Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 235

Chapter 235. Even Old Generals Meet Their End (2)

The cold, chilling air.

Feeling the bite of it across his body, and viewing the noble crumpled on the ground, Lazlot pondered.

'Sir Yulian...'

Recently, through training, he had reached a level where he could subdue an average person who hadn't mastered martial arts.

His remarkable progress in such a short period was undoubtedly due to the good environment and the excellent mentors who had guided him.

Yulian could not have been unaware of Lazlot's development.

― It seems you have been honing your martial skills lately.

― Yes... How did you know?

― I can sense it in your breathing and posture.

Having his growth recognized by someone he respected, made him intensely pleased.

However, he couldn't forget Yulian's smile from that moment.

― You're doing well. There's something you'll need to handle alone.

The smile was as if Yulian had been waiting for the right moment.

Though rumors in the past depicted Yulian as a 'villain', he wasn't exactly an easy person to regard as a good man either.

If one had to say, his actions were more business-like compared to his ever-present smile.

He naturally considered it "acceptable" to assign his subordinates dangerous tasks.

"You reckless fool... Which family do you belong to!"

"If you have no connections, I'll have your head on the gallows right this moment!"

And so.

― Sir Ornn's close aides won't be pleased about sending you alone. Someone might cross the line, Lazlot—and lay a hand on you.

Yulian remained unbothered by sending him into situations that could ensure his ruin in the capital if he had no backing from the noble eyes.

― Crush and twist them.

Though he didn't show it externally, Lazlot hesitated slightly when it came to using violence.

He had always been trampled underfoot by the nobility. Not just him.

The family at the orphanage.

His friends, too.

The director as well.

They all submitted to the nobility and feared the venomous words that came from their mouths.

"Argh... You bastard...!"

But thinking about how such "nobility" was now under his feet stirred a peculiar satisfaction within Lazlot.

'Is this alright?'

Overwhelmed by such emotions for a moment, Lazlot began to fear the repercussions.

― It's fine. I'll take responsibility for anything that happens afterward.

Of course, it wasn't a thoughtless act. Yulian had promised to take responsibility for everything.

― Only in this way can they truly understand their place.

There was one worry. If punished on the spot, things could proceed before Yulian had a chance to take responsibility.

"W-we must take his head now!"

"Indeed!"

― Likely, there will be no one there to punish you on the spot. Nobles are cowards who weigh power.

As he had said.

They only talked grandly about punishment, and no one stepped forward.

Yulian.

His shadow was behind Lazlot, and the nobles, fearing it, couldn't easily step forward, even amidst actions that tainted their honor.

'... Phew.'

Thankfully. Lazlot internally sighed in relief.

He had acted on a faith that bordered on worship in Yulian, but fear was unavoidable.

'Truly.'

Lazlot surveyed the nobles, loudly complaining.

Even the nobleman he had knocked to the ground merely glared with angry eyes but didn't take appropriate action.

'How pathetic.'

How could he have feared such people until now?

"Heh heh heh..."

Among the loud voices, an indifferent laughter filtered through.

The source of the laughter was Ornn. He surveyed the faces of both the nobles and Lazlot and then spoke up.

"Left with only these people around, this must be my karma."

"... Pardon?"

"Lord Ornn, what do you mean...?"

As his aides expressed doubt, Ornn raised himself from where he leaned against the chair.

Feeling the prickly energy biting at his skin, Lazlot swallowed unconsciously.

The distinct spirit characteristic of the Cryphart family was present even in its former lord, Ornn.

"Everyone, leave. I will speak to this fellow alone."

"But, Lord Ornn!"

"We must punish this creature right here and now!"

"He has sullied our honor...!"

"I said leave."

With a stern voice, he firmed his command, causing his aides to flinch.

Then, the nobles who had risen with awkward faces promptly left the reception room.

Quiet, penetrating silence. Lazlot felt uneasy amidst the silence.

'Scary.'

Without even employing soldiers, the veteran named Ornn seemed effortlessly capable of quashing Lazlot's resistance.

"Did Yulian say I need to make an appointment?"

"Yes."

"Tell him I will visit his estate personally. I will follow whatever time he sets."

Watching his trembling lips, Lazlot could feel the storm brewing inside Ornn.

Even so, that sentiment soon subsided.

A truly indifferent demeanor, a sense of detachment as if freed from worldly concerns, seemed to envelop him.

"May I ask one thing?"

With a much lighter atmosphere replacing the strong spirit he had held earlier, Lazlot unintentionally asked Ornn.

Ornn glared at Lazlot with sharp eyes.

"What is it?"

Though he expected a tirade, surprisingly, there was no such reaction.

Knowing that he might offend Ornn, Lazlot spoke nonetheless.

"I saw the records left in the secretariat."

"What do you wish to ask, exactly?"

"It was noted that during Emperor Adratan's conquest war, you, Lord Ornn, stood for the reception of the northern tribes."

As expected, Ornn frowned at his inquiry.

However, his detached demeanor persisted.

Normally, Lazlot would never have dared to voice such a question, but spending time with "Yulian" appeared to have dulled his fear.

"Why is it, then, that now..."

"Spare the pointless words, and deliver the message to Yulian."

"I apologize for my rashness, Lord Ornn."

With Ornn's tone suggesting he wouldn't stand for further foolish remarks, Lazlot bowed his head respectfully.

'Whew.'

Upon stepping out of the estate's reception room, Lazlot loosened up, the tension leaving his body.

'My unnecessary curiosity almost got me into trouble.'

Had he been even slightly slower in recognizing his place, surely leaving the estate on his own two feet would have been impossible.

Yet, reading about the "conquest wars" documented in the secretariat rekindled a persistent curiosity in Lazlot's mind.

'Accepting the northern tribes could reduce the maintenance costs of the front line like North Pole and use them as buffers against the demons.'

That had been Ornn's stance in the past.

Although his position hadn't been one appealing to sentiments, it could be seen as a somewhat reasonable perspective at the time.

'How could Ornn have changed so?'

Overcome by curiosity, Lazlot had unintentionally made a blunder in front of Ornn.

'Foolishly.'

He berated himself for his misstep.

In fact, previously, he would have instantly kowtowed before Ornn, avoiding eye contact or making any indiscreet comment.

'Speaking one's mind is good, but distinguishing when and when not to do so is also important.'

Yet, perhaps through his interactions with Yulian, Lazlot felt some of his fear towards the "nobility" dissipate.

Maybe he was starting to learn how to live like a person.

Lazlot mused on this thought.

***

Closing his eyes brought sharp images of war from his past.

During Emperor Adratan's era of conquest, Ornn was a commander guiding soldiers as one of his close aides.

― Commander Ornn!

― This is the encampment of the tribes!

― Inside are tribespeople. Perhaps children and the elderly who couldn't flee.

The clinging voices of soldiers greeted him. At the same time, they called Ornn's name with eyes full of trust.

Commander.

Lord Ornn.

Next head of Cryphart.

The names varied, but calling for Ornn was the same, and their titles brimmed with respect.

― What should we do with these savages?

― Burning the encampment seems wise.

Faced with his soldiers' inquiries about the northern tribes unable to flee, Ornn pondered.

Yet, the pondering was brief. A tribal boy approached carrying flowers to Ornn.

Bluish-hued flowers.

The flowers were beautiful. It was certain, the tribes believed this too, which was why they offered it to him.

We can understand. Ornn thought this way.

'These are not savages but tribespeople. Don't burn the encampment; guide them to North Pole.'

This perspective was the greatest misstep in his life.

The blue flower offered by the boy was actually a medium for 'sorcery', a catalyst to spread demonic energy and curses.

― P-please save me, commander Ornn!

― My body is turning into a Demon...!

― My legs won't move! My legs!

Slaying his soldiers who were turning into demons due to northern 'sorcery' and organizing the abandoned camp, Ornn pondered over the dead boy who had given him the flower.

'Tribesmen. No, savages, are beyond understanding.'

They were not to be accepted nor something to be embraced.

They couldn't even be used as buffers against demons. They must be treated as equals to demons.

'That sentiment has not changed.'

Recalling the past, Ornn slowly opened his eyes.

A man with a smiling face sat before him.

"Did you say you have something to discuss?"

The illegitimate son Oben, his legitimate son, had through a barbarian concubine that Ornn detested. At Yulian's inquiry, Ornn nodded.

"A disgrace to the Cryphart family."

Despite the sudden venomous remark, Yulian's smiling face remained unchanged.

"A tumor of the family."

He merely snorted in response to Ornn's words.

"A child of a savage."

The change was nonexistent.

"Do you plan to entrance the family after exiling me from the capital?"

He knew about the plan to transfer him to the north executed by the Council of Nobles, likely conceived in "Yulian's" mind.

Currently, Yulian's evaluation within the "Cryphart family" had changed.

If the most vocal opponent, himself, vanished from the capital, Yulian could even aim for the position of Cryphart family head.

"It seems you hold a misunderstanding. I have not interfered at all in Lord Ornn's transfer to the north. Huhut."

Yulian let out a mocking laugh alongside his sneer.

Confronted with this, anger surged to the tip of his head, yet aged as he was, he had little strength to alleviate it.

"As long as I am alive, I will not sit quietly as a savage ravages our family."

Ultimately, the only asset he could wield was the body honed over countless battlefields.

With that thought, Ornn abruptly stood up.

Prepared to unsheathe the sword tied at his waist at any moment.