Ch.349EP.74 – The Knight Converses with the Butler (1)/Subtitle Revised

*Nod-*

…May I ask a favor?

The baby’s eyes opened unconsciously at the sound of “Mother’s” voice.

But it was still naptime.

Unable to overcome drowsiness, the baby blinked again, and closed its eyes once more to the mother’s voice that sounded like a lullaby.

…Hehe, please speak as usual.

…This will be the last, butler.

…Hehe.

…I ask this of you, Albert.

…Hmm, very well. Let us end our “contract” with this. Thank you for everything, Princess….

*Nod-*

What could a contract be?

For a newborn baby, this conversation was far too difficult to understand, and the baby fell asleep peacefully.

Infinitely peaceful.

*

*

*

…Honestly, it wasn’t something to get that angry about.

Isn’t it common for politicians to package achievements that aren’t even theirs as if they had accomplished them themselves?

Even in his past life, when a fellow sergeant saved a civilian suffering from a cardiac arrest while on leave, it wasn’t the person who did it who received praise, but the battalion commander.

To summarize the battalion commander’s words, he took the spotlight by saying, “This was possible because I trained him well!”

After using his subordinate like that, the battalion commander merely patted him on the shoulder as if he’d successfully taken credit, without giving any compensation.

And that guy had even given up his leave because of the battalion commander.

– Are you okay?

– Sigh, I didn’t save someone expecting a reward… but this feels wrong.

He hadn’t expected anything, but having his good deed stolen and the honor directed at someone else really felt…

– Disgusting.

That’s what he said.

The guy continued.

That no matter how good a deed or kind intention, it was useless if no one acknowledged it.

If he didn’t boast about it first, no one would recognize it.

From then on, that once-diligent guy became cynical.

The person who used to pick up trash on the street was gone, ignoring it instead.

Saying, why should he pick up what others threw away?

‘I threw it away because it bothered me…’

Anyway, his point was that having your achievements packaged as someone else’s work is very unpleasant and bitter.

Especially being politically exploited was enough to make anyone sigh.

So…

“You should come to the royal palace by tomorrow morning. Here’s an invitation and script. Please act according to this when you come tomorrow, and I hope you memorize it perfectly by then. Otherwise…”

“Hey.”

“?”

It wasn’t strange that he would get angry.

…Especially when treated like that.

“W-what did you say?”

The servant from the royal palace stammered at the sudden informal speech.

As if such rudeness was unprecedented.

But he didn’t seem to realize that such an attitude was like pouring oil on an already burning house.

“Haven’t you heard rumors about me?”

“R-rumors…?”

“You must be new. Otherwise, you would have heard about my temperament.”

Thud.

Ihan lightly placed his hand on the servant’s head.

Though called a servant, he was a royal servant with a noble title, but before he could even get angry at this insult.

Crack!

He was lifted into the air with his head gripped.

“Aaaagh…!”

“Who do you think you are, giving me orders? Do you think I’m your pet? Going wherever you say, biting whatever you tell me to bite? I’m already in a bad mood… why is someone like you provoking me?”

Crunch!

“──!”

As the pressure on his skull increased, the servant’s screams disappeared.

The pain became so severe he couldn’t even scream.

There were soldiers escorting and guarding the servant, but they didn’t intervene.

No, they couldn’t.

“You guys know me, right? I think we’ve seen each other once or twice?”

“Ah, probably more than once or twice…”

“Then shouldn’t you have warned this bastard? You know my personality and the rumors, right? No, before that, is this how you invite someone?”

“Th-that is…”

The soldiers sweated profusely, not daring to meet his gaze.

While inwardly thinking.

‘That crazy noble bastard!?’

‘We warned him! Why provoke trouble unnecessarily!?’

‘Dumber than an idiot!’

They were all cursing the servant.

Yes, it was understandable.

Having lived as a noble all his life, even other nobles couldn’t disregard royal nobles.

But arrogance should be measured according to the person.

Provoking Ihan?

THAT Ihan Turtle?

It seemed like he just wanted to die.

‘You idiot. If you want to die, die alone!!’

There wasn’t a soldier who didn’t know Ihan Turtle’s rumors, which blurred the line between reality and urban legend.

That he hospitalized all the Order of the Silver Lion knights.

That he slaughtered all the assassins sent by vengeful knights.

That every family that sent assassins collapsed.

Recently, he had also broken the city wall, which added credibility to the aforementioned rumors.

So the soldiers knew how strong Ihan Turtle was, and that he wasn’t someone who would show mercy just because someone was a noble.

Rather, he would beat them up.

Yet that ignorant, arrogant bastard…

– Ha, he’s just a common knight, isn’t he? Three years, no, it’s already been four years! Four years in the knighthood and still such a low position—that’s proof that no matter how strong he is, he’s just a fool with brute strength. It means he’s like a mercenary, and can a mere mercenary dare to disregard royal authority? Never! As a commoner, it’s natural to be wary before royal authority! I guarantee, he’ll kneel as soon as he sees me!

He had spouted such strange logic, and as you can see, the result was…

“Urgh…”

He was kneeling, no… in an even more pathetic state.

Drip…

With his pants soaked, the unconscious servant was roughly thrown to the ground as Ihan bared his teeth fiercely.

“Tell your superior or this bastard’s superior. If they send someone like him again, I’ll rip off their head and throw it at the royal palace.”

“Gulp…”

“If you want to test whether I’m joking or serious, you’re welcome to try.”

“I-I will deliver your message!”

Snap!

The soldiers unconsciously saluted and showed respect, then hurriedly dragged away the unconscious servant.

They disappeared as if they’d seen a ghost, and as their presence faded, Ihan’s expression gradually softened.

“…Was I too harsh?”

He wondered if he had overreacted.

The servant was just a bit rude, but it wasn’t something to get so angry about.

No, he should have just been angry at the servant, but he felt like he’d done something terrible to the innocent soldiers too.

Seeing this, he wondered if he was too emotional…

“Hehe, you’re concerned about trivial matters, Sir Ihan. You did well. Rather, it’s remarkable that you showed such patience after hearing such insulting words without tearing off his neck. A knight from a great noble family would never have tolerated it.”

“…”

“Hmm, there’s more here than when I last visited. Oh! This table, did you make it yourself? Your craftsmanship is excellent, Sir Ihan.”

“Th… thank, you?”

“Not at all, it’s just my honest opinion.”

A kind expression and praise.

Ihan felt grateful, but unfortunately, there was an emotion that preceded gratitude.

“…Butler.”

“What is it?”

“…Could you please make some noise next time? I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.”

“Fear,” that is.

Ihan broke into a cold sweat at the sudden appearance of the elderly butler.

The sight of Albert appearing without any trace, smell, or even aura was more terrifying than any ghost in a horror movie.

As for Albert…

“Well? I can’t guarantee I won’t do it again. Teasing young people is one of the few pleasures left for an old man with not many days left, ahaha.”

“…”

…Why were all the adults around him so scary and mischievous?

‘Did I sin in my past life? …I don’t think so?’

Ihan had only been respectful to adults, if that was a sin.

* * *

Ihan first offered tea to his visitor who had come after a long time.

“Oh, honey tea?”

“I received it as a gift from those living in the back mountain, and it should taste quite good.”

“It’s beyond ‘quite good’! Even the honey presented to the royal family wouldn’t be this good. It’s almost medicinal.”

“This is?”

Ihan blinked, wondering if the honey gifted by the bees was really that special, but soon understood.

They were spirit beasts after all.

It wasn’t strange that honey from such bees would have mystical properties.

“I didn’t feel any medicinal effects though…”

“That’s natural for a knight of Sir Ihan’s caliber. You’re past the stage where you can increase your strength through medicine. Well, if it were something like a Demon King’s heart, that would be different, but such things are rare.”

“…”

“Why do you look like that?”

“Ah, nothing…”

So it was that amazing…

He had a vague impression it was impressive, but…

‘Should I have eaten it more preciously?’

Ihan felt a bit embarrassed for consuming it so casually, but he decided to focus on the intimidating gentleman in front of him rather than dwelling on the past.

“So, why did you come here, Butler? I don’t think you came just to drink tea from me?”

“Is my visit burdensome?”

“…No.”

“Hmm, Sir Ihan certainly can’t lie. It shows so clearly.”

“Ahem…”

“It’s not a bad thing. Having an honest expression can be advantageous at times.”

Albert remained gentle throughout.

He was polite, kind, and generous.

However-

‘…Can a person really be like this?’

Ihan couldn’t relax at all.

Tremble…

Rather, he was shaking with fear more than ever before.

Having grown somewhat, he could tell.

– John Ray Albert.

This seemingly kind person.

‘He’s stronger than the Sword Master, that fox lady.’

…Clearly above the Sword Master, and perhaps on par with Baltar.

Sword Master Felinshia, she is certainly an impressive person.

She’s still someone Ihan has no way of defeating.

But that doesn’t make her scary.

She is essentially a [seeker] who lives to see the end of the sword, and in some ways, she might be suited to be a cleric.

In that sense, she may be strong but not dangerous.

She has her flaws, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she’s a failure as a warrior.

Even she herself admits that her talent is historically the worst in the kingdom.

In that sense.

‘This person is different. Literally…’

The killing intent of a spear wielder, something that makes the Celestial Killing Star seem trivial—a massive, compressed “something.”

If he had to name that something, it would probably be.

‘The deep sea…’

[[[Gooooo──.]]]

There lies an unfathomable abyss.

Just looking at it makes one feel distant, an unknown terror that people can never understand.

It felt like once you entered, you would be sucked in, and the moment it became angry, you would disappear from this world without a trace.

‘…No wonder I was scared.’

He had been curious since their first meeting.

Why did he always feel afraid when looking at this kind butler?

There was no reason to be afraid?

But now he understood.

Because he had stepped into the world of mental energy and experienced things like Great Archfiends.

‘Can a person possess this kind of mental energy?’

One shouldn’t trust this person’s kindness.

One shouldn’t feel comfortable just because there’s no pressure or intimidation.

This person could twist his neck with a smile at any time.

Really…

‘These Aura users are all abnormal.’

Terrifyingly so…

“Good, good. You’ve improved a lot.”

Albert, realizing that Ihan had already gauged him, showed genuine joy.

It was evidence of growth.

The growth of a likable young man is an adult’s joy.

Albert was pleased.

So…

“You asked why I came here.”

“…”

“For reference, I didn’t come to tell you to accept the king’s invitation, nor did I come to ask any favors. I simply wanted to meet you, Sir Ihan, to have a conversation and tell you something. …But now that I’m here, it seems I don’t need to tell you after all.”

Albert decided not to make any statements, as this meeting itself was enough for him.

He was satisfied with things as they were.

“…Butler?”

Ihan felt somehow strange.

It wasn’t because he wasn’t saying what he intended to say.

Somehow, today’s meeting with him felt…

‘Why is he acting like we’ll never meet again?’

…like it was their last meeting.

Tap.

“Then I’ll take my leave. Today’s meeting was very pleasant. I’ll see you next time.”

Albert quietly put down his teacup and stood up, and it seemed to happen in slow motion.

As he turned his back and was about to disappear as usual.

“Butler!”

“?”

Ihan called out to him loudly.

He looked back curiously, and even Ihan didn’t know why he had called out so loudly.

But somehow, it felt wrong to part like this.

More conversation…

A “definite conversation” was needed.

And for some reason, Ihan’s mouth moved without consulting his brain.

“Butler… would you fight me just once?”

“…”

“I know I sound crazy… but somehow I feel like if not now, there won’t be another chance.”

He was aware that it was an impulsive and strange request.

Knowing it was merely a novel way to commit suicide.

…But isn’t it strange?

“Hmm, won’t you regret it?”

“Yes, I probably will. Rather…”

─This might feel refreshing.

Rather than vague conversations, in a more direct way!

“How can I leave feeling so unsettled? If I go like this, I won’t be able to sleep properly. For the sake of my good sleep, I think you should indulge me.”

“Huh…”

Ihan smiled provocatively at the abyssal monster.

And at his provocative expression…

“Indeed… I should have discovered you before Baltar.”

Albert smiled even more brightly.

Because he was delighted by the unexpected gift.