Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Banquet and the Duel (2)
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I'd love nothing more than to lop off that bastard's head right here and now, but we're civilized people—we don't go around killing folks just because we're pissed off.
I forced down my rage and pulled Karin closer into my arms.
She nestled right into my chest, glancing up at me with wide eyes before her face flushed red.
"M-Martin..."
Such sudden skinship, and she's reacting like that—it's so damn cute it makes my heart skip a beat.
Then I bowed my head toward the knight and spoke politely but firmly.
"I'm Martin Meyer, platoon leader of the White Beard Mercenary Corps. And as you can see, Karin is my woman."
The knight nodded at my words, clicked his tongue, and made it clear with his expression that he wasn't backing down.
Watching that, I had to question my eyes and the situation itself.
Nobles and knights like him can usually use their status to make any woman their concubine or servant, no matter what.
But even if the guy she's with is a lowly nobody, if she's already someone's woman, touching her when you know that crosses a line into taboo territory.
That's why even if you're gunning for an NTR play, you do it on the down-low—that's basic common sense in this world.
'What the hell is this crazy bastard's deal?'
I was so flabbergasted I couldn't even get the next words out, but the guy leaned down and kissed the back of Karin's hand.
"Sorry for startling you. I'm Paolo Schwaben, son of Baron Schwaben. Second son, though that hardly matters."
Karin stared at him with wide eyes, too stunned by the unexpected turn to say a word.
Then Paolo grabbed one of her hands, smirked, and tried pulling her toward him.
'This crazy son of a bitch?'
I could smash his skull in with a hammer right now and it wouldn't be enough...
Part of me really wants to chop him up like sashimi, but starting a brawl here would drag the entire mercenary corps into pointless trouble.
And it'd end my career as a merc on top of that.
So, just like an office worker holding back from murdering their boss in front of everyone, I'll play nice for now.
I clenched my fist so hard my knuckles turned white and yanked Karin back toward me.
She ended up burying her face in my chest, striking a pretty steamy pose, but I couldn't exactly savor the moment and feel all happy in a situation like this...
I ground my teeth and locked eyes with the bastard, issuing a warning.
"Sir Schwaben, I apologize, but Karin is indeed my woman. She's also a squad leader in the White Beard Mercenary Corps. So please, don't try to make her yours so carelessly."
Our side's mood turned downright hostile in an instant, and the mercenaries' excited chatter went stone-cold quiet.
The guys who should have been laughing and partying were all stealing glances my way and whispering among themselves.
"That Schwaben prick or whatever—is he nuts? Any decent noble would've backed off if the pretty girl's already taken, chalking it up to bad luck."
"They say the world's full of crazy bastards, and that guy's the poster child."
"Does that idiot have pig's feet and sausages in his skull instead of brains?"
Instead of yapping, how about helping chase this asshole off?
But they can't step in recklessly, or we'll clash with our employer, the Empire.
'Fine, this is my chance to show Karin my manly side.'
Any minute now, the guy should have the wisdom to bow out gracefully...
Paolo shoved my shoulder and glared into my eyes.
"Hey, you lowly merc scum. Who gave you the right to talk back like that? You're a commoner, and I'm the second son of a baron's house—a full-fledged knight."
Well, sure, I gave up my knighthood, so technically I'm a commoner...
But I'm not some resident of his precious Schwaben barony who has to take his "lowly" crap.
And right now, anyone can see he's the asshole—why's the guilty party acting even more high and mighty?
Still, even if I'm a bit lower in status, I can stand tall here.
Because if things get serious, every merc here—including Dalton chatting with those knights over there—will back me up as witnesses.
"Sir Schwaben, Karin is my woman. I can't fathom why a noble knight like you would covet some lowly merc's girl. You seem a bit drunk, so why not head back and rest?"
"That's awfully bold talk for a merc."
At that, Karin stepped forward.
She straightened her shoulders, met Paolo's eyes head-on, and declared proudly.
"I am Martin Meyer's woman. So while I appreciate your proposal to make me yours, sir, I must decline. My apologies."
I watched Karin's expression closely as she said it.
Is this just empty words to defuse the situation, or does she genuinely mean it, with at least some intention of actually being my woman?
This was the perfect chance to find out.
'Paolo's provocation is what it is. What matters right now is gauging Karin's true feelings.'
Her gaze didn't waver, her expression resolute with lips pressed tight, and she gripped my hand firmly while subtly pulling my arm toward her.
Paolo blinked at Karin, then shook his head side to side.
"Wouldn't it be far better to be my woman than that worthless merc scum? I'm an Aura Expert, a powerhouse who's all but guaranteed a spot in His Majesty's Royal Guard."
His personality might be dogshit mixed into bread dough, but honestly, the guy's face is pretty damn handsome—striking, even.
Blond hair, blue eyes, high nose—it's objectively attractive, even to me as a guy.
He looks only about three years older than me, already an Expert, and locked in for the Royal Guard...
'Frankly, socially speaking, he's already made it big.'
If he hits Master someday, he'll snag a title too.
So this isn't some baseless bluff from a loser.
Paolo sneered at me after saying that.
"We're on a different level, get it? So why not quit while you're ahead? Lowlife."
"What the hell kind of nonsense is th—"
Then he grabbed Karin's hand again, trying to pull her toward him.
Karin shook off his hand and shot back.
"I despise persistent men, even if they refuse politely, sir."
That flipped the mood again—now not just our mercs, but the knights standing a bit away were starting to look at Paolo like a total idiot.
"That elf is stunning, sure, but obsessing over a woman who's taken? What a spectacle."
"Pulling stunts like this brings shame to his house..."
"They say the Schwaben baron's genius has a weakness for women, but squabbling with a mere merc over one? Pathetic."
Still, everyone treated it as a private matter between me and Paolo, so no one intervened.
'At least the crowd seems on my side...'
That's when Dalton appeared behind me, grabbed Paolo's shoulders, and shoved him back.
"I'm Dalton von Prime, captain of the White Beard Mercenary Corps and former senior knight of the Falkenheim Count's house. It seems you want to take our Karin as your woman, sir, but isn't pursuing someone who's already taken a bit inappropriate?"
Paolo ground his teeth at that.
"I can make that elf Karin happier and keep her safer than some brainless thug!"
...... Crazy bastard, fuck.
Dalton, meanwhile, glanced at the surrounding knights.
"Seems the young master of the Schwaben barony's had a bit too much to drink. At this rate, there might be an incident at the glorious Reinpaltz Empire's banquet. Gentlemen, care to take your knight off our hands?"
Dalton spoke like he was ordering highborn knights, but the fault lay with the Reinpaltz side for "poorly managing their knight."
So the knights who'd been hanging back approached, grabbed our reckless young master's arms, and started dragging him away.
"Sir Schwaben, you're quite intoxicated. Pull yourself together—find a whore to cool that heated body of yours."
"The White Beard Mercenary Corps is a solid outfit that even other nobles eye covetously. We can't afford to make enemies of them."
Ha, fuck, so it ends like this? I really wanted to smack him one good time.
I was thinking that when suddenly his leather glove smacked me across the face.
I muttered under my breath in utter disbelief.
"......Fuck?"
Paolo scattered the aura mist symbolizing an Expert's realm and declared.
"Duel! Let's see who wins. Who truly deserves Karin—let's settle it properly!"
..... Heaven's on my side—he showed up half-dead already, and now I've got the perfect excuse.
A duel means I can beat him half to death for real.
Sure, his Expert level's a wrinkle, but when have I ever faced easy hurdles?
This is my shot to smash through the walls blocking my path and climb higher.
"Very well. I'll show you just how grave the sin of coveting my woman is, sir."