episode_0054

* * *

A few hours ago.

Inside the royal castle before the Kalinz group arrived.

“… … .”

Lin sat on the throne and read Farfalle’s letter handed to him by the messenger over and over again.

To summarize, the contents were as follows.

[All of Swen’s predictions came true. From the beginning, Mr. Charam was in secret with Mr. Acious to stab us in the back. I also heard news that a rebellion had broken out. Everything he said was correct. His abilities are extraordinary. Even if his opinion doesn’t agree with mine, I think it’s trustworthy.]

Farfalle was not an arrogant person, but he was also not the type to be humble and deny his outstanding abilities.

She was overconfident, and rarely listened to the opinions of others, and she did not like it at all when others intervened and modified her opinions.

She was speaking to her lord for the first time in her life. ‘It’s okay to trust his opinions even if they don’t match yours.’

Not someone with talent in a completely different field like Irene, but someone who is competing in the same waters as me, like Swen.

At this point, Lin’s mind was in an uncontrollable and complicated state.

Obviously, a lot of talented people came in… … Her mind was never at peace.

How on earth is everything he says so unrealistic?

There is a general who gets everything right… … Why on earth is the emotion felt not ‘reassurance’ or ‘reliability’ but ‘fear’?

Lin Brans basically did not trust others.

The biggest reason she was able to become the successor was because she did not trust anyone.

It was a well-known fact among the three siblings that the reason his father, Orlando Brans, chose Lin, rather than Chel or Kalinz, as his successor was because of her disposition to not rely on or trust anyone.

to be honest.

Although Farfalle was one of the smartest people in the Central Continent, he also knew that his abilities were not that outstanding compared to the tricksters of other countries.

But that’s why Lin was able to use her with peace of mind.

Because in the end, I believed that I could control it. Because I used her heavily, but at the same time, I didn’t trust her 100%.

Part of this was going to recruit talented people buried in weak countries.

Instead of not trusting one person absolutely, gather as many people as possible who might be able to give her an opinion.

Then the options you can choose from will increase even more.

but.

Her peaceful ‘plan to manage Brans County’ began to go awry due to a man named Swen.

It was she herself who recruited Swen, not anyone else.

For a tactician belonging to a weak country, he seemed to be quite intelligent.

Sometimes it was enough to give a mantra that would give you goosebumps.

okay. That was exactly what was expected of him. Listening to advice on the situation on the continent and talking about plans, that’s it.

but.

He continued to make ‘nonsense’ claims that were difficult to persuade.

As time passed, that nonsensical claim eventually became a ‘correct’ claim and appeared before my eyes.

Is that it?

Now he remains in the fortress, even in defiance of himself, in a battle he thought he could never win… …

They even made a sacrifice to the sky and summoned a stone.

Lin had a hunch.

That Swen is not a person who exists in an area that he can control.

That’s why I was afraid of him.

His subordinate general, who seems like he can’t handle it the way he wants, and who keeps saying only the right things… … The monarch himself was afraid.

At first, I didn’t want to show it.

Anyway, Swen’s master was himself.

I thought that if I saw a chance that it might escape my control, I would be able to handle it somehow.

In fact, when he entered the throne room with Kalintz, he wasn’t that nervous.

okay. It won’t be a big deal.

Even at the moment when I had just started fighting alone with Kalinz and Airen… … It was okay.

but.

The more I talked to him, the more I started to fear him again.

It was dawning on her that no matter what she did, she wouldn’t be able to manipulate him the way she wanted.

Without realizing it, my voice began to tremble.

Without realizing it, I was feeling chills throughout my body.

Clearly, the monarch is himself.

Even though it is he who can order right now to throw him in prison with no reason, or even frame him and cut off his head.

Still, I was so scared of the presence of Swen, kneeling before my eyes and calmly muttering things that could not be said, such as ‘reading the stars in the sky’ or ‘reading people’s actions’.

“Swen… … What on earth are you… … ?”

I barely manage to squeeze it out and ask him about his existence.

What are you?

How much do you know?

Do you know that I’m afraid of you?

Just like that, when I opened my mouth without realizing it and was ruminating again in my mouth the words I had spit out.

Swen said with a slow smile.

“Lin. It’s okay.”

“It’s okay… … ?”

“My talent belongs solely to Lin. There is no need to be afraid.”

‘… … !!!’

okay.

As expected, this man could see right through my fear of him.

But, at the same time… …

He was bending his back all the way and speaking to himself as if he was begging.

“Please use me as your compass, Lin. I will be happy to oblige.”

‘… … ?’

Although I was a little taken aback by the sudden appearance of Swen in a low posture.

Still, somehow, I regained my composure and asked.

“… … That means… … .”

“It is literal, my lord.”

Swen looked up at Lin and spoke in a polite tone.

“It was a mediocre talent, but I was able to join Brans County because Lin highly valued it. I think this is a great stage to make my dreams come true. My dream is not to take the world into my own hands. My dream is to help the person who will hold the world in his hands.”

“If you are the one who will hold the world in your hands… … .”

“Yes.”

Swen confidently spoke to Lin, who was slightly trembling.

“I’m talking about you, Lin.”

“… … !”

“My goal is to achieve success and make a name for myself. I don’t have any special wishes. Please fill in what I want. Lin will fulfill your needs.”

After Swen said that… …

He lowered his head further to the floor again and said.

“Please, give me wings, my lord.”

*

After Swen retreated.

Finally, Rin, who was left alone in the throne room, was able to melt time again and again and finally regain his composure.

As soon as she was able to think somewhat rationally, the first thing she did was think over what Swen had told her.

‘Please use yourself as a compass… … is it.’

What you mean is, are you asking me to make you the national secretary?

Even if it didn’t necessarily mean that, it was clear that he meant to use himself with importance.

He said he wanted to make a name for himself. And, I also said that the person who will hold the world in my hands is not someone else, but me, Lin Brans.

So, to sum it up – he was saying not to be afraid of him, but to please use it.

‘… … .’

to be honest.

When I heard that my goal was to achieve success and fame, I honestly felt like I was losing steam.

You have that much ability, but only that much ambition?

Moreover, he proudly told Lin himself that he was ‘the person who will rule the world’.

Although she thought so herself, it was a bit different to hear it from someone else’s mouth.

Rather than really thinking that way… … I feel like they are flattering me to look good to me, the monarch.

Rin couldn’t get that thought out of his mind.

‘I… … ‘Have I overestimated him?’

She thought, twisting her hair with her fingers.

Swen clearly sensed that I, my lord, was afraid of him.

So I said, ‘It’s okay not to be afraid.’

So, even though he knows that I am afraid of him, he bows down to me like that and says that he will use his abilities for me?

Seeing Swen in an extremely low posture made my mind become even more confused.

Thinking about that, my first meeting with Swen naturally came to mind.

He said, ‘Lord Runarien Inian thought he was a traitor who was in cahoots with Branth’s army.’

Apparently, his former master, Runarien, was also afraid of Swen’s abilities and treated him in that way.

How wide would the vessel of a weak monarch of a seemingly weak country be?

It would be understandable if something like that led him to choose Boshin rather than dream big.

‘I evaluated Swen’s abilities too highly… … It may be that Swen has put a high value on the human being himself.’

Because the extraordinary ability and courageous humanity were not proportional.

If you think about it, the reason he protested was quite simple.

To give credit.

Perhaps he was trying to ride the line of Kalinz. As a new general, it will be difficult for me to maintain a connection around me where Farfalle and public officials are holding out.

In the first place, his desire for success and fame did not feel false in the sense that he defended a meaningless fortress to the point of defiance in order to get on the line in the first place.

Thinking like that, I felt a little relieved.

Of course, there was a real reason why Swen remained in the fortress, but there was no way for Rin to find out.

‘… … In fact, that level is just right. If you are a person who is clear about what you want… … .’

Lin smiled bitterly.

okay.

Give him what he wants, but don’t trust him 100% and only get what he can from you.

I thought that maybe that could create a win-win relationship between me and Swen.

If Swen’s goal was truly to achieve success and fame, he was confident that he would take care of it.

If I could just make him depend on me and be loyal to me – from then on, I was confident that she could somehow handle him.

Because there is no one easier to deal with than someone who has a clear idea of what they want.

“Hehehe.”

Rin’s laughter filled the quiet throne room.

okay.

There was no need to be scared. No matter what anyone said, I was the absolute one.

‘Swen… … Would you like to slowly prove your abilities? If you just do that, I will make you into a body that you can’t live without… … .’

As she thought so, she continued to twirl her fingers and twist her hair.

It was after another 30 minutes had passed that the action stopped.

* * *

When I finished the audience and went out of the castle, Irene was waiting for me.

“Swen.”

“You should have gone home first.”

“How could I leave you first? We have the same destination.”

She said that, then suddenly lowered her head slightly and-

He said, looking up at me with a red face.

“And… … It’s been a long time since I returned home. I wanted to go in with you.”

“I see. Me too.”

Irene smiled brightly at my words.

Lately, I have been able to see her smiling often.

“… … Thank goodness.”

On the way home from the castle.

She asked me a few questions.

“Did your talk with the lord end well?”

“Yes.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s nothing special, I just created an illusion.”

Irene tilted her head at my words.

“You planted an illusion?”

“Yes.”

I said with a grin.

“I gave her confidence that she might be able to control me at will.”

“It instilled confidence… … Why?”

“That’s right, it’s easier to be deceived by someone you think you can handle rather than someone you’re afraid of.”

“It bothers me to say that I am afraid, but what does it mean to be deceived?”

“Now it’s time to leave.”

“… … !!”

Irene’s pupils suddenly shrank when she heard what I said.

“Before you leave, wouldn’t it make sense to pack everything you need?”

She looked around briefly and then asked in a cautious tone.

“If you say it’s time to leave… … .”

“Yes. Irene, please prepare your heart too. We will go to meet our new master soon.”

okay.

Before me, even for Irene’s safety.

We had to leave this place quickly.

Irene listened to me and didn’t say anything-

Soon, he spoke with a faint smile.

“… … okay. Swen, if that’s what you’re going to do, I’ll follow you to any extent.”

“That’s fine.”

I smiled along with her.

The bond between me and her was clearer than ever.

“Shall we go back now? To my house.”

“My house… … Ira.”

Iren repeated the word ‘we’ several times, then looked at me and smiled.

Her face, bathed in sunlight, seemed more dazzling than ever.

“Okay. Let’s go back, Swen. with me. To our home.”

Where our story began.

It was time to head back to 32nd Street in East Arnell.