episode_0053

*

After preparing our hearts, the three of us entered the throne room of the royal palace.

Over Kalinz’s shoulder – Lin, the absolute leader of the Brans army, was seen.

Resting her chin, twisting her hair with her fingers, etc. – Rin’s default was to sit on a throne with a bored expression.

Now, he was looking at us with a noble attitude, without any distractions.

Iren and I walked in front of Kalinz, following her steps-

At the same time as he knelt down, he knelt down to Rin at the same time.

“… … Kalinz Brans has just returned to Arnel Castle from Kelstein Castle.”

“Irene Juliet, also just returned.”

“Swen, return to see your lord.”

“… … .”

What do you think of her on a regular basis?

Rather than having something like the dignity of a monarch, I would say it feels very playful.

Of course, that didn’t mean he had the dignity or aura unique to a monarch, but Rin certainly didn’t have the right attitude to be called a ‘monarch.’

But at this moment.

She was looking down at us with a very serious and cold face, without a trace of laughter.

“… … Brother Kalintz.”

“Please tell me.”

“I heard about it. You say you escaped safely? That’s a good thing. Thanks to this, we were able to save our military’s resources and capabilities that would have been used to bring your brother to the negotiations, right? I can’t let a man from the Brans family die, let alone someone else. So, I think I made some effort at the last moment. It’s something to celebrate.”

In response to Lin’s openly sarcastic remarks, Kalinz bowed his head even deeper and said.

“… … No shame, my lord. I will accept any punishment.”

“No. What could be wrong with that smart and popular Carlinz brother? It’s probably all my fault as a monarch. Wasn’t it because I was unscrupulous that I couldn’t stop my brother from making such a strange decision? Right?”

In response to Lin’s harsh words, Kalinz could not say anything and just lowered his head.

“Still, whatever. I am thankful that my brother took this opportunity to prove something.”

“That means… … ?”

“My father was right.”

Rin said that and burst into laughter.

“When I became the successor, many people didn’t understand, right? I still vividly remember the guy who set himself on fire, saying he couldn’t admit anything. But I am grateful that this proves that the decision was right. Isn’t that right, brother?”

“… … .”

and.

Wording is really strong.

Kalinz, with his head down, was seen trembling.

Even though he’s a bit unlucky, it’s a bit pitiful to see him criticizing his own younger brother.

Moreover, he was now being robbed in front of me and Irene – that is, in front of his subordinates.

There would be no such humiliation.

Of course, it is a good thing to be self-employed.

No matter how many times I think about it, all the fault in this incident was because of Carlinz’s arbitrary actions.

“Anyway, I hope you can stay quiet for a while. As you are our trustworthy second brother, I want to give you a chance to make up for your mistakes right away, but there are too many eyes watching. You don’t want to serve a lord who is overly considerate of the situation just because you are part of his family, right?”

She said that and smiled.

“Of course, I am still enjoying the benefits of the Brans family in that my head is safely hanging.”

And then he laughed as if it was fun.

In the empty throne room, only the sound of her laughter slowly spread.

Kalinz continued to say nothing, and finally lifted his heavy lips.

“… … Myung, I will accept it.”

“Okay. I’m going home and cooling off. Like when I was young, I would go to Changgwan and buy women, or I could practice while being bathed in waterfalls. Considering the situation, I will call you again someday.”

“… … .”

what?

He has a smooth face, and he looks like he had some fun when he was young.

Well, it didn’t matter what his private life was like.

“What are you doing? I’m not going.”

Carlinz lowered his head again at Lin’s cold words and spoke.

“… … I will keep you under confinement until the lord orders. I would like to apologize once again.”

“Yes, yes. Hurry up and go. Because I’m busy.”

That’s how Kalinz retreats.

Lin’s gaze now landed on Iren.

“… … Irene.”

“Yes. Please speak, my lord.”

“You worked hard. I cursed you.”

Lin spoke in a more benevolent tone than when he spoke to Kalinz just now.

But I could tell. That there is still a knife hidden in her words.

“But, what should I do with this? That fortress was only built because Carlinz insisted on building it. If we didn’t destroy everything, it would be difficult in many ways. I did my best, but it all ended up being useless. Are you sorry?”

Although Rin had an overtly sarcastic tone of voice.

Iren responded proudly and proudly.

“No, my lord. Irene Juliette, I am truly honored to have been able to keep my lord’s command.”

“Really? Well then, I’m glad.”

If it were the original Iren, she would have swallowed the shame at this moment.

But now she looked very peaceful.

It was natural. She now expects nothing from Lynn Brans.

No matter how someone you don’t expect treats you, it can’t have any effect.

“Please act for me like this again next time. Got it?”

“Yes!”

Lin smiled brightly and gestured toward Iren.

“Okay. You should go too.”

The moment when Iren stood up and walked away.

I made slight eye contact with her.

Her eyes seemed to say to me, ‘Do well and come back’, and I was able to relax to some extent.

Am I the only one left now?

I lowered my head and waited for her to speak.

“… … Swen.”

“Yes.”

She spoke in a calm tone, not at all playful.

It was a different tone from when I spoke to Kalinz, and it was also different from when I spoke to Irene.

“The first thing I want to ask is… … Why didn’t you listen to the order to return to Annel Castle?”

She sighed.

“If you have something to say, would you let me know?”

I calmly analyzed her voice.

I guess he wasn’t that angry.

good.

Is this the beginning?

As I returned here, I slowly began to recall the lines I had practiced over and over again in my head.

“Sorry. It was absolutely not my intention to look down on Mr. Rin’s orders. However, I wanted to show and prove.”

“Show and prove?”

“That’s right. From the moment the sun of Branth entered my heart, my only goal was to achieve success and good fortune. I wanted to somehow make a contribution that would be recognized by many people and take up an important position in Brans County. I thought that if I succeeded in protecting the fortress of Kalinz, the pillar of Brans’ army, I would be able to ask for forgiveness from Lin.”

“You even protested?”

“Sorry. I just hope that you can understand my sincerity.”

“… … .”

She didn’t say anything.

Her head is down on the floor, so I can’t see her face… … There was no change in the air or anything.

How much time of silence has passed?

Lin finally spoke.

“… … I heard it all. They say they set up an altar to communicate with heaven and dropped a rock?”

“Yes.”

“How did you do it? Could it be that you are a wizard?”

“That can’t be right. I, Swen, have a talent for reading the movements of the stars in the sky.”

“Reading the movement of stars?”

“That’s right. If you study the laws of heaven and communicate in an appropriate way, even if it is impossible to create the stone yourself, it is not that difficult to adjust the location where it will fall.”

If you wanted me to explain it in detail, I was planning to explain what I said to Iren by sprinkling MSG in moderation.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have any intention of asking how he figured it out.

I’m glad it was me, but it was a bit strange.

When something like that happens, isn’t it normal to ask how it happened?

“… … .”

Lin, who seemed to be wondering if she would talk well, said nothing again.

A short silence continues again – and soon the silence is broken again.

“Then… … Did you find out by reading the stars that Alefel tried to deceive us by conniving with Aethius?”

‘… … ah.’

Come to think of it – I made that claim during a 1:1 discussion with Farfalle.

I was so busy protecting the northern fortress that I completely forgot about it.

Excluding the troops sent to us, the rest of the troops must have been sent that way.

Rather than reading the stars, I just inferred with my game knowledge and the result came out.

It looks like he went back on what I said.

Here, it would be better to just give a reasonable answer.

“I didn’t read the stars, I just read the reason for the action. If you take ‘a certain action’, ‘a certain result’ will inevitably follow.”

I gave a plausible answer.

I was planning to give a plausible answer no matter what I asked, but silence continued again.

‘what?’

Just now, I could sense that I was not having a normal conversation with Rin.

Very cautiously, I lowered my head and raised my gaze to briefly look at her.

It was only then that I noticed it.

Her eyes… … That I am constantly trembling.

okay.

She was shaking now.

It was as if there was an absolute being in front of my eyes that I couldn’t even touch.

It was a truly strange scene.

She was the one who knelt down and bowed her head, and as the leader, she was the one who could command me to do anything.

Actually, I was aloof, and it was she who was shaking a lot.

And she-

Now, without even hiding the trembling in his voice, he spoke to me as is.

“At that time? When the armistice agreement came. How on earth did you get the information that Serpina’s army was invading our army?”

“That’s-”

I was planning on explaining it here too.

My words were literally interrupted by Lin’s words.

“No. Same thing this time too. How did you know to send troops to the North? Why do you know that there will be a rebellion in Alefel County in the first place! How can you do all that… … How do you know!”

“Master… … ?”

“Answer me! Come on!”

In order to answer her who was glaring at me, I slowly raised my head.

And, finally-

I made eye contact with Rin, who was looking at me with a white face.

And only then do I realize.

Why did I feel like I couldn’t talk to her?

Now, a trembling voice comes out without even trying to hide it.

Pale face. Four hundred-eyed pupils.

Putting it all together, only one conclusion can be drawn.

she is… … was afraid of me

‘Hehe, indeed.’

I guessed everything as if I was so amazed that it seemed like I was more than amazed and even afraid.

I had no choice but to hit everything. Because my intelligence is 100. I don’t know why I’m right, but if I just look at it, everything I said was right.

When others see it, they can’t help but be amazed. No, it would be more than just amazing, it would be scary. It will look like you got some kind of excitement.

When I think about it, Runarien is a special case, as they believed in and supported me in everything that allowed me to demonstrate my abilities. An ordinary monarch might be in awe of my abilities, but overall, I thought it would be very burdensome.

In the midst of a difficult time, there was no guarantee that the tip of the sword of that ability would not aim at his neck.

“Swen… … What are you… … ?”

Even before I answered, she asked the question again.

this.

For Lynn Brans, a somewhat emotional person, living in fear was not a good situation.

If you go beyond awe of my abilities and feel fear, you can ‘deal with’ me.

I guess I had opened up my abilities too much.

Thanks to you, I was able to save Irene, so I don’t regret it.

‘Even more so, I feel like I won’t be able to stay in Brans County for long.’

And that moment.

‘uh?’

wait for a sec.

The amazing ‘Brance County Exit Plan’ quickly flashed through my mind.

The situation where she is afraid of me… …

If done well, wouldn’t it be possible to use it in reverse? … ?

My head started spinning faster than ever.

I had to leave her anyway. Because Irene was dangerous.

A prerequisite would be to escape safely with her.

So, let’s proceed with the feeling that Irene, who has not been repaid so far, is getting what she deserves.

For the first time in a long time, it was time to use my tongue.

“Lin. It’s okay.”

“It’s okay… … ?”

I put on the most kind smile I could.

I said it in the most trustworthy tone I could muster.

“My talent belongs solely to Lin. There is no need to be afraid.”

“… … !!!”

She looked at me in surprise again.

As if he was wondering how he knew his own heart.

It seemed like there was more to it than I thought.

It is now.

I bowed down in front of her until my head was pressed against the floor, as if driving a wedge, and said.

“Please use me as your compass, Lin. I will be happy to oblige.”