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Chapter 79




Chapter 79. It's Because You Haven't Eaten Any Meat
In the end, I took out a large robe from the subspace and handed it to the Death Knight.
‘Kalarhen’s hoarding habit comes in handy sometimes.’
Among the miscellaneous items I had collected as spoils, there was a robe that fit the Death Knight’s build.
I’m glad I didn’t throw it away.
Anyway.
“Let’s introduce ourselves. Which family are you from? If you’re a Master Knight, you must have come from a powerful family, right?”
[You’re thinking too simply. If you were from a powerful family, would you have ended up as an undead with your grave dug up?]
“It could have fallen.”
[It did fall. When I was alive, it was the year 137 of the Imperial Calendar. It was a day with a lot of rain...]
“Ah, never mind.”
I hastily cut him off, sensing that it was about to turn into a history lesson.
But, why is it?
For some reason, the single flame in the Death Knight’s eye seems to be burning fiercely.
It’s like... yeah.
Just like the look in someone’s eyes right before they’re about to hit a disrespectful child.
“Ahem. The year 137 of the Imperial Calendar?”
[That’s right.]
“Quite a long time ago.”
[What year is it now?]
“The year 374 of the Imperial Calendar.”
[...Wow.]
Perhaps due to the passage of time, the Death Knight let out a low breath.
Or rather, since the dead can’t actually breathe, it was just a sound.
Watching a dead person act like a living one is truly maddening.
[Then, what about Lortel?]
“He’s still around.”
Lortel is a renowned family of swordsmanship.
If Deculan is known for magic, Lortel is known for swordsmanship, without exaggeration.
Of course, compared to the dirty and despicable Deculan, their influence is a bit weaker.
Anyway.
[Then... did Shamid become the head of the family? I mean, what is the name of the 13th head of the family?]
“Why don’t you ask the Lortel family yourself.”
[Then, what about Dolanpega?]
“Fine... No, wait, you old can."
[...Old can?]
I changed my tone to a warmer one, finding the fierce flame rather comforting.
“Old can teacher?”
[...Old can?]
“Damn it.”
This Death Knight is even more extreme than my senior.
My senior, being a mage, would lose his power when logically reasoned with.
‘Who would have thought that an uneducated swordsman would be so...’
I wanted to make his eyes more gentle, but my broad-mindedness held me back.
“Well, let’s at least ask for your name. What is your honorable name?”
[Yeah, you should ask. But, are all the young ones these days as disrespectful as you?]
“I’m average. There are worse ones too.”
[...Hmm. Indeed, it seems that respect is disappearing over time. I was curious, and now my curiosity is satisfied.]
The Death Knight nodded as if he had realized something significant.
I watched him with a cold, deadpan expression until our eyes met.
[Hmm, your eyes are gentle.]
“I like gentle eyes.”
[Do you?]
“...Yes. No, that’s why.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer and sprang to my feet.
[What? What? Your tone...]
“Your tone and all, who are you?”
I’m a man who doesn’t bow to authority.
Even if he’s a distant ancestor and a Master Knight, his aura doesn’t intimidate me.
However...
[Wow. There are quite a few usable clubs around here.]
“To hear your honorable name, I must serve you. It’s out of loyalty, so please understand.”
I only submit to violence.
[Is that what you think?]
“Yes, that’s why I was so frustrated. I want to know your honorable name as soon as possible.”
Damn it.
Would a senior who threw away his principal badge and escaped from the academy as a prison act like this?
He’s truly a pain in the ass.
A pain in the ass, but...
[Alright, I’ll tell you. I don’t know if my name has survived all these years...]
The Death Knight, looking satisfied, let his flame flicker.
However.
[My name is...]
The name was quite shocking.
Not just quite, but very, extremely, almost unbelievable.
[What do you think? Do you know?]
Of course, I do.
...A few hundred years ago.
There was an extremely wicked criminal in the empire.
The crime was treason, a challenge to the throne that had maintained a firm position for a long time.
The accomplice was only... one person.
Shane von Remang
In a sense, it wasn’t treason but an assassination of the emperor.
It shouldn’t have been a topic of conversation after a few hundred years.
But.
Shane von Remang broke into the royal palace alone and successfully placed a sword at the emperor’s throat.
He declared:
- I am the emperor now.
A mad statement.
- Thud. Roll.
The head of the most revered person in the eastern continent rolled on the floor.
Of course, Shane von Remang didn’t become the emperor.
He himself died a lonely death on the throne, unable to recover from his injuries.
So...
“Are you that madman?”
[What?]
“...A madman.”
So, it’s like this.
“Anyway, let’s at least ask for your name. What is your honorable name?”
[Yeah, you should ask. But, are all the young ones these days as disrespectful as you?]
“I’m average. There are worse ones too.”
[...Hmm. Indeed, it seems that respect is disappearing over time. I was curious, and now my curiosity is satisfied.]
The Death Knight nodded as if he had realized something significant.
I watched him with a cold, deadpan expression until our eyes met.
[Hmm, your eyes are gentle.]
“I like gentle eyes.”
[Do you?]
“...Yes. No, that’s why.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer and sprang to my feet.
[What? What? Your tone...]
“Your tone and all, who are you?”
I’m a man who doesn’t bow to authority.
Even if he’s a distant ancestor and a Master Knight, his aura doesn’t intimidate me.
However...
[Wow. There are quite a few usable clubs around here.]
“To hear your honorable name, I must serve you. It’s out of loyalty, so please understand.”
I only submit to violence.
[Is that what you think?]
“Yes, that’s why I was so frustrated. I want to know your honorable name as soon as possible.”
Damn it.
Would a senior who threw away his principal badge and escaped from the academy as a prison act like this?
He’s truly a pain in the ass.
A pain in the ass, but...
[Alright, I’ll tell you. I don’t know if my name has survived all these years...]
The Death Knight, looking satisfied, let his flame flicker.
However.
[My name is...]
The name was quite shocking.
Not just quite, but very, extremely, almost unbelievable.
[What do you think? Do you know?]
Of course, I do.
...A few hundred years ago.
There was an extremely wicked criminal in the empire.
The crime was treason, a challenge to the throne that had maintained a firm position for a long time.
The accomplice was only... one person.
Shane von Remang
In a sense, it wasn’t treason but an assassination of the emperor.
It shouldn’t have been a topic of conversation after a few hundred years.
But.
Shane von Remang broke into the royal palace alone and successfully placed a sword at the emperor’s throat.
He declared:
- I am the emperor now.
A mad statement.
- Thud. Roll.
The head of the most revered person in the eastern continent rolled on the floor.
Of course, Shane von Remang didn’t become the emperor.
He himself died a lonely death on the throne, unable to recover from his injuries.
So...
“Are you that madman?”
[What?]
“...A madman.”
So, it’s like this.
‘Is this madman from history standing in front of me now?’
Really, today...
No, let’s stop talking.
It was still morning, not even noon.
* * *
Anyway.
“...Are you really Shane von Remang, that madman?”
[Madman? Hmm, you could see it that way. But, it seems my name has been passed down.]
“It has been passed down.”
At my affirmation, Shane... who it was, leaned forward with a deep interest.
[How has it been passed down? I’m curious.]
“How...”
As I said, Shane von Remang is recorded in history as an unparalleled traitor.
In other words...
‘King Slayer (King Slayer)’
To be precise, an emperor slayer, or Emperor Slayer, but that’s how it’s passed down.
There were many other titles for Shane.
- A genius unparalleled in his time.
- A natural warrior skilled in all weapons, not just swords.
Finally...
- A tragic genius who went mad with the fall of the Remang family.
His talent was unmatched in the history of the continent.
‘He became a Master Knight at the age of eighteen, so that’s it.’
Master Knight is not an officially recognized rank in the empire.
It’s a title given to those who have reached the pinnacle of knighthood.
In terms of magic, it’s a realm on par with an archmage.
So, comparing it this way makes it easier to understand.
‘Phaehren.’
A revered mage of the highest caliber in history.
‘Even this genius only reached the realm of an archmage in his late twenties.’
It’s said that if Shane von Remang had lived to old age, he would have made a significant mark in the history of the continent.
I briefly summarized and relayed this to Shane.
“...That’s the general idea.”
[Hmm, it’s too sparse. Is that all that has been passed down?]
There is more.
‘I just didn’t want to bother saying it.’
How many noble families did Shane von Remang humiliate?
He defeated the head of the Dolanpega family in a martial arts competition, and made the head of a spear-famous family kneel using a spear.
No matter which noble family he faced, he was famous for using the opponent’s weapon, not his own.
‘It’s a rather twisted hobby.’
But.
“...Wait.”
[Oh, what. Did something else come to mind?]
“You’re not Shane von Remang, are you.”
[Wow... I thought you were a bit off, but have you finally gone mad? If I’m not Shane, who is?]
I opened my eyes wide at his arrogant tone and stared at him intently.
“Shane von Remang.”
[Why are you calling me?]
“The unparalleled warrior who invaded the royal palace with unmatched strength, beheaded the emperor, and left the last words... ‘I am the emperor.’”
[That’s right.]
“And the age at which this unparalleled madman died was...”
According to historical records, Shane’s age at death was as follows.
[Shane von Remang]
- 18 years old. Ascended to Master Knight.
- 19 years old. Disappeared with the fall of the Remang family.
- 20 years old. Reappeared and plotted a rebellion, and his age at death was...
“Twenty years old.”
[Hmm.]
“Shane died at twenty, so what? You’re Shane?”
Just by looking, his tone alone suggests he’s a senior.
It’s hard to guess his age from his voice as a Death Knight, but his mannerisms suggest otherwise.
As I stared at him with wide eyes, the Death Knight looked up at the sky.
[Back then, twenty was considered an elder.]
“Damn.”
[No, but this guy...! How old are you? I’m older than you. Just by looking, you seem to have lived about half as long as me!]
How old am I?
If asked, it’s only right to answer.
I crossed my arms, leaned my head back, and looked down at Shane.
“Twenty-two... no, twenty-three.”
[Twenty-three?]
“Yes.”
[No, what kind of ridiculous nonsense...]
Indeed, is he really Shane?
A guy who reacts so sensitively to age.
I looked at him with a smirk and spoke.
“It’s because you haven’t eaten any meat. You’re in your growth period, so you didn’t grow properly.”
[What... Just by looking, you’re a mage. What mage can’t eat meat? Only the rich can afford to learn magic.]
Of course, that’s true.
Generally, magic families work hard to expand their businesses and influence for this very reason.
Learning magic requires a lot of additional funds.
But.
“That’s a prejudice. Mages in this era are poor.”
[...Wow. What kind of ridiculous nonsense...]
“Nonsense?”
[Nonsense, nonsense... Hmm. No, no matter what, I’m your ancestor! Do you have no parents!]
I calmly replied to the enraged Shane.
“Yes, I don’t.”
[...]
“I’ve never seen them.”
Originally, I was a street urchin from the black and white zone, so I’ve never seen any blood relatives.
I never got married in my previous life, so I have no descendants.
Shane shut his mouth at my words.
[Sorry... I, I, I, I am.]
“Yeah, use honorifics or not. But, at least show respect in your tone.”
[...]
Well, the hierarchy issue is roughly resolved.
‘This guy is Shane von Remang...?’
Until a few hundred years ago, the older one was always the superior.
He bowed his head cleanly when I mentioned his age.
Then, how...
‘Can I use him to my advantage?’
Now that I know the situation through the Golden Mages, our enemies are not just Destrow.
Naturally, the Golden Mages, who are preparing to awaken Destrow, must also be considered.
‘I need reinforcements.’
In that sense, Shane is an excellent tool... no, an excellent ally.
Not that I intend to use him for free, but to work together for mutual benefit.
“Kid.”
[No, no matter what, I...]
I ignored Shane’s deflated voice, leaned forward, and smiled.
“Why don’t we work together on something?”
[...Work?]
“The damn necromancer who woke you from your rest. Don’t you want revenge?”
Shane’s aura changed at that moment.
A terrifying killing intent spread around in an instant.
Perhaps he had regained some of his former prowess as he regained his senses, or maybe his hatred for the Golden Mages was that strong.
‘...It’s tingling.’
Even I felt my shoulders tense up if I wasn’t careful.
“Your hatred is considerable, isn’t it? You seemed to have no thoughts at all.”
[I already thought he was dead. A lump of meat, what kind of revenge could I feel? So...]
Shane’s head turned sharply, looking at the scattered corpses.
[He’s not dead? Then, these are...?]
I thought for a moment.
“Hmm, lackeys.”
[Lackeys?]
“You don’t remember, do you? You were a tool. You were treated worse than a skeleton rolling on the street.”
[...How dare you.]
The aura grew even stronger.
My smile deepened.
“What did you say? You were too weak to be of any use, right? I think I heard that.”
[To the point where you’d entrust me to lackeys?]
“Yes.”
When I finished speaking.
Bang!
Shane sprang to his feet.
[Where is he?]
“Why?”
[Why? Isn’t it obvious? I need to tear him apart with my own hands.]
Shane von Remang, his anger at its peak.
I smiled at him.
“Hmm, it won’t be easy to find him...”
[...It sounds like you can find him.]
“Well, I can. But, it’s a bit difficult to do it alone. You know, the world isn’t that easy. I happen to have some business with him too.”
[...]
Perhaps sensing something was off.
Shane von Remang lowered his aura and looked down at me.
“Well, if you don’t want to, that’s fine. I was just offering an opportunity. If you don’t want to, then...”
At my nonchalant tone, Shane paused to think, then... well, he doesn’t have a mouth, but he spoke.
[...I feel like I’m being tricked. But, fine. If I can catch him, I’ll cooperate with you.]
“Really?”
[...Yes. I was planning to follow you for a while anyway. So, that’s it.]
“Well, of course.”
A fine self-justification.
He convinces himself that he’s not being used, even though he is.
Well, he’s not entirely being used.
“Then, let’s do our best. Shane von Remang.”
[...It had better not be a lie.]
“Of course.”
I extended my hand.
Clank.
The black armor clasped my hand.
‘Reliable.’
Knights are so simple.
‘Uneducated swordsmen.’
Anyway.
“Come on, let’s go see my comrades.”
[...Alright.]
I led Shane and started walking.
‘Until the curse is lifted, I can buy some time.’
Shane is a card to deal with the Golden Mages and a fine spare card to replace me until the sins of the thirteen are resolved.
Not a bad harvest.