Ch.342EP.72 – The Knight Wore a Suit (2)

According to witnesses who entered the central street of the so-called royal capital, they often describe it as another world.

Especially the laborers who entered for construction work claim that even the air is different there. When people in taverns hear this, some click their tongues, saying that even exaggerations have their limits.

But for those laborers, it was unfair.

“No, it’s true!”

“Even the air is different!”

“The streets are all made of marble, and all the decorations are made of gold and jewels! Plus, the water is free! No, there are water channels spread throughout the streets, and the water is so clean and refreshing that you can drink it directly!”

“There are so many fruit trees that you can pick and eat anything!”

…they would testify in unison, but the longer they spoke, the colder people’s gazes became.

Well, they should tell believable stories.

Just claiming that streets were made of marble was already hard to believe, but they also said all decorations were gold and jewels, and incredibly clear water was free.

High-quality fruit trees were supposedly everywhere, free for anyone to pick.

This was just…

“Even exaggerations need to be moderate to be believable. Keep it reasonable, you fools.”

People condemned them.

But those who were criticized felt wronged.

They had only spoken the “truth,” yet no one believed them.

Swoooosh-!

Clear water sprayed refreshingly from a massive marble fountain.

Thanks to mages casting purification magic daily, the fountain always produced clear water.

But what was truly surprising was that channels were built to allow the water spraying from the fountain to flow outward.

Gurgle.

Even the channels built in all directions were clean.

One might expect moss or impurities in at least one of the hundreds of channels, but alchemists had also contributed their skills, preventing any impurities.

The clear water flowing through these channels supplied water to the beautifully landscaped fruit trees lining the streets, and caretakers were always on standby to prevent pests from infesting the trees.

The caretakers occasionally offered fruit to young lords and ladies who wanted to quench their thirst while playing in the streets, and each time, the children would carelessly discard half-eaten fruit or trash on the street.

However…

Swish!

Thanks to other caretakers standing by to clean up immediately, the streets never had a chance to get dirty.

The central street, where magic, alchemy, and thousands of caretakers hurried about unseen by the nobles, was truly “another world.”

A street so peaceful, beautiful, and immaculately clean.

‘Upper-class district’ was a fitting nickname for this area.

However, such a nickname was undeniably appropriate.

Even knights with titles couldn’t enter—only those with at least a baron’s title could access this district.

Not only were real estate prices astronomical, but various conditions like titles and honor were also considered.

Only those from noble families with at least 300 years of history, children of high-ranking officials, merchants with both vast wealth and titles, or foreign diplomats.

The street was filled only with people of such bloodlines, and commoners were practically non-existent here.

The caretakers?

Even they were from families that had served distinguished houses for at least three generations.

In other words, they were practically semi-nobles.

It was all so luxurious, excessive, and then some.

…Well, it wasn’t strange.

Even in the world that a certain knight remembered, equality was proclaimed, but in reality, where one lived depended on social status and wealth, and discrimination based on class was an unspoken rule.

In that sense, it wasn’t strange for the kingdom’s capital to have a district exclusively for the upper class.

Rather, it was considered natural.

But into such a street.

Clatter. Clatter.

“Look over there.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s Tristan.”

“…Ha.”

A carriage entering drew glares.

It was a carriage bearing the red eagle flag symbolizing Tristan, and it wasn’t strange for Tristan, a distinguished family renowned throughout the kingdom, especially in the south, to enter the central street.

They had the qualifications for it.

Nevertheless.

“It can’t be His Excellency, so…”

“It must be that adopted daughter of his. Ha! Ridiculous.”

The nobles living in the central district voiced harsh criticism.

They knew.

The current Marquis Tristan had long retired from social circles and was more likely to stay in his mansion in the royal capital than come to such a street.

There was Vale de Tristan from the branch family, but he too was more focused on training than visiting such streets.

This left only one person who could ride a carriage reserved for Tristan bloodline and set foot in “their district.”

Levi Jeanne d’Arc.

Absurdly, a woman who achieved social advancement by catching the eye of Marquis Jeminia.

And the nobles found this absurd.

“Lucky enough to catch His Excellency’s eye, yet she dares to set foot here? Ha! There’s a limit to audacity.”

“What an unpleasant woman, truly.”

Nobles value blood.

No, in the south, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they worship blood.

Why?

Because the southern continent is a land where [Mystery] flows.

Hence, there were even cases where a person’s value was measured by the purity of their blood.

Even if a family had a lower title, if they had high blood purity, they were sometimes respected.

Therefore, even if she was Tristan’s adopted daughter, the nobles wouldn’t acknowledge her.

After all, wasn’t she just a woman without a drop of their blood?

Especially those living in the upper-class district were even more particular about blood, having been educated about its importance since they began to speak.

It was inevitable that their gazes would be unkind.

“This won’t do, I must say something.”

“Be patient, madam. You’ll only harm yourself by getting into a confrontation with Tristan.”

“No. How can one call oneself a noble if one doesn’t speak up even when oppressed by authority? Besides, my father was a general in the military. Even Tristan cannot disregard my father’s authority.”

“Madam…!”

The women looked at the lady with admiring eyes.

Such fearless courage.

They clapped their hands, confirming that her claim of being a general’s daughter wasn’t a lie, and with teary eyes, the women offered silent support as the noble lady marched straight toward the carriage like a victorious general.

As if determined to thoroughly humiliate and drive her out of this street!

‘If you want to have your debutante, go quietly to the palace, how dare you set your filthy feet here!’

The palace was acceptable.

But not here.

Everything in this street, from sculptures to trees, was created solely with noble wealth, without royal assistance.

Therefore, this was their street, and even royalty couldn’t arbitrarily bring in outsiders.

Especially those of common blood!

And so.

Thud.

“You…—.”

The lady was about to unleash a sharp rebuke as the carriage door opened.

[[[──.]]]

…Or rather, to be more precise, she was going to unleash it.

Was ‘going to.’ That is, past tense.

“……”

“Do you have something to say?”

“……”

“If not, move aside.”

“……”

“?”

Swish, swish.

“…Why did she faint in the middle of the street?”

“I, I wonder?”

The man tilted his head, seeing no response from the woman despite waving his hand in front of her several times, and the girl blinking behind him also expressed confusion.

Wondering why she was acting like that.

And then.

Boom!

The moment the man stepped onto the street, the nobles quietly looked down.

I’m not sure if it’s an illusion, but it feels like the ground is shaking.

Crack.

Ah.

“What’s this? Why is the ground cracking?”

So it wasn’t an illusion…

As the man stepped on the marble, the ground heaved and began to crack, and the nobles quietly averted their gaze.

Noble pride, stubbornness, dignity, and honor.

Considering all these, it would have been natural to immediately expel this man who showed no signs of refinement, but.

Pop, pop!

“M-Master, your buttons have fallen off again.”

“These keep falling off? I haven’t gained weight…”

“You haven’t gained weight. The problem is that your muscles have grown.”

“……”

“Cover your front, you’re too… tempting.”

“…Gomsoon, don’t say such things elsewhere. I’ll get a bad reputation.”

“???”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

…People cannot shout at an unleashed beast.

* * *

“…Ahem.”

[……]

The street was silent.

Even though the upper-class district wasn’t exactly bustling, it usually had the human quality of conversation sounds, but now it was eerily quiet.

But that didn’t mean there were no people.

“……”

“……..”

There were.

Quite a lot, actually.

Since it was the banquet season, there were many people in the upper-class street, some out for shopping or cafes, and others taking walks to enjoy the warm spring sun and cool breeze.

Horses, camels, birds, and dogs.

Even lions and eagles kept as pets were let loose on the walking paths, yet despite all this, it was quiet.

Even dogs that normally barked aggressively with poor impulse control, and birds that usually chirped like songs.

[R-roar….]

Even the typically languid lions were unusually alert, maintaining rigid postures.

Whether people or animals, predators or not, all maintained a tense atmosphere, and the one instilling this tension in the upper-class district was…

“Well, I’m still not used to these clothes.”

“But you look handsome, Master.”

A man walking leisurely as if taking a stroll.

Though he had muscles that looked ready to burst, there was nothing particularly special about him.

It wasn’t as if there weren’t knights boasting even larger muscles or height.

The Black Lion of Lionel or the Hound of Modred were prime examples, and people had actually seen them.

Yet strangely, looking at this man gave a more impressive feeling than those two.

No, it was ‘intense.’

Should it be called presence, or atmosphere?

An inexplicable intensity that stimulated survival instincts was pouring out mercilessly, and one couldn’t help but wonder if this was what it would feel like if an untamed lion or tiger were released onto the streets.

It was only because the other’s appearance took the ‘form of a human’ that people weren’t running away in panic; if not for that, it wouldn’t be strange to flee immediately.

“Master, your aura seems more unstable than usual. Is something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing special. I’m just focusing. This is the upper-class district, right? I thought there might be trouble on our first date, so I’m staying alert, that’s all.”

“F-first date? M-Master, you don’t need to say such things.”

“Despite what you say, you don’t seem to dislike it, do you?”

“…Hehe.”

The girl wore a happy smile, creating a heartwarming scene.

Since everyone’s attention had been drawn to the man for some time, people had been almost stealing glances at this sight, but they remained silent.

Literally overwhelmed by the man’s focus, or rather his ‘aura.’

Usually suppressed, but now unleashed like a valiant warrior charging into enemy territory—it’s understandable that no one could withstand it.

Moreover, this was the aura of a knight whom the princess had officially praised as being just below Aura users, making it difficult for even ordinary knights to endure.

As evidence, even nobles with Champion backgrounds were rigid.

Rather, those with skill were more acutely aware of how terrifying the man’s aura was.

“What kind of guy is that…”

If one could visualize a person’s aura as an image, this man’s aura was truly like a:

‘Active volcano.’

One that could erupt at any moment, seemingly ready to explode at the slightest touch.

Terribly hot, but as long as it wasn’t disturbed, it only emitted smoke…

But that’s why it was frightening.

For some inexplicable reason…

‘Why does it feel like it’s about to erupt?’

Because it seemed like flames could shoot up at any moment.

Then.

“But will this be okay? I wanted to take you somewhere nicer. Or we could have gone straight to the banquet hall.”

“Well… I’m sorry for deceiving the maids, but honestly, I don’t want to go to such places. I’m sick of being judged.”

“I see.”

“Yes! I prefer going out with you like this, Master. Besides, taking me out like this means you finally trust me! That makes me happier than anything.”

“Don’t be so happy. It only makes me feel worse.”

“But I’m truly happy…”

“…The happier you are, the more I feel like trash.”

“Hehe.”

“Geez.”

How troublesome.

The man muttered with a pained expression, and watching this, the nobles blinked.

He seemed more innocent than expected, and more…

‘He seems like a gentleman?’

Despite his intimidating aura, he appears somewhat innocent and earnest.

Though much of their conversation contained content difficult to understand, the rest was all wholesome.

People began to wonder if they had misunderstood him, tilting their heads involuntarily, and even the pets seemed to be warmly supporting the young couple, when suddenly.

“Well, let’s get started now. We can’t stay like this forever.”

“T-then.”

“I’ll demonstrate first. Your back… I’ll watch it.”

“…Yes!!”

The girl nodded vigorously, looking happier than ever, and just as people were about to break into awkward smiles at such innocence.

“How long are you going to spy on our date?”

BOOM!

—In an instant, the man’s hand pierced through a building.

CRASH!

!!!!

It happened in an instant, and people didn’t even have time to exclaim in shock.

They were about to say something, wondering what on earth he was doing, but.

Rumble!

“????”

“W-what is that?”

…People had to be shocked once again.

What the man pulled out with his hand was none other than.

[KAAAA!!!]

A monster, specifically.

“O-orc!?”

An orc, a monster with the appearance of a pig, but one that devours not only humans but also its own kind.

Such a monster suddenly appeared, and before the nobles could recover from their shock…!

Rumble!

[[[[Kaaaa!!!]]]]

As the building’s outer wall collapsed, dozens of orcs revealed themselves.

The orcs, all displaying murderous intent, had barely revealed their identities when quickly,

Crack!

“Not you people, but these creatures—they were confusing things.”

…They all collapsed with their necks severed.

Instant death.

“Well, I was mistaken from the start.”

Swoosh!

Dusting off his hands, the man, Ihan, wore an embarrassed expression.

He had wanted to show a cool image in front of his disciple, but it seemed he had messed up from the beginning.

And then.

“Hmm, this time I should be right?”

BOOM!

Slowly, Ihan pulled out a pillar supporting the building with the collapsed outer wall.

Then…

“Ah, this time it’s accurate.”

Whoosh!

He thrust the pillar precisely into the fountain.

Like throwing a spear.

And then…

CRASH!!

Apocalypse erupted in the street.