Chapter 25 - Visiting the Tiger's Den with a Rabbit
Visiting the Tiger's Den with a Rabbit
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 25. Visiting the Tiger's Den with a Rabbit
"Haa…… Where the hell is this damn mercenary bastard stuck?"
Lars scratched his head nervously, messing it up.
To be in a situation of searching the castle like crazy to find the master's whereabouts in just a few hours.
He really felt like he had become Danel's dog.
His pride was hurt, but on the other hand, the thought of Kailey's smiling face with Danel came to mind, so his steps didn't stop.
Moreover, Rose Ashuhalt's order was also a part that pissed Lars off.
Lars even felt deep skepticism rising about choosing Rose.
She was a talent praised as a genius when she was young, but at some point, she became a person moved only by her curiosity rather than the sword.
Wasn't that why the title of genius was taken by the youngest, Arisa.
'Damn it, I didn't pick up the sword just to do spy work….'
After wandering for a long time, where Lars's steps reached was eventually near Lady Lorraine's office.
'Huh?'
Just then, he discovered Lorraine walking down the hallway blankly with a dazed expression.
Lars approached quickly lest he miss her and greeted.
"Greetings, Lady Lorraine."
Lars greeted politely, but there was no answer from Lorraine.
Her eyes were unfocused, and her usual vigor was nowhere to be found.
'What happened? She was always a bright person even if her standing within the family was narrow.'
"Excuse me… Lady?"
Only then discovering Lars, Lorraine shouted in surprise.
"Yes? Ah! Aren't you Sir Lars? What is the matter?"
Lars was inwardly surprised.
There are countless soldiers of Ashuhalt.
Yet the Lady remembers even his name.
Lars politely threw a question to Lorraine.
"Ah, nothing much, I'm looking for Danel…… do you happen to know where he is?"
As soon as that question fell, Lorraine's face turned red like a carrot in an instant.
She stuttered and didn't know what to do.
"Th, that is well… I mean… Danel is currently…."
Lorraine was bad at lying.
In her head, that strange moan she heard earlier seemed to be heard.
As she knew the fact that Lars had unrequitedly loved Kailey for 7 years, she couldn't possibly say 'Right now the two are training in the training ground making strange noises.'
"Just telling me where he is would be fine. I have urgent business."
At Lars's urging, Lorraine eventually answered reluctantly.
But she was really, really bad at lying.
"Th, that is… the two are training… but that is, um…."
But Lars was quite quick-witted.
He understood like a ghost what Lorraine tried to gloss over.
"Training, you say? I searched all common training grounds but he wasn't there. Then it must be Lady's private training ground? Understood. I will go."
Startled Lorraine shouted urgently and stopped Lars.
"N, no! You can't go now!"
But that action rather stimulated Lars.
"Yes? Why do you say I can't?"
"Th, that is because! That…!"
Lars's eyes narrowed.
The pure love radar of 7 years unrequited love activated.
If Lady Lorraine, who would never refuse usually, blocks so desperately, there was only one thing happening inside.
'This damn bastard, surely……!'
Lars's steps quickened at a terrifying speed.
"S, Sir Lars! Wait!"
Lorraine chased after him, but it was insufficient to catch the steps of an Ascendant Knight whose lid had already blown off.
Lars threw the training ground door open as if to break it.
Bang―!
"Hey, you bastards! What are you doing in the sacred training ground from broad daylig……!"
Lorraine also narrowed her eyes preparing for the worst situation and poked her head over his shoulder.
Curiosity about what the two were doing was curiosity after all.
But the scenery unfolded before their eyes was completely different from imagination.
"Huff, huff… What, Lars you came already? But what's the rush?"
Danel was spread-eagled on the floor, his whole body soaked in sweat.
His complexion was severely pale, wondering what on earth he did.
And in front of him, Kailey was sitting cross-legged, gritting her teeth and sweating profusely, rotating Aura with insane momentum.
"D, Danel? What happened? Kailey, what happened to Kailey?"
When Lorraine asked carefully, Danel lay back down instead of answering and burst into a hollow laugh.
"Ugh, don't even ask, Lady. I thought I was dying. I looked over that girl's cultivation method a bit. Wow… this is really not something a human should do. How long has it been since I was this exhausted."
Then the two people's eyes opened wide.
"W, what did you say? You looked over… the cultivation method?"
"W, what? You looked over… the cultivation method?"
Lars and Lorraine's voices overlapped simultaneously.
That was a feat possible only in the state of 'Master' who pierces the essence of mana, beyond simple martial strength.
"Yes. Right now that Kailey girl, seems she found a new path. It's a moment of enlightenment so I'd appreciate it if you could be a little quiet."
As Danel said, blue Aura was circulating drawing elaborate rings around Kailey.
It was different from Ashuhalt's ice-like blue.
Much freer and lighter.
Right, that color resembled the wind.
To her who couldn't cross the wall of 'Novice' hitting the limit of low-grade cultivation method, the new path Danel presented was truly like a new world.
Had about 30 minutes passed.
Kailey exhaled a long breath and opened her eyes.
"Phew……."
Her eyes were much clearer and deeper than before.
Smooth flow of Aura flowing like wind without disconnection.
She finally stepped into the stage of a complete Skilled Novice where color is overlaid on Aura.
"Kailey! Are you okay?"
Lorraine ran first and took care of her.
Kailey was surprised seeing her appearance.
"L, Lady? Why are you here?"
"It just happened. How is it? Are you okay?"
Kailey soon contemplated the power dwelling in her body and shuddered.
'Really…… became stronger.'
"Yes, I am fine. Sorry for causing concern, Lady."
"No worry. Glad you're safe. You looked really tired."
Lars called her carefully.
"A, are you okay, Kailey?"
But she passed by treating Lars like an invisible man and found Danel collapsed on the floor.
"Danel……!"
But Danel already had no answer.
Snore―
Zzzzz―!
He fell asleep as soon as the tension relaxed.
Lorraine smiled and brought her index finger to her lips.
"Fufu, seems he suffered. Let's let him sleep a little more."
At that time, Lars's head became complicated enough that he didn't even feel bad about Kailey ignoring him.
'Improved Aura cultivation method? Does this make sense? No matter how genius, this is….'
Lars intuited.
If this is true, Danel is not simply a mercenary with excellent swordsmanship.
He was a dangerous and unpredictable variable capable of changing the map of the Ashuhalt family.
'Should I report this to Lady Rose? No, then Danel won't be safe. Moreover…….'
Lars's eyes flashed.
'If the guy… can improve my cultivation method too? Can I also reach the wall of Expert that is blocked?'
Swordsman's desire preceded loyalty.
Lars decided to hide this fact for now.
Just then Lorraine's clear voice rang.
"By the way, for what business did Sir Lars come?"
"Ah… that is… well… I mean…."
When Lars couldn't answer hesitating at Lorraine's question, Kailey smirked and answered instead.
"Lady, you can work this guy hard now."
Lorraine's eyes grew big.
"Yes?"
"That guy lost the bet, so he's Danel's 'dog' now. Since Danel is Lady's person, naturally Lars is also under Lady's command."
"Yeees?? D, dog…?"
Lorraine was astonished.
Who is Lars.
Although engulfed in gossip due to unrequited love, he was a genius among geniuses who entered Ashuhalt at 19 and became a formal knight in 3 years.
It was hard to believe such a talent became a subordinate of a mere mercenary.
"Let's talk in detail once Danel wakes up. Hey, Lars."
"Hu, huh?"
At Kailey's call, Lars answered quickly.
'K, Kailey called me!'
It was the first time in 7 years.
Even if it was speaking with annoyance frowning heavily.
"Why are you standing blankly. Carry Danel quickly."
"M, me?"
"Then should I carry him? Or should the Lady carry him?"
"T, that absolutely won't do!!"
Lars grumbled but lifted Danel and carried him on his back.
"Take him to Danel's room. I'll call you when he wakes up so you rest too. Pack your bags within today and move your quarters to our side too."
"……Understood."
"And if word about what you saw today enters Lady Rose's ear, I will kill you."
"I, I absolutely won't tell."
The sight of the mighty Lars unable to move at a single word of Kailey who is much weaker than him aroused another interest in Lorraine.
'Wonder what love is… fascinating….'
A while later, Lorraine's office.
Four members of the 'Lorraine Squad' including Danel who woke up from sleep gathered in one place.
"So…… a banquet? At this time?"
At Danel's question, Lorraine nodded with a serious face.
"Yes. You must know that movements in the permanent frozen soil are unusual recently. Tension circulates throughout the North. Brother Veron seems to have judged that in times like this, we should strengthen the unity of Northern nobles and raise alertness."
Danel's eyes sparkled.
Names he heard while pouring money to the information broker flashed through his mind.
"Does all 12 siblings of Ashuhalt come perhaps? What about the Duke?"
The head and apex of the Ashuhalt family,
Sword Master 'Dwen Ashuhalt'.
Danel wanted to see that legendary warrior with his own eyes at least once.
But Lorraine shook her head.
"No. Father spends more time in the Imperial Capital. Unless an emergency situation shaking the entire North occurs."
Danel nodded regretfully.
It was somewhat natural logic for the Emperor to keep the head of Ashuhalt with the strongest martial power in the Empire by his side and watch him.
"But the children are different. Except for those out of town, all 6 people currently in the family are scheduled to participate this time. Including me."
Lorraine's eyes shone confidently.
At those words, Danel cheered.
"Really?"
"Yes, besides that, all influential nobles of the North will also participate."
It's a pity not to see the Duke, but seeing 6 of Ashuhalt's direct line in one place was a tremendous opportunity.
The remaining three except Lorraine, Arisa, and Vince whom he already met.
Especially the fact that he could observe Veron Ashuhalt, the strongest among the children, and Lien Ashuhalt made Danel's heart beat.
'And that gloomy bitch, Rose Ashuhalt too….'
That wasn't all.
Prominent nobles of the North.
They will all gather at Ashuhalt's banquet hall.
One name flashed through Danel's mind.
'Julia Helmon.'
He was curious about that face, wondering what kind of scheme she was plotting.
A situation truly setting the board.
Danel asked urgently.
"Good!! When is the banquet held?"
Lorraine tilted her head and answered.
"That… as the situation is urgent, it is scheduled to open right away tomorrow evening. But do you like this that much, Danel…?"
"Of course! It's my first banquet! Must be lots of delicious food, right?"
At Danel's words, Kailey touched her forehead and shook her head.
Lorraine found it hard to guess the reason Danel was this happy.
Because with her, that place was practically visiting a tiger's den with a rabbit.
"T, true but…. Since Danel likes it, I feel good for no reason too?"
Danel leaned back in his chair and wore a smile on his lips.
'Banquet… Must be full of guys picking fights with Lorraine and me. Kuhuhuhuhu!!'