novelraw Chapter 170 : Chapter 170
Chapter 170 : Chapter 170
Chapter 170 : Master of Camping Out
“Still, I intend to return to my hometown.”
Was that answer unexpected?
Imadi tilted his head.
“……Why? Shouldn't your problem be resolved by now?”
At those words, Muno couldn't help but flinch.
Because Imadi knew the real reason he had wanted to return to Drasen.
But he soon understood.
‘The telepathy that was just transmitted…’
Just as he had heard his inner voice while watching Imadi's promotion, perhaps he, too, had been able to glimpse into his mind.
“His Majesty the King has praised me so much that it would be difficult for me to enter the Empire's territory. There will be limits to disguise, and if a problem arises, it will become quite troublesome.”
“So, you’re going to throw me into the fight and take a step back for now?”
“……Well, it’s a bit disheartening to hear that from the one who fanned the flames, but I'm sure you have a plan.”
Imadi let out a small, dry laugh, then pointed to the core of ‘Blade’ again.
“Still, if you're ever in danger, infuse your will along with your mana into that core. As it is, it's like a part of me, so a signal will come to me immediately.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, if you're in a life-or-death battle, a signal will come even if you don't pay attention to it.”
At those words, Muno was dumbfounded.
“Didn't you say earlier that it had nothing to do with your lifespan?”
“Ahem. It's true that it's not a big deal. It's just that, just as you and that jewel planted the spirits of metal in me, I planted the spirits of fire, which are close to my essence, in that core.”
Seeing Imadi cough dryly and look away, the word ‘big’ weighed on his mind.
“Don't look at me like that. This half-baked Seven-Star, who barely maintained his sanity and crossed the wall thanks to your metal spirits, feels embarrassed.”
It seemed that Imadi, who had lost his usual calm expression, also had this mischievous side to him.
“I will definitely repay this debt…”
He was about to say he would repay the debt, but he trailed off when he remembered that he had said his lifespan was less than three years at most.
To such a person, what could he do to repay the debt?
He was at a loss for words, but Imadi smiled warmly once more and patted his shoulder.
“I'll say it again, you've already repaid it. Now, let's go. I need to convey your, no, my intentions to that Blood Knight.”
“……Yes.”
“Good. Then stop making a long face and let's go out. Look, your lover is waiting over there.”
“Th, that's not what this is!!”
After shouting unnecessarily, he saw Rauel tilting her head at the entrance of the room far away.
With Rauel's incredible hearing, she would have definitely heard all of this.
His face flushed for no reason.
“Hmm? Hehehehe. Right, let's just say that's what it is.”
The middle-aged man, no, the old man in the form of a middle-aged man, patted his back again with a sly expression.
“It's not that we’re saying it is…!”
“I said let's just say it is, didn't I?”
He felt something welling up in his chest, but seeing Imadi's smiling face, he couldn't bring himself to shout again.
“Youth is indeed good. Hehe…”
Where did the composure of the old man, who was facing the end of his life, no, who had clearly accepted that end, come from?
The sight of Imadi walking ahead with a smile, his hands clasped behind his back, weighed heavily on his heart.
* * *
Only the Blood Knight, Anthony, was informed of Imadi's achievement.
But the initial reaction was not good.
“Sir Muno, I don't think this is the time for such jokes.”
The name Seven-Star carried that much weight, so it was an understandable reaction.
And in front of such an Anthony, Imadi snapped his fingers.
Fwoooosh.
“Hup!?”
Clang.
The moment Anthony, startled by the flames that instantly engulfed his entire body, drew his sword and slid back about ten meters like a bolt of lightning, Imadi extinguished the flames and chuckled.
“Even if you know nothing of spirits, it's not right for one who possesses the mana of fire to be startled by such flames.”
Seeing that, Anthony's blue eyes trembled.
As Imadi had said, because he was a user of fire mana, he could feel how incredible the flames a moment ago were.
A level where one could completely ignore the senses of a 6-Star knight, surround the entire body with flames, and at the same time, control the heat so that not a single hair was damaged.
“Hah. I have no choice but to believe this. Sir Imen…?”
“It's Imadi. I won't be reporting this to the Tower, so you can make good use of me. As Sir Muno said earlier, the expiration date is a bit short, which is a flaw.”
At that mischievous smile, Anthony, who had been aiming his sword, once again showed him polite respect.
“……I fully understand your sacrifice and will, Sir Imadi. On behalf of the kingdom, I express my deepest gratitude.”
“It's enough for me to land a blow on that mage. The source that pollutes the world must be eliminated as soon as possible.”
“I will make that day come soon.”
Both Imadi, who spoke with a smile, and Anthony, who received his words, were firm in the will contained in their words.
‘How do I bring up going home in this atmosphere…’
So much so that Muno had this thought between the two of them.
Of course, it was a needless worry.
“To repeat His Majesty's will, ‘Iron is not so weak as to entrust its fate to a young knight not yet twenty.’ Go where your heart takes you.”
Anthony's answer slightly scratched Muno's pride.
“Still, there will be things I'm needed for, won't there? Martial prowess aside, as for magicians, I…”
“Yes. I know, I know. When you're needed, I'll find you even if you say no, so a kid who isn't fully grown yet should go home, see his parents, and rest.”
…He's teasing me, isn't he?
For a moment, he was about to get angry, but.
‘Sir Rantor isn't here. Is he trying to talk like that?’
The moment he had that thought, he could only smile bitterly.
“Yes. Then please contact me anytime.”
Was it because he didn't react to the teasing, or because he had guessed his inner thoughts?
Anthony also smiled similarly and patted his shoulder.
“Yes. You've already done more than enough, so don't feel burdened. Go to your hometown, make sure the defenses are good, and come back.”
“Then, to Sir Michael or Sir Wade…”
“I'll tell them everything, so don't worry.”
“I don't need to say goodbye?”
“I'm the one in charge, what's the big deal? And Wade is all fired up after seeing your sparring with the Lightning Blade Sword, so if you say goodbye, you'll get caught. You don't seem to have fully recovered yet, do you want to spar again?”
The moment he recalled the blond giant knight in red armor, even the fatigue from staying up all night vanished, and his mind cleared.
“……I will disappear immediately.”
“That's a good idea.”
And so, Muno finally left Aslan.
The only ones to see him off were Anthony and Imadi.
Rauel, who had been his goal in the first place, was right next to him now.
“What is it?”
“Ah, it's nothing. Let's go.”
He had grown during his short stay here and had even found a trace of his enemy, so he was only filled with a sense of satisfaction.
Since he had no more lingering attachments to Aslan, Muno's steps as he left the inner castle were light.
He was completely unaware that figures full of lingering attachments, unlike him, were watching from a distance.
* * *
“Do we have to let that bastard go like this?”
“I apologize, my lord. It would have been better to aim for a later time…”
Zayd's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he watched Evan bow his head and apologize.
A look that was a subtle mixture of annoyance at him for being disgraced without being able to properly discipline a subordinate, and satisfaction at the fact that the knight commander was bowing to him.
But if he had to choose, the proportion of annoyance was a little larger.
“So, what should we do about him now? His usefulness is over, and only a debt remains…”
In Zayd's mind, there was not a speck of gratitude for Muno who had solved their problems.
Now that the bastard's usefulness was over, all that remained was resentment.
“If we use Bisu, the chances of success are low, and there is a possibility of getting caught.”
“I know… that. The traitor is with him. But we can't mobilize the knightly order for that, can we?”
“As long as the royal investigation team is here, the official family forces can never be deployed.”
“Then are you really telling me to just let him go!?”
Zayd finally shouted at the knight commander, completely disrespecting him, but Evan only frowned and did not point out the rudeness.
Officially, the knight commander was by no means below the grand prince.
‘Since Prince Freddie has fallen from grace, it should be seen that the successor has been decided.’
He thought it would be good to boost the brat's spirit a little.
“……Of course not. Swords are not only found in the family.”
“You plan to hire someone from the outside? Do you not know what will happen if we get caught?!”
“That won't happen.”
At Evan's confidence, Zayd's eyes narrowed.
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because I plan to use an organization from the Empire. Even if we are caught, we can just deny it.”
“Are you saying we should just give it a shot?”
“Of course not. I said it was a one-in-a-million chance. I plan to put in a request with a famous assassination organization in the Empire. To those who have assassinated even 6-Star-level knights.”
“Hoh…?”
“Didn't our family also catch the tail of the Empire and the Demon Cult? Even if the Black Knight is assassinated by an organization from the Empire, there are plenty of excuses.”
“More than excuses, I want to hear of his death.”
“You will, soon.”
“In detail.”
“The road to Drasen is long.”
“So?”
“They left with almost nothing. Their injuries are likely not fully healed, and as humans, they will have to stop in cities. Then at that time…”
“You’ll turn the cities along the way into a den of assassins?”
“Yes.”
“Won't there be a lack of time to prepare?”
“It's a problem that can be solved by spending that much more money. That's what contract organizations are for.”
“Hmm… I don't have that much budget I can pull from with my current authority…”
“If we succeed, even His Excellency will say you did well.”
“Alright. I'll push it a little.”
“An excellent decision.”
At that moment when Zayd's and Evan's cold smiles crossed.
“Achoo!!”
Muno, who was preparing to camp, let out a loud sneeze by the campfire.
“Ah. Tsk. Someone must be talking about me…”
“Pardon? What does that mean, Sir Muno?”
“No, it's just some nonsense from my hometown.”
“Ah, yes. But Sir Muno, something keeps bothering me.”
“What is it?”
“That bastard Zayd, he’s the type to cut off an attendant's arm just for talking back. He'll probably dwell on his resentment rather than your help.”
“Ah… I thought it was something serious.”
“Aren't you worried? He's nothing special, but Aslan is still…”
“Weren't they our enemies at one point? I just threw them a job called the Demon Cult, that's all. And you know what. It's better to just leave him alone.”
“……Pardon?”
“A foolish enemy commander is no different from the strongest ally. It's one of the sayings from my hometown.”
“Hoh… So the rumors of a sage in Drasen are true.”
“Ahem.”
A dry cough escaped him at Rauel's words.
“And even if a problem arises, it's not difficult to take that bastard's head. Don't worry about pointless things.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Rauel, who nodded vigorously, began to silently and methodically place the branches she had brought into the campfire.
“Ah, I plan to camp out the whole way to Drasen, is that alright? There's no reason to stop in a city, right? It will only cause trouble.”
“……Of course.”
A life on the streets that she herself had now come to accept naturally.
The master of camping out had not a speck of thought of stopping in a city on the way to his hometown.