Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Reunion (2)
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Demian could only stare at Michael Ryanbloom in shock.
“How did you end up coming here?”
Michael held an incredibly important position as the eldest son of the Ryanbloom Marquis Family.
No matter how much he wanted to help Demian, he hadn’t expected the man to come in person.
“When my brother asks for help, how could I just sit back and watch? I dropped everything and rushed over.”
“I bet the Marquis tried to stop you.”
“He did say he’d chase me down with a sword if I left. Don’t worry about it. You think he’d really swing at his own son?”
Michael Ryanbloom said with a bright smile. Demian suddenly felt a headache coming on.
“If anything like this happens again, contact me right away!”
“……Yeah, sure, I’ll do that.”
Despite his words, Demian had no intention of ever calling on Michael again.
If something like this happened twice, he’d end up thoroughly on the bad side of the Ryanbloom Marquis.
“I wanted to bring more knights, but getting away alone was the best I could manage.”
That was a bit of a shame. Knights from the renowned Ryanbloom Marquis Family would have been a huge help.
“Well, you alone are more than enough.”
But instead of those knights, Michael Ryanbloom had come.
He was worth ten times more than a hundred ordinary knights.
Above all, Michael was no longer a Low-Class knight.
“You’ve reached the Middle-Class realm in the meantime.”
“You noticed right away, as expected.”
Michael grinned.
Unlike the last time they’d met, Michael had advanced from Low-Class to Middle-Class.
Considering Michael’s talent, it wasn’t all that surprising. He had been one of the top powerhouses even among Master-Class knights.
“And Brother…….”
Michael gazed quietly at Demian. His eyes trembled slightly.
“……You haven’t changed. You’re still so high up, so far away.”
At Michael Ryanbloom’s words, Demian smiled silently.
At their first meeting, Michael Ryanbloom had made the huge mistake of thinking he was on the same level as Demian.
Now that he had reached Middle-Class, Michael Ryanbloom immediately realized the gap between them. It was tremendous progress.
It was while the two were chatting like this.
“Sir Demian, visitors have arrived.”
A servant came and reported. Hearing this, Demian headed outside with a puzzled look.
When he reached the castle gate, he understood why they’d been called visitors.
Ten knights in full armor were waiting for him.
“Sir Demian, allow us to introduce ourselves! We’ve come at His Grace the Goldpixie Duke’s command to support you!”
Surprisingly, all ten were Low-Class knights. The Duke’s family had sent impressive forces.
“This is truly appreciated. I’ll have to thank His Grace personally.”
“His Grace also asked us to tell you he’s feeling neglected since you haven’t visited lately.”
Demian burst out laughing at the knight’s words.
Now they had two Middle-Class knights and ten Low-Class ones.
It was a force any great noble would envy. And the two Middle-Class knights were none other than Demian and Michael Ryanbloom.
It was more than sufficient—overflowing, even.
“No need to worry about manpower anymore.”
Demian was greatly satisfied when a soldier rushed up to him with an urgent expression.
“Sir Demian, we have a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Some crazy…… no, some strange woman in the capital’s streets is causing a scene, demanding to see you! She’s too skilled with a sword for the guards to handle!”
“……A strange woman?”
At those words, Demian felt an inexplicable unease.
“……Let’s go see.”
Demian headed to the streets with the soldier. The place was a mess. Unconscious guards lay scattered everywhere.
“Ah! There he is! Demian! It’s me! I’m here!”
And right in the middle, a woman with an unwelcome face was waving her hand.
Death Omen.
The moment he saw Veronica Sanchez, Demian could only rub his face with his palm.
“……Why are you here?”
“What do you mean why? You said you needed help, so I came!”
Veronica Sanchez pounded her chest with her palm and declared proudly. Looking at her triumphant expression made him want to smack her.
“You told me not to die until I killed you, right? So I came to protect you!”
“Don’t need it. You’re weaker than me.”
“That was before! Do you know how much stronger I’ve gotten? Now I’m…… that thing! You know, that one!”
Come to think of it, Veronica Sanchez’s aura had changed. Demian examined her and said,
“Middle-Class?”
“Yeah! I’m Middle-Class now too! Impressive, right? Now even you can’t beat me!”
Demian clicked his tongue. Veronica Sanchez was talented, but he hadn’t expected her to reach Middle-Class in the meantime.
“Right! Since we’re meeting after so long…… let’s test it out!”
Veronica Sanchez immediately drew her sword and charged. Demian didn’t bother engaging her. There was someone else nearby to fight for him.
Michael Ryanbloom, standing beside Demian, drew his sword and blocked Veronica Sanchez. Their blades clashed in the air.
“Brother, who is this woman to act so rudely toward you?”
Michael Ryanbloom asked with a look of disbelief. Veronica Sanchez scowled and shot back.
“Who are you to be stuck to Demian’s side? Don’t tell me you’re after his life too?”
“What? How dare you say such an insult…… Take it back right now!”
“Demian Haksen is mine! Go find someone else!”
The two glared at each other fiercely. Soon, they began swinging their swords at one another.
“I’ll teach you not to act so impudent toward Brother Demian ever again!”
“I’ll make it crystal clear that Demian Haksen is mine!”
Demian ordered the soldiers with a weary expression.
“Clean up the area, treat the wounded, and keep people away from here.”
The soldiers sprang into action at Demian Haksen’s command.
“You two! Fight all you want, but don’t kill each other!”
“Got it! I’ll just teach her a lesson without killing her!”
“I’ll show her what happens when she eyes you again!”
The two shouted mismatched retorts as they fought frantically.
Demian watched them with a tired face.
“Whatever, do what you want.”
Demian left the two alone and returned to the royal castle.
* * *
“Sir Demian!”
As he returned to the royal castle, he spotted Oliver Apple running toward him from afar.
Whatever it was, Oliver Apple didn’t stop running even though he was gasping for breath.
“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”
“I just heard! Knights have arrived!”
Oliver Apple must have heard the news late since he’d been studying.
“Yes, that’s right. We now have enough force for the orc subjugation.”
“This is all thanks to you, Sir Demian! Without you, we wouldn’t have gathered a single knight!”
Oliver Apple spread his arms wide in delight.
Then his face suddenly turned frustrated.
“At this rate, I’ll just keep relying on your help…… I won’t be able to face you!”
Demian was inwardly impressed. He’d thought Oliver Apple’s behavior had changed lately, but he hadn’t expected such commendable thinking.
“I want to…… do something too! I want to help you…… with this subjugation!”
It was a praiseworthy attitude, but the situation was tricky.
‘What can he even do?’
His enthusiasm was admirable, but there was nothing for him to handle.
He couldn’t exactly hand the crown prince a weapon and tell him to fight orcs.
Still, with Oliver Apple taking initiative, Demian couldn’t discourage his motivation.
After much thought, Demian came up with an idea.
“I understand your intentions, Your Highness. There’s something you can take charge of, actually.”
“Just say the word!”
“Now that we have the personnel assembled, we need to make concrete plans. Secure funding, procure food, discuss detailed routes to the operation area.”
In truth, Demian knew little about this area. He’d only overheard bits here and there.
“I’d like you to handle this, Your Highness.”
“Me……?”
Hesitation appeared on Oliver Apple’s face. It was a natural reaction since he’d never handled anything like it before.
“……Just trust me.”
But Oliver Apple didn’t back down or voice any worries.
Demian truly felt Oliver Apple’s change.
* * *
And so the subjugation preparations began.
Demian focused on assessing each knight’s specialties. That way, he could deploy them effectively.
“Today’s the day we settle this!”
“Bring it! Don’t run away midway like yesterday!”
Michael Ryanbloom and Veronica Sanchez had been at it for two days without a winner. Fighting in the training grounds had become their daily routine.
And Oliver Apple……
“We need to select a new route. According to the report from three years ago, wolf packs periodically swarm this area, making the main road difficult.”
He was handling things beyond Demian’s expectations.
In fact, Demian had assigned the preparations to Oliver Apple because he figured it wouldn’t matter much whether he helped or not.
There were plenty of capable bureaucrats, so Oliver Apple didn’t need to excel.
“Your Highness, the Goldpixie Duke’s family says they’ll supply all the provisions for this subjugation.”
“With such a small force, carrying food will only slow us down. It’s better to procure what we need from villages and cities along the way.”
But Oliver Apple wasn’t being led by the bureaucrats—he was taking charge of everything.
‘He’s always been smart, but I didn’t realize he was this capable.’
In his previous life, Oliver Apple had ascended the throne abruptly, greatly weakening the Apple Kingdom’s national power.
But seen another way, it also meant he had managed state affairs to some extent without preparation.
“Contrary to the rumors, Crown Prince His Highness is quite impressive.”
Even Michael Ryanbloom said as much.
“But when are you two going to settle things?”
“Ah! Well! You see……!”
At Demian’s question, Michael Ryanbloom panicked greatly.
“Just…… a bit longer…… please wait a little more…….”
“I told you, the world is wide, and there are plenty of people on your level.”
Michael’s expression turned serious at those words.
“……But I can’t accept that my rival turns out to be such a weirdo.”
Demian had nothing to say to that.
“So today, I’ll definitely win!”
Michael declared with a face full of determination.
“Good luck.”
It was when Demian responded indifferently.
Tap tap.
Something knocked on the window. When he turned, a crow was staring at him.
“Hm?”
Examining the crow, Demian noticed something tied to its ankle.
He opened the message tube on the crow’s leg, and a single piece of paper came out.
Unfolding it revealed a short line.
-Tonight at midnight-
And below it was written “Green Fragrance” in script. Reading it, Demian smiled faintly.
He could finally attend the night market auction.