Ch.304Bait (3)

Issac’s father, Hawk Ducar Mayshall’s life has been more tumultuous than most.

Born as a child of ordinary commoners, he showed remarkable martial prowess from a young age and caught the eye of a nobleman by chance, becoming a knight.

While commoners becoming knights is fairly common in the Empire of Minerva, the martial achievements he accumulated were far from ordinary.

He was the main figure in the dragon subjugation known as the Askanal Incident, and defended the border region—which was frequently invaded by barbarian beastmen and elven scout parties—for over 10 years.

Each achievement Hawk established had a significant impact on the Empire of Minerva, and his border defense was recognized even by the imperial family.

Before his deployment, the border region was a place where barbarian beastmen would invade at every opportunity, causing numerous casualties.

Moreover, just for blocking the barbarians’ major offensive, it was natural for him to be granted a title.

But perhaps due to living each day only in battle, his active service period was very short compared to other knights.

Unless one suffers severe injuries, there is no retirement for knights. Bluntly put, if one judges themselves to be fine, they can serve until death.

This would be nearly impossible on Earth due to aging, but this world is a fantasy setting where “Mana” exists.

Mana not only prevents aging but also enables physical enhancement, providing great assistance to professions like knights.

Even if the body itself ages, it can be compensated with mana cultivation techniques refined over decades.

This is why there are many people called “old but skilled,” and the Empire of Minerva treats its soldiers very well.

Anyway, the reason Hawk retired at an early age despite this unique culture was none other than his “heart.”

Think about it. A comrade who was laughing and chatting merrily becomes a cold corpse overnight, and you have to kill even if they’re barbarian beastmen.

And if this repeats every day, could any sane person endure it?

This was what the border region was like when Hawk served. In fact, the reason he could become a knight commander at a young age was because all his colleagues and superiors had died.

Even after becoming a knight commander, these tragedies continued. It was an extreme environment that no ordinary person could endure without going mad.

Fortunately, Hawk endured such an environment silently and continued fighting, and in the meantime, he met a lovely lover and made a lifelong commitment.

Afterward, he diligently continued his main duties, ultimately blocking the barbarian beastmen’s all-out offensive and even producing a successor who could take over.

Finally, he was offered the title of count by the imperial family, but he deliberately accepted only a baronetcy, saying he would rather not suffer any more mental anguish.

A truly great man worthy of decorating a page in history. However, Hawk refused to let his name be known for the sake of a comfortable life.

The Empire also desperately wanted to use his fame, but they respected their treatment of soldiers and complied with his request.

Thus, Hawk ended his military life—which was glorious if you call it glorious, and cruel if you call it cruel—and continued a harmonious family life.

His eldest son Dave and eldest daughter Nicole followed in his footsteps by joining the Navy Knights, and his youngest daughter Lilly was needless to say, adorable.

Finally, his second son Issac was both Hawk’s greatest pride and, paradoxically, his biggest headache.

You might ask, “Why call him a headache when your son is none other than Xenon? Shouldn’t you be proud?”

Hawk himself even told Issac that he could use him as a shield. In reality, he wouldn’t mind being used as a shield.

The problem is that Issac’s status has become too elevated. At the time he said those words, Issac was only a great writer worthy of being recorded in history.

That alone would have been enough, but now? Now he’s simply being treated as scripture.

Between an ordinary(?) great writer and a biography written by a prophet or regressor, which would have a greater impact?

Far from being a shield, that shield would be pierced through by a spear and more. It’s certainly good that his son has achieved greatness, but he’s grown so much that he can’t be contained.

Issac’s fame already far exceeds the achievements Hawk established during his active service. Rather than Hawk being Issac’s shield, Issac has become the shield protecting the family.

In such a situation, what would happen if Hawk suddenly became the shield?

“Lord!! Are you really Xenon?!”

“Please tell us just once! If not, say no, and if so, say yes!”

“Baron! Why did you kill Kayre?”

What would happen? Chaos, that’s what.

Currently, countless people have gathered in front of the Mayshall mansion’s main gate. They are people of all ages and genders, commoners who have heard the news from newspapers.

Most of them are also residents of the Mayshall territory. After seeing the newspaper, they gathered one by one in front of the gate, and after a few days, their numbers became uncountable.

Fortunately, the security personnel guarding the gate are barely maintaining control, but it’s just that—control. If they tried to break through by force, they could easily do so.

If the situation outside the gate is like this, is the inside of the mansion peaceful?

“Will you truly deny it? All these circumstances point to Baron Mayshall.”

“Currently, the Mayshall territory is developing from a holy site into a sanctuary, so are you going to lie in a place protected by God?”

“If not you, then who else could be Xenon?”

Not at all. Currently, Hawk was busy dealing with nobles who had come from somewhere.

While he might not know about the commoners who were protesting outside, he had to receive all noble visits unless it was for something truly insignificant.

Moreover, if he refused even this, it might give them certainty, which he must avoid.

So Hawk cleared his throat and opened his mouth, looking at the nobles sitting neatly at the guest reception table.

“…What about me makes you think I’m Xenon?”

“Red hair and golden eyes.”

“You also have rich experience as a knight. You would have used that as a basis for the battle scenes in the Biography of Xenon.”

“Seeing how you transformed a once-barren city into a cultural city, you must have wisdom no less than a sage.”

The nobles answered Hawk’s question in friendly unison. Hawk was dumbfounded seeing this.

Red hair and golden eyes are features not only he but also Dave and Issac possess. Let’s exclude Lilly as she’s a newborn.

Using rich experience as a knight to incorporate into the Biography of Xenon? That was possible because he shared it with Issac.

‘There are battle methods I don’t know about too.’

Although Hawk experienced more significant incidents than others during his active service, there are many things in the Biography of Xenon that he never experienced.

Moreover, despite what they say, most of it was created by Issac alone. He merely advised on historical accuracy.

Lastly, transforming a barren territory into a cultural city is just their misconception. The imperial family did everything; he just stamped a ton of approval documents.

But because these aspects harmonize so perfectly, everyone mistakes Hawk for Xenon.

“Sigh… Contrary to your thoughts, I am not Xenon. So would you please leave for today?”

“Alright. But next time, I hope to hear a better answer.”

“We don’t want to disturb Xenon either, so we’ll be going.”

“Before that, may I ask just one thing? Why did you kill Kay…”

The noble who was asking the last question was dragged away by another noble’s hand. The point is that he was struggling to get an answer even as he was being dragged away.

Hawk sighed deeply, looking up at the ceiling, feeling as if a storm had just passed by.

Like a bolt from the blue, he has no idea what’s going on when he was living a life no different from usual.

‘He’s definitely not a thoughtless child…’

He already knows about the incident where Issac slapped Hyria’s cheek. Rina had contacted Hawk as well to prepare for any contingency.

This situation seems to be caused by that incident, but he’s frustrated because he doesn’t know the exact circumstances.

‘It seems clear that there’s something I don’t know about.’

Right now, he’s faithfully fulfilling his role as a shield as Issac wanted. The priority is to somehow calm the territory until he arrives.

Hawk quickly rose from his seat, hoping for Issac’s arrival.

Although he had sent the nobles away, that didn’t mean his work was done. There’s still a mountain of tasks to be done, and he can’t postpone them just because he’s tired.

And there are still territory residents gathered outside shouting, so he needs to calm them down first.

‘What are you thinking, son?’

*****

Just as Hawk is dealing with nobles, there is someone in the Mayshall territory who is in a similar situation.

That person is none other than the publisher of the Biography of Xenon, Musk Grid.

He, who had been living a peaceful daily life as before, faced an awkward situation due to the suddenly revealed identity of Xenon.

“Is it true that Xenon has red hair and golden eyes?”

“If you just tell us that, I’ll give you all the money here!”

“Now that it’s been revealed, there’s no need to hesitate anymore, is there?”

Musk couldn’t help but feel troubled by the nobles and rich people trying to tempt him with all sorts of sweet talk and bribes.

He would like to accept it wholeheartedly. This situation was too different from before.

Until now, nothing about Xenon’s identity was certain. So he could flatly refuse, saying he would keep his trust.

But the current situation is somewhat subtly different. Unlike Hawk and those around Issac, he had no idea what situation had occurred.

Strictly speaking, he had seen the newspaper, but he didn’t know anything about how the news had spread.

If Hawk is Hawk in his own way, Musk is truly a bolt from the blue in the true sense.

‘Should I tell them, or not?’

Musk smiled awkwardly, scanning the faces of the nobles who had barged into his office one by one.

The problem is that while the newspaper suggests Xenon’s identity has been almost revealed, it’s not certain. Most people currently consider Hawk to be Xenon.

If he answers that it’s correct, the situation might improve from now, but he doesn’t know how Issac would think about it. He wants to cry because there’s no escape route.

“I’m sorry, but could you wait a little? Xenon’s letter will arrive soon anyway, so this is troublesome.”

“When exactly will that letter arrive?”

“Can’t you just say yes or no?”

“Can’t you even say that much when everything has already been revealed?”

You bastards. Can’t you even wait for that? It’s only been a few days since the news broke.

Musk pushed down the urge to burst out with the above words and responded with a smiling face.

As they say, you can’t spit on a smiling face, so the people pressuring him had no choice but to reluctantly back down.

Or more precisely, they were about to back down.

Clank!

“Director! A letter has arrived from Xenon!”

Until his loyal subordinate and secretary, Matthew, arrived with Xenon’s letter.

At Matthew’s intrusion, everyone’s attention, including Musk’s, focused on him.

“Q-quickly, hand it over. Hurry!”

Matthew, receiving all those gazes, momentarily realized his mistake and showed a reaction of “oops,” but it was glossed over by Musk’s quick judgment.

Eventually, Matthew delivered the letter to Musk while enduring the piercing gazes, and Musk slowly opened the received letter.

Although the time difference between when the news was printed in the newspaper and when the letter arrived was short, he didn’t mind.

Rip-

“What does it say?”

“Tell us quickly!”

Wait a bit, you bastards. I just started reading.

Musk frowned at their behavior, which showed not even a speck of patience. The only fortunate thing was that they didn’t just snatch the letter away.

Then he began to read slowly from the first sentence. As always, the first sentence was a plain introduction.

What followed was…

“……Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Surely Count Kamar’s words aren’t wrong, are they?”

When Musk showed a surprised reaction, people expressed their interest in various ways. Some seemed tense, saying nothing and just keeping their mouths shut.

Then Musk stared at the letter, blinked, and raised his head. After raising it, he faced them directly and said:

“……He’s coming.”

“Coming?”

“Who? Xenon?”

“Yes.”

The small ball that Hyria shot up.

“Exactly one week from now, based on the current time.”

Has become a massive meteor.

“He says he will reveal himself at the concert hall.”

And has fallen on the Mayshall territory.

******

Meanwhile, around the same time, in Alfheim.

“Could the rumor be true? If this is true, the range narrows down tremendously.”

“It’s not certain yet. But I hope it’s true. We should also quickly present our Queen to Xenon.”

“Me too. We can’t lose to those rootless demons.”

As rumors about Xenon’s identity spread, elves also began to stir one by one. While most were curious about Xenon’s identity, they also showed deep interest in Arwen.

As soon as Xenon’s identity was revealed, the entire nation had agreed to present Arwen as a gift.

The elves, who had been pushed back by the demons until now, were determined this time.

No matter how good a gift they presented, nothing could compare to the Queen, who was almost equivalent to Alfheim itself.

While public opinion in Alfheim was united with one heart and mind, Arwen was…

‘What should I do? What should I do? What should I do?’

Surprisingly, she was very flustered.

‘What clothes should I wear then? This is my first time. I’ve never done this before. There was no explanation for this in books either. No, before that, did Kayre and Elisha have a relationship? There was no such description.’

While drinking her own imaginary soup to her heart’s content.

‘I hope Issac doesn’t dislike me. I wonder if he’ll compare me to that fat woman? I’m confident about my lower part… ugh. No. I have nothing to be inferior about.’

She’s worrying about a “future” that’s too far ahead.