Chapter 44: Is There Any Reason to Tolerate This?

Expressing regret for the tragedy that occurred in Trian, our family wishes to dispatch an investigation team to ascertain the truth.

As this is a grave matter, we anticipate Trian’s full cooperation…….

A message from the Aslan Ducal family to Trian.

In response, an emergency summons was issued to Trian’s leadership.

The content of the message itself seemed unproblematic.

The issue was the individuals who were said to be coming as the investigation team.

Boom.

“Bringing almost all of the Aslan Knightly Order’s elite, including the Lightning Blade Sword , is a clear sign they want a fight, isn’t it!?

What do these damn bastards take our Trian for!”

A muscular, hairy giant, with a height said to be 2 meters and 10 centimeters and shoulders to match, stomped his foot irritably.

Judging by his appearance alone, he looked like he belonged in some mountain, mugging travelers for their pockets and gnawing on wild boar legs.

But this giant man was none other than the commander of the Trian Knightly Order, Robero Kaitan.

A 5-Star knight of Trian who devastated battlefields by swinging a massive warhammer like a pinwheel, and a man known by the cool moniker, the Storm of the Battlefield.

But the nickname he was called within Trian was.

“Ugh, that’s why they call him the Boss…….”

Boss.

Muno almost burst out laughing at the small, horrified whisper from Rasmia, who was standing beside him.

“Do not get excited, Robero.”

“My apologies, Your Excellency. But…….”

“That’s enough.

What do you all think their true intentions are?

Share your thoughts.

For your reference, Collid's body has already been notarized by the temple, confirming a large amount of demonic energy residue.”

Enoch Trian’s gaze swept over those gathered in the lord's office.

The Knight Commander Robero Kaitan, the still pale-faced Vice-Knight Commander Klarm Rosean, and his fellow Vice-Commander, the slender female knight Chloe Rommel.

Behind them stood the twelve head knights of the Trian Knightly Order and the Spirit Master, Rasmia.

In addition, there was Baron Rick Rommel, the administrator of the Trian territory and Chloe Rommel’s father, along with five other officials.

In a gathering of what was essentially the core and central leadership of the Trian territory’s military power, excluding Grand Prince Kane who was under house arrest for his responsibility in the incident.

‘Why am I…….’

Muno was included.

It was an unavoidable situation as he was the cause and provided the opening for this incident, but it was also unnecessarily burdensome.

‘I need to chase after those Demon Cult bastards, but of all things, this had to happen…….’

I never thought things would get this twisted.

But, since the matter had grown this big, he couldn’t ignore it as the young lord of Drasen.

It seemed better for him to be in a position to contemplate countermeasures.

And fortunately, it seemed he would just have to watch the conversation for a while.

The others didn't seem to be paying him any attention for the time being.

“A 6-Star knight, whom even Your Excellency cannot ignore, is leaving his post to visit the heart of Trian.

Moreover, he is bringing two 5-Star Vice-Commanders and four 4-Star elites with him.

Anyone can see that the numbers are matched. It seems they intend to openly pick a fight.”

Everyone’s complexion hardened at the words suddenly spoken by Vice-Commander Chloe Rommel, who had been watching quietly.

In Trian, the commander was the only 5-Star knight, and the two Vice-Commanders were the only 4-Star knights.

The fact that they had doubled the headcount for each rank, as if to match, was undoubtedly a show of the Aslan family’s power.

“Picking a fight……. Even though the temple has already confirmed Collid was a Magic Knight?”

“They won’t admit it.”

“They won’t acknowledge the temple’s notarization?”

“They’ll claim it was a fabrication by our family.”

To the question Enoch asked, feigning ignorance, Chloe answered as if it were a certainty.

It was likely an explanation for those who might not have understood.

And the main point was.

“The simplest explanation is that they might be using that as a pretext to challenge us to a duel.

The worst-case scenario is that the Lightning Blade Sword challenges Your Excellency to…….”

Boom.

“Chloe! Watch your words!”

Robero stomped his foot irritably and shouted again, but Count Enoch just smirked.

“Don’t get excited, Robero.

I’d be grateful if he did. It would be a chance to wipe that smug look off Lenok Aslan’s face.”

At the count’s confident remark, his subordinate knights began to add their own comments.

“Well, Evan Orgus has only been a 6-Star and held the title of Lightning Blade Sword for about three years…….”

“He’s no match for our Excellency.”

“Let’s take this opportunity to knock Aslan down a peg!”

Even knowing that in a battle between high-level Corporeal Arts users, the compatibility could be extremely divided depending on the direction of their evolution, no one in the room predicted Enoch Trian's defeat.

The name, Bulwark of the North, was second to none in the kingdom, save for the Dragon Sword Duke.

But for that very reason, Chloe’s reasoning was rather less credible.

“Everyone, quiet.

Let's discuss plausible scenarios.

Unless that man is insane, he wouldn’t challenge His Excellency to a duel.”

Baron Rick Rommel calmed the excited atmosphere caused by his daughter's words.

But in the midst of it all.

“If they’re going to pick a fight, they’ll pick it with someone else…….”

At the voice that belatedly echoed, the gazes of everyone in the room converged on one spot.

……Huh?

“Muno, what do you mean?”

After a silence of about two seconds that felt longer than ever, the count opened his mouth.

Muno realized he couldn't avoid answering and gave an awkward laugh.

“Well……. That person called the Lightning Blade Sword, isn’t he the commander of the Aslan Knightly Order?”

“And?”

“If someone like that is determined to pick a fight, wouldn’t he suggest a duel between fellow knight commanders?

He's much easier to handle than Your Excellency…….

Ah, I’m not saying this to disrespect Sir Robero in any way……!”

At those words, Robero Kaitan’s face crumpled miserably, but he just snorted with a ‘hmph’ and couldn't offer a counterargument.

And it was the same for the others.

“Such a dishonorable act…….”

“Now that one of their Vice-Commanders has turned out to be a Magic Soldier , what’s the problem with something like that?”

“……It’s a worst-case assumption, but it makes sense.”

Murmur, murmur.

The knights, who were accustomed to the ranking system based on the number of evolutions, or stars, had not thought of the possibility of a duel being arranged based on position.

But since Muno had pointed out that blind spot, they had no choice but to be convinced.

On top of that.

“Even if they just duel based on rank, our commander and vice-commanders will have to duel twice each. This is a problem.”

At Klarm’s sudden interjection, the knights’ expressions darkened again.

“Perhaps they are not really coming to request a duel. It seems the opinions are leaning too much in that direction.”

Baron Rick Rommel tried to change the subject, but almost the same thought was already dawning in everyone's mind.

- A fight is unavoidable.

“Rick, let’s consider the worst-case and best-case scenarios. Well, not that a best-case scenario would exist.”

“The best-case scenario would be for them to accept the temple’s notarization and leave, but you can assume the probability is almost zero.

If they go back like that, the world will think that Aslan conceded to Trian.”

In other words, regardless of the truth of the incident, Aslan would not back down for the sake of their family’s honor.

“And the worst?”

It would be a duel, of course.

The moment Muno thought that to himself, Baron Rick Rommel said something unimaginable.

“It’s the case where they pretend to accept our claims, then join forces to assassinate Your Excellency.

Of course, this possibility is also small…….”

“What!?”

Muno shouted in surprise, but the others were not surprised at all.

“His Excellency’s original intention to enter central politics was to be wary of Lenok Aslan. Everyone who needs to know, knows.”

“Ah…….”

Only after hearing Rasmia’s words did I understand that extreme assumption.

In the meantime, the old man with a white mustache, Baron Rick, glanced at Muno and continued to speak calmly.

“The most plausible possibility is, as Sir Chloe said, that they will challenge us to a duel.

It would be to reduce Trian's actual military strength.

The main targets would likely be Commander Robero and the Vice-Commanders.”

“Just because one damn Magic Knight died…….”

“To them, he would have been a 5-Star talent, not a Magic Knight.

He was called the Honorary Vice-Commander. Moreover, according to the information I gathered, they were promoting that Collid as a paragon of knights to the knightly order’s trainees.”

“What?”

“In the sense that if you don't give up and work hard, you can one day break through your limits.”

“Hard work, my ass. It must be because he sold his soul to a demon.”

Enoch Trian scoffed, but it was clearly not a situation to be laughed off.

Even if they claimed that paragon was actually a Magic Knight, Aslan would not admit it.

“A 5-Star talent died, so they’ll take more than that back in interest, is that it?

Hmph, those Aslan bastards.

Your Excellency! Do not worry. Even if I die, I will shatter one of the Lightning Blade Sword's arms before I do.

We have to make them suffer a greater loss, that’s what!”

Thud.

Robero shouted, exuding an aura as menacing as his physique, but no one responded.

Because his words themselves were already based on the premise of defeat.

But.

“Don’t speak of dying so rashly, Robero.

I didn’t turn a coward who pissed his pants on the battlefield into a man just for you to throw your life away like that.”

The count’s sudden remark brought a hint of laughter to the room.

“Ahem……. N-no, Your Excellency.

Why are you talking about my younger days…….”

That giant pissed his pants?

Muno snickered at the knight commander’s absurd past.

But Robero's large eyes, for some reason, seemed to glance his way, as if checking his reaction.

No, wait. He’s not looking at me, he’s looking at…….

“Ugh……. That teddy bear…….”

Rasmia shuddered with anger, then hid behind Muno to avoid Robero’s gaze.

Then, he saw the large man turn his head with a dejected expression.

Ha. This is…….

“……You’re popular.”

“I’ll kill you if you tease me.

I’ve never seen a man who likes me in my entire life, and of all people, the only one is someone like that…….”

Ah…….

My mouth suddenly felt bitter.

I had thought Rasmia looked much younger than her age and was quite pretty.

It was a feeling of suddenly experiencing a cultural difference once again.

What was most important was.

‘No matter what, does she hate ugly men…….’

I remembered my past self, who had praised myself while looking in the mirror, thinking I was quite handsome in this life.

Could it be that I’m considered ugly by the standards here?

My mother said I was handsome?

Could that have been a mother's doting love?

My confidence dropped in an instant.

“……As long as a man is decent-looking, isn’t it good if he’s big and strong?”

I tried to apply the general view of men in this life, quoting stories I had heard from those around me.

“That’s only to a certain extent. Does he look normal to you?”

The reply that came back was only cold.

Sending a silent prayer to the pure-hearted man who had suddenly become ‘that thing’, Muno let out a sigh of relief.

‘Right. Here, a man’s looks don’t matter.’

It’s ability, in other words, power.

Not a metaphor, but real ‘power’.

As he unknowingly clenched his fist and checked his own strength.

“Alright. In any case, let’s think of a countermeasure for the most probable scenario.”

Thud.

“Let me say this again, I have no intention of losing my people in vain.

I would rather go to war with Aslan than that.

So, Commander and Vice-Commanders, don’t even think about mentioning a plan that presupposes the sacrifice of the three of you.”

The count led the mood of the room, exuding a sharp aura.

And.

“Muno, you young blood, speak first.”

His gaze suddenly turned to me.

A situation where I could no longer escape reality.

‘Tsk…….’

Muno just answered with whatever came to mind.

“We have to assume that them picking a fight is a certainty, right?”

“I believe so.”

“Then, how about we strike first?”

“What?”

“We know they’re going to pick a fight anyway, so why wait? Let’s just pick a fight first.”

“……Huh?”

As Rasmia, who was beside me, showed a blank face.

“In fact, aren’t I, the one who was ambushed, and Trian the ones who are being wronged? Is there any reason to tolerate this?”

The following words ignited the fighting spirit of everyone in the room.

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