283. Engagement Ep – The Bad Guy

Barnau was in chaos.

The citizens who had gathered to watch the military deployment ceremony were slaughtered, and the rumor spread like wildfire that the evil god hidden beneath the king’s guise was responsible.

Prince Anolf de Klaus struggled hard to regain the people’s trust.

He suppressed the disgruntled nobles trying to fill their own pockets in the king’s absence, called in diplomats to retract the declaration of war against the Belita Kingdom, and went to great lengths to comfort the citizens by holding a memorial ceremony in the Southern Plaza where thousands had perished.

However, the absence of royal authority.

With the core of the centralized system now missing, confusion was bound to brew until a throne was filled. Although Anolf was the rightful heir, without formally ascending to the throne, his path ahead was still long.

Some nobles, like Count Diego Brina, had already hinted at their intentions regarding certain royal family members. Politically and diplomatically, the Austin Kingdom found itself engulfed in turmoil.

Meanwhile, Ray and his group… well, it wasn’t even a group anymore; just Ray and Lena, the two left, were kneeling before a freshly made burial mound.

The spring breeze rustled the weeds around them.

Noel and Dehorman were laid to rest next to Ibera Ainar, Ray’s mother. Tears trickled down Leira’s face.

She had already cried a lot.

From the Southern Plaza to now, they had carried the heavier-than-death body of Dehorman without knowing how.

Even so, the tears did not stop.

Overcome with emotion, Leira lunged at Ray.

“You bastard! You lousy bastard…”

“…”

“You knew. You knew it all along! Why only to me… to me… you bastards, you bastards!!”

Men get caught up in strange things.

What about the ones left behind? She even resented her deceased father who died protecting her. With a shrill scream, Leira struck Ray’s chest while burying her face in her hands. Kneeling and hunched over, she had never felt smaller.

Ray embraced Leira. She shook him off, insisting to let go, but he held on tightly. Eventually, Leira clung to Ray and let her tears flow.

“What am I supposed to do? If they all die like this… how am I supposed to live? You bastards. Bad, bad bastards…”

Ray had no words to offer her. He had lost his father, but knowing it would repeat again lessened his pain. Instead, Ray grit his teeth.

It was as if he had killed his father himself. Maybe he had known this would happen all along. Surely, it was not shocking that his father had charged Malpas.

His father-in-law, Dehorman, and uncle, Elson, were gone too. Yuan had been killed clutching Elson’s lifeless body while being struck by blades. He had driven everyone around him to destruction.

Life felt like it was crumbling away.

His vision blurred, and he felt detached from reality. That sense of reality was trapped in his selfishness. While wrapping his arms around Leira’s head, Ray vowed to himself.

Even if it meant paying any price, he must bring his mother back. Long ago, his mother had died protecting him.

During the Nine-Day War, Jensen Bailei came. With a deadly wound revealing his cheekbone, Jensen had treated himself here at the home where his mother’s grave lay before leaving. That was the beginning of the catastrophe.

Jensen had fled after failing to assassinate Count Pamphilly, who was thriving operating the Crystal Mine.

If that had been all, he wouldn’t have been pursued. After all, at that time, it was a common occurrence.

But then, after an argument, Jensen stormed alone into the count’s estate, and during the chaos, Noel followed and ended up killing Count Pamphilly. The soldiers, enraged by the count’s death, pursued Noel and Jensen.

Experienced and prioritizing safety, Noel vanished without a trace, but Jensen could not.

The soldiers, having tracked Jensen down, stormed the house where Ibera and Ray were hiding, and Ibera hid her five-year-old son in the wardrobe. When Elson, realizing the soldiers had found his sibling’s hiding place, rushed in with mercenaries, a blade pierced Ibera’s abdomen.

“Mom! Mom! Open up! Please…”

“You bastards! I’ll kill them all!”

Elson slaughtered the soldiers and rushed to Ibera. But she was on the verge of death. Ray tumbled out from the wardrobe, falling over clumsily.

“Uh, Mom…”

“…Ray.”

He watched as his mother fought frantically with a sword, struggling to protect him and avoid being dishonored. Ibera weakly lifted her hand to stroke her pale son’s cheek.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine… but Mom…”

“I’m okay. How about me? Did I fight well?”

At that moment, Ray uttered words he would come to regret.

“What’s so great about that? You’re hurt like this. You’re really okay, right?”

“…Yes. Son, promise me something.”

Ibera held Ray’s tiny hand tightly.

“You must be happy. You must…”

The wind brushed over the burial mound.

Over a decade ago, the young Ray vowed before his mother’s grave. Looking up at his father, who was preparing to retire and move as soon as the civil war was over,

“I will be happy. I don’t know what happiness is, but I will surely… I want to be happy. And I will return as a great knight. A happy and brave… knight like Father.”

He said those words with a tiny, undeveloped mouth. Noel couldn’t bear to meet his son’s gaze and boarded the carriage laden with belongings. At that moment, Leira said.

“You said you knew where Malpas went? Tell me.”

Her face had dried from tears. But Ray could tell.

The burning green eyes. Like him, her happiness had also flown away forever.

The two warriors, whose lives were falling apart, bowed before their parents and then departed from that place.

*

“I’ve already contacted them. But they said they can’t believe it.”

In my reception room, Baron Arpen Albasete shrugged his shoulders.

“Jacov, that guy still holds a grudge against me, it seems. Being petty over just a cheekbone. So I told him if he doesn’t trust me, he can ask the Holy Woman instead.”

“…I see. Then we need to hurry.”

“What for?”

Ray replied.

“Malpas must have gone to Halpas. Those two were originally one. But if they realize their identities have been revealed, who knows what Halpas will do?”

“Hmmm… I heard the Holy Knights’ division departed from Lutetia, but can’t we wait for them and go together?”

“That would take too long. By then, the bastard will have prepared. The citizens of Manubiul could be massacred, so it would be best for us to go first and assess the situation. Also, when will you be ascending, Your Highness?”

“Trying to borrow a knight? Well… to be honest, I think this year is out of the question. The nobles have erupted like locusts, trying to devour the royal family, so I don’t even know if I can get a knight out.”

That was indeed unfortunate news.

Not being able to borrow knights to go capture Malhas was disappointing,

[ Achievement: King 5/7 ]

And I wouldn’t be able to complete this achievement.

I wished I could have seen the king before Malpas revealed himself. But there was no guarantee the bastard wouldn’t recognize me as a toy of the gods.

Ideally, I wanted to face him after having Prince Anolf de Klaus ascend to the throne to stand in for me, but things didn’t unfold as I wished.

It couldn’t be helped. Ray thought he would have to stop by after capturing Malhas.

“Please lend me some strength. A knight would be great against the evil god.”

“I will inquire. But more importantly… who is that next to you? She’s clearly a native warrior. Could you possibly introduce her to me…?”

“She’s my fiancée.”

Ray cut him off, indicating he was out of his mind. This guy shows no shame when trying to hit on a girl half his daughter’s age. Leira greeted Arpen, who had a deeply furrowed brow.

“I’m Leira Ainar. Excuse me, but could I ask for a favor?”

“Nope. Fuck this world. Some can’t even marry after becoming nobles, but you, with not a drop of blood on your forehead, are already engaged… Huh?!”

– Shwing!

A sword zipped across the elegant table in a swoosh. Leira swung her blade, cutting through the ceramic teapot.

However, Baron Arpen Albasete reacted even while grumbling.

Using the hand holding the teacup, he smacked down on Leira’s sword with a thud, then spoke with a hint of menace.

“Hey, fiancée young lady. This is no joke. Who do you think I am? I am the greatest genius of the Albasete Tribe, renowned for…”

“Shut up and receive! It’s not over yet.”

“Oh? Ray. Did this lady eat something bad for lunch?”

What’s wrong with this girl? he wondered, but Ray could only click his tongue and retreat with the teacup. Talking alone should have been enough…

But Leira, impatient, kicked out her leg. While trying to wrench her sword free,

– Thud.

It didn’t budge an inch.

Arpen gripped Leira’s sword with one hand, blocking her incoming leg with the other. Now upright, Arpen was a giant.

“Oof!”

He cupped his hand to skillfully catch the blade. Leira’s sword remained immovable, prompting her to boldly discard it and throw a punch.

“Hmmm. Not bad, but…”

The punch was stopped mid-air by Arpen’s bear-like palm. His hand was as hard as rock upon contact.

Realizing this wouldn’t work, Leira lowered herself and spun. She swept the floor with a kick, provoking Arpen to raise his shin to block. In the meantime, Leira retrieved the sword that had dropped to the floor. Arpen scratched his head and asked.

“What are you trying to do? Shouldn’t you at least tell me why?”

“I hope the Swordmaster will teach me. If I have that much worth… Yo!”

With the last syllable, she lunged. Arpen smirked, then suddenly hardened his expression and shouted.

“You wish to take me as your master? Then put your life on the line!”

When would he have ever looked down on someone merely for using an axe? Yet here he was, being infiltrated by some knight just as he became a Swordmaster.

Disgustingly so.

– Bam!

However, Arpen’s great sword struck diagonally against Leira’s blade. He stepped forward, crushing the splintered table beneath his feet as he loomed over Leira.

Arpen looked terrifying.

He was tall and stout enough to make one’s knees weak just standing directly in front of him. With his rugged, grim face and almost nonexistent eyelids, even a strong-hearted individual would struggle to look him in the eye.

With murderous intent emanating from him, even royal knights and those who came to seek his teachings would shrink back in fear…

‘What the…?’

The girl before him showed none of that apprehension. She wasn’t stoked by competitive spirit either.

Looking upward, she seemed large enough, with a soft and round belly that felt reassuring.

Leira recalled her father, Dehorman. Overcome by emotion, she forgot her purpose and thrust the sword forward.

“Hey, you bastard!”

“…Me?”

Arpen was bewildered. I’ve never even held a girl’s hand before… blades and kicks came crashing in.