Ch.327EP.69 – The Knight Cheers for the Youth(7)

Due to the royal debutante ball being held after several years, countless nobles were gathering in the royal capital, despite there still being ten days until the royal event.

Should I say that nobles could be seen everywhere you went on the streets?

Perhaps because of this influx of nobles, the royal capital had not gone dark at night for the past fortnight.

Parties were held one after another, and it wasn’t uncommon to see lower nobles passed out drunk on the streets after reveling day and night until dawn.

And today as well.

“The Chancellor worries too much. What’s the problem with having a few subversive elements? They say these forces haven’t even caused much damage to the royal capital. With just our knights, we could eliminate those bastards in one go.”

“Would the Chancellor want to be like that? He just has many concerns because of his high position.”

“Then to ease those concerns, we should show our strength in the war game. How powerful our family truly is!”

“I look forward to it, Jexon. I expect great things from you.”

“Of course!”

The banquet hall never went dark. If anything, it radiated even more heat.

In the middle of a noisy banquet hosted by some count, there was a group talking exaggeratedly.

Though they seemed quite mature in age, their conversation had a childish quality to it because they were gathered with friends, but no one viewed this negatively.

‘Lord Jexon must be in urgent need of money.’

‘Well, that family has been desperately maintaining a knight order despite not having proper assets, so they must be desperate.’

Because everyone knew this was a struggle for survival.

Nobles without proper businesses or assets were abundant in the south, and for this reason, many nobles were desperately trying to gain attention.

It was obvious that their exaggerated boasting was an attempt to promote themselves, hoping many would come to watch their war game.

For nobles, attention brings profit, and fame brings money.

Although the war game was merely a noble’s pastime, victory would bring fame and possibly sponsorship from wealthy individuals seeking military power.

But if they lost…

‘They would lose everything.’

Well, mocking the losers would also provide entertaining amusement.

The nobles didn’t hold back their responses, hiding dual contempt within their laughter.

They hoped for at least some attractive stimulation in their tedious lives.

“…It’s truly disgusting.”

A young man watching all this from behind clicked his tongue in disgust.

These people called themselves nobles, yet showed no “dignity” or “nobility” whatsoever.

All that was visible was arrogant vulgarity.

“Don’t be so harsh. The economy runs because of people like them.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Thanks to them opening their wallets, people working in various professions will spend this winter in abundance. It’s a good phenomenon.”

“Hmm… that’s true.”

It was certainly a convincing statement.

Just the flowers, crops, and fruits composing this banquet hall had been purchased in bulk from various farmers, and even small items like alcohol, food, cutlery, and towels had been custom-ordered, activating all workshops in the royal capital.

It was like receiving a year’s worth of work all at once, and I imagined the people would be smiling brightly despite being busy.

Well,

“I think the one smiling the most must be my lord’s wallet.”

Jack could only feel amazed at his lord who seemed to have anticipated all this and was now raking in money from the kingdom.

This very banquet hall belonged to him, and the wealth accumulated over the past fortnight had not only covered construction costs but was recording massive profits, with dozens of such large and small banquet halls purchased.

It was beyond impressive—it was a tremendous business acumen.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a wallet. Instead of putting it in a wallet, I just reinvest in the trading company.”

“H-how rich are you trying to become, my lord…?”

“What? I just need enough assets to live comfortably. It’s still far from enough.”

“Ha, the instructor said ‘those who have want more,’ and now I finally understand.”

“Perhaps so.”

He chuckled, but soon patted Jack’s shoulder, which still showed signs of agitation.

“Jack. You’re still angry.”

“Ah, this is…”

“Your anger isn’t simply because of their vulgarity, is it?”

“……”

“You’re angry at them for taking lightly the peace that our instructor, our teacher, achieved through blood and sweat. Am I wrong?”

“…My lord, you understand my feelings too well, even those I don’t clearly understand myself.”

Jack could only smile bitterly at the black-haired young man who saw through his heart so clearly, and to him,

“Don’t be angry. Idiots full of confidence without having shed a drop of blood exist everywhere. Getting angry at such things only hurts yourself.”

“That’s… true.”

“If you understand, that’s enough. Don’t waste your mental energy. It’s a waste of time.”

“…My lord, your way of speaking seems similar to the instructor’s, haha.”

“…I must have caught it.”

Roen, he slightly smiled.

Recalling that he didn’t originally speak this way.

But it wasn’t unpleasant.

Just a little…

‘I too am overcoming my “past.”‘

What would be the “future” for others was an unclear illusion of time for him.

Clearly, memories and scars were still engraved in his mind and soul from the illusion of time, but fortunately, Roen no longer struggled in those memories and scars as he had before.

‘The frequency of seizures has decreased.’

Previously, due to the flood of memories that sometimes consumed his mind, he would have seizures, breaking nearby objects, or the [power] sleeping within him would rampage, but these seizures had significantly decreased recently.

‘It started after meeting the instructor.’

More precisely, it had gradually improved after receiving his teachings and various counseling.

…Well, in a way, it might be like being forcibly treated through physical means.

‘I can’t go crazy because of that frightening fist.’

Just one flick with immense strength could crack his head.

‘It’s absurd when I think about it.’

It was almost laughable that he, of all people, was keeping his sanity out of fear of being hit.

However, Roen didn’t find this change entirely bad.

After all,

‘I’ll also achieve growth through this change.’

Whether mentally or in swordsmanship.

Roen could only view this phenomenon positively.

While immersed in this strange sentiment, murmurs reached Roen’s ears.

“What’s happening?”

“…It seems a new noble has arrived. Let me see… Ah, they’re on the list. Seems to be a guest invited by the count hosting this party.”

“A guest?”

Roen blinked questioningly.

He wasn’t surprised by the arrival of a guest itself, but couldn’t understand why the nobles suddenly became so noisy over a single guest.

“Ah, my lord hasn’t heard that rumor because you’ve been busy lately.”

“What rumor?”

“It’s nothing special, just that a woman who’s been captivating the social circles has appeared recently.”

“?”

“Hmm, rumor has it she’s an incredible beauty. Noble young men are desperate to even hold her hand if she appears, but the beauty doesn’t allow even that, and refuses even kisses on the back of her hand… Yet instead of resenting her, countless people are desperate to catch her eye. It’s said that among those wanting to catch her eye are not just young nobles but even titled nobles.”

“…Is this the plot of a recently popular play?”

Roen frowned momentarily.

It was such an absurd story.

Hearing that nobles, who were nothing without their pride, were fawning over a woman just for her beauty was naturally met with such a reaction.

False rumors should have limits, this was just…

Click—.

“……”

Click, click.

…The next moment, Roen couldn’t continue his thought and widened his eyes as if seeing a ghost, while everyone in the banquet hall fell silent with their mouths open.

The only sound breaking this silence was the echo of heels tapping on the pure white marble floor, and people couldn’t hide their astonishment.

“…So the rumor was true.”

“It brings back the shock when Princess Isis first debuted in society.”

The woman who appeared, cutting through the rapidly murmuring crowd of nobles, was beautiful.

Her red hair reminiscent of roses and mysterious wine-colored eyes that evoked aged wine naturally drew people’s gaze, and beyond that, the sensuality she exuded was seductive regardless of gender.

Her black dress, which complemented her well, enhanced her charm further, and people gazed at her as if admiring a work of art.

Strangely, no one approached her carelessly.

They just stood still, as if gazing at a rose blooming under moonlight in a dark night street.

That’s how extraordinary the charm of this one woman was.

…Almost enough to doubt if she was the same species as them.

And,

“How dare that damned thing…!”

The young man who “knew she wasn’t human” boiled with anger.

She was none other than a woman who triggered his past trauma just by looking at her!

“Judia…”

Roen gritted his teeth as he uttered her name, and he immediately intended to go downstairs.

It was an impulsive act, but he felt he couldn’t contain this anger.

Seeing her appear exactly as he remembered from the past, he simply couldn’t leave her be.

Despite the risk of exposing his hidden identity in the banquet hall, Roen didn’t hesitate, and ignoring Jack’s urgent attempts to stop him, he was about to proceed when,

Grab!

“!?!?”

…An irresistible ‘force’ seized him.

“This guy’s gone crazy. Do you always get this excited?”

A familiar voice.

Roen narrowed his brow, immediately recognizing the owner of the force restraining him.

“…Let me go, instructor. Even if it’s you, you can’t stop me this time—…who are you?”

But soon, Roen tilted his head, forgetting even his anger.

“Who else would I be? Don’t you recognize me?”

“??”

He was a handsome man.

Someone with a refreshing charm.

His face was impressively memorable, the kind that’s hard to forget once seen.

In that sense, Roen was seeing this man for the first time, and while he was confused,

“Ah, is it because this is my first time in this form? Just a moment…”

Crack!

“……”

“Ah, it’s difficult to partially release it. Blackie, is there an empty room nearby? My clothes might tear.”

“……”

“Blackie?”

“…Instructor?”

“What?”

“…You are human, right?”

“Huh?”

“…Huh…”

…What kind of transformation was a human performing?

The regressor could only laugh in disbelief, forgetting even his anger.