Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 124
>Chapter Title: ……You've Been Deceived Twice
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In truth, the plan wasn't anything special.
"Lortel said the third sword would show up, right?"
"Yeah, assuming the intel is solid."
Was it because he was aware of the trap? Parun seemed to be reassessing the reliability of the information.
"We should assume it's solid for now. If it were a real trap, they wouldn't bother with half-assed bluffing."
"……Hmm."
Parun shot me another skeptical glance at my conviction.
'This damn guy…….'
I'd thought I'd built up some trust living by my wits, but doubt crept in.
There was a time when people thought of trust, reliability, diligence, and integrity, and this body came to mind first.
Anyway, I set aside my irritation for the moment.
This wasn't the time for petty issues.
"Anyway, let's say the third sword does show up. No, he definitely will."
"And what changes?"
"Everything changes. A whole lot changes."
"……?"
Oh, they haven't announced it yet?
"Do you know who the third sword's disciple is?"
"Did he have a disciple? I heard he's too young to be taking one on."
"About your age?"
"……I'm a bit younger."
"You're a professor."
"None of my students will inherit my vision. And that won't change."
"Yeah, sure. Let's say that's true."
I didn't know Parun's exact age. But at this point in time, the third sword was definitely young.
'Right now…… mid to late thirties, maybe?'
Honestly, it wasn't socially young.
But considering the reputation he carried, it was young—hell, in crude terms, he was a fresh-faced kid.
Even more astonishing was that at just thirty-something, he'd proudly ascended to the ranks of the Ten Swords.
But the point here wasn't the third sword's dazzling talent.
Not yet revealed……
The third sword's disciple.
"The third sword has a disciple. And that disciple is key for us."
"You wanna take him hostage?"
"……."
I looked at Parun with cold, dead eyes.
"……Not that?"
"The students learning from you must have it rough."
I'd sat in on Parun's classes too, so I pitied myself. Anyway.
I got back to the main topic.
"We can't take the third sword's disciple hostage, and we shouldn't even if we could. Not unless you wanna be hunted by Lortel for life."
"……? Why would his disciple be such a big deal?"
Only then did Parun tilt his head in genuine confusion.
He'd realized the disciple wasn't some nobody.
I opened my mouth, looking at him.
"Who's the third sword's disciple? Think about it."
Few people receiving instruction from the 'third sword' had a status that would provoke Lortel's wrath if taken hostage.
"……One of Lortel's bloodline."
"Right. And?"
"And……."
Parun gathered his thoughts carefully.
As a side note, I was genuinely impressed by the sight.
Was this what it meant to be an intellectual? No aversion to using his own brain. If it were Shine or Rayleigh, they'd give up thinking after three seconds.
Sure enough, his answer was on a whole different level from those two idiots…… no, those two guys.
"You're not saying 'I have a plan' for nothing. So it must be someone who can influence the deal with Decullan. That means direct lineage. And among them……."
"Among them?"
"……The young patriarch."
"Hmm."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
My applause filled the office with dry echoes.
"Correct."
Yes, exactly.
The third sword's disciple was none other than Lortel's current young patriarch, Sion von Lortel.
That's right. That guy.
The 'martial supremacist.'
In the future, Lortel's 17th patriarch.
I'd never seen his face myself. I'd only heard tales of his prestige.
"……So what? I get the connection between the third sword and the young patriarch, but how does it relate to our situation?"
"What do you mean, what?"
I flashed a grin.
"We meet the young patriarch through the third sword. And when we do……."
"Negotiate?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"You sure that's gonna work out so neatly? I know a bit about Lortel's young patriarch's temperament. Martial supremacist, especially despises magic, right? But he won't blow up an inter-family deal over personal feelings alone."
He had a point.
'Even in the future, he didn't lead the family on ideology alone.'
"But what if the payoff's big enough?"
"……Payoff?"
"There's something. No matter what Decullan's prepared, Sion will have no choice but to side with us."
"Hmm……."
Parun looked plenty curious but didn't pry.
Instead, he half-closed his eyes, as if organizing his thoughts, killing time.
Unable to wait, I spoke up.
"Hey, so. You in or out?"
"If it works, I'm in. But there's a snag."
"A snag?"
Parun fully opened his half-lidded eyes and stared at me.
"The young patriarch's a martial supremacist."
"Yeah."
"He especially hates magic."
"Yeah?"
"So let me ask. What are you?"
"I'm a……."
I nearly said '……Aster' but clamped my mouth shut.
Was this some clever interrogation? I'd almost spilled my full name.
But Parun's follow-up proved it wasn't.
"You're not a mage?"
"Right."
"And I'm a mage too."
"You're a professor."
"Don't play word games, or I'll rip your mouth open."
"……."
Parun's sharp threat shut me up tight. My eyes nearly watered.
'……Son of a bitch.'
Anyway, that's what Parun meant.
Young patriarch Sion was a martial supremacist and mage-hater. Would he accept a proposal from mages like us?
Valid point.
But.
"I've got it covered."
"Sure, you have a brain, after all."
I didn't hear that.
"The young patriarch's a martial supremacist, as we said. So what if I know an outstanding slave…… no, knight?"
"Hmm. So you're saying we'll put that knight forward as our proxy in talks with the young patriarch?"
"Not just proxy—I'll use him to draw the young patriarch out via the third sword."
"Then it can't be just any skill level. You really know someone that good?"
Of course.
Was there ever a knight this outstanding in history?
'King Slayer.'
A rare knight who'd lopped off an emperor's head.
Me, damn it! Huh? You know this amazing knight from the Great Forest? We even ate…… no, didn't eat together.
'Death Knights don't eat.'
Not even after becoming a vampire.
Anyway.
"Can I trust it?"
"Trust him as much as you trust me."
Meaning, fully.
Parun, me, and Henji—who was absent and thus fading in presence—were a shared fate community. The moment any one of us spoke out of turn, we'd all head to the afterlife together amicably.
But why?
"……Hmm."
"What?"
"……Nah, we'll see when we get there. 'Trust him as much as you trust me,' huh…… Hmm."
He said no, but worry deepened in Parun's eyes.
……Why?
I didn't ask. Whatever the reason, it'd hurt.
I'd thought Parun trusted me as much as I trusted him.
'Looks like it was just wishful thinking on my part.'
Comrades who don't trust each other. That's us.
Anyway…… now all that was left was luring Shine into the Infinite Chain reclamation(?) operation.
'This one's gonna be…… tricky.'
Worry deepened in my eyes too, just like Parun's.
……But why?
The next day, when I went to find Shine, his answer was surprisingly straightforward.
"Sure."
"……?"
I had to ask.
"……Why?"
* * *
I'd found Shine in the headmaster's predecessor's hideout.
Shine was sprawled lion-like on a plush sofa, luxuriating, with Breakfast No. 1 nestled in his arms, dozing off.
Peep, peep……
Breakfast No. 1 let out pleased chirps in time with Shine's gentle strokes.
I stared at the scene, half-stunned.
"……Why?"
"What's why? You asking for a reason? Or just can't believe it?"
"Both."
"Tch, no real reason. Didn't you ask for help?"
"……."
That made even less sense.
Shine? Helping me? Just like that? No arguments? Straight-up 'sure'?
Noticing my stare, perhaps.
Shine clucked his tongue pityingly.
"You scheming bastard. Think everyone's like you?"
No.
If the whole world were like me, 'law' wouldn't exist.
Because I was the model citizen who lived fine without it.
Key point: 'without law.' Not 'needs no law.'
"And……."
Shine continued petting Breakfast No. 1 without pause.
What came next was pretty touching.
"It's the first time, right?"
"What is."
"You asking for help so openly, spilling everything."
True.
Today, I'd laid out the facts straight and asked.
- Hey, do one job with me.
- Hng. Think I'll fall for your crap twice? I'm sleepy, so quit yapping and get lost.
My opener was the usual. Shine's response too.
Honestly, I wanted to nitpick right there.
'……You've been deceived twice already.'
Once with the enslavement bracelet. No, that aligned interests, so maybe not.
But 'Early Bird' op and 'Covenant' alone made it two times he'd fallen for it.
I didn't bother correcting him.
Instead, I dumped the raw facts on Shine, who was half-listening.
- Hear me out first, then decide. No pressure.
Lortel and Decullan.
I'd clearly stated the two great houses' involvement and the risks.
To help him understand, I'd revealed everything I could about the New Heavenly Origin Art.
'But still……?'
Noticing my gaze, perhaps.
Shine blinked his nearly shut, sleepy eyelids and spoke.
"Touching, huh?"
"Touching my ass. Be straight. What's your angle?"
"What angle? Can't trust people like this. Didn't I say? First time you've been this upfront. For a schemer like you to act this way…… Yawn, means you're desperate."
Right. True, but……
What was this nagging feeling?
"Oh, right. Lortel has two demon swords, yeah?"
"Demon swords? What demon swords?"
"Nah, just popped into my head. Hmm, Lortel still only has two demon swords."
"……?"
Shine spouting nonsense. But his eyes weren't casual.
Even as he blinked sleepily, a chill glinted in the gaze sweeping over me.
'Something's up.'
'Only' two demon swords?
Not 'as many as' two?
The creeping unease.
My survival instincts, honed through countless brushes with death, screamed.
Shine was plotting something. And it wouldn't benefit me.
'No way he's gonna sabotage the plan…….'
Nah.
The Covenant bound us.
It detects mutual malice and restricts action.
So why this unease?
That's when Breakfast No. 1 suddenly burst into cries.
"Hey, you……."
Peep! Peep!
I trailed off, staring at Breakfast No. 1 who shot up and glared at me.
Peep! Peep!
Flapping furiously, screeching in anger.
The speechless beast couldn't speak, but the speaking beast Shine translated.
"Study time, he says. Yawn, we're done, so scram."
Of course, not really understanding. Just inferring from the time.
"……Tch."
In the end, I left with that nagging feeling.
Flutter-flap—!
Was Breakfast No. 1 tailing me to Rapiter? He circled above my head, nest-building?
As I exited the hideout—
Creak.
Through the closing door gap, I saw it.
Shine's sleepy eyes on me. Unmistakably the glint of someone scheming.
'What the hell……?'
Lortel? Only two demon swords?
Some gains, but ominous as hell.