Chapter 242: It’s You (2)
Chapter 242: It’s You (2)
At that moment, the awkward expression on Patrick’s face as he scratched his head vanished, replaced by a deep scowl.
“No, wait a second. So, you’re saying this bastard—the guy the Royal Family sent to solve the problem—tried to side with the Harbor Kingdom and screw over my father just because of some personal grudge?”
“…….”
Nice summary.
As Marquis Panola hesitated, unsure of how to respond, Patrick’s foot came flying in.
Thwack!
“Gahhh!”
The Marquis soared into the air before crashing back down, and Patrick immediately pounced on top of him. And then…
“What…”
Smack!
“Kind of bastard…”
Crack!
“Are you?!”
Thud!
“Die! Just die! You hopeless traitorous piece of shit!”
Wham! Bam! Pow!
With every word, Patrick’s fist buried itself into Marquis Panola’s face, further disfiguring it.
“Young Master! You can’t do this!”
“He is a messenger representing the will of the Royal Family!”
“And he’s a Marquis!”
The knights rushed in to pull him off, but Patrick continued to pummel the Marquis’s face until the very end.
“So what? Marquis or whatever, if you screw up, you get hit.”
That’s a remarkably egalitarian way of thinking.
It almost sounded fair if you didn't think about it too hard. Of course, the victim in question didn't see it that way.
“Urgh… Do you think you’ll get away with this?”
“Wow, this guy’s got some decent grit and endurance, doesn’t he?”
“I will make sure this becomes a public scandal! Because of your actions, the entire Schneider Territory will—Gah!”
“You really want to die, don’t you?! Hey, dig a hole. Let’s chop these guys into little pieces, bury them, and say they were killed by monsters.”
As he was being trampled by Patrick, Marquis Panola felt more terror than pain.
Is… is this guy for real? No matter how reckless he is, I’m a Marquis of the Kingdom. He doesn’t even have a title yet…
Power is stronger than the sword.
That had been Marquis Panola’s philosophy of life. But that philosophy was now being shaken to its core.
The power of authority only worked on people who were rational and followed common sense. To a madman who pushed back harder the more you tried to suppress him, the weight of authority was nothing more than fuel for his fire.
“What are you doing? Dig the hole! You guys getting lazy on me…?”
“Young Master, we told you, he’s a Marquis!”
“And for now, he’s the Captain of the Royal Knights!”
“So what? Does being the Captain of the Royal Knights give you a license to be a prick? If I really lose my temper, I’ll go all the way to the Royal Palace and—Agh, seriously?!”
The knights were exhausted.
How much had they prayed during the past year while Patrick was gone? They had hoped the Young Master would wake up and solidify his position as the heir to the Lord. Every resident of the territory had wished with one heart for him to relieve the Lord’s worries. However…
‘Ah, he should’ve slept a bit longer…’
‘Who woke him up? Who?’
‘Dammit, things were so peaceful while he was out.’
Now that Patrick was actually awake, they realized just how comfortable and serene the past year had been.
Of course, it was good that he was back. It was reassuring. And honestly, it had been quite cathartic until just a moment ago. But…
“Dig the hole! I said dig! I’m burying all these bastards!”
Yeah, maybe it was better when he was gone.
When the knights hesitated, Patrick used his own Sword Force to blast a crater into the ground. He then shoved the Harbor Kingdom’s delegation and Marquis Panola into it.
As he began to shovel dirt over them…
“N-Noooo!”
“Save me! I mean, please save us!”
“This is all his fault! Not mine!”
“Keiron, you dare…!”
“Shut up, you damn Prince!”
“I am a Marquis of the Kingdom! How dare you… mmpf… pui, pui…”
It was absolute bedlam.
It was no joke; as the dirt actually started falling over their heads, those consumed by terror began to struggle and plead desperately. Regardless, Patrick kept shoveling.
Using his internal energy to pile it on, the dirt rose rapidly. Just as it reached their heads…
“Stop. Pull them all out.”
Baron Schneider intervened.
“Aw, Father. Why?”
“Why? You’re asking me why?”
“Why. Why. Why. See? It comes out just fine.”
“…….”
Baron Schneider looked up at the sky and let out a heavy, sorrowful sigh.
He was happy his son had woken up. Truly happy. But…
‘How can the joy I’ve waited a year for vanish in less than an hour?’
He really wanted to see the faces of the parents who raised such a child.
‘Oh, wait. That’s me.’
Spitting at the sky only resulted in it falling back on his own face. Baron Schneider sighed again and spoke.
“Pull them out for now. And…”
Even so, things had gone too far to simply let them go.
“Keep them secured in the castle dungeon.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The castle dungeon was, for all intents and purposes, a prison. He was telling them to lock everyone up. The knights of the territory followed the Baron’s orders obediently. Then, Baron Schneider turned to his son.
“You, follow me.”
“Ouch! Don’t pull my ear! Ow, ow… I’ll follow you, so let go! Ow, I said it hurts!”
*
Baron Schneider didn't let go of Patrick’s ear until they reached the reception room of the manor.
Patrick grumbled, rubbing his ear with a pout.
“That hurt. I think it’s torn.”
“…….”
“If you had something to say, you could’ve just called me. Why’d you drag me like this?”
“…….”
“…Uh, Father?”
It was then.
Baron Schneider suddenly pulled Patrick into a tight embrace. Caught off guard, Patrick was flustered to find himself in his father’s arms.
“I mean, Father, how old do you think your son is—”
Patrick couldn't finish his sentence. He felt his father’s shoulders trembling violently as he held him.
“Welcome… welcome back.”
“…….”
“You really… came back.”
Hearing the sobbing voice of Baron Schneider, Patrick’s body went stiff.
Man, Father’s making me feel guilty… making me look like an unfilial son for no reason.
Baron Schneider held Patrick and sobbed for a long time. Once he had calmed down and opened the door, a much larger crowd came rushing in.
“Young Master!”
“Patrick!”
“You bastard! You…”
“Lord Patrick!”
“Brother!”
April, Isabella, Matthew, Riman, Elione, and many others…
Everyone who had been waiting for Patrick to wake up gathered around, touching him and hugging him in joy.
“Hey, hey! Easy! Take it easy… Ow! Don’t pull my hair!”
Patrick was forced to endure their overwhelming affection, and it took quite a while before everyone finally settled down. And then…
“You all worked hard this past year.”
Patrick spoke somewhat awkwardly to the group once they had calmed down.
April shook her head and replied.
“Not at all. We only maintained the foundation you laid out, Young Master. It wasn’t hard for us.”
“That’s not true. Good work is good work. Is it easy to quietly develop a territory while the entire continent is engulfed in the flames of war?”
“Young Master…”
A smile spread across everyone’s faces at the rare praise from Patrick Schneider. But then…
“Wait a minute, Patrick Schneider.”
“What is it, Four-Eyes?”
“My name is Riman Sierra.”
“Whatever. What?”
“…Looking at your words and actions, by any chance…”
“By any chance, what?”
“Were you conscious during this past year?”
Patrick’s body flinched for a split second.
“Well, you see, about that…”
“…….”
“…….”
Under the interrogating gazes of everyone present, Patrick looked away toward the distance and spoke.
“Even if you say that’s the case, it wouldn’t be entirely wrong—Agh! Ow!”
“You son of a bitch!”
“Do you have any idea how much we worried?!”
“If you were conscious while you were snoring away, you should’ve gotten up immediately!”
“Just go back to sleep! Don’t wake up, just keep sleeping!”
In an instant, Patrick became the target of everyone’s nagging.
However, amidst the scolding, there were about three people whose faces turned pale. Upon hearing that Patrick had been conscious, these three individuals looked extremely guilty.
Patrick glanced at those three and mouthed silently:
—We’ll talk later. Privately.
Then, Patrick spoke to the group again.
“Hey, if I could’ve woken up, I would’ve done it sooner. Actually, waking up now was me being in a huge rush.”
“What?”
“Is that true?”
“You’re not lying again, are you?”
At their reaction, Patrick put on a hurt expression.
“Anyone listening would think I only tell lies.”
“Do you even have to ask?!”
“What is wrong with you?!”
“You big brother bastard! Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean—Oof! Why are you hitting me! I didn’t do anything—Agh!”
It was absolute chaos.
*
After the commotion finally died down, Baron Schneider spoke.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“About what?”
“Even you wouldn't have caused such a scene without a plan. How do you intend to clean up this mess?”
“…Clean up?”
Patrick looked at his father with innocent eyes.
“Father, isn't ‘cleaning up’ something done by the person who caused an accident?”
“…That’s right.”
“I haven't even caused an accident yet, so why are you talking about cleaning up already?”
“…….”
He had beaten a foreign royal and his delegation to within an inch of their lives, thrashed the Captain of the Royal Knights for good measure, and then tried to bury them all as a set.
But apparently, to Patrick Schneider, this didn't even qualify as an ‘accident.’
‘My son… I truly wonder where your limits lie.’
Now reaching a state of enlightened resignation, Baron Schneider simply gave a hollow laugh.
Fine, as long as you’re healthy. I won’t even expect something as grand as common sense from you anymore.
Sanson, who was standing nearby, spoke up.
“Young Master, it might be awkward to call it cleaning up, but we do need to resolve this issue.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“How do you plan to handle it?”
At Sanson’s question, everyone’s eyes fixed on Patrick. There was no logical basis for it, but they felt that if it was Patrick Schneider, he would have a way. Or, in the worst-case scenario, he was the type of man who would create a way if none existed.
Patrick shrugged his shoulders.
“The problem is tangled up in several places, so I should start by untying the easiest knot first.”
“The easiest knot?”
Patrick nodded and looked at Riman.
“Hey, Four-Eyes.”
“Double Dragon, my name is Riman Sierra.”
“Got it, Logic-Obsessed Four-Eyes.”
“…….”
“Anyway, you can use communication magic with the Royal Palace, right?”
“I can.”
“Good. Then connect me.”
A thick, mischievous smirk spread across Patrick’s face.
Patrick Schneider. It was time for the world to know that he had returned.
*
Fiesto Gloria Atronia.
As the current King of the Atronia Kingdom, he was evaluated as a reasonably decent monarch. During his reign, he hadn't committed any particular misdeeds or acts of tyranny. Recently, thanks to someone starting with Arcana and spreading their fame—or infamy—across the continent, the kingdom’s prestige had even risen slightly during his rule.
Above all, while the entire continent was suffering from the Great Famine and war, he had managed to avoid the vortex of conflict, and his kingdom’s food situation was better than others. At this point, he might even be called a wise ruler.
Yes, all of that was…
—You know exactly who you have to thank for that, right? Hmm? Your Majesty, my dear father-in-law.
‘That damn brat.’
He had heard the news that Patrick had woken up, but seeing him like this again made a sigh escape involuntarily. Even through the communication device, his voice was dripping with arrogance and conceit; how much more infuriating would it have been to meet him in person?
The King let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“It is because the Schneider Territory has been producing and supplying food at stable prices. How could I not know that?”
—Ooh, so you do know. You know very well.
“…….”
—Then why did you do it? Huh? Tell me. Why did you do that to me?
The King kept his mouth shut. He had nothing to say.
The Royal Family certainly bore responsibility for what had happened in the Schneider Territory. From sending Prince Dawson despite Princess Isabella being Patrick’s fiancée, to sending Marquis Panola as the one to handle the situation when things went south. The Royal Family had clearly wronged the House of Schneider.
But the reason he had done so was…
—Did you think it was okay to do that just because I wasn't around?
“…….”
—Did you think you could just walk all over my father because he’s a nice, easygoing guy? Is that it?
He hit the nail on the head. No matter how much the Schneider family’s status rose, the difference between Patrick Schneider being there and not being there was like heaven and earth.
The King struggled to open his mouth.
“Now look, Patrick…”
—But what are you going to do now? I’m awake.
“…….”
—What’s your next move? Oh, let me tell you in advance: answer carefully. Because whatever you say…
The next words from Patrick carried a sharp, palpable hostility, even through the communication device.
—I will respond accordingly.
The King squeezed his eyes shut.
He had thought Patrick was effectively finished. After all, he hadn't opened his eyes for over a year. He had even considered the possibility that Patrick was dead and the family was hiding the fact.
But he had returned like this.
Now that Patrick was awake, the entire situation had changed.
The massive granary region obtained by pioneering the Great Forest. The Elves who had settled in the Schneider Territory. The thousands of Orc warriors stationed there. Even the Tower of Truth had dispatched three of the Seven Sages to the Schneider Territory.
And with Patrick, the focal point of it all, resurrected, the King could absolutely not afford to make an enemy of the Schneider Territory.
“I will do whatever it takes.”
—Whatever it takes?
“Please, forgive this foolish King’s blunder.”