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234. Childhood Friend – Sir

It’s not a misunderstanding.

Using {Tracking Skill}, Reb recalled Sir Brian and confirmed that the man he saw beyond the just-closed city gate was indeed Sir Brian. However, he had no idea why he was here.

It was an insignificant connection, and he was someone who shouldn’t have been special at all, making it all the more bewildering.

Had something changed? ─ Reb pondered for a moment, rummaging through his memories, but found nothing substantial.

He had met Sir Brian during the 11th round, in an engagement scenario where he successfully evaded {War} for the first time by hunting the Old Phantom Fox, earning his father’s (Noel Dexter) recognition and embarking on a kind of martial training.

……That’s a polite way to describe that terrible round. It was a past filled with nothing but wounds, having driven a nail into the heart of his beloved fiancée.

At his father’s suggestion, he crossed the border to challenge knights of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, and the first place he visited was ‘Bidorin Castle.’

Though he had no children, the elderly couple, Baron Berger Agatha and Baroness Agnes Agatha, resided there, and Sir Brian was a knight of the Agatha family.

But why was he here? The only change that could have happened at Bidorin Castle would be…

‘Because they caught Aboandone?’

As of now, that’s all he could guess. In fact, Aboandone was a monster that Baron Agatha didn’t care much about whether they caught it or not, so the possibility seemed low, but that was the only thing that could have influenced the repeating rounds.

‘But what does the disappearance of the monster have to do with Sir Brian being here? What business could a knight of the Agatha family have with the Count Simon family…’

– “Don’t worry, dear. My brother… no, Count Simon will surely help. The Simon family is my family… and there are many knights… I have written it well in the letter.”

Suddenly, something came to mind.

Baroness Agnes had introduced the Simon family as her family. But when they actually arrived at the Count’s estate and looked around, there was no trace of her.

‘Right. Something felt strange. It was odd to send a daughter to such a small baron family from this grand Count family.’

It seemed there was something after all. Reb lifted his head, recalling the doubts he hadn’t figured out in the past. The mansion of Count Simon stood before him.

It was simple yet magnificent.

According to the modest customs of the Jerome Holy Kingdom, the mansion lacked embellishments. It would have been nice if they had added some protrusions to make the plain walls and columns more interesting, but none could be found even if he washed his eyes.

But that also revealed the weight of the building.

As if supporting the weight of the building, Reb passed beneath the flying buttresses and finally reached the main entrance. Shaking his head at the grand officer who came out to guide him, he spoke.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but please bring out the Count. I can’t bring this fellow into the mansion.”

– Hee-haw!

“Understood. I will ask.”

The grand officer looked up at the massive horse (Black Horse Monster) and turned back as if convinced. While he went to fetch the Count, Reb patted the shoulders of his apprentices one by one.

“Don’t exert yourselves too much.”

“Yes, understood.”

He was easing the tension of his apprentices who were firmly standing in as knights.

Except for Vann Bijan, whose character was so plain that there was hardly any difference in his complexion whether it was now or usual, Reb comforted the stiff young men and approached the carriage that Cardinal Michael was riding in.

“You may disembark now.”

“…What brings the Swordmaster of the Orun Kingdom here?”

Hmph. I won’t fall for such tricks.

Reb replied with a smile mixed with a strong northern accent.

“I am traveling with my apprentices. How about it? Have you found the will to erase this mark now?”

“……”

“That’s a pity. Then let’s make another promise. The Cardinal may now act as you wish. But if you don’t wish to antagonize me, please forget everything that has happened. It would be appreciated if you could just say that Count Umberto Simon mistakenly marked us but has no way to remove the mark. Ah, here he comes.”

A middle-aged man with a square jaw, Count Umberto Simon appeared. He walked over, looking at the Black Horse Monster munching on the ivy growing on the wall in surprise, and soon turned his gaze to the Cardinal who was just disembarking from the carriage, his expression complex.

A Swordmaster marked by the Holy Symbol and a Cardinal, he must have been bewildered by this strange combination.

“Nice to meet you. I am Reb Bijan.”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Umberto Simon. I see the Cardinal is also here. May I ask what this is about?”

Reb crossed his arms in a conspicuous manner.

While waiting to see how the Cardinal would react, he exerted a subtle pressure on him. It seemed Cardinal Michael had decided not to antagonize Reb.

“We had a bit of friction on the way. Mistook distinguished guests for ruffians and marked them with the Holy Symbol, you see. So I brought them along. The mark will last for about six months… Please assist them so that it doesn’t cause any hassle in their lives.”

Count Simon nodded.

“I see. It’s not a difficult request. I will guarantee it. Since this is fate, would you care for a cup of tea inside?”

“I’m fine with that.”

Reb replied, emphasizing the ‘fine’. Noticing this, the Cardinal excused himself, claiming fatigue, and left with the Holy Knights and the grand officer.

“You all wait here. Make sure the Black Horse Monster doesn’t cause any trouble.”

“Yes! Please have a good trip! And bring something to eat when you come back.”

Leaving behind Ruben’s cheerful response, the Count and Reb entered the reception room. “Your apprentices seem quite dependable,” Count Simon opened the conversation, and Reb made a meaningful remark.

“The Cardinal has made another unnecessary request, hasn’t he?”

“…What do you mean by that…”

I don’t even know what I’m saying. Reb thought as he tried to probe the relationship between the Cardinal and Count Simon.

“You mean that construction project.”

At his clear observation, Count Umberto Simon’s expression became stiff. But for now, the Count feigned ignorance.

“I don’t understand what you are talking about. What construction project are you referring to?”

“Haha. It’s been quite a while since you occupied the land southeast of the Bomere Volcano, hasn’t it?”

– Swoosh.

At that moment, a handmaiden entered and placed a teacup in front of Reb and the Count, pouring tea made from fragrant Punita leaves. After a moment of silence, the Count spoke after the handmaiden left.

“Did you come from the royal family?”

“I’ll just say I have received a request. By the way, it’s quite fascinating, this Holy Symbol. I don’t even know what sin I committed. Hahaha. It’s fine if you don’t guarantee it.”

“…It seems there is some misunderstanding, but we did not occupy that land illegally. It’s land that belongs to my sister, and we are only governing it on behalf of the Count family. We even received approval from the King.”

What? It wasn’t illegal?

Reb sensed that his deduction might have been somewhat off. However, the tension exhibited by the Count seemed suspicious, so he threw out everything he knew.

“Ah, you’re talking about Baroness Agnes Agatha, right? I’m aware. I heard she’s in that far-off Bidorin Castle. And without any children…”

Count Simon’s crimson eyes shook. Now that he thought about it, that was also strange. How could a sister look so different from the Count and Baroness? From the square jaw to the eyes.

Observing the Count closely, Reb continued speaking. Yet, sensing he had misstepped in the conversation somewhere, he noticed the Count’s tension easing.

“…It seems you don’t keep in touch with her often. She must be quite disheartened. Having married so far away must make her miss home.”

“Yes. I ought to contact her more often, but it gets harder as I age. I miss my sister very much. Speaking of which, I should write her a letter today. By the way, how did you manage to tame the Black Horse Monster? It has been a headache for a long time, so thank you.”

Is this not it?

The Count is occupying the territory of the fallen Agnack family illegally. He must have struck a deal with the Cardinal. I am the great Swordmaster, sent by the royal family to investigate, so spill it out while it’s still a good time.

Reb had intended to extract the Count’s inner thoughts this way but found himself in a predicament. He must have missed some connection the Count was worried about.

From that point on, the conversation flowed without any nutritional value. Reb attempted to bring up the ‘construction project’ that the Cardinal had requested again, but the Count brushed it off lightly.

“The crops aren’t growing well on that land. The Cardinal suggested it might be beneficial to cultivate it into farmland. It would be a difficult task, but if successful, it could help the livelihoods of the lord’s subjects.”

As the teacup revealed its bottom, Reb lost the opportunity to continue the conversation.

“You did say you don’t need a guarantee, right? I will prepare a room for you. Stay as long as you wish. And while I’m sure you don’t have to worry about money, money is always good to have, isn’t it? I would appreciate it if you could consider this a small token of gratitude for catching the Black Horse Monster.”

Having stood up, Count Simon clapped his hands to summon a servant. Shortly, the servant brought a large chest, which contained heavy solid gold.

Reb said,

“Thank you.”

He accepted the bribe without saying much. As the Count said, he didn’t need the money, but accepting it seemed to ease his guard.

But this is inconvenient.

After entering the assigned room, Reb lay on the bed and clicked his tongue.

Why did I even say I didn’t need a guarantee?

I could have just taken the guarantee and gone to Lutetia.

I thought something was up, and I was uncomfortable with the Cardinal, who had repeatedly killed Count Leo Dexter and Euta’s grandmother in the past, so I tried to play smart. But now, it felt like a loss rather than a profit.

‘So annoying.’

I had a hunch, but I didn’t know the specific circumstances of what was happening.

If push came to shove, I could just knock the Count out and yell,

“What promise did you make with the Cardinal? Speak up immediately!”

I could threaten him, but Reb wasn’t in a position to act so independently. After all, there were apprentices following him, and next year he was supposed to instigate a rebellion in the Orun Kingdom to ascend to the throne.

Rallying his thoughts while propped up on his arms, Reb got up and called for Vann. He instructed him to not let his guard down while he briefly stepped out and quietly left the Count’s mansion.

{Tracking Skill}

There is no better ability for finding people than this.

Having exited Count Simon’s castle (fortunately, the captain of the guards he’d seen earlier was still on duty), Reb followed the direction pointed by the {Tracking Skill} and crossed through a shabby alleyway. Before even an hour had passed, he had located his target.

In a poorly maintained establishment, in the dark dining area on the first floor sat Sir Brian. He was in the middle of a meal, which allowed Reb to quickly realize that he was someone unworthy of the title ‘Sir.’

He was gripping the fork and knife with his fist to use them.

A master of the sword adept at using forte could barely hold his utensils properly.

“Who are you… Ugh!”

Looking up, Brian recognized the Swordmaster he had seen moments before.

With an unkempt beard and clumsily used cutlery smeared with food, his back bent from hard labor. Reb felt a pang of sympathy for this knight who had once been his rival.