Chapter 74

The mastermind behind last night’s attack was not found. It seemed like it was the first time such an attack had happened, as Ricardo was quite flustered. Moreover, since his wife and child almost died, his anger naturally erupted like a volcano. Ricardo unleashed his knights to find the mastermind behind the Black Round Table. Well, it was fortunate that such trash didn’t come after Airi, Glacia, or Camelian Peony, but still…

“To touch my younger sibling and then go after my wife and child… These bastards must have a death wish. Let’s grant it to them.”

Ricardo assigned several trusted subordinates to protect Flora and the child. He also decided to escort me all the way to the imperial palace. Honestly, no matter how many of those bugs come, I can kill them right away.

“Brother, I can go alone… You should stay by your family’s side…”

“The subordinates protecting Flora are trustworthy. Their loyalty goes without saying, and above all, they’re strong. And also…”

Ricardo paused to choose his words, then, just like in the old days of *Draghinty Fantasy 1*, he ruffled Werner’s hair. Enough to mess up the hair he had just neatly arranged.

“You’re also my family, Werner.”

I couldn’t say anything. His words were a bit touching, but I was too busy fixing my disheveled hair. Werner’s hair gets frizzy at the slightest touch. Maybe his hair takes after his personality—it goes wild with just a little handling.

But then, suddenly, the carriage stopped.

In front of us, some noble-looking bastard was yelling at a merchant.

“What do you mean by putting a sign here?!”

“My lord… This is right in front of my shop, and I even got permission from the inspector…”

“So, are you saying it’s my fault if my carriage’s horses trample and break it?!”

“No, my lord, that’s not…”

It was obvious the noble was in the wrong, but he was acting like the proverb, “The one who farts blames others.” Tyrants like him, who use their power to oppress others, would never be forgiven by Spartacus.

I stuck my head out the window and said to the tyrant, “Hey, you’re the one in the wrong here. Just pay up and end it!”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Do you even know who I am?!”

“You don’t know me, so why should I know you?!”

This rude brat clearly thought he could act up because the carriage didn’t have the Carven family crest. Should I just ram the carriage into him and turn him into kimchi pancakes? A carriage pulled by four horses would be more than enough to turn him into kimchi pancakes and feed him to the horses. Well, animals don’t like spicy food, so feeding them spicy kimchi pancakes wouldn’t be good for their health.

Luckily, there was a suitable club inside the carriage. Clearly, it was left there for situations like this. Today, this club would ascend to become the Noble Phantasm of Spartacus, the rebel against tyrants.

As I picked up the club, Ricardo, who knew Werner’s temper, tried to stop me.

“Werner, we’re on our way to the imperial palace. Causing a scene now would be troublesome.”

“But Brother, that bastard is pissing me off!”

“I doubt you’d stop after just a few hits.”

He was right. I was planning to turn him into kimchi pancakes with this club, not the carriage. That’s the duty of Spartacus’ successor and the kimchi pancake specialist of the Cloud Rock Pavilion.

“Brother will handle it. You stay put.”

The noble (soon to be kimchi pancakes) eventually approached the carriage, and Ricardo revealed his face.

“L-Lord Ricardo…?”

“Daring to trample on the weak… And the one who warned you just now was my younger brother. The punishment for this will not be light.”

“Please, just this once…”

“If you want forgiveness so badly, then stay prostrate with your face on the ground until I return.”

The noble (soon to be kimchi pancakes) began his punishment in the so-called “Wonsan Bombing” position. It seems even the most ridiculous punishments spread quickly. But no matter the tool or custom, its use can change. If it’s used to punish a tyrant, then the Wonsan Bombing can be considered divine retribution.

“See? This is how you solve problems.”

Honestly, it looks like a bigger tyrant suppressing a smaller one, but if it’s justice, then it’s okay.

Before we knew it, we arrived in front of the emperor’s throne. Ricardo, with his warm voice now cold and stiff, spoke.

“Your Majesty, Knight Commander Ricardo and Archmage Werner Altan request an audience.”

“Enter.”

Enter? What the hell?

The massive doors opened, and Ricardo confidently walked in, kneeling on one knee. I had no choice but to follow and do the same.

“Rise and look upon me.”

Following his command, I saw an old man with a long white beard sitting on a magnificent throne. Beside him sat a dignified woman with a furrowed brow.

“Archmage Werner Altan.”

Is this where the real roasting begins? Stuff like, “You shameless runaway ninja,” “You must’ve thought the imperial family was a joke to run away,” or “Why do you dip your tangsuyuk in sauce?” This old sauce-dipping bastard would probably go on a rant. If tangsuyuk delivery arrived, he’d probably just pour the sauce all over it and ruin the mood. No wonder Werner lived in a single room, building his political image to prepare for a revolution.

“I congratulate your return. I trust you will show outstanding results, given the long vacation you were granted.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t scold me much, but the mention of “outstanding results” was nerve-wracking. So, he plans to use me like a slave! Like a grad student! Just as grad students aren’t recognized as people under mental health laws, maybe imperial mages aren’t recognized as people either.

“But what brings you back? It’s not my place to say, but… some say mages would rather beg than serve as imperial mages. Do you perhaps have your eye on someone in the imperial family?”

This bastard clearly wants to sell me his daughter. It’s obvious he wants me to say I returned because I couldn’t forget the crown princess. Well, I brought three women for this very reason. If Zoro wields three swords for his three-sword style, I wield three women for my… well, you get the idea.

“Unfortunately, I already have someone in mind. And for someone as lowly as me to aim for an imperial woman… It’s unthinkable, Your Majesty.”

It’s not like I’m some pure-hearted romantic who can’t forget his first love or has someone special. But I’m not some horny dog who chases after any woman either. When Werner rejects confessions, doesn’t he point out the flaws in the princesses’ looks or personalities? Imperial women are already troublesome enough; I don’t want to take on someone with issues.

Besides, the women I brought with me are overwhelmingly beautiful.

“Haha, that’s a shame. I thought you might make a good match for one of the princesses still pursuing you.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a better match than me.”

Better than me? Maybe, but they’d still be pitiable. Especially the man who marries that overweight princess with skin problems all over her body. Unless he has some peculiar fetish for that type. But having such a fetish would mean he was born with a serious illness, so he’s pitiable either way.

“By the way, Knight Commander Ricardo, I heard your home was attacked last night. Is your family safe?”

“Yes, thanks to Sir Werner dealing with the assassins, we managed to keep the damage to a minimum.”

Even in front of the emperor, he addressed me formally.

“Minimal damage… Still, it’s shocking. Assassins infiltrating your home? You’re meticulous in selecting your servants and maids, aren’t you?”

“The assassins killed my servants and wore their skins to carry out the attack. As a result, about ten servants lost their lives.”

Ricardo seemed sad reporting the deaths of his servants. Even if they were just servants, they were still his people.

“To think you dealt with ten assassins… Impressive.”

“Yes, I was late leaving the mansion because I had left some documents at the palace… If it weren’t for Sir Werner, it would have been a disaster.”

I did kill about ten of them. Of course, I left Flora with Camelian Peony and took out the ones hiding inside the mansion. Except for the one who got a temple punch, the rest were turned into super red masks, so they won’t be lonely in the afterlife.

“Did you find out who was behind it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’d like to discuss that, so could you dismiss everyone for a moment?”

“Very well. Everyone except Knight Commander Ricardo, leave.”

Even the guards were dismissed, leaving just the two of them. He must really be a trusted loyalist.

But now, where do I go?