Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Bruised Pride
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"Marco's like a nephew to me, so I had to tell him. Well, it seems he already had a rough idea even before I said anything."
Seeing the current king—who was over eighty—referred to so casually by his nickname, Jenna was struck anew by the fact that the man before her was truly a being from beyond the heavens, one who frolicked among the clouds.
"After that, I've been doing him various favors here and there. As you know, the royal family has matters they can't reveal to the world, right? I've handled those sorts of things for him. Shared this and that... you know, stuff like that."
"I-is that so? Then, what Your Excellency just mentioned about... being... sent away..."
"If someone messes with me and my identity gets exposed, it'd put Marco in a tough spot too. You think he'd allow his underlings to send people after me? Of course, I don't care if they do or not. I can just deal with them appropriately. But the cleanup would fall to Marco, and the one who sent them would lose major points, wouldn't they?"
"Indeed... that makes sense. No, given His Majesty the King's known temperament, it would absolutely be the case."
Even though it was during his snot-nosed youth, the king had lived through the era when the terror of the Demon Dragon had engulfed the world. He was known to have a fiery side.
It was also famous that he deeply revered his father, the previous king—one of the six heroes who slew the Demon Dragon.
And yet, someone was scheming against Duke Sion, who was like an 'uncle' figure and had fought alongside that father to slay the Demon Dragon?
If the rumors about his personality were true.
"With Marco's temper, he'd summon them and beat them half to death. Hmm, he's getting on in years now—might be too much for him..."
"You mean they'd face severe reprimand?"
"No? He'd literally beat them half to death. The kid takes after his father—strong as an ox, stamina like you wouldn't believe. That's why he hasn't kicked the bucket yet."
"......"
Jenna couldn't quite picture an old man over eighty dragging in the young crown prince and the duke to give them a thrashing, but she nodded obediently anyway.
Come to think of it, just over twenty years ago, some overreaching lords near the royal demesne had crossed the line, and the king had personally led an army to raze them to the ground.
Moreover, up until just a few years ago, he went on at least one beast or monster hunt a year with the Royal Guards. Grandson or not, if he felt like it, he could definitely beat someone half to death.
"But the previous king passed away relatively young. Was there a reason for that?"
When Jenna asked out of personal curiosity, Sion gave a slightly bitter smile.
"His injuries were too severe. Elbin had incredible stamina and recovery, but he's human, after all. Honestly, living past forty was a miracle for him. Anyone else would've been impossible."
"Ah......"
Elbinio Oblas—one of the six heroes alongside Duke Sion and the leader of the heroes—was a peerless knight.
He was said to have delivered the final blow to the Demon Dragon's heart, always charging at the forefront without regard for danger, leading his comrades.
As a result, major and minor injuries were routine for him, and in the end, aftereffects from those wounds claimed him in his mid-forties.
"After Elbin passed, I helped Marco out for a bit. Even Lena didn't know about this until she died, so keep your lips sealed."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
She didn't know what a 'zipper' was, but if even the previous queen—mother to the current king—had been in the dark, this was top-secret stuff.
'Does the Guild know?'
Probably.
Duke Sion wasn't the type to share things even the Guild didn't know.
'What kind of favors has he been doing, and what sorts of things are they sharing?'
As an intelligence operative, she was dying of curiosity, but Jenna held her patience.
He'd probably reveal more when the time was right, just like now.
"Then, we'll disregard any people the crown prince or Duke Lloyd might send."
"Good. Focus on things here instead. When the kid returns home, there shouldn't be any loose ends."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
The kid—now officially confirmed as the lord's successor with Sion's approval and Baron Augustus's permission—would be heading to the Dukedom with Sion.
It wasn't a vassal relationship, but it was customary for nearby territories to pay respects to the ducal house when a new heir was appointed. And for the time being, the kid needed continued education (indoctrination or mental reshaping) from Piote.
"Shortest case, two or three months. Longest, not over half a year. Solidify the foundation perfectly by then."
"Leave it to me."
A new hell of work had opened up, but Jenna steeled herself.
Better than idling away in some backwater village. Even if it turned her under-eyes panda-black from exhaustion, this felt more alive than ever.
* * *
"What the hell is that look?"
Yonas's eyes bulged. He hadn't slept properly last night from excitement.
His nephew Sirban wore a sullen expression, one eye socket bruised purple.
"......It's nothing."
"Nothing? With your eye swelled up like that? What the hell happened?"
Yonas often sighed at his nephew's immaturity—frequently, even—but he cherished and loved the boy.
He was Ged's beloved youngest son, and a potential future leader of Paloma. Seeing him looking thoroughly thrashed...
"No way... that guy—er, my cousin—did this?"
Now that he'd learned the staggering truth, Yonas had fully accepted Piote as blood kin. Sirban scowled at his words.
"Cousin? No, since when is that guy your cousin?"
"Ahem! 'That guy'? Piote is a legitimate member of the ducal house. Don't slip up in public, and even around me, call him your cousin properly."
"No, Uncle!"
"Hah! This kid!"
Sirban was dumbfounded by Yonas's bellowing, ever since becoming one of the 'enlightened' last night.
But unaware of his uncle's newfound 'title,' Sirban raised his voice in indignation and resentment.
"That bastard beat me under the pretense of sparring! I've never even gotten hit by Father!"
"Oh? So you've gotten close enough to spar already? Is this what youth is?"
"No......!"
For some reason, Sirban suddenly felt an urge to 'correct' his uncle's words. He clenched his fist, then flinched and relaxed it.
Even if Yonas was the most friendly and easygoing of his father's brothers, the one getting 'corrected' in a fistfight would be him.
"Isn't sparring with an elder in the family normal? From what I hear, Piote's a pretty strong knight. On the way here, he took down over five bandits and robbers."
"So what if he handled a few pathetic bandits?"
"And you lost to that guy who handled a few pathetic bandits?"
"Eek......"
Sirban ground his teeth at his uncle's pointed remark, who seemed like a completely different person overnight.
"Besides, you've never seen real combat, not once. Even against villains, do you know what it feels like to kill a person?"
"......!"
Sirban couldn't help but flinch.
"Killing a person is on a whole different level from hunting beasts or monsters. You know how some soldiers who went on bandit hunts can't adjust and leave the service? But none of their comrades point fingers calling them cowards.
That's what killing a person is. And your cousin has that experience—he's a proud warrior who bore that weight. Show him at least the minimum respect."
"......Yes. I was wrong."
"Good, that's settled."
Still immature and arrogant as hell, but his nephew Sirban wasn't a hopeless case.
The Sion ducal house's martial reverence—passed down since the founder—began with respect for those who wielded sword and spear in battle.
Thus, as a member of the Sion ducal house—direct or branch line—who had received education grounded in that spirit from childhood regardless, Sirban acknowledged his mistake.
"So, how'd you get done in?"
His own nephew or not, Sirban wasn't a pushover.
Even before adulthood, he'd held his own for five or six exchanges in spars against Paloma knights without them going easy. Everyone agreed experience would make him an excellent knight.
For such a guy to have a black eye?
And judging by the bruise's shape, it was definitely from a fist.
"Hah! That bastard fights so dirty."
"Dirty? How?"
"Well......"
Sirban explained the 'dirty, sneaky fighting' Piote had shown.
"Spitting is routine, and he'd pretend to roll on the ground while secretly grabbing dirt and throwing it. Is that knighthood? It's street thug stuff. And the watching mercenaries were cheering and clapping like it was great......"
"He learned it from those mercenaries."
"Pardon?"
"That dirty, sneaky technique you fell for—he learned it from the mercenaries."
"Hmph! No wonder! A true noble heir would never......"
"Hey now! Our revered founder—the pride of our house—took his first great step as a mercenary. What are you saying?"
"......!?"
"Your cousin showed you the founder's way. As an elder, he personally taught you not to fight like some rigid knight-in-a-book. And instead of being grateful, here you are. Tsk tsk."
"U-Uncle......?"
"You know why your father bothered sending you with me, right?"
"......"
As if he didn't.
Sirban had inwardly seen it as a lark, but the elders had sent him to gain experience outside the Dukedom, not in it.
But he hadn't gained any such experience. It had been a picnic, just as he'd thought.
"But Uncle, you too......"
Feeling inwardly wronged, Sirban raised his voice.
By that logic, hadn't Uncle Yonas lounged around with servants like he was on a pleasure trip?
"Hey! From what I see, your cousin's the perfect teacher to give you the experience you're lacking. So quit whining about a few hits in sparring. Keep close to him with gratitude."
"No, Unc......"
"Let's see. Yeah, why not move your room next to your cousin's for now. And share meals and lodging all the way to the ducal castle. Nothing bonds men like roughing it together outdoors. Ah! Then, I could......"
Yonas trailed off, something occurring to him, then twisted his lips oddly.
"That person...... Heh heh, heh heh heh......"
Whatever he was imagining, it came with an eerie chill.
"Ah......"
Seeing his uncle—transformed in just one day—Sirban now felt goosebumps.
'Could it be......?'
Quick-witted Sirban began logically tracing his uncle Yonas's change.
The answer came fast.
Up until dinner last night, Yonas had been the same as always.
But from this morning, he'd shown inexplicable changes. And between last night's dinner and this morning, Yonas had experienced only one thing.
"Uncle Yonas."
"Heh heh...... Heh, ahem! What is it?"
Yonas, laughing with dreamy eyes, hastily schooled his expression.
That only fueled Sirban's conviction. Suppressing his anger, he asked.
"Don't tell me you took a bribe from that guy?"
"......What?"
"Seilun, I mean. From that mere royal branch member, you accepted something......"
"You little shiiit!!!"
BAM!
Yonas slammed down hard enough to shatter the table, fury blazing in his eyes.
If Sion had been there, he'd have recalled one of his friends from nearly a century ago upon seeing Yonas.
-That girl you're obsessed with? Honestly, she's meh.
-Kit-samaaa!!!
That friend from the distant past had also roared in rage when his favorite idol was dissed.
(To be continued)