Chapter 210: Let’s Go Home (1)
Chapter 210: Let’s Go Home (1)
Patrick’s work in Evergreen was finished.
Thus, it was time to leave.
In fact, he wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.
Because he was terrified.
“Lord Patrick. If you leave so suddenly…”
“It’s because of you.”
“…Pardon?”
“Because of you…”
“…Excuse me?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Patrick avoided Elione’s gaze.
Yikes.
This was scary. Regardless of power levels, the look in Elione’s eyes was genuinely frightening. How on earth did she manage to make her pupils look like swirling vortexes?
Patrick desperately averted his eyes from Elione and looked toward Kilios.
Wearing a laurel wreath upon his head, Kilios had come out with the elders trailing behind him to see Patrick off. As they say, the position makes the man; he was finally starting to look like a proper king.
Meanwhile, Kilios looked at Patrick with a complicated expression.
The enemy who stole his sister’s heart, the savior of his tribe, the beacon of hope who would provide a new World Tree, and the culprit who instigated his well-settled tribe to move all the way to the Great Forest…
Why is this so complicated?
Kilios shook his head to clear the dizzying thoughts. Then, he spoke calmly.
“Relocating the entire tribe will take some time. However, we will move to the Schneider Fief as quickly as possible. Our plan is to send a vanguard first and gradually increase the numbers…”
“Handle the details yourself. And…”
Patrick approached Kilios and whispered in his ear.
“If, by any chance, something happens that you can’t handle with your own strength, call me anytime.”
“Lord Patrick.”
Kilios looked at Patrick with a face full of emotion.
“I’ll help you out for a very reasonable price.”
“……”
Though that emotion withered away instantly.
Patrick laughed heartily and gave Kilios a few firm slaps on the back.
“Well then, I’m off. See you later.”
Watching Patrick mount his horse and depart, Kilios gave a bitter smile.
He really is an incomprehensible human.
Humans were a difficult species to understand by nature, but that man was on another level.
However, the World Tree had left its seed with him. To the Elves, he was no different from a divinely ordained guide. Even if Patrick led them into the depths of hell, they would follow willingly. But…
“Even if it weren’t the will of the World Tree, I would have followed the path you walk.”
Kilios muttered to himself as he watched Patrick’s receding back.
* * *
On the way out of the forest, Patrick crossed his arms, lost in thought.
“Hmm, this is a problem.”
Patrick pondered.
“Ah, it’s truly terrifying. Terrifying.”
Matthew, riding his horse alongside him, looked at Patrick with narrowed eyes. Looking around, he saw Riman and Isabella giving him looks that clearly said, ‘Hurry up and ask him what’s wrong.’
Naturally, Matthew didn’t want to.
‘Why me?’
‘Aren’t you guys friends?’
‘Senior, aren’t you his fiancé?’
‘You want to get hit?’
The two exchanged a brief conversation with their eyes. But as was the case in most of the world revolving around Patrick, the strongest person was always the boss.
Matthew was now a seasoned 4-Star Swordsman and wasn’t someone who would be called weak anywhere else, but his standing here was different.
“Patrick.”
“To think that I am truly a cut above the rest… Hmm? What?”
“I really don’t want to ask, but I’ll ask anyway.”
“What?”
“Why have you suddenly come down with a case of ‘Genius Syndrome’ and made everyone around you feel nauseous?”
At Matthew’s words, Riman and Isabella nodded with expressions that said, ‘Exactly! That’s what I was thinking.’
Patrick shrugged with an incredibly obnoxious expression and spoke.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is why incompetent commoners can never understand the agony of a genius.”
“……”
“I was just marveling at my own achievements and brilliance, wondering: ‘Why did the world craft me so perfectly?’ That was the dilemma I was in.”
At Patrick’s words, Matthew looked up at the sky and spoke.
“O Yupinel. Why did you make me a worse fighter than this kid? Why? Just why?”
He had never felt more resentful about being weaker than Patrick Schneider.
Patrick said to the lamenting Matthew, “No, think about it. I originally set a grand goal when I set out on my knight training. Do you know what it was?”
“To lead the world into a crucible of chaos and death?”
“Hehehe, you want me to actually do that?”
“Whoa, whoa, calm down. My friend.”
I’m scared because I feel like you could actually do it.
As Matthew hurriedly tried to soothe him, Patrick pouted his lips before continuing as if he were doing them a favor.
“To gather some suckers—no, slaves—no, marks—no, hmm… what was it? It’s a word with a similar meaning that I don’t use often…”
“Comrades, Young Master.”
“Ah, right. That.”
How are those words even remotely similar?
“Anyway, I’ve already gathered all the comrades I planned for. And so quickly, too. This virtue. This charisma. This genius. Whatever shall I do?”
“Just die.”
Thwack!
In the end, he got hit.
However, Matthew thought to himself while clutching his head. Even though the way he spoke was incredibly annoying…
‘It’s actually true.’
Patrick had persuaded the Tower of Truth, one of the three great powers of the continent, to join his side, and then convinced the even more reclusive Elves to do the same.
In the process, he had fought a nation’s military single-handedly, participated in an Elven civil war, and even fought a high-ranking demon summoned from the Demon World.
The fact that one person had done all this was staggering.
‘Is he the eye of a storm that will shake the era?’
He had to admit it. This guy, whom Matthew had befriended, would become a giant who would leave a massive mark on the history of the continent.
“Aah… I’m afraid. I’m afraid of my own genius.”
“……”
It was incredibly obnoxious, but it was the truth.
Then, Isabella, who had been listening, spoke up.
“So, have you finished everything you needed to do?”
“I suppose so.”
“Then wouldn’t it be best to go back?”
At her words, Patrick, who had been lost in self-indulgence, flinched and spoke with a troubled expression.
“That’s the problem.”
“What’s the problem now?”
The words ‘you crazy bastard’ were omitted.
Patrick let out a sigh and said, “Because I’m too competent, I achieved my goals too quickly. I still have a year and a half left of my knight training period.”
“Ah…”
Come to think of it, Patrick was still a fourth-year at the Academy. That meant he had plenty of time until graduation. And that meant…
“What should I do with all this extra time? Should I go crush the Dwarves in the south? Should I go to the Holy Kingdom and crush the Paladins? What’s the old Sword Saint up to these days? Isn’t it about time he kicked the bucket?”
Why is it always about crushing someone?
And who are you sending? Where?
No, wait, what was even more serious was…
‘He’ll do it. That crazy bastard will actually do it.’
‘He’s more than capable.’
‘I feel like he could actually pull it off.’
The three sane people listening to Patrick’s monologue felt a serious sense of crisis. This was not okay. They were certain that if they had a conscience, they couldn’t let this walking disaster roam the continent.
Just look at the words coming out of his mouth.
Dwarves? Paladins? The Sword Saint?
Others might think he was joking, but they knew. They knew it wasn’t a joke at all.
“Patrick, calm down. Just calm down for a second.”
“Dwarves, Paladins, Sword Saint.”
“Get a grip, you lunatic!”
“Which of the three should I wreck first? Hehehe.”
“Why do you have to wreck any of them?!”
“I have my reasons.”
“What reasons?!”
“I’ll think of them as I go.”
“What the hell are you?!”
It was no use. This couldn’t be stopped.
Just as the group was being swallowed by despair, they finally emerged from the forest of Evergreen.
And there, they saw it.
A group of what looked like hundreds of heavily armed men waiting for them.
“Huh? What’s that…?”
“It’s not the Caesar Kingdom’s army.”
“No. That’s our kingdom’s flag.”
Surprisingly, the flag being flown by the hundreds of troops was the flag of the Atronia Kingdom.
And even more surprising…
“They’re out.”
“Senior, they’re out.”
There were familiar faces among them.
The ones shouting boisterously upon recognizing Patrick and his group were Gerard and Karin, who had already graduated from the Academy. And the person who appeared after hearing their voices was…
“Oh, Patrick, you’re here. And it’s been a long time, Princess.”
There stood Alex Rowenski, who had previously competed alongside Patrick as a representative of Arcana.
Even the great Patrick was taken aback by their sudden appearance.
“Uh, Seniors, what are you doing here?”
“Hahaha. Why else would a knight be here? Naturally, I’m here to carry out a royal command.”
At Alex’s words, Patrick nodded and said, “An assignment that requires bringing this many troops all the way to a distant foreign land… It must be quite a grand mission.”
“Well, you could say that.”
“Kuh, you’ve really moved up in the world, Senior. And who is all this thanks to? I hope you haven’t forgotten it’s all because of me, Patrick Schneider.”
“……”
“I hope you haven’t forgotten.”
“……”
“I’m saying this nicely.”
“Right. It’s all thanks to you.”
“Mwahahaha! Why all the flattery, Senior?”
Watching the warm reunion between the senior and junior, Riman Sierra spoke up.
“Isn’t that Alex person a senior and currently a knight? Doesn’t that make him higher-ranking?”
“Technically, yes. That’s how it should be, but…”
“……”
“It’s Patrick, isn’t it?”
Seeing Matthew’s utterly hollow expression, Riman nodded.
“I asked a pointless question.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Riman finally realized it too. One should never expect common sense when dealing with Patrick Schneider.
“So, what are you really here for? Senior, you’re part of the Royal Knight Order now, right?”
“That’s right. I’m here to carry out a decree received directly from His Majesty the King.”
“Heh… I see. Well, good luck with that.”
Patrick waved his hand and tried to walk away. But Alex hurriedly grabbed him.
“Wait.”
“Ugh, what now?”
“Don’t you have any thoughts when you see your direct senior carrying out a royal decree?”
“You’re working hard.”
“……”
“Are you working like a dog?”
To think this guy is my junior…
Alex let out a sigh and said, “Don’t you think you should help out with this mission a bit?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
Alex sighed again. Then…
“Just help me out.”
He just said it bluntly.
“For free?”
The same thought occurred to him again. To think this piece of work is my junior…
Alex let out a deep sigh. Behind him, Gerard and Karin nodded and pumped their fists as if to cheer him on.
There was no other way, was there? To complete this mission, Patrick’s cooperation was absolutely necessary.
Alex said to Patrick, “I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
“Hmm…”
“Please, just help me. I can’t do this without you. Don’t you feel sorry for your senior?”
“Tsk, well, if you put it that way…”
“Will you cooperate?”
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
After practically begging and clinging to him, Alex finally got the answer he wanted. At that moment, Alex’s eyes gleamed strangely.
“You said you’d do it. You were clear. Those were your own words.”
“Geez, I said I’d do it. Just tell me what the mission is—”
Click.
It happened then.
Alex quickly pulled something from his vest and snapped it onto Patrick’s wrist.
Wait, what is this?
This silver, shining object, perfectly designed to restrain both hands…
‘Handcuffs?’
It was equipment commonly used by the guard or knights to restrain criminals.
Having handcuffed Patrick, Alex spoke rapidly.
“September 15th, 1523, 17:30. Suspect secured.”
“…Huh?”
“Suspect: Patrick Schneider.”
“…What?”
“Charge: Patrick Schneider.”
“…Hah?”
This is absurd.
Patrick wasn’t so much angry as he was dumbfounded. This senior suddenly slapped silver bracelets on his wrists and called him a suspect? A criminal? And what? The charge is ‘Patrick Schneider’?
“Hey, you… What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Patrick roared a beat late.
Alex flinched but stood his ground. “You said you’d cooperate! You said you’d cooperate, didn’t you? Then cooperate quietly!”
“Is this what you call cooperation? Huh? This?!”
“Yes. This is cooperation. You got a problem with that?”
Wow, look at the way this senior talks. He’d become quite shameless.
Patrick looked at his companions with an incredulous expression and said, “Someone say something. Does this make any sense—”
And then Patrick saw it.
“Did you hear? The charge is ‘Patrick Schneider.’”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. How could he commit such a heinous crime…”
“There are things a person should do, and things they shouldn’t.”
The group huddled together, already treating Patrick like a convicted criminal.
I should just kill them all.
Then, Gerard placed a hand on Patrick’s shoulder and spoke.
“Give it up, Patrick. The evidence is clear.”
“What evidence?!”
“Evidence: Patrick Schneider.”
“You want to die?!”
“I believe you can become a new person. Just pay for your crimes quietly and… Gack!”
As he was speaking, Gerard was hit by Patrick’s kick right in the groin and collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
“The suspect is resisting!”
“Oh no!”
“Run away!”
Aren’t you supposed to tell them to catch me?
Well, he understood.
CRACK!
“Kekeke… I’ve let this slide long enough, you bastards.”
Watching Patrick shatter the handcuffs and reveal his madness, running away was indeed the correct answer.
If they could, that is.
“I guess you’ve forgotten your place after graduating and living the high life in the Knight Order…”
“Hey, calm down! It’s us! Us! Your direct seniors!”
“Let’s be reasonable, Junior. Please.”
“We’re just here to carry out His Majesty’s direct orders—GUEGH!”
As he was speaking, Alex was hit by Patrick’s lightning-fast upper-cut and soared high into the sky.
And before the airborne Alex could even hit the ground, Patrick roared.
“I AM Patrick Schneider, you bastards!”
A natural disaster named Patrick Schneider.
And so, the curtain rose on the massacre.