Chapter 86: Using What was Learned

Though they were served with a meal and tea separately at Baron Volten’s mansion…

They didn’t particularly feel like they were being treated as guests.

If anything, it felt like the baron’s side was urging them to get to the main point quickly by doing all that.

Clink.

Isaac set down his teacup.

His reason for coming here was to find the mercenary group that was suspected to be the one behind the assassination attempt on the princess, but…

Of course, he hid this particular reason from Baron Volten.

“Milly Marseau. That’s the name of my friend.”

Instead, he told the baron his other reason.

Since he had already made an appointment with him before the assassination attempt, this shouldn’t rouse any suspicion from him.

“She worked in Helmont’s kitchen. For about…six years, I think.”

“You think?”

“…”

He didn’t bother answering that.

Because his silence was enough as an answer.

“I want to find her family. At least, I want to let them visit her grave in Evergard.”

Seeing the sincerity emanating from his complex expression…

Baron Volten stroked his beard with his thick fingers and nodded.

“I understand. I’ll have my people look around.”

“Thank you, Baron Volten.”

After that, they stood up and shook hands.

Their firm handshake gave a subtle feeling of them establishing a hierarchical relationship between them.

Does he think he got leverage on me?

Of course, it’d be fortunate if he could find Milly’s family, but that didn’t mean Isaac wouldn’t distinguish between his duty and personal matters.

There was no way he’d give up on finding out the truth behind the assassination attempt on the princess over his own personal matter.

“Do you have a place to stay? If not, you could stay at my mansion.”

“No, we can’t impose on you that much. We’ve booked an inn already. Right?”

Isaac turned his head towards the Grandmaster, who had been standing behind him all this time.

Unable to manage her expression well, the Grandmaster forced a smile and nodded.

“Yes… We have…”

“Hmm, is that so? Such a shame. And here I was, thinking that I’d get to talk more with you.”

“I appreciate the offer. But, since our plan to stay might be prolonged due to our goal, I thought that it’d be too much to impose on you.”

Calm and polite.

One could say that he utilized all the lessons on manners that he learned back at Helmont. But, Baron Volten wasn’t really the type to care about such things.

“Hahaha, impose on me? Please, Baron Logan! The entire kingdom is indebted to you!”

A gleam appeared in Baron Volten’s eyes.

As he said, due to the attempted assassination, Isaac’s reputation had risen even further than before.

“From your achievement in the North, the Helmont’s Sword Dance Festival, the Blackthorn’s Subjugation, to the recent banquet. Baron Logan, your track record is similar to that of a hero from the legends!”

“You flatter me. It was all just a coincidence.”

“That’s only made it all the more heroic!”

The two barons then stepped outside the mansion. As Baron Volten saw Isaac off for the last time, he mentioned that he’d contact him immediately if he found anything.

After they left the mansion, the Grandmaster immediately approached Isaac.

“Earlier, you spoke to me on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Is that important right now?”

“Haa, fine. We’ll settle this later.”

“…”

Now boarding the carriage again, the Grandmaster took out her tobacco, unable to resist the temptation. Although she was only putting it in her mouth without lighting it.

“So how was it? Did you find out anything?”

“Well, one thing is certain—“

Isaac nodded with an uneasy expression.

“He’s aware that something is off.”

Indeed, Baron Volten already knew that he was under suspicion.

And yet he was treating them so calmly despite that.

Furthermore, his self-confidence didn’t seem like mere bravado.

The carriage then headed towards an inn; the inn that was a little bit far from the mansion, the one that they deliberately chose so that they could move around freely.

As they arrived, Isaac entered his room.

Let’s go out immediately.

Since they just arrived in the city, his fatigue had built up considerably, but he wasn’t here to play. Hence why he planned to enact his search as soon as he could.

Creak.

At that moment, the Grandmaster entered the room.

“…What, are you actually serious about that matter from earlier?”

“Of course. What do you take me for?”

To that, the Grandmaster replied nonchalantly and shrugged.

“We have a tail. Probably since we left the baron’s mansion. What do you want to do?”

“A tail? Good. Still, that’s rather bold of them.”

If they didn’t react at all, it would’ve been harder to gauge their intentions.

“Anyway, let’s use them. We just need to make them think that we’re just staying here and not doing anything else.”

“Giving them false information, then? Not bad. What do you have in mind?”

“Well, I’ll need you to play along.”

“Hmm, as long as you don’t make me use honorifics, sure.”

“You don’t need to say anything. Just follow me.”

If anything, the moment you open your mouth, you’ll ruin it.

Currently, the innkeeper was preparing dinner.

The inn had a service to provide the guests with dinner, but in reality, the ‘meal’ was just a soup made by throwing in whatever was available.

“Innkeeper.”

Hearing the call of the rare guest from outside, though he was still boiling said soup, the innkeeper turned his head around.

At the end of his gaze was a man, accompanied by a woman who was biting her lip with her head lowered, as if embarrassed.

Oh?

“The bed’s mattress is too dirty. Do you have any clothes or blankets we could lay down?”

Usually, the inn wouldn’t provide such service, but…

He’s a noble, just a little consideration towards him won’t hurt.

Judging by his appearance, it was clear that he was from a well-off family, so the innkeeper handed the man a clean blanket he had just washed earlier without hesitation.

“Please keep it clean.”

“I can’t promise that.”

Damn, what a bold guy.

Well, a noble with a face like that… It won’t be strange if he plays around with different women every day.

The innkeeper clicked his tongue. After the pair was gone, he whispered to a man sitting at a table on the first floor.

“It seems they’re gonna rest today. He took a blanket, saying that the bed was dirty.”

“A blanket?”

“You saw the woman with him? You should know what I mean.”

“Haa.”

The man let out a sigh and nodded.

The innkeeper expected a tip from him, but what came out was just a calm response.

“The baron will be pleased by your loyalty.”

That was all he said. Yet, despite that, the innkeeper grinned and rubbed his hands.

“Oh my! What wouldn’t I do for the baron?”

The innkeeper bowed several times before returning to his main job.

Meanwhile the man looked up at the stairs Isaac climbed up and clicked his tongue.

Tsk, in the end, he’s the same as the others.

He had heard the guy was a baron of commoner origin.

But in the end, a noble was just a noble.

Our baron is different.

In his eyes, Baron Volten was a revolutionary, and that was actually the fact.

After all, he was both a commander and a guardian protecting the city.

In any case, the man was monitoring the pair as per the baron’s order, but seeing what had just transpired, he thought that tonight they’d probably just fall asleep due to the fatigue from their trip.

**   *   **

“Any last words? I’ll deliver them to your ex-wife. That’s my final act of kindness for you.”

“S-Shouldn’t we be leaving now?!”

Just as the people downstairs suspected.

The pair was having some hot and intense bedroom action.

As soon as they entered the room, the Grandmaster pounced on Isaac with burning eyes.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been treated like this—-!”

“That’s just the normal thing for everyone to assume when they see a man and a woman in a room together! In any case, thanks to this, they won’t think that we’ll leave the room tonight!”

Meanwhile, Isaac fled to the corner of the room, his back pressed flat against the wall.

Even while she was really angry, the Grandmaster still didn’t act on it, probably because she knew that his argument was completely reasonable.

“Haa, fine. But next time, if you want to do something like this, make sure to tell me in advance.”

“I thought if I did, you wouldn’t do it… Still, are you really okay with this?”

Isaac asked that, just in case, but…

He never really expected that she’d answer it seriously.

“I’ve solved most problems in my life with a sword.”

“…”

“And I will continue to do so.”

What she was trying to say here was that she’d rather take up her sword and kill everyone here than doing this again.

“…Let’s just go.”

**   *   **

It took about three days for Isaac and the Grandmaster to reach Volten by carriage, but…

Sharen, riding alone on horseback, could arrive in less.

Or at least, that was what she thought.

“Hey, why are you being like this?!”

Sharen whimpered, looking down at her panting horse. It suddenly collapsed on her, as if in pain.

Thanks to Helmont’s robust physique, she wasn’t hurt from falling off the horse, but this meant she had lost her means of getting to Volten.

“Ugh, I don’t want to run all the way there”

Sharen shook the horse back and forth, trying to make it stand, but the horse showed no signs of getting up.

“Seriously, this is all Isaac’s fault! Isaac, you idiot! You’re getting five Inferno Surges! No less!”

She cried out, whimpering.

Now that the sun had set and she had entered a mountain path, her surroundings had turned dark.

She didn’t want to sleep outdoors, as she was rightfully scared of the dark mountains.

“Get up!”

In hindsight, she should have rested for a day before setting out.

As Sharen was wallowing in her regret, a voice that was different from her horse’s labored breathing entered her ears.

Clop clop clop.

“Hoofs?!”

She jumped up.

A group of people was coming towards her.

“Waa! Hey! Over here!”

She waved her hands, blocking their path, ready to draw her greatsword if necessary, but…

It’ll be okay! I’m cute!

She was confident her cute appearance would work.

There were around six people.

All of them carried weapons and were rushing along the path urgently.

They stopped in front of Sharen, who was blocking the way.

Skipping greetings, Sharen immediately shouted.

“Hey! Can you take me with you? I just need to get to the nearest town!”

Hearing Sharen’s request, the man leading the group dismounted.

The man had a distinctive sun-like scent, typical of those from the South.

His face was somewhat frivolous, and there was a longsword at his waist.

“Please! My horse suddenly collapsed!”

But to Sharen, they all looked like nothing more than a lifeline that had come down to save her.

“Ahem, miss, I am Bellington, leader of the mercenary group called Belling Waltz. May I ask who you are?”

The reason why he was being so polite here was simple.

Fuck! A Helmont?!

He had noticed who she was before he asked that question.

Her red hair, the greatsword on her back.

If anything, it would’ve been strange not to notice after seeing those distinct characteristics.

What’s a Helmont doing in a place like this?!

Seriously, what kind of ill-fate—!?

“Ah, my name’s Sharen Helmont! Please take me to the nearest town! I’ll reward you!”

Hearing Sharen declared proudly, the mercenaries glanced at each other.

‘We are heading back to Volten anyway, no?’

‘Let’s just give her a ride and send her off after we arrive…’

‘If we refuse her and she ends up suspecting us, the goods we received as payment might end up getting discovered by her…’

The members of Belling Waltz exchanged opinions through eye contact, and Bellington nodded with a friendly smile.

“Well, we’re mercenaries. As long as you’re willing to pay, we’ll be at your service.”

‘What the fuck?! You’re asking for payment?!’

‘Boss! Don’t cross the line!’

‘You idiots, trust me, this is the right move!’

Unlike the anxious-looking mercenaries behind him, Bellington decided to act confidently.

In his eyes, it was more unnatural for mercenaries to accept a request without asking for payment.

“Oh…!”

Hearing this, Sharen nodded and said with a smile.

“I’ve already paid you, though!”

“…Sorry?”

The mercenary members blinked their eyes, wondering what she was talking about.

Then, with the brightest smile, she…

“Your lives! You still have it, don’t you?”

‘This crazy bitch—!’

‘Fucking Helmont!’

‘They said they’re a knight family?! Hell no, they’re just thugs!!’

‘These lunatics!’

Helmont had a great reputation as knights among knights, but…

Where there was light, there was naturally shadow.

At Sharen’s unreasonable demand, Bellington gritted his teeth, barely maintaining his smile.

“A-Ah, I see! Y-You’re right! Thank you very much!”

“Right? Good! You, ride behind him! I’m gonna take your horse!”

“Understood!”

“One of you, bring my horse with you! Got it?”

“Of course, of course!”

Bellington quickly gave the horse he had been riding to Sharen.

“It’s too high.”

Since the saddle was too high for her to mount, Bellington extended his hand to support her as she climbed up.

“Good! Let’s go!”

The sound of hoofs echoed again in the night.

Under the cool night breeze, Sharen let out a bright smile as she remembered the event that transpired a few days ago.

[Sharen, don’t be so reckless outside, okay? Also, don’t trouble Isaac too much.]

-Oh, c’mon! I said I got it!

Back before she left Helmont Mansion, at the front gate.

She had a conversation with Rianna.

Rianna had assumed the position of family head after defeating Lohengrin 20 times in a row in a series of duels.

In other words, she was speaking to Sharen as the head of Helmont. Her expression showed her unrelenting worry and concern.

[Haa, I’m sorry I couldn’t give you much pocket money. We’re not that well-off right now.]

Just rebuilding the mansion put a big dent on their treasury, but originally, that alone wouldn’t have been a big problem for Helmont.

The problem here was that even before that, they had splurged quite a lot of money.

Hosting the Sword Dance Festival needed an enormous sum, then there were also additional expenses like the various funerals, and them sending condolence money to their people.

For the first time ever, Helmont was tightening its belt.

-It’s okay, sister! I can be self-sufficient!

[You know what ‘self-sufficient’ means? Impressive.]

-…

[Hey! Don’t ignore me!]

Helmont had good ears.

That was probably why…

Lohengrin, who had been swinging his greatsword outside, sweating profusely, approached them, panting.

[Urk.]

-Ugh.

Immediately the two sisters pinched their noses.

But Lohengrin ignored their reaction, clenched his fist and said.

[Anyway, listen to me. If anyone demands your money, just tell them: ‘Isn’t it enough that I let you live?!’ I’ve solved most things this way.]

-Ooh.

[…Don’t ever use that, Sharen.]

Rianna warned her, but…

Unfortunately, she didn’t remember that warning.

Or probably, she chose to forget that specific part of her memory.

That idiot can be useful sometimes!

Regardless, it was thanks to his advice that Sharen could ride her new horse with a happy smile.