Chapter 348
Chapter 348
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 348
>Chapter Title: Mad Wizard
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Sudden laughter drew all eyes in the room to one spot.
The one who burst out laughing was a middle-aged man with a striking goatee.
“Ah, sorry about that. I just couldn’t hold it in. Young friend, since you’ve interrupted anyway, mind if I ask you something?”
“…….”
No reply came. But the man met Aster’s blunt stare with leisure, rambling on at his own whim.
“Before we get into it, let me introduce myself. I’m Font Harugen von Karond, patriarch of the Karond Family. You can call me Viscount Karond. I serve as lord to one of your investors.”
“So?”
“Heh heh.”
Viscount Karond chuckled at Aster’s curt half-response. Right after, the knight standing behind him kicked off from his spot and leaped forward.
“You bastard! Do you know who this is?!”
Thud!
The knight who sprang up grabbed Aster by the collar. Screams erupted from all around at once.
“W-What……!”
“W-What do you think you’re doing?!”
The room plunged into chaos at the knight’s sudden action.
And for good reason—the knight’s aura was utterly ferocious.
Meanwhile, Aster simply stared at the knight gripping his collar, then swept his gaze over the confused room.
“Hmm.”
“You brat, show some respect. How dare a lowly thing like you spew such insolence?”
The knight meant nothing to him.
What mattered was the reactions of those gathered here.
Even in this abrupt situation, some kept their composure. They were:
First, the old wizard, clearly the grand duke’s proxy. And over there……
‘……The young patriarch’s proxy, I suppose.’
The man staring at the table as if uninterested exuded a razor-sharp presence, like a finely honed blade.
Which meant:
‘The viscount’s side must be Bellos’s proxy.’
A few others watched the scene with interest. Through them, Aster grasped how things were unfolding.
A declaration ritual…… or preemptive strike.
The knight’s outburst was probing Aster’s reaction.
To test what kind of person this kid claiming to be in charge really was—whether he was some fool they could toy with.
That’s when he pieced it together.
“Heh heh, come now. That’s enough. The mood’s getting too hostile, isn’t it?”
“But, my lord viscount. This brat…….”
“I said that’s enough.”
“…….”
The knight released his grip and stepped back at the stern voice.
Viscount Karond, having calmed his knight, now spoke in a gentle tone, a far cry from before.
“Sorry about that. My knight’s a bit hot-tempered, you see. You must’ve been startled…… How about we call it a day here?”
“Hmm.”
What was this supposed to mean?
A polite way of saying to pipe down and behave.
They wanted to diminish his say in the development project. Aster curled his lip at the obvious ploy.
“Whatever. Just ask your question.”
“Heh heh…….”
Viscount Karond let out a hollow laugh at the unchanged arrogance. But only for a moment.
Soon, he stroked his goatee with a troubled look and spoke.
“I’ll overlook the rudeness, given the circumstances. But I can’t just let your words slide. You said we should exterminate the wyverns?”
“That’s right.”
“Didn’t the Whirlwind Wing captain tell you? What the development site’s like right now. All we can do there is hold on. Luckily, the old wizard and mercenaries are managing somehow, but we’re barely defending.”
As he said, the development site’s situation was poor.
No—‘poor’ didn’t cover it.
Irregular wyvern raids, dwindling food supplies, mounting mercenary fatigue.
Workers’ anxiety grew by the day.
In every way, they were at their limit.
“Truth be told, even before you arrived, we were discussing withdrawal. The losses are heavy, but better than people dying. But…… you want to exterminate the wyverns.”
“Hmm.”
“What I want to know is simple. Do you have a plan? If so, what is it? Ah, don’t tell me…….”
A sly smile crept onto Viscount Karond’s lips.
“Was it just young blood rushing out some reckless words? I hope not.”
He addressed Aster, but the question was aimed at the others in the room.
He was asking:
……Can we trust this hot-blooded kid’s words?
Truthfully, it didn’t matter if Aster presented a plan or not.
The seed of doubt he’d planted would linger in people’s minds, even if not now.
“So, do you have a plan?”
“Hmm.”
Aster fell into brief thought.
This was a jab he didn’t need to counter right here.
The viscount seemed opposed at first glance, but if Aster showed a solid plan, he’d swallow his pride and extend a handshake.
But what if this repeated a few times?
What then?
Once, twice—frames would stack up.
That was fine.
As long as he didn’t slip, the viscount would always be the one losing face, and Aster’s position would hold.
But just one slip.
That was the problem.
So, what to do?
As if sensing Aster’s dilemma, Evelyn’s voice rang out right then.
[Aster, calm down for now. The situation’s not right for charging in.]
Evelyn soothed him.
She knew.
What kind of spot Aster was in.
The situation mirrored what she’d faced since childhood—and still did.
So she knew exactly how to handle it.
For now…… endure.
His gut might boil, but it was the best move.
No matter how bullshit they spouted, no matter how obvious the intent, play it cool and let it slide.
Showing emotion here would just make him look ‘immature.’
But.
“That…… long tongue of yours.”
When Aster spoke, Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut, threw her head back, and covered them with her hand.
She could picture Viscount Karond’s reaction.
And Aster’s follow-up too.
“Heh, heh heh…… Did my words hurt your feelings?”
He’d feign surprise while smirking inside.
Then Aster, unable to hold his anger, would lash out at the viscount like usual.
And the result?
Aster would get labeled.
‘Young and impulsive.’
……But.
Aster’s response was nothing like Evelyn expected.
“Sorry. I don’t like long-winded talk.”
“……?”
Evelyn’s eyes widened as she stared at him. The tone was rough, but this was clearly……
‘……An apology?’
Aster apologizing?
In a way, it was a relief.
But why?
Looking at Aster’s face, Evelyn couldn’t feel at ease.
No, she felt uneasy.
‘Something…… something’s off.’
A situation where exploding in rage wouldn’t be odd, yet Aster was smiling.
Genuinely.
* * *
Evelyn wasn’t the only one puzzled by the sudden shift.
‘……What’s this?’
Viscount Karond frowned at Aster’s beaming smile.
In that brief gap…… between the question ‘Did my words hurt?’ and the reply ‘Sorry.’
The man had changed completely.
His face, rigid with barely contained fury moments ago, now softened like spring sunlight.
The stark contrast gave Viscount Karond an uncanny feeling. Soon after, Aster spoke.
“Since you asked for the plan, I’ll lay it out first.”
“……You have one?”
“Of course. Think I’d blab on young blood alone? Ha ha. Truth is, I brought a truly amazing wizard. One who could flick away dozens of wyverns with a finger.”
“Hmm?”
Doubt clouded Viscount Karond’s face.
Why?
A wizard who could obliterate dozens of wyverns with one finger…… it was hard to imagine.
Naturally, the room stirred again.
“Heh, such a powerhouse exists?”
“Ridiculous…….”
“If it’s true…….”
Half-believing, half-doubting.
“Everyone, quiet down. We’re still talking.”
Viscount Karond calmed the crowd, then turned back to Aster.
“Where is this wizard?”
If true, bring him out— that’s what he meant. But Aster’s reply was utterly offbeat.
“Before you meet the wizard, there’s something you all must know. A precaution you absolutely have to follow…… I’ll explain that first.”
Viscount Karond tilted his head.
A precaution, suddenly?
“First rule: No bullshit.”
“…….”
“That wizard’s temper is shit-tier. Spew bullshit, and I can’t guarantee the speaker’s life.”
Obvious, even without saying.
Who’d bullshit a wizard of that caliber?
“Second: Don’t dress up bullshit to sound good. The wizard’s no silver-tongued devil and hates vagueness. Feels vague? Head explodes. Better to be straight with him. For example…… Viscount.”
“……Speak.”
“I can guess who you serve…… Let’s be honest. If we withdraw from the site, you planned to beg your lord for aid, right? Call in wizards to play hero. Am I wrong?”
“……I won’t deny it. But I didn’t ignore the crisis on purpose. Even requests need justification.”
“I get it. But be honest in front of that wizard. Honestly…….”
His piercing eyes swept over the viscount.
The viscount shivered involuntarily under the sharp gaze.
A chilling voice echoed in his ear.
“Who dies how in this backwater? How would your lord know? Head popped by a mad wizard, or chomped by a wyvern—no way to tell, right?”
“……Rude.”
“Rude?”
Aster smirked.
“No, I’m being kind. I just saved your neck once.”
“Displeasing. So, where’s this wizard?”
Viscount Karond didn’t hide his irritation. He just wanted this sticky situation over.
The others felt the same.
How to put it.
‘……Suffocating.’
‘Hard to breathe.’
Chests tight, like something strangling their throats. They felt an urgent need to escape……
That’s when it hit.
……Boom!
An immense pressure crushed the space.
“Gasp!”
“……Hngh!”
The gathered leaders bulged their eyes and screamed in unison.
‘W-What is…….’
Run.
But couldn’t move.
Trapped, like in a snare.
“Final third rule.”
A voice cut through.
“No funny thoughts. We’re here to work, so let’s work. No pointless scheming.”
……At this point, even an idiot would get it.
Who the mad wizard was.
“Got it? Viscount?”
The viscount’s eyes twitched under the fierce gaze fixed on him.