Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Rod is Medicine (6)
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After returning from downstairs, I opened the door again.
"Huff, huff. Oh, I'm dying."
Philip had just barely managed to seat Yonas in a chair.
Sweat poured down his wrinkled forehead like rain. He looked like he'd just gone for a sprint.
"Young Master? Where did you...?"
Philip's mouth fell open upon seeing me return.
"And that rope is...?"
"What else?"
What I'd fetched from downstairs was a massively thick rope.
"What do you think a rope's for? Can't you tell?"
I snickered and tossed the rope to Philip.
"Tie him up."
"Pardon? Tie up wh-what...?"
"What do you mean what? Who, you idiot."
Instead of answering, I jerked my chin toward the target. Philip's eyes widened in horror at the direction I indicated.
"Pardon? Tie up Sir Yonas?"
"Yeah. Tie him tight to the bed headboard."
I pinched my nose and grimaced.
"That guy's stench makes me not want to get close. So you do it."
"But a knight, and me of all people..."
"I gave you incense earlier, don't play coy now."
I mocked him outright, and Philip's face turned red.
"And he's not even worthy of being called a knight in that state, so hurry up."
Instead of urging him further, I plopped down into a chair. I crossed one leg over the other and stared intently at Philip.
"......Ugh."
Philip groaned as he picked up the rope. Then, with a grimace like he'd swallowed bitter herbs, he began binding Yonas tightly.
A moment later.
"Oh, not bad."
I clapped excitedly.
"Did you learn rope-tying somewhere? That's pro-level work."
Philip had an unexpected talent. Specifically, tying knots so tight even an elephant couldn't break them.
I nodded in satisfaction and jerked my chin.
"Now wake him up."
"Pardon?"
"If I hear one more dumb 'pardon?', I'll stuff that rope down your throat."
Instead of repeating myself, I snapped at him harshly. Philip swallowed hard and turned around.
"Sir Yonas, Sir Yonas!"
Yonas only opened his eyes after Philip shook and smacked him for a good while, causing a huge commotion.
"Ugh, uuuugh..."
In that short time, a massive bruise had swelled up in the middle of his forehead. It was so bad you'd believe there was an extra bone in there.
"Dizzy..."
Yeah, he'd be dizzy. My knuckle rap was one thing, but after chugging that much booze, his head wouldn't hurt only if he were already dead.
"Why am I..."
Yonas blinked his eyes open slowly and spotted me.
"Abel Kindriel!"
He tried to leap up from his seat, but
"Ugh!"
His body, bound tight with rope, betrayed his will.
"What is this?!"
Only then did Yonas realize he was trussed up like a package, and he flew into a rage.
"What do you think you're doing?! Untie me right now!"
Even fully bound, he thrashed wildly. It was enough to make you worry the bed might break.
"Abel Kindriel! Untie this right now!"
"......"
"To treat an Ovest knight like this! Even if you're the lord's son, I won't stand for such an insult!"
His eyes blazed fiercely, fueled by the lingering booze. Hot and raging.
He hadn't noticed Philip standing off to the side and vented all his fury at me.
"You thought you could treat a knight of the Ovest Knight Order like dirt and get away with it? If Captain Diego hears about this, he'll have your head!"
In Yonas's mind, I seemed to have become his mortal enemy.
Well, I'd been dragging him around like a trained mutt nonstop. And after that humiliation at the palace gates, resentment was bound to build.
"Oh, really?"
I smirked, rose from the chair, and approached Yonas.
"Abel Kindriel! Right now...!"
Yonas was spitting mad as he squirmed, but
"Gasp!"
His mouth shut the instant my hand neared his forehead.
Even in his drunken haze, he remembered the hand that had mercilessly struck his brow.
"W-Wait! Just a second!"
Yonas recoiled in terror.
"Still not sober, huh? Short words prove it."
My index and thumb formed a circle.
*Thwack!*
Yonas's face snapped back.
"Argh!"
He must've wanted to clutch his forehead, but with his arms bound, even that was impossible.
"Grrrr..."
Yonas gritted his teeth against the pain. Tears already welled in his eyes.
"Still bearable?"
I grinned and raised my hand again. Index and thumb circled, slowly wiggling.
"It's fine. We've got time."
"W-Wait. What you're doing to me right now..."
"A few more and you'll snap out of it for sure."
*Thwang!*
"Aaaagh!"
Yonas screamed like he was being torn apart. Blood rushed to his face in an instant.
"Ugh, uuuugh..."
His crumpled face gave a rough idea of the forehead agony.
*Feels like your skull's splitting.*
I'd practiced on that bandit leader and mastered the technique for maximum pain.
A wrist snap, focusing force on the hardest point for a single, devastating strike.
My knuckle flicks had reached an artistic realm.
*A bit more practice, and I could kill with these.*
While I mused, Yonas struggled not to cry.
"Grk..."
His throat bobbed violently. Intense writhing to suppress rising fury and pain.
I flashed him a gentle smile.
"Who am I?"
Yonas glared at me through clenched teeth. Pent-up grudges and defiance boiled in his eyes.
"I'll ask again. Who am I, standing before you?"
"......"
"Not like your mouth's sealed. Why so quiet?"
I snickered and slowly brought my hand toward his mouth.
"Grk!"
Yonas whipped his head away, but it was futile. I kept my hand close to his lips, maintaining distance.
"I'm asking, aren't I?"
My voice chilled like it was his last chance.
"Yonas Klein."
Frost settled in, the air freezing with my mood. Yonas held his breath, forgetting his forehead pain.
"......Abel Ovest Kindriel, sir."
Finally, a deflated voice slipped from his lips. At that moment, Yonas must've painfully realized reality.
"......I'm sorry, Young Master."
That the one before him was his lord's son, someone he served. That no matter how angry or frustrated, there were lines not to cross.
"I was drunk and... I made a mistake. I thought it was a dream."
"Even in dreams, you wanted to beat me that bad?"
"......No, sir."
Yonas's shoulders trembled with shame and rage as he answered reluctantly.
"Hmm."
Time to stop teasing.
As I slowly withdrew my hand, Yonas swallowed a sigh of relief.
"Still,"
He started to speak, but clamped his mouth shut the moment my fingers twitched.
"Still, what?"
"N-No, nothing. Please, speak freely, sir."
Birds of a feather, indeed.
Even that prideful knight, that infamous bandit boss—nothing tamed them like thorough violence.
"Right. You must have questions."
I dragged over an empty chair and plopped down in front of Yonas. He nodded eagerly.
"Yes, first, please answer this. How..."
"Who said I'd answer?"
I silenced him like a mute and beckoned Philip.
"Over here."
Philip hesitated, but scurried over when I clicked my tongue lowly.
"You...!"
Yonas finally noticed Philip and gaped in shock.
"Butler, don't tell me you...?"
Philip averted his gaze with an apologetic look. Seeing that, Yonas was dumbfounded.
"Not content with stabbing me in the back at the territory, you come here and drug me too?!"
"I'm sorry. But I had no choice..."
"Choice? Because of you, I-!"
"Enough, enough."
I waved my hands to halt their bickering.
"We have to go together, so no fighting already."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
Ignoring Yonas's confusion, I beckoned Philip.
"Get me paper and pen."
"Yes, Young Master."
Philip quickly fetched them and set them on the desk. He stood by my side, awaiting the next order.
Just like working in the Ovest Territory's study.
"Heh, heh heh. Ha ha ha."
Watching our perfect sync, Yonas let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Who's butler are you, anyway...?"
I dipped the pen in ink.
"Let's see... How to start."
I licked my lips and began scribbling across the paper.
[To Father. I hope this finds you well?
For your busy self, it's been some time since I left the territory clutching my broken arm... Hmm? How long has it been?]
For a while, the only sound in the room was the pen scratching across paper.
"Uh, Young Master."
Yonas spoke up in a deflated voice.
"Could you maybe untie this rope...?"
"Shut up."
"......Yes, sir."
With the letter mostly done, I scanned it once more.
[...So, I should have good news soon. Please check the official dispatch coming shortly.]
"Hmm, gotta add that."
I dipped the pen again and scrawled quickly.
[P.S. Teasing Lord Carlo was pretty fun.]
"Good."
I folded the letter neatly, slipped it into an envelope, and handed it to Philip.
"Deliver this to Father."
Philip took it reverently with both hands, though puzzled.
"A letter, why...?"
I gave Philip a chilling smile.
"Father sent one first, so replying is a son's duty, right?"
Philip wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
"Y-Yes... Understood, Young Master."
As he tucked the letter into his pocket, he froze.
"Wait, what you just said... Does that mean you're not coming?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean?"
Yonas blurted in disbelief. Ignoring him completely, I told Philip,
"Head back to the territory with Yonas."
"Pardon? But..."
"No buts. Don't get robbed by bandits on the way alone."
At my words, Philip bowed his head in shame. I shifted my gaze to Yonas, whose face screamed he had plenty to say.
"You're the same. No point sticking around here, right? Conference is over anyway."
Fresh anger surged on Yonas's face.
"That's because you...!"
"Cut the pointless talk. Blaming me won't change anything."
"......"
"Your mission's already failed. Better think how to minimize Father's wrath."
I tapped my temple.
"Use your head for that."
I sprang up from the chair, ready to leave. Philip rose awkwardly.
"Leaving already?"
"Busy. This stench is giving me a headache."
"Conference is over like you said, so what in the capital-"
"What?"
I snickered and spun around.
"I've got plenty to do."
Grabbing the doorknob, I glanced back.
"Oh, right."
I patted my money pouch, making it jingle.
"Make sure to tell Daughter the news."
"-!"
Philip's face drained of color as he stood dazed.
"Y-You- Young-"
*Thud.*
I shut the door, cutting off Philip's frantic voice.
*What a dream team.*
I shrugged and stepped out of the inn.