Chapter 18: The Wizard Came (3)
Chapter 18: The Wizard Came (3)
Ruel turned back to board the carriage but paused for a moment and asked,
“What about the children?”
“Not everyone has joined us.”
Contrary to the momentum he had just shown, Cheynol hesitated.
“Really? Tell them to tell me whenever they feel like it. I’m going.”
“Yes, sir!”
The carriage, which had started without escort, brought in a good hundred people on its way back.
Their strength, which was not commensurate with the old armor, was powerful enough without looking at it.
“It’s the Knight!.” cried one of the people who gathered at the parade of the Lord.
Someone laughed at the sound, but someone shouted together.
“Here comes the Knights!”
If they are not knights, who are they?
Many people wondered why they were not wearing armor.
In the blink of an eye, a lot of speculation arose.
Among them, the most influential was the fact that ‘there was no money in Setiria, so they had to sell even the knights’ armor.’
But the eyes of the knights were different from what people had guessed.
They couldn’t see any shame in being proud of themselves and their eyes were wary of any harm that could befall upon their Lord.
“Isn’t it time to announce that the luxury of the barons is over?”
People sympathized with the sound someone uttered.
Everything was right.
The Lord had returned, and strong knights stood by him, even though they were not wearing armor.
People were full of expectations.
Remembering the last five years of the luxury of the barons.
“Why, do you like it so much?”
Ruel spoke bluntly.
People were talking, but the voices are mixed and I couldn’t understand his question.
Maybe he’s laughing at the Knights without armor.
“Hooray for you.” Ganien said.
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Ganien shrugged his shoulders.
“Look at this. I told you people wouldn’t hate you like you think.”
When Cassion was elated, Ruel frowned.
“This can’t be.”
Either way, he is an bad Lord who gave up his job.
Hurray for board that wouldn’t be strange even if a stone flew in.
‘That’s weird.’
***
The hurrah procession continued until Ruel arrived at the mansion.
Ruel now felt strange and burdensome.
It was because he liked it so much and felt like he had to do something.
Crunch.
Ruel soothed himself by eating cookies.
Hooray or stone throwing won’t change your plans.
‘Peaceful life, normal life.’
I repeated my simple dream several times in my mind.
“Looking at it, there’s a lot going on around you.”
“I think so too.”
At the sound of Ganien and Cassion’s easygoing voice, Ruel let out a laugh.
“…huh.”
I was upset when I saw Ganien, who looked at me in a strange way, not knowing if it was all because of me, who was the actual main character of this procession.
Crunch.
Ruel bit another cookie.
“Are you done with your schedule for today?”
With the help of Cassion, Ruel got off the wagon.
As he looked at the wagon foot, he automatically remembered what had happened this morning.
“I have to ride again, so until then, make another footrest and attach it.”
Ruel gave a light command as if calling someone’s dog’s name and entered the mansion with Ganien.
The knights followed him.
“Ha…”
Cassion, who was left behind by the carriage, messed up his neat hair.
‘Damn you!’
His heart throbbed immediately, but Cassion clenched his teeth and chewed on Ruel once more.
‘If it wasn’t for the contract…!’
Cassion looked at the guild members who were guarding the front of the mansion with a wrinkled expression.
“You hear him? Make a foothold, tight.”
“Chi-, chief?” One of the guild members asked.
Despite their bewildered words, Cassion diligently moved into the mansion.
He was suddenly craving something sweet.
***
Crunch.
Gold coins poured out.
Cassion’s eyes grew bigger together.
The side he was looking at was the sword, not the gold coin.
His heart ached when he saw the leaf pattern that was closely ivory-colored with black sheath.
A gold-wrapped pattern on the handle and rim was written in a very small handwriting.
Cassion eventually gulped the saliva down his throat as he looked at the sword, which felt sacred just by looking at it.
He couldn’t even feel the sweetness of the ice cream he had a while ago.
“It’s yours.”
Ruel brought it up peacefully.
“Mi-, mine?”
Unintentionally, Cassion stuttered.
Ruel grinned at the sight.
“The heirloom that came down to Setiria is the Turbulent Day, the sword you were hoping for. And that’s the content of our contract.”
“This is the Turbulent Day sword!”
It was a more attractive and beautiful sword than he heard.
Cassion took a new glove out of his arms and put it on.
Even a grain of dust should not be buried, but it was noticeable that it was placed on the desk.
‘Clean up the Turbulent Day sword and put it in a glass box…’
“Oh, there’s something you need to do before you get it.”
Ruel tried to take back Turbulent Day Sword to let him know that the deal had not yet started.
Slap.
Cassion struck Ruel’s hand in an instant.
Holding his heart tight, Cassion struggled to get his words out.
“Don’t touch it with your hands!”
“…Wow, I didn’t expect you to like the swords so much. Do you like collecting swords?”
Ruel snorted and rubbed his pushed hand.
Cassion closed and opened his eyes for a moment, looking at the back of his red hand.
How was he supposed to lie and show him his hand even though he knows his heart will tighten?
“I’m a sword collector.”
“Then I’ll have to get a lot for my butler.”
“…Yes?”
“You said you liked collecting swords. You can look forward to it.”
Since the main character of the ‘SSS-class Knight’ is a knight, of course there are many swords.
I love you so much, so I’ll get them all for you.
Cassion looked at Ruel. he could feel the sincerity in what he said.
‘What’s the point of making a stable like that? Next time, I’ll make a carriage for you even if you ask me to. Okay.’
If Ruel manages to gain control of Setiria again, he might buy a few expensive swords for him.
Above all, he was a noble, the probability of obtaining a noble sword was higher through him for me.
“Anyway, there’s something you need to do before you get this.”
“Just say.”
Today was the most polite Cassion I’ve ever seen.
“Make a replica.”
“What did you just say?”
“Copy the product.”
“What do you mean by a duplicate product?! It stigmatizes the sword!”
Cassion, who confirmed that he had heard it properly, was about to jump in place because he was too excited.
“This sword must be more famous than I thought. What if someone finds this sword? You want to put it back then?”
“Giving and taking away, no, the terms of the contract…”
“So make it look real.”
‘I’ll make a Turbulent Day, not just a cheap counterfeit.’
This did not go in accordance with Cassion’s heart.
But what can he do, that was his master’s orders.
“In addition–”
“If possible, how about saying everything at once?”
“With this money, you can buy knights’ armor. You know better than me.”
“Where did you get the money?”
Ruel, whom Cassion saw, was the head of Setiria, but he was penniless.
Would he have spent his own money?
“I found some money in my safe. I guess I’m the only one who can open it.”
“…I don’t think so?”
There was something strange about what Ruel said.
He was just smiling gently.
Ruel wandered around an unfamiliar mansion by himself a while ago when he found a room with a safe? How convenient.
I thought the security was seriously wrong because it seemed to be no different from the regular room, but it wasn’t.
When Astell, who was passing by, asked what was on the wall, Ruel noticed.
The room with the safe is only visible to him.
Inside the safe were gold coins and heirlooms that the former head of the family had collected. Turbulent Day, miscellaneous jewels, and things wrapped in something.
Numerous papers were attached like talismans, so I was reluctant to touch them anymore.
“I’m busy because I’m going to meet the Knights of the Magic after lunch.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Cassion took out a silk cloth from X-Raemon’s pocket and carefully wrapped it around the Turbulent Day.
Cassion actually put the sword into his pocket.
Ruel said with a slight surprise.
“I’d like to ask you a question.”
“Say it.”
“What is that pocket?”
“I’ve magically connected it to my vault. It’s quite comfortable. Unfortunately, you can’t do it because you need a lot of money to open your pockets.”
Ruel clicked his tongue and lay in bed inhaling Breath.
Then he waved his hand and sent Cassion away.
Before leaving, Cassion turned back abruptly and called Ruel.
“Oh, there’s a letter for you.”
“What letter?”
“It’s a letter asking you to pay off your debt.”
Ruel received Cassion’s letter and confirmed the sender.
The Lumina family and the Shio family.
“They’re back again?”
Since the Knights returned, they were trying to launch a pincer attack on him.
If you want to keep barking, isn’t it better to cover your mouth?
“Any news from Minart?”
“Yes, I was just about to take it out.”
Ruel took the letter and unfolded it.
The letter was filled with three pages.
‘Why are there so many?’
Among those listed in the letter, the Knights Templar were excluded because they returned.
Former aristocrats, butlers, servants.
Why are there so many people who have been kicked out or gone on their own?
Ruel handed over the letter to Cassion.
“Choose one of these to exclude. You can do it, right?”
Of course, it was your guild members who did all the work.
“Even if I can’t, I have to.”
“I’m going to meet the two nobles after meeting with the Knights of the Magic. Which one is closer between the two families?”
“…….”
Cassion was silent for a moment, and then asked with firm eyes.
“You don’t mean to attack them all at once, do you?”
“Yes? I want to take care of everything once I can move my body.”
“Sigh.”
Cassion sighed deeply.
His experience so far had shown me that he would not be able to dampen that stubbornness.
If Ruel would listen to him because he said it wasn’t good for his health, he would be resting now.
Cassion struggled to speak as he looked at Ruel’s pale complexion.
“The Lumina family is closer.”
“Really?”
“I’ll be ready. How many knights do you intend to take as an escort…”
“No, I’m going to move quietly. I haven’t been out since I came back with the Knights. Cough, cough.”
Ruel finished coughing and went on.
“Because I’m very, very busy trying to raise the fallen Setiria.”
“Okay, I’ll move quietly.”
“I asked Astell to make me a lot of cookies, so bring them. I’ll bring in Cheynol.”
“All right.”
Cassion hesitated to look at Ruel, contrary to his answer.
Ruel pointed to his chest instead of answering.
It’s working fine.
Despite the announcement, Cassion sighed outside.
‘You’re a quick-witted man.’
I don’t know if it’s because I ate all the cookies Astell made me, but I was getting sick again.
‘Damn body.’
No matter how many times I cursed, I felt sick.
As Ruel closed his eyes and forced his recovery efforts, a knock was heard.
“It’s Cheynol. I heard you found it.”
“Come in.”
Cheynol was the Knights Commander.
Other knights didn’t know, but he was aware of Ruel’s condition.
“May I ask you a question with all due respect, my Lord?”
The first word he received as a Knight Commander was, ‘You may.’
It was bittersweet, but his complexion was so bad that even his eyes could see it.
Ruel didn’t answer and said something else.
“The armor will be delivered within a few days. As you know, Carbena and her crew have done a lot and it’s empty now.”
“It’s all right, we just need to protect this place.”
“No, I’m not okay. You’re my knights. They’re like my face. I’ll make everything the best from head to toe.”
Cheynol’s eyes slightly flared.
“This old man is honored to have been thought of so highly by you, my Lord.”
“So, I’d like to give you two orders, would you mind?”
“Of course!”
“A week? Maybe more. I’ll go out and come back. Can you keep this place safe?”
Cheynol, who answered without hesitation, shut up for the first time.
Ruel’s pale complexion, blue lips, and even his trembling hands.
Those symptoms were not good.
“Can you keep it?”
Ruel asked again. Cheynol’s lips trembled.
‘You don’t have more than one life… Are you thinking of burning that one life for Setiria?’ Cheynol thought.
“Can you keep it?”
As if to urge him to agree, the question uttered again left Cheynol choked.
It was just like that when you get old, your tear glands become weak.
“It’s possible!”
So Cheynol shouted louder.
Ruel smiled contentedly only then.
“And one last thing.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“I wonder if the sword has rusted after years of grazing. Cough.”
The sound of coughing followed.
Each time, Cheynol’s clothes were wrinkled.
“Be strong.” Ruel said.
‘For Setiria.’
Ruel didn’t say aloud, but that’s what Cheynol heard.
“It has to be.”
Cheynol was on one knee.
And he bowed his head for a pledge to his lord.
“I will be strong.”