[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Chapter 39: Why All This Fuss Just to Get So Fresh Air
Rewinding ti slightly, before Allenvert received permission to go out.
Duke Georg Grunewald was discussing matters with the Head Butler.
"Pay attention to the security detail, and make sure he doesn't deviate from the planned route."
"Understood."
"What about Verdzig?"
"He won't act rashly."
Georg nodded at Aiden's response.
Of course, he knew his son's true nature. However, he highly valued his competence and capability.
Wasn't even his personality rather fitting for soone destined to sit on the throne?
'So the master is indeed concerned about Young Master Verdzig's temperant.'
In Aiden's opinion, ruling subordinates through only sches and fear wasn't the best approach.
Though the Duke himself had claid his position through intrigue and bloodshed, Verdzig seed excessive.
'Though Young Lady Ulbhild is talented, she lacks the ruthless disposition needed to rule this vast duchy. And both Karl and Sorset have their own shortcomings.'
That's why he welcod the ergence of Allenvert, who might beco a new young lion.
‘Though he couldn't completely overturn the situation currently, Allenvert would be a good influence on Verdzig…’
While thinking this, Aiden secretly wanted to place even more expectations on Allenvert.
Above all, he genuinely found himself more drawn to Allenvert's character. Sothing that only Young Master Allenvert possessed - that was the people's trust.
"What about the guards?"
"I'll assign five royal guards."
"Hmm."
The duke nodded.
"How is Olivier's martial arts?"
"Excellent."
"If he's mastered the Borgart clan's secret martial arts well, there's nothing to worry about. Even when I saw him before, his physical foundation and mana channels were impressive."
"Keep a close eye on this matter."
"Understood."
While watching his sons' power struggle, he had been diating to ensure the sprouts weren't crushed too early.
Therefore, the fact that he was personally examining this ant he had acknowledged Allenvert's qualifications to so degree.
"Did you say he practiced sword until his palms were bloody?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Such an impatient fellow. I was planning to assign him a swordsmanship instructor soon. Is he trying to make so kind of statent?"
"...I don't think that's the case."
Georg leaned back against the heavy chair's backrest.
He wasn't worried about Verdzig suddenly acting recklessly. He was the type who wouldn't cross lines unless necessary.
'I suppose this too is a form of trust between father and son.'
Duke Georg smiled wryly.
Noble clan parent-child relationships had such bizarre aspects. One couldn't expect ordinary family warmth. If that's what they wanted, they should have lived modestly as a branch family, far from power long ago.
"..."
Such thinking had hurt his wife and son.
However, even if he could go back, even knowing all these consequences, he would have had to make the sa choices then.
"Aiden."
Georg said.
"I am a heartless father."
"...Your Grace."
Aiiden montarily felt breathless at the bitterness in his lord's voice. But his answer was always the sa.
"True rulers' virtue lies in that lonely, misunderstood position."
"Yes. I know."
Georg nodded.
Allenvert had overco that despair, regained his intelligence, and recovered his mories on his own. Not just that. How many hearts had he already won over?
A fallen noble's attendant, a young maid, the tutor, butler, doctor... even his eldest brother and sister.
'Perhaps that's why.'
He didn't want to see Allenvert, who had risen up without his father's help, fall too easily.
Though Georg couldn't bring himself to express such feelings in words-
"My Lord. I will personally select the royal guards."
Aiden was a man who understood his master's heart better than anyone.
To this, Georg only replied.
"Do so."
* * *
On a bright sunny morning in the port city.
I rubbed my eyes at the seagulls' cries and finished preparing to go out.
"Yaaawn."
I scratched my belly while walking out in front of the annex.
"Greetings, Young Master."
Five royal guards in gleaming armor over their uniforms and a luxurious carriage were waiting in front of the annex.
"Do we really need all this just to go get so fresh air?"
I continued scratching my belly while looking at Olivier.
"This is the proper ceremony for soone of the most noble bloodline in the duchy. You must show appropriate dignity."
Olivier responded as if stating the obvious.
"Well, you're not wrong."
But this made feel like so spoiled young master flaunting his bloodline. Back in my hotown, they called this kind of person an attention seeker.
"I'm not like Barclava."
"..."
This ti Olivier and Peter barely held back their laughter.
"That was too obvious just now. Still, not bad."
"Ahem."
Anyway, for just going out for a stroll, the escort's combat power was quite impressive.
"Young Master."
The suspiciously muscular coachman wearing a driver's uniform and concealing a dagger bowed his head to .
"Nice to et you."
"It's an honor to serve you like this."
"That's too much, but thanks anyway."
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
The montarily flustered coachman quickly composed himself.
Indeed, to be a coachman serving noble personages, such qualities were necessary.
Deaf ears, a tight mouth, and hands faster than the eyes.
'I wonder if that whip becos a weapon in ergencies too?'
anwhile, the five royal guards ard with swords and spears cut truly magnificent figures. They seed like truly cold warriors devoid of any emotion.
"Anyone here who wants to spar with ?"
"Pardon?"
"I an training matches. No takers?"
"...How could we dare."
"I see. Noted."
Among the royal guards I saw yesterday, there were so with insolent looks, but these five showed no such signs.
"Sorry. I was being a bit mischievous. I get these fits of madness sotis, please bear with ."
"..."
They were n who knew the virtue of keeping silent rather than giving awkward responses.
"By the way, whose orders brought you here?"
"The Head Butler personally interviewed and selected us."
"Oh."
My conclusion is that there won't be any troublemakers here. Of course, they'll report every bit of trouble I cause without fail.
"I'll be in your care."
"We will protect you safely."
Five royal guards and a coachman who would serve as both protectors and monitors.
Add to that Allenvert, the reincarnation of genius swordsman Karzan, and Olivier, the pride of the Borgart Clan.
'This level of force could be in the sa level of a platoon’s strength, enough to instantly crush a small organization and drag out its boss by the hair.'
In short, it was excessive for just an escort force. Since when did they start paying this much attention to this Allenvert Grunewald?
'Then the question I should ask is a bit different.'
Is this force a consideration to protect , or a warning to quietly get so fresh air without causing trouble?
"Are we perhaps going sowhere to fight?"
I asked the guard captain.
"No, sir."
He was a young man radiating quite an impressive level of martial power. If regular royal guards were at the 4th tier, this man had probably reached the early stages of the 5th tier.
'Quite strong.'
In short, he was overqualified to be guarding in a place like this.
"We heard you don't prefer flashy processions, so we minimized the personnel. The Head Butler's opinion was that if we do so, we should provide flawless protection with an elite few."
"Well, that carriage looks plenty flashy to ."
"Ah, is that so?"
The captain asked, sowhat flustered.
"We chose the most modest one..."
"..."
This was modest? To anyone looking, it practically screams 'make way, noble young master passing through'.
"Anyway, I understand. Are there any places I shouldn't go?"
"How could there be? There's nowhere in this duchy that you cannot go, Young Master."
"I see."
"Of course, going to dangerous places would be problematic. For instance, slums are filled with vagrants and criminals who could cause unexpected incidents."
"Surely that won't happen?"
I said sothing I didn't an.
"By the way, Young Master. Where do you plan to go today?"
"Well..."
I exchanged glances with Olivier and answered nonchalantly.
"The harbor looked quite nice from afar."
"Yes."
"It would be good to slowly visit the docks. It's embarrassing for a Grunewald man to be unfamiliar with the sea."
"Ah, that..."
After pondering briefly, the captain nodded.
"Understood. We will escort you safely."
"You guys are making feel like so human gold bar. Nobody's going to steal , so don't be so tense."
"I appreciate your words."
But his aning was that he had no intention of relaxing as I suggested, so shouldn't we get moving?
"Then let's depart."
And I'm just the type of person who respects others' intentions like this.
"Wow, nice."
The carriage had a covered top and walls on all sides, with windows being the only way to see outside. It seed well-maintained, giving off a pleasant sll.
"How comfortable."
"Several magical devices are embedded for shock absorption. They'll provide you with a comfortable ride."
The coachman said proudly.
"That's reassuring. I'm counting on you."
"Of course. Giddyup!"
As the coachman cracked his whip, the carriage slowly began to move.
"Ah, but could you lower the Grunewald flag for a mont?"
"Pardon?"
"Should we display the family flag for a private outing that isn't even an official event?"
"..."
After a mont of silence ca the response.
"We'll do as you say."
They probably figured it would be easier to determine my true purpose that way. However, I had no intention of revealing my true intentions so easily.
'No one will be able to guess my real purpose.'
Today, I planned to identify which underworld force controlled the smuggling operations in Grunewald's harbor.
'And ultimately, I must make that enormous profit mine and rise as an influential figure in the underworld using those vast funds and forces.'
To compete against Verdzig and his maternal family for the position of Grunewald's head, my abilities alone weren't enough.
'Just as the Dark King did...'
I too needed 'the power of the shadows'.
Of course, I currently had no way to shake off my watchers and go to the underworld.
But coincidentally, Verdzig's gift had greatly accelerated my plans, which had seed impossible
'If I can use Aminicrus's mask.'
No one would suspect disguised as an annex employee coming and going from the castle.
'For that, I need to throw a decoy to fool the watchers' eyes.'
So that no one can grasp my true purpose.
'Today I'll have to act like a madman in everyone's eyes.'
But isn't that my specialty?
'I am Karzan, the Mad Dog of the underworld.'
* * *
"That bastard is going out to the harbor?"
"Yes, Young Master."
Sorset Grunewald snorted at his butler's report.
"The fool doesn't know how dangerous the outside world is."
To want to see that chaotic and dangerous place of his own accord.
"What if so thugs pick a fight with him? Don't you think?"
"..."
Sorset grinned.
"Shall we play a little prank on our arrogant brother?"
"Young Master."
The butler tried to dissuade Sorset with an aghast expression.
"It's dangerous. With royal guards escorting the Fourth Young Master's procession, if an accident were to happen..."
"Quiet. As you said, with the royal guards protecting him, what kind of accident could happen?"
Sorset waved his hand as if annoyed by the butler's words.
"I'm just sending a light warning. Stop talking and make the 'contact.'"
When he took this stance, there were almost no people who could change his mind.
"...Understood."
The butler's expression was dark as he bowed in response.
'It would be a big problem if things go wrong.'
Though worried about dealing with the aftermath, he had no choice but to follow Sorset's orders for now.
'I should report this to the Third Lady.'
If sothing went wrong, she was the only one who could resolve the situation.
* * *
The carriage traversed the main road without obstruction. It was remarkable. Despite the many pedestrians, the center was kept clear for carriages to pass through.
"Nice weather."
"Indeed."
I listened to the wind and noises flowing through the window.
"It should be fine to stick my face out, right?"
"Ah, that's fine."
With the captain's permission, I stuck my face out. The gazes of passersby all turned toward at once.
"Wow, did you see that just now?"
"Who is that?"
"A noble I've never seen before."
"That's not the issue. He's unbelievably handso?"
"Why isn't there a flag? Soone that handso..."
"Isn't he a noble?"
"But looking at his dignity..."
It's amazing that all this commotion was caused by my face.
"Being handso is tiring too."
"..."
Peter looked at sowhat disdainfully.
"Can't you look at with kinder eyes?"
"I'll try."
"Pathetic fellow. The jealousy of an ugly man is unseemly."
"Wait, what did I do?"
"Shut up."
While berating Peter, I felt newly amazed.
Just now, a baby in its mother's arms smiled brightly at , which was quite baffling. Weren't babies supposed to cry at the sight of strangers?
Anyway, I took in everything - the city scenery, road conditions, the sea sll carried by the wind, the fishy odor, food and waste slls. I was determined to map the entire city of Grunewald in my mind.
'Wow. Wait.'
Suddenly a terrible sll assaulted my nose.
...The picturesque scenery began mixing with a foul stench.
It ant the carriage was getting closer to the slums.
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Reviews
All reviews (0)