119. Received on the Way
Schlippen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joachim. Self-proclaimed pillars of the Empire. And the Four Idiots. Plus Karl calls them “the Hydra that makes your brain explode”.
Today, the four of them were writhing in the remaining time after listening to one lecture.
Boring. Really boring. Other students were busy with lectures and screaming in pain. But they only had to listen to three lectures, so the week was empty.
“I wish I had applied for other elective courses too.”
“That’s right. I thought there’d be some time left.”
I didn’t know when it was busy. I didn’t realize that sudden free time would be hard to adapt to.
Looking at the four, Karl thought Did they mess up the required lecture score?! These idiots! But even so, these four hadn’t left the top ranks of grades for the entire 4th year.
That meant they really studied hard for four years. Lectures, assignments, and exams. At least as much as others. Now they’re spending even more time than others.
In such a situation, suddenly free time appeared. Of course, adaptation was hard.
It would have been better if they were busy, but unfortunately, their lectures and family matters were going too smoothly, so boredom was slowly creeping up on them.
“Ah, damn it. Hey, Wilhelm. When is Karl coming back?”
“Why ask me that.”
“You know about the foreign affairs side well, right? Didn’t you hear anything?”
“According to the fixed schedule, he’ll return in two days. There’s still two days left, so please stay put, Schlippen. As an Empire noble, maintain your dignity.”
Wilhelm’s scolding made Schlippen shake his head with “Eolssigu?”
Not a human, but a nobleman who isn’t as noble as himself saying such things. Not funny. According to Karl, that’s just self-sabotage.
“Without Karl, it’s too boring…”
Not a human, but Joachim, the quietest of the four, said that. Even he is at the extreme of boredom.
“How is Selena these days?”
“She was giving off a vibe like she’d kill anyone who disturbs her.”
“Except for Karl.”
“Excluding Karl, of course.”
Previously, because of the memory of Choi Jin, it was hard to talk to him. Now, thanks to Karl, all the awkwardness disappeared.
Instead, now it’s fun to tease him with “So when are the two of you getting married!” and get the reaction. So last year, they teased him several times, but now they can’t.
The university is dangerous. Even Selena changed that much. It must be the demon’s lair!
“More than that, what about that elf. Eloise? What is that junior doing?”
“Lepia princess… no. The Lepia junior is sticking to him.”
“Lavrenti junior.”
“That junior is also with the Lepia junior?”
“…”
I already know that Eloise and Lavrenti have romantic feelings for Karl.
But the two of them are with Lepia? And Lepia is showing Karl the pictures he’s been taking care of?
“Caution.”
“Jealousy.”
“Karl, you’re in big trouble.”
Selena is completely immune. She already went to the family and formally greeted. At a point where her position is solid, she has no reason to show anxious signs.
But Eloise and Lavrenti are different. They’re next in line, and suddenly Karl is taking care of other women besides them? If they stay calm after seeing this, they’re not human.
“Ah. Eloise isn’t human anyway. Whatever.”
“Ah. Boring. When is Karl coming back?”
“Why are you looking for me when you’re bored. You damn Hydra bastards.”
“…Huh?”
Wait, did I hear wrong? Why does Karl’s voice sound mixed in?
“Everyone, don’t you wipe those rotten eyes. What expressions are you making, like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Ex.”
It’s really Karl? What? How did he come so soon?
The four were flailing and stood up, shouting Karl’s name in unison.
“Karl!!”
“Your eardrums are going to fall off. Quiet down.”
“You can only talk quietly if you can! What? When did you return?!”
“Arriving in two days, right?”
“Things went better than expected, so early return. Why.”
Early return! The gift that Imperial civil servants most want! Karl is doing well at work! Hahaha!
The four people who were thinking they could finally dispel the boredom by patting Karl’s shoulder. Then, discovering something, they sighed “Euen?” and opened their mouths.
“What is it, Karl. That sword? I’ve never seen it before?”
“Yeah. You weren’t carrying that before. You said it was uncomfortable.”
“Ah. This.”
Even with one glance, it’s an antique sword. Karl was fiddling with it, then spoke.
“I received it on the way.”
*
Time rewind a few days ago. While the Empire’s delegation was still staying in Lasquer.
“Wasn’t the invitation letter sent incorrectly?”
Karl was sitting in front of some knights, tilting his head.
Their identity was none other than Lepia’s maternal family. People from the Etaland family of Lasquer.
Precisely, the head of the Eteland family, his sons, and subordinate knights.
The mission of the Empire’s delegation was over. They had clearly delivered all opinions of the country.
The Lasquer king, Imir II, is focusing on changing from “knight” privilege and “honor” excuse to the new thing called the nation.
They secretly supported what was needed there. Gave some debts, broke the knights’ pride, and made a man achieve that they could never be the best forever.
At first, the atmosphere wasn’t great, but eventually they would come to know it.
A force that is a knight can never be eternal. Honor can never be the highest pride. They lost in the immediate war and didn’t lose in friendly wars with their own country.
A more practical and urgent thing is needed. Imir II wanted to change the thought from “kingdom of knights” to “kingdom of knights” with patriotism. “Kingdom of knights” not “kingdom of knights”.
Anyway, the delegation members can now go to the appropriate banquet to shine a bit. There, show that the Empire has full intention to go with Lasquer.
And Karl also wanted to mingle with the Lasquer knights after the friendly war. He judged that approaching without hesitation was better for the Empire than boasting about winning.
The problem was that the first one to invite was none other than Lepia’s maternal family. The Etaland family. That is, the ones who were thoroughly beaten by Karl’s father, the current Count Friedrich.
“Uncomfortable. Uncomfortable.”
After the friendly war, the knights who lost to him didn’t come near Karl.
Whether because of simple pride or fear. Of course, no words, no even looking.
But at that time, the family that was shattered by the past Friedrich Count suddenly invited for tea time. Karl was worried “Did they poison the tea?” even though he knew it couldn’t be.
“Baba Yaga’s son. This is truly surprising.”
While saying that, the Etaland head stroked his white beard and smiled mysteriously.
The man who used to crush all of himself, his sons, and subordinate knights in the past. His appearance is still clear. He looks a bit more slender, but his prowess is strikingly similar.
No. Maybe he should be called even more of a monster. At least he was like them.
But this young Karl brutally invaded the knights with a much shorter military sword. Although the Bright Light Church’s blessing is on that sword, it can’t explain all its greatness with just that.
“Father, do you think so too?”
“The surprising thing is the skill. Although he doesn’t have a bodyguard, I didn’t think he’d be this good.”
“That. I was a soldier for 3 years on the battlefield. Against the Gganfs.”
“To survive, you had to roll like crazy, right? It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but it’s not comparable to the knights waving their swords with ‘Yap yap!’”
Karl couldn’t say that outside, just laughed “Hahaha!”
“You may have heard from your father, but you are the one who crossed swords with me in the past. That was, um, more than twenty years ago?”
“I have heard from my father. When the Empire and Lasquer were fighting fiercely, I met wonderful opponents, he said.”
Precisely “friends who provide a good fight,” but Karl didn’t mention that part.
He wasn’t a fool who would pour cold water on such a good atmosphere.
“Hahaha. Thank you for saying that. But your father probably just said it politely. Anyway, against Baba Yaga, all we did was lose and run away.”
“I don’t see retreating as shameful. Rather, I think choosing life instead of a death with no gain, promising to make up for it later.”
Retreating or retreating on the battlefield is not a shameful act. It’s better to retreat, reorganize, and seek new battles than to die here.
Retreat was a daily occurrence in the Luzens war, so Karl answered sincerely. But it seemed to have made quite an impression on the Etaland family knights.
“Indeed. Baba Yaga too. His children too. Something different from us.”
“We thought fighting and dying was honorable. But no. Um.”
“…”
No. If they get too serious, what can I do. Why are they like this, Karl wanted to scream but endured with superhuman patience.
“Count Karl Adelheit. Please accept this.”
The Etaland head rummaged through something and handed it over. It was wrapped in luxurious silk, and from a glance, you could guess what was inside.
“This is…”
“Properly, it should have gone to your father. But he refused it. And now, it’s not lacking to hand it to his son.”
Karl tilting his head cautiously unwrapped the silk. Then, revealed inside was a longsword that exuded an ancient and elegant aura.