Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Judgment on Arpen
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“Gasp!”
He was alive.
Pedro felt relief at still breathing, then shuddered with self-loathing.
“Why…….”
Even after trying to kill him, why had he spared an assassin?
“Daddy!”
“Laura…? How did you get here?”
Before the questions could pile up.
Flora had come looking for him.
“The Count summoned you! He said you were hurt and resting here. Are you okay? How did you get injured like this?”
Come to think of it, this was the Count’s manor.
His wounds had been treated, so the Count must have saved him.
The throbbing pain brought back memories of getting pummeled in the rain like dust in a storm.
“Laura, that’s…….”
“It’s because of me, right?”
“Huh?”
“You got hurt trying to make money for me, didn’t you? I’m sorry. I’ll make money too from now on! I hate seeing you get hurt working.”
Pedro pondered what to say, then chuckled softly and stroked Flora’s head.
“……Laura. Where’s the Count?”
“He’s right here.”
“Laura, go out for a bit. I need to talk to the Count.”
“Okay! Are you hungry? I’ll make something for you to eat, Daddy!”
Tap, tap.
As soon as the footsteps faded, Pedro knelt and bowed his head to the ground.
“Thank you for sparing my life.”
“Changed your mind, have you? Yesterday you were so eager to die.”
“I had no way out.”
“And now you do.”
“I’ll make one.”
“How.”
“There must be a reason Your Lordship spared me. As you said before, to save Carpe and destroy the Empire. I remember.”
“So.”
“You must be curious who ordered the hit on me.”
“Planning to tell me?”
“I had to kill those bastards anyway, or die by Your Lordship’s hand.”
Killing Kallias had failed.
He didn’t even want to anymore.
Even if he somehow killed Kallias, an assassin’s life wouldn’t end.
“I’ll tell you.”
No.
“Give me a chance.”
Kallias nodded as he watched Pedro press his forehead to the floor.
“Why the change of heart?”
“I’m trash. I’ve lived a shameful life. But Laura… I don’t want that for my daughter. I want her to live proudly. She’s different from me. She must take after her mother.”
So.
“Please help us.”
* * *
In the manor’s study.
I sat in my chair, deep in thought.
‘Can I trust him?’
There was no deception in Pedro’s demeanor.
If that act was fake, I’d kill him and Flora both, whether she became a sword ghost or not.
Flora would burn with vengeance if her father died—she’d be a sword I couldn’t control.
I could kill them both, but not just one without the other.
“Orkal.”
“Yes. You called?”
“Keep an eye on Pedro.”
“What if he betrays us?”
“Then we’ll have no choice. But he won’t. Watch him closely, and help if he’s in danger.”
If my guess was right, Pedro would head straight for the ones who ordered the hit.
That alone would make him useful enough.
“It’s a world where living easy is impossible.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. Go.”
“Yes, then.”
Once Orkal closed the door behind him, I leaned back into the chair. Nothing in the world was simple.
Killing Pedro would be easy.
Simple, even.
But it wasn’t the right thing to do.
I didn’t want to.
I stood and opened the window. Below, unit members trained from morning, while children watched from the side.
Some held wooden swords, mimicking them. Others threw stones at each other, playing.
Amid them, Flora trained with a laugh.
Pedro watched her.
I could see it all at a glance.
Watching them stirred complicated feelings.
‘Has their fate changed?’
I didn’t know.
Originally, Pedro was just a trigger for Flora.
That’s how he’d been set up.
But now, I wanted to let him live.
What a complex mood.
“What are you doing.”
“……What brings you here?”
It was Heretic Inquisitor Captain Jenos.
He’d snuck in barefoot again to startle me.
‘If you’re not using Anniebo more than that, just tell me.’
Incomprehensible guy.
“Lots of talk about you.”
“What about?”
“Trying to shove several kids into the Royal Academy.”
Jenos pulled a document from his robes—an academy recommendation letter.
One I’d recently submitted.
“Why so interested in me? What’s an academy recommendation to you?”
“I can overlook your daughter or collateral kin, but that one has no connections. Why recommend her?”
“My call.”
Because I could.
Flora had real talent.
She was overshadowed now by Rivan and Rini, who’d walked the elite path since childhood, but with a little polish, she’d catch up fast.
“The old foxes complain about recommending commoners.”
“The Church is interested in the academy too, huh.”
“No, just me. Looks fun.”
“……Didn’t you hate me?”
“I don’t.”
“But you’re helping now, right?”
“Spot on.”
I crossed my arms.
“What’s the reason?”
Jenos crossed his arms too, staring at me.
“My subordinate.”
“…….”
“Even without that, I hate nobles slacking off in the Royal Academy, getting knighthoods handed to them. Time to clean house.”
He was Church.
But Jenos hailed from one of the four great nobles.
The Gradas family of the east.
If he leaned in, even royals couldn’t ignore him.
“Didn’t know you cared about the academy.”
Was Jenos always like this?
I thought he ignored worldly affairs.
“Found some promising kids among them. I’ll sponsor too. Tell my like-minded friends. Plenty of my contacts among this year’s instructors. Oh, Esther’s doing a short stint as temporary instructor.”
“I see.”
Esther as academy instructor?
News to me.
“What about you? Be an instructor.”
“Not my call, and I don’t want to.”
“Your daughter’s enrolling too?”
“That’s why I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“Hmm…….”
“I get it. Want to teach her privately? Fair enough.”
“…….”
No response, so I let it slide.
“Such fatherly love.”
He chuckled, nodded with his own conclusion.
“Looks fun.”
“What does?”
“Academy instructor. Got me interested.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Plenty of commoner knights and paladins quietly. Gather them into a commoner class?”
“……Would serve Carpe. Not a bad idea.”
“You do it too.”
“No…….”
About to refuse.
『Sub Quest』
【Academy Swordsmanship Instructor】
<Reward>: 「Goblin Gold Coin」
Quest popped up.
‘Goblin gold coin, huh.’
Special gold coins minted in ancient times for goblin trade.
Goblins thrived back then, now nearly extinct subrace.
Good with hands, skilled thieves—their items exceed expectations. Might even have lost ancient relics or holy artifacts.
Couldn’t refuse.
“Don’t want to?”
“Well, if it’s just occasional teaching.”
“Knew you liked kids.”
“……One condition.”
“Condition? Spit it out. If it’s about Anniebo, no.”
“No. Just…….”
As Kallias’ lips moved, Jenos widened his eyes in surprise, then nodded.
“Unexpected. Fine, that’s doable. I’ll head out. Time to stir things up.”
Jenos vanished as quietly as he’d come.
Once gone, I donned armor and cloak, ready to leave.
“Preparations complete, my lord.”
“Let’s go.”
Brans had a horse waiting, saddled with Humasis tack.
“Fine beast.”
“Picked the best, one worthy of you!”
“Let’s go.”
Neigh!
“Hey, Captain, where to?”
“You’re not ditching training to go play, right?”
“Shut it.”
“Count, where are you off to?”
“Really going to play?”
Mounting up drew kids and unit members.
I scowled at the silly questions; members scattered, kids stayed. To Rini and Flora’s asks, I glanced at Pedro’s quarters and answered.
“Hunting bad guys.”
I called back the fleeing members.
“You lot, follow me.”
“Huh? Where to?”
“Told you. Hunting bad guys.”
* * *
Spurt!!
“Definitely improved.”
From horseback, Kallias watched the unit fight, noting clear progress.
Intense thigh training and abuse, special drinks, stone-dodging for agility.
Still lacking, but better.
‘Troll and dragon blood mix—call it TD Potion?’
Not a bad ring.
Diluted a hundredfold, barely there.
Long-term effects looked good; refine more, then I could try it.
“But why hit a viscountcy without warning? Safe?”
“Never warned the nobles I beheaded before.”
Preemptive candidates were always right.
Aftermath was the issue, but Judgment Sword silenced them.
Kallias wouldn’t sit idle knowing who sent assassins.
Others might get quietly assassinated by nobles.
Not him.
Send assassins? Catch them, kill the backers.
He hoped for it.
That’s how to wipe out spies fast.
“I’m innocent!! Viscount Jervan! This between nobles?! His Majesty will rage!”
“Your thought. Arpen Viscount. Think His Majesty moves for trash like you?”
A mere viscount, yet so ambitious.
“Arpen Viscount. Why order my assassination? Duel instead. Lacked confidence?”
“Lies!! I never did! Who spreads such filth?! Viscount Ilen? Count Valentin?!”
Not Arpen’s direct order.
Just a pawn.
Kallias said it knowing.
Deny the deed, people get indignant, excited.
Excitement spills hidden truths.
“Spilling it yourself. Hear that, Brans? Write it down.”
“Yes! But I can’t read……?”
“……Memorize it.”
“Yes!”
Viscount gaped incredulously, face reddening as he bellowed.
“You mock me!!”
“Don’t grieve too much. Your friends follow soon.”
Couldn’t spare Carpe’s vermin.
Then.
The viscount roared from horseback.
“Whoever takes Jervan’s head! I’ll give a family heirloom! Appoint as Arpen’s guardian knight!!”
Arpen had a heirloom too.
First I’d heard.
“Raaah!!”
Viscountcy knights’ morale surged.
I pondered briefly, then matched it.
“Whoever takes Arpen’s head gets the Arpen heirloom.”
“You bastard!!”
“Kill.”
Whirr~
“You filthy bugs!!”
“Argh!”
Bugs swarmed, devouring knights.
Orkal nowhere in sight.
Unit Six exploited the gap, rampaging.
“Arpen’s head is mine!”
“Where’s the Arpen heirloom!!”
Clang-clang!
“Stop playing and go.”
“Captain not joining?”
“Beggars play with beggars.”
“Tch, hyah!”
Vice Captain Diego charged; fierce sword cries rang out.
Arpen viscountcy fell swiftly to Unit Six’s ambush. Rumors flew of the viscount’s head rolling.
But the prestige of the one called the Judge was only beginning.