Chapter 172 : Tell the Seven Magic Towers

“I am Rauel, in Sir Muno’s service.”

“Ah, our son’s colleague… is it? Nice to meet you. I’m Muno’s mother, Elina.”

The lady’s awkward smile was equally awkward for Rauel.

Her eyes were clearly trembling and she felt a sense of hesitation, yet she tried to hide it and show courtesy.

‘Well. This is something.’

In fact, the reaction of that old steward named Palmer had been similar.

She hadn’t spoken with Sir Muno’s father yet, but from his furtive glances, it was clear he felt a sense of alienation towards her.

She was a little disappointed, but it was a reaction that was within her range of expectations.

At least they didn’t curse at her or kick her out.

It was truly rare to find a noble who tried to be polite while feeling alienated.

‘They are good people… clearly.’

Nevertheless, it was true that she was a little disappointed.

Even though she knew, to be honest, that his younger brother, whom she had met outside, was rather the unusual case.

Perhaps it was because of her victim mentality, but she was more comfortable with someone expressing their strange feelings directly.

‘A northern couple with a kind but ordinary disposition raised unusual brothers… huh.’

It seemed these brothers were born with a special character.

Sure enough.

“You’re the owner of the Reid Merchant Guild!?”

“Yes, brother. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner.”

“No, then since when have you…?”

Looking at him now, his younger brother didn’t seem to be an ordinary person either.

‘If it’s the Reid Merchant Guild, then that’s…’

The parent merchant guild of the information organization ‘El’, which she had also gone to collect information for.

But for that to be the case.

“He looks too young…”

She flinched at her own thoughtless words, when someone interjected.

“Young Master Lian has been special since he was young.”

A large knight with light blue hair and a simple-looking face was smiling beside her at some point.

“Who are…?”

“My name is Larry. I’m still a commoner, and I’m a knight in Young Master Lian’s service.”

The way he spoke quietly suggested he was no ordinary man.

He openly said he served one of the sons in the presence of the lord, yet for some reason, no one around seemed to have a problem with it.

“I struck up a conversation because it seems we’re in a similar situation, but was it rude of me?”

“No, not at all. It’s not rude.”

Rather, his straightforward approach, just like his master’s, made her smile.

She also felt a slight sense of kinship, as he said.

“I’m glad. I’ve never seen anyone openly say they serve Young Master Muno, except for Esna. In the first place, the Young Master wasn’t the type to keep anyone by his side.”

“Esna?”

That’s a girl’s name.

“Ah, there’s an attendant who grew up with the Young Master like a friend. You’ll probably meet her in a little while. She’s probably pacing outside this room right now.”

Hmm.

She felt a strange concern, but tried her best not to show it.

“She’s a good friend. You don’t need to be wary of her.”

…This knight named Larry seemed to be quite perceptive.

“Ahem. Ahem. Yes. Of course, if Sir Muno kept her by his side, she must be a good person.”

“Of course. It was Esna who took care of Young Master Muno when he was in a slightly bad state.”

“Pardon?”

A bad state…?

Her expression hardened at the words she couldn’t just let slide, and Larry tilted his head.

“Ah, you didn’t know? Well, it’s not something you necessarily need to know. After all, the current Young Master Muno is the very image of a knight renowned throughout the kingdom.”

“I’ve heard the story related to the Demon Cult…”

Come to think of it, she had never heard about Sir Muno’s childhood in Drasen.

Only that ‘he grew up comfortably under good parents.’

But now, those words bothered her.

‘A child who was subjected to biological experiments couldn’t have grown up normally!?’

Why did she only think of that now?

“……What was Sir Muno like when he was young?”

Did he sense the slight tremble in her gaze?

Larry’s expression hardened slightly.

“If Sir Muno didn’t tell you, then it’s a story you don’t need to know…”

“I need to.”

“……Ahem. Well…”

As she expressed her firm will with her eyes, Larry began to cough dryly.

“Well?”

“Hah. It’s just not a good story…”

“Then shouldn’t I know it all the more? Just like your Young Master Lian, it’s the past of the person I will serve for the. rest. of. my. life?”

Under continued pressure, Larry finally let out a sigh and began to speak.

“Haaah. Yes. Then I will tell you.”

Behind the voices of the lord’s family, who were still engrossed in their own conversation, Larry quietly recounted Muno’s past, when he was called ‘the shame of Drasen,’ ‘the fool,’ ‘the slave prince with chains,’ and so on.

And at the end of that short but long story.

“Which crazy bastards dared to…”

Grind.

As Rauel couldn’t control the murderous intent that erupted from her, Larry, right in front of her with a startled expression, hurriedly waved his hands.

“But Young Master Lian said so. That Young Master Muno was always wise, just that his speech was a bit slow. Besides, his slow speech disappeared after he awakened, and his chains became completely retractable.”

“……”

“Th, yes. Who would dare to belittle the great Black Knight now.”

Those hurried words barely managed to calm her boiling heart.

And.

“You really seem to cherish him. Young Master Muno.”

“……Of course.”

Receiving Larry’s strange gaze, Rauel looked at Muno, who was having a heated discussion with his younger brother again.

“No, but still…”

“That’s why I’m telling you now…”

Then, the fact that his armor and chains are his body.

‘Since then…’

Her own life, growing up as a street orphan and being trained in an assassination organization, was also tragic, but.

Could it be more tragic than the past of a child who was kidnapped by an evil cult at a young age and had shackles and chains implanted in his body after biological experiments?

That’s why.

– Under good parents…

The story of his family that Muno had told with a smile finally resonated deeply in her heart again.

‘They are really good people.’

Yes. Being wary of the unfamiliar is just human instinct.

From that moment on, Rauel completely erased any lingering resentment she had towards Muno’s family.

* * *

“Ha, that’s really absurd. Esna, did you know too?”

“Know what?”

“That Lian has been up to such big things since he was young.”

“No! I was busy taking care of you, Sir Muno.”

“Ah… right. Hah.”

Muno scratched his head nervously for no reason.

It was shocking that his sweet, cute younger brother had been lining his own pockets(?) since he was young, but he couldn’t say anything.

‘I also received help thanks to him.’

He was just dumbfounded that Lian had even led the wall construction, which was visible through the window.

He just couldn’t get used to the betrayal(?) of his younger brother, whom he had thought was just cute and young.

– Since you’re gaining fame so quickly, brother, I decided to be a little more proactive.

Recalling his younger brother’s face as he said that with a bright smile, he just let out another dry laugh for no reason.

‘Yeah. Well, what’s good is good… but, ugh! That Lian, no matter how I think about it, he’s so audacious.’

In the end, he kept scratching his head in frustration that he couldn’t resolve, and then.

His eyes met with Rauel, who was staring at him blankly from the corner.

“Rauel?”

“……Yes?”

Even her slight flinch seemed a little strange.

Esna poked him in the side.

“Hmm?”

“Ugh, you lump of iron. Can’t you take off your armor when you’re in a room?”

“Don’t wanna.”

He wanted to tease this tomboy he hadn’t seen in a long time, so he answered playfully.

But Esna’s next words were unexpected.

“Then, at least introduce me to that woman over there.”

“Huh?”

“Look, that… she’s not a slave, is she?”

She whispered the last part into his ear in a very small voice, but there was no way Rauel couldn’t have heard it from this distance.

As Rauel’s eyebrows rose nervously.

“Ah. Ha. Haha. Right. I forgot.”

Muno forced a laugh and stood in front of them.

He had forgotten to introduce them after bringing them into the room, since they were both so familiar to him.

“This is Rauel. A colleague who helped me fight the Demon Cult. And this is Esna. A friend and attendant who grew up with me since I was young.”

After belatedly introducing them to each other, Esna immediately approached Rauel and bowed deeply.

“I’m Esna, Sir Muno’s attendant. Thank you for helping our Young Master!”

“Uh?! Uh… Th, that…”

“I’m even more grateful that you seem to be his friend. Our Young Master, he didn’t have any friends other than me since he was young.”

“Th, th, that, I was actually the one who…”

“Wow, your gray eyes are as pretty as jewels. Your skin looks so healthy too! Not a single blemish. Do you take care of it?”

“Huh? Ugh? Th, that’s…?”

He couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Rauel, caught in Esna’s unique pace, looking flustered.

At least Rauel’s wariness seemed to have completely disappeared.

‘Good.’

Home is the best, after all.

Even if his younger brother has changed, he’s still his younger brother.

He has a family that still welcomes him even after he’s been away for months.

So.

‘I have to protect them even better.’

He was probably the second most annoying existence to the Demon Cult after the Dragon Sword Duke now.

– We’ve already hired a few more free knights, and we’re constantly employing high-ranking mercenaries.

– When the walls are expanded and the castle space becomes wider, more monster hunters will be stationed here. It will be helpful in many ways.

“I’ll have to meet those knights first.”

“Pardon?”

Rauel, who had been chattering with Esna, or more accurately, caught in her one-sided chatter and unable to keep up, her eyes lit up as if she had been waiting for those words.

However, as a result.

“You haven’t forgotten that Madam has been preparing dinner since earlier, have you? Get ready for dinner first! Seriously, you’re still in your armor even after coming to the room…”

There was the misfortune of Esna’s nagging being directed at him.

Anyway, it was a pleasant day in many ways.

* * *

[The ‘target’ you mentioned has returned to his home. I believe now is the perfect opportunity.]

The man in the black robe, sitting in a chair and listening to the shadow in the crystal sphere, contorted his lower face in annoyance.

“……Not yet.”

[But the target leaves no trace when moving, and when we finally manage to confirm his location, he is often staying in the territory of a major power. If we miss this chance, it will be difficult to find a better opportunity in the future.]

“Do not underestimate the Iron Royal Family, the Dragon Sword Duke. The aftermath of the Hydra incident has not yet been forgotten.”

[But…]

“Of course, we can’t just leave him be either. Hmph…”

[……Pardon?]

Despite the question from the crystal sphere, the black-robed man’s fingers were just nervously tapping the armrest.

Then, presently.

“It can’t be helped. It seems this is the best we can do for now.”

The black-robed man continued in an annoyed tone, as if spitting out the words.

The shadow in the crystal sphere held its breath and waited for his next words.

Even then, the black-robed man seemed to hesitate, chewing on his lip, and finally muttered a cryptic soliloquy.

“……We don’t necessarily have to touch him with our own hands.”

[Pardon?]

“I don’t want to provoke the old monsters of the magic towers, but it can’t be helped. Inform the seven magic towers of the Empire.”

[I don’t understand what you mean…]

“That our natural enemy is in the Iron Kingdom.”

[Pardon?]

“I’m telling you to officially announce that the ‘Knight Who Eats Magic’ is in the Iron Kingdom. Emphasize that his anti-magic power is not a characteristic of an artifact, but his innate ability.”

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