Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 131
>Chapter Title: 200-Year Tradition
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But hold on.
“......200-year tradition?”
“Heh, that’s right. Of course, it’s not exactly 200 years. It’s just about 200.”
“No way......”
“Ah, well. It’d be a lie if it had nothing to do with this body of mine. Heh heh, heh. This is the kind of body I have.”
“A vampire carcass.”
“Yeah, a vampire car— No, that’s not it. You rotten little— Anyway, what do you think? Isn’t this a pretty solid plan?”
“Well...... that’s true.”
It was definitely true. Using that method would draw less suspicion than pinpointing the third sword outright.
‘Of course...... the real issue is how to pull out that third sword from there.’
But after that, he could breathe a little easier.
No matter how much a crow flew and flapped, it couldn’t waltz into the Lortel family home like it owned the place.
‘Inside the Lortel estate...... even calling out the third sword directly wouldn’t carry much risk.’
No one knew the Lortel family’s defenses better than I did, having poked around them once before.
‘Man...... it was touch and go. Took me three months just to find a hole.’
But.
“Is it really okay for you to spill this so easily?”
“W-What...... do you mean?”
“Come on, looking at you, your goal is the Sword Saint’s Tomb, right? To snag whatever’s hidden there. You sure it’s fine blabbing that to me?”
“Ah, what’s the problem? We’re partners.”
Partners, my ass. That resentful glare said otherwise, you punk.
“And...... heh.”
Shine quickly wiped the flustered look off his face.
“What are you gonna do even if you find out?”
“......Yeah, figured as much. So the Sword Saint’s Tomb is the 13th patriarch’s grave?”
“......Ahem, you remembered?”
“Of course.”
I never forget.
Anything that might even slightly harm me, I tuck away neatly in this spacious heart of mine.
Proof of that......
‘......I still haven’t forgotten about that frontman either.’
No reason for me to get tangled up with some Black-White Slums thug now, but you never know with people.
If we do cross paths, that frontman’s a clear-cut enemy!
That’s how big my heart is.
Anyway, this guy’s intentions were transparent.
‘He was gonna hitch a ride on the Infinite Chain Gun to make some connection with the Lortels, but realized he didn’t need to.’
From the looks of it, Shine was after something, and the 13th patriarch Shamid had prepared it all the way to his grave.
No need to hide it anymore.
Whatever. It worked out fine.
“Alright, since the parasite actually did something useful for once, it’s only right to make use of it.”
“......What?”
“I don’t care what you’re after there. I’ll play along nice and easy.”
“W-What...... This body is the one going with you! You’re not dragging this body along for your sake—it’s this body showing you mercy!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. So you’re not coming or what?”
“......”
Bastard. He had no comeback for that.
Anyway, intentions aside, the card Shine brought was pretty decent.
‘It’s not a perfect solution......’
But he could figure out what came after when the time came.
People often misunderstand: the more meticulous the plan, the higher the success rate.
But it’s the opposite.
The more detailed the plan, the worse it handles variables.
So, no plan is the best plan.
This time, though, he’d half-planned and blended in some no-plan. Half no-plan was more accurate.
“Alright, then......”
With the situation roughly wrapped up, he flopped back down on the training ground floor.
But.
“You’re not going?”
“......? Conversation over?”
“Got more to say?”
“No, not really, but......”
What? Was he expecting praise for a job well done? Tough luck—that wasn’t happening.
‘Clear as day he was prepping to stab me in the back. What’s so great about that?’
A nation that forgets its history has no future, and partners who forget loyalty get no praise.
He’d sucked up all the juice, so out with him!
“Shoo, shoo.”
He shooed Shine away like he was chasing off a stray mutt.
Resentment thickened in Shine’s eyes as he slunk off, but that wasn’t his problem.
‘Good. Now then.’
If things went smoothly, there’d be no physical clash, but people were unpredictable.
With the big event looming, he needed to sharpen his mind.
The most urgent matter now...... was his circle.
How to make use of it.
Whiiiiiir—
As his breathing synced, the core and the circle around it resonated, and soon the circle began to spin.
‘The gap in talent......’
Embarrassing to bring up effort now, but the only way to bridge it was time and hard work.
It was the moment when the tiny spark Shine had lit reignited in his heart.
* * *
......A few days later.
What awaited Aster and his group upon arriving at the Lortel estate was a single unbelievable line of news.
The Sword Saint’s Tomb would be closed starting from the date this notice was posted.
“W-What the......”
As Shine turned pale and trembled.
Aster gazed vacantly up at the sky.
“You still haven’t secured the wyvern, huh. Well.”