Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Jackson Cutter (2)
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Following the two priests, Sophia Russell felt a massive wave of confusion.
‘……Is that really Demian Haksen?’
At first, she thought she’d seen wrong. He’d changed too much.
The original Demian Haksen hated exercise, so his whole body was stick-thin.
On top of that, he drank every day, leaving his face sallow and yellow.
But what about now?
His well-trained pectorals were pushing out from inside against his shirt.
His sleeves were stretched taut, ready to burst at any moment, and his squarely broadened shoulders were intimidating.
Above all, the biggest change was in his eyes.
The neurotic, gloomy pupils now emitted a sharp glint.
It wasn’t just his appearance that had changed.
‘Demian Haksen…… took down Jackson? Does that even make sense?’
Jackson Cutter was a powerhouse.
Sophia Russell, who had watched from the sidelines, knew that better than anyone.
He possessed exceptional strength and skill, enough to hunt ogres solo.
He’d fought countless duels and never lost a single one.
Yet Demian Haksen had toyed with that Jackson Cutter like a plaything.
‘Am I dreaming or something?’
Sophia Russell pinched her cheek. She pinched hard enough to turn it bright red, but she didn’t wake up.
Which meant it was reality.
‘……So why pretend he didn’t recognize me?’
It had only been a few months since the two broke off their engagement.
There was no way he’d forgotten her face in that short time.
On top of that, Demian Haksen had been so obsessed with her that he clung desperately.
‘No way…… is he mad at me?’
Their breakup hadn’t ended well.
Sophia Russell had unilaterally declared the dissolution to Demian Haksen.
Not content with that, she’d even asked Jackson Cutter to beat him up.
‘Yeah, he’s definitely sulking. That’s why he pretended not to know me.’
Sophia Russell let out a smirk. She found Demian Haksen’s behavior cute.
Why else would he express his sulkiness like this?
It meant he still had feelings for Sophia Russell.
He was clearly pulling this childish stunt to get her attention.
‘Men are all the same…….’
Still, it didn’t feel bad.
Whatever the past, Demian Haksen had become an incredibly skilled and renowned knight.
It felt good to know such a man was still hung up on her.
‘But it’s pointless. I’ve got Jackson.’
Sophia Russell looked up at Jackson Cutter.
But for some reason.
His back, which had felt so broad just moments ago, suddenly looked pathetic.
So different from Demian Haksen……
‘Ah, what am I thinking…… I only have my love!’
Sophia Russell shook her head vigorously to clear the stray thoughts.
* * *
“Master, please give me one more chance.”
All the way back to the tent, Jackson Cutter pleaded desperately.
“Give it up. Demian Haksen is stronger than you.”
“That was just me getting careless earlier. If we fight for real, I can win.”
“Are you saying you don’t trust my judgment?”
Jacques Noire’s voice dropped low. Jackson Cutter promptly shut his mouth.
“Don’t provoke me. Considering you made contact with Demian Haksen against my orders, it wouldn’t be nearly enough even if I ripped your arm off right here.”
Jackson Cutter shuddered slightly at the voice thick with killing intent.
His master didn’t make empty threats. If he said it, he’d do it.
“An unexpected variable. Who’d have thought Demian Haksen was such a powerhouse. At this rate, winning the tournament will be tough…….”
Jacques Noire muttered to himself.
Jackson Cutter’s face crumpled at the words.
‘Damn it, why do I have to lose to Demian Haksen of all people?’
Jackson Cutter couldn’t accept or believe that Demian Haksen was stronger than him.
Sure, his skills had improved since before. He’d taken a real hit, that much was true.
But he was certain he could win if they fought properly with weapons.
‘I’ll prove it at the mounted tournament.’
He was set to face Demian Haksen in the mounted tournament anyway.
Jackson Cutter planned to crush him there and prove his point.
That a nobody like Demian Haksen was no match for him.
“Anyway, I just can’t figure it out. How did he get so strong in just a few months?”
Jacques Noire muttered. Jackson Cutter was curious about that too.
At any rate, it was clear Demian Haksen had reached the Low-Class realm.
Climbing to Low-Class in a few months was impossible.
“……Maybe he’s a genius?”
Jacques Noire paused at Jackson Cutter’s question.
“It’s not impossible. They say the Empire’s Greatest Sword reached the Low-Class realm before even a year with a sword in hand.”
“T-Then, do you see Demian Haksen as a genius on the same level as the Empire’s Greatest Sword?”
“Does he look like that kind of genius to you?”
Jackson Cutter shook his head.
A moron who’d begged for his life after getting beaten by him—a genius? No way.
“I think he had a fortuitous encounter.”
In the past, someone had once obtained a weapon infused with a Master Class swordsman’s will.
That person had inherited the Master Class techniques and knowledge through the weapon, skyrocketing to an immense realm in one leap.
Of course, inheriting a master’s memories didn’t guarantee becoming a master yourself.
But reaching Low-Class was a breeze.
Demian Haksen had clearly obtained some legendary fortune like that.
“Jackson, we need to add another goal.”
Jacques Noire turned to Jackson Cutter as he spoke. Jackson Cutter hurriedly smoothed his expression.
“Another goal?”
“We need to take whatever fortune Demian Haksen obtained.”
In the next moment, Jackson Cutter felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
A smile was spreading across his master Jacques Noire’s lips.
It was a chilling sight, like a doll smiling.
“Treasures belong to those who recognize their value.”
* * *
“Brother, how can you break your promise to Father so soon…….”
The moment they returned to the tent, Abel sighed.
“I’m innocent. They started it.”
Demian Haksen said shamelessly.
Abel started to argue…… but gave up.
On reflection, Demian was right, and besides, he wasn’t the type to stay quiet if provoked.
“……Still, you did well.”
“What? Taking care of Jackson Cutter?”
“Yeah, honestly, I didn’t like those two either.”
Abel’s eyes darkened.
The Russell family hadn’t just unilaterally broken off the engagement—they’d insulted the entire Viscount Haksen house.
Even mild-mannered Abel couldn’t help but be angry.
“Good kid. Sticking up for your big bro?”
Demian threw his arm around Abel’s neck. Abel squirmed to escape.
That was when Victor pushed aside the tent flap and entered.
“Young master, the banquet starts in one hour.”
“Oh, really?”
Demian Haksen decided to put Jackson Cutter out of his mind for now.
It was time to handle the truly important matter.
Namely, hooking up Abel with the Lady Copperhead.
“Abel, let’s get ready to head out.”
“Yes.”
Abel opened his travel bag and pulled out a tailcoat.
The moment he saw it, Demian scowled. It was so worn and shabby, he had no idea when it had been bought.
“Hey, what’s with that ratty tailcoat? You planning to wear that?”
“It’s not ratty…… I borrowed it from Father.”
“Why borrow some ancient relic like that?”
“……The family doesn’t have money.”
Abel shot Demian a resentful look. Under that gaze, Demian realized his slip-up.
The Haksen Viscountcy’s finances had tanked due to cleaning up after Demian Haksen’s repeated past blunders.
Which was why even Abel couldn’t get a new tailcoat and had borrowed his father’s.
“I forgot I was supposed to hand over the reward from the Duke…….”
Demian scratched the back of his head.
“Don’t worry. Your big bro got you new ones.”
“You bought them?”
Demian Haksen opened a large bag. It was stuffed full of tailcoats in vibrant colors.
Not only were the dyed hues beautifully vivid, but the designs were stylish too.
They were clearly high-end garments, hard to come by.
“Brother, where on earth did you get clothes like these?”
“There’s a tailor called Moonlight Wave in Landwalk City, right? Picked ’em up there.”
“Really?”
Abel Haksen couldn’t help but be stunned.
Moonlight Wave was a tailor so famous in the west that no noble hadn’t heard of it.
They said you had to wait at least three years to commission something.
“When did you even make a reservation there? Getting one is supposed to be insanely tough…….”
“Didn’t make a reservation.”
“Then how did you get the clothes?”
“Bought some other nobles had ordered. Oh, don’t worry about the size. Told ’em your build and had ’em adjusted.”
“…….”
Abel was dumbfounded speechless. Demian added as if to say not to worry.
“You doubting my eye or something? Come on, my senses are sharp as hell. Your size is a piece of…….”
“Ah, no, Brother! How could you just buy reserved clothes like that!”
Demian replied indifferently to Abel’s protest.
“Come on, you’d think I stole ’em or something. Paid five times the production cost.”
The owner had even pushed other pieces on him after he offered five times the fee.
Demian had piles of reward money from the Duke, so paying for the clothes was no issue.
“Even so…….”
“Then wear that ratty tailcoat.”
Demian pointed at Abel’s tailcoat.
Abel glanced back and forth between his worn tailcoat and the one Demian had bought.
One was outdated, long past its prime, and the other was meticulously crafted by a famed tailor.
The difference was stark.
“……Thank you. I’ll wear it gratefully.”
“That’s the smart choice.”
Demian grinned brightly and handed Abel the tailcoat.