Chapter 194. It's a Misunderstanding. (1)
The slit-eyed man.
The man stood there, smiling as the door opened.
As if he already knew this was the assembly point for the 'Followers'.
As if he also knew there was an important eting today.
Yulian, folding his arms and scanning the room, seed to mock all the 'Followers' gathered here with his smile.
"You..."
Sebion, the acting Sword Saint, spat out curses, trying to intimidate Yulian, but his expression didn't change.
He only appeared to be thinking carefully.
With his skills, he must have heard the conversations inside.
And.
The return of the Sword Saint to the capital.
If he heard that as well, it was all too predictable what the 'Smiling Executioner', who aim for Hayden Reich's head, would do.
Right here, right now.
Suppress all the 'Followers' and leave no place for the returning Sword Saint to stand.
Or, infla them with revenge so they attack him.
Their skills were not lacking, but the Executioners' skills were also considerable.
No, they could even be comparable to their idol, the Sword Saint.
Suppressing them wouldn't be too difficult.
This thought made the 'Followers' feel their bodies stiffen.
That unmoving smile.
Though he made no movent, just his re presence suppressed the 'Followers' ntally, and cold sweat trickled down their backs like a ticking ti bomb.
"Heh heh..."
Amidst that fear, the 'Smiling Executioner' chuckled softly.
***
It was good to let my presence be known to draw soone out. I never liked waiting anyway.
When the closed door opened, and an angry man erged from inside, I expected as much.
'Hmm, why are they all so scared?'
This part I couldn't understand yet.
The contemptuous gaze and the look of despise, as if looking at vermin, were familiar.
Because I'm 'Yulian'.
They dislike Yulian.
That much was within the 'range of understanding', but for negativity to flow just from encountering ...
"Did you... hear everything!?"
Even the guy, who seed to be acting as the Sword Saint, was outright displeased, asking if I'd overheard their conversation.
What was I supposed to say to that?
It's annoying.
In such situations, it's best to smile from experience.
They won't spit on a smiling face.
Heh.
I smiled at the 'Follower' who was interrogating .
"You... you bastard!"
Contrary to my expectations, the situation worsened.
'Ah, I forgot.'
I should have rembered my ugly mug.
I regretted smiling.
The angry man. Probably nad 'Sebion Lenok'.
I rember him as a mber of the Indomitable Knights and the brother of 'Theo Lenok', the commander.
'Hmm...'
Seeing Sebion led
to recall 'Theo Lenok', who was with
during the 'Finger Breaking' operation.
The guy with the hearty laughter leading his knights.
Last I heard, he even sacrificed his own body to protect his n who got caught by the 'Puppet Poison'.
'Well, he feels completely different from his brother.'
While I was thinking, I got a strange feeling.
The thoughts I was having in my head weren't reflecting the 〈Formal Speech〉 character trait, so why did it automatically switch to formal speech?
"What did you say?"
Ah, that's it.
I thought it was a internal, but I must have actually spoken it out loud.
Seeing Sebion glaring at
with eyes full of anger made
realize.
Eyes brimming with a strong inferiority complex toward his brother, Theo Lenok.
I marveled at how I had inadvertently touched on sothing sensitive to him.
'A move even Yulian would make!'
It had now beco so natural, like breathing.
"What did you just say? Repeat it, will you?"
Clatter.
Sebion stood up from his seat and slowly walked towards .
Then, I heard the sound of the scabbard on his hip brushing against the desk.
'If I repeat it, will he draw his sword?'
Oh dear, that's terrifying.
"Sebion, please."
Breaking the tense atmosphere, Rinne's voice interrupted.
"For now, please calm down. There's sothing more important than this."
It wasn't strange that Rinne, also a 'Follower', was present here.
However, thanks to Rinne's interjection, Sebion's glaring eyes seed to soften a little.
"... Hoo."
Sebion took a deep breath to compose himself and opened his mouth once more.
"Yulian, are you telling
you overheard our conversation?"
The topic returned once more to 'did Yulian eavesdrop on us?'
Rinne's intervention lessened Sebion's hostility slightly, but the disapproving stares from the 'Followers' remained unchanged.
"Heh heh, well... this is awkward."
I shrugged my shoulders.
The reason I ca here wasn't to face accusations but to find out how much the 'Followers' knew about the 'Dawn Society'.
'Whatever conversation they had inside is unknown to .'
Even if falsely accused, I just wanted to get to the point quickly.
"Yes, that's correct."
With my confirmation, the 'Followers' who had been in the eting room all stood up simultaneously.
They were preparing for battle.
So even looked at , clearly displaying the 'Color of Negativity'.
'Why are they doing this?'
Looking at them, I couldn't help but wonder.
"Everyone... please calm down."
Among the 'Followers', Rinne was the only one still seated.
"Calm down? Are you serious?"
"If he's here because he heard about the Sword Saint's return to the capital, his agenda is obvious!"
Even with Rinne's diation, the situation showed no signs of improving.
From what they were saying, it seed that the 'Followers' were also aware of the Sword Saint's brief return to the capital.
Then again, since Theo Lenok, the commander of the Indomitable Knights, was a mber of the 'Followers', he might have passed the news to his brother.
'What does that have to do with , though?'
Was this overreaction linked to the 'Sword Saint's return'?
With a little thought, I started to get the picture.
'... Ah.'
Yulian wants to kill the 'Sword Saint'.
While individuals like Rinne and Zahard had softened this image after many encounters and conversations, the masses still clung to this idea.
'... I shouldn't have said I heard it.'
Damn it.
I knew what secretive conversations they were having, but I wasn't exactly 'eavesdropping' here, was I?
'I ca to find out how much you know about the Dawn Society!'
Let's try to calm the 'Followers' as much as possible.
"I don't know why you're so afraid of my master's return to the capital or why you're reacting like this."
"Afraid?"
"We could kill you right now if we wanted to!"
"If so, why haven't you made a move?"
When I shrugged and spoke, Rinne covered her face with her hand.
Here we go again.
It seed to carry that nuance, but I decided to proceed with my way for now.
If I were to break it down into a sequence.
Initiation (起)
Impress upon the 'Followers' that I'm composed and assured.
"The reason is simple."
Developnt (承)
Then, solidify the 'gap' between us. Even if it's not the reality, show my confidence.
"You unconsciously acknowledge that even if you all band together, you won't lay a scratch on ."
Alright, I'm speaking well.
With such confidence, why am I choosing words over combat?
This part is key in revealing that I have sothing to say unrelated to the 'Sword Saint'.
The next part of the narrative, conclusion (轉)
"Don't be ridiculous, you shaless bastard!"
"We'll finish what the Sword Saint couldn't right now!"
My anticipated Conclusion (轉) turned into the Battle (戰).
The 'Followers' seed ready to draw their swords and struck a threat.
'Haa.'
I sighed internally as I watched them.
Should I... just flip it all?
"Umm, why all this commotion!"
At that mont, a large figure swung open the door and entered.
The tone, as if scolding, was the sa voice I'd heard during the 'Finger Breaking.'
"Elder brother."
It was Theo, the commander of the Indomitable Knights.
"Sebion! What on earth is causing such a ruckus!"
"Yulian has appeared."
"What? Yulian!?"
After hearing his brother Sebion's words, Theo shifted his gaze toward the entrance.
Despite his body being covered in bandages due to injuries from the 'Finger Breaking,' he didn't show any sign of pain.
"It's been a while, Sir Yulian!"
Greeting Theo with a smile, I responded with a smile of my own.
"Now, what does Sir Yulian's appearance have to do with this commotion, Sebion?"
"Elder brother Theo."
Listening to Theo, Sebion seed as if he had a lot to say, yet, he kept his mouth shut.
"Sir Theo is right. As I said earlier, how about everyone calm down a bit?"
"Rinne, you too...?"
"You know very well the relationship between the Sword Saint and Yulian!"
"The master I know remains in the capital and holds the na of 'Hayden Reich' in the Adratan Empire."
Her words were clear and decisive.
As the Sword Saint's disciple, when she spoke of calming down, the 'Followers' had no choice but to comply.
***
After the commotion ended, only Sebion, Theo, and Rinne remained in the room.
'Sebion still seems distrustful of Sir Yulian.'
Despite Theo and Rinne's persuasion, Sebion's gaze towards Yulian remained unfriendly.
However, he didn't seem intent on drawing his sword anymore.
Maybe it's because his sharp emotions had cald down, or perhaps it was because his brother Theo was there.
"So, you ca not because you overheard us but because you wanted to collaborate with the 'Followers'!"
"Yes, that's correct."
After concluding his conversation with Yulian, Theo briefly summarized the discussion to everyone.
"To collaborate with us?"
Naturally, Sebion reacted sensitively to Yulian's 'collaboration proposal.'
"Yes, isn't the reason for the Sword Saint's return to the capital to facilitate the investigation into the Dawn Society in cooperation between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire?"
"Hmm, yes!"
"I have information about the Dawn Society to share with you."
"And why should we trust you?"
"If it's information on the Dawn Society from Sir Yulian, it's reliable."
Leaving Sebion's brusque response behind once again and affirming Yulian's words, Sebion clicked his tongue.
For a reason unknown, Yulian harbored intense enmity toward the 'Dawn Society'.
With Yulian being hostile toward them, the information he had was trustworthy.
"Are you aware that there is a hierarchy within the Dawn Society?"
"Yes."
"Then this conversation will be simple."
Yulian smiled.
Unlike before, it was a chilling smile, like a snake flicking its tongue.
"I have secured a list of the Dawn Society's Bishops."
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