How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 119

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Episode 120

Afterward, I crossed through the military camp with Brohl, carefully observing the surroundings.

The morale seemed exceptionally high.

Moreover, I could sense a simmering anger among the soldiers, as if they were ready to charge at any moment to vent their frustrations.

They were truly the Duke’s soldiers, systematically trained and nurtured within a long tradition.

‘I felt this way with the American soldiers during the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command training [a joint military exercise between South Korean and American forces].’

Unlike the South Korean soldiers, who were conscripted and deprived of their freedom, the American soldiers who enlisted based on their beliefs had a different atmosphere from the start.

It was the same now. The Duke’s soldiers exuded a spirit that was on a different level from the peasant soldiers forcibly conscripted by ordinary rural nobles from time to time.

“The Lord is over there.”

Brohl, who had been guiding me, pointed to a tent.

It was clearly different in scale from the tents I had seen so far.

“Sir Brohl?”

The two knights guarding the entrance recognized Brohl and greeted him. Judging by the emblems on their chests, they seemed to be Wisdom Knights [elite knights known for their wisdom and strategic abilities].

“I heard you were on a mission. What brings you here?”

“I’ve returned to report something urgent to the Lord.”

“Is that so? But who is this person?”

Brohl nodded at the knight’s gesture, who was looking at me.

“This is the Third Son of the Count Lindaier.”

“Kain Lindaier?”

I nodded in agreement, and the other knight next to him exclaimed softly.

“I saw him once when I went to greet the Princess upon her return from Capital. His hair color is different now, though… Did he dye it?”

“That’s right.”

At Brohl’s confirmation, the knight looked at me.

“The Lord is currently in a meeting. Please wait outside for a moment.”

“Understood.”

I felt a sense of relief at the thought that I had finally reached my destination.

Fatigue weighed down on me as I had been rushing from Wind Nest without rest, but now was not the time to lose focus.

Because the most important task still remained.

As if to prove that there had been a fierce meeting, the inside of the tent was thick with the scent of many people.

In the midst of it, a middle-aged man in full uniform was sitting at a table, looking down at a map.

A slender man with silver hair that barely reached his neck, swept back and tied.

It was Duke Floin Basherun.

The Duke looked quite weary. It was unclear whether it was the aftermath of the meeting or the result of agonizing over the current situation. Perhaps it was both.

“It’s been a while. A year?”

The Duke asked without even looking at my face. His gaze remained fixed on the map.

“It’s been a little longer than that.”

“I can’t give you a warm welcome as the situation is what it is.”

“I didn’t particularly expect one.”

When was the last time I saw him?

Right. I remembered the Duke looking bitter about Fleta’s devastated face when I met Kerwyn, earned gold, and succeeded in breaking off the engagement.

“…….”

After that, the conversation was cut off for a long time.

There were many things I wanted to say, but the Duke was so engrossed in other things that it wasn’t the right atmosphere to bring anything up.

How many minutes had passed?

Finally, the Duke, who had taken his eyes off the map he was looking at, leaned back in his chair and waved his hand.

Whirlick!

Then, miraculously, the rolled-up map flew through the air and disappeared into the storage box.

Not only that, but as if some kind of magic had been applied, the kettle on the fireplace suddenly began to boil, and the chess pieces, which seemed to represent the troops, arranged themselves as if they had their own will.

‘Did they say the Duke was a 7-circle mage [a mage of immense power, capable of wielding high-level magic]?’

A 7-circle mage is on par with the Tower Master, a great mage.

Of course, he was several levels below Kerwyn, but she was a near-mutant existence, so he could be called one of the most prominent mages on the continent.

“I received the letter you sent.”

Sizzle…

The sight of the kettle moving on its own, pouring water as if possessed by a ghost, was bizarre.

“Yes. I didn’t include the details as I sent it in a hurry…”

“No.”

The Duke, cutting me off with a wave of his hand, picked up the teacup and savored the aroma.

“The fact that there was no action taken despite receiving the letter does not mean that I would accept your opinion.”

“…….”

“I just thought it wouldn’t be bad to have someone report my will to Count Lindaier after seeing my soldiers gathered here.”

“Does that mean…”

“It means don’t talk nonsense, have a cup of tea, and go back.”

I had no choice but to close my mouth at the clear dismissal.

“I don’t know what you were thinking when you came here, but I won’t blame you for it. There’s no law saying you can’t have vain fantasies. So please be understanding and go back.”

“Are you determined to wage war?”

“I’ve been nurturing the seeds for too long. It’s not too late to pull them out by the roots now.”

“Many innocent people will die.”

Even as I said it, I thought it was unconvincing. Likewise, the Duke smiled in disbelief at my words.

“Innocent blood will be shed? That’s too soft of a thought. Since when did the Gray Falcon become a gentle sparrow?”

As expected. There was no way to persuade the Duke with an idealistic story.

“Let me be clear, if I back down here, those guys will inevitably extend their dark ambitions to the royal family. Even if it means making the King a puppet, I can’t stand by and watch that happen.”

The Duke’s attitude of even mentioning the King’s name indirectly showed how firm his resolve was.

“I understand your will, Duke. But would you please take some time to listen to my story and judge?”

“I think I said it before. My mind will not change.”

“…Well, fine.”

Faced with the Duke’s firm attitude, I changed my strategy.

“If you’re so sure, I’ll just step back. But remember one thing. The price for that decision will be paid by you, Duke, who rejected the opportunity, not the three nobles or Rodkius, who will kill the Princess.”

As expected. The reaction came immediately when I mentioned Fleta’s name.

The Duke tilted his head slightly and stared at me. I felt like I was being consumed by the sinister aura lurking beneath his gaze.

“I thought you knew how to distinguish between courage and recklessness.”

“Yes. I know how to distinguish.”

“So you’re saying that I’m killing Fleta now?”

Mana [magical energy] gathered from all directions.

The gathered mana represented the Duke’s mood. It surrounded me like a furious beast, then began to weigh down on my shoulders.

I nodded, trying my best to stand upright, giving strength so that my shoulders wouldn’t shrink.

“Yes. You are killing her, Duke. A promising mage and the heir to the family.”

“I thought you, of all people, would know how I feel about the Princess.”

“That’s why I’m telling you.”

The Duke’s energy grew even stronger.

I was worried that magic might fly at me, so I prepared to draw out mana at any moment.

But what followed was not the Duke’s powerful magic or an angry roar.

“You’re telling an interesting story.”

“…….”

“Seeing you provoke me so much, there must be a reason. Good. Tell me the reason. But if you can’t convince me, you’ll have to pay the price.”

Compliments to Duke Basherun’s patience.

But the problem was from now on. It was good to have him listen to my story, but I didn’t know if he would be convinced afterward.

But I can’t back down.

A man who has drawn his sword must cut something, even if it’s just tofu [a Japanese proverb meaning one must see things through once they’ve started, even if the task is insignificant].

“There is a way to avoid having to let the Princess and other prisoners die.”

“You can save them if you give up the territories of the three nobles. But that’s something only a fool who doesn’t know the potential of those territories would do. You weren’t going to say that, were you?”

“Of course, I know the value of the territories of the three nobles very well.”

“Then the story will be quick. In order to gain one thing, you must give up one thing, that’s the law of politics. I will gain the justification to punish Rodkius instead of losing the Princess. On the other hand, what about those guys?”

The Duke wore a bitter smile.

“Instead of eliminating Basherun’s next head of the family, they will directly taste my anger, which has gained justification. Moreover, if the three nobles’ vile trick of bringing in outside forces is revealed, no one will help Rodkius.”

The Duke nodded and added.

“If I can gain the justification to start a war instead of losing the Princess, and thus eliminate the root of the problem that is eating away at the royal family, it’s not a bad deal. The small must be sacrificed for the greater good. So don’t object to my decision anymore.”

I’m sorry, but I have no choice but to object. I was the one who would be in trouble if a war broke out.

“I have some questions. Will the three nobles readily admit that they received help from Rodkius? Moreover, even if you gain justification, where is the guarantee that you will win the war against Rodkius? Even if you win, that war will clearly leave great damage to Basherun.”

“If they don’t admit it, I’ll make them admit it. And a guarantee of victory? Are you saying that after seeing my army? I predicted this and prepared early, completing all preparations faster than they thought!”

“…….”

“It can’t be helped that Rodkius is not an easy opponent, but that can also be tolerated for the sake of the greater good.”

It was annoying because it was true.

Certainly, if I offered immunity and compensation to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, would the three nobles give up their lives to maintain their loyalty to Rodkius?

They would probably reveal everything without hesitation, receive compensation, and spend the rest of their lives in some remote part of the continent.

The same goes for war. Just looking at the size of the army gathered here clearly showed how long the Duke had been preparing for war.

Of course, I don’t know if the war will go as planned as the Duke is confident.

‘That’s why it’s even more impossible, you old man.’

Even if I concede a hundred times and the war goes smoothly as the Duke says and he wins, there is no way that there will be no damage at all.

Since it is a war in which the fate of the family is at stake, Rodkius will also fight with all his might, and even if he wins, Basherun will inevitably suffer enormous damage. And it will take at least 10 years to recover from it.

“What I want to say is one thing. There’s no need to shed blood when it can be ended advantageously without any damage.”

“It can be ended advantageously.”

The Duke, who stopped talking for a moment, took out a letter from the drawer. It seemed to be the one I had sent before.

“Stop the war for a moment. Then you can achieve complete victory.”

The Duke, who finished speaking, lightly tossed the letter on the table.

“……”

“That’s the content of the letter you sent.”

“Yes.”

The Duke, who slowly swept back his hair, wore a sneer.

“What does that complete victory mean?”

Take a light breath.

“It’s simple. I will safely receive all the prisoners and return all the territories that the three nobles had seized after belonging to the Basherun Duchy. In addition, I will receive all the damages caused by this territory war as monetary compensation, and at the same time, I can punish the three nobles according to your will.”

Prisoners, territory, compensation for damages, and punishment.

That’s all the Duke wants.

In fact, after the three nobles gave up the territories they had seized under the name of Basherun, only land at a level that was embarrassing to call a territory would remain, and with that, it was absolutely impossible to isolate Basherun as Rodkius intended.

If that happens, there will be nothing to worry about whether the three nobles stick to Rodkius or not.

No, will they even accept the three nobles who have lost their merits in the first place? They probably won’t care whether they are hanged by the Duke or not.

“After listening to it, it’s definitely a very sweet offer. But there’s one thing missing. ‘How’ are you going to get it?”

“It’s simple. I will mediate.”

“Mediate?”

“Yes. To be precise, it means that I will take on the mediation as well as the end-of-war negotiations.”

“You’re going to achieve that?”

“Yes, it’s possible.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re saying that you can achieve what I said earlier just by giving me time and a negotiation table?”

“Yes.”

“Listen.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“I thought you had quite an intelligent side, unlike the rumors.”

“You flatter me.”

“That’s right. That thought was an exaggeration. Now that I see it, you’re just an idealist who only spouts vain fantasies. I won’t let you get away with it if you utter such nonsense again, so be prepared.”

This is still a pretty gentle threat. I came prepared to hear some swear words.

“I’ll say it again, this is not nonsense. If I am given enough time and the right to negotiate, I can draw out negotiations with the conditions I mentioned earlier.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying all sorts of things while listening quietly!”

Bang!

The Duke slammed the table and shouted.

“Do you know what the situation is and are you being stubborn! Rodkius is already conscripting troops from all over the place and gathering military supplies indiscriminately! And I predicted this and moved, completing all preparations faster than they thought!”

“…….”

“But you’re saying that I should waste that hard-earned time on your absurd, vain fantasy? If you utter such nonsense one more time, I’ll be prepared to break ties with Count Lindaier and rip out your tongue!”

Tongue root.

I quietly rolled my tongue without showing it to check the precious part that was still well attached.

Well, I have no choice but to take out the last card now.

“If you’re going to bet, I’ll bet something other than my tongue.”

“Is this the time to joke around!”

“How about my life?”

“……!”

The Duke’s eyes widened for a moment.

“Two months, three months at the most. No matter how much you prepared for the war in advance, there will be some shortcomings. Think of it as supplementing that point for a while, and give me a chance during that time.”