Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Reinhardt-5
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[...]
“...”
[...]
“...”
[...]
The Sage and Leo stared at each other in silence. No, it wasn't even right to say they were staring.
Leo couldn't even meet the Sage's eyes.
[Ha...]
A deep sigh, one that rumbled from the depths of his throat.
[You... ha...]
“...”
[Your thinking... ha...]
Half words, half sighs. What was even more humiliating was how utterly natural that attitude felt.
“Um, Sage...”
He wasn't dead! And I didn't kill him!
Leo had suddenly been accused of being a murderer.
The Head Butler Alfred was still alive. He'd merely fainted and been rushed away in a hurry.
The scene was so absurd that everyone had frozen in shock.
No one would believe such a ridiculous spectacle if they saw it.
The problem came afterward with the people who arrived.
The Head Butler had collapsed, and in front of him stood an unknown mercenary.
Any sane person would arrest first and ask questions later.
Just a couple of jokes—simple wordplay, nothing insulting or abusive.
He'd explained it over and over, but the knights couldn't believe it. No one could.
Not even Leo, the one who'd made the jokes.
'Mr. Alfred must not have had any immunity to jokes back then.'
The first joke hadn't been that extreme. It lacked the intent to amuse, so its power was weak.
But now it was different.
Plus, he had no immunity to Leo's puns now either.
Leo had to concede that point.
The room Leo was in now was in the basement of the House of Reinhardt mansion—an interrogation chamber.
The circumstances were still unclear, but thanks to Ariasfil and Chris's earnest defense, he'd avoided prison time.
Once you're in an interrogation room...
Bang!
The heavy iron door creaked open.
“Get up.”
They'd interrogate him... or worse, torture him...
“You're free to go.”
Wait, what?
Here's what had happened.
While Leo was locked in the basement, everyone else went to check on Head Butler Alfred's condition.
And then...
'No abnormalities.'
The healers' diagnosis revealed no issues with Alfred whatsoever.
Priests, doctors, even a mage had been called in to check, but nothing was wrong with Head Butler Alfred.
And most decisively, Alfred's own statement.
'It wasn't painful. I just... couldn't stop laughing...'
And so, Leonardo was cleared of all charges and released.
Why was someone who knew better acting like this?
Leo had rejected romance his entire life. As if he'd have a girlfriend...
“Leonardo!!”
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a girl threw herself at Leonardo.
“Ah, Ariasfil.”
“Thank goodness...! You're free!”
But why did everyone phrase it like...
“Heh, I believed in you. Knew you'd shrug off something like that easily.”
Why did it sound like he'd just served time like a criminal?
As their bickering continued, Chris spoke up.
“Sorry about this, Leonardo, but you owe someone else an apology too.”
“An apology?”
“The Royal Knights caused a scene arresting you directly. Word got to the reporters nearby too.”
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead at those words.
“...Don't tell me I'm a murderer now...”
“It's fine. We cleared that up.”
Chris replied with confident assurance.
Far from relieved, Leo grew even more anxious.
“...Who... did the explaining?”
“I did.”
Ah, my life's over.
For reference, the next day,
every newspaper's front page was dominated by this headline.
It was still
the first day.
“Use this room for now.”
“...Thank you.”
With the misunderstanding cleared, Leo was to live in the mansion as a squire. It was an annex in a remote corner, not the main house, but having a private room as a squire was luxurious enough.
“I'll explain the details tomorrow. Rest up today—lots of work ahead.”
“I'll rest gratefully.”
Leo bowed deeply, expressing his thanks for Chris's generosity. Chris accepted the gesture and left.
“...Ha... What a day...”
Today had been utterly exhausting.
Fighting a Balrog until collapse would've been far more relaxing.
The Head Butler's fainting had thrown off the plan a bit, but the outcome was unchanged.
Show his skills and claim a position.
The usual method.
In terms of rank, squire was leagues below Escort Knight.
But a rootless mercenary with no family, title, or status grabbing Escort Knight? No one would accept it.
At that moment, footsteps echoed—multiple people running toward him.
“Here they come.”
He hadn't expected the Head Butler to faint, but this much he had foreseen.
Bam!
The door didn't just open—it was kicked in. Luxuriously dressed kids stood before it.
“You the guy?”
The boy in front spoke.
“Who knows.”
“What do you mean, 'who knows'?!”
“Well, you didn't ask my name.”
“...Ah...”
The boy froze for a moment. He'd seemed scary as a kid long ago, but not anymore.
“You the commoner scum who waltzed in as a squire?”
This time, another kid spoke up.
“That's me. Got a problem?”
“Problem? Ha, you bet.”
Leo stood before them, meeting their eyes.
“You barge in as a commoner and don't even greet your senior squires!?”
“Hello.”
He bowed slightly, as a courtesy—an adult's manners.
“...What the hell?”
“I greeted you.”
“...You mocking us? Think seniors are a joke?!”
“Not at all. If I did, I wouldn't use polite speech.”
The kids' faces twisted in fury. They wanted to nitpick and punish him, but couldn't find a real gripe, so they'd just stomp around.
“So? What's the business this late at night?”
“...No chit-chat. Come outside.”
“No can do.”
Bang!
With that, Leo shut the door.
No sooner had he spoken than the door was pounded on again. As if waiting, Leo opened it.
“What's the matter?”
“You...! Why'd you slam the door...!!”
“Can't go out. Chris ordered me to rest.”
The Sage and squires alike stared at Leo in disbelief. Unaware this was exactly what he wanted,
“...Ha... What a lunatic.”
“Guy Chris brought in. Of course he's nuts.”
Insulting their superior and himself simultaneously—a masterful skill. Leo almost wanted to applaud.
“...So, what's the point?”
“Come out. Time for a beating.”
“...No choice, then.”
Pretending reluctance, Leo followed them out of the annex. They led him to the wide training grounds.
The grounds were quiet and still in the night.
“...So, what's this about? Third time asking.”
“You join House Reinhardt and don't pay respects? Here, we revere seniors like gods. Got it?!”
“Ah, yes. I'll treat you like gods as best I can, even from down here.”
“...Ah... You little...”
Rendered speechless, he let out a mad laugh and tossed a sword from his belt. Leo caught it easily.
“...What's this?”
“Time to teach manners. Come at me.”
Leo tossed the sword to the ground.
“...What're you...”
Thwack!!
With a punch, the lead male squire went flying.
“Gaaah!! My bones...!! My bones...!!”
“Such a drama queen. A god-like senior's bones wouldn't break.”
“...You coward...!”
The other squires charged in.
To grab the unarmed 13-year-old coward, the average 16-year-olds honorably swung their swords.
Crack!! Thud!! Smack!!
Three kinds of impact sounds, and squires scattered on the ground.
Fists had landed in sequence on solar plexus, jaw, and philtrum.
“Gaaah!!”
“My face...! My face...!!”
“You...! You...!! Coward...!!”
The fallen squires glared with injustice and rage.
“Coward?”
Leo's eyes narrowed at the word.
“Wow~ Guess I was the coward. Four against one, and I'm the bad guy.”
Handing back their swords, Leo continued.
“Charging barehanded against guys with pricey swords. So cowardly of me.”
Finally, he picked up his own sword and drew the blade.
“And this sword...”
Leo swung lightly. It nicked the ground and snapped.
“Was already cracked, but I didn't use it. Heavens will curse my cowardice~ Right?”
“...You bastard...!! Think you'll get away with this?!”
Threats—too cliché, not even funny anymore.
“Ariasfil!! Think seducing the Family Head's daughter gets you special treatment?! You're just a flat—”
One sentence. The air shifted completely. Leo had kept smiling through every insult.
Until then.
“...Hey, Vector, Herald, Jay, Kasium.”
Every squire's face paled. He'd named them all.
“...How do you know our names...”
The smile vanished, his face filled with killing intent. Leo began crushing Vector's hand underfoot.
“Gaaaaah!!”
“I don't care if you gossip I'm a parachute or chew me up behind my back. Not my problem.”
The tone clashed sharply with before. Fear surged.
“But hey.”
Those weren't a child's eyes.
“...Let's keep boundaries? Anytime, anywhere, if you drag Ariasfil's name through the mud...”
Boom!!
Leo's fist cratered the ground. It merely grazed the face, yet skin split, and the impact gouged the earth.
“I'll kill you.”
But the squires felt their whole bodies soak in dread from his warning.
Confirming their terror, Leo returned to his room.
What? No subject—zero clue what he meant.