[Trantor - Pr?ks]


    [Proofreader - Kawaii]


    Chapter 39: Why All This Fuss Just to Get Some Fresh Air


    Rewinding time slightly, before Allenvert received permission to go out.


    Duke Georg Grunewald was discussing matters with the Head Butler.


    "Pay attention to the security detail, and make sure he doesn''t deviate from the nned route."


    "Understood."


    "What about Verdzig?"


    "He won''t act rashly."


    Georg nodded at Aiden''s response.


    Of course, he knew his son''s true nature. However, he highly valued hispetence and capability.


    Wasn''t even his personality rather fitting for someone destined to sit on the throne?


    ''So the master is indeed concerned about Young Master Verdzig''s temperament.''


    In Aiden''s opinion, ruling subordinates through only schemes and fear wasn''t the best approach.


    Though the Duke himself had imed his position through intrigue and bloodshed, Verdzig seemed excessive.


    ''Though Young Lady Ulbhild is talented, shecks the ruthless disposition needed to rule this vast duchy. And both Karl and Somerset have their own shorings.''


    That''s why he weed the emergence of Allenvert, who might be a new young lion.


    ‘Though he couldn''tpletely overturn the situation currently, Allenvert would be a good influence on Verdzig…’


    While thinking this, Aiden secretly wanted to ce even more expectations on Allenvert.


    Above all, he genuinely found himself more drawn to Allenvert''s character. Something that only Young Master Allenvert possessed - that was the people''s trust.


    "What about the guards?"


    "I''ll assign five royal guards."


    "Hmm."


    The duke nodded.


    "How is Olivier''s martial arts?"


    "Excellent."


    "If he''s mastered the Borgart n''s secret martial arts well, there''s nothing to worry about. Even when I saw him before, his physical foundation and mana channels were impressive."


    "Keep a close eye on this matter."


    "Understood."


    While watching his sons'' power struggle, he had been mediating to ensure the sprouts weren''t crushed too early.


    Therefore, the fact that he was personally examining this meant he had acknowledged Allenvert''s qualifications to some degree.


    "Did you say he practiced sword until his palms were bloody?"


    "Yes, Your Grace."


    "Such an impatient fellow. I was nning to assign him a swordsmanship instructor soon. Is he trying to make some kind of statement?"


    "...I don''t think that''s the case."


    Georg leaned back against the heavy chair''s backrest.


    He wasn''t worried about Verdzig suddenly acting recklessly. He was the type who wouldn''t cross lines unless necessary.


    ''I suppose this too is a form of trust between father and son.''


    Duke Georg smiled wryly.


    Noble n parent-child rtionships had such bizarre aspects. One couldn''t expect ordinary family warmth. If that''s what they wanted, they should have lived modestly as a branch family, far from power long ago.


    "..."


    Such thinking had hurt his wife and son.


    However, even if he could go back, even knowing all these consequences, he would have had to make the same choices then.


    "Aiden."


    Georg said.


    "I am a heartless father."


    "...Your Grace."


    Aiiden momentarily felt breathless at the bitterness in his lord''s voice. But his answer was always the same.


    "True rulers'' virtue lies in that lonely, misunderstood position."


    "Yes. I know."


    Georg nodded.


    Allenvert had ovee that despair, regained his intelligence, and recovered his memories on his own. Not just that. How many hearts had he already won over?


    A fallen noble''s attendant, a young maid, the tutor, butler, doctor... even his eldest brother and sister.


    ''Perhaps that''s why.''


    He didn''t want to see Allenvert, who had risen up without his father''s help, fall too easily.


    Though Georg couldn''t bring himself to express such feelings in words-


    "My Lord. I will personally select the royal guards."


    Aiden was a man who understood his master''s heart better than anyone.


    To this, Georg only replied.


    "Do so."


    * * *


    On a bright sunny morning in the port city.


    I rubbed my eyes at the seagulls'' cries and finished preparing to go out.


    "Yaaawn."


    I scratched my belly while walking out in front of the annex.


    "Greetings, Young Master."


    Five royal guards in gleaming armor over their uniforms and a luxurious carriage were waiting in front of the annex.


    "Do we really need all this just to go get some fresh air?"


    I continued scratching my belly while looking at Olivier.


    "This is the proper ceremony for someone of the most noble bloodline in the duchy. You must show appropriate dignity."


    Olivier responded as if stating the obvious.


    "Well, you''re not wrong."


    But this made me feel like some spoiled young master unting his bloodline. Back in my hometown, they called this kind of person an attention seeker.


    "I''m not like Barva."


    "..."


    This time Olivier and Peter barely held back theirughter.


    "That was too obvious just now. Still, not bad."


    "Ahem."


    Anyway, for just going out for a stroll, the escort''sbat power was quite impressive.


    "Young Master."


    The suspiciously muscr coachman wearing a driver''s uniform and concealing a dagger bowed his head to me.


    "Nice to meet you."


    "It''s an honor to serve you like this."


    "That''s too much, but thanks anyway."


    "Pardon? Ah, yes."


    The momentarily flustered coachman quicklyposed himself.


    Indeed, to be a coachman serving noble personages, such qualities were necessary.


    Deaf ears, a tight mouth, and hands faster than the eyes.


    ''I wonder if that whip bes a weapon in emergencies too?''


    Meanwhile, the five royal guards armed with swords and spears cut truly magnificent figures. They seemed like truly cold warriors devoid of any emotion.


    "Anyone here who wants to spar with me?"


    "Pardon?"


    "I mean training matches. No takers?"


    "...How could we dare."


    "I see. Noted."


    Among the royal guards I saw yesterday, there were some with insolent looks, but these five showed no such signs.


    "Sorry. I was being a bit mischievous. I get these fits of madness sometimes, please bear with me."


    "..."


    They were men who knew the virtue of keeping silent rather than giving awkward responses.


    "By the way, whose orders brought you here?"


    "The Head Butler personally interviewed and selected us."


    "Oh."


    My conclusion is that there won''t be any troublemakers here. Of course, they''ll report every bit of trouble I cause without fail.


    "I''ll be in your care."


    "We will protect you safely."


    Five royal guards and a coachman who would serve as both protectors and monitors.


    Add to that Allenvert, the reincarnation of genius swordsman Karzan, and Olivier, the pride of the Borgart n.


    ''This level of force could be in the same level of a toon’s strength, enough to instantly crush a small organization and drag out its boss by the hair.''


    In short, it was excessive for just an escort force. Since when did they start paying this much attention to this Allenvert Grunewald?


    ''Then the question I should ask is a bit different.''


    Is this force a consideration to protect me, or a warning to quietly get some fresh air without causing trouble?


    "Are we perhaps going somewhere to fight?"


    I asked the guard captain.


    "No, sir."


    He was a young man radiating quite an impressive level of martial power. If regr royal guards were at the 4th tier, this man had probably reached the early stages of the 5th tier.


    ''Quite strong.''


    In short, he was overqualified to be guarding me in a ce like this.


    "We heard you don''t prefer shy processions, so we minimized the personnel. The Head Butler''s opinion was that if we do so, we should provide wless protection with an elite few."


    "Well, that carriage looks plenty shy to me."


    "Ah, is that so?"


    The captain asked, somewhat flustered.


    "We chose the most modest one..."


    "..."


    This was modest? To anyone looking, it practically screams ''make way, noble young master passing through''.


    "Anyway, I understand. Are there any ces I shouldn''t go?"


    "How could there be? There''s nowhere in this duchy that you cannot go, Young Master."


    "I see."


    "Of course, going to dangerous ces would be problematic. For instance, slums are filled with vagrants and criminals who could cause unexpected incidents."


    "Surely that won''t happen?"


    I said something I didn''t mean.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "By the way, Young Master. Where do you n to go today?"


    "Well..."


    I exchanged nces with Olivier and answered nonchntly.


    "The harbor looked quite nice from afar."


    "Yes."


    "It would be good to slowly visit the docks. It''s embarrassing for a Grunewald man to be unfamiliar with the sea."


    "Ah, that..."


    After pondering briefly, the captain nodded.


    "Understood. We will escort you safely."


    "You guys are making me feel like some human gold bar. Nobody''s going to steal me, so don''t be so tense."


    "I appreciate your words."


    But his meaning was that he had no intention of rxing as I suggested, so shouldn''t we get moving?


    "Then let''s depart."


    And I''m just the type of person who respects others'' intentions like this.


    "Wow, nice."


    The carriage had a covered top and walls on all sides, with windows being the only way to see outside. It seemed well-maintained, giving off a pleasant smell.


    "Howfortable."


    "Several magical devices are embedded for shock absorption. They''ll provide you with afortable ride."


    The coachman said proudly.


    "That''s reassuring. I''m counting on you."


    "Of course. Giddyup!"


    As the coachman cracked his whip, the carriage slowly began to move.


    "Ah, but could you lower the Grunewald g for a moment?"


    "Pardon?"


    "Should we disy the family g for a private outing that isn''t even an official event?"


    "..."


    After a moment of silence came the response.


    "We''ll do as you say."


    They probably figured it would be easier to determine my true purpose that way. However, I had no intention of revealing my true intentions so easily.


    ''No one will be able to guess my real purpose.''


    Today, I nned to identify which underworld force controlled the smuggling operations in Grunewald''s harbor.


    ''And ultimately, I must make that enormous profit mine and rise as an influential figure in the underworld using those vast funds and forces.''


    Topete against Verdzig and his maternal family for the position of Grunewald''s head, my abilities alone weren''t enough.


    ''Just as the Dark King did...''


    I too needed ''the power of the shadows''.


    Of course, I currently had no way to shake off my watchers and go to the underworld.


    But coincidentally, Verdzig''s gift had greatly elerated my ns, which had seemed impossible


    ''If I can use  Aminicrus''s mask.''


    No one would suspect me disguised as an annex employeeing and going from the castle.


    ''For that, I need to throw a decoy to fool the watchers'' eyes.''


    So that no one can grasp my true purpose.


    ''Today I''ll have to act like a madman in everyone''s eyes.''


    But isn''t that my specialty?


    ''I am Karzan, the Mad Dog of the underworld.''


    * * *


    "That bastard is going out to the harbor?"


    "Yes, Young Master."


    Somerset Grunewald snorted at his butler''s report.


    "The fool doesn''t know how dangerous the outside world is."


    To want to see that chaotic and dangerous ce of his own ord.


    "What if some thugs pick a fight with him? Don''t you think?"


    "..."


    Somerset grinned.


    "Shall we y a little prank on our arrogant brother?"


    "Young Master."


    The butler tried to dissuade Somerset with an aghast expression.


    "It''s dangerous. With royal guards escorting the Fourth Young Master''s procession, if an ident were to happen..."


    "Quiet. As you said, with the royal guards protecting him, what kind of ident could happen?"


    Somerset waved his hand as if annoyed by the butler''s words.


    "I''m just sending a light warning. Stop talking and make the ''contact.''"


    When he took this stance, there were almost no people who could change his mind.


    "...Understood."


    The butler''s expression was dark as he bowed in response.


    ''It would be a big problem if things go wrong.''


    Though worried about dealing with the aftermath, he had no choice but to follow Somerset''s orders for now.


    ''I should report this to the Third Lady.''


    If something went wrong, she was the only one who could resolve the situation.


    * * *


    The carriage traversed the main road without obstruction. It was remarkable. Despite the many pedestrians, the center was kept clear for carriages to pass through.


    "Nice weather."


    "Indeed."


    I listened to the wind and noises flowing through the window.


    "It should be fine to stick my face out, right?"


    "Ah, that''s fine."


    With the captain''s permission, I stuck my face out. The gazes of passersby all turned toward me at once.


    "Wow, did you see that just now?"


    "Who is that?"


    "A noble I''ve never seen before."


    "That''s not the issue. He''s unbelievably handsome?"


    "Why isn''t there a g? Someone that handsome..."


    "Isn''t he a noble?"


    "But looking at his dignity..."


    It''s amazing that all thismotion was caused by my face.


    "Being handsome is tiring too."


    "..."


    Peter looked at me somewhat disdainfully.


    "Can''t you look at me with kinder eyes?"


    "I''ll try."


    "Pathetic fellow. The jealousy of an ugly man is unseemly."


    "Wait, what did I do?"


    "Shut up."


    While berating Peter, I felt newly amazed.


    Just now, a baby in its mother''s arms smiled brightly at me, which was quite baffling. Weren''t babies supposed to cry at the sight of strangers?


    Anyway, I took in everything - the city scenery, road conditions, the sea smell carried by the wind, the fishy odor, food and waste smells. I was determined to map the entire city of Grunewald in my mind.


    ''Wow. Wait.''


    Suddenly a terrible smell assaulted my nose.


    ...The picturesque scenery began mixing with a foul stench.


    It meant the carriage was getting closer to the slums.


    [Trantor - Pr?ks]


    [Proofreader - Kawaii]