Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Scheme (1)
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“……Did you just say marriage proposal?”
The flustered Jackson Cutter immediately asked again.
But Zack Noire did not answer the question and began to walk away.
As usual, Zack Noire offered no explanation. Jackson Cutter let out a sigh and followed behind his master.
The place they arrived at, following his master, was the tent used by Count Copperhead.
As befitting the count’s own tent, it was the largest among them, guarded by elite knights.
“Let’s go in.”
Zack Noire headed toward the tent. Surprisingly, the knights did not stop him from entering.
This meant Zack Noire had already come and gone from this place several times.
Once inside, Zack Noire sat down in the guest chair.
“……Master, when exactly did you start making contact with the count?”
Unable to hold back his suspicions, Jackson Cutter asked again.
“Two days ago.”
Zack Noire gave a curt reply. Jackson Cutter was struck with great shock at those words.
Two days ago was the day of the banquet. In other words, before the jousting tournament had even begun.
‘He really didn’t believe in me……!’
Jackson Cutter did not know what Zack Noire’s scheme was.
But he did know that for that scheme to succeed, he needed to win the jousting tournament.
Zack Noire had judged that Jackson Cutter had no chance of winning and had made contact with the count to achieve his scheme through another method.
“Master, what in the world are you thinking? Why do I have to get engaged to Lady Olivia? At least explain…….”
It was then, as Jackson Cutter pressed the issue.
Count Copperhead entered the tent. At his side was Olivia Copperhead as well.
“Sir Zack, sorry to keep you waiting. I was late because I had to handle the cleanup after the matches.”
“No need to worry about it. We just arrived ourselves.”
Surprisingly, Zack Noire was speaking politely even in front of the count.
What was even stranger was that the count did not mind it in the least.
“……Father, what in the world is going on?”
Lady Olivia asked with a wary expression.
“Olivia, I haven’t told you yet. Make your greetings. This is Sir Zack Noire. And over there…… you’ve seen him before, haven’t you? Jackson Cutter, disciple of Sir Zack.”
The count added with a bright smile.
“We’ve gathered today to discuss the marriage proposal between the two of them.”
* * *
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Lady Olivia immediately shouted in protest.
“I’ve never even properly spoken a word to that man! And now a marriage proposal?”
Like Jackson Cutter, Lady Olivia apparently had heard no explanation either.
“How could you make such a decision without even consulting me once!”
At Olivia’s cry, the count replied in a calm tone.
“Olivia, don’t misunderstand. You are the eldest daughter of our family. Your marriage is not something to be decided by your own will. It is for me, the family head, to judge and decide.”
“What do you think you’re judging, Father!”
“Naturally, the benefits our family can gain from this marriage proposal.”
Olivia stood still, glaring at the count.
“……What about Sir Demian Haksen? You said you were set on bringing in Sir Demian!”
“That’s true. But Sir Zack has proposed far better terms.”
Count Copperhead turned to Zack Noire. Unlike when speaking to his daughter, his expression was extremely gentle.
“Sir Zack has promised that if this marriage is arranged, his Mid-class will aid our family. Olivia, do you understand? A Mid-class.”
Count Copperhead’s eyes gleamed.
“Among the great nobles of the west, the only houses possessing a Mid-class are the Gold Pixie Duke’s house and the Ryanbloom Marquis’s house. Through this marriage proposal, our family can acquire the mighty force known as a Mid-class.”
Mid-class.
A strategic weapon said to be capable of changing the tide of war.
As the count said, if they could obtain a Mid-class, it was incomparable to Demian Haksen.
“Sir Demian is an outstanding knight, but at best a Low-class. We cannot guarantee whether he will reach the Mid-class realm in the future.”
The wall to Mid-class was exceedingly high.
The vast majority of Low-class knights failed to surpass it and fell into despair. Even among them were those called geniuses.
“And that’s not all. He has promised to provide sword techniques and mana cultivation methods for our family’s knights to use. Even ones used by Master-class, no less.”
At these words, Jackson Cutter was surprised.
Zack Noire had collected and studied vast knowledge to ascend to the Master realm.
Among them, the ones he cherished most were those used by Master-class or ones he had devised himself.
To think he would so readily offer things he had never even shared with his own disciple Jackson Cutter.
“Now do you understand why I’ve accepted this marriage proposal?”
Lady Olivia bit her lip. Even to her, these were outrageous conditions.
“Then sit down for now. We’re not done talking with Sir Zack Noire yet.”
Lady Olivia sat down in her chair listlessly.
“Are you thinking of accepting the marriage proposal?”
As the father and daughter’s conversation came to a pause, Zack Noire asked.
At those words, Count Copperhead shook his head.
“Well, there’s a slight problem.”
Zack Noire’s eyebrow twitched at the count’s words.
“What is it?”
“Your conditions are satisfactory. But after holding a jousting tournament, to take in a knight who didn’t even make a name for himself as a son-in-law…… wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”
In short, Jackson Cutter’s reputation was too insignificant, not matching the prestige to be accepted as the family’s son-in-law.
“No need to worry about that. My disciple will win tomorrow’s jousting tournament.”
“Performing well in just one match won’t be enough.”
“What if he not only wins but also defeats Demian Haksen?”
At those words, the count made a strange expression.
“If he defeats Sir Demian…… he would gain fame befitting our count’s house. But is it possible?”
The count had eyes too.
The techniques Demian Haksen had shown in the jousting tournament were nothing short of phenomenal.
He wondered if there was anyone among the Low-class who could defeat Demian Haksen.
“It’s possible. If it fails, I will provide the sword techniques and mana cultivation methods without conditions.”
“Well, no need to go that far…… If those are the terms, I accept.”
“But in return, there’s something I need your help with.”
The count spoke as if troubled.
“We’re not allies yet. I can’t grant unreasonable requests.”
“It’s nothing major. Even if Demian Haksen dies, I’d ask that your count’s house not intervene.”
Count Copperhead fell into thought.
“I can grant a request to that extent.”
“One more thing. I need to see his corpse first.”
“That’s not difficult either. But why do you want to confirm Demian Haksen’s corpse?”
At the count’s question, Zack Noire wore a faint smile.
“There’s something I need among the items he possesses.”
* * *
“Master, why are you doing this!”
As soon as they stepped outside, Jackson Cutter demanded of Zack Noire.
“A marriage proposal? Why didn’t you even ask for my opinion…… Gah!”
Zack Noire kicked Jackson Cutter in the stomach.
Jackson Cutter rolled on the ground, dry-heaving.
“Shut up for a moment. I’m in a very bad mood right now.”
Zack Noire looked down at Jackson Cutter with a deeply contorted face.
“If you had the skill to claim victory, I wouldn’t have needed to make such a proposal to the count. I wouldn’t have had to waste my manpower and knowledge.”
Under the suffocating pressure of his killing intent, Jackson Cutter could do nothing.
Only then did Jackson Cutter realize why Zack Noire had demanded victory in the jousting tournament.
He must have originally planned to use the jousting winner for the marriage proposal.
“If you understand, then shut up and obey my words.”
Zack Noire withdrew his killing intent. Only then could Jackson Cutter escape the pain.
“M-Master…… I-I have Sophia…….”
Jackson Cutter said, catching his breath.
“That woman is no longer useful, so discard her.”
Zack Noire stated flatly. Jackson Cutter looked up at Zack Noire in shock.
“The reason I allowed your relationship with Sophia Russell was to receive support from the Russell Viscount’s house.”
Zack Noire continued in a stiff tone.
“Thanks to the Russell Viscount’s house, I was able to obtain the sword manuals I needed. And you were able to get the elixirs necessary to reach Low-class.”
The Russell Viscount’s house had even gone into debt to support the two masters and disciples. Thanks to that, the two had each obtained what they wanted.
“But the Russell Viscount’s house has no ability to provide more than that. So now we seek a new house.”
“A n-new house…… the Copperhead Count’s house? Like with the Russell family, for support?”
“It’s not about receiving support. I plan to dominate this house using the marriage proposal.”
“W-Why…… why go that far…….”
“For my ambition.”
Zack Noire’s ambition was to become Master-class.
To become a Master, he needed potions to heighten his senses and the knowledge left by past Masters.
And such items were expensive. Not just expensive, but beyond imagination.
“I need as much money as possible. The Copperhead Count’s house will be the stepping stone for my ambition.”
Only then did Jackson Cutter realize why Zack Noire had taken him as a disciple.
To use him as bait to lure in a wealthy house.
Zack Noire had truly seen him only as a tool.
“……I cannot obey this order.”
Was it due to that resentment? Jackson Cutter gritted his teeth and said.
“I have Sophia. I cannot abandon Sophia!”
“You still cherish a woman who wags her tail the moment her former fiancé shows some promise?”
It was the first time.
The first time he had no retort to Zack Noire’s words.
“Sophia Russell already has no intention of upholding her loyalty to you. Are you going to defy my orders for such a cheap woman?”
“T-That’s…….”
Jackson Cutter’s eyes shook violently. Zack Noire drove the wedge in.
“If you refuse my proposal, you will never be able to defeat Demian Haksen.”
He snapped to attention.
“Was what you said inside for real? You really have a way to defeat Demian Haksen?”
At the question, Zack Noire nodded.
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“How…… how is it possible? D-Do you plan to teach me a secret technique to defeat Demian Haksen…….”
Zack Noire took something out from his inner pocket.
It was an old bracelet made of brass. It had no other notable features or characteristics.
But for some reason, the moment Jackson Cutter saw the bracelet, he felt an ominous chill.
“This bracelet has the effect of disrupting the enemy’s mana. Used well, it can even induce mana rampage.”
Mana rampage.
It referred to the phenomenon where the mana in the body escapes the host’s control and runs amok.
When mana rampage occurred, not only was there massive mana loss, but the body was also severely damaged.
As a result, knights who suffered mana rampage lost most of their power.
“Such an old bracelet…… has such incredible power?”
“But it’s not an ability you can use recklessly. It requires consuming some of your own mana and life force.”
At those words, Jackson Cutter frowned.
The price was too steep. Of course, if it could defeat Demian Haksen, it could be called a bargain.
Then, suddenly, Jackson Cutter recalled.
It invoked effects by paying a price. It was almost like……
“Master, this bracelet isn’t black ma…….”
“Don’t say useless things.”
Zack Noire spoke in a chilling tone. Jackson Cutter clamped his mouth shut.
“Choose. Will you accept my proposal? Or refuse it?”
Jackson Cutter thought deeply and then said.
“……I will follow your words, Master.”
“Good thinking.”
Zack Noire tossed the bracelet to Jackson Cutter.
Jackson Cutter caught the bracelet and tucked it into his bosom.
“Tomorrow, wear that bracelet and fight Demian Haksen. If mana rampage occurs in Demian Haksen…….”
Zack Noire added in a resolute tone.
“Pretend it was a mistake and crush his skull to kill him.”
* * *
That night.
Olivia Copperhead made one resolution.
“……I can’t just sit idly by.”
She had always been swayed by her father’s commands.
Count Copperhead had handled everything while thoroughly ignoring Olivia’s own will.
Even this jousting tournament was not what she had wanted.
She took a dagger out from her desk drawer.
The tent was firmly fixed to the ground, so she couldn’t lift the fabric except at the entrance.
Olivia used the dagger to rip the tent fabric lengthwise and slipped out through the gap.
Olivia hurried away, avoiding the gaze of the soldiers guarding the tent.
It was straight to the tent where Demian Haksen was.
She had heard in detail from Abel which tent it was while chatting, so finding it was not difficult.
Olivia Copperhead lifted the tent flap and entered inside.
“If big brother wins, Father will be so shocked…… Lady Olivia?”
Demian Haksen and Abel Haksen, who had been chatting away, jumped up in surprise upon seeing Olivia.
Olivia caught her rough breath from running and said to the two.
“Sir Demian, someone is after your life.”