novelraw Chapter 235: Childhood Friend - Sir (卿)
Chapter 235: Childhood Friend - Sir (卿)
234. Childhood Friend - Sir (卿)
It’s not a mistake.
Recalling Sir Brian through his {tracking technique}, Rev confirmed that the man he saw beyond the recently closed castle gate was indeed Sir Brian. However, he had no idea why he was here.
It was a fleeting connection, someone not particularly special, which made it all the more perplexing.
Had something changed? ─ Rev pondered over the past for a moment but found nothing significant.
He met Sir Brian in the 11th cycle, during the engagement scenario. It was when he successfully hunted the Noguhwa and avoided {war} for the first time, earning his father’s (Noel Dexter's) recognition and embarking on a kind of warrior training.
......That’s a polite way of describing that dreadful cycle. It was a past full of wounds, where he had driven a nail into the chest of his beloved fiancée.
At his father’s suggestion, he crossed the border to challenge the knights of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, and the first place he visited was ‘Bidorinin Castle’.
Sir Brian was a knight of the Agata Baron family, where the baron, Berger Agata, and his wife, Baroness Agnes Agata, a loving elderly couple without children, resided.
But why was he here? The only possible change at Bidorinin Castle was...‘Because I caught the Apohandon?’
This was the only guess he could make for now. Although Baron Agata didn’t seem particularly concerned about the beast, in the context of repeated cycles, it seemed to be the only influencing factor.
‘But what does the disappearance of the beast have to do with Sir Brian being here? What business does a knight of the Agata family have with Count Simon’s family...’
- “Don’t worry, dear. My brother... I mean, Count Simon will surely help. Count Simon’s family is my maiden family... They have many knights... I wrote it well in the letter.”
Something suddenly came to mind.
Baroness Agnes Agata had introduced Count Simon’s family as her maiden family. However, when he arrived at the Count’s house, he couldn’t find any trace of the Baroness.
‘Right. There was something strange. It was odd that the esteemed Count Simon’s family sent their daughter to a small baron’s family.’
It seems there is something more. Rev, revisiting the doubts he hadn’t fully explored in the past, looked up. The mansion of Count Simon was before him.
It was a simple but grand mansion.
Following the austere customs of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, the mansion had no decorations. They could have added some projections to add interest to the monotonous walls and pillars, but such things were nowhere to be seen.
However, this design revealed the building's weightiness.
Rev passed under the flying buttresses that seemed to support the building’s weight and finally reached the front door. He shook his head at the steward who came out to greet and guide them.
“I’m sorry for the trouble, but could you bring the Count here? We can’t bring this fellow into the mansion, can we?”
- Hihing!
“I understand. I’ll ask him.”
The steward looked up at the massive horse (Doheukpoma) and turned back as if he understood. While he went to fetch the Count, Rev patted his disciples on the shoulder one by one.
“Don’t be too tense.”
“Yes, sir.”
He was easing the tension of his disciples who were acting as knights.
Except for Vanne Bizaine, who was naturally composed with no change in his expression, Rev comforted the stiffened young men and approached the carriage where Cardinal Michael was.
“You can get off now.”
“...What brings the Swordmaster of the Right Kingdom here?”
Hmph. I won’t fall for that.
Rev smiled and answered in a thick northern accent.
“I’m traveling with my disciples. So, have you decided to remove this mark for me?”
“......”
“That’s unfortunate. Then, let’s make another deal. You can move as you please, Cardinal. But if you don’t want to antagonize me, forget what has happened. Just tell Count Umberto Simon that you mistakenly marked us and couldn’t remove it. Ah, here he comes.”
A middle-aged man with a square jaw, Count Umberto Simon, appeared. He walked over, looking astonished at the Doheukpoma eating the ivy on the wall, then saw Cardinal Michael getting out of the carriage, and his expression became complex.
He was likely bewildered by the combination of a Swordmaster marked with the symbol of holiness and a Cardinal.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rev Bizaine.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Umberto Simon. Cardinal, what’s going on here?”
Rev folded his arms.
He was waiting to see how the Cardinal would react while subtly pressuring him, but Cardinal Michael seemed to have decided not to antagonize Rev.
“There was some friction on the way. I mistook these gentlemen for ruffians and marked them with the symbol of holiness. I’ve brought them here because the mark will last for about half a year... Please assist them so they are not inconvenienced.”
Count Simon nodded.
“I see. It’s not a difficult request. I’ll vouch for them. Since this is an opportunity, would you like to come in for some tea?”
“I’m fine with that.”
Rev emphasized the ‘I’m’. Catching on, the Cardinal excused himself, claiming fatigue, and disappeared with the paladins following the steward.
“You stay here and watch the Doheukpoma. Make sure it doesn’t cause any trouble.”
“Yep! Have a good time! Bring us some snacks when you return.”
Leaving behind Reuben’s cheerful reply, the Count and Rev entered the reception room. “Your disciples are quite dependable.” The Count began, to which Rev replied with a significant remark.
“The Cardinal has made another unnecessary request. Don’t you think so?”
“...What do you mean...”
I have no idea what I’m saying. Rev probed, trying to deduce the relationship between the Cardinal and Count Simon.
“I mean the construction.”
At Rev's pointed remark, Count Umberto Simon's expression hardened, but he feigned ignorance.
“What are you talking about? I have no idea what construction you mean.”
“Haha. It's been quite a while since you occupied the land southeast of the Bomere Volcano, hasn’t it?”
- Pour.
At that moment, a maid entered, placed teacups before Rev and the Count, and poured tea brewed from Punita leaves, emitting a refreshing aroma. After a brief silence, the Count spoke once the maid had left.
“Are you from the royal family?”
“Let's just say I was asked for a favor. This mark of holiness is quite interesting. I don't even know what crime I committed. Hahaha. There's no need for you to vouch for us.”
“...There seems to be some misunderstanding. That land is not illegally occupied. It belongs to my sister, and the Count’s family only administers it. We have the king’s approval.”
What? It’s not illegal?
Rev realized his assumption was somewhat incorrect. However, sensing the Count's unease, he decided to throw out everything he knew.
“Ah, you mean Baroness Agnes Agata, right? I know. She’s far away at Bidorinin Castle, without any children...”
Count Simon's crimson eyes wavered. Come to think of it, it was indeed strange. Despite being siblings, why did the Count and the Baroness look so different? From their square jaws to their eyes.
Rev continued, observing the Count closely. However, he noticed the Count's tension easing, possibly due to a misstep in his words.
“...You don’t seem to be in frequent contact with your sister. She must be quite lonely, having married so far away and missing home.”
“Yes. I should contact her more often, but it’s difficult as I age. I miss my sister very much too. Perhaps I should write her a letter today. By the way, how did you tame the Doheukpoma? It’s been a problem for a long time, so thank you.”
Is this not it?
Rev had aimed to reveal the Count’s inner thoughts by suggesting that the Simon family had illegally occupied the lands of the fallen Agnac family and had some collusion with the Cardinal.
He intended to assert his authority as a royal emissary investigating on behalf of the great Swordmaster, but it seemed he had missed some crucial connection the Count was concerned about.
From there, the conversation drifted without much substance. Even when Rev brought up the ‘construction’ mentioned by the Cardinal again, the Count lightly dismissed it.
“The crops don’t grow well there. The Cardinal suggested converting the land into farmland. It’s a difficult task, but if successful, it will benefit the residents’ livelihoods.”
As the teacups emptied, Rev lost his pretext to continue the conversation.
“You said you don’t need a guarantee? I’ll prepare a room for you. Stay as long as you wish. Though I’m sure you’re not in need of money, consider this a small token of gratitude for taming the Doheukpoma.”
Rising from his seat, Count Simon clapped his hands, summoning a servant who soon returned with a large chest filled with heavy gold.
“Thank you.”
Rev accepted the bribe without much comment. Although he didn’t need the money, he thought it might ease the Count’s wariness.
But this is problematic.
Lying on the bed in his assigned room, Rev clicked his tongue.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have said I didn’t need the guarantee.
I should have just taken the guarantee and headed to Lutetia.
He felt frustrated, suspecting there was something more to uncover, influenced by his dislike for the Count who had once troubled Leo Dexter and the Cardinal who repeatedly killed Euta’s grandmother. Yet, he ended up feeling he had lost more than he gained.
‘This is annoying.’
He had a hunch, but without concrete details, it was frustrating.
If it came to the worst, he could knock the Count down and demand,
“What deal did you make with the Cardinal! Speak now!”
However, Rev wasn’t in a position to act so recklessly. He had disciples following him and was destined to rebel and ascend to the throne in the Right Kingdom next year.
After gathering his thoughts with his arm as a pillow, Rev got up and summoned Vanne. He instructed her to remain vigilant while he went out briefly, then quietly left the Count’s mansion.
{Tracking Technique}
There was no better skill for finding people.
Rev left the Simon County estate (luckily, the head guard he saw earlier was still on duty) and followed the direction indicated by his {tracking technique} through a shabby street, finding his target in less than an hour.
In an unsanitary-looking inn, in the dimly lit dining area, sat Sir Brian. He was in the middle of a meal, allowing Rev to quickly realize that the man did not deserve the honorific title of ‘Sir (卿).’
He was clumsily gripping his fork and knife with his fists.
The once adept swordsman who expertly wielded a forte couldn’t even hold his utensils properly.
“Who are... Gasp!”
Brian, lifting his head, recognized the Swordmaster he had seen earlier.
With an unkempt beard and food smeared over his face from the clumsy use of utensils, combined with a hunched back from hard labor, the sight of the once equal knight stirred a sense of pity in Rev.