Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 55: Why All the Fuss So Early?
Verdzig Grunewald was playing chess in his private chamber.
"Hmm."
Verdzig, who was calculating his next move, suddenly thought of Allenvert.
‘Oh dear.’
It was almost comical how his thoughts kept returning to the young man all day.
He looked up at the magic stone, which emitted a faint, soft light.
Through the hazy glow, Allenvert's eyes appeared. Like ink spreading on paper.
‘He’s been quite busy these past few days. I can’t seem to hear anything but talk of him.’
Verdzig recalled Allenvert's confident demeanor, which had not wavered in the slightest.
He acted like a fearless colt, one moment turning his sharp edge towards himself and Somerset, and the next showing friendliness towards Karl and Ulbhild, clearly taking sides.
Even in a private meeting with himself, something everyone else seemed to dread, Allenvert had done his best to maintain his composure. And hadn’t he given him an excessive gift as a reward for his efforts?
‘But he doesn’t seem to be using that valuable gift. He must have realized there’s a trap hidden somewhere.’
What a perceptive young man.
‘It’s difficult to catch a fish that doesn’t take the bait.’
From their first meeting, Verdzig had been more than impressed with Allenvert.
‘His actions the following day were also impressive.’
Under the pretense of going out, he had visited the harbor, deliberately made contact with a few smugglers as if he were looking for spirit medicines, and then returned without much interest.
‘What was he trying to do?’
The more I thought about it, the less clear his intentions became.
Allenvert didn’t seem genuinely interested in acquiring spirit medicines. It was foolish to smuggle under the watchful eyes of the Royal Guards.
So, was he merely trying to confuse the observers? A strategy of feigning madness? Or did he have another goal?
‘I don’t know yet.’
But not everyone has a mind that can pursue multiple goals with a single action.
‘And then.’
Allenvert had shown unwavering determination in his first real battle, which was clearly no mere practice. His cold-bloodedness, not afraid of killing, was impressive.
‘He even went as far as to demand a potion from Somerset, who was suspected of being behind the attack.’
Impressive. But if it were him, he wouldn’t have done it that way.
Instead of taking full advantage of someone else’s weakness, he had accepted a reward in exchange for keeping quiet. Why would he do something so disadvantageous? With the right use, he could have...
‘Surely he wasn’t trying to gain a reputation as a benevolent person.’
It wasn’t just that. One day he seemed calm, and the next, he provoked Keseg and engaged in a duel in front of everyone.
‘He even copied the other person's swordsmanship just by watching once?’
It was certainly an impressive trick, but to someone of Verdzig's caliber, it was amateurish.
…He had watched the two fight from his chamber.
To be frank, given the conditions of the duel—a wooden sword and no use of mana—it could be seen as a victory of strategy, surprising his opponent with an unexpected psychological attack.
‘But those who watched would have been captivated by his extraordinary talent.’
That was the truly remarkable part.
“After reminding everyone of his story in front of the crowd, he deliberately prolonged the fight, perfectly copying his opponent’s swordsmanship. The duel itself was a stage to showcase his talent.”
Verdzig remarked, his voice tinged with intrigue.
At that moment, reading Allenvert’s mind was more enjoyable than looking at a chessboard.
“How dramatic. A noble who hasn’t even learned swordsmanship toying with a member of the Royal Guard with his sword.”
It was truly an impressive story.
"What a remarkable performance. That boy knows how to build a reputation, how to elevate his value, and how to make his presence known."
Where did he learn such skills?
And then there was the question:
"Out of all these events, I wonder how much of it was part of his design."
Watching Verdzig, who seemed to be reading Allenvert’s actions and intentions as easily as one reads the palm of their hand, his aide thought quietly.
‘What the fuck.’
He had been amazed by Verdzig's wisdom and cunning countless times.
‘He reads situations so effortlessly and anticipates intentions so keenly. Yet, he is careful not to jump to conclusions about things he’s unsure of.’
Listening to his seamless reasoning felt like watching scattered puzzle pieces magically fit together.
How many times had the aide been tempted to dismiss Allenvert's erratic behavior as the ramblings of someone recovering from a disease?
‘Just how far ahead is he looking?’
Even merely assisting Verdzig at his side often felt overwhelming, as though his mind might explode from the strain.
“…But who killed them?”
When the aide mentioned the poisoned prisoners, Verdzig pondered with a chess piece in his hand.
"Eliminating witnesses so brazenly is too conspicuous. It's more likely a scheme to frame someone else."
“…Do you have anyone in mind?"
Verdzig extended three fingers.
"There are three possibilities. We'll have to investigate each one."
"Yes."
Verdzig's eyes narrowed.
‘If ‘they’ were behind it.’
This was not something to be taken lightly. It wasn't the lives of those criminals that mattered, but the place where they had committed the crime.
‘Assassination is a straightforward tool, but its essence lies in being a poisoned blade—one that must be wielded with the utmost caution.’
Otherwise, it could end up killing oneself.
“And you said Ulbhild met with Allenvert?”
His aide replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Yes. We're still confirming the details of their conversation."
"Interesting."
Verdzig smiled.
"So, Ulbhild is moving herself. Allenvert is a difficult boy to read."
"Indeed."
"I’d like to play chess with him someday."
He believed that one could gauge a person's character to some extent by observing how they played chess.
‘Ulbhild and Allenvert? It’s an unexpected combination.’
But upon careful consideration, it was quite an intriguing combination.
‘Ulbhild is wary of me.’
Perhaps she was trying to raise Allenvert as a small countermeasure against him.
‘Ulbhild, to think you would harbor such a vain hope.’
What was it about Allenvert that made Ulbhild think that way? Perhaps she saw something he didn't.
"Allenvert."
Verdzig murmured his brother's name.
"I can't read you. Who are you really?"
He was different from Karl, Ulbhild, Somerset, and Barclava.
‘It’s the first time I’ve felt this way about someone since my father.’
…The serpent smiled.
***
Barclava hadn't left his secluded quarters for several days, much like Allenvert had in the past.
When everyone was asleep, he quietly opened the door and headed towards his secret hideout in a secluded corner of the estate.
“There are many stars tonight.”
Barclava murmured forlornly, his eyes fixed on the stars. He lay down for a long time, gazing at the night sky as if it were a lake, before being brought back to reality by the sound of insects.
"What a fool I am."
Barclava's heart had been broken several times in recent days.
First, he had been sent by Verdzig to find Allenvert, only to be humiliated and have his hand broken.
Then, at the banquet where he had been ridiculed by Somerset and mocked by Allenvert, he had realized, to his surprise, how insignificant he had become.
While Allenvert, whom he had always considered beneath him, had soared and he had become a nuisance, receiving neither his brother's nor his mother's attention, and had returned home feeling lonely.
‘No one is looking for me.’
The world had continued to turn without him. It seemed as if nothing mattered as long as he was gone.
And that wasn't all. He had heard that while everyone was excited about Allenvert's actions, no one had mentioned the young master Barclava, who had been humiliated by Allenvert.
It was both a relief and a pitiful realization. Even Verdzig's calls had stopped, making him feel incredibly insignificant.
‘My brother and mother are only interested in Allenvert’s actions now.’
It was as if they had no interest in a useless fool like him who couldn't even do as he was told.
“….”
A few days ago, he would have been furious and lashed out. But for some reason, he felt no resentment or anger now.
‘Have I suddenly become enlightened?’
For the first time in his life, Barclava looked back at himself in solitude.
‘Is it natural for me to be ignored?’
Looking back, he realized he had never done anything of his own free will. Barclava felt like he had realized something.
‘I've been doing whatever I was told without any resistance, all the while complaining to myself that I didn’t want to do it.’
Hadn't he felt uneasy when he threatened Peter? It had been only a few days ago, but it had been such a childish thing to do.
Allenvert had seen right through him and had said ‘That's what we call a pathetic self-justification. I didn't want to do it, don't blame me, that wasn't my intention... It's all bullshit. So what? You should be ashamed of yourself. Are you going to hit people and steal money just because someone tells you to? Are you even a man?’
It was true.
Barclava was afraid of his brother, but he also realized how pathetic it was to resent Allenvert for this matter.
‘I should be ashamed.’
Yes, he knew that.
But so what? What was he supposed to do about it?
"Damn it."
He thought of Allenvert's sharp, almost terrifying expression.
“It’s all because of that guy.”
…It wasn’t like he wanted to meet him. But for some reason, he felt like he should see that face tomorrow.
Barclava didn’t realize it yet, but he had just taken a step away from Verdzig’s mental shackles.
***
Dawn was breaking over the duchy. In the distance, the sound of roosters crowing was punctuated by a few choice curses.
"Damn it, I'm so tired."
"I need a vacation."
"Can't we just skip morning exercise today?"
"Cut the crap and get dressed."
Members of the 2nd battalion of the Special Operations Division were stretching and yawning as they made their beds.
"I'm warning you all, be on your guard today."
"We know."
Harold, their deputy commander, was urging them on.
"If you make a fool of yourselves like that Royal Guard did yesterday, you'll be answering to me. I'm not joking."
"Don't worry about it."
It wasn't just Harold who was out to get Allenvert.
"Let's see what the so-called talented young master can do."
"If he thinks he can get away with acting superior because of his talent, we'll show him the error of his ways."
"Heehee!"
2nd battalion of Special Operations Division. They were a group of fanatics who idolized Ulbhild Grunewald.
In their eyes, Allenvert, who enjoyed his sister's favor simply because he was her younger brother, was an eyesore, if not a thorn in their side.
‘He looks like an elf, but he's as cunning as a fox.’
‘He’s just a pampered noble boy.’
‘Why does he have to be so handsome?’
It was truly petty jealousy, but there were no rational adults among them to point out the absurdity of it. Even Harold, who should have been above such things, was clearly waiting for a chance to bring Allenvert down a peg.
‘No matter how talented he is, was it really necessary for her ladyship to personally approach him with an invitation? Isn’t that going too far?.’
They were like children who would get jealous if their teacher showed even a little more attention to one student. Their jealousy over Ulbhild's special treatment for Allenvert was a clear example of this.
"Alright, let's go! Let's show the world that the Special Operations Division is the strongest in the duchy!"
"Oooooooooh!"
The excited members of the Special Operations Division stormed out of the barracks.
"For warm-up, we'll do 20 laps around the training ground at full speed!"
"Ooooh!"
"Then 500 push-ups and 500 pull-ups!"
"Yes!"
"After that, pair up and carry your partner for 30 laps in a duck walk!"
"Easy!"
"Let's hear a 30-second cheer!"
"Wooooooooo!"
…Their shouts were so loud.
Far away, in his secluded quarters, Allenvert stirred in his sleep and mumbled.
"So damn loud..."
Peter, who was watching him worriedly, asked,
"Young Master, shouldn't you get up?"
"Give me another hour."
"Young Lady Ulbhild might be waiting."
"She didn't say when."
Allenvert replied lazily, but then suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Why don't you go away? You're ruining my sleep."
"You're too much."
After sending Peter away, Allenvert put on earmuffs.
"…Is there a war on? Why all the fuss so early in the morning?"
He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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