Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Their Circumstances: The Legendary Host's Later Tale
-----------------------------------------------------------------
# 27
3. And the story begins. (10)
#8 Their Circumstances: The Future Legendary Host's Situation.
"You're going too far..."
My entire body is screaming. Ah, this feeling. It's been a while. I didn't want to feel it again, but it was already too late.
"Sorry."
In this case, is it the instructor's fault for launching a preemptive strike without fail? Or Sia's fault for creating a situation where he had no choice but to attack? Or is it my fault for getting caught in it? For now, let's say it's not the last one.
"You managed to survive somehow."
"You got away pretty well yourself."
"Sia didn't get taken hostage."
The instructor nodded calmly at me as I lay sprawled on the ground.
I had no idea what that nod meant, but I let it slide.
By the way.
"What happened to Sia?"
"She took an iron bat to the head and is sleeping soundly."
"You didn't kill her."
"I don't kill my disciples."
His response was so matter-of-fact that I could only let out a deep sigh. Sure, he wouldn't kill her, but...
"Sometimes killing is the kinder option."
"When I told Rud about it, Sia said the same thing."
"Rud was involved too?"
"No, we met before he joined the organization. He showed up claiming he'd take me to the princess."
What the hell did this instructor guy do to have even 'that princess' chasing after him? I'd heard plenty of rumors about the princess.
'The most beautiful, but the one with the sharpest thorns.'
That's what the lady from the count's family often told me when she visited the club. For the record, her nickname in high society was 'Thornbush.'
She was called that because she brutally rejected suitors from noble houses, so imagine what kind of person gives an evaluation like 'full of thorns' to someone like her.
But what I heard from someone else was different.
'I saw Her Highness the princess recently. She said she grows black roses as a hobby, to give to someone. Who knew the princess had such a girlish side? Oh, Lane. Do you know what black roses symbolize?'
I remembered the duke's daughter who handed me a black rose with a shy smile after I'd turned her down a bit. Back then, I was just embarrassed.
The language of black roses is 'You belong to me.'
The duke's daughter who gave it to me with a bashful smile was no shy girl at heart—she was a powerhouse on the verge of swordmastery, recently appointed vice-captain of the princess's personal knight order.
In other words, someone who saw the princess up close!
Insider accounts always carry weight.
That's why I'd thought the rumors in high society were exaggerated.
The talk from outsiders wasn't great either, but most of it stemmed from the war council—being a figure of terror to enemies meant she was that capable, and she was always named among the most talented in the imperial family.
So I'd assumed jealous nobles spread those rumors out of envy for her beauty and talent.
But right now, hearing stories from Sia and the instructor changed everything!
As someone active in the club, dealing with noble ladies, flowers were always tools I used, and I had their languages memorized sweet as candy. To me, black roses meant 'You belong to me.'
Any other meanings were too dark and grim! Noble ladies don't go for that!
But considering the obsession from the princess that rivaled Sia's, based on what I'd heard from her and the instructor, another meaning naturally attached itself to 'You belong to me.'
Namely, hatred and grudge.
Whoa, it fits perfectly.
Holding hatred and grudges, yet still 'You belong to me!'
Heh heh heh. Imagining the princess tending her black rose garden with a smile sent chills down my spine!
What is this? There's someone even worse than me! The princess and Sia! Compared to them, I'm a joke—the two duke's daughters alone forced me to flee to the organization!
With that combo, you'd need multiple lives! Sure, you could escape officially or unofficially, but not when both paths are blocked!
And the most shocking part? In that situation, the instructor is still escaping like a pro! What the—it's terrifying! Specifically, iron bat terrifying! Way too scary!
As I trembled in fear, the instructor dropped a bombshell—no, an order—on me.
"Pretend to be me and get out of the organization."
"Huh?"
If I get caught, I'm dead. Not just dead—he'd ask where the instructor is, subject me to full-course imperial torture, chop off my limbs, then drip acid one drop at a time to melt me slowly.
No, it might be worse!
"I-Instructor, I just want to die normally."
"With this?"
"Eek!"
But the instructor in front of me has the iron bat! The choice between dying painfully and cruelly or dying painfully and cruelly without escape!
Why is my future always like this?!
"Instructor, spare me..."
"What kind of image do you have of the princess to act like this..."
"A larger-scale Sia?"
"Can't deny that."
He didn't deny it. Yeah. I'm doomed.
No matter where I go, it's a path of suffering. I wanted to walk the flower path as the club's ace, but reality is thorns everywhere.
"Come on, if you don't leave now, the princess and Sia will both tail you."
"Where are you headed, Instructor...?"
"Another route, across the border to some kingdom at the world's end. I'll farm and live quietly."
If I lure the princess, I'm probably doomed on the spot.
"Use this to convince those kids."
"What is it?"
"Family seals. The previous head of the Nermia count family is one of the current magic tower masters. With his help, even the princess couldn't touch you easily. The other seals are from families she can't ignore either."
Sounds plausible, but would they really help me after clashing with the princess? Feels like they'd take the seals and ghost me.
"Plus, you've got this."
"It'll only hinder escapes... but as a hostage, it'll do."
Of course, the woman bundled in that sack looks like a beauty on the outside, but in reality, she's a club diehard spinster swordmaster.
Even like that, she's the sister of the current head of the rare marquess family in the empire, holding her own count title! And yet!
"Using that as a hostage will just make me the hostage!"
Right now she's out cold and limp, but she's a swordmaster! The one who shines brightest with a blade! The one who swings it the most recklessly! Number one among the era's top swordsmen, a total brawler!
And I'm supposed to... beat her? No confidence...
"That's why I'm giving her to you."
"N-No way... you're actually giving her?!"
It's here! No way! If she becomes mine permanently... I could walk a path where death looms.
"Anyway, I tricked her. The princess knows that well. She might grill you for info, but no torture or killing. She's obsessively attached to people around me. She might even try recruiting you as a subordinate, but she won't kill you."
"Ugh..."
The sword at his waist, the weight of the bat beside it. It's light.
But somehow heavy. If a weakling holds treasure, the strong take it. Can I protect it?
"Decide."
"I-I'll do it!"
No choice! Who could resist this temptation if they're the instructor's disciple?!
Even Sia couldn't forget the shock from trainee days and tried making one herself, but only produced failures! Those failures were still bought by peers pooling their salaries!
But I can have the original! Not the iron bat, but a wooden one!
"Here's your doppelganger. Use it to fool the imperial army."
Pat pat.
He patted my shoulder like 'good luck,' and I bowed reverently, shouting with full confidence.
"I'll beat any enemy!"
"No need to win. Good luck."
"Good luck to you, Instructor!"
Watching him leave, I was filled with joy. Finally, in my hands. A bat!
"Alright, No. 17. Or should I use your name now?"
"I-It doesn't matter."
The kids eyed me suspiciously, but I didn't care.
"Alright, let's find those family seals."
"Y-Yes!"
"Isn't the instructor coming with us?"
"The instructor's going separately. We'll dodge the imperial army casually, then get caught when it's time."
"Bait?"
No. 1000 tilted her head. Yeah, pretty much.
"You could say that."
"Found it!"
"Why do we have to?"
"Isn't the instructor coming?"
No. 1 glared like he was full of complaints. No. 17 was thrilled at finding the seal. No. 1000 looked a bit down.
Unique kids, just like the instructor's disciples.
And for a while, kids who'd run with me for the instructor's sake.
So, time to motivate them.
"Any complaints?"
""No!""
Lifting the bat slightly motivated them instantly. Yep, bats are universal.
"Over there! People!"
"Damn, it's His Highness the crown prince's direct order! Find the guy named Naruan!"
"The enemy's already handled two hundred elites. He's worn out!"
"Don't kill—subdue him!"
Voices from deep in the cave. Getting closer—they're definitely imperial soldiers. They've reached here already? Gotta escape fast...
"Temporary instructor!"
"Call me Lane now—ugh?!"
"Da...mn... you...!"
But a greater threat than the army arrived up close. She'd slipped her sack, glaring at us with fury—a swordmaster.
Her hands were empty, but for one of the era's top swordsmen, especially praised for her mana reserves, swords were optional.
"A mana blade?"
"No way? That much mana?"
The blue sword in her hand. Sword aura—no, pure compressed mana, a blade made entirely of blade aura!
Sharper than any famed sword, more destructive than any spell—it began growing larger.
Danger. Too late to run. Only one option.
Bat style, secret technique!
"No big... deal...!"
Bat toss!
Thwack!
As she raised both hands to swell her mana stupidly, the bat flew straight into her face.
True to her potential for the magic sword title, she blocked with a mana barrier—but that was her mistake!
This bat, legend says it's made from world tree branch!
Its mere presence shredded the mana barrier like paper, smacked her face, then rolled across the floor with a quiet thud in our ears.
And then.
"Over there! Even the swordmaster's here!"
"The swordmaster's got him!"
"W-Wait! Something's off!"
"T-The swordmaster!"
"No way!"
Shock, horror, confusion, disbelief from the imperial soldiers. Yeah, you wouldn't believe it.
Thud!
The swordmaster's knees hit the ground. Her raised hand flopped down.
Her mana blade vanished naturally. Face-planting into the cave floor, she collapsed. Result of taking full bat pain in her iron bat-blessed max state.
And that result made me...
"The guy's the one who took down the swordmaster!"
"Call for backup!"
"He's strong!"
The one who took down the swordmaster.
***
-Whine... Farewell, brother! Sold off because of a bad master, but we'll meet again someday!
Hearing Lane channel a demonic cultist receiving orders from their cult leader—like in old wuxia novels—and the iron bat's melodramatic voice acting, I headed to the other escape route I'd prepared midway.
If you're gonna do melodrama, do it right. Not 'whine'—sounds like laughing.
-Hng, master doesn't get breakup pain! The agony of sending your little sister far away, like ice water!
"I've said it before: she was born first."
-Hmph, worldly ties are nothing compared to our unbreakable bond!
I'm living in the worldly realm now—no more words needed. Time to escape for a free worldly life!
-So where to? Really to the world's end to farm?
"No, Lane wouldn't live like that."
Unlike a typical disciple, Lane's got a weird sense of loyalty.
He looks after peers subtly, respects seniors as seniors. Probably beat those last disciples with the bat to teach them properly.
Sets peers as tanks, strikes seniors first, genuinely thrashes juniors—unlike others, he's oddly normal.
That's why he was the most abnormal among disciples.
So, he'll probably call a couple contacts from his host days and spill to the princess quick.
Bring one of those duke's daughters he fought over, make her cry,
'Lane... did you... really deceive me?'
Done.
He'd spill everything for his 'honesty.'
Sia covered for him subtly, so the organization missed it, and Lane didn't slip up—but now that it's gone, his mouth's an automatic door.
Farm life? Sadly on hold. But someday!
Rural life! Legendary dream lifestyle!
Perfect rural life! Not farming while demon king slaying or stronger than the hero as a villager—just growing fruits and veggies, selling them plainly!
-Good thing. I was scared you'd turn me into a plow for farming.
"...You're already one?"
Farming tool secured!
A divine tool that auto-blesses tilled soil?! No, the soil might die in agony?
"Gotta test it."
-Eek, nooo! Goddess Arcadia plowing fields? Hate it!
"Turn human and poke the dirt with your finger. You'll see."
-Huh? You hated my human form 'cause it drains mana.
"You'll be human for a while anyway."
-Where we going?
Her voice brimmed with excitement at humanizing after so long.
Yeah, a hideout from the princess for a bit. A place even she'd never imagine.
-Tell me quick! Where's the goddess descent? My freedom zone?!
"Near the capital."
-Eek? Crazy? To the princess's house?
"Yeah, specifically."
One of the empire's top academies, frequented by royals, closest to the palace.
"The summoner academy, Yuglasia."