LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 38
038.
When faced with an overwhelming difference in skill, people generally fall into one of two categories:
They surrender, or they flee.
Even if they are just scared, still—they are knights of the North.
Their appearance was due to the hellish visage that Kalen presented, but there was no sight of them fleeing in disgrace.
Eventually, one by one, they began to lower their weapons and surrender.
Though Toren had also learned the sword as a knight, the truth is that his mastery was lacking, so he was quickly subdued by Kalen.
This absurd civil war thus concluded with Serasie’s victory.
There’s one final matter left, but in the grand scheme, it is as good as a victory.
Had Kalen not tread the brink of death to attain the third rank,
Had he not inadvertently experienced real combat,
Had he not unknowingly unleashed his visage,
If any of these things had been lacking, the outcome of the final battle would have definitely been different.
Though loyalty obtained through violence lacks sincerity,
Serase thought it didn’t matter either way.
At this point, only one person’s regard was necessary for her.
They, too, are people who will live out their lives in the North.
It means that, even if it’s a falsehood, they cannot help but obey the ruler of the North.
For this reason, the majority of the knights have joined Serasie’s side,
And Makbel and Toren are imprisoned in a makeshift tent.
Serasie, who had previously celebrated with a barrel of liquor while thoroughly crushing her, now looked at no one with icy eyes,
Just glaring contemptuously, as if looking at a bug.
The makeshift tent where such celebrations would have taken place had now become a place of imprisonment, decorated excessively according to Toren’s taste.
In front of Toren, seated is Kalen, still as stone.
Being a particularly cunning person, Serasie had specially requested Kalen’s supervision.
“What… what are you really?”
Toren asked Kalen, filled with indignation.
Truly, it was unfair.
This civil war should have been nothing more than an amusing diversion for Toren.
It should have been so, at least, until this strange boy from who-knows-where messed everything up.
How could such a body, so young it seemed like he hadn’t even completed his Coming-of-Age ceremony, manage to wildly unleash such monstrous magic?
Mages are bound by mana, it was said.
When all the set amount of energy is used up, one experiences an exhaustion-like, painful symptom, so I hear.
Did he have that much mana to defeat all the knights of the North?
If so, then a few mages alone could end wars.
Toren realized just how much this notion was absurd.
“Guard.”
“Ha! Even the monster from Plache isn’t as powerful as you.”
Could he be talking about that person, the highest-ranked mage in the current social circle?
Kalen tilted his head in confusion and queried back.
“Don’t you believe it? Then think what you want.”
“…”
Kalen has no desire to explain everything to Toren.
It’s unpleasant enough dealing with such trash, let alone engaging in conversation.
“…”
Toren’s tightly shut eyes finally open.
The one who has been grinding his teeth glares ahead and asks.
“What did you promise?”
It’s a reference to what occurred between Kalen and Serasie.
What was promised to make someone like Kalen aid her?
“Why does someone so focused solely on personal gain help her so much?”
The words spewed out in fury would have deeply wounded Serasie if she had heard them.
People like that didn’t surround her, and her heart withered and twisted as a result.
“You’ll end up discarded by her someday too. As long as Father—I mean, Lord of the House —supports me, come to me. Whatever she promised, I can offer more.”
Failure with force, now bribery?
Kalen thought calmly.
Occasionally, there are people who cannot accept their failure and look for reasons elsewhere.
To Toren, this defeat seemed to be due to Kalen himself.
Though Kalen didn’t want to interact with him, he knew Toren would just keep ranting if left unchecked.
“We agreed to help in the restoration of the Dranunus Family.”
“Is that all?”
Toren asked incredulously, as if hearing something ridiculous.
It wasn’t a treasure worth countless gold and jewels, or the promise of a high position using the influence of the Hiart family.
He doubted Kalen was telling the truth.
Actually, it was a good thing.
In the end, all it took was handling this boy.
Since the promise was nothing more, offer him something better.
Everyone who claimed to be loyal to Serasie and sided with her ended up switching sides when enticed.
Surely, this boy would be no different.
“That’s something I can do, even after becoming house lord. Along with that, a lifetime’s worth of money and a suitable position after maturity!”
It felt like an opportunity.
Toren, with eyes once filled with despair now gleaming, struggled mightily.
Expecting a positive answer,
“Sorry, but no.”
Without any fluctuations in the boy’s expression,
He simply closed his eyes, as if annoyed.
“Think about it carefully! You’re still young and don’t know anything yet. An opportunity like this will never come again…!”
“Can we just pretend it didn’t happen?”
Toren stopped his excitement and asked back in confusion.
“What?”
What Kalen said next was absurd.
“How about we pretend the women you kidnapped and sold as slaves never happened?”
How does he know that?
The question didn’t pass Toren’s lips.
Because he had a hunch.
Serasie.
That cunning one who discovered her father’s secret illegal business by merely diverting a single maid.
It had to be her.
Even though back then, he had helped her become aware in hopes of unsettling him.
Now it’s become a counterproductive move for him.
“Ah, no…”
He must think carefully.
If he only becomes house master, everything can be realized.
Illegal secret slave trading.
Even the future plan of swallowing the Empire.
He cannot falter here.
After much thought, only one fact emerged.
And it felt like a lifeline thrown down by heaven.
“That maid!”
The shout, filled with sheer desperation,
Made Kalen frown.
“That maid hasn’t been sold yet! I—I kept her in the basement to use in persuading that girl… No, my younger sibling later!”
“She was sold as a slave.”
“No! It was fabricated to mentally exhaust her!”
Had he caught the lifeline thrown down by heaven?
The boy seemed to grin faintly and opened his eyes.
“Good. Can you answer one more thing for me?”
Indeed, after going this far, there’s no way he wouldn’t switch sides.
Toren, tense and with a forced smile, replied quickly,
“Absolutely, just ask.”
However, desired outcomes rarely come to pass.
Because the place looked too high.
Toren, unaware that the lifeline he had grabbed was rotten,
Froze at the next words.
“Regarding what you did to the young lady.”
The boy’s face remained cold.
“Can we just pretend it didn’t happen?”
At the question,
Toren’s lips couldn’t respond.
After all, one cannot turn back time, can they?
Not even the highly acclaimed grand mage could do such a thing.
Ultimately, Lord Waste realized he had merely been played a fool, and yelled out in a rage.
Which was exactly what was expected, not deviating even a step.
Kalen found it almost laughable.
“Can’t be done, right? Besides, it’s not something you can control—it’s the young lady’s decision.”
“You mock me!”
“Are you dense? Thanks for confirming about the maid.”
“Y-you lowlife…”
Even while being knocked unconscious by a spell to the back of his head, his last words were perfectly aligned with expectations.
It was about time to stop playing along with such baseless theater.
Just as he was suppressing his craving to visit his favorite gambling den,
And wanted to rest his eyes a bit.
“Kalen.”
The tent flap was lifted, and the half-dressed Serasie entered, apparently unable to sleep alone.
Though she usually wears armor, or protective though uncomfortable clothing,
This relaxed attire is something Kalen had never seen before.
It signifies a change in her mindset.
Serasie, who was ensnared by insecurity, has now found something to lean on, revealing her newfound contentment in her attire.
“Ah, young lady, why aren’t you resting?”
“I—it’s hard to sleep alone…”
Because she preferred solitude due to restlessness, Kalen remembered.
While pondering that, the smooth voice echoed again in his ears.
“Why?”
At this abrupt question, looking at Serasie,
Her tightly clenched fists were trembling.
With her head bowed slightly,
Her expression is hidden.
“Pardon?”
What is being asked?
Kalen’s confusion showed through as he questioned.
“Why do you trust me so much?”
The gentle voice had moisture beginning to form.
In this unforgiving world, trust seemed a mere illusion fabricated by dreamers.
Guard duty without compensation seemed even rarer, something Kalen came to believe.
The knights’ alliances and the ones who now follow her now—all had calculated reasons.
Makbel’s betrayal on behalf of Toren, and his subsequent espionage.
Even her own attempts to manipulate others ended in betrayal.
Kalen’s purpose for bringing him along was never fully revealed to him.
Though erased from memory now, it was clear that initially, she planned to use him and then discard him.
Their partnership wasn’t long-lived.
It was merely a transactional understanding of mutual benefit.
Why did this boy trust her so?
Something she deliberately avoided asking.
Even if it was her own delusional belief of trust, she wanted to believe otherwise and thus refrained.
But after hearing the conversation between Kalen and Toren,
She couldn’t hold back anymore.
She wanted to ask.
Why do you believe in me so much?
Even if it means discovering only her own delusion, there would be no regret.
Believing and aiding someone even when no one else would.
From before the moment of this questioning,
-What you did to the young lady—
She wanted to understand.
-Can we just pretend it didn’t happen?
For the first and last time,
-You can’t do that. It’s the young lady’s decision.
A final glimpse of kindness.
Serasie held her head high and approached Kalen.
As Kalen looked at her calmly, he thought for a moment,
Then smirked.
“I guess so.”
While casually mimicking his speech habit,
“I simply wanted to.”
Pure trust.
Unconditional goodwill.
What Serasie had closed off in her heart,
What she had denied about the world,
Through this boy,
Bloomed beautifully again.
*
“Miss!!”
“Fine…”
The maid named Fine,
Thought to have been sold as a slave, was indeed imprisoned in the underground storage as Toren claimed.
“Thank… you…”
“Thank you so much for saving us…”
Besides Fine, several women from the missing villages were also found there.
The magnitude of scandal surrounding the eldest son of the Grand Duke’s family and his involvement in illegal slave trading couldn’t be easily handled.
Anyway, freed by Kalen, the people thanked profusely, bowing and leaving home.
If this had been a play, it would likely culminate in what many call a ‘happy ending.’
Kalen thought such while soothing the women who were holding onto his hand in gratitude.
Of course,
Serasie’s happy ending is yet to unfold.
Her promise with Kalen isn’t fully resolved, not until matters with the head of house are settled.
With one step left,
Wouldn’t some respite be alright?
To the woman who collapsed, tightly hugging Fine.