Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 240

Murmuring, murmuring.

A large party hall.

Many people gathered, each chatting away.

The attire was splendid, and their faces were full of ease and joy.

This place was completely different from the outside.

“Hahaha!”

This was the Ritz Party Hotel, where Einheart’s armistice celebration and investiture ceremony were being held.

“Did it really turn out that way?”

“You should have seen the state they were in.”

“That’s a shame.”

Those who were conversing without losing their composure.

However, there was something dark in their eyes.

“They don’t treat people as people.”

Yi Rown.

“They only think about what they can take, and what benefits they can gain. They have the eyes of plunderers.”

“Can you see even that?”

Kanehlich spoke to Yi Rown.

-Human eyes tell more than you think.

“Human eyes tell more than you think.”

Yi Rown said, recalling the words of his Sword Master.

“Then, what about those people’s eyes?”

Yi Rown answered Phile’s question.

“Curiosity, jealousy, and their value for exploitation.”

Those gazes.

“You see it exactly.”

All of them were gazes directed at Yi Rown and Phile.

There wasn’t really a main character of this party, but if there was one, it would be the Crimson Duke.

If not him, then.

“It’s the Blood Monk.”

It could be said to be Silver’s Blood Monk.

However, the one who was actually receiving the most attention was.

“Aren’t you feeling burdened?”

It was Yi Rown.

Even though Batella had been doing some external activities, the name Zeke had never been revealed to the world.

Yi Rown’s alias.

And.

“That knight is Sir Zeke, right?”

“The one who is scheduled to be granted a Count title this time?”

“I heard that the Duke of Carnage himself bestowed it.”

It was only natural that attention was pouring on him.

Of course, they weren’t just sending glances.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

Nobles approached Yi Rown.

Kanehlich and Phile quickly exchanged glances.

It was the moment they were most worried about.

-Attention will be drawn.

The attention towards Yi Rown and the Batella Knights.

Among them, they knew for sure that attention would be drawn to Yi Rown.

Then.

Nod.

They had to stop it.

The answer Yi Rown would give here now.

-Is that so.

It would be something like that.

The atmosphere of the party would be at its worst, and the attention that was already drawn would become even more intense….

“Nice to meet you. I am from Batella….”

Just as Kanehlich was about to step in to fix the situation.

“Is that so.”

Yi Rown’s mouth opened.

Oh my god.

Clench.

Phile and Kanehlich clenched their eyes shut.

They thought that the worst they had feared had finally happened.

“Oh, how great this person is.”

The expression and actions of the noble who had approached changed.

“I have dared to take up the time of such a precious person.”

With those words, the noble turned back.

“…….”

“……?”

Phile and Kanehlich had blank faces.

They seemed unable to comprehend what had just happened.

“It’s not the Crimson Duke.”

Yi Rown’s voice was heard then.

“What did you do?”

Phile quickly asked him.

“What?”

Just as Yi Rown answered.

“To think I would meet the renowned Sir Zeke here. I am….”

Another noble approached and greeted him.

“Is that so.”

Yi Rown’s answer was no different from his previous clumsy reply.

However, the other party.

“Thank you for deigning to speak with someone as lacking as I am.”

He turned away as if he had spent a blissful time.

“What… is this?”

What on earth.

Was this man an incubus from Gehenna [a hellish realm], spreading charm? It was as if he was hypnotizing them with it.

“It’s a completed power.”

Yi Rown said.

“Naturally, they feel reverence and loyalty.”

“Ah…!”

“More than anything….”

Yi Rown approached another noble instead.

The nobles, who were bowing their heads as if they were honored to have found him.

After greeting and sending them off, Yi Rown approached Phile and said.

“Don’t lose sight of the goal.”

The purpose of coming to the party.

“Finding the Crimson Duke is the first thing.”

Yi Rown said, adjusting the suit that suited him so well.

The pure white gloves were very noticeable.

“He’s someone who knows how to hide his identity. I still don’t feel the Crimson Duke’s aura.”

Phile also nodded.

The nobles began to greet Yi Rown one by one.

“Sir Zeke…!”

“How can he be so handsome!”

“Do you perhaps have a woman in your heart?”

It was then that Phile’s complexion turned a little pale.

Gooong.

With a small ripple, the nobles stepped back.

They had unknowingly stepped back at the strangely felt energy.

Not only Phile and Kanehlich, but also the Batella Knights.

Swish.

The gazes of the knights and mages who were enjoying the party also focused.

‘This is bad.’

I shouldn’t have forgotten, but I had momentarily missed it because I was too nervous.

Thump, thump.

A huge man was approaching with heavy footsteps.

It was the Silver Blood Monk.

“You are the main character of this party….”

Just as the Blood Monk was about to say something after approaching Yi Rown.

Flash!

Darkness fell for a moment in the brightly lit party hall.

“What is it?”

“What’s going on?”

The nobles murmured at the sudden blackout, and the knights drew their swords.

Flash!

Once again, a single light turned on, illuminating the center of the party hall.

Standing there was a man wearing a mask.

-I thank the many people who have attended this party.

A haughty and solemn voice echoed throughout the party hall.

-I am.

He said, taking a stylish bow.

-The Crimson Duke, Irgnil Poladiego.

It was the Crimson Duke.

* * *

“…….”

Phile grabbed Yi Rown’s collar with a stiff face.

-I am the Crimson Duke, Irgnil Poladiego.

The Crimson Duke, who had finally revealed himself.

Indeed, even though he was concealing it, the energy emanating from him was unusual.

Gulp.

Kanehlich and the Batella Knights also seemed to have sensed something and were being cautious.

“It’s a fake.”

Yi Rown’s low voice was only heard by them.

“Pardon?”

“It’s a fake.”

The masked man who introduced himself as the Crimson Duke.

There was no special circle felt from him.

Numerous pieces of information that had been stolen from Cream.

There was too much mixed in, and since everything had burned with his death, little was obtained, but one thing was certain.

-The five dukes of the Empire, they have special circles.

But that fake.

“He’s a Grand Master-level strongman, but he doesn’t have a special circle.”

Just an ordinary knight.

He was probably one of the knights under the Crimson Duke.

“That….”

Just as Phile was about to speak.

-As everyone knows, this party is to commemorate the armistice between Einheart and Silver, and at the same time, it is a place to bestow titles to those who have contributed.

Smirk.

The exposed mouth outside the mask drew a curve.

-Then, there is a need to liven things up, wouldn’t you agree?

The Crimson Duke was originally famous for hiding his appearance and not revealing himself.

It was said that he even put up fakes at official events.

As if this was a frequent occurrence, the fake was certainly imitating the Crimson Duke well.

-So, I have prepared something.

Flash!

The lights turned on once again.

-Would you step back?

The nobles who were standing where the light shone.

“As per Your Grace’s command.”

They immediately began to step back at the Crimson Duke’s command.

The space that was created formed a round circle.

Swish.

As the fake Crimson Duke waved his hand.

Whoosh!

Flames soared, drawing a line around the circle.

-There is no need to be so surprised. Unless it is my will, my flames will not harm you.

The Crimson Duke said.

-This is what I have prepared.

And.

“A duel… arena.”

Phile seemed to know what this was.

The fake Crimson Duke continued.

-The armistice, it is a meaning to temporarily stop the blood we have shed so far and to seek a new relationship. But we have shed too much blood to get here, too much indeed.

With his elegant gestures, knights appeared and formed a circle.

-Isn’t a ceremony needed for them?

One of the knights under the Crimson Duke entered the circle, bowed to the nobles, and raised an iron sword.

It was a sword without any edge.

-A duel. There is nothing better than that. Is there anyone who would like to compete with my knight? If you win….

Clap.

The fake clapped his hands.

-I will give you my treasured weapon and the honor of being invited to my castle.

“……!”

That was a fake.

But what he was saying was real, spoken in the name of the Duke.

The dukes of the Empire, including the Crimson Duke, were known to possess tremendous artifacts.

From those that had been passed down since the unified Einheart of the past, to those that were said to have been gifted by the guardian dragons.

It was also known that the weapons made by the now-extinct dwarves were also in the dukes’ warehouses.

He was giving that.

But what drew even more attention was….

Murmuring, murmuring!

“Invited to the castle?”

“That is….”

The honor of being invited to the Crimson Duke’s castle.

That was it.

“I! I will try!”

A knight entered the circle and said.

-A brave knight indeed. What is your name?

“I am Paheist of the Glorious Sky Knights.”

-Oh! A Royal Knight, I see.

The fake’s eyes began to shine.

-A good start. But keep in mind. This is to liven up the party, so bloodshed is forbidden.

Thud!

The knight grasped the given sword.

“Then, as per Your Grace’s command….”

Taat!

“I will show you my victory.”

His edgeless iron sword was swung quickly.

* * *

The knights in the circle changed several times.

It seemed that it was not a lie that the Crimson Duke had prepared this to liven things up. The skill of the first knight was not bad, but not outstanding.

Moreover, there were numerous knights of the Empire at this place today.

Even the Royal Knights and the knights of the Holy See were present.

Also.

-Oh! This time, the mage of the Red Tower, Lord Muraitz, has won!

Mages were also actively participating in this event.

It wasn’t just to liven things up.

The condition that the fake had set.

-The honor of being invited to the Crimson Castle.

It was an opportunity to form a relationship with the Crimson Duke and a good opportunity to go to the core of the Empire.

What noble would refuse that?

Clang!

None.

-Mages are limited to the 3rd circle!

There were rules.

-Knights cannot use aura!

They clashed with appropriate rules.

The owner of the circle had already changed several times.

Slowly.

-It’s starting to get boring.

The knights’ duels were stimulating, but with aura and magic forbidden, there was a limit to what they could show.

It was just a repetition of a simple structure of depleting stamina and winning, and the duel event was about to become boring.

Thump.

A heavy footstep was heard.

“I have come to speak to the Crimson Duke.”

It was a rude behavior that was different from the etiquette of Einheart.

However, it could be understood since the target was not Einheart.

-Was it Abbot Beopsan? I grant you permission to speak.

Beopsan, who had come as the representative of Shaolin, and the Blood Monk standing next to him.

“In the capacity of the representative of Silver, I wish to liven things up. Would you allow it?”

In other words, it meant whether they could participate.

The fake laughed once again.

-Will you participate?

“No.”

Thump!

Another heavy footstep.

He entered the circle.

“I will do it.”

The Blood Monk stood there like an old tree.