Chapter 817
Chapter 817
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 817
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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Kyle eyed the man who had entered his office.
Baron Ollond Glbet.
He was a man with soft golden hair, blue eyes, and flamboyant attire. Even the aura he exuded screamed nobility.
He was a noble operating in the far western corner of the Rapelli Kingdom.
Originally a declining noble house, he had seized the opportunity of this war to rise swiftly, building his reputation step by step.
He was the very noble who had sent Kyle a letter not long ago.
"This is our first time meeting in person, Lord Kyle. I am Baron Ollond Glbet."
"Kyle Prukus. And the reason for your visit..."
"Yes, yes. I have come to serve you, Lord Kyle. My 5,000 soldiers will be of great aid to you. And I shall faithfully serve as your vassal."
Baron Glbet bowed at the waist. His composed greeting carried elegance rather than obsequiousness.
Kyle couldn't understand him. The baron was gaining fame and growing stronger. There was no reason for him to place himself under Kyle.
"You seem suspicious of me."
"Frankly, yes. For someone of your stature to suddenly pledge to become my vassal... No matter how I think about it, it doesn't add up. Besides, I haven't even received a title yet."
"First, Lord Kyle, please speak comfortably with me."
"...Very well."
"Titles mean little in the midst of a raging war. What matters more than titles is fame, power, wealth, and military might. In all those regards, you surpass someone like me by far. Once the war ends, you'll surely earn at least a barony. No, you'll inherit the Prukus countship. I will make it happen."
The baron's voice was soft yet forceful, perfectly suited to winning people's trust. Yet Kyle did not dispel his wary gaze.
"I don't trust baseless loyalty. What is it you want from me?"
"Glory and riches. Unfortunately, there are limits to how far I can climb on my own. I know my own limits best. That's why I seek to pursue glory and riches under you, Lord Kyle."
"...Sorry, but that won't work. Baron Glbet, please leave."
Even at the dismissal, Baron Glbet did not back down. If anything, he smiled more leisurely.
"Lord Kyle, don't judge so hastily. I know your current state well, and what you truly desire. Perhaps even better than you do."
Kyle's eyebrow twitched. In his usual state, he might have brushed it off. But the heart demon still lingered in his mind, making his emotions volatile.
"You claim to know me well? Then tell me. But if you're even slightly off, I won't let it slide."
Baron Glbet didn't flinch.
"Right now, Lord Kyle, even the slightest annoyance makes you want to smash everything and kill. You're frustrated by the sudden surges of rage over nothing, aren't you?"
"..."
"Yes. I understand you, Lord Kyle. I've been there myself."
"You've been through it too? How did you overcome the heart demon?"
Kyle asked urgently. Neither circulation exercises nor meditation had dispelled it. He wanted to shake it off before it grew worse.
"So you call it a heart demon. The devil in one's heart... Yes, a fine term."
"Just answer me."
"Find the cause of the heart demon and resolve it. Simple, isn't it?"
"..."
"As I said, I know what you desire, Lord Kyle."
"...What I desire? You?"
"Yuria Grace."
Bam!
Kyle's fist slammed into the desk. The surface shattered in the shape of his fist. His eyes twitched. Hearing Yuria's name from the baron's lips—from another man's lips—made him lose control in an instant. The heart demon was worsening.
"Lord Kyle, calm yourself."
"...What must I do?"
"The heart demon is the clash between your desires and your conscience. There are three ways to resolve it! Abandon desire, abandon conscience, or fulfill the desire."
"Isn't that really just two?"
"Abandoning conscience and fulfilling desire are different. Abandoning conscience leaves you rampaging like a beast. It's about keeping your conscience and achieving desire through righteous means. For example, abandoning conscience and giving in to desire would mean killing Eugene Prukus and forcibly taking Yuria Grace. That would be acting purely on desire."
"You want me to kill my own blood? Have you lost your mind? That's the path of demons, not humans."
Kyle growled. Baron Glbet shrugged leisurely.
"It was just an example, Lord Kyle."
"...What do you mean by achieving desire through righteous means?"
"Inherit the Prukus countship. Once you're Count Prukus, taking Yuria Grace from Eugene Prukus will be child's play. After all, Eugene is just a member of the count's family, and Yuria is a maid of the count's household."
"Ridiculous. Yuria married Eugene. Even if I become count and summon her, she won't leave his side."
"Married? You're under a misunderstanding, Lord Kyle. Eugene Prukus is unmarried. He hasn't married anyone."
Officially, yes. But Kyle had seen it with his own eyes. Them embracing in that forest. Whispering words of love.
Veins bulged on the back of Kyle's hand.
"...You're right. That's what puzzles me too. If it were me... If I were Eugene, I'd have announced the marriage to the world..."
"Many guesses are possible, but the most likely, in my view, is that Eugene Prukus is toying with Yuria Grace's heart. If he truly loved her, wouldn't he act like you, Lord Kyle?"
"You're right. That's what I would have done. If only I... If I hadn't been too late, Yuria wouldn't have..."
"It's not too late yet. Become Count Prukus, Lord Kyle, and save Yuria Grace from being toyed with by Eugene Prukus."
"..."
"Still hesitating? Do you have no intention of becoming Count Prukus?"
"I will become Count Prukus. I've already resolved to do so. But are you certain Yuria is being toyed with by Eugene? I saw it. Yuria... she might truly love him."
"You don't know Eugene Prukus's true nature, Lord Kyle."
"His true nature?"
"His mind is filled only with women. Do you know about his estate? Rumors say there are hundreds of beauties serving only him. And he doesn't see slaves as people. It's said tens of thousands of slaves have been executed by Eugene Prukus alone."
Kyle couldn't deny it. The Eugene he'd met on the battlefield had changed so much he questioned if it was the same person. He treated soldiers and slaves callously, showing no concern for the slave soldiers who were sacrificed.
"Lord Kyle, from now on, investigate Eugene Prukus's actions in depth. I'll assist you. Despite appearances, I once worked in an information guild and rose to branch manager. Uncover his true nature, become Count Prukus, and punish him. Save the commoners and slaves suffering in his territory. Only you can save Yuria Grace, Lord Kyle."
"..."
Kyle closed his eyes.
Eugene was his brother. If Eugene had fallen to evil... As the elder brother, he had to punish him. Straighten out his wayward sibling. He had to save those suffering under Eugene—and Yuria, who was being toyed with—from him.
"Baron Glbet. Do you truly pledge loyalty to me?"
A smile spread across Baron Glbet's face. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee before Kyle and prostrated himself.
"Of course! I pledge eternal loyalty, my lord!"
"...What must I do?"
"First, instill discipline in the army. Your forces are excellent but lax. They don't act like a proper army. Strengthen the internals. And... I'll handle the investigation into Eugene Prukus."
"...Dig up everything on Eugene."
"Leave it to me."
???
That day, after the Korea Merchant House mercenaries delivered the box containing the crystal orb and iron ring, Terius lost all vitality.
Sleeping, eating, talking with comrades—none of it brought joy to life. Everything felt tedious and irritating. He just repeated his daily routine mechanically, devoid of emotion.
I want to die.
That thought looped endlessly. He even wondered if death might be better. Then Kyle summoned him.
Terius tensed. Kyle had definitely changed. Ever since Baron Ollond Glbet declared himself his vassal. From a comfortable, friendly brother-in-arms to a charismatic sovereign. The knights and soldiers were split—some praised the newfound vigor, others worried he was turning into just another noble.
Terius leaned toward the latter.
"...Captain. I'm here."
"Come in."
He opened the door and entered. Kyle sat at the desk with Baron Glbet. Terius was taken aback. The atmosphere felt off.
"Sir Terius! It's only been three days since our brief greeting, hasn't it?"
"...Yes. Baron Glbet. Today..."
Terius glanced at Kyle. Kyle, with an expressionless face, slowly spoke. His voice was dry and emotionless.
"Terius. I know you stole Baron Mavelot's relic."
Thud!
Terius felt his heart sink. Kyle terrified him. And he was bewildered. He'd even considered taking his own life. Yet now that death loomed close, his legs trembled, and suffocating fear overwhelmed him.
Terius dropped to his knees.
"C-Captain. I'm sorry... To save Nepia, I needed money. I had no choice. Captain... Please forgive me just this once..."
"I understand."
"...Pardon?"
Terius blinked.
"The place you sold the relic and took the loan from is the Korea Merchant House. Its true owner is my brother, Eugene. It was Eugene who demanded 1 billion ner from you under the pretext of the slave girl Nepia. Terius, you were simply toyed with by Eugene."
"...What am I supposed to do now... There's nothing I can do."
"No desire for revenge?"
"What do you expect from a one-armed cripple, a former mercenary slave? I couldn't possibly take revenge."
"If you want to, I'll help you."
"...I don't get it. He's your brother. Why help me get revenge?"
"Eugene has gone astray. I will set him right. As his brother... I'll correct him. Your revenge will happen in the process."
"..."
Kyle's voice was resolute. Terius realized he was dead serious. Still, Terius remained skeptical. What could he do with only one arm?
"Sir Terius, your potential is high. Reaching Aura Expert at your age is proof of your genius."
Baron Glbet stepped in. He chuckled and placed a hand on Terius's right shoulder—the one without an arm. It ached.
"Sir Terius, I'll reattach your arm. And clear your debt too."
"...Reattach my arm? That's impossible... I've already lost my right arm."
Terius felt a flicker of joy, but soon sighed and shook his head.
"Human arms are all much the same. It doesn't have to be your original one. I know a skilled mage. Just give permission, Sir Terius."
Life returned to Terius's eyes.
"...And you'll really clear the debt too?"
"Two hundred million is pocket change to me."
Terius glanced at Kyle. Kyle nodded.
"Still hesitating? Don't you need to retrieve that maid, Nepia?"
"Nepia... She's not mine, she's his..."
"So you'll give up?"
Terius bowed his head.
Nepia.
His long-cherished hope.
Even if it was wrong, he wanted her. Wanted her by his side.
Terius didn't deny his ugly emotions and lifted his head.
"...I can't give up."
An iron ring still adorned the ring finger of Terius's left hand.