abcnovels
Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Chapter 49 – Confronting the Marquis (2)
Marquis Foltaine, who had been watching, stepped forward with a smile.
“Did you say this child was highly valued by the Count’s family? Like a child of their own, as you said.”
“Y-Yes, that’s correct.”
“Child, because of you, I lost my son.”
Marquis Foltaine spoke in a subtle tone.
“You didn’t treat that son like your son, though.”
“A father’s heart is not visible to others.”
“Anyone listening might think I killed your child.”
“You did, in essence.”
“So you wish me dead?”
“Quite the opposite, in fact.”
“What?”
“What if you took his place?”
“Oho.”
I couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation.
Look at this old man, would you?
“I’m quite popular.”
Saying this, I looked at Baron Tucker.
The anxiety on his face had doubled.
His eyes were shifting nervously, and even his pupils were darting around.
“Are you trying to pressure the child? That’s quite shameless of you, Baron Tucker.”
“Shameless, you say? Is that something you should be saying, my lord?”
“Isn’t it you who turned to me first? With Viscount Rodri, no less.”
“……!”
Baron Tucker bit his lip, guilty as charged.
“I didn’t bring it up to criticize you. It’s just that people’s hearts change with circumstances.”
Baron Tucker looked at me with a last glimmer of hope.
“You won’t go, right?”
“……”
“Why aren’t you answering? Hm? Is it because I’ve been nagging? I won’t do it anymore. I was only thinking of you.”
“Hmm.”
“You just said ‘mhmm’, right?”
“Let’s hear him out first, shall we?”
I crushed Baron Tucker’s expectations mercilessly.
“What value have you placed on me, my lord?”
“How much do you think?”
“When buying something which is not for sale, isn’t it the buyer’s job to name the price first?”
Marquis Foltaine nodded, his expression one of approval.
“I asked you to take the place of my child.”
“I decline to fill the spot of a mere namesake bastard.”
“Of course, you should.”
Marquis Foltaine smiled and took a few more steps forward.
The nearby guards started to follow immediately.
“Stand down.”
“But, sir.”
“It’s fine.”
“……Understood, sir.”
There wasn’t a trace of concern.
It meant they trusted their lord completely.
“Shall we take a short walk together? How about it?”
I glanced at Baron Tucker before nodding my head.
“That sounds good.”
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – San]
[Proofreader – Abstract]
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* * *
A forest path not far from the plains.
Leaving everyone else behind, the two of us walked in here alone.
‘I know I’m impressive, but this old man is also by no means ordinary.’
No matter how young I might be, he must have heard the rumors about me.
Even after that knight under his command, named Tomato or something, had lost his life by my hand, he showed no hesitation in his actions.
Moreover, the important thing was,
“It seems you didn’t learn this from your parents.”
“Excuse me?”
“Didn’t teach you to never follow a stranger who offers you candy?”
The remarkable thing was that he seemed more worried about me than himself.
I silently watched the face of Marquis Foltaine as he spoke.
His expression was incredibly serious.
“In a place like this, if someone were to die unnoticed, no one would ever know.”
It wasn’t just his expression and words.
Marquis Foltaine deliberately displayed his aura.
The sharp killing intent pricked my skin all over.
“Are you threatening me?”
“You dared to lay a hand on my child. Even if you die here by my hand, it wouldn’t be unjust.”
“Then perhaps you should have raised your child better.”
“……?”
For a moment, Marquis Foltaine lightly dug into his ear.
As if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
I raised my voice again towards him.
“In place of your foolish parents who failed to raise you properly, I will personally educate you!”
The killing intent tightening around me grew even stronger.
“……Was it Sir Kieran, the vice-captain of the White Lion Brigade?”
“……What?”
“That’s what he said to me.”
“……”
After a moment of silence.
“Pfft…… Heh heh heh, hahahahahaha!
Marquis Foltaine burst into laughter.
Was he laughing because he found it genuinely funny?
Or was he forcing himself to laugh?
‘Hmm.’
I paid attention to something other than his reaction.
His laughter echoed in the air.
My mana hole boiled over.
Even though his sword wasn’t drawn, it felt like my skin was being peeled off.
“……People really don’t know the true Marquis Foltaine.”
The Marquis, who had stopped laughing, now wore a cold smile.
“That’s what I want to say.”
“It seems we both have many questions. How about we have an honest conversation and clear up our doubts one by one? Of course, we promise not to lie, on our honor and mana.”
“Fine by me.”
Marquis Foltaine nodded, looking amused.
“They say to respect your elders, so you can ask first.”
“Bold one, aren’t you? Tell me, where are you from?”
“I’m from the Duchy of Meeke.”
I answered truthfully.
The root of the incident was the slave trade conducted by the bastard of Marquis Foltaine.
I had taken care of the trash, but they weren’t the only ones who heard about it.
One must consider the possibility that it might have reached the concerned party.
“At least it seems your parents have taught you that lying is bad.”
“So you were testing me. Anyway, it’s my turn now.”
I stared directly into Marquis Foltaine’s eyes.
“What is your dream? To usurp the throne? Do you truly desire power?”
“What kind of luxury and glory could an old man waiting to die seek?”
“Yet, you defied the king’s orders and even started this bull…… ahem.”
I almost slipped into my usual coarse language but quickly corrected myself.
“……And even started this battle?”
“When you see your homeland being destroyed in real-time, could you just stand by and do nothing?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If I had to describe it, it’s not ambition, but patriotism.”
For some reason, I found that answer understandable.
“You asked about my dream?”
“Yes.”
“To build a country that truly deserves to be called one. That is my dream.”
“I see. I understand.”
“Do you really?”
“Well, I haven’t seen it myself, but I already know that the king of this country is an idiot.”
“……!”
For a moment, Marquis Foltaine’s eyes widened, then he burst into laughter again.
“The more time I spend with you, the more amusing I find you to be.”
“To my surprise, Marquis, you seem like a decent person.”
“What? Hahahaha!”
I meant it.
Even though I knew the emperor was going mad, I had dutifully followed his orders.
Because of that damn slave mentality.
‘Compared to him?’
Realizing the wrong and having the courage and initiative to act.
Even if his methods were wrong, wasn’t he at least a hundred times better than me?
“I heard your name was Ancelot?”
“Is that your next question?”
Marquis Foltaine looked incredulous.
“I’d like to slit your stomach open, one day. Simply out of pure curiosity. I’d like to see for myself the size of your guts.”
“To answer your question, yes, that’s my name.”
“You share a name with the great hero.”
“I respect him personally.”
“Yes, he is a respectable figure. I feel the same.”
“You, Marquis?”
Marquis Foltaine nodded.
“That’s why I cannot repeat the same mistakes. It is wise to learn what is useful and take the failures of others as lessons for oneself.”
“Indeed……”
As expected, someone of his caliber was well-versed in the buried history.
“Before it’s too late, I must set the country right. That is my sole conviction.”
He did not defy the king’s orders for personal gain.
Rather, he acted out of his own beliefs and a desire to protect his country.
“Child, what are your dreams?”
“I have two.”
“Huh?”
“Two questions I want to ask you, after.”
“Heh, alright. What’s your answer?”
“If you are asking about my immediate dream……”
While my true intention is to bring down the empire with this sword, I can’t say that directly.
“……It is to represent this country in the Master Tournament.”
“The…… Master Tournament?”
Marquis Foltaine’s eyes widened in surprise.
At the same time.
“Hahahahahaha!”
A booming laugh erupted, louder than ever before.
“You are truly a funny one. Aren’t you from the Duchy of Meeke? Why would you want to represent this country in the Master Tournament?”
“Due to unavoidable circumstances, I cannot return home.”
“You wish to make a name for yourself and return home proudly? I see, I see. Hahaha.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
It’s just that the home I referred to wasn’t what he thought.
“It won’t be easy.”
“With your help, Marquis, it might be possible.”
“Of course.”
Marquis Foltaine was a man full of pride.
“However, if your goal is to participate in the Master Tournament, my support alone won’t be enough.”
“There are four other marquises and three dukes above them in this country.”
“That’s right. A foreigner has never participated in the Master Tournament before. It’s a prestigious position representing the country, and one’s lineage can’t be overlooked. Even those dukes are eager to showcase their swordsmanship in the empire. You’ll need the king’s permission, as well as approval from the highest-ranking nobles.”
“A dream is just a dream, after all. Seeing this country fall apart in real-time, I wonder if I should cross the border and go elsewhere.”
“That’s not a bad thought.”
That was enough of a prelude.
“Now, it’s my turn.”
“Ask away.”
“Will you really spare my life?”
Marquis Foltaine’s smile deepened.
“Why, are you scared now?”
“Honestly, considering what I did to your White Lion Brigade, I wouldn’t let it go if I were you. And we agreed not to lie, so if you intend to spare me, I’ll move on to my next question.”
“Heh heh heh, that’s an odd question. I can always train new subordinates. Why would I kill you?”
“Do you mean that?”
Marquis Foltaine nodded.
“It might sound like boasting, but I have a merchant’s intuition.”
“That indeed is a boast.”
“In that sense, you appear to me as a rare treasure, one without an owner. Acquiring you would be more valuable than training the entire White Lion Brigade.”
“Then, my next question.”
I tensed up.
Even though he promised, a sudden attack was still possible.
“What is your relationship with the Empire?”
“……”
After a moment of silence, Marquis Foltaine answered surprisingly straightforwardly.
“We exchange what we need.”
“So, a business relationship.”
“Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, it does.”
An expected answer.
“One last question.”
“Wasn’t that the last one?”
“Since you broke the order first, allow me this.”
“Heh heh heh.”
“This is actually my most curious question, so please answer sincerely.”
Marquis Foltaine silently nodded in agreement.
“How strong are you in this country? I’m asking in comparison to the official masters of the Kingdom of Hart, including the three dukes.”
If negotiations break down, I need to fight this old man again.
With my current capabilities, this is the most important thing to know.
“Well…… isn’t that something you’d only know after a fight?”
“……!”
A surprising answer.
At the very least, he didn’t say he’d lose.
In other words.
‘He considers himself at least on their level.’
It’s not unusual.
Throughout history, there have always been such people.
‘Unofficial’ masters not recognized by the state.
Results of state-level secret weapon programs.
People who preferred to remain unknown.
Or sudden prodigies like myself.
Shiiing.
A cool metallic sound resonated.
Marquis Foltaine had drawn his cherished sword.
A half-curved blade, with about three centimeters of the blade bent.
There was no killing intent, so I quietly observed.
“This is a sabre.”
“I know.”
Marquis Foltaine’s smile deepened at my response.
“Would you like to test it— my strength?”