Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 236

Chapter 236. Even Old Generals Meet Their End (3)

With eyes filled with such intent to kill that drawing a sword seemed imaginable, Ornn glared at me.

Standing up, he exuded the aura of someone who could easily take down a trainee knight, suggesting he had been relentless in his training.

This was troublesome.

I thought to myself as I observed him.

It seemed Ornn had greatly misunderstood.

He believed that the reason he was sent to the 'Northern North Pole Base' was my doing and that it was an attempt to take over the Cryphart family.

'That family head position, I never had any interest in it.'

Even if I told him, I doubted he would believe me.

Look at those bloodshot eyes. Even if I said it wasn't true, he might draw his sword and scream at me.

'It's more problematic that he doesn't look persuadable.'

The 'smiling man' reflected in Ornn's bloodshot eyes didn't seem capable of having a 'rational' conversation.

He seemed to enjoy belittling and thoroughly trampling others.

A psychopathic visage that I had seen several times but never ceased to find strikingly new. Haaa.

"Lord Ornn, I have no interest in that position whatsoever."

"If you didn't have such thoughts, then why did you think of sending me to the North?"

I had never even considered what should be done with Ornn in the first place.

The 'New Dawn Society' members affiliated with the nobles council.

Their rampage was wrong!

Since I couldn't say it was their fault, I tried my best to defend myself.

"Think about it, Lord Ornn. If I truly wanted the family head position, wouldn't I have chosen an easier way instead of doing such things?"

As I spoke with a calming nuance, Ornn's face twisted.

"...... Are you implying that killing me would be easy?"

Ah, as expected, that's how you understand it?

I was already so used to it that I didn't think much of it.

"How about calming down, Lord Ornn?"

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Zahard spoke up.

It seemed I had called on him because if I were alone with Ornn, something dangerous might occur.

Not exactly 'me', but for the risk to Ornn's life to be more precise.

'One of the reasons Milena died was Ornn.'

My hands trembled with 'instinct'. Still, unlike when I saw 'Oben', it was manageable.

"Zahard, why on earth are you supporting this guy!"

Ornn's voice towards Zahard was filled with strong trust and equally strong betrayal.

"Zahard, whom I saw in North Pole, is flexible yet a man who strictly adhered to rules! A knight among knights, though different from the Sword Saint! Why has he become like this...."

"Because of the things I lost while valuing that chivalry."

Unlike Ornn, Zahard's tone was quite calm, but there was a strong force in his words.

"I understand Lord Ornn has lost something as well, which is why you despise the northern savages. But Yulian has lived not as a northerner, but as an imperial."

Frankly, the reason I called Zahard wasn't for anything more than to be prepared for any eventuality. If Ornn lunged at me and I ended up cutting him down, that would be a serious matter.

'Impressive.'

Surprisingly, it turned out that calling Zahard was the right decision.

They seemed to have some common ground, as Ornn reluctantly appeared to accept Zahard's words.

"The innate nature doesn't change. Didn't he cross the line during a joint mission with the Sword Saint?"

"Hmm...."

Zahard sighed.

"He eradicated the House of Atalanta, accused only with suspicions. Killed both adults and children, using it as a means to prove his loyalty."

I suppose such an incident did occur. Though I'm not aware of it.

"Isn't that why you parted ways with the Sword Saint? Because of the Atalanta incident!"

When Ornn mentioned the Sword Saint, my lips twitched. Various complicated emotions crossed my mind, but I also felt Ornn genuinely respected the 'Sword Saint'.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have attended the funeral.

"People change."

"Monsters do not."

"Yulian is a person. And undoubtedly different from before."

Zahard's defense of me didn't exactly feel unpleasant.

Though, thinking of how this solemn guy would get involved with Felkhor and turn into chaos, spewing out nonsense about baldness and all, made me chuckle.

'It's about the time to question Ornn now.'

I shifted my gaze to Ornn. While proving that I was different from the 'old Yulian' could be an option in his debate with Zahard, it was not available.

'Who's supporting you from behind?'

Ornn probably didn't consider who might be behind him, but I was still curious about why he could mobilize 'Hemmel'.

'There is one possible person.'

Both Ornn and Hemmel.

And even the witch Abigail.

There's someone capable of mobilizing them all. But I only hope, given the slight connection, that they are not the 'perpetrator'.

***

No matter how he looked at it, something was strange.

Ornn had been willing to risk everything—even his life—to keep House Cryphart out of Yulian's hands.

And yet, his attitude now was strange.

'Reading emotions...... isn't possible, but.'

There was no scent of 'greed' from his words or actions.

Ornn had lived for many years. He had his own means of discerning people, and he took judgment based on that.

Yet he couldn't sense any 'desire' for the family from Yulian.

"I can stake my everything on it. He's not a heartless monster."

Even Zahard was stepping in, asserting that Yulian had changed, causing the firm belief Ornn held, resembling an impregnable fortress, gradually to crack.

Moreover.

'He must have sensed the killing intent.'

A moment ago, when he rose with the thought of drawing his sword, Yulian must have felt his intention to kill.

Even sure that it wouldn't lead to a fight, innate swordsmen subconsciously 'brace' themselves against such intent.

They change their breathing unconsciously.

They adjust their stance.

And shift their gaze and aura.

During that phase, the atmosphere Yulian emitted was far from the 'Smiling Executioner' Ornn had seen before.

Simultaneously, the faint gust of 'savages' that he felt before was absent around Yulian.

'Hmm.'

He had changed.

Ornn agreed with Zahard's words.

The realization was reinforced because of an association with the sheath Yulian had worn.

Strong bodies harbor strong spirits.

The emblemately etched sword case that once belonged to Sword Saint Hayden Reich.

As an epitaph, Yulian had engraved the same on his own sheath.

"Damn it!"

Ornn cursed lightly and sat back down.

"So it wasn't your doing that I was transferred to the North, huh?"

The loud voice prompted a slight movement from Zahard, but he calmed down, realizing there was no intention of battle.

"I also recognize you have no interest in the family head position. Certainly, killing me with all my teeth gone won't be a hard task for you!"

Though it pained him, Ornn admitted his situation.

"What do you want?"

He initially intended to risk everything and try to end his life, but upon actually meeting Yulian, Ornn knew for sure.

As a swordsman.

He was nowhere near Yulian's level.

Had it been during his prime, sparring might have been possible, but now it was impossible.

Every condition favored Yulian.

Yet, meeting Yulian implied he had a 'desire.' That's how Ornn understood it.

"I have something to ask."

At Ornn's query, Yulian went straight to the point.

"What did you promise when you sent Hemmel to handle me?"

"Flugel's death."

Ornn answered without hesitation as if what was previously thought to be his trump card to avoid revealing any information to Yulian was rendered meaningless by facing the overwhelming reality of his own powerlessness.

He didn't lust after the family head position.

But it wasn't because Yulian didn't 'need' it, just because he didn't 'want' it.

As of now, Yulian could very well take control of the Cryphart family the moment he deemed it a 'necessity'.

'Before it comes to that.'

Ornn intended to end things with his own hands, even if he had to sacrifice his meager pride.

"Flugel's death, huh...."

Hearing his words, Yulian fell into brief contemplation.

'It's not just that; there must be something more he wishes to know.'

Despite being swayed by Yulian while ditching his pride, surely there were more pieces of information he desired.

'This is the last card I have.'

With that piece of information, he could sway Yulian, trying to set a future plan somehow.

'First, by freezing the Council of Nobles's resolution to transfer me to the North....'

"I see. It seems there's no more conversation to be had."

Upon hearing just the single phrase regarding Flugel's demise, Yulian stood up.

It wasn't mere bravado. Genuinely, Ornn seemed to have nothing more to offer.

"What......?"

Ornn was utterly flustered. What he believed to be his trump card, the information he thought crucial, was not what Yulian wanted.

"Didn't you have something you wanted to hear!?"

"No, I've heard everything I wanted from you, Lord Ornn."

"Couldn't you sit down?"

Unable to control his emotions, Ornn's voice rose.

"If things continue like this, I will be transferred to the North! As the former head of the Cryphart family and the chairman of the Council of Nobles!"

"The northern winter winds weren't too bad. Well, Lord Ornn, you know that already, don't you?"

Sneering slightly, an expression flashed across Yulian's face at his entreaty.

"I apologize for the past."

Discarding all pride, Ornn rose from his seat, knelt, and pressed his head to the ground.

"If indeed I am dragged to the North, the family's honor will be shattered! You understand this!"

Despite exerting his utmost to protect his family's honor somehow, the only response from Yulian was cold.

"Lord Ornn."

The response was Yulian's voice, chilling and detached.

"What does that have to do with me?"

At those words, Ornn found himself at a loss for words.