Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Irrational Adaptation Period (6)
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Leon's grandfather.
In the era of endless wars, when knights had forgotten their chivalry and nobles shirked their duties to indulge in arrogance and plunder, he was the man hailed as a hero.
Known as the knight among knights, he protected the weak and punished the wicked—even if they were royalty.
Hector von Krelinheim.
Better known by his epithet, the "Steel Knight," he was the pride and towering idol of the Krelinheim family.
Even the royal family didn't dare touch the Krelinheims while he was alive—a testament to how lofty and incorruptible his status had been.
Everyone in the family admired their grandfather, but Leon took it further, bordering on worship. He stuck to the old man like glue, peppering him with questions every day to soak up his wisdom.
Among those lessons, the one etched deepest in his heart was from that unforgettable day.
-I wasn't always some goody-two-shoes knight.
-What?
-The reason I've held this position all these years, why even royalty doesn't mess with me... it's because I've proven I'm not an easy mark. Remember this, Leon. Bravery alone won't cut it.
-Then what should I do?
-When you fight, be brave as a lion. But sometimes, you need to be sly as a fox... or venomous as a viper. Bravery by itself won't let you survive this world. Got it?
-Yes, Grandfather!
That lesson stuck with him like no other... yet Leon lacked his grandfather's cunning or venom.
Probably because he fell short himself...
Was that why?
Seeing his grandfather's shadow in the back of an old comrade who'd lived a life worlds apart from the great man—someone he'd never even met—stirred jealousy in him...
'Enviable... and blindingly brilliant...'
For a fleeting moment, his vision flickered.
Leon envied Luke for the first time—the man who bore the shadow of an idol Leon could never attain, no matter how hard he tried.
The evening he returned home, Leon had barely shown his face before a furious shout shook the house.
"Leon! I told you so clearly...!!"
"S-Sorry, Sylvia..."
"Hoo! I specifically said not to meddle in other people's business! And not even half a day later, this is what you do?!"
"Ugh..."
"Valian! You're just as guilty! You should've stopped him if he stepped up!"
"...Sorry. No excuses on that front. That pointy-eared brat distracted me."
"You barbarian! Who are you calling out?!"
"Alicia...! Haah! What about you?!"
"...I'm innocent."
Alicia couldn't meet Sylvia's accusatory glare.
Leon bore most of the blame, but she'd snuck out without permission and ignored him amid her spat with Valian.
No matter how arrogant and shameless she was, she couldn't ignore the mood.
"Knew you'd screw up big one day~!"
Mirni sidled up, taunting them with a smirk.
"Heard Luke slashed your allowance by 50%~. No more delivery food for you~?"
"You little...! Keep yapping, and you'll regret it...!"
"Who, me~? Oh no, I'm so scared~!"
"You stinking beast bitch-!!"
─BAM!
"......"
"Ah, don't mind me. Keep going. Just pay for anything you break."
"......"
"I said keep going-?"
"...No, we'll stop."
"...Agreed."
"......Tch!"
They flinched!!
Each syllable dripped with killing intent.
Keep it up, and they'd end up splintered like that table.
They averted their eyes sheepishly. Only Valian lifted his head defiantly...!
"Wanna die?"
"......"
Valian quickly looked down.
In the end, the incident fizzled out into an awkward stalemate.
Not resolved, no agreement... just a fragile truce.
Even after Yuseong's stern lecture(?), these people still existed without so much as a conversation—stubborn as ever.
"This is why you can't go easy with words. Gotta get rough for them to get it. Tch!"
"...Was that your idea of going easy...?"
"That was plenty reasonable. Humans are just so damn greedy."
He'd genuinely wanted to resolve it smoothly.
Neither side wanted the hassle of dragging it to court.
But one parent clung on, demanding a settlement payout.
Like parent, like child... Guess thuggery runs in the DNA.
"Medical bills, maybe. Anything more's just greed."
If they'd agreed on the spot, he'd have covered 10% for hospital fees... but demanding more soured the deal.
'...If I had time, I could've shaken them down slowly. But no time now...'
Refugee status hinged on this week. Getting tangled in court would delay their independence indefinitely.
Meaning he'd stay their guardian if they caused more trouble!
'What bullshit!'
Damn it all...!
"I wasn't gonna go this far originally..."
"Luke?"
"...Mirni, Alicia."
"Yeah?"
"Wh-What? My hand's still up!"
"You can lower it now."
"...?"
Alicia blinked in confusion, ending her timeout. Mirni perked up her ears.
He rarely even called them, let alone met their eyes. Now he stared straight at them.
"You two... I need you for a job."
"A job?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hoo...! I need your skills."
"......Eh?"
"Huh...!?"
"Do it right, and I'll buy Mirni whatever clothes or jewelry you want. Alicia, your allowance goes back to normal. But if the results suck, no soup for you... You listening?"
"Ah, no, it's just..."
"Lu-Luke...! Are you asking us for help!?"
"...Is that such a shock?"
"Of course...!"
Only then did he see it.
Everyone, her included, gawking with wide eyes—like they'd seen a ghost.
Or someone about to die tomorrow.
Their glances screamed volumes.
Wa-Wait...!
Do-does that mean Luke...!
Is asking for help!?
...That Luke!?
"......"
"......"
"...?"
...Why do those looks feel so impure?
"Your stares are creepy."
"N-No... It's just so unexpected..."
"Unexpected my ass. I'm just using what I can. And your shit? You clean it up. Why should I bust my ass cursing for you beasts...!"
"......"
Ah... so it doesn't hurt.
Relief washed over the (former) Hero Party at his familiar insults.
"...Why are you jumping on the bandwagon?"
"You know that, yet you dragged them to me?"
"......"
"...I'm not mad."
"Ask again, and I might get mad."
"...I use what I can. Even if it's a bit dusty, if it's still functional, I make do."
"Not treating them like trash is blessing enough."
"Besides, this is a chance to show them."
"Modern ways of fighting."
"True. But there's this saying."
"If you don't get caught, it's not a crime."
"Yeah, yeah. All you goody-goodies can buzz off."
"Hope I get a signal in a day or two..."
He ignored the goddess, hoping everything wrapped up before the deadline.
…
…
The next evening.
Not even a full day later—let alone four—five parents bowed before Yuseong.
Yuseong squinted groggily and asked.
"What'd you do...?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Just did some digging, like you said."
"...Reminder: torture and violence are crimes."
"Do I look that stupid?! I'm not Leon or that savage barbarian!"
"...Why me again?"
"No clue about Leon, but drag me into this?"
"Va-Valian!?"
Leon and Valian, stuck with a week of dishes and cleaning as punishment, grumbled while mopping. Yuseong didn't care—he wanted to know their methods.
"We only did exactly what Luke told us."
Mirni shrugged with a cheeky grin.
Mirni and Alicia.
Total opposites in personality, tastes, everything—calling them sworn enemies was putting it mildly.
But their skills synergized like no other in the party.
Alicia's stealth that fooled cutting-edge tech, adjusting her weight like a leaf.
Mirni's natural acting chops, sleight of hand, and myriad talents earning her "jack-of-all-trades" rep.
Together? Better than a hundred black ops agents.
During the war, they'd sabotaged Demon King supply lines dozens of times in crises.
And now, that legendary espionage reborn in the 21st century.
"Started by tailing those beasts we ran into, like you said."
"You wanted leverage, so we dug everywhere."
Companies, homes, hangouts—all ransacked. Family ties mapped in under half a day.
Too fast? Maybe.
"Cheat key, huh..."
Aram, the state-of-the-art AI from a government lab.
Near-discarded for her hacking prowess and human-like autonomy. Paired with these two rule-breakers? Synergy exploded multiplicatively.
"With Aram, it was too easy. We snag info, she spits out hundreds of leads. We were barely needed."
"War would've ended five years sooner with Aram."
"Too modest. You were great."
"Exactly wha—!"
"......Eavesdropping much?"