NOVEL NEXT Chapter 138
“W-Wait a moment!”
Before Noah could stop me, I pushed through the crowd with determined strides. “Move. If you get in my way, I’ll shoot.”
Even the mercenaries, who usually laughed off threats, hesitated and stepped back at my fierce demeanor. Soon, I stood in front of the rough-looking man and the feeble one and asked, “Why are you standing here instead of going in?”
The rough-looking man turned to me and snarled, “Who do you think you are, you bit—”
Bang.
Before he could finish, I shot him in the outer thigh without hesitation.
“
Ahhhhh
!”
The man clutched his thigh and fell to the ground. Several people, who looked like knights, ran to him, shouting,
“Milord!”
Huh? Is he a noble?
I paused for a moment, surprised by the unexpected realization. But then, I turned to the feeble man with an indifferent expression. “Now it’s your turn. Do you want to answer, or would you like a taste of a bullet too?”
Luckily, the feeble man seemed to be quick-witted. He began to explain the situation in a flustered voice.
“Well, the Mercenary Union decided to hold the competition here in the Kingdom of Seruan this year… and we have the King’s permit. But then this man, claiming to be a noble representative, suddenly appeared and…”
“Arrest that crazy woman immediately! No, kill her right now!”
Before the feeble man could finish, the rough-looking man pointed a blood-stained hand at me and ranted.
Bang.
I calmly shot him in the other leg and then asked with a smile,
“So, you’re saying that a noble representative showed up and disrupted the event authorized by the King. Is that correct?”
Nod, nod.
The feeble man and the mercenaries behind him vigorously nodded in agreement, raising their hands without being asked.
“Well, I never thought I’d say this, but the foundation of a kingdom is its people, and its pinnacle is the royalty. At least on the surface, that’s how it should be, no matter how incompetent they may be.”
Without such a structure, a kingdom couldn’t be maintained. The central point keeping the kingdom together was the existence of royalty. Of course, there were exceptions, like Republicans or other systems, but those were rare cases.
At my remark, the rough-looking man shouted with veins bulging from his neck, “Do you think you can survive after touching me in this kingdom? What are you waiting for? Capture her immediately!”
The knights approached me to apprehend me. Despite their approach, I showed no fear. In fact, I seemed quite confident, and soon the reason became apparent.
Before the knights could reach me, dark figures surrounded them from all sides. About ten people, all with covered faces, marked with an insignia that revealed their identity.
“Vi-Violet!” One of the mercenaries exclaimed, recognizing them.
A notorious continental crime organization is known for its reach across the continent. They dealt in information and were rumored to be involved in various incidents across the continent. They amassed unimaginable wealth, and no one dared to challenge them. The family they served was none other than.
“Co-Countess Proud?”
Why would such a significant figure be in this tiny kingdom? The mercenaries and the rough-looking noble’s knights looked at her in disbelief.
I pushed my silver hair back and spoke. “Do you know who you just called a bitch?”
“Co-Countess Proud…?” The rough-looking man stammered, pale-faced.
“Yes, that’s me.” I smiled confidently.
“W-Why…?” He was too flustered to form a proper sentence.
“Why am I here? I have a bit of a relationship with the crown prince. I had a message to deliver. But then, a mere noble from this tiny kingdom called me a bitch? Wow. What should I do about this?
Hmm
?”
How should I kill you to make it known that you deserved it?
Hmm
? My eyes asked that question.
I-I’m dead!
Terrified, the rough-looking man trembled like a fish out of water. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
The knights who were about to seize her stepped back quietly.
“What are you waiting for? He might bleed to death.” I gestured at the unconscious man, and the knights hurriedly carried him away with a sigh of relief.
…
…
A silence fell over the crowd. No one dared to speak. They didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. Everyone knew that Countess Proud wouldn’t hesitate to kill over a slight disturbance.
My purple eyes scanned the surroundings. “What’s with the atmosphere? Am I an unwelcome guest?”
No sooner had I shown a hint of disappointment than thunderous applause erupted from all around.
“Hooray! Long live Countess Proud!”
“Long live Countess Proud!”
“
Fwiit~
Welcome, Countess Proud!”
The mercenaries’ survival instincts kicked in.
I smiled broadly at the enthusiastic reception. I waved her mercenary badge at the mercenaries, who were looking at me with a mix of excitement and fear. “Now that the troublemaker is gone, shall we start the competition?”
“Hooray!”
The atmosphere quickly heated up as I declared her participation as a mercenary. The mercenaries raised their sweaty arms and cheered.
“Proud! Proud!”
Encouraged by the enthusiastic support, I shouted. “I’ll treat everyone to a feast tonight!”
“
Woohoo
! Proud! Proud!”
The name of Countess Proud echoed in the distant Kingdom of Seruan. Amid the cheers, I nodded with a satisfied smile while Noah could only laugh in bewilderment.
“No wonder Rowina hates her mother.”
In the renowned National Institute of Harpion, known for its collection of geniuses and eccentrics, both Duke Kaien and Countess Proud were famous. Previously, he thought Rowina’s rebelliousness was due to her parents’ fame. But today, he understood.
“They’re polar opposites.”
Unlike the proud and flamboyant Countess Proud, Rowina was the type to quietly do her part. Though she was famous and stood out wherever she went, Rowina never boasted about her achievements.
Noah’s gaze remained on Arianne. Arianne was now seated at the head table, chatting and laughing with the mercenaries. She was impressive. Anyone would think she had been a mercenary for a decade. The mercenaries also treated her like an old acquaintance, laughing and chatting freely.
“
Hahaha
!” Arianne’s hearty laughter echoed outside.
No wonder Rowina hates standing out.
Finally, Noah understood Rowina. It was because of her mother.
“Noah! What are you doing there? I have good news. They’re going to choose the Mercenary King today!” I called out to Noah.
Noah already knew who the Mercenary King would be. As he expected, Arianne became the Mercenary King of the competition.
* * *
The week-long Mercenary Union competition ended with the merchants of the Kingdom of Seruan having full pockets and the mercenaries suffering from severe hangovers.
I, frowning and rubbing my temples, said, “We’ve been delayed too long. I’m leaving today.”
Noah asked worriedly, “Since you still have a hangover, why not leave tomorrow?”
To Noah, Arianne was now a benefactor. She resolved the power struggle with a single word.
“I have a bit of a relationship with the crown prince.”
With that one sentence, she made herself an influential person with connections to the Harpion Empire, thereby strengthening the royal authority. The nobles who had been trying to seize power using the princes and princesses quickly backed down. It was something that might have taken a very long time.
There were even moments when he thought he might never leave this kingdom. But the problem was solved so easily that it left him feeling a bit empty.
“I’d like to, but I can’t. I have to be back within six months.”
Noah immediately sensed something was wrong. “Six months? It only takes two months to get to the Harpion Empire.”
I asked back. “When did I say I was going to the Harpion Empire?”
“Then where are you going…
Ah
.”
Noah realized. Countess Proud had come because of the bouquet sent to Rowina for her coming of age. And she was planning to go somewhere other than the Harpion Empire.
My eyes gleamed with a deadly light. “There are still two left.”
Apparently, there were two more who had sent bouquets to Rowina.
“Luckily, you’re someone I can reason with. The one in the Harpion Empire was so gloomy-looking and uncommunicative.”
No, there were three.
Thinking of the gloomy, uncommunicative person in the Harpion Empire, Noah naturally thought of someone. “So what happened to him?” Noah asked. He was curious. What if he had sent a bouquet?
I answered indifferently. “I sent him to Kelteman. A few years in the desert should make him more compliant.”
“…”
Noah shuddered. If the person Countess Proud was talking about was who he thought, that person was probably cursing her name with every grain of sand in the desert. It’s understandable since he had a severe dust allergy.
“Then. I’ll be waiting.” I left Seruan with those words. The next time they met, there would likely be a blank contract between them.
Watching the departing carriage, Noah felt a strong premonition that he would see her again soon.
* * *
Inside the carriage leaving Seruan, I repeated two names.
“Ron Dias. Kailos Tinina.”
They were two young men destined to write new histories. But for now, they had to ensure their survival first.
Hello, this is alyalia~This is the last chapter of the special side story for now. The end of this chapter looks like there will be another chapter continuing it, right? But sadly, there isn't. I couldn't find any news on whether the author is on hiatus or if there will be other chapters added later. I just hope that it will be continued, as there isn't a mention of 'the end' in the chapter. Anyway, thank you for reading this novel!