Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Intermission: All is Created by the Mind (1)
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Due to the previous assassination attempt, Kim Yul had built up quite a grudge against Berthus Duke.
Of course, how could an outsider and commoner like Kim Yul possibly fight and win against Berthus Duke, who could crush even birds that fell from the sky?
But.
Kim Yul knew exactly how to grab the hair of those in power and shove it in their faces.
This stemmed from his bloodline, too.
Not only was he born with a round face screaming rebel,
but from a nation of mad historians who recorded in the annals even the parts where the king himself said, "Don't put this in the records," and handed out bribes—ensuring it passed down to posterity.
A people who, every time they felt pissed off, would fire off unfiltered memorials without a second thought, united in the conviction that they had to point out the facts even if it cost them their heads.
Like the straight-talkers who wrote, "The king has not eaten crab since the Gapjin year," only to have their heads actually roll.
Kim Yul hailed from that very nation.
Thus.
On that day when the serialization chapter was published—where Jojo threw away his vanguard generals Jo Ang and Jo Anmin and went full streaker.
[Exposé Report: Shocking Dissection of the Duke's Depraved Private Life!]
[Author: Asterik]
B Duke has been infamous for his peculiar womanizing ever since before the Empire's founding. There are even testimonies claiming his illegitimate children number over twenty already, so the greatness of his lower body could truly be called on the level of national power. …… But rather than wielding such greatness merely to satisfy ordinary women, at times he used it to steal other men's wives……
The Truth Newspaper also ran one brazen exposé swung by a no-holds-barred alpha male.
A piece where the subject was omitted for anyone to see, but clearly in the form of a targeted strike.
Of course, any normal newspaper would have slammed the brakes on this insane stunt.
"That sounds fun! Let's run it right away!"
Unfortunately, Kim Yul's brake—his bro, the lady of the Wisperaude Ducal House—was already half-mad to begin with.
And since they were political rivals besides, she had no qualms about screwing over Berthus Duke.
Of course, Historie—the pinnacle of intellect in this barbaric world (self-proclaimed)—expressed some initial concern.
"Kim Yul, aren't you worried about the backlash?"
"Shouldn't the ones who sent an assassin first, when I did nothing wrong, be the problem?"
"That's true, but... still, it's a bit worrying."
"But we've got the bros. And I can't live my whole life looking over my shoulder."
"Fair enough. Well, the plan you devised has its own logic. I didn't expect you to come up with the idea of using skills that way—it's not very like you."
"What's 'like me' supposed to mean?"
"A handsome guy flashing a sly, underhanded smile?"
"...You tin can?"
Naturally, while Kim Yul was indeed crazy, he wasn't the type to charge ahead recklessly just because he was pissed.
So, he coaxed his accomplice Chloe into setting up safety measures.
First, the guard knight whose ear he grabbed and tore off.
Sure, it came with some restrictions on movement, but just having someone protecting him provided psychological stability in itself.
Plus, a research lab that guaranteed absolute safety.
If he delivered manuscripts through the guard knight, theoretically he could hole up there for life as long as food didn't run out.
Of course, Kim Yul had zero intention of living like that.
And finally.
"You sure, really sure it's okay? Can't you just say you're sick and take a break? Otherwise, I'll really kidnap you to my lair and lock you up!"
"Mm... It should be fine. If my hypothesis is correct."
"Hyap!"
"Gah!"
Esthea used Tail Whip!
The effect was tremendous!
"A-Are you okay?!"
"Urgh..."
He couldn't keep resolving crises by having Esthea chuck him forever, so Kim Yul wasn't neglecting his own training either.
There could be sudden rifts sucking him in like lightning from a clear sky.
Or an enraged duke sending assassins.
Kim Yul's conclusion was simple.
Similar incidents could happen anytime.
So, he'd get strong enough to stand at the top.
The competitive spirit that had him wandering the Hero Academy right after possession was still wriggling in his chest.
That competitive spirit of Kim Yul's.
"Oh my, it's the authorrrr?"
"Gah."
It shattered to pieces in front of the Saintess, who had personally visited his home to protest the distorted portrayal of love.
Too ambiguous an opponent to call in Esthea for.
And since the Saintess might grab his collar but wouldn't strangle him to death, the guard knight had no way to intervene either.
Instead.
"Whoa..."
The guard knight shot envious glances at Kim Yul, locked in a headlock by Roselin with his face smashed against her chest and cheek.
.
.
.
After enduring a razor-thin moment shuttling between heaven and hell.
Seated at an outdoor cafeteria in the western plaza, Kim Yul spent a while convincing Roselin of his writing intent.
"Ultimately, literature must serve as a mirror reflecting the world. I'm well aware that affairs are immoral, but sometimes we can't simply turn a blind eye to the dark realities."
"Hmph."
Roselin's lips pouted,
but Hermes' Blessing pierced her eardrums and hammered straight into her brain, kneading her thoughts to amplify the persuasiveness of Kim Yul's words.
And the invincible logic strike!
"Besides, strictly speaking, this isn't an affair. Chu was a widow to begin with. If she'd truly refused, Jojo wouldn't have crossed the line."
"Oh, really?"
Roselin's misunderstanding melted away in an instant, replaced by a generous smile.
Confirming that, Kim Yul let out a sigh of relief and attempted a Taiji Fist with his tongue.
"And honestly, I nearly died—can't I at least shove this much back? Instead of grabbing my collar, shouldn't you be protesting Berthus Duke's promiscuous private life?"
At Kim Yul's jab,
Roselin just smiled sweetly.
"If he were in the Holy Kingdom, I'd have blown it up already. But, hmm, starting a war because of me? That'd be a bit much, even for a Saintess."
She flicked a coin into the air spinning, then crushed it into a ball with sheer grip strength—a feat that made
Kim Yul avert his gaze slightly.
Regrettably, the only person around he could beat with raw physical power was still his scrub bro.
Then,
"You're Ulysses, aren't you, you bastard?"
A stranger's voice cut through their conversation.
The moment Kim Yul frowned and turned,
Slap!
A gauntlet smacked his cheek and fell to the ground.
"Duel me."
Berthus Duke's third son,
Regios harbored ambitions.
From childhood, he'd grown watching his father's back, etching awe for the countless great achievements his father had forged.
And.
Compared to his brothers who mingled in high society and politics, he was convinced that he—who had honed his martial arts from a young age—suited the successor role far better.
Even if times had been peaceful so far.
The Empire would soon plunge into prolonged chaos.
And what would overcome that chaos wasn't a sharp pen, but a well-honed blade.
Prove his competence, and he too could rise to a position ruling the Empire like his father.
With that mindset, he'd climbed to a fairly high rank in the Capital Defense Force at a young age.
Even the previous Defense Commander's tacit approval of the 'Night of Daggers' plan had been largely due to his influence.
And now,
"You filthy lowborn scum, you and those crazy bitches!"
he was ripping the Truth Newspaper—laden with an insulting message toward his revered father—to shreds.
So what if a hero who helped found the nation toyed with a few women? What flaw was that?
If anything, married women were like guaranteed stamps of approval—someone had chosen them, right?
The son, who perfectly mirrored his father's mindset,
filled his head with thoughts that would have gotten his skull cracked if the Saintess read his mind, huffing and puffing.
It felt as if he had been personally insulted.
Especially since Regios himself had recently spent a steamy night with a baron's wife.
"Hoo, hoo..."
But rage wouldn't solve anything.
So he took deep breaths, calmly regathering his composure.
This matter wasn't something the Estrías Ducal House could handle on its own level.
Issue a rebuttal?
That'd be suicide.
The public didn't care if gossip was true or not—they just needed easy fodder to chew on.
So rather than fueling the fire with a denial and spreading the story to even more people who wouldn't have seen the Truth Newspaper,
complete silence was better.
That was the rationalization...
but,
"I can't just swallow this insult."
His pride wouldn't allow it.
He knew this author Ulysses well to begin with.
He had to.
His father rarely invited anyone to the mansion, let alone some lowly commoner.
Plus, he'd bumped into him there once.
"This is why you shouldn't show mercy to pathetic commoners. They just keep crawling up endlessly."
Grinding his teeth.
He donned his light armor.
Time to teach a lesson to the thunderbolt fool rampaging without fear of the world.
.
.
.
A moment later.
Fuming as he prowled the streets, Regios soon spotted the commoner author Ulysses.
His look was hard to forget after one glance anyway.
Black hair, black eyes, slightly tousled locks.
A striking appearance hovering between handsome and roguish.
And that monster Saintess with him.
No matter how he thought about it, these two bastards had clearly colluded to screw over the Estrías family.
Regios strode right up to them.
And.
"Duel me. If you're not just a loudmouth windbag, accept as honor demands. Or tuck tail and run like the cowardly dog you are."
Following the long-standing noble custom,
he flung off his gauntlet at his face.
Outwardly wearing a look of utter shock,
Kim Yul was inwardly straining to hold back laughter.
At the perfect moment of preparation.
The biggest whale had taken the bait.
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