Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 129
>Chapter Title: This is Why Academic Background Matters
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Parun snapped out of it and vanished somewhere, only to return after changing into a crisp new outfit from his tattered rags.
But the head seat was still mine.
“……”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Give him some understanding, Sir Parun. It’s because he lacks any proper education.”
It was true. Sure, it was the kind of truth that deserved a punch, but no fists flew.
Anyway, after a brief staring contest to defend my spot, I turned to the two of them and spoke up.
“First off, Sha… no, what should I even call you?”
“Call me Master. Short for ‘Master Knight.’”
Bullshit.
“Master” was the term a servant used for their lord. The sneaky intent behind that naming was obvious.
I easily sidestepped Shine’s ploy and continued.
“First, Parun. You acknowledge this parasite joining us?”
“I do.”
It was a question that didn’t really need asking, but it was to clarify the situation.
“Good. Now that the key piece is in place, let’s discuss the main schedule.”
I’d already briefed Parun on the schedule before, but since it was Shine’s first time, I went over it again.
“Alright, let’s see. The Lortel-Decullan deal is exactly ten days from now. Rendezvous point is right here.”
I pointed to a spot on the map Parun had prepared.
It wasn’t as detailed as a military chart, but it was plenty for explanations.
The spot my finger landed on was a village called Baidun.
“It’s a village right next to Lortel territory. To be precise, it belongs to some random noble’s land, so it’s not under Decullan or Lortel control.”
This was where the Decullans’ slyness shone through.
Baidun was neutral ground—not in either faction’s territory—but it was still right on Lortel’s doorstep.
At a glance, it looked like consideration for Lortel…
“But more than that, it’s to prove their innocence.”
Everyone on the Eastern Continent knew Decullan had dirty dealings.
By picking a spot near Lortel, they were indirectly saying, “We have no ulterior motives.”
Of course, Decullan had no ulterior motives at all.
Or more precisely…
“Their schemes aren’t aimed at Lortel.”
Anyway.
“The original plan was to make contact when the Third Sword escorts the Infinite Chain.”
“How exactly?”
“Good question.”
Contact the Third Sword escorting the Infinite Chain.
Easier said than done.
But meeting him wouldn’t be hard.
There was only one route from Lortel Castle to Baidun, and if we guarded it, we’d run into him.
You know, like bandits do.
Then…
“We challenge him to a duel.”
…I answered Shine’s question like that and shot him a look asking if there were more questions.
“But say we make contact with the Third Sword—that’s fine. Still, there’s a problem, right?”
“Spit it out.”
“First, if the Third Sword refers to the third of the Ten Swords I know, his reputation must be massive. But not enough to sway a family’s major affairs single-handedly.”
“Correct.”
“And second… he’s handling something this important. Would he even accept a duel?”
“First off, the duel with the Third Sword is just a trigger to meet the Young Patriarch. The first button, you could say.”
“Young Patriarch?”
“Yeah, we need someone that high up to derail the Decullan deal. Anyway.”
I tossed an answer at Shine’s last doubt.
“You asked if the Third Sword would accept the duel? He will. I’m certain.”
“I don’t know how you’re so sure, but… go on.”
Shine set aside his doubts about my confidence.
Made things easy for me.
‘Truth is, if he pressed why, I wouldn’t have a solid answer.’
Lortel was a house that revered martial prowess and knightly honor.
But banking the plan solely on that was too risky.
So why was I so confident?
“Because it’s the Third Sword.”
Lortel obsessed over knightly honor more than any other sword house, and the Third Sword was one of their top exemplars.
In my past life, he never refused a proper duel. Not aggressive—just deep respect for fellow warriors.
Of course… unless the family’s survival was at stake.
‘Similar stuff happened plenty in my past life.’
That’s what I was banking on.
“Anyway, win or lose doesn’t matter. What’s key is…”
“Being acknowledged as a knight, as a warrior. That it?”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm, getting validation from some punk rubs me wrong… but if it’s the plan, no choice.”
The rest of the plan wasn’t complicated.
‘The Third Sword makes one promise to those he deems worthy. We use that to secure a meeting with the Young Patriarch.’
A promise on his honor—he wouldn’t back out.
He’d prioritize the mission, sure…
‘But that’s what my prepared card fixes.’
No matter what price Lortel got from Decullan, it wouldn’t top the value of my “card.”
But.
“That’s the original plan up to here.”
“Yeah?”
I savored the superior view from the head seat, taking in Parun and then Shine.
“A variable popped up.”
“Variable…?”
I nodded at Shine’s question.
“Looks like Decullan didn’t just send Holland. They’ve got a top tracker on us.”
I gave Parun and Shine a rundown on the tracker, “Crow”—what she meant in Decullan terms, and how annoyingly sharp her tracking and detection skills were.
Once I finished, Shine leaned back on the sofa with a bored look.
“So, what now?”
Parun, meanwhile, spoke up with shadowed eyes.
“We’ll need to revise the plan. If Crow’s that capable, she might detect our rendezvous with Lortel. But…”
Parun trailed off.
He couldn’t pin down how to adjust on the fly.
No surprise.
The plan was already full of gambles, hinged entirely on the Third Sword’s personality and his ties to the Young Patriarch.
That’s when Shine piped up.
“Why not just take out the Third Sword quick?”
“……?”
What the hell was this guy?
“No, hear me out. No matter how badass the Third Sword is… with our firepower, it’s doable, right?”
“Crazy bastard?”
Not wrong, technically.
If I fully unleashed transcendence, either Shine or I alone could handle the Third Sword.
‘…Though the backlash is unpredictable.’
Might even be a close call on survival.
But that was a last resort.
With a scum like Decullan as our enemy, I didn’t want to add Lortel to the list.
Shine muttered under his breath, clearly miffed at my reaction.
“Tch, then what? Plan’s busted, nothing gained… tch. Wasting time like this—better to storm in and smash everything.”
That’s when I snapped my fingers with a “click!”
“You’re right. That’s it.”
“……?”
“What do you mean?”
“Say it again.”
“Tch, then what?”
“After that.”
“Plan’s busted, nothing gained…”
“And after that.”
Shine’s eyes flickered with unease at my words.
But my gaze was too intense, so he muttered the line quietly.
“…Just storm in and smash it all?”
“Exactly. That’s it.”
I nodded with a satisfied grin.
“Of course, not total smash-and-grab. Just… let’s shift the rendezvous spot a bit.”
“You don’t mean…”
“Yeah.”
We had to move fast.
Bolder and quicker than Decullan could imagine or react.
‘I thought about it. How to act bold and swift?’
The answer turned out simple.
“We storm Lortel.”
“…….”
“Ah, like I said—not a real storm-in. Just go, huh? Duel the Third Sword a bit, huh? That’s all.”
“…….”
“Just changing the location, see? From roadside to Lortel?”
Shine stared at me like I’d lost it.
He couldn’t grasp this genius idea.
No shock there. How could a guy like Shine understand my brilliance? Needed a brain like Parun’s.
Sure enough, Parun—unlike Shine—fixed his shadowed eyes on me.
And said,
“Are you insane?”
“…….”
“No matter how cornered we are… you’re saying we charge into Lortel?”
No, I said it’s not a real charge!
“If you wanna end it all, do it solo.”
Damn…
This was a brilliant strategy to catch Decullan off-guard!
“No, just hear me out?”
This is why academic background matters.
No need for me to prove my smarts—they just go, “Ah, he’s clever enough.”
Today, too, the pitiful Black-White Slums orphan shed tears. Not sometimes. Almost always.
* * *
Near the Lortel family border.
Baidun Village.
Holland sat in a pub, draped in a robe stamped with the Decullan crest.
The pub was dead silent.
Not because of the early hour.
Dawn or not, Baidun’s only pub was a must for night owls pounding drinks.
Yet now it was empty.
Why?
Holland was the reason.
“……”
“……”
The owner and waitress had frozen stiff at the wizard who barged in at midnight.
“T-That’s… him, right?”
“…Yes.”
“…Decullan.”
A knight from a noble house alone would send a tiny village like Baidun into panic.
But a wizard in the dead of night? One on Decullan’s payroll?
The owner was proud of himself for not fainting. Deservedly so.
But that pride didn’t last.
Ding-a-ling—
The door opened with a bell chime. Spotting a new customer, the owner glanced nervously at Holland and moved to greet them. But.
“W-Welcome…”
“Hiding in a dump like this?”
“……!”
The moment the woman in the Crow mask approached Holland, the owner’s face went sheet-white.
‘Talking smack… to a Decullan wizard?’
Creak, thud!
The owner collapsed flat.
He’d foreseen the fallout and fainted from shock.
“M-Mister owner…!”
The lone waitress paled—then.
Creak, creak.
Crow stomped across the worn wooden floor and took a seat before Holland.
“I told you to send word when you reached Baidun.”
“I was about to. But… the village is too lovely. Perfect for art. Imagine, Crow. Burning it in circles from the outskirts. How would the villagers react as the flames close in? Cling to each other? Or trample corpses in panic?”
“……”
Crow shook her head, repulsed by Holland’s entranced eyes.
Lovely?
Who’d sympathize with that rapturous tone?
Holland’s sensibilities were light-years from normal.
As Crow thought that, Holland’s eyes gleamed, and he asked,
“Time flies. So, what’s the situation? Caught the rats yet?”
“Nope. They’re sticking to schedule.”
“The rats haven’t smelled a trap?”
“Doubt it. Their intel network isn’t that weak, or they wouldn’t have lasted this long.”
“Hmm…”
Holland grimaced faintly with a grunt.
Sensing danger, Crow warned him.
“No funny business. It’s a precious chance from the Patriarch. Think of the shame Karahen’s failure brought the family—be grateful your head’s still attached.”
That’s when Holland’s lips curled up. Chuckling softly at first, then bursting into laughter.
“Pffft. I know. Believe me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t let a bitch like you yap in my face.”
“…….”
Crow clamped her mouth shut under his razor-sharp aura.
‘Was Holland always this intense…?’
She served Pahren von Decullan up close.
His circle was a den of monsters—even in Decullan.
A mere magic squad captain was average.
Yet here she was, cowed?
It felt like… a Seven Mage. No, beyond!
Holland’s voice cut in then.
“So… stay put till mission day, huh?”
“…Yes. You’re bait, end of story. I’ll watch Lortel’s escort procession, but they’ll likely target you alone with the Infinite Chain.”
“Hmm… ‘likely,’ you say.”
Crack, crunch.
Holland crushed his glass of harsh liquor. Sharp shards tore his skin, blood dripping, but no sign of pain.
“Hope it goes that smoothly…”
“……?”
As Crow puzzled, Holland waved off the bloodied hand like nothing.
“Nothing. Just doubting if those bioweapon thieves will act so predictably.”
“What’re you—”
“Enough. Buzz off, mighty Crow. This lowly captain needs rest.”
“…….”
Crow shot Holland a disgusted glare before storming out.
‘…Psycho.’
Holland was impossible to read, no matter how many times they met.
A freak whose thoughts floated far beyond sanity.
As Crow left the tavern.
Alone now, Holland yanked out the glass shards and cauterized the wounds with fire.
‘Psychos always exceed expectations…’
Thieves who stole the family secret wouldn’t fall for such an obvious trap!
But he wouldn’t let the Infinite Chain fall into their hands either.
“Heh, heh.”
Holland let out a deflating laugh.
He was looking forward to it.
What tricks would these killers—the ones who offed that dull but decent fool Karahen—pull to entertain him?
“Owner, good booze.”
With that, Holland left.
A pouch brimming with gold coins sat on the table. Payment.
And that night…
A fire broke out in the pub at midnight. Victims: the owner and waitress.