Chapter 200
Chapter 200: The Master of the Trade Route (37)
I instinctively sensed it.
That the masked figures before me were quite skilled.
After reaching the realm of a Swordmaster, I could gauge someone's level to a certain extent just by looking at them.
Thanks to that, I immediately realized they weren't just common robbers.
"This carriage is only meant for Roger... So you're targeting him, aren't you?"
"You look like well-trained assassins, and if someone hired people of your caliber, it must be that person."
"Eric must be seriously pissed off."
The Saint and the Western Grand Duke’s daughter chimed in.
"Captain, what should we do..."
"......"
It wasn’t just that the opponents were formidable — these were women we absolutely shouldn't lay a hand on.
Each one held the highest authority in their respective groups.
If even one of them got hurt, their group could face annihilation.
"We retreat."
The captain made a calm decision.
But I had no intention of letting the prey before me slip away.
The Black Lion of the Empire.
As the daughter of the Grand Duke of the North, powerful mana flickered in my golden eyes.
"Istina, can I leave Roger and Helena to you?"
"Go wild. I can manage just fine on my own."
"I can take care of myself too, you know!"
Helena added with a sulky expression.
Even faced with assassins who had taken down numerous heavyweights, she showed no fear.
"Good. I’ll take them down."
Honestly, just making them back off would’ve been enough.
But it was clear at a glance that these were Eric’s men.
‘If I can just capture them, I can put an end to that bastard for good.’
I drew the Luton Sword from my waist.
Then pointed it firmly at the two hesitating assassins.
"Captain, looks like the Lady intends to fight..."
"...We have no choice."
The captain also drew a dagger in the end.
A sinister green current swirled around the blade.
"She's a Swordmaster. If we let her chase us, we'll get caught. Just disarm her."
Shreeeekk――――――!!
The captain charged at me first.
So fast that his black robe billowed behind him.
Clang!
I skillfully parried the first strike with the spine of my sword.
Then immediately twisted his wrist and knocked away the short dagger…
Unleashing a brilliant golden sword aura.
"Grgh…!!"
The surging energy made the captain stagger back.
Just then, one of the elite members joined in, aiming for my side.
At that moment—
"Not a chance."
Helena raised her thigh, braced the butt of the pistol against her cheek, and took aim with practiced precision.
Just as he raised his sword—
Bang!
The shot landed squarely on his arm.
"Khugh...!!"
Clutching his pierced arm, the assassin retreated.
Helena's blue eyes glinted through the smoke rising from the barrel.
"Maybe the barrel was too small since it’s a pistol."
"That was more than enough!"
I responded to her support with a fierce assault on the remaining captain.
Wounded, the other assassin tried to help by pulling something from his pocket.
As he threw down a smoke pouch—
This time, the Saint stepped forward, matching the timing perfectly.
"Cheap tricks won’t work."
Mana surged so powerfully that it blew her hood off.
As the Saint extended her hand, the smoke billowing toward me scattered in an instant.
Thanks to her, I was able to prepare a clean strike at the mercenaries.
A black sword veiled in fierce golden light.
To defend himself, the captain channeled mana into the daggers held in both hands.
There was no way to dodge that strike.
Then, as I swung my sword—
"What the hell…!!"
The captain watched with wide eyes as both of his raised daggers shattered in an instant.
He knew I was a Swordmaster, but hadn’t expected me to go all out like this.
A massive golden arc drove straight into his chest.
"……!!"
The mercenary dropped to one knee.
He had heard I was just some dropout who left the Knight Academy to become a businessman.
Yet here I was, suddenly locked in a life-or-death duel with a Swordmaster.
And then to top it off, the Saint and the Western Grand Duke’s daughter with her unusual weapon joined the fight.
"This was a request I should’ve never accepted…"
That uneasy feeling he’d had earlier proved right as he finally dropped to both knees.
His eyes were blank as he gazed off at the man soundly asleep in the carriage some distance away—
Roger Julius, savoring a deep sleep.
「――――――」
It had been a long time since I dreamed.
I’d only slept when utterly exhausted to the bone, so there hadn’t been time for dreams.
But now, in this rare dream after years, I was lying in bed.
They say people experience what they desire most in dreams.
Seems like what I needed was rest.
"……."
Even when I stretched my arms out, I couldn’t touch the edges of the bed.
In this dream, I must have bought a pretty large bed.
But instead, what my fingertips brushed against was soft skin.
That’s when I realized I was lying next to someone.
‘Who is it……?’
I barely managed to lift my heavy eyelids.
And right then, a delicious smell wafted in from beyond the room.
The sound of someone cooking outside.
Then came the clipping of gardening shears from the garden.
Seemed like there were several people in this house, not just me.
Swallowing deeply, I checked the shape beside me in bed…
"……!!"
And at that moment, I woke up from the deep sleep.
"Oh, you're up."
"Roger, did you sleep well?"
"I have no idea what happened last night."
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was three women.
Echina, Helena, and Istina, all looking down at me, lying on the sheets.
They were watching over me very gently as I slept inside the carriage.
"Did you have a rough dream?"
"Ah… I guess so. Strange that I even had a dream…"
I slowly raised my head and looked around.
The carriage was rolling steadily along.
At some point, the signpost was pointing to the Northern Imperial Territory.
‘Nord is only an hour away now…?’
"Nothing happened during the night, right?"
"Of course not. Actually, something good happened, you could say."
Helena gave a sly smile as she said something odd.
I tilted my head.
"What good thing?"
"Some assassins came for you at dawn."
Assassins.
At those three syllables, my eyes flew wide open.
There was only one person who would send something like that at this hour — Eric.
"Don’t worry. It actually turned out well."
It must have been a terrifying situation, yet she was so composed.
Instead, with a proud smile, she handed me a piece of paper.
"It's a sworn statement. It says that Eric’s secretary, Tobang Arman, confessed to having instigated them."
"They were arrested by the nearby security guards. They'll be extradited to Nord in a few days."
Tobang Arman.
That bastard was Eric’s chief secretary now.
‘So he finally chose to be complicit in Eric’s crimes.’
He tried to have me killed, so I should’ve been furious.
But strangely enough,
I found myself rather composed about his choice.
"What happened to Tobang then?"
"I sent a carrier pigeon ahead. The Black Knight should’ve apprehended him by now."
Echina replied, arms crossed.
Unlike Helena, she had a sharp and intense gaze.
"I won’t let this go, Eric. How dare you resort to such filthy tricks."
I, knowing all about the eldest son’s crimes, remained calm—but she probably didn’t.
That’s why she was so angry.
"To think he would do that to Roger…"
"Still, he’s alive and well, Echina. That’s what matters."
Istina gently patted her shoulder, offering comfort.
"Don’t worry about the interrogation. I’ll make sure that bastard says Eric’s name himself."
Istina’s gentle smile turned cold.
For someone offering comfort, her eyes turned terrifyingly sharp.
"To think he tried to sabotage something we’ve been preparing for months. The interrogation might get… a little rough."
Even sharp-eyed Echina and ever-relaxed Helena glanced at the Saint.
"Probably best to keep the Church out of the interrogation."
"My thoughts exactly."
I took the hand of the silver-haired woman whose face was cast in shadow.
"I’ll handle the interrogation. There’s no need for the Saint to soil her hands with this."
Then I smiled softly and added,
"You're a bishop now. You should take better care of yourself."
"…Bishop. Right."
At my words, the Saint pulled her hood down and hid her face.
I could feel her crimson lips curl faintly into a smile in the shadows.
The two Grand Duchesses on either side watched her with flat eyes.
Like grumpy lionesses.
"So easy. Honestly."
"Right? How did she even hide it all this time?"
The two Grand Duchesses seemed to have grown much closer than before.
"Neither of you are hurt, I hope?"
When I asked, Helena crossed her legs and tilted her chin elegantly.
"Obviously not. Do you think hired thugs could touch us?"
"……."
Echina, who had done most of the fighting, narrowed her eyes slightly.
But then, perhaps struck by an idea, she acted in a way quite unlike the Western Grand Duchess.
"I think… I might be a little dizzy…"
"Truly?"
As a knight, she had surely been at the front line of battle.
I got up from the seat and knelt on one knee before her.
"Repeated clashing of swords can build up shock in the body. May I see your forehead for a moment?"
Our faces drew close.
My hand gently touched her forehead.
"You don’t seem to have a fever…"
"Maybe I’m just a bit tired."
Echina closed her eyes with a slight pout and murmured coyly.
Helena let out a short laugh at the sight.
The Saint was the same.
They flung the window open and turned my gaze away.
"Since we're just about to arrive in Nord, we should send Echina straight to the hospital."
"Totally agree."
The Grand Duke’s daughter of the North glared at the two of them with a frown.
But the two powerful women just shook their heads, stifling laughter.
As if to say things wouldn’t go that easily.
However, they soon looked flustered themselves.
"Then, may I ask the two of you for a favor? I’ll head straight to see Tobang."
"Uh…? Us?"
At least for now, this was something I had to handle alone.
"Yes. Please leave Tobang to me."
As soon as the carriage arrived, I stepped out with a much lighter body.
Then, with the leather case in hand, I headed for the knight order's local security station that had arrested him.
The three women silently watched me as I walked away.
"Are you still feeling sick?"
"…No."
Echina let out a long sigh.
She told the other two she would visit her father regarding the issue with Eric.
Since Helena and the Saint had also arrived in Nord just now, they too had to return to their respective groups.
Now, they looked at each other not as rivals, but with the confident gaze of comrades.
"Then, see you at dinner."
"Sure. Let’s see how much flair you show up with."
"I’ll be off too."
The three of them went their separate ways without shaking hands.
Already in front of the carriage stood their attendants, welcoming them back.
Echina walked toward the Black Knight and her attendants from the Luton family.
Helena was greeted by Grand Duke Harriet.
The Saint left the plaza with the paladins who had arrived ahead of her.
――――――
In the meantime, I visited the security station alone.
They had a holding facility there, and serious criminals were detained in a separate section.
So, it was only after passing a long corridor lined with Northern knights…
That I was able to meet Tobang Arman.
His once-elegant golden hair now hung limp and lifeless over his face.
Head bowed, he sat there in handcuffs.
"Tobang."
He flinched when he heard my voice.
Then, slowly, he raised his head.
His face was gaunt, hollowed out, with deep dark circles under his eyes.
It was the first time I’d ever seen him—who was always so full of confidence—look this broken.
"Have you been well?"
"Do I look like I’ve been well?"
He muttered in a hoarse voice.
"You sent assassins after me. Was it on Eric’s orders?"
"……"
As expected, he didn’t answer easily.
He probably still believed Eric would come and save him.
"Just admit it was the eldest son's doing. That’s your only way out of this."
"Why should I? Honestly, didn’t you always wish I’d fall harder than him?"
He didn’t know what had happened between me and Eric in my previous life.
Naturally, he assumed I hated him more for all the torment he caused me.
"No. That’s not it."
I sat down across from him, with just the iron bars between us.
"I hated you at first. But I didn’t hold on to your wrongdoings in my heart. The goal I was aiming for was far beyond you."
I glanced at his face.
Worn down by endless worries, yet clinging to that faint sliver of hope that Eric would still come save him.
‘I remember being like that once.’
And at the end of that sliver of light… I was handed poison.
It stole everything from me.
"But you're still scared I might take revenge for what happened back then. If that’s how much fear you carry, then that alone is enough payback."
Now I had to persuade him.
The moment he confessed that Eric was behind all this—
The long, bitter feud with the eldest son would finally come to an end.