Chapter 129. This Is Why Credentials Matter
After coming to, Parun disappeared somewhere and returned having changed into clean clothes, replacing the ragged ones.
But the seat of honor was still mine.
“…….”
“What. Why.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Understand, Lord Parun. Shine is like that because Shine wasn’t taught.”
That was true. Of course, it was also something worth getting punched for, but no fists flew.
Anyway, after defending the seat of honor with a brief staring contest, I looked at the two of them and spoke.
“First—Shine…… no. What am I supposed to call you?”
“Call me Master. Master, taken from ‘Master Knight.’”
Bullshit.
“Master” was what a servant called a master. The naming reeked of a sly intention.
I neatly dodged Shine’s intent and continued.
“First, Parun. Say it. You acknowledge that this parasite is joining us, right?”
“I acknowledge it.”
It was a question that didn’t even need asking, but I threw it out to organize the situation.
“Good. Then since our key card is set, let’s discuss the schedule properly.”
I’d already explained the schedule to Parun before, but it was Shine’s first time, so I explained again.
“First, look. The deal between Lortel and Deculan is exactly ten days from now. The rendezvous point is here.”
I tapped part of the map Parun had prepared with my finger.
It wasn’t detailed like a military map, but it was more than enough to explain.
Where my finger pointed was a village called “Baidun.”
“It’s a village adjacent to Lortel’s domain. More precisely, it belongs to some noble bastard’s territory, so it isn’t included in either Deculan’s or Lortel’s sphere of influence.”
This was where Deculan’s nastiness showed.
Deculan and Lortel—Baidun was a place that belonged to neither side’s territory, and yet it was undeniably located right next to Lortel.
At first glance, it looked like consideration for Lortel, but……
‘It’s more like they’re trying to prove their innocence.’
That Deculan has something rotten behind it is a fact no one on the Eastern Continent doesn’t know.
By setting the rendezvous point near Lortel, they indirectly show, “We have no ulterior motives.”
Of course, Deculan had no ulterior motives.
More precisely……
‘It’s just that their ulterior motive isn’t aimed at Lortel.’
Anyway.
“The original plan was to make contact while the Third Sword is escorting Infinite Chain.”
“What kind of contact?”
“Good question.”
Make contact with the Third Sword, who is escorting Infinite Chain.
Easy to say.
Meeting itself wouldn’t be difficult either.
There was only one route from Lortel’s castle to Baidun, and if we held that route, we could run into them.
You know how it is—like bandits in the mountains.
Wait like that, and then……
‘We challenge a duel.’
……I answered Shine like that, then tossed a look as if asking if there were any more questions.
“Fine, let’s say you make contact with the Third Sword. But there still seems to be a problem.”
“Say it.”
“First, if the Third Sword refers to the third among the Ten Swords (十劍) I know, then the prestige will be tremendous. But it shouldn’t be so overwhelming that it can sway a house’s major affairs.”
“Right.”
“And the other…… while entrusted with such an important matter, would the Third Sword really accept a duel?”
“First of all, the duel with the Third Sword is only a trigger to bring about a meeting with the junior head. Like the first button.”
“Junior head?”
“Yes. If we want to overturn the deal with Deculan, it has to be someone at least at that level. Anyway.”
I answered Shine’s final doubt.
“You asked if the Third Sword will accept a duel? I’m sure. The bastard will accept.”
“I don’t know what makes you so certain…… but go on.”
Shine set aside the doubt at my certainty.
That made things easier for me.
‘To be honest, if Shine asks why, I don’t really have something I can explain cleanly.’
Lortel is a house that worships the martial path (武) and believes in chivalry (騎士道).
But pushing a plan forward based on that tendency alone carried too much risk.
So why was I this confident?
‘Because it’s the Third Sword.’
Lortel tends to worship chivalry more than most sword houses, and the Third Sword is one of the most notable even among Lortel.
In fact, even in my previous life, the Third Sword didn’t refuse properly conducted duels. Not because of being aggressive, but because as a martial person, the Third Sword respected fellow martial people that much.
Of course…… as long as it wasn’t a matter that decided the rise and fall of the house.
‘Even in my previous life, there were cases like this now and then.’
That was why I was confident.
“Anyway, winning or losing the duel isn’t important. What matters is…….”
“To be acknowledged as a knight, as a martial person (武人). Is that it?”
“That’s right.”
“Hm. Having to earn acknowledgment from some greenhorn makes my stomach turn…… but if it’s the plan, it can’t be helped.”
After that, the plan wasn’t complicated.
‘The Third Sword makes one promise to the strong person the Third Sword acknowledges. With that promise, we draw out a meeting with the junior head.’
A promise made on honor—so there was no chance the Third Sword would refuse.
Of course, the Third Sword would try to prioritize the mission, but……
‘That’s something I can solve with one card I prepared.’
Whatever price Lortel was receiving from Deculan, I could be confident nothing would have more value than the “card” I would present.
But—
“This is as far as the original plan went.”
“Went?”
Enjoying the superior view that came with the seat of honor, I looked from Parun to Shine.
“A variable appeared.”
“A variable……?”
I nodded at Shine’s question.
“It looks like Holland isn’t the only one Deculan sent. A skilled tracker got attached.”
I had already explained the tracker—the Raven—to Parun and Shine once.
What the Raven meant within Deculan, and how annoying and troublesome that tracking and detection ability was.
When the explanation ended, Shine leaned back on the sofa with an indifferent look.
“So what are you saying we do?”
In contrast, Parun spoke with deep-set eyes.
“We’ll need to revise the plan. If this Raven has that level of ability, the Raven may detect our rendezvous with Lortel. But…….”
Parun trailed off.
Parun couldn’t find the thread of how to revise the plan immediately.
It couldn’t be helped.
This plan itself had quite a few forced parts.
It was a plan assembled by relying entirely on the Third Sword’s personality and relationship with the junior head.
It was then that Shine spoke.
“Can’t we just—slice up the Third Sword?”
“……?”
What is wrong with this bastard?
“No, you know. No matter how much the Third Sword can fly or run…… with this much force, it feels like it might be worth a try.”
“Are you insane?”
Of course, it wasn’t wrong.
No—if we fully drew out transcendence (超越), then either me or Shine alone could handle the Third Sword.
‘……Of course, I can’t guarantee the aftermath.’
It could even be a situation where our lives hang by a thread.
But that was a last resort.
Leaving aside possibility, with a trash enemy like Deculan already on our backs, I didn’t want to add a new enemy called Lortel.
Maybe Shine took my reaction personally, because Shine started grumbling under the breath.
“Tch. Then what are you saying we do? The plan falls apart, and nothing comes of anything…… tch. At this rate, it feels faster to just barge in and smash everything.”
That was exactly when I snapped my fingers—“Snap!”
“Right. That’s it.”
“……?”
“What is?”
“Say it again.”
“Tch. Then what are you saying we do?”
“After that.”
“The plan falls apart and nothing comes of anything……”
“After that.”
At my words, unease flickered in Shine’s eyes.
But maybe my gaze was too intense, because Shine silently lifted the sentence to the mouth.
“……Just barge in and smash everything?”
“Right. That’s it.”
I smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
“Of course, we won’t smash everything. But…… let’s move the rendezvous point a bit.”
“Don’t tell me—that place is…….”
“That’s right.”
We have to move quickly.
Bold enough that Deculan won’t anticipate it, and fast enough that they won’t even have time to react.
‘I thought about it. How can we move boldly and swiftly?’
And the answer was, unexpectedly, simple.
“We’re going to barge into Lortel.”
“…….”
“Ah, like I said, we’re not really barging in. We just go in, yeah? We settle who’s stronger with the Third Sword, yeah? That’s all.”
“…….”
“It’s just changing the location, okay? From the roadside to Lortel?”
Shine stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
Probably because Shine couldn’t understand this genius idea.
Well, how could Shine understand my intention. Unless it’s a brain at Parun’s level.
Sure enough, unlike Shine, Parun looked at me with deep-set eyes.
And said—
“Are you insane?”
“…….”
“Even if there’s no other way…… I never thought you’d say we’re barging into Lortel.”
I told you, we’re not really barging in.
“If you want to end your life, do it alone.”
Unbelievable.
This was an excellent strategy that struck right at Deculan’s blind spot!
“No, just listen for a second, would you?”
This is why credentials matter.
Without me having to prove my intelligence, people will go, “Ah, yeah, you’re kind of smart,” and accept it.
Today as well, the Black and White Zone vagrant shed tears in sorrow. Not occasionally. Almost every time.
Near the boundary of House Lortel.
Baidun Village.
Holland sat in the pub, wearing a robe stamped with Deculan’s seal.
The pub was quiet.
It wasn’t because it was dawn.
Even if it was dawn, the only pub in Baidun was one of the regular spots that all-night drinkers couldn’t skip.
And yet, right now, it was empty.
Why?
The reason was Holland.
“…….”
“…….”
The pub owner and the employee were stiff with fear as they stared at Holland, who had barged in during the night.
“Th-That, that…… it’s them, right?”
“……Yes.”
“……Deculan.”
In a small village like Baidun, even a knight from a noble house showing up puts everyone on alert.
But in the middle of the night, a mage—and not just any mage, but one feeding on Deculan’s pay—had come?
The owner felt proud to not have fainted. That was something worth being proud of.
But that pride didn’t last long.
Jingle—
The door opened and the bell rang. Seeing a new customer, the owner glanced at Holland’s mood and tried to greet them. But—
“W-Welco—”
“Were you hiding in a corner like this?”
“……!”
The moment the owner saw a woman wearing a Raven mask approach Holland, the owner’s face went white.
‘T-To a Deculan mage…… talking down like that?’
Screeeech, thud!
The owner collapsed on the spot.
Foreseeing what would follow, shock made the owner pass out.
“B-Boss……!”
As the lone employee turned pale—
Creak, creak.
The Raven stepped on the old wooden floor and took a seat in front of Holland.
“I told you. Once you arrived in Baidun, you were to send word.”
“I was going to. But…… the village was too beautiful. It seems like it would make a fine work of art. Imagine it, Raven. Burning in a circle from the outskirts of this village. As the villagers gather tighter and tighter toward the center, how do you think they’ll behave? Will they cling to each other, or will they thrash while stepping on each other’s corpses?”
“…….”
The Raven shook the head, as if sick of Holland’s entranced eyes.
Beautiful?
Who could hear that intoxicated voice and feel sympathy!
Holland’s sensibility was far beyond any normal category.
As the Raven thought that far, Holland’s eyes gleamed and Holland threw out a question.
“It’s already this late. So—how’s the situation? Find the rat bastards?”
“Not at all. They seem like they’ll move according to the schedule.”
“Have the rat bastards failed to catch the scent?”
“That can’t be. If their information network were that pathetic, they wouldn’t have lasted this long.”
“Hm…….”
Holland frowned slightly and let out a low hum.
Sensing danger in that look, the Raven left Holland a warning.
“Don’t do anything foolish. This is a precious opportunity the Head of House gave you. Considering the disgrace Kalahen’s failure brought upon the family, you should be grateful your head hasn’t been cut off.”
That was when Holland’s mouth curled upward. The lips that had been twitching soon spilled into a laugh.
“Puhaha. I know. Of course I know. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here letting you run that mouth in front of me.”
“…….”
At that razor-sharp momentum, the Raven clamped the mouth shut.
‘Was Holland always like this……?’
The Raven served Paharen at close range.
Around Paharen, even within Deculan, the strong swarmed to the point it could be called a den of demons.
The commander of a mere mage corps was an ordinary level.
And yet, being intimidated to this degree?
This felt like…… a Seven Mage. No—more than that!
It was then that Holland’s voice came.
“So…… you’re saying I should stay quiet until mission day?”
“……Yes. You’re bait, after all. I’ll keep watch over Lortel’s escort procession, but the greater likelihood is that they’ll aim for the moment you return alone with Infinite Chain.”
“Hm…… likelihood, huh.”
Crack, crack.
Holland crushed the glass of hard liquor in the hand. Sharp shards cut into the skin and blood dripped down, but there was no sign of pain.
“It would be nice…… if things went that simply.”
“……?”
As the Raven looked puzzled, Holland waved the blood-dripping hand as if it were nothing.
“It’s nothing. I just wonder whether the ones who stole the main house’s vision would move within such a line of common sense.”
“What do you—”
“Enough. The glorious Raven can get out now. This lowly commander needs some rest.”
“…….”
The Raven shot Holland a look full of disgust, then shoved away from the seat and left.
‘……Crazy bastard.’
Holland was someone the Raven couldn’t get a read on no matter how many times they met.
A weirdo positioned far outside the bounds of common sense, impossible to guess at.
And when the Raven left the pub—
Left alone, Holland pulled the glass shards out of the palm and seared the wounds with fire.
‘Crazy bastards always go beyond expectations…….’
There was no way the ones who stole the main house’s vision would fall for such an obvious trap!
But at the same time, there was no way they’d let Infinite Chain fall into the main house’s hands either.
“Heh. Hahaha.”
Holland let out a deflated laugh.
It was truly something to look forward to.
Those who killed that damned Kalahen—dull, but a fool who was at least somewhat entertaining—what kind of tricks would they show to amuse Holland?
“Boss, the alcohol was good.”
With that, Holland left the shop.
On the table sat a pouch stuffed full of gold coins. Payment for the drinks.
And that day……
A fire that broke out in the middle of the night burned the pub down.
The victims were the owner and the employee.
