A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

23 – Uninvited Guest (1)

No one in the kingdom helped Lord Mente.

She became a sword master with help from the empire.

And the process was not what she wanted, but the emperor’s way.

-How to force someone to become a master. It’s simple. Infuse mana into your body until you become a master.

The emperor used extreme measures to conquer the kingdom.

– It melts and consumes magic stones obtained from demon beasts, and then pours drugs containing mana into the blood vessels and forcefully inserts them into place.

What the emperor used was desperation.

I want to become stronger.

I want to be recognized.

I want to rule.

Using the sense of inferiority and deprivation that humans have when living with others, he created several masters.

The Eight Gods (八神將).

8 Masters under the emperor.

Sir Mente became a Master, but the blood and mana of many people of the empire were concentrated in his body.

It was like that in the future.

But not now.

Coincidentally, we ran into each other here and now.

I didn’t intend to go out of my way to look for this woman, but if I ran into her by chance like this, there was no reason to miss her.

Therefore.

“I’ll put that proposal on hold for now.”

Even if Sir Mente rejects my offer with a gentle smile, I am not worried.

“So, I hope you can do it again once the administrative procedures are officially processed in Morgania?”

“I’m glad.”

It’s not like I was going to receive an oath of loyalty from Lord Mente here.

“For a moment, I wondered what would happen if Lord Mente rejected my offer. Are you saying we should go through formal procedures?”

“Yes. If I just leave Morgania, I will have to pay a huge penalty to the dukedom.”

A knight in an individual capacity basically enters into a contract with a noble family.

Lifelong contracts are rare, and even those who do are loyal to their families by signing long-term contracts for 10 to 20 years.

“How much time is left on the contract?”

“7 Years.”

“There’s quite a bit left.”

7 Years.

Tracing my memories.

‘Even if I trained for 7 more years, there wouldn’t have been much difference from now.’

He must have been in the Duke of Morgania until then, but failed to renew his contract.

‘Morgania would have abandoned it.’

An old knight who was abandoned by the Grand Duchy.

‘It’s not like I have any family or relatives anywhere.’

I wasn’t married, nor did I have any relatives.

‘It would have been easy to go to the empire.’

At a time when he was at a loss because other families did not accept him, an invitation from the entire empire must have been like a rope sent down from the sky.

‘Even if you have the foundation, did you become a master in 3 years?’

Her skill is also a skill, but how much of her mana did the emperor put into this little girl, enough to make her body grow 30cm – enough to forcefully destroy her curse?

It must have been so painful and difficult for her that she died in the process.

“You fill out the contract period as if you were dispatched to us for 7 years, and when the contract ends, you sign a contract with us.”

“Hmm… I think it’s a bit expensive?”

“Even though Gibraltar appears poor at first glance, it is surprisingly rich.”

Since the Count and his wife do not spend much money, their budget is surprisingly larger than expected.

“Don’t worry about money, and I hope you don’t change your mind during the process.”

“What if my heart changes and I refuse to be your teacher?”

“Then I’ll have to look for someone else too.”

“What? Ha, look at this?”

Lord Mente laughs.

“Why would you say something like that after bewitching someone like that?”

“I have no intention of forcing someone who doesn’t like me to sit next to them.”

“Then who do you want to be your teacher other than me?”

“That’s something you can start looking for now. If the Knights of Gibraltar is formed in earnest, there will be people lining up who want to join the Order, even if it means serving as a teacher to the eldest son who has no talent.”

“…….”

Sir Mente certainly has a high chance of becoming the sword of the Empire, but there is no need to force him to hold on to it.

“If you need time to think, take a break in the garden until the alcohol wears off. I have to go back to the banquet hall now.”

“What?”

“Each person has their own battlefield. That’s also why my father doesn’t teach me how to use a sword.”

“What on earth does that have to do with that?”

“There is something I can use better than a sword.”

I lightly stuck my tongue out at Sir Mente.

“How are you feeling?”

“…It’s unpleasant, but it certainly feels that way when you look at it. Still, it’s probably a uglier and dirtier place than you think, right?”

Sir Mente shakes his head in disgust.

“Even if you hear the words of the nobles, you hear them with one ear and let them go with the other. Because their words are nothing more than the jealous nonsense of people with an inferiority complex.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, sir.”

“You said you were a lady earlier?”

“If you become my side, then I will call you Lady again. Or.”

I bowed my head respectfully to Sir Mente.

“If you would like to be called Master, please return to Morgania and wait for an invitation. And I look forward to your return to Gibraltar.”

* * *

I walked around the garden and returned to the main gate of the mansion.

“Master Gray.”

The deacon, Malcolm, saw me and took turns glancing around the inside of the banquet hall, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.

“Are you nervous because it’s been a long time since you’ve had a banquet? Chief Butler.”

“Well, that can’t be possible. Just….”

“Or maybe he’s having a party with me inside.”

“Do, Master…!”

“It’s okay. Is there any reason to care about something like that?”

I pass by Malcolm-

“Ah. Still, I wish I could take this.”

“Yu, a glass…?”

“Fill me full of carbonated water.”

I filled a glass with clear carbonated water with bubbling bubbles and entered the banquet hall.

If the training hall is a space for knights to compete, this banquet hall is a space for social aristocrats to compete.

The posture is the same.

Walk calmly forward and look straight ahead.

And open your ears and focus your hearing on all the whispers around you.

“Oh my god. You’re back?”

“It’s because I’m a child. It’s because I don’t know who the main character is.”

I can hear the nobles whispering.

“You chose the margrave’s younger brother as your successor. What would a 10-year-old know?”

This is the reaction I was hoping for.

“How is your second son?”

“He’s that age group. But he certainly seems to have talent.”

“Is that so? I’m glad you told the kids in advance. I told them to mainly talk to the second son, Noir.”

Perfect.

They are reciting the given script, thinking that they have an ego, without knowing that they are puppets on a production board.

‘Give the rope to Noir.’

Not towards the eldest son who had fallen, but towards the heir of Gibraltar whom the Earl himself had made take up the sword.

“But why did you decide to hand over the family name to your second son? From what I saw, he seemed quite smart.”

“What should I do if I’m smart? Gibraltar must be good at using the sword.”

“He must have been disgusted by his father. He sent the child to the royal road alone. The king slapped his cheek… hmm. He was so angry, why would he send his eldest son in his place?”

“You never know. If the head was cut off on the spot, Gibraltar might have tried to use that as an excuse to revolt against the king. hahahaha. Just kidding.”

It is a positive response.

When you arrange the pieces on the chessboard to guide your opponent’s moves, there is nothing more thrilling than a composition that continues until the five moves are made.

‘It’s okay so far.’

Unless there is something that shakes my game, I would be very happy if this party ended like this.

The eldest son walks around the banquet hall, and the second son greets the nobles and children who come to the banquet hall countless times and makes their acquaintance.

‘Gray Gibraltar is a throwaway card.’

The seeds of suspicion will sprout, and rumors will soon spread throughout social circles.

Then the range in which I can move will become wider.

‘Who, are there any variables?’

If things go smoothly without any problems, that’s fine, but if there’s no stimulation-

“But doesn’t that kid’s face look smooth?”

“You look like the Margrave. Although the hair color is completely different.”

“Do you have a girl among the children you gave birth to? Is there anything useful among them? She’s 10 years old, or one or two years younger than that.”

“Hmm. Why are you talking about that here… Let’s go home and talk about it. Okay?”

There is a couple who is briefly talking about something interesting.

“It’s too late to think about it while you’re on the way back. Still, it’s Gibraltar. If you die on the battlefield, the survivor will inherit the family.”

“Hmm. If you say something like that at someone else’s banquet hall…”

“What can I do when I don’t even have ears to hear? Do you know? The blood of Gibraltar will be greatly expressed in the grandchildren’s generation. It’s not like there haven’t been cases like that.”

Although Gray has become a throwaway, there are still a few people who pay attention to its use as Gibraltar.

“Ah.”

A variable has been created.

Since it was not a good variable for me, I immediately raised my glass and walked forward.

“Father.”

“…Okay.”

As I approached my father, who was standing guard over her mother, who had Noir and Letard next to me, my father glanced at some nobles.

-You know, right?

Try to communicate with your eyes.

-Since you have decided to walk the path of treason, you should listen to every sound you hear.

Send a signal with a smile.

“Hmm….”

My father was silent, nodding his head once.

And so that it is not awkward for others to see, I lift a glass of champagne and lightly quench my thirst.

“hahahaha. Isn’t he the eldest son of Gibraltar?”

“Baron Ervant. See you again.”

The person who was talking to my father at the time was Baron Ervant Langur, a middle-aged nobleman wearing a fedora whom I had met in the beginning.

“What about Lord Mente?”

“You said you wanted to see the garden alone.”

“hahahaha. I’m jealous. Isn’t this the garden that the Margrave cultivated for the Countess over a dozen years? hahahaha.”

I take a quick look at my father.

He was treating Baron Ervant very formally, and did not seem very eager to continue the conversation.

‘Be patient, father.’

Baron Ervant, unfortunately, is not very valuable to our family.

They are just like seaweed caught in a net spread out to catch people like Sir Mente.

However, even if they seem to be such useless beings, in order to become a top traitor, it is essential to use people like this seaweed stem.

For example-

“So, Margrave. Have you heard the news?”

“…….”

“What news are you talking about?”

When my father tried to remain silent, I immediately showed interest and started talking.

“hahahaha. I asked the Margrave.”

“He’s right next to you.”

“hehehe, that’s right.”

Rather than just looking at you as a guy who doesn’t know how to be polite, I hope you prove your worth quickly.

“Yes. You are also related to this story. They say the Morgania family is purchasing land in the 4th district of the royal capital.”

“…….”

“According to rumors, they are planning to build something very large there….”

No matter how hard you rub your hands together to cling to the Margrave’s power, you have to clap your hands together to make a sound.

“What kind of facility is this?”

“hahahaha. The master is really interested. According to the rumor, it’s called the ‘Academy.'”

“…….”

Hmm.

Academy in the royal capital.

“Are we imitating the Empire’s?”

“Oh! Margrave. Are you interested in the Academy?”

“I’m starting to get a little interested.”

“Is that so? hahahaha. Since the kingdom is officially establishing an educational institution, I plan to send my child there as well.”

This is the main point.

The reason why the Academy, which has not been built yet and was only built through rumors, was brought up as a hot topic.

“If the Academy is opened, who will you send?”

I think this Baron is also an amazing human being who asks this question so openly in front of all three children.

Behind the scenes, people were whispering, ‘Why would a baron be so rude?’, But this man didn’t notice.

He himself caused trouble for the Margrave.

The starting point was taken from a conversation with Baekgyeong.

“I don’t know about other empires, but they have created a well-established academy system. Personally, I don’t like the idea of commoners learning in the same space, but if an academy is established in the kingdom, it will be a different form….”

Just because of that, he cannot see the attention of those around him, and in a word, he ‘stands out’ like this.

“I think the academy is premature.”

It was not my father who cut it off, but my mother.

“The excellent people invited to the family are teaching the children well, and all three are at an age where they need our support.”

“Madam, but-“

“Thank you for your interest in the Count’s education. I will discuss this matter closely with the Count later. hehehehe.”

My mother smiles brightly and bows her head.

‘Ah.’

Also, a variable occurs.

“…….”

“Keu, keum!”

When his father noticed that Baron Langur’s eyes were on his mother’s hand – to be exact, where the hand was raised – his father immediately threw his life away.

‘I can’t help but stare.’

Even though the skin is not exposed and it is not tightened with a corset.

‘Is she similar to the future princess?’

My mother’s motherhood, which cannot be concealed even by a fairly wide dress, is such that, throughout the future, of all the people I know, it is within three fingers of hers.

‘There are those who say obscenities that the reason they chose Queen Carmen’s mother over Queen Carmen is that-‘

So the incompetent king is still crazy.

Although it is within three fingers of the future, there is no change in the fact that the kingdom is ‘the best’ at the present time.

“……?”

For a moment, I was agonizing over my mother’s weapon that was shaking up the social world.

“Father?”

“Write….”

“Hey, Baron Langur is looking at you a little bit-“

“The party is over.”

My father put down his glass as if everything went well.

“An uninvited guest has arrived.”

“Hee, hee?!”

Viscount Hex in the corner was frightened, but his father’s gaze was not on Viscount Hex but-

“I didn’t send an invitation to the empire.”

Direction of the canyon.

Burr.

“It’s an enemy attack.”

The necklace around my father’s neck began to sparkle red.