I express my deepest gratitude for your help, Sir Hyun-woo. If you would be so kind, would you honor our family with a visit? My older brother would be overjoyed to hear of this. Although our family is in some disarray due to the war, we are not so destitute that we cannot properly host a distinguished guest—”
“I’ll go.”
“…Pardon?”
I was heading to the Bipolun estate anyway, so there was no reason to refuse an invitation from them.
“I have always wanted to visit the House of Bipolun, long known as the sword that protects the Grand Ducal family. The timing is perfect.”
“Ah…! You will not be disappointed!”
At my simple compliment, Leonique’s face lit up with joy.
And so, under the escort of the Silver Wing Knights, I entered Noirvel without any trouble.
*
Ullian Lumiere Bipolun.
He was the current head of the Bipolun barony and the captain of the Grand Duke’s personal guard, the Greare Shield Knights.
Amelia had said that if Margrave Hadrian was like an uncle to her, Baron Bipolun was like a stern but reliable younger uncle.
That’s why I couldn’t help but feel disappointed when Leonique told me the Baron was away.
There was no one better to inform of Amelia’s survival and ask for help.
Now that I knew traitors were emerging from within the Duke Faction, trusting other nobles was out of the question.
‘It has to be someone from the Grand Duke’s inner circle.’
But they were all either at the ducal castle in the capital or holding the line against the rebels on the front.
“This is tricky…”
“What is, my lord?”
Iris, who was sitting beside me and feeding me snacks, tilted her head at my unintentional muttering.
I stroked her hair and sank into the sofa.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just thought I’d gain something by coming here, but it feels like I’ve just wasted my time.”
After arriving at the Bipolun estate with Leonique, I had met a man.
Sefran Ullian Bipolun.
He was the eldest son of the Bipolun family, handling the family’s affairs in the Baron’s absence.
The acting head of the family, so to speak.
But my first meeting with him had not been pleasant.
—My apologies, but with the war looming, our family cannot afford to properly entertain guests. We will provide you with a room in the annex. I must ask that you stay for a few days and then depart quietly.
It was a blatant slight.
Of course, his attitude was directed less at us and more at his younger brother, Leonique.
I didn’t know the details, but he seemed to openly dislike his brother.
“Speaking of which, Lady Amelia.”
“Yes?”
“You said there was a succession struggle going on in the Bipolun family, correct?”
Amelia, sitting across from me, put down her teacup and nodded.
“I’m almost certain of it. Rumors have been circulating for a while that Baron Bipolun plans to step down from his title soon. Traditionally, the head of the Bipolun family has always served as the captain of the Greare Shield Knights. When the heir comes of age to assume the headship, the current head passes down the position and focuses solely on his role as the captain of the personal guard.”
“But is that a reason for a succession struggle? The eldest son is already the acting head. Can’t he just inherit the title?”
The principle of primogeniture.
The Nivia royal family was the odd one out; it was natural for the eldest son to inherit the title.
“As you say, Sir Hyun-woo, in a typical noble family, there would be no issue. The problem is that the House of Bipolun has been the sword protecting the Grand Ducal family for generations. The current Baron is an Aura Master, and the past Barons were no exception. However…”
“Are you saying that Young Master Sefran is too weak to one day lead the knightly order?”
Amelia quietly nodded.
The second son, Sir Leonique, was a formal knight on the verge of reaching the Master’s realm. The eldest son, Sefran, was at best a high-grade Aura User.
He would likely struggle his entire life just to reach the Expert realm.
“Even if he is the eldest son, an heir with no talent for the sword would not be welcomed in the House of Bipolun. It would be virtually impossible for him to gain the support of the family elders, the vassals, and the knights.”
“Hmm.”
Now I understood the inferiority in Sefran’s eyes whenever he looked at Sir Leonique.
A pathetic older brother jealous of his talented younger brother.
It was such a common story it was almost too cliché for a morning soap opera.
‘Well, it’s none of my business.’
All I had to do was gather information on the rebels from Sir Leonique when he returned, and then head for the capital.
Just as I was enjoying a rare moment of peace, eating the snacks Iris fed me, there was a knock.
Knock, knock—
The sound came from the door.
For a moment, I thought it was Sir Leonique, but the presence I felt from beyond the door was that of an ordinary old man.
“Come in.”
—Excuse me.
Creeak—
The door opened, and an elderly butler entered the room.
“My apologies for disturbing your rest.”
“What is it?”
“Young Master Sefran has requested a meeting with you, Sir Kang Hyun-woo.”
“...?”
I was speechless for a moment at the butler’s words.
It wasn’t surprise so much as disbelief.
The guy who’d shoved us into the annex and acted like he wouldn’t give us a second glance until we left now wanted to see me?
“I refuse.”
It wasn’t even worth considering.
I had a pretty good idea why he was calling for me.
“P-Please, I implore you to reconsider. I can assure you, this will not be a meeting you will regret.”
“Haaah…”
A wave of irritation washed over me at the sight of the butler bowing his head, sweating profusely.
But he looked to be about the same age as the director of the orphanage, which made it difficult to refuse him outright.
I’d noticed it before, but I had a soft spot for the elderly.
Unless, of course, they were an enemy I had to defeat.
“Should I go now?”
*
I followed the butler out of the annex and toward the main mansion.
As we walked down the corridor, it occurred to me that the estate was far too quiet for a knightly family.
Not that it was my concern.
In any case, after ascending the central staircase to the second floor, the butler stopped in front of a large door.
Knock, knock.
“Young Master Sefran. As you requested, I have brought Sir Kang Hyun-woo.”
—Come in.
Creeak—
As the office door opened, a familiar face appeared in the gap.
It was Sefran, the acting head of the Bipolun family.
His face was still ruggedly ugly.
I couldn’t tell if he was just naturally ugly, or if his ugly jealousy of his brother made him so.
Probably both.
As I stepped into the office, the butler quietly closed the door and left. Now alone with Sefran, I slowly approached him.
Thak—
He, too, put down his pen and looked at me.
“Sefran Ullian Bipolun. My apologies for the discourtesy earlier.”
“Kang Hyun-woo.”
I didn’t shake his hand.
I had no interest in shaking hands with a man who wasn’t even wearing gloves.
“Why did you call me?”
“…You’re being curt.”
“I’m not so low-ranked that I need to grovel before the son of a baron who hasn’t even inherited his title.”
“…”
He didn’t show it, but a faint killing intent flickered in Sefran’s eyes.
Thanks to that, I could tell he had a short temper.
“…There are those who occasionally mistake the Bipolun barony for a mere barony. The founding head of our family simply refused any further promotion in peerage to show he had no intention of challenging the Grand Duke’s authority. The House of Bipolun is one of the most distinguished noble families in the duchy.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“…”
A vein bulged on Sefran’s forehead.
Amid the heavy silence, it was Sefran who spoke first.
“…I have a proposal.”
I could see in his eyes that he was struggling to suppress his anger.
“Serve me. In return, I will grant you as much wealth and honor as you desire. You seem to have plenty of women already, so I assume you won’t need any.”
“I refuse. I have no hobby of serving a man who stinks.”
I glanced over the scattered documents on his desk.
I wondered if there was any useful information, but nothing seemed particularly important.
“It seems you’ve figured out why Sir Leonique invited me. Isn’t it a bit pathetic to act like this now?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re not satisfied with the terms, name your price. I’ll give you anything.”
“There’s nothing. And I have no intention of serving a loser who feels inferior to his younger brother.”
CRASH!!
At that moment, Sefran shot up from his seat and swung his fist at me.
His gaze held clear killing intent.
Just as I reached out to subdue him—
Wooooong!!!
‘…Aura?’
A black aura flared to life around Sefran’s fist.
I was momentarily stunned by the sight.
He was supposed to be a high-grade Aura User at best, a first-rate level. He wasn’t at a stage where he could release his aura externally.
‘Don’t tell me he was hiding his true strength?’
That thought had barely crossed my mind when—
“?!”
An indescribably foul energy swept over my entire body.
It was an extremely faint trace, like a single drop of juice in a swimming pool.
But despite that, my instincts, my sixth sense, screamed with certainty.
I finally understood.
I knew why I had felt such a strong aversion to Sefran and acted so hostilely toward him.
“How dare a bastard like you ignore me… Keok?!”
“You.”
BAM!
I grabbed Sefran by the neck as he charged at me and slammed him into the floor.
Pinning his writhing chest down, I drew upon my magic.
The sensation was like rotten mud, thick and clinging to my shoes.
There was no mistake.
“You were a black magician?”
It was black magic.