Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Request
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Chapter 138
Adelle asked, her expression still one of surprise.
It was because I had been recounting my tale of heroism.
The part where I mentioned slicing up Kroll Karim, in particular, left the entire command staff speechless.
“Is that really true?”
“Ah, have you lived your whole life being deceived? I cleaned out their officers too, so the Korinth army won’t be coming. They’ve probably just disbanded by now.”
“N-No way. Kroll Karim is definitely on par with the Wings of…”
Adelle trailed off, quickly shutting her mouth.
She had been about to ask how on earth I could have defeated someone considered an equal to Jerome Klevitz.
But comparing one’s own nation’s top warrior to another country’s powerhouse was taboo.
It could be seen as incredibly rude, which was why she stopped herself.
But there was no one present who didn’t understand what she was about to say.
“Of course, he’s probably at that level. But he was no match for me.”
“…”
As I shrugged and spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, they were all left at a loss for words.
They probably didn’t expect me to state my opinion so boldly.
But what could I do? It was the truth.
“So stop worrying about the Kingdom of Korinth.”
Adelle nodded, a faint smile on her lips.
She was the only one who had witnessed me fight the Four-Armed Knight.
Perhaps that was why she was quick to accept the fact that Kroll Karim had fallen.
“If what you say is true, Sir Ray, it won’t be easy for the Second Prince’s army to lay siege to us.”
A three-to-one numerical advantage was enough to attempt a siege.
But that standard only applied to fortresses built on flat plains.
It wasn’t the kind of military common sense that applied to a mountain fortress like this.
The Third Prince’s army could probably hold out for years.
Assuming, of course, that they had enough supplies.
“We need one more thing besides military supplies.”
“What is that?”
“We have to hope they don’t have anyone stronger than us on their side.”
“You’re right. That’s the most important thing.”
Adelle stared at the enemy camp with a hardened expression.
Frantz was a talented diplomat.
It was entirely possible that another warrior on par with Kroll Karim existed.
Perhaps such a person had already joined the enemy forces.
‘If there’s one, I can probably handle it…’
But what if there were two powerful foes?
Or even more?
In that case, well.
‘I’ll just ditch them and run.’
It wasn't as if I was going to bet my life on a single mission.
If things went south, I fully intended to desert the Third Prince’s army.
It’s not like there was anything I needed to take with me…
‘I’ll just grab Adelle and get out.’
I watched her profile as she was lost in serious thought, a subtle smile playing on my lips.
Sensing my gaze, Adelle glanced over.
But for some reason, her eyes seemed slightly different than usual.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You look unusually handsome today.”
“…”
Her sudden, direct comment couldn't help but make me flinch.
When she had told me my looks weren't all that great, I hadn't paid it much mind.
After all, my original face was handsome, and that was all that mattered.
But from the looks of it, I would have to live as Ray Carter for quite some time.
At least until the civil war was over.
So, since my Seven-Joint Face-Changing Technique had been broken anyway, I had made a few adjustments…
‘Wow! She noticed. Her eye for detail is incredible.’
Is this the power of Lady Richter, the ultimate admirer of handsome faces?
I thought she wouldn't notice since I only made subtle changes, but she caught on as soon as we reunited.
Of course, for now, it was probably just a feeling that something was different.
“Isn’t it because I returned victorious?”
“I suppose that’s it. You did well. You’re truly… an amazing person.”
Adelle said, fidgeting.
She seemed quite awkward and embarrassed to be giving such a direct compliment.
Then again, when would the cherished daughter of House Richter have ever praised someone else?
She had probably lived her whole life being revered.
‘This doesn’t feel bad.’
I had only received it by chance while trying to deflect, but honestly, it felt good.
See? A beauty makes everything better.
“That’s enough. I only did what I had to do. Just tell Ellington to keep his promise.”
I said, pointing to the Third Prince, who was busy observing the enemy lines.
Adelle tilted her head and asked.
“What about here?”
“They’re still a long way off, right? Wake me up when they get here. I’ll be sleeping somewhere down below.”
With those words, I descended the fortress steps.
Her faint murmur tickled my ears.
“Wow! I’ve never seen someone so shameless… No, should I call that being fearless?”
* * *
Leaving Adelle’s compliment-like words behind, I searched for a secluded corner of the fortress.
I was planning to find a pile of straw to hole up in, but I couldn’t find my way, no matter how much I looked around.
The place had changed so much while I was away.
“I expected some changes, but I never thought they’d build something this massive.”
A small mountain fortress would have been sufficient, but Mac Ties had gone and created a giant citadel.
I overheard that he only produced the materials while the Third Prince’s army did the rest.
‘Still, isn’t this a bit much?’
I wasn’t complaining just because I was annoyed that I couldn't find my way.
Surely, I wasn’t that petty.
“Huh?”
While wandering lost inside the citadel, I happened to spot a familiar silhouette.
A boy with sky-blue hair and mystical green eyes.
It was Mac Ties.
“You little brat, I’ve found you!”
I dashed over in an instant and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
Then I shook him violently from side to side.
“Aaaah! I’m getting dizzy!”
“That’s the point, so shut up.”
“Hey, why are you doing this? I did everything you asked and was just playing!”
“Huh? You were playing?”
I looked at what was in front of Mac with a new sense of wonder.
Surprisingly, he was playing in the dirt with an earth spirit.
“You have a unique hobby.”
“How about you put me down before we talk?”
“Ah, sorry.”
As Mac glared at me, I let go and scratched the back of my head.
The boy, who had been dangling in the air, fell with a thud, landing on his butt.
Thump!
“Ugh!”
“Oh! That one was my bad, for real. You’re heavier than you look. You were so easy to lift, I thought you were light.”
“…Grrr!”
Mac Ties clenched his fists, his eyes blazing.
The dirt in front of him transformed into the shape of a giant forearm.
It seemed the earth spirit, sensing his emotions, was getting angry.
*Flick! Fwip!*
Grains of sand flew at me on their own, but they never reached my body.
It was just a warning, so there was no force behind them, and they were slow.
There was no way I’d let myself get hit by something like that.
Still, I had to appease the angry earth spirit.
After all, it was a helpful being that had assisted in building the fortress.
“Wait, now that I think about it, you’re the one who got me lost in the first place.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Because you pointlessly built the fortress so big, I can’t find my cozy resting spot.”
“I built it based on the blueprint you gave me.”
“Hey, I told you to just roughly copy it. Who told you to build it so perfectly?”
Being a jack-of-all-trades, I also knew a thing or two about fortification.
Of course, I hadn’t studied it in depth, just memorized a few blueprints.
‘Come to think of it, he built this incredible citadel from that crude sketch I drew?’
Mac Ties’s ability was far greater than I had anticipated.
Like Frixon, he was a talent I absolutely had to recruit when rebuilding Riverune.
They did all the heavy lifting while I reaped the rewards, so I figured I should at least pretend to feel guilty.
“Ahem! Good work.”
After a loud cough, I offered a sudden compliment, and Mac’s expression turned peculiar.
“I have no idea what kind of reaction you’re looking for.”
“I just have a hard time expressing myself. I meant to praise you from the start.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure you did.”
“…”
Mac Ties scoffed, his mouth agape like a catfish, but I couldn’t say anything back.
He was annoyingly smug, and I wanted to smack him, but I held back since I was the one at fault.
“By the way, aren’t you going to ask?”
“About what?”
I tilted my head at Mac’s abrupt question.
I had no idea what he was talking about.
He shook his head and reached into his coat.
“You asked me for a favor at the start of the break. Ah! Just a moment.”
*Scrape. Scrape.*
As Mac waved his hand, words began to form on the ground.
The power of the spirit was at work, as grains of dirt moved to complete the sentence.
‘You said to be sure to communicate in writing, right? I found out about the Dark Spirit King.’
I nodded emphatically and crouched down.
‘You did really well on this. Is that it in your coat?’
‘Yes.’
‘Give it here.’
‘With nothing in return?’
I wrinkled my nose at Mac Ties’s response.
To be honest, I had already decided to give him a proper reward.
The problem was, I had no idea what this kid wanted.
I moved my index finger, drawing a large question mark in the air.
‘What do you want?’
‘…An introduction.’
“Huh?”
We had been communicating in writing, but I couldn’t help but let out a sound of surprise.
Mac’s request was that absurd.
“Why an introduction all of a sudden? I thought you weren’t interested in girls.”
“That’s because I’m a bit cautious.”
“Alright. As the most well-connected man in Venderford, there isn’t a woman I don’t know.”
In truth, I didn’t know most of them.
I wasn’t even that close with Lillian and Donias, the two beauties who had joined the Third Prince’s army.
Naturally, in all of Venderford, the only women I really knew were Adelle and Sophia.
Of course, I was acquainted with a few others, but they weren’t my type.
“Is that so? Then is this person possible? It might be a bit difficult.”
“I’m just making the introduction, what’s so difficult? It’s not like I’m offering matchmaking consulting.”
“Then I’ll get straight to the point.”
“Go on, go on. Spit it out.”
I confidently twirled my right hand and nodded.
However, the single word that came out of his mouth froze my entire body.
The reason was that the woman in question was both very close and very far away.
“Isabelle.”
“Wh-What did you say?”
As I blinked rapidly and asked again, Mac Ties clearly enunciated her full name.
“You know, our classmate. Isabelle Rantzverger.”
Uh, um…
I really didn’t see this one coming.
‘What’s with this kid’s taste?’