Chapter 136
Chapter 136
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 136
>Chapter Title: Firmly Shining
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
“…….”
I blankly took in the sight of that bastard…… no, the Young Patriarch.
A humid summer breeze blew in…… no, a muggy one. As the wind whistled ‘whoosh!’ amid the earthy scent tickling my nose, dust settled between my slack-jawed lips.
The dirt felt gritty. But it wasn’t unfamiliar. I’d eaten plenty back in my Black-White Slums urchin days.
The problem with dirt wasn’t the taste—it was the texture. How to put it? That feeling of it getting stuck between your teeth…… the grinding ‘scrrch’ every time your upper and lower teeth met. Only those who’ve eaten it know.
But why dirt all of a sudden?
Because the current situation was just as unpleasant.
‘What? What did you say?’
He says he’s the Young Patriarch.
To sum it up……
‘The bastard our group beat the crap out of turns out to be the Young Patriarch of the continent’s top eastern swordsmanship family?!’
……Something like that.
‘Damn it.’
By the time my thoughts reached that point, I couldn’t help but glare at Shine.
[……You knew?]
[Well, I wasn’t clueless. He seemed to be hiding it…… but I already knew Lortel’s swordsmanship.]
[Then why didn’t you……]
[Say anything? Did you even ask?]
Right. I didn’t ask.
I didn’t ask, sure……
‘But you still could’ve said something?’
This has to be him screwing with me on purpose.
Otherwise, there’s no reason he’d keep his mouth shut knowing full well that bastard was the Young Patriarch.
Anyway.
“Urgh.”
“Why the silence? Is the title of Young Patriarch not enough?”
“Give me a moment to sort my thoughts.”
“Your tone’s gotten awfully meek?”
“It’s because I yield to authority.”
“Honest one, aren’t you.”
“Anyway, shut it.”
I ignored the Young Patriarch, who was grumbling like he was enjoying this, and rummaged through my memories.
In truth, looking back from our first encounter, there were a few suspicious bits.
‘A camper with an oddly noble air……’
And he just happened to show up here at this hour? On Flick Mountain?
Fine, let’s concede that a hundred, a thousand times—it could happen.
But.
‘I should’ve known from the moment he was loitering near the secret passage entrance.’
No wonder he wouldn’t budge from the secret passage area even if it killed him. And that’s not all?
- ……Magic?
- Did you say magic just now?
The moment I revealed I was a mage, the hostility he showed.
Back then, I thought he was picking a fight because he didn’t want to lose his campsite, but it was pure antagonism!
The awkward puzzle pieces I’d felt now fit perfectly once I knew he was the Young Patriarch.
But I couldn’t stay shocked forever.
I gathered my thoughts and turned to the Young Patriarch.
“First off.”
“First off?”
“I’m sorry.”
“……For what?”
“You know, this and that. I figured Lortel’s magnanimous Young Patriarch would let it slide, but it might’ve ruffled your feathers a bit.”
“……Boldly groveling, huh.”
“Flexible.”
“Sounds sarcastic.”
“My heart’s twisted that way.”
With that, I let out a deep sigh.
Third Sword of Infinite Chain. And now Lortel’s Young Patriarch. I was exhausted from all these unexpected faces.
My soul felt sucked out.
But unlike my tattered heart, my reason coldly analyzed the situation.
‘Yeah, even if I have to crawl, as long as I get to the capital.’
All those plans felt pointless now, but the outcome wasn’t bad.
I’d met both the Third Sword, responsible for Infinite Chain, and the Young Patriarch in one go.
“So, forgiveness?”
“……As Lortel’s magnanimous Young Patriarch, as you said, I’ll let it slide.”
A bit petty in words, but decisive in action.
The problem was me.
“But my heart’s not that magnanimous.”
“……?”
“We beat the crap out of each other, right? Just us apologizing looks kinda bad…….”
“……What are you getting at.”
“Well, a magnanimous Lortel Young Patriarch would…… mutually apologize all warm and fuzzy, no? A deal’s foundation is mutual trust and faith. You know, that stuff…….”
“Hah!”
At my words, the Young Patriarch let out a disbelieving sigh.
He exchanged glances with the Third Sword, their eyes saying ‘What the hell is this guy?’
But this was my little ploy.
‘A test to gauge the Young Patriarch’s temperament, you could say.’
A probing move to steer future dealings in my favor.
Absolutely not because my pride stung from apologizing first.
And so.
“…….”
The Young Patriarch stared at me. His eyes twitched faintly.
I met his gaze without backing down.
Then added one more line.
“No, honestly, you started it.”
“…….”
“Fine, whatever. If you don’t wanna apologize, don’t. What can powerless commoners like us…… Mmph!”
Someone clamped my mouth shut right then.
“Mmph mph!”
As I flailed, unable to finish, a chilling voice came from behind.
It was Parun.
“Seal that mouth. Even dogs know when to bark.”
A whisper laced with icy menace. Genuine killing intent fluttered more than usual.
‘You bastard! Don’t you have any pride?’
No matter who the opponent—Lortel Young Patriarch or not—some pride was necessary.
Plus, this wasn’t just about my pride.
Damian and I were friends.
My fall in standing directly tied to Damian’s honor!
As I struggled, Parun dragged me back, hand still over my mouth.
Shine stepped forward in sync.
[Tsk tsk, wicked thing. Broaden your vessel. A man must be magnanimous.]
Mockery included.
“I’ll apologize on behalf of that immature fool.”
Shine donned the guise of a noble house once more and addressed the Young Patriarch.
“Hmm. No need.”
“Then, shall we discuss Infinite Chain…….”
“……Very well.”
The Young Patriarch opened his mouth reluctantly at Shine’s sudden shift.
As I was dragged away, I looked up at the sky.
Some day, some month, Flick Mountain.
Twinkle.
A shooting star streaked by.
That was Damian’s honor, the fallen pride of House Blandoga.
‘Damian, sorry I couldn’t protect you…….’
The Young Patriarch’s voice rang in my ear then.
“For now…… I’m not without fault myself, so I suppose a sincere apology is in order first.”
Twisted phrasing, but the meaning was clear.
I stopped struggling and grinned. The shooting star had vanished.
Beside it, one particularly large star shone brightly.
‘Blandoga’s pride has plummeted…….’
But mine shone firmly in the night sky.
* * *
With that, the situation settled.
We huddled together amid the ruins.
Crackle, crackle—
As the bonfire burned, an awkward silence descended.
We’d agreed to talk Infinite Chain, but things were still tense.
And for good reason……
The Young Patriarch and Shine had traded insults like “son of a bitch” and come to blows.
Parun and I still had unresolved grudges.
And the Third Sword had shown up blasting his aura to bully us.
If not for my good nature, with just these four, someone would’ve died right there—and it wouldn’t be weird.
And if that happened……
‘The Young Patriarch would’ve been the one to go.’
Most would lose their minds to the Third Sword and Young Patriarch’s pincer attack, but were Shine and Parun normal?
They’re lunatics.
So they’d take someone down with them.
And obviously, it’d be the Young Patriarch, whose skill lagged behind the Third Sword.
‘Hold on.’
That means……
‘Am I the Young Patriarch’s lifesaver?’
The sudden realization made me glance up slyly.
“First, hear me out…….”
“Even dogs know when to bark.”
“Wicked fool, savor your ravings alone.”
These guys.
Their lightning reflexes—near reflexive—left me speechless.
But shaking off the bitterness was brief.
I steeled myself and spoke.
“No, I mean, don’t we need to get to the main topic soon? What does our magnanimous Young Patriarch think?”
“……You’ve got a narrow mind, you do.”
“High praise.”
“Spare me the ‘magnanimous’ nonsense. ‘Young Patriarch’ is plenty.”
“Right, Young Patriarch.”
“…….”
Ah, not that?
Anyway.
“Ahem, anyhow, shall we get to the point?”
I cleared my throat to draw attention and scanned the four seated.
Reactions varied.
[Cut the crap. Don’t forget to mention ‘Sword God’s Tomb’ at the end.]
Shine jumped ahead, stressing Sword God’s Tomb.
[…….]
Parun naturally yielded to me.
And the Third Sword……
“…….”
Eyes fixed on the bonfire, hand on his sword hilt.
Yielding the floor, but not idly watching.
My keen senses saw it clear.
Sss, sss—
Thread-thin energy dominated everywhere.
All senses primed to catch our reactions anytime.
I saluted his professionalism inwardly while turning to the Young Patriarch.
Then, suddenly.
‘Ah.’
One overlooked fact surfaced.
“By chance, does a mage speaking irk you? I’m deeply worried about offending our noble and dignified Young Patriarch.”
Sarcasm?
“You really…….”
His eyes blazed. Yeah, it was sarcasm.
But the Young Patriarch soon sighed deeply—an unexpected sight.
“……Enough. No point being picky now. I still loathe mages to no end, but if there’s gain, one must swallow filth.”
In other words, I was filth, but he’d wear it if it meant screwing over Decullan.
Not a bad spot for me.
‘He originally planned Shine as proxy…….’
But entrusting it to that prickly personality felt uneasy.
You might think Shine was pointless then, but not quite.
One’s better than none, two better than one, three better still.
And……
‘……Without Shine, we wouldn’t even have this meeting.’
Or more precisely, Shine plus……
Sword Garden.
The half-assed fictional group had piqued the Young Patriarch’s curiosity, no doubt.
Look at him now.
Every glance at Shine stirred thick interest in his eyes.
Anyway, I gathered my thoughts and opened my mouth. Or tried to.
“But.”
Before my lips moved, the Young Patriarch spoke.
“Before the deal, a small curiosity.”
“Shoot.”
It was his call to answer or not.
But why?
The Young Patriarch grinned, eyes gleaming. It was…… yeah, like he ‘knew everything.’
“Then I’ll ask.”
More intrigued than ever, he grinned and tossed the question.
And that question……
“Decullan’s Crimson Fire.”
……Drove deep into my solar plexus.
“Did you steal it?”