episode_0039

39. Coward.

In the end, Lord Jakison accepted John’s proposal. He had nothing to lose.

So, he decided to hear about what had happened in a simplified manner.

“It seems that the eldest brother used his power after all… But, did you know about this?”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you ask to increase the number of escort soldiers? It doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”

“Ah. Actually, I felt a strange gaze from yesterday. So, I asked for it.”

John spat out a poor excuse. But in the world of superhumans, it was a somewhat convincing excuse.

Lord Jakison readily agreed. If he had any information, there was no reason for John to hide it.

He couldn’t possibly imagine that he wouldn’t say that he was trying to acquire karma by killing the knight.

“I see. I understand. It seems that the family is targeting you.”

With that, Lord Jakison’s explanation began.

John knew it, but he listened attentively, responding as if it were the first time he’d heard it.

For John, who had been trained through conversations with Sarah, it was too easy.

***

The fourth and fifth waves were also successfully completed.

They arrived at the mansion as usual, and decided to gather in the study as soon as they finished bathing.

Creak.

When John and Sarah entered the study, the butler and Lord Jakison were waiting.

It seemed that they had a long conversation before the two arrived, as there was not much tea left on the table.

“You’ve come. Sit down. It seems like it will be a long story.”

“Yes.”

As the lovers sat down, Lord Jakison said without further ado.

“As I said earlier… The eldest brother is targeting me. You guys are caught up in it.”

“……”

Lord Jakison took a heavy sigh and sipped his tea.

“Originally, you shouldn’t do this kind of behind-the-scenes work during the wave period. The eldest brother broke the tacit rule.”

The knight raised his head again. His eyes were shining fiercely.

Sarah and John trembled at his ferocious momentum.

“I can’t stand it anymore. I’ll head to the eldest brother now.”

“……!”

Unlike John’s expectations, it was an even more unconventional behavior.

Sarah told me that he wasn’t like this?

‘What is it? Where did it go wrong?’

Lord Jakison seemed to realize that his explanation was insufficient, and continued to speak willingly.

“The two knights you killed. They weren’t just ordinary knights. No, to be exact, ‘one’ wasn’t.”

“That, he was the chief swordsmanship instructor…”

“That’s right. He was one of the top three in the family in terms of skill. Of course, he died…”

Lord Jakison looked at John with strange eyes. It seemed like he was asking how he killed such a talented person.

Of course, it was a fluke due to the advantage of information, but Lord Jakison couldn’t know.

“Anyway, the opponent’s strength is greatly weakened now. There is enough chance of winning.”

Unless it is the lord of a city, the number of knights that can be used in a single family is limited. Even Lord Jakison’s family, which had a high reputation, was no exception.

The eldest son lost the knight closest to the best in the family, and on the contrary, Lord Jakison secured the manpower to kill such a knight.

John swallowed unknowingly.

“Then, are we going to fight?”

“To be exact, it’s a negotiation.”

“……”

Lord Jakison said so, but John didn’t believe it.

‘The soldiers were armed on the way here. It’s not a simple negotiation.’

As if reading John’s thoughts, Lord Jakison smiled fiercely and said.

“Of course, we have to think about the possibility of the negotiation breaking down.”

“Ah……”

“You also have to prepare. I’ll call you in an hour or two.”

“Yes. I understand.”

John and Sarah got up from their seats. After that, Lord Jakison opened his mouth.

“It’s all thanks to you. When this is over, I’ll give you a big reward.”

A voice glittering with ambition. John was inwardly pleased.

“I understand. I’m looking forward to it.”

Click.

Thus, the door was closed.

***

Thud!

A study with a neat interior. The eldest son, Lord Rodson, slammed the table so hard that it broke.

His hand, which was in contact with the table, trembled.

“Now… are you telling me to believe that? Two knights were defeated by a mere arithmetic magician?”

“……”

The knight kneeling in front of the eldest son was silent.

He was a knight who had served his master for a long time. Now is the time to be silent.

Perhaps this unspoken answer was effective, Rodson was able to calm down. Just a little bit.

“Lord Robin… is he really dead?”

Again, the knight did not answer. Rodson grabbed his eyes with both hands and looked at the ceiling.

“I sent a knight to catch goblins… was it an ogre?”

“……”

Suddenly, Rodson turned his head back to its original state and looked out the window.

He lost valuable combat power. It was natural that his influence within the family would weaken.

This means…

“I’ll see my younger brother’s face for the first time in a while. Yes, it’s been a long time.”

Rodson’s eyes gradually calmed down. He muttered calmly.

“A VIP is coming. Prepare to welcome him. The dinner menu is…”

Suddenly, he remembered the smoked duck that his mother used to make for him when he was young.

Jakison and Rodson especially liked it. He vividly remembered grabbing one leg each and tearing it apart.

A pathetic smile appeared on Rodson’s lips.

“…Please make it salmon. Tell the chef to put in some effort.”

“Yes.”

The knight left the study, following his master’s orders. Rodson, who was left alone, stroked a family photo in one corner of the room.

In it, his long-deceased mother was hugging Jakison and Rodson, smiling brightly.

“Mother. It seems that Jakison is too big to go back with just one leg.”

For a fully grown beast, food befitting it was necessary.

***

A lavish dinner set on a splendid dining table. The expression of the person sitting in front of the table setting that anyone would drool over was not so good.

A man with an unpleasant expression. Lord Jakison roared at the chef, who had his hands respectfully clasped together.

“I came all the way to the dinner, but the host doesn’t even show his face. What do you think, chef? Is this really right?”

“Ahem, cough. I don’t know…”

The chef, who was caught up in the aristocrat’s war of nerves, was sweating profusely. He felt the hair inside his long hat getting soggy.

At that time, a man with an appearance similar to Lord Jakison walked over.

Although they had similar faces, the atmosphere was completely different. If Lord Jakison was a beast, that man was closer to a strategist.

Even if the features are similar, it was a scene where you could see that the first impression differs depending on the character and the environment in which you live.

He rebuked Lord Jakison in a calm voice.

“Isn’t this enough for an uninvited guest? Why are you so picky? You’re as ignorant as ever.”

A tone that undermined the other person’s feelings. Lord Jakison did not hold back.

“Does such a learned person send assassins during the wave period?”

“……”

“Why are there so many soldiers? I thought you were starting a rebellion.”

“Your mouth is rough. Is it because you’ve been wandering outside the house?”

“It’s better than an older brother who shits in the house.”

The two glared at each other for a long time. It was the eldest son, Lord Rodson, who broke the silence.

He sat down lightly and sipped his tea.

“41st Street and 42nd Street. And up to 48th Street. I will give up all the farmland in it.”

In effect, he was giving up a third of the farmland owned by the family. But Lord Jakison did not know satisfaction.

“……End?”

“Of course not. 100 throwing spears, 200 throwing short spears, 150 long swords for soldiers, 3 knight armors…”

Rodson’s explanation continued. Rodson, who had been moving his lips for a while, paused. It was because Lord Jakison raised his hand. It was a signal to stop.

“Okay. That’s enough. Can you add a magic book to that?”

“Is it because of the arithmetic magician you’re raising?”

“He’s also the magician my brother tried to assassinate.”

“Hoo…”

Rodson, who had been massaging his temples for a while, sighed and said.

“Okay. That’s possible as much as you want. If you want, I can even attach a magician master to you.”

“A magic book is enough. But… something’s strange.”

“What is it?”

“I thought we were going to have a fight. It’s too moderate. And to be honest, giving up this much rights is…”

Lord Jakison’s ferocious eyes glistened. Rodson’s hand under the table trembled.

“Are you going to give up the position of head of the family?”

“……”

“You’ve become weak. You weren’t like this when you were young. Giving up just because you lost two knights.”

“……”

Lord Jakison looked through Rodson as if he was disappointed.

“After all, I should have been the eldest son.”

“……”

The eldest son, Lord Rodson, still maintained his silence. Eventually, Lord Jakison, who was tired of it, got up from his seat.

“I’ll be on my way. Make excuses to the old men of the family. I put a lot of greed on my brother, so there will be a lot of backlash.”

“……”

Lord Jakison slowly opened the door and left. Rodson watched the scene with a calm face and said.

“Brother.”

Stop.

“……”

“You had a strong competitive spirit since you were young, and on the contrary, I had a weak competitive spirit. So, I always lost to you. Everyone thought so.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about that…”

Rodson interrupted Lord Jakison’s words.

“Actually, I didn’t like losing either.”

“……”

Before he knew it, Rodson was making a desolate face as if he was confessing.

He remembered when he used to practice swordsmanship with Jakison when he was young. People around him thought that Rodson lost because he was looking out for his younger brother, but it was different.

“It was more honorable to be the eldest son who lost the game ‘for the sake of his younger brother’ than to grit my teeth and lose while competing.”

“……”

“Brother, I hate complete defeat. I actively participate in battles I can win, and I don’t do my best in uncertain battles. If I put in all my effort and lose, what kind of disgrace would that be?”

“……”

Squeak.

Lord Jakison continued to open the door. It was opened enough for him to go out, but Lord Jakison continued to open it.

Soon, the light pouring in from the door was obscured by Lord Jakison’s large frame, and Rodson’s face was buried in the shadow.

…The younger brother, with his older brother behind him, opened his mouth.

“You cowardly bastard. After all, the position of head of the family suited me.”

“……”

The older brother just smiled. Because the younger brother’s words were true.