Ch.126EP.31 – The Knight Call Themselves Losers (3)

At the moment when blade and spear tip met, he—no, not just him, but his opponent as well—likely blacked out for an instant.

It’s just a feeling, but somehow I’m certain of it.

Anyway, that period of unconsciousness lasted about 1 to 3 seconds?

I didn’t count precisely so I’m not sure, but that seems about right.

I suspect that when the Muae Sword and Pacheon collided, the massive shockwave was so intense that even they couldn’t withstand it, momentarily losing consciousness.

…When he regained his senses, what he saw was.

“—A shattered blade and an intact spear tip.”

“……”

“But despite having the advantage, that fellow suddenly pulled back. I didn’t see any injuries on him.”

“…Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe his judgment was clouded during that brief moment of unconsciousness… Or perhaps there was another reason. Anyway, the match ended inconclusively, and while I felt unsatisfied, that guy claimed he won or whatever and took off. …That’s all.”

“Haha….”

Ihan grumbled about how unpleasant the situation was even as he explained it, and Derrick couldn’t help but laugh.

Despite it being something he’d rather not talk about, Ihan was kindly explaining it in detail, and Derrick knew this “build-up” was for a purpose.

For what purpose, you ask?

“…Still, I’m sorry. For breaking your precious sword.”

“It’s really fine….”

A build-up for an apology.

Experiencing firsthand why debtors must make excuses, Ihan averted his gaze while Derrick could only offer an awkward smile.

Ihan apologized while holding out the Gladius—or rather, “what used to be a Gladius”—now reduced to just a handle with the blade shattered.

Normally he would have brazenly brushed it off, but he hadn’t sold off his sense of shame enough to simply wipe his mouth clean after breaking such a valuable sword.

However, the recipient of the apology waved his hand dismissively.

“It-it’s fine. It wasn’t that valuable anyway.”

“If a fine sword isn’t valuable, then what is?”

Suspecting that Derrick was just trying to ease his burden, Ihan questioned him, but the young man shook his head.

Not out of consideration, but as if expressing his genuine thoughts.

And furthermore:

“A fine sword… Ah, certainly all the swords in that ‘warehouse’ did look good.”

He nodded as if realizing something Ihan didn’t know, and Ihan reflexively asked:

“…Warehouse?”

“Yes, the [Dwarves’ Trash Bin]—it’s a warehouse full of failed works by dwarves and hobbits. It was abandoned about 200 years ago, and I use it as my ‘Warehouse #5’.”

“……”

“That sword was one of the items I took from there. It’s just a bit sturdier than average swords.”

A statement implying he just picked up something relatively clean from among items lying around on the floor.

Ihan suddenly became acutely aware of the wealth gap between himself and Taechang.

“Now I see, the kingdom’s richest man was right in front of me…”

“I-I’m not quite that wealthy. …Though I might be in the top ten?”

“…Let me just stop talking.”

Upon further reflection, he didn’t need returnees or possessors.

‘The status window truly is the ultimate cheat.’

…What an enviable bastard.

Ihan felt a surge of envy he’d never experienced even toward Magnus’s talent.

*

*

*

“—So who won?”

“Huh?”

At his junior’s sudden question, Ihan blinked in confusion. This reaction seemed to cause a misunderstanding, as Yord nervously lowered his eyes, thinking Ihan might be angry.

But curiosity overcame his fear, and he…

“D-didn’t you fight with Lord Magnus? The Black Lion of the North…”

Finally asked his question bravely, and Ihan now understood what he meant, letting out an empty laugh.

With an expression of unparalleled benevolence.

Ihan, wearing a gentle smile:

“Junior. Do you really need to ask that while we’re eating? I might just bite you instead.”

He uttered a quiet warning.

“…I apologize.”

Yord immediately bowed respectfully at the first warning.

Isn’t there a saying that even dogs aren’t disturbed while eating?

Well, dogs might bite when disturbed during meals, and Ihan bites too when disturbed while eating.

Though being civilized, he would administer light discipline with his hands rather than his mouth.

“Being bitten might be better. If you discipline with your hands, you might accidentally commit murder.”

“Enough nonsense, tell me about the situation.”

“It’s not nonsense but the truth…”

Ihan asked about the current situation while hastily filling his stomach with bread and sausage that his all-purpose status window produced from the inventory.

After all, he’d gone off track and didn’t know what was happening.

“At least you haven’t forgotten the mission.”

Jake felt secretly impressed that his friend, despite his poor posture, hadn’t forgotten his fundamental duty.

…Of course, if he expressed such sentiments openly, he might end up being the one bitten instead of the junior, so he kept these thoughts to himself and concisely summarized the situation, stating only what had happened.

Aren’s achievements, the number of demi-humans they had eliminated, and finally, most importantly—

“Fortunately, thanks to our helper, we’ve secured the cultist. The mission is essentially successful… However, we never found the hundreds of demi-humans you mentioned.”

“……”

News that would make anyone’s expression harden.

Ihan swallowed everything in his mouth at once.

“…Did they escape through a passage we don’t know about?”

“Looking on the bright side, they might all be buried dead under the rubble.”

“That would be ideal.”

Ihan had reduced their numbers somewhat, and quite a few demi-humans might not have escaped when the tunnel collapsed.

Perhaps 1/3, or even 1/5 of them had been eliminated?

But even if that many were reduced…

“Even just one or two escaping would be threatening enough.”

“Hmm, should we search the area with the soldiers even now?”

“I don’t know? Would it even matter? If they’ve remained undetected for over 10 years, they won’t be easy to find now.”

“…Despite your appearance, you occasionally make sharp observations.”

“Can we skip the unnecessary comments?”

They scratched their heads.

It was like the anxiety of having exterminated a termite nest with great effort, only to worry that some termites might have survived and headed toward the city.

“…Sigh, can’t be helped.”

Ihan exhaled, and Jake, seeming to understand what he was thinking, gave a tired, bitter smile.

“More hard work might be the solution… Should we stay put for two weeks, no, a month?”

The common conclusion they reached meant standard, tedious labor.

To track the demi-humans, they would extend their stay and visit each village in the area to provide protection.

Literally standard hard work ahead.

“Life…”

The thought of the upcoming hardship naturally brought out a groan.

“…Seniors, you’re truly diligent.”

Yord found his seniors amusing.

In truth, they didn’t need to undertake such hardship themselves, yet they volunteered for it.

No one was ordering them to do it, nor would they receive any reward.

Just to prevent a tragedy that might occur somewhere,

…They were moving solely out of a sense of responsibility, and Yord suddenly understood why these seniors held such low positions.

‘No wonder they don’t advance in their careers.’

Once they take on a task, they show no flexibility.

They work by the book and give their best.

To ensure no harm comes to others…

Who works like this these days?

It’s not like anyone would praise them for it; it’s merely for their own satisfaction.

…But that’s precisely why.

“For now, I’ll get maps of the nearby villages.”

They’re worth following.

And then.

“—The 1st Knight Order will handle that task. You all can return.”

As if proving he wasn’t the only one influenced by them, a man called out.

“Lord Aren? What do you mean…?”

All eyes turned to Aren Pendragon’s declaration, and Aren, with his characteristically arrogant expression, declared once more.

“Exactly what I said. I will personally handle finding the demi-humans and cultists.”

“Along with the 1st Knight Order, you mean?”

“Correct!”

“…Why bother?”

“What! What do you mean by that question!”

“……”

“Answer me!”

…How could he say it with his own mouth?

Trusting him and the 1st Knight Order still seemed…

“Trust the golden child and those half-wits? I’d rather entrust it to our bears than trust you guys.”

……Ironically, there was someone who could openly disparage the royal family and the 1st Knight Order,

And more regrettably, the fact that those words were based on truth made Aren bristle.

Also, while he didn’t understand what “golden child” meant exactly, he could tell from the nuance that it was a derogatory term.

So Aren raised his finger!

“If you call me that golden child one more time, then…!”

“I might pluck that pretty finger of yours.”

“…That’s then and this is now… Ahem, I wasn’t pointing at you. Don’t misunderstand.”

Though angry, Aren seemed to have enough learning capacity to avoid raising his voice directly at Ihan.

Or perhaps he was just afraid of his fists?

“…S-still, I’d like you to entrust this to us.”

Just when it seemed he’d been pathetically subdued, Aren gathered his courage again.

And:

“I too am aware that the 1st Knight Order is lacking in many ways. However, just because individuals in a group lack ability, how can we leave them idle? That’s a waste of manpower and no different from soldiers abandoning their duties—a deception against the state. Therefore, I, Aren Pendragon, as the commander in charge of the 1st Knight Order, have a mission to fulfill that duty and responsibility.”

“……”

…Ihan blinked.

Wait…

‘Why is this guy suddenly talking like a normal person?’

The change in the adult golden child was bewildering even to him.

* * *

Aren continued his argument regardless of his surprise.

“Of course, I know the 1st Knight Order isn’t capable of handling demi-humans, nor would they diligently perform their duties. But if we mobilize the 2nd Knight Order as well and push with numbers, even if we can’t defeat the demi-humans, we can at least contain them. Additionally, due to their mutual antagonism, they’ll perform their assigned duties diligently.”

“…Do you really think that makes sense?”

While that would be ideal, the 1st and 2nd Knight Orders are political rivals.

They’re like oil and water, always eager to eliminate each other.

What if they start fighting or killing each other when sent together…

“—If that happens, I plan to immediately execute them for insubordination.”

“……”

“Before being rivals, the Silver Lions are knights and soldiers belonging to the military. If they disobey orders and act for personal grudges and advancement, execution is only natural. Though I can’t monitor everyone, any knight who loses even one team member will be executed on the spot.”

“That’s too extreme.”

“I’m just doing what’s necessary.”

“…Ha.”

Yord, who had raised an objection, was stunned.

It wasn’t admiration; he was simply dumbfounded by Aren’s boldness.

“There will be significant backlash.”

“I know, but what can I do? The 1st Knight Order is half-witted. They lack skill and have no useful qualities. The 2nd Knight Order is equally useless. And! Knights without use are like rotten roots of the kingdom. Therefore!”

Slash.

“The Pendragons have no need for rotten roots.”

“……”

Jake was equally stunned.

Tyranny.

Extreme tyranny.

Already somewhat arrogant by nature, Aren’s study of kingship had many extreme aspects.

If he had become the heir to the throne, it wouldn’t be surprising if nobles immediately rebelled.

However, he is a prince unrelated to succession, in a position where it doesn’t matter if he’s hated by nobles.

Moreover, he even bears the title of White Lion, created for propaganda purposes.

Even if he arbitrarily punishes knights, both the royalist faction and the noble faction have given him too much power to challenge him.

Perhaps from the nobles’ perspective, they thought he would remain incompetent no matter how much power they gave him…

Could they have anticipated?

That the utterly incompetent brat would become a new person overnight.

“Why is the golden child suddenly acting like this?”

“……”

Ah… come to think of it, that’s not it.

Aren didn’t become a new person overnight; he was forcibly changed like this.

Recalling this, Jake and Yord’s gazes subtly shifted to him, the self-proclaimed authority on character education.

Ihan, who had made the incompetent royal perform his proper role through “loving discipline(?)”:

“Golden child, you didn’t hit your head somewhere, did you?”

“I didn’t! And stop calling me golden child!”

“…You’re still as ill-mannered as ever? Why has this guy changed like this?”

“Eeeeek…!”

He didn’t even realize his own achievement and merely gave a curious look.

“…Is he actually an educator?”

“I think so…”

It was a moment when they couldn’t help but wonder if he should have pursued a career in education rather than knighthood.