Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: #8 Journey to the Capital (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“…I hope the war drags on. I’m not sure if I’m understanding that correctly.”
Kasha spoke slowly.
He looked displeased. Edward suppressed his rising tension and replied.
“You heard it right. And the goal is exactly what you’re thinking.”
“Are you insane about money games? You want to prolong the war to rake in even more cash?”
“It’s for a project that requires that much funding.”
Edward thought.
How far to reveal, how much to hide.
Where was the line that would build trust without offending Kasha’s mood.
What he finally said was this.
“We’re developing next-generation weapons.”
“…Next generation?”
“After the matchlocks.”
Kasha’s face twisted into a scowl.
Understandable. After all, wasn’t it his own Bolt Action that had shattered the man’s knee in the first place.
How could he react positively to hearing they were aiming even higher.
‘But…’
Hiding it would stall the negotiations.
Edward kept talking quickly.
“If you get involved, our war ends too fast. I’m hoping it lasts another three years or so. We need that time for weapon development, field testing, deployment trials, and fine-tuning, right? But once it turns into full-scale war, that’s impossible.”
The current West was a powder keg on the verge of explosion.
With Kasha gone—the guardian of the vagrants—four kingdoms had fallen. Now six of the Seven Strongest were concentrating forces on their respective fronts.
The moment anyone moved, it would be a bloodbath.
No room for negotiations.
Edward himself boasted ties with Empress Igrit and Demon King Jerdia, but national interests being what they were, once on the battlefield, they’d fight to the death regardless.
In that situation, for Kasha to side with one faction.
“I’m not asking you to help Armin. I just want you to enjoy your retirement a bit longer.”
Edward saw this as a gamble worth taking.
‘He seems like a devoted husband.’
The way he’d flared up with killing intent the moment his wife was mentioned, or how he’d been playing the meek lamb in front of her earlier—it was a plausible guess.
‘So now…’
Time to seal the deal.
He had no intention of begging empty-handed.
Though he wasn’t sure they’d accept.
“Let’s call it a negotiation. How about we give you a stake in our company?”
Kasha’s fingertips twitched.
Edward was quietly surprised inside.
‘It’s working?’
This was unexpected.
The Kasha he knew wasn’t a man driven by greed for money.
The reason he’d sided with the now-fallen four kingdoms was even said to be simply to die.
Even when nations holding Seven Strongest offered him vast fortunes and status to enlist him fully, he’d rejected them to the end.
So why was he wavering now…?
“How much?”
“1%. Can’t give more. My friendly shares are razor-thin.”
“Does it have to be me as the heir?”
Ah, there it is.
Edward’s eyes lit up.
‘Definitely a devoted husband.’
“Well, we can transfer it wherever you want. You really love your lady…”
“Money talk.”
Thud. Kasha’s fingertip tapped the table.
But its effect was anything but cute, unlike the sound.
“Gahk…!”
Edward spat out a gasp at the sensation of his throat being torn.
It wasn’t physical.
‘Killing intent…!’
Killing intent honed to the extreme, stretched like a thread and wrapped around his neck.
A feat only he could pull off.
“Tha…t…!”
“You’re climbing too high. That know-it-all habit doesn’t sit well.”
“Guhk…!”
Edward suddenly felt wronged.
Hadn’t they brought up the wife first?
He’d just chimed in, so why suffer this violence.
Looking at Kasha with pleading eyes, the man finally withdrew his killing intent.
Kasha frowned alone, as if lost in thought, letting out a low hum.
“Tha…t…”
“Is that all?”
“Y-Yes…?”
Polite words slipped out automatically.
Being alone in a room with Sword Ghost Kasha was spine-chilling.
Edward steadied his breath and spoke to him.
“…Take your time thinking it over. You don’t seem like you’re planning to move anytime soon anyway.”
There was no rush.
Coming here was just to gauge his intentions directly.
Plus, the Kasha he’d seen seemed quite satisfied, smiling while playing house with his wife.
‘Doesn’t look like he’s heading back to the West anytime soon.’
So, maintaining a friendly stance by supporting that playtime a bit more would be best.
Kasha let out a long sigh, then turned his gaze to Edward.
His signature sharp-eyed stare.
“…As you say, no need for an immediate answer. I’ll think on this more.”
With that, Kasha rose from his seat.
“And.”
Chill—
Goosebumps rose on Edward’s spine.
Killing intent squeezed his body again.
“A bit of grandmotherly advice, if I may. Don’t take interest in my wife. It’d displease me greatly if more people learned of this.”
His intent was crystal clear.
Edward forced a smile and replied.
“If that’s what you want, we can handle a nationwide gag order. I told you I’m not here to fight, right?”
“Please don’t test my patience. You know better.”
“Our elder has little tolerance, doesn’t he?”
“Good that you understand.”
Only then did Kasha smile faintly.
His natural good looks gave the gentle smile a kind impression.
If not for the killing intent, it surely would have felt that way.
“Someone’s waiting, so I’ll be off. This meeting soured my mood. Ideally, let’s not meet again.”
“Oh, sure you will.”
“Farewell.”
Click!
Kasha left the room.
Only then did Edward fully relax, sinking into the sofa.
“Haaah!”
Thought I was done for.
Even knowing he was in hiding, he’d been sure no incidents would happen…
“Our elder’s got a hell of a temper.”
Edward chuckled.
What this meeting confirmed was that Kasha was still Kasha, disguise or not.
And the good news that he wouldn’t move anytime soon.
Edward briefly thought of Kasha’s wife.
‘Her past life must’ve been full of sins. Or is she blessed? To have a guy like that bowing his head for her.’
Not worth dwelling on now.
Turning his head, Edward rang the bell.
“You called?”
In came the attendant who had escorted Elric and Tiria earlier.
He played crewman, but was Edward’s direct personal secretary.
Edward smiled and said.
“Bring me a change of underwear.”
“…?”
“Underwear to change into. Panties. Panties.”
Edward pointed to his lower body with his hand.
“I pissed myself.”
It was soaked.
His body hadn’t held up to Kasha’s killing intent.
The secretary looked at him with eyes tinged with contempt.
“Incontinence at 33?”
“The opponent was who he was.”
“Can I resign?”
“No.”
“I want a vacation.”
“No way. You’ll run.”
The secretary’s face soured.
Edward, still smiling, said.
“Bring it quick.”
The secretary’s fist clenched tight.
*
‘He wavered.’
The moment Edward White said not to return to the battlefield, his heart had shaken so much it startled even him.
Elric was newly shocked by the fact.
‘I don’t want to leave?’
Did he want to stay in Weibin?
Well, it was his hometown, so maybe natural.
He wasn’t sick of this peace, after all.
Even settling on that answer, Elric couldn’t shake the unease.
Something else gnawed at him relentlessly—a feeling there was more to it.
Elric was swept in confusion.
Click—
Returning to his seat and opening the door, Tiria was coming to.
No, she didn’t look well—probably motion sickness.
She glared at Elric resentfully.
“…Where have you been.”
“Just checking on something now that my head’s clear.”
“Didn’t you say no terror attacks?”
Her words drew a chuckle from him.
All the thoughts muddling his mind until moments ago vanished.
“Guess I jumped the gun. Sorry. But it’s resolved well, so all good, right?”
She sat rigid, full of wariness.
Elric gave an awkward smile and sat beside her.
“Three hours to arrival.”
“We’ll take a carriage back.”
“Hm, really?”
“...”
Resentment thickened in Tiria’s eyes.
Fear too.
For some reason, she looked adorably pitiful, drawing Elric into odd sentiments.
Still, what came from his mouth was.
“Got it. We’ll take it slow with a carriage on the way back.”
“Excellent choice.”
Tiria closed her eyes softly.
Trying to regain composure now was too late.
Elric had seen too much of her new side.
His gaze followed her.
What resurfaced was Edward White’s proposal.
‘…Later.’
Think on it later.
Not something to answer right now.
Elric leaned back, frustration lingering, and dozed off.
When he woke, the capital’s skyline was already visible outside the window.