Chapter 117
Chapter 117
The aristocrat who arrived after Luceric, who rode his horse resolutely without saying a word the whole way, was located not too far from the prison.
While living in the capital, I had never been there before, so I was thinking of a building like the Houses of Parliament, but surprisingly, the building itself wasn’t that big.
To be honest, as soon as I entered, I was worried that everyone would stare at me and try to kill me, but it didn’t seem like it would be much of a problem, seeing as the older soldiers passed by but didn’t recognize me and whispered among themselves.
“I heard that more than twenty people have already died. Those who returned alive said that one swing of the sword would blow off their neck.”
I can’t help but feel relieved even though the person in question is passing by and I don’t know. Even though most of them were talking about me in quite a few places, no one recognized me.
“Since they died because of their fault, I can’t even get a proper relief.”
“Where were they this time?”
“Viscount Etaville.”
“Hwiyu. The moneylender has done one more thing. How come they say they bring in soldiers endlessly?
“It might be to pay off debts to the thugs and bring them back. I want you to think about us who are struggling.”
It was quite unexpected for what I had picked up for a while, so I almost turned around without realizing it. How can you say something like that casually in a public place like this?
Even so, even the enlisted soldiers accompanied by Luceric looked different from those who died at my hands in terms of training… I didn’t expect that even the sense of belonging would be different, but it’s almost like a different unit. Besides, a loan shark? Could it be that Etavil or the human who worked for our friend Gees?
Without time to focus on my questions and recall my memories, Luceric just walked hard and led me to an antique room located on the third floor. Then he knocked lightly and raised his voice.
“Your Excellency. Sir Eldmia Ega has visited.”
“Come in.”
I passed by Luceric, who politely opened the door following the voice of his age, and when I went inside, an old man wearing antique monocles greeted me with a smile.
“It’s finally time to meet you. Nice to meet you. I’m the Duke of Lesrom Juracil Chisin Ravinera, a thorn in the King’s side.”
Contrary to the bitter impression that cannot be said to be sad even if it is empty, it is a very pleasant self-introduction. Even though the aristocrats never liked it until now, they know how to distinguish between public and private affairs, and they know how to respond with pleasure to the pleasure of going to Eldmia.
Still, as much as possible, he took a posture according to the manners and greeted them in the same way.
“Nice to meet you, sir. I am Eldmia Ega, the thorn in the eyes of the aristocracy.”
“Hahaha. You’re a pleasant fellow. I think the rest of your life would have been a little more fun if there were only two of you in the aristocratic house. Sit down. It’s bad manners to keep a guest who accepted an invitation standing still. Oh, but you. ‘s introduction is wrong. You’re surprisingly not a thorn in the eye.”
It seems that the elderly man who became a duke has a very open mind. But somehow, that nuance that seemed to already know about me bothered me a little.
“It feels as if you knew me.”
I sat on the sofa in the middle of the room and kept my eyes on him. When I asked, Duke Lesrom took out a tea set in one corner with a very familiar movement and skillfully prepared tea before answering.
what? The Duke is serving tea himself?
“Of course. Unbeknownst to you, your recent activities have been very splendid. As much as His Majesty knows, I know. Conversely, His Majesty is also clearly aware of your existence. Even before visiting the Empire. Oh, there’s only one kind of tea here, so try it and tell me if you don’t like it.”
Contrary to what he said in a tone full of joy from beginning to end, the contents contained exceeded my expectations by a lot. You knew me before visiting the Empire? Did Sir Ekaf report it?
“Are you a little curious? It may not be very reluctant, but I want you to be interested in the conversation with me. Isn’t a pleasant conversation starting with interest?”
I’m not going to lie, Duke Lesrom, who has finished his preparations so neatly that it reminds me of the butler preparing tea, walks up with an undisturbed motion, sets down the tea set, and sits across from me, keeping my eyes peeled as I keep watching. I can’t believe it, so I can’t manage my expression.
“Even so, it pulls out the car pretty well.”
I thought I would meet a very coercive and authority-bound person, but it was so unexpected that I couldn’t predict it at all. In the end, Duke Lesrom shrugged his shoulders while remaining silent as he couldn’t find his way around, and continued talking on his own.
“Don’t you think that magic tools are very convenient? This pot has a function that adjusts the temperature by injecting mana into the built-in magic stone, so I personally like it very much. It belongs to an unimaginably sophisticated technology.”
“Ah, yes…”
“But this magical technology was not created for a pleasant refreshment from the beginning. It is a by-product of researching a method to inflict damage on the enemy in the form of delayed explosion magic. Funny enough, that It’s the result of a technique that the wizards who were conducting the research did not want to study while drinking cold tea and applied it appropriately.”
Shaking his head and smiling vaguely, it seemed as if he was recalling memories. However, such a sign disappears in an instant, and another story follows naturally.
“Technology, tools, and people. In the end, depending on where and how they are used, they produce completely different results. However, there are times when those who know how to place them in the right place have nothing, and those who do not have the ability to do so have everything. It happens quite often, so it makes me sick to my stomach.”
So, as I was watching the tea pouring with a puzzled look on my face, I wondered if he was trying to say something like, “Please take refuge in the
aristocrats. Delt was the same.
Suddenly, the main theory hit and came in.
But fortunately, this time I managed my expression properly, so I asked him back while pretending to be calm.
“Who is Delt?”
“Oh, you may not know the name. You are one of the knights you killed to save the Marquis of Levien around the year before last. The knight who died with the flying dragon.”
fuck. Regardless, Duke Lesrom’s reaction was the same.
Just in case, I double-checked the presence of people around me and the dynamics of Duke Lesrom, but nothing was unusual. Just looking at me like it’s interesting.
Judging by that nonchalant reaction, it seems like he knew everything, not just talking about it. Why have you been silent until now? Even the details related to Delt were not meant to be presented as evidence in the trial tomorrow?
Leaning his upper body slightly forward in preparation for an unexpected situation, and preparing to stand up at any time, Duke Lesrom smiled and waved his hand.
“It’s like a wild animal. Don’t worry. What kind of threat will this pose to you? Rather, it’s a story I brought up on purpose because I needed to explain the situation in order to get your understanding.”
“I don’t think His Excellency can ask for my understanding except for something related to the Marquis of Levien.”
“It’s true that it’s related. We have to put the owner of Delt, who couldn’t get back, to the guillotine. If you continue to rampage, our plans will go awry.”
“…yes?”
what did i just hear? Who do you put on the guillotine?
Are you planning on cutting your tail now? No, if that’s the case, isn’t there any reason to set up a place like this for me to talk about?
Amid the continued questioning without anything falling apart, Duke Lesrom calmly spoke with a light smile.
“I can guess what you’re thinking. I’m not cutting off the tail. It never had a tail in the first place. If I had to put it that way… I guess it’s time to slaughter the boar that’s been locked up in a cage to keep it out of sight.” army.”
As if he had peeked into my head, Duke Lesrom naturally answered and raised his teacup. Unlike his calm demeanor, the words he had just uttered were by no means calm, but his demeanor did not change.
“Moving with the interests of the family and the territory as a priority. If you explain what nobles pursue simply and clearly, that’s about it. But anyway, isn’t there a line that shouldn’t be crossed? This is bad. Of course, even for those of us who are called the aristocracy, the same is true. Apart from priorities, there is only one thing we must absolutely protect.”
“…Does it follow?”
“You have to protect it. Pledge of allegiance to the royal family. That is something that cannot be compromised and should not be done. .”
It was an answer that came out as if it were natural, but since the words came from the mouth of the head of the aristocratic faction on the opposite side of the royal faction, I involuntarily tilted my head to the side and looked at him with a crooked gaze.
Nevertheless, Duke Lesrom didn’t care at all about my rudeness and continued.
“I want you to understand that I can’t tell you everything because I don’t know who you are yet. But think about it calculatedly. Until now, I’ve been doing well with the current royal family, even if I quarreled a little, but a new family came up and raised the royal family. If you overturn it, isn’t it different from building a new human relationship and losing a lot of things you’ve built up until now? Not only is there no certainty that you will be able to get the same benefits as before, but there may be some damage.”
The majority of nobles are neither young nor short enough to desire new riches and honors for such labor.
The words of Duke Lesrom, who sips tea and smiles with satisfaction, sound very reasonable.
“But that’s just my story. There are people within the aristocratic court who still believe that they are capable and young enough to become kings. Unfortunately, many of them who are really better than those people are out on the battlefield or not in the capital, so there are few people to compare them to. I don’t know if it’s because they’ve been steadily filling their stomachs while such sacrifices have been going on for 7 years, but it seems like they’re not seeing each other.”
“What the hell does that have to do with the Marquis of Levien?”
“Well, that’s a bit vague to say, too. For now… let’s just say her presence played quite a part in the traitor’s scheme.”
He would have been suspicious even if he had confided in me sorcery information, but now there was no reason for me to believe Duke Lesrom. But the situation is like this, so you want me to stay still? There’s no way.
“That won’t stop me from running for the safety of the Marquis of Levien, Duke.”
“Of course it is. That’s why I’m thinking of writing a pledge.”
“…A pledge?”
“Without any puns. If tomorrow’s trial does not bring the Marquis of Levien to a complete acquittal and uncover the traitor… Let’s see, I’ll surrender all my position and property. With my official seal and signature, of course. How is it?”
There was only one thing I could do in front of the Duke of Lesrom, who promised to harm his group and put all his position and property all-in as a deposit to prove it.
Thinking about what the hell is up with your brain on full force.