Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Same Bed, Different Dreams (2)
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While Jackson Cutter was steeling his resolve, the knight was plotting his revenge.
‘Damn it... Once I get out of here, I won’t let him get away with this.’
It was frustrating, but with his current skill as a low-class knight, he couldn’t beat Jackson Cutter.
They were both low-class, but Jackson Cutter was on a whole different level.
Still, it wasn’t as if he had no options at all.
The Dolphin Viscount House had close ties with nearby knight families.
‘If I mobilize the family’s connections... I can bring in at least two more low-class knights.’
No matter how strong Jackson Cutter was, he couldn’t handle three low-class knights at once.
Just as the knight was thinking this, the tavern door swung open.
A middle-aged man stepped inside.
His face was so stiff it almost looked like he was wearing a mask.
“Huh, hup! Master! G-Good day to you!”
“G-Good day!”
At the man’s appearance, Jackson Cutter and Sophia Russell hurriedly bowed.
It was a completely different attitude from how they had treated the knights moments ago.
“Jackson, were you venting your anger on trash again?”
The middle-aged man asked in an emotionless voice.
“T-They started it over there.”
“You probably provoked them. I’ve told you multiple times not to cause trouble.”
“B-But I can’t just let scum like that—”
The middle-aged man approached, his inorganic gray eyes staring straight at Jackson Cutter.
Under the intangible pressure, Jackson Cutter began to break out in cold sweat.
“...I’m sorry.”
“If this happens one more time, you’d better be prepared.”
With that, the middle-aged man walked over to the knight sprawled on the floor.
Without warning, he kicked the knight in the jaw. The upper and lower teeth smashed together.
The knight clutched his mouth and groaned.
“My name is Jacques Nouare.”
The moment he heard that name, the knight forgot his pain. He looked up at Jacques Nouare in shock.
Jacques Nouare.
A middle-class knight who had suddenly appeared in the Apple Kingdom one day.
His origins were unknown, and he operated as a free knight with no affiliation, but his skills were extraordinary.
His most famous feat was his duel against an elite knight from the Bluegreen Marquis House.
The Bluegreen Marquis House was one of the Apple Kingdom’s premier knight families.
The current Bluegreen Marquis was one of only three high-class knights in the kingdom.
The elite knights trained there were renowned even among middle-class knights.
Jacques Nouare had achieved an overwhelming victory against one such elite.
Rumors spread that he was undoubtedly an upper-level middle-class knight, making him famous.
“If you want revenge, come find me. But you’d be better off giving up.”
“I-I’ve never had such disloyal thoughts!”
No number of low-class knights could defeat a middle-class one.
Especially not an exceptional middle-class knight like Jacques Nouare.
“Very wise. Now take your trash and get out.”
The knight roused his companions and fled the tavern in a hurry.
With the situation resolved, Jacques Nouare turned to Jackson Cutter.
“I heard some interesting news while wandering the city. They say the Copperhead Count House is hosting a jousting tournament.”
“Yes, Master. I heard about it too.”
“Then this will be quick. Enter that tournament and win it.”
Jackson Cutter was taken aback by the sudden command.
“Uh... so suddenly?”
“What’s wrong? Don’t think you can do it?”
“N-No! I can!”
Jackson Cutter hurriedly replied. From experience, his master didn’t like being questioned.
“What happens if I don’t win...?”
“You trained directly under me with the sword. There’s no way you can’t win a little tournament like that.”
This jousting tournament was hosted by the Copperhead Count House, a great noble of the west.
Knights from all over the west were already gathering to participate.
It wasn’t a tournament he could dismiss as “little,” but Jackson Cutter didn’t point that out.
He didn’t know what his master might do if he did.
“Still, what if something unexpected happens? If I fail to win and displease you—”
Jacques Nouare kicked Jackson Cutter in the solar plexus.
“Gah! Guhuk!”
Jackson Cutter rolled across the floor. The excruciating pain made it hard to even breathe.
“You’ve reached low-class and suddenly got chatty. Don’t like the task I gave you?”
“T-That’s not...”
“What did I say when I took you as my disciple?”
“To obey your words unconditionally...”
“Good, you remember.”
Jacques Nouare looked down at Jackson Cutter and continued.
“Keep this in mind. You must win. If you fail, I’ll take back everything I taught you.”
Jackson Cutter swallowed dryly.
Taking back his teachings meant what?
It meant cutting off his limbs or destroying his meridians so he could never wield a sword again.
But what terrified him even more was being excommunicated by Jacques Nouare.
Jackson Cutter had been Jacques Nouare’s disciple from the moment he appeared in the Apple Kingdom.
Originally, Jackson Cutter had just been a street thug in the city.
The fact that he had reached low-class was entirely thanks to Jacques Nouare’s teachings, so defying him was unthinkable.
“I-I will definitely win.”
“Of course you will. Now, I’ll go procure a carriage for the trip.”
With that, Jacques Nouare left the tavern.
“Jackson!”
Sophia Russell supported Jackson Cutter. He pushed her hand away and said.
“I’m fine. I’m okay.”
Jackson Cutter staggered to his feet. Sophia Russell looked at him with worry.
“Even so, to kick you out of nowhere like that! Your master went too far!”
“You’re the only one who worries about me, Sophia.”
“Jackson...”
The two lovers gazed at each other with affectionate eyes for a moment.
“This works out perfectly. I was planning to enter the jousting tournament anyway.”
Jackson Cutter smirked.
“I’ll follow Master’s orders and deal with Demian Haksen while I’m at it.”
“Yes, that’s a great plan.”
Inside the tavern, the two lovers reached a mutual understanding.
* * *
A few days later, Demian set off for the Copperhead Count House with Abel.
“Both of you, be careful.”
Father, Mother, and big sister had decided not to accompany them.
This jousting tournament was organized by the Copperhead Count House for young nobles.
There was no rule barring older nobles from attending, but they were conscious of appearances.
“I’ll stay at the mansion anyway. He’s coming to visit soon.”
Luise couldn’t leave because her fiancé was due to arrive shortly.
‘That guy’s coming, huh.’
Just like in his previous life, Demian didn’t like Luise’s fiancé.
He wore glasses and had a shabby appearance— the epitome of a bookworm.
No matter how he thought about it, Luise was too good for him.
For these reasons, it was just Demian and Abel heading to the Copperhead Count House.
“Young master! It’s an honor to escort you again!”
Victor had volunteered as the coachman. Demian examined Victor’s body and asked.
“Are your wounds all healed?”
“Yes! I’m fully recovered!”
When the Ryanbloom Marquis House knights had come, Victor had foolishly confronted them and suffered severe injuries.
Fortunately, treatment from the church priests had allowed a quick recovery.
“Young master, you look even more robust than before!”
“Don’t flatter me like that. It’s embarrassing.”
“Uhahaha, was it obvious?”
Victor laughed. Demian chuckled too.
Seeing him safe and sound was quite relieving.
“Let’s get going.”
The carriage departed for the Copperhead Count House.
* * *
The inside of the carriage was filled with silence. Though brothers, the two hadn’t spent much time together.
So there was no conversation to be had in this situation.
“Young master Abel, may I ask you something?”
At that moment, Victor spoke up from the coachman’s seat.
With all the windows open, there was no issue hearing.
“What’s on your mind?”
“How did you fall for Lady Copperhead?”
At Victor’s question, Abel’s face flushed bright red.
He shouted as if he might leap out the door at any moment.
“W-Why do you want to know that!”
“It’s boring on the way.”
As Abel opened his mouth to yell again, Demian intervened.
“Yeah, I was curious too. Let’s hear it.”
“B-Brother!”
“Come on, I’m getting you a gift and coming along to help. Can’t you at least tell us that much?”
“B-But you brought it up first...!”
Abel started to protest but stopped, sighed, and continued.
“...It was four years ago.”
Demian listened intently to Abel with curiosity.
“I attended a social gathering of western nobles with Father.”
Abel had just become an adult, so four years ago, he had been quite young.
“Lady Olivia was there too. She was a bit older than me, so she seemed much more mature.”
Abel’s eyes gradually glazed over, as if seeing the past rather than the present.
“She had her chestnut hair braided up, adorned with a sapphire hairpin. She wore an A-line dress in crimson that matched her chestnut hair perfectly.”
Abel spoke with a dreamy expression.
“She was... truly beautiful.”
Looking at Abel’s face, Demian thought to himself.
‘In short, he fell for her because she’s pretty.’
He hadn’t realized his little brother was such an easy guy. Demian clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘How do I get Abel and the lady together?’
Demian rummaged through his memories of his previous life.
During his time as a mercenary, he had deliberately spent money to gather information on his family.
‘It’s certain they became lovers. But the count rejected Abel’s proposal.’
It wasn’t just a simple rejection.
-Viscount Haksen? Some lowly house I’ve never even heard of eyeing my daughter?
-Who are you! Abel Haksen? Never heard of you!
-I can’t stand guys like you who don’t know their place! Get out!
In the end, Abel had no choice but to part with the lady.
After that, she married into another house.
Meanwhile, Abel lived alone his entire life—until he lost it to Demian.
‘I don’t know how they became lovers.’
If he left things alone like in his previous life, they might still become lovers.
But Demian always prepared for the worst-case scenario.
There was no guarantee everything would unfold exactly as before.
Weren’t there plenty of accidents in this world caused by coincidences piling up?
Moreover, the biggest variable—Demian himself—was right there now.
‘The key is to convince the count for sure.’
Unfortunately, he didn’t have much information on Count Copperhead.
From his brother’s story, though, he seemed like a very authoritarian figure.
‘I’ll make it happen somehow.’
Demian vowed, looking at his brother.