121
Ajeom
‘Damn, why am I in a place like this…’
Investigation Square… No, Jace grumbled, rubbing the stuffy nape of his neck.
Vivian and Adela were sitting in front of Jace.
It wasn’t a place where a mere guard would sit, but he was brought in after seeing Vivian.
It was strange when the soldiers who had been teasing me suddenly turned around and pretended to be busy…
“Wow-. There are so many people. Aren’t there? Sir Jace.”
“You can just call me Jayce.”
Adela’s eyes turned fierce at Vivian’s light words.
Jace shook his head hastily, refusing the heavy title.
Vivian may have been a word added without meaning, but it was awkward for Adela to get labeled for it.
Jace turned his head away from Adela’s gaze and stuck out his tongue as he looked at the people filling the hall.
‘They said the banquet was going to be held in the evening, so why are you calling everyone here so early in the morning?’
Unlike Vivian’s birthday, there was a large crowd of nobles in attendance, even though it was just breakfast.
I heard that they said that anyone who wanted to eat breakfast was welcome to attend, regardless of status…
Behard was clearly speaking lightly, but Vivian really brought Jace along.
‘Why isn’t this guy coming?’
I heard that Nova went to pick him up herself, but she hasn’t come back yet, so I don’t know what she’s doing.
Jace was worried that because the guy was late, he would also get teased because they were at the same table.
Even the other nobles were all wearing fancy clothes, making them look conspicuous for no reason.
“I’m hungry, but I guess it’ll take a while longer.”
Of course, the attention was focused on Young-ae, who had an overwhelming appearance that didn’t care about such clothes, but Young-ae, the person in question, didn’t seem to care.
‘How can a person be this beautiful?’
Jace muttered inwardly in awe.
There were quite a few nobles who were attracted to the overwhelming appearance that did not even arouse contempt.
The front door opened and Count Bechard came in.
‘Oh no! This stupid commoner!’
In the end, it didn’t even arrive until Count Bechardt arrived.
The nobility was so sensitive to everything that even the order of entry to these banquets had its own rules.
It was a terrible thing to imagine that a mere guard of the outer castle could be behind the count.
‘···No matter how ignorant he is, he wouldn’t do something like that.’
Jace nodded and straightened his back.
Jace felt ashamed of his own blemished armor amid the flashy clothing around him.
‘Why don’t you start?’
The Count had to start cutting the meat before they could begin eating, but Behard sat still and stared at the door.
As if waiting for something···.
As Count Behart spoke, the other nobles could only stand there in a daze, and a heavy atmosphere settled over the banquet hall.
It was torture not being able to eat the meat and bread that was served while I was hungry.
And the nobles were not very patient.
One of the men sitting close to Count Behar jumped up.
Looking at the man’s protruding belly and chubby cheeks, he was clearly a wealthy nobleman.
“Count Berhard, is there someone waiting for you?”
His voice, full of politeness, did not match the excitement he was feeling, but everyone understood him.
The opponent was Count Behart.
“No. If you are really hungry, you should eat first, Viscount Montblian.”
Count Behar’s answer was full of discomfort.
‘It was the Viscount Montblian.’
If you were Viscount Montblian, you were the lord of a castle located a little to the west of Flitton Castle.
I heard that the Viscount Montblian also wields considerable power since he was granted a title directly by the Emperor.
But he waved both his hands in surprise, as if he couldn’t help it in front of Count Behart.
The atmosphere became even more heavy as the Viscount Montblian sat back down without making a sound.
Now, we are in a situation where we have to be careful even about breathing.
At that moment, a conversation was heard outside.
“They said to come here if you want to eat.”
That distinctive, deep voice clearly indicated that he was a commoner.
‘no!!!’
In this atmosphere, it was obvious how the sharp-tongued nobles would react if a commoner appeared.
Sitting at the same table as the commoners who received those stares, it was clear that he would become the target of those glares.
Jace knew how petty and unscrupulous the nobles were.
Jace desperately searched for God in his heart.
Please, if there is a God, let him teach these ignorant commoners some manners of culture, even just once!
“Can I come in? You haven’t started eating yet… It must be lunch time.”
The bastard’s voice was so powerful that even though he spoke lightly, it filled my heart.
‘Please, please, please.’
I prayed earnestly in my heart.
Creak.
God did not listen to Jace’s prayers when he went to find his father.
The door opened with a loud squeak.
The commoners who appeared then were so large that they filled the door.
“······huh?”
The commoner frowned, seeming bewildered by the focused gaze.
“What are you doing? You’re not going in.”
Nova pokes her head out next to him.
He quickly disappeared behind the bastard again.
Jace barely managed to hold onto his wandering mind.
The nobles who quickly confirmed the two were in an uproar.
“Judging by your attire and face, you seem like a soldier, not a knight, and yet you’re so late… Tsk, how ignorant and rude.”
“Who is the woman next to me? I’m seeing her for the first time···.”
“Even though you said that social status doesn’t matter, you brought a barbarian mercenary to the dinner table···.”
The nobles pretended to speak quietly, but spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
It was largely intended to please Count Bechard, who was feeling uneasy.
The mutterings became increasingly vulgar and coarse, and various metaphors emerged as to what the two were doing to be late.
Aaron’s wrinkled forehead.
‘Ah… no…’
Jace shut his eyes tightly as he watched the terrible thing that was about to happen.
‘When I saw that bastard’s face, I should have broken my leg and not gone with him!’
The moment when a noble assaulter who will forever be remembered in history is born.
“Aaron, you must have had a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the most important thing.”
Count Behard suddenly mentioned the bastard’s name.
Then the guys who had been muttering until just now opened their eyes wide.
One guy was so surprised that his mouth was wide open and his drool was dripping.
“Yes, thanks to Count Berhard. Thank you.”
Aaron greeted Count Behart with a fairly neat manner.
“Go and sit down. It’s not time to eat yet.”
Count Behard, who received him, nodded with a satisfied smile.
Although it was a very short conversation, I felt that the friendship between Aaron and Count Behart was unexpectedly close.
Count Behart was originally eccentric, so he held the people around him to his own standards, but this was the first time he showed his friendship with a commoner in public.
The nobles quickly changed their faces like nobles, wiped the spittle from the corners of their mouths, and opened their mouths.
“As expected! Isn’t getting a good night’s sleep the most important thing? Even the king who died from lack of sleep···.”
“I also almost couldn’t get up because my bed at Flitton Castle was so comfortable! Ahaha!”
“It’s so handsome that I wanted to have it right next to me. As expected, Count Behar’s taste is truly amazing!”
The guys quickly changed their expressions and praised Aaron for sleeping in late.
Aaron, who had been called a ‘barbarian mercenary’ or ‘a noble’s giant puppet’ until just now, was quickly transformed into a brave knight candidate.
Count Behard nodded and turned his gaze.
Everyone had a relieved expression on their faces, but Jace noticed Aaron’s eyes moving quickly.
And where those eyes were directed, there were the people who had just cursed Aaron sitting.
Jace averted his gaze for no reason.
Soon Aaron sat down next to me.
As he sat down on the chair, the chair gave a harsh scream.
He didn’t know why it happened, but when Aaron, who had been pushing down on the nobleman’s nose, sat down next to him, Jace’s neck became tense for no reason.
“What’s with that premature laughter?”
Jace’s face immediately crumpled at Aaron’s irritated words.
***
“Who said that… Ahem.”
– I told you I didn’t like that name.
Seeing both the investigator and the tenant reacting at the same time, it seemed like a good value for money.
Knock knock.
“You you you… what is it?”
Nova, her face pale, stammered.
“It’s Aaron. The stupid orange.”
“···That’s not what I’m asking.”
Nova, with a sharp voice, poked at the people around him.
Nova’s face, which was already pale because she was an indoor NPC, became even whiter.
I looked around, listening to Nova’s voice.
‘You really eat a lot of snacks.’
In the crowded banquet hall, the brothers I saw yesterday were everywhere.
It seemed like my first impression was pretty good because he slightly turned his head away from my gaze.
However, there were quite a few people who looked at me even though they weren’t brothers.
‘···It caught my attention.’
Since you said we could come in, I thought you would have finished the first meal and prepared the second.
Contrary to expectations, the gazes of the full crowd were quite disconcerting.
‘No, no one recognized me.’
“You two are late!”
Park Daegari said with a big smile.
“Oh, I’m a little late because I was cleaning up Aaron’s mess.”
Nova answered, looking at me with suspicious eyes.
“······You’re going to clean it up?”
Jo Sa-gak-gwa muttered softly.
“It’s okay! I haven’t eaten yet!”
Park Dae-gari whispered, pointing forward with his finger.
Looking ahead, he saw his younger brother standing still as if waiting for something.
Here, the top head’s knife cutting meat was an unspoken signal to start the meal.
But while my younger brother was doing that, everyone else was just licking their lips.
“Who are you? You’re making people wait by being late. Anyway, there are always people who are late.”
“···That’s not something you should be saying. A commoner.”
Jo Sa-gak-gap muttered and then looked away in surprise at my gaze.
At that moment, the front door opened and a man walked in slowly.
He was a very handsome man. However, his eyes were slightly downturned, giving him a slightly slumped look.
She was wearing a strange ribbon around her neck, a baggy white shirt, and a wide skirt. It was a typical chef’s outfit.
He was holding a large platter in his hand, full of meat that smelled incredibly delicious.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry!!”
He stuttered as if he was embarrassed by the gaze that was focused on him.
“You’re late.”
At Aou’s muttering, everyone seemed to realize that this was the dish that Count Behar had been waiting for.
The guys who had caught a glimpse of Awoo’s face immediately moved their mouths because they saw that he was not feeling well.
The nobles belittled him with harsh insults.
However, there were quite a few people who gulped because the smell of meat was so overwhelmingly fragrant.
“Wow, he’s really handsome. I’ve never seen such a handsome man before.”
Park Dae-gari Young-ae was purely amazed.
His clumsy attitude combined with his handsome looks naturally made him open his heart to others.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
A presence that filled the space from the moment he entered.
Behind that clumsy face, something huge seemed to be squeezing me.
It seemed as if the bastard was trying to hide it rather than reveal it, but there was no way something so terrifying could be hidden.
‘···You’re a five-page book.’
Unlike other devil candies that had a sweet smell, this one had a very deep flavor.
It felt like it was close to the original liquid. It felt extremely dangerous, but it was also so attractive that my hands were itching.
However, I wasn’t sure if I could open the bastard’s packaging right now.
‘If you hit the back of the head…’
I’ve made all sorts of assumptions, but as of now, I can’t see any leads.
Gulp.
I turned my head, swallowing the saliva that had gathered in my mouth.
A guy who kept apologizing in a clumsy manner went around handing out meat.
Every time that happened, the nobles would curse him harshly, but he would bow down and accept it.
I drummed my fingers on the table and focused on the guy.
I tried to get some information out of him, but he acted like a really bumbling, stupid idiot.
“···What are you looking at like that?”
Nova narrowed her eyes and suddenly stuck her face in.
He pushed Nova’s head with his hand and looked again, but the bastard was nowhere to be seen.
“Please give me a lot!”
When I turned my head at the sound of Park Daegari Youngae’s voice, the guy was already at our table.
‘···when?’
Knock knock.
The guy smiled awkwardly and moved the meat onto a plate.
At that moment, the guy shook as if he had made a mistake.
It looked like he had misstepped, but there was nothing around his feet.
The plate he was holding shook and a large piece of meat fell towards Nova.
I was so nervous that I unconsciously reached out and slapped him away.
The chilled chunk of meat fell to the ground with a snapping sound like flesh.
“Ahhh…! Sorry! My hand slipped!”
The guy apologized quickly with a embarrassed look on his face.
‘···I got hit.’
The moment he struck the meat, I saw the bastard’s eyes moving quickly.
The guy has a sad expression, but one corner of his mouth is slightly raised.
‘···What a quiet kid.’
He measured me up.
What should I do?
Should I pretend to notice that the guy is a genius?
“···Why are you overreacting? I’m fine.”
Nova caught me with a sullen face.
I looked around furtively, pretending to check on Nova.
Some of the brothers looked at me with interest, while others yawned absentmindedly.
‘There are some people who don’t know that they are the eldest son.’
In general, the ones that smelled less delicious were the ones that were the least appetizing.
‘Another test? You guys are so suspicious.’
It might be similar to the prank where the sergeant pretends to be a fellow new recruit on the day the new recruit comes in…
‘The third one is not tolerable.’
I decided to stay true to the concept.
“Who dares throw meat at me!”
I jumped up and punched the bastard in the face with all my might.
To avoid this speed, you have to reveal something.
If by any chance the guy couldn’t dodge and got hit directly, and his head exploded, that wouldn’t be so bad either.
Anyway, it’s my brother’s fault for not giving prior notice.
The bastard pretended to be surprised and fell backwards, dodging the punch.
‘Your reaction is really fast. The moment I turned my waist, you fell back immediately. When dodging, you dodge with your left foot first. Judging from how you dodge, you don’t seem to have much durability. It’s difficult right now.’
The guy’s reaction speed and movements that he showed at that moment were extremely nimble.
Even that seemed to have been controlled, barely brushing past.
But still, it elicited a reaction from the bastard.
‘I broke my own pattern, so it’s only fair that you break it too.’
I looked down at the strangely crumpled guy and raised the corners of my mouth.
“What… What are you talking about! You idiot!”
The surrounding noises that had been silenced by Nova’s voice were heard again.
The nobles click their tongues, saying that the commoners are shallow.
It seemed like quite a few people were happy to see the chef get a kick out of delaying the meal.
The most interesting thing was Au’s expression.
‘Is that the expression on the face of a sergeant played by a new soldier?’
My brother’s pale face. I tried hard to keep from laughing.
‘Anyone who goes against the third principle is screwed.’
I had a feeling there would be no more mischief in the future.
“Ahahaha… Sorry. My hand slipped.”
The guy with the strangely smiling face got up and apologized first.
Then, like a great man, I patted his shoulder and sat back down.
“I’d like a big piece of meat, please. I’m really hungry.”
“Yes, I will give you a very large one.”
The guy must have been very generous, because he smiled brightly and put meat on my plate.
However, its size was half that of Nova.
It seemed like there was still some resentment left.
“···Eat this.”
Nova, whose face was red from having already drunk some wine, placed my meat on my plate.
“thanks.”
I didn’t necessarily decline.
However, even adding two more felt a little lacking.
At that moment, Jo Sa-gak’s eyes met with those of the investigator who had received a particularly large piece of meat.
I clicked my tongue as I watched Jo Sa-gyeong stuffing meat into his mouth in surprise.
“Don’t take it away, kid.”
However, there was a piece hidden underneath, and I quickly brought it to my plate.
***
“You shouldn’t cause trouble at the banquet hall.”
Nova spoke soothingly as she wiped my armor with a cloth.
I told him it wasn’t necessary, but his stubbornness grew stronger and stronger, so it was hard to stop him.
“When did I have an accident?”
“···Tell me from the beginning?”
“There was a reason for everything.”
“That’s right. You wouldn’t have thoughtlessly broken down a wall. But this is the territory of the Earldom of Behart. It would be really dangerous if something happened here. Before you break down a wall, check to see if there’s a door nearby.”
Although it was unfair, I nodded, clicking my tongue at Nova’s gaze.
“If you get into an accident, come to me. I’ll hang a handkerchief on the window.”
Nova, who had finally finished cleaning my armor, said as he picked up the dirty cloth.
“······handkerchief?”
However, my voice rose slightly when the word ‘handkerchief’ came out of his mouth.
“Yeah, a handkerchief.”
Judging from the confident grin on his face, he seemed to not know what it meant to hang a handkerchief on the window.
Wasn’t it because of that handkerchief that the previous square became a square of investigation?
“···There are no windows here?”
“Ah. Then I’ll hang it on the door.”
Nova carefully waved the handkerchief in her arms.
A proud face. I coughed and laughed as I imagined Nova when he realized what that meant.
“It’ll be okay. …probably.”
“What does ‘maybe’ mean?”
Nova asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
Since they were connected to the royal family, there was no way they would cause any trouble right away.
But I couldn’t guarantee it, since there were a lot of devil candies and there might be a free tasting corner.
I then pointed to the head of the park next to him.
“Oh, Vivian was there too.”
Nova let out a sigh of regret, as if he realized it too late.
And then he looked back and forth between me and Park and let out a deep sigh.
“···If you get into an accident, come to me. Got it?”
It was a tone of voice that seemed certain that something would happen.
After saying those words a few more times as if brainwashing her, Nova turned towards Bori.
“Sir Adela, take care of yourself…”
‘Why did I have to ask Bori···.’
I shook my head as I watched Nova talking to Barley.
At that moment, Park Dae-gari, who had finished adjusting his clothes, approached me.
The steps of that big head seemed strangely uncomfortable, and then he stepped on the dress and it tore right under it.
The two maids who had just been straightening the clothes opened their eyes wide.
This happened less than ten seconds after I left the maids’ hands.
“Wow – this is so much more comfortable. And it’s cool!”
Park smiled as if she liked the head, but the two maids hurriedly joined them again.
However, since it was already completely torn, the maids looked at each other with blank expressions, holding up scraps of cloth.
“How about me? Am I okay?”
Park Daegari asked with a bright smile, not knowing what the maids were thinking.
The child was so bright that I felt like I should give him some cotton candy.
‘It must be cool.’
As Park Daegari said, it was too bulky and felt like it was dragging on the floor, making it awkward.
It was torn just enough that my ankles weren’t exposed, so it wasn’t a problem.
Because these guys here consider exposing your ankles as a real slut.
“It suits you well.”
Park Dae-gari smiled broadly at my short answer.
I bit my molars and pulled myself together at that distant smile.
Kkung kkung.
For some reason, seeing Nova’s cold gaze brought me to my senses and made me feel at ease.
Knock knock.
A knock at an opportune moment.
‘It’s time.’
The investigator who had been guarding the door opened it.
In front of him was a neat-looking guy.
“I am the slope that will guide you.”
The guy laughed quite heartily, showing all his teeth. The part where his canines should be was bare.
There’s that vampire vibe and sweet smell you get from that guy.
‘···Vampire brothers?’
It seemed as if he had pulled out his fangs to hide it, but he could not avoid the eyes of the legendary vampire hunter, Takgu.
When the East was plagued by vampires, Flitton Castle was left unscathed.
Count Behart had said it was thanks to the garlic, but the vampire brother who suddenly appeared. Even the bastard smelled much tastier than the other vampires.
‘This is where things get interesting.’
I gulped at the sight of a vampire I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Aaron.”
I looked at the clean-cut vampire and smiled.
Finally, Pross, who had come out of the coffin and received his first job, trembled with an inexplicable chill.
***
‘···Gray Tower?’
Kkwobarou… No, Swallows frowned as he looked at the man in front of him.
The man stood before her as if he had suddenly appeared.
‘What is this mana···.’
Manae Swallows, who gave off the impression that he was a monster, bit his lip.
‘How can a person possess such mana?’
It was a different shock than when I first saw the stupid and idiotic Youngae.
If the stupid and stupid Youngae is cultivating her surroundings as if she were being praised by the brilliant Mana because she is loved by Mana, then this man…
‘···It seems like I’ve been cursed by Mana.’
At that moment, a small wind blew and one of the man’s arms flapped.
‘wingy?’
The physical defect reminded Swallows of the old magic he had read about in ancient books.
It’s a practical magic now, but…
‘Then that explains that strange mana.’
Swallows opened his mouth without any hesitation, his academic curiosity continuing to pique his interest.
“Arms and mana… Is this ancient magic?”
“Are you free enough to ask that right now?”
“Curiosity is the driving force behind the development of magic, the fuel that brings about progress. Does curiosity obscure the situation for a wizard who seeks the truth?”
“Search for the truth… sigh. Oh, sorry. It’s too funny. If you want to search for it, do it yourself. Don’t ask others.”
“It is indeed ancient magic.”
“That kind of shallow trick won’t work. I’m busy, so I’ll keep it short. Just as you thought, the seed… No, Vivian is important. It may not be your way, but eventually, a world similar to what you want will come.”
A tone of voice full of confidence, as if she already knew him.
Swallows frowned, feeling a subtle sense of unease.
A severe headache I’ve never felt before.
However, since Swallows were now quite accustomed to pain, they were able to keep their wits about them a bit more.
Beyond my blurry vision, I saw something approaching.
“So do what you have to do, Swallows who killed your parents.”
The man muttered as if he was calming a child.
The Swallows lost their balance and fell forward.
Through the sound of moving away, I heard footsteps stopping right in front of me.
“······As prophesied.”
The bastard’s voice sounded distant, as if it were spoken from the other side of the continent.
***
The weather was cool and Inquisitor Joanna Ethan was in a very pleasant mood.
In the summer, I had to look for shade because it was so hot, but as the weather cooled down, I was able to lie down on the roof and look at the sky.
Plus, there’s a whole lot of cake prepared!
Joanna nodded her head, feeling strangely happy.
I took a bite of the cake and it felt like my throat was melting.
‘So that’s why that kid liked sweets.’
Things I used to eat just to remember have become a habit, to the point where I feel empty without them.
I lay down again and looked up at the sky, my mind blank.
Maybe, if we leave it like this for a few more days, it will become a tree.
Perhaps, the fruit will turn into a cake.
Because all I ate was cake.
After thinking about it carefully, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“Nana… the place where happiness opens… Aaron… the bar… Nanan….”
I was humming a song because I was feeling good for no reason, when I felt a presence next to me.
It was a Parsi inquisitor with a slightly awkward face.
The Parsi cleaned up the crumbs of the cake and replaced them with new cake.
I had a lot of money set aside for the infinite cake.
“Oh, the castle has a funny story to tell.”
Joanna, who was reaching for the cake, tilted her head.
“It’s not a devil… Isn’t there that honorary monk Aaron?”
Joanna waved her hand up and down as Parsi continued speaking.
“There is a man named Vermunt, and he is Aaron’s sex slave. He is a sodomite…”
Joanna frowned for a moment.
Thinking it might be a cheesy joke, I hit Parsi a few times, but the same thing happened again.
‘···A strange rumor.’
It was clear that there were malicious rumors trying to discredit him.
What he showed himself was so full of sincerity that it couldn’t be true.
Although it was annoying that he had to escape from the abbot’s clutches alone, he could not leave such malicious talk alone.
Joanna looked straight at Parsi and slowly opened her mouth.
“Huh? That Dylan guy is Aaron’s son? What the… Ah… I can’t tell his age because of the scar… I see. Huh?! Inquisitor Joanna Ethan with that guy?!”
Joanna felt that the message had been effectively conveyed, so she picked up the cake again and ate it.
The cake was really sweet and delicious.
