Chapter 200
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: The Sly Fox's Survival Method (3)
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The next morning dawned.
'Whew, finally time to bid farewell to this place.'
Count Ventura, the special envoy from Magentano, looked up with eyes filled with emotion.
He gazed at the now-familiar Sultan's Palace in Ahinsha.
'I never imagined I'd stay here this long.'
It had been about five months since he arrived here on the king's orders.
Back then, he thought he'd be sitting at the negotiation table with the Sultan in no time.
But upon arrival, that wasn't the case at all.
The reception here was utterly different from what he'd expected.
He had to endure blatant disregard and neglect.
If the eldest son of the Frontera family, Lloyd, hadn't stepped in back then?
'Negotiations would still be a distant dream.'
He'd still be putting up with nothing but snubs and cold shoulders.
Sitting down with the Sultan would have been out of the question.
Or he'd have had to return home empty-handed.
Unlike now, that is.
'I'm so relieved. Truly.'
It had been a highly successful negotiation.
Returning home like this, he'd receive great praise from the king.
'And that's all thanks to Lloyd, that young friend.'
Had that friend escaped Ahinsha safely?
Had he succeeded in his midnight flight?
The count worried for a moment.
Then he chuckled softly.
No news yet meant he hadn't been caught, at least.
Besides, judging by the atmosphere at the Sultan's Palace today, something huge had happened—far too big for them to fuss over one missing attendant from a foreign envoy.
"So, there was an incident last night, you say? Is that true?"
"Yes, it seems so."
The chief attendant nodded at the count's question.
"The palace has been in an uproar since morning. I casually asked one of the palace officials I've gotten to know."
"What did the palace official say?"
"One of the princesses is missing."
"The Sultan's daughter?"
"Yes."
"Was she kidnapped or something?"
"Doesn't seem like it. More like..."
"More like?"
"She left the palace of her own accord."
"Huh? So, she ran away from home."
"Yes, that's right."
"Heh heh heh."
Count Ventura let out a hollow laugh.
In this day and age, a princess running away from the notoriously insular Sultan's Palace.
'That explains all the chaos.'
The count nodded.
The Sultan's Palace this morning was definitely different from usual.
The atmosphere was chaotic.
Even as he and the Magentano envoy group were leaving.
No grand send-off, not even the Sultan coming to see them off.
'Not that I was hoping for any of that anyway.'
Besides, the disappearance of the Sultan's daughter had nothing to do with him or the envoy group.
"Alright, let's head out."
Count Ventura led the envoy group.
They left the palace amid a modest farewell from the palace officials.
They departed from the capital Ahinsha.
They set off on the road back home.
The journey was smooth and uneventful.
They followed the same route as before, passing through forts and cities.
They traveled along the safest path through the desert.
Finally, they crossed the border.
And that evening.
They rendezvoused with Lloyd and Haviel, who had been waiting near the border.
"You fellows wait long?"
"Hmm, to be honest, quite a bit?"
In a rocky wasteland a short distance from the border.
Lloyd, who had set up camp there, shrugged.
He looked over Count Ventura and the envoy group warmly.
"Glad to see you all escaped without getting killed by the Sultan. Truly fortunate."
"Hahaha. Yes, fortunate. Unlike some, we're not the ones the Sultan had his eye on."
"Oh? There's a thorn in your words."
"Why wouldn't there be? Thinking of the cold sweats I broke because of you, I've gone easy on you."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. When the Sultan heard you'd caught a local disease and rushed home, his expression and eyes... whew. Even now..."
"You must have been through a lot mentally."
"But compared to you, sneaking out without any real preparation. How was it? Any hardships?"
"No, fortunately not much."
Lloyd shrugged.
He nodded toward Haviel beside him.
"Thanks to this guy. A Swordmaster is just too useful."
It was true.
On the day he decided and executed his escape from Ahinsha.
His best preparation(?) had been Haviel.
A Swordmaster.
If someone pursued or tried to arrest him?
He could just break through with force and flee.
If they ran into monsters in the desert or wasteland?
'This is some fearsome desert monster. But right now, it's my lunch,' he could mutter.
Plus, the option from his recent accolade, [Western Noble's Stagnant Water], was a perfect hit.
'No dehydration in any situation. In all desert regions, or anywhere with an average annual temperature over 40 degrees Celsius.'
He hadn't been without doubts at first.
Would it really work?
But crossing the desert during his escape?
There was no sweeter perk for this place.
'I could tap-dance under the blazing desert sun all day without dehydrating.'
Even Haviel, crossing the desert with him, was amazed.
A Swordmaster like him felt the fatigue.
How was Lord Lloyd fine?
To the astonished Haviel, he'd smugly fired back.
'Mind over matter, lad. Mental fortitude.'
...or something like that.
Anyway, thanks to that, the escape was easier than expected.
No major troubles while waiting to link up with the envoy group.
"Anyway, great to meet everyone safe like this."
"I feel the same. Oh, and..."
Count Ventura smiled warmly.
"I haven't thanked you yet. A bit late, but thank you so much."
"Ah, thank you."
"No. We should be thanking you. At first, I just saw you as a greedy materialist."
"Haha. I am greedy."
"No. No. You're our benefactor."
Lloyd's awkward quip.
Count Ventura shook his head seriously.
"Without you, negotiations with the Sultan wouldn't have happened. In that situation, who among us could have thought to blow through the Padashar he gave so lavishly, drawing the Sultan's attention? And the construction you contracted with the Sultan and completed successfully..."
"You mean the Kanat?"
"Yes, the Kanat. That opened the negotiation table. I know. If you'd failed that project, we couldn't have dreamed of negotiating."
The count spoke from the heart.
It was true.
While Lloyd was in the Kandahar region for the Kanat project.
At first, he thought waiting a few months would get him an audience with the Sultan.
But as time passed, no.
One month, two, four.
Living it, he felt the palace's atmosphere.
The initial six-month minimum wait mentioned dismissively by a palace official.
That wasn't just wait six months.
'Six months? No way. Even six years, still no guarantee.'
The count was certain.
The Sultan simply had no intention of ever meeting them.
Realizing that, how despairing he'd been.
How he'd blamed his own incompetence.
"Failing the mission Her Majesty gave me. Unable to negotiate. Returning home empty-handed. Sensing war was inevitable. And... seeing countless young lives lost on the battlefield. It was utterly devastating. But you pulled it off."
Count Ventura looked at Lloyd.
"It's all your doing. The successful negotiations. Preventing war. Saving those young lives."
"Uh, um, I just didn't want my territory dragged into war..."
"Same difference."
"Ah, yep."
The count spoke emphatically.
Lloyd sensed it.
This uncle has a bit of a pushy streak.
So.
He was stunned by the count's next words.
"For this merit, when I return to the capital, I'll report it to Her Majesty in full detail."
"...Please, spare me that, if you could."
"No can do. It's the only way I can repay you."
"..."
Sigh.
He'd racked up another achievement.
Please, no summons from King Sis over this.
Lloyd prayed earnestly.
Thus, they completed the rendezvous with the envoy group.
They crossed the wasteland together.
They passed the Eastern Mountains.
The sweet honeypot of a homeland he'd missed so much.
They arrived at Frontera County.
He reunited with the count couple after so long.
He received their enthusiastic welcome.
And the countess's even hotter barrage of worries.
"Oh dear. Are you alright?"
"Ah, yes."
"How did you get so thin?"
"Um, I ate so well I gained a bit."
"No. Your cheeks are sunken in terribly. Come, come. Let's eat first."
"Um, I ate while coming down the mountains earlier..."
"What do you want to eat first?"
"Ah, not that, but has the group led by Turtle Neck arrived? The one with Mr. Termes..."
"They have. How about duck?"
"...No, um, then the pottery and silk haven't arrived yet, right? Actually, I sent some via ship through Creemo. They should be arriving soon..."
"I don't know about pottery or silk, but beef sounds good today."
"..."
So, before he could even rest from the journey home, he was forced into an eating marathon.
Amid that, he heard welcome news.
His younger brother Julian's academy graduation.
"Don't be shocked. Julian took second place among the graduates."
"...Really?"
Frontera Count delivered the news with a beaming smile.
Lloyd, mid-meal, widened his eyes in genuine surprise.
'Whoa.'
Second in the academy.
That was no small feat.
'Of course. The capital academy is infamous for its graduation difficulty. Harder than getting in.'
He recalled the academy system briefly mentioned in the novel Iron-Blooded Knight.
The capital academy was notorious for high graduation hurdles.
Out of 100 entrants?
Only about 20 would "succeed" in graduating.
And graduation alone didn't guarantee everything.
'Only the top 10 percent of graduates get direct royal appointments. The rest take the exam with civilians, though with some bonus points.'
Yet Julian took second among graduates.
Meaning direct royal appointment guaranteed.
In Korean terms?
Civil service exam.
The 5th grade one.
Equivalent to passing the higher civil service exam in second place.
'That kid's gonna get worked to the bone by King Sis.'
Lloyd silently offered condolences.
King Alicia doesn't let talent sit idle.
She squeezes every last drop from the able.
So Julian, proving his smarts with second place?
He'd be gloriously overworked.
Maybe chronically fatigued.
But that overwork would be joy for Julian.
That's why he studied so hard.
Thinking that, Lloyd asked.
"So, is he coming home?"
"Yes. He has some time at home before his posting. He even sent a letter for you when leaving the capital a few days ago. Here, read it."
The count handed over the letter.
Lloyd read it.
-To my brother.
I graduated. Got pretty good grades too. All thanks to you. I could focus purely on studying. Dive in wholeheartedly. And meeting you after so long gave me a lot to think about. That's how I made it.
Thank you.
Coming to see you soon.
-Your proud little brother who wants to make you proud, Julian.
"..."
Lloyd carefully examined the letter.
The black ink on pristine paper, every word admirable.
Short content, but reading it brought constant warmth.
He read it five times without realizing.
He even felt vicarious satisfaction.
'Graduation.'
He'd wanted to graduate too. Pass the knight exam, get a proper job.
But he came here before reaping those efforts.
Of course, that knowledge helped him thrive now.
Still, the lingering regret of no diploma stuck in his heart.
'Well, a diploma doesn't put food on the table.'
Korea isn't easy; one degree doesn't solve everything.
No, the real brutal fight starts then.
A fiercer, harsher, deadlier world than this sword-and-spear one.
That was Korea.
'Still, wanted that diploma.'
Effort without reward.
Hence the regret.
It crossed his mind sometimes.
But Julian achieved beyond expectations.
And credited him for it.
Wants to be a brother he's proud of.
Such touching words.
It was grateful.
Heartwarming.
Like Julian got the diploma he'd craved, so admirable.
'That rascal.'
When he comes, a knuckle to that chestnut head, then a honey one.
Lloyd vowed, carefully folding the letter.
Careful not to crease it.
He tucked it gently into his inner pocket.
Even as they continued eating.
Even enjoying the reunion with the count couple.
One hand stayed over his heart.
Each time, the faint rustle of the letter in his pocket responded.
Warm and grateful.
He couldn't stop smiling.
The count couple, watching Lloyd, basked in happiness too.
Their once-troublemaking eldest now a sturdy pillar.
Their shy second grown to shoulder national duties.
No, both sons grown healthy and steady.
Joy embracing the whole world, the universe.
They smiled together.
Thus, they had no idea.
At this moment, an unwelcome guest with business for their proud eldest son had arrived at the territory's outskirts.
♣
"Whew."
Finally, end of the long journey.
So now, meet Lloyd Frontera, record that wondrous lullaby he babbles into this magic orb, and take it back.
'Then I can sleep easy again.'
The noble princess of the Sultanate.
Now a Sword Expert advanced afflicted with lullaby withdrawal.
Serazad overlooked Frontera Territory at the Eastern Mountains' foothills, her obsidian eyes gleaming.