How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 133

“A trade ship?”

Redran’s face, which had been filled with anticipation, was now tinged with disappointment at my request to borrow a ship.

“Yeah.”

“Out of the blue, why a ship all of a sudden? Is the Lindaier family now trying to get involved in the sea?”

“Of course not. It’s entirely my personal request.”

“A personal request? Don’t tell me you’re going into business or something.”

“That’s right.”

“What?”

“I said I’m here because I need a ship to sell something.”

“You really came all the way here for that?”

At his repeated questioning, I nodded, and Redran let out a hollow laugh.

“I was wondering what your reason was for coming, and I pondered it countless times. But business? That’s not what I expected.”

“Did you think I had some grand reason?”

“Of course. I thought you were going to suggest we join hands and devour the continent.”

“…….”

What do you think I am, Zhuge Liang [a famous strategist from the Three Kingdoms period]? To go all the way to this rural backwater to devour the continent?

On the other hand, Redran seemed to be completely serious, kicking a stone with a deflated expression.

“Damn it, I just got my hopes up for nothing.”

“Sorry if you’re disappointed.”

“More than that, there must have been many other ways to get a ship, so why come all the way here?”

Well, there’s no need to hide that reason. If I were to borrow a ship, Redran would naturally find out the details anyway.

“The other guys were asking for too much.”

“Asking for too much?”

“Yeah.”

“What kind of nonsense is that…….”

Redran, who was about to say something with a frown, trailed off as if he had suddenly thought of something.

“Don’t tell me…….”

“Don’t tell you what.”

“The thing you’re trying to sell isn’t salt, is it?”

“That’s right. Salt.”

“Good heavens. Then the Bluewind Merchant Guild?”

Does Redran know about it too?

Well, Basarak Territory and the Bluewind Merchant Guild are both in the East, so it would be strange if he didn’t know.

“It’s my guild.”

“The Bluewind Merchant Guild is yours? I knew it!”

As if he had never been deflated, Redran’s face quickly regained its vitality.

“That’s right. A man like you wouldn’t come all the way here for something trivial. This is unbelievable. The Bluewind Merchant Guild belongs to Kain Lindaier?”

I was seriously wondering what kind of person Redran thought I was.

“I don’t think it’s that surprising.”

“It is surprising! The East is buzzing with that story! I was dying to know who the investor with such foresight was, how can I not be surprised?”

“…….”

“Then it makes sense. If it’s for a great undertaking, military funds are essential. I see, I misunderstood without knowing your plan. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t bother asking what great undertaking Redran had in mind. After all, it would be something cheesy that would make me cringe just hearing about ambition and such.

“You don’t have to be sorry.”

“Great. If that’s the reason, I’ll lend you a ship anytime.”

“Really? Then let’s talk about the terms and payment…….”

“No.”

Redran interrupted me as I was about to discuss the cost.

“I don’t need money.”

“What?”

“I said I don’t need it. I’ll lend you the ship, so use it as much as you need.”

Redran replied coolly. It was as casual as lending an eraser to a classmate in school.

Suspecting some ulterior motive, I shook my head.

“I can’t do that. I’ll pay a reasonable price.”

“No. Forget the money, just grant me one request.”

“A request?”

“Yeah.”

What request?

As I hardened my expression, worried he might say something strange, Redran waved his hand.

“I don’t know what you’re imagining, but don’t worry, it’s not a strange request.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just take the money?”

“I was taught not to do business with friends.”

“Who said we were friends?”

“Aren’t you being too harsh? I’m about to get sad.”

At Redran’s exaggerated crying act, I sighed.

“What’s the request? I’m telling you in advance, if you’re going to say something useless, I’m just going to go back.”

I said, intending to find a ship elsewhere even if it meant taking a loss, in case it was some political scheme.

But Redran shrugged with a smile, as if he had no such intention.

“It’s nothing much. Just stay at the Red Castle for a while.”

“Stay for a while?”

“Weren’t you going to leave right after borrowing the ship?”

Not at all?

I was going to stay for a bit to find out more about you?

Of course, there was no need to say that directly, so I nodded without showing any reaction.

“I was planning to leave right away.”

“Don’t do that, just relax and take a good rest. That’s all my condition is. If you grant me that, I’ll lend you the ship.”

“Rest and go? For how long?”

“About three months?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Is it too long? Okay, then a month?”

“A week.”

“That’s too short!”

“Two weeks. No more than that.”

I was going to play the role of a freeloader anyway, but I pretended to be doing him a favor as much as possible.

Redran, who had no idea of my inner thoughts, nodded with a disappointed expression.

“Then I can’t help it. Let’s go with two weeks.”

I secretly thought it was a good thing that he accepted so readily, but on the other hand, doubts also arose.

What is Redran thinking, trying to hold me back?

Is he trying to use me for something?

Or is it just a request from a genuine desire to become friends with me, as he said?

I’ll find out as time goes on.

Anyway, the conditions aren’t bad. If I can get a trade ship for free in exchange for staying for a while, there’s nothing better than that.

“Okay. I accept.”

After pretending to deliberate and finally nodding, Redran grinned and gestured towards the Red Castle.

“You thought well. Let’s go now. A banquet is prepared for you.”

* * *

After entering the Red Castle, Ruth and I organized our luggage, took a bath, and changed into neat clothes.

Later, we found the grand banquet hall of the Red Castle.

In the banquet hall where dozens of nobles were gathered, forming groups and chatting, I asked Ruth with an uncomfortable feeling.

“How is it?”

“What do you think, Master?”

“It’s excessive.”

“I agree.”

A table that could easily seat at least twenty people was filled with delicacies. The amount was so large that it was impossible to count even with both hands and feet.

But the only owners of the food were just the three of us, Ruth, and Redran.

Besides, what about the sight in front of us?

If there was just food set up, I would have let it go, but in the banquet hall in front of the table, there were a dozen dancers dancing half-naked, so I don’t know if this is meant for eating or not.

‘Are all nobles like this, or is Redran just eccentric?’

It’s probably the latter.

Glancing at Redran, he was sipping red wine without paying any attention to the prepared feast.

Feeling my gaze, Redran turned his head and tilted his head.

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“Of course I don’t.”

“Oh, really?”

At my words, Redran shrugged and beckoned the butler standing next to him.

“Send them all out and bring in a newly selected group.”

That’s not what I meant?

Hastily waving my hand to call the butler back, I told him to take everyone out because I didn’t need the performance.

“Why send them out? I was having so much fun watching.”

“Is that fun? What are you doing at the dinner table?”

“Then when do I watch while eating?”

“It’s okay, just send them out.”

“Ah, so you’re not into this kind of thing?”

“Let’s just say that’s the case.”

“You should have said so sooner.”

Redran snapped his fingers.

Then, two female knights who were waiting at the entrance of the banquet hall came forward and began to confront each other, drawing their swords.

“What’s that again?”

“Huh? Have you never seen a duel before?”

“I know you’re trying to duel. But why are you doing it now?”

With a grin, Redran gestured, and soon the two female knights began to exchange fierce sword blows with real swords.

‘He has a unique taste.’

I wondered what was wrong with this guy.

Of course, not all nobles have to be clean and frugal, but it seemed that Redran had a bit of a twisted side.

Well, it’s better than a strip show.

Thinking that way, I leaned back on the backrest and picked up a glass of wine.

Redran, who raised his eyebrows at the sight, leaned towards me.

“This is a bit more interesting, huh?”

“It’s better than before. Are they knights?”

“Of course. They are the Red Knights of Basarak. How is it?”

“How is it?”

“I wouldn’t have asked about their appearance, would I? Of course, I mean their skills.”

Red Knights. I’ve heard of them, but they weren’t a very famous knight order.

Of course, considering the fame they would have in the future, I couldn’t just ignore them.

Anyway, after roughly watching the sword fight between the two female knights, they seemed to have decent skills, but there was nothing particularly outstanding about them. There were plenty of people with that level of skill even at the bottom of the Wind Knights.

But I couldn’t honestly evaluate them with the owner of the knight order next to me.

“Not bad.”

“Not bad?”

“Yeah.”

“Then how about a match?”

“A match? What are you talking about?”

“I’m asking if you want to have a spar.”

“Why a spar all of a sudden?”

“Why are you pretending not to know? Do you think the people gathered here really came to enjoy the banquet?”

“If not?”

At my question, Redran shrugged, stirring the steak on the table with a knife.

“At least no one came here because they were interested in these pieces of meat. Everyone is probably curious about the Wind Knights, the strongest knight order in the North.”

I roughly knew what his intention was.

But I had no intention of accepting it. The Wind Knights don’t draw their swords at any time for mere entertainment.

This was even more so because the honor of the Wind Knights itself was at stake, regardless of my beliefs.

“If you want a spar, make a formal request. Follow the procedure.”

“Procedure? If the stage is set, just do it, what’s the fun in following all the procedures and doing it in a dusty training ground?”

“Is a knight a clown?”

“Ah, you’re so rigid.”

Redran clicked his tongue and slammed the knife down on the meat.

“What’s the point of gathering only stuffy knights and having a spar there? There must be a splendid sword fight in the midst of wine, food, and watching audiences for myths to be born and songs to be made.”

“What myth? You just want to defeat the Wind Knights in front of your subordinate nobles to establish your fame, don’t you?”

“Was I found out?”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Can’t you just accept it once? After all, the Wind Knights of the world won’t lose to a knight from a rural territory in the East, right?”

Playing with words.

I sipped my wine and clicked my tongue.

“That’s why I can’t.”

“That’s why you can’t?”

“There’s no need to participate in a game where you only break even if you win and get completely humiliated if you lose.”

“Ah.”

Redran chuckled at my words.

“Put out something that corresponds to that risk?”

“The game must be fair.”

“Too bad. I should have bet the ship here.”

“You wouldn’t go back on something that’s already over, would you?”

“Of course not. I know the solemnity of promises well.”

After that, Redran put the meat he had cut into his mouth and chewed, lost in thought. Then he snapped his fingers as if he had thought of something.

“Honestly, I don’t know what you like. So I’ll propose the opposite. If the Wind Knights win the spar, I’ll grant you one wish.”

“A wish?”

“Yeah. What you want. Of course, it has to be within a very common sense range. Ah! For reference, you can’t ask to shorten the two-week period.”

Redran smiled.

I was doubtful at the sight.

According to the information I know, there is no one in the Red Knights who can defeat Ruth. Even the commander-level is at best evenly matched.

But what confidence does this guy have right now?

‘What’s the scheme, Redran.’

Redran’s attitude of overestimating me almost religiously.

The request to stay at the Red Castle for two weeks.

Following that, a duel proposed in front of everyone.

It was Redran’s behavior that seemed to be constantly appealing to something.

‘Anyway, if you want to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger’s den [idiom meaning to face danger to achieve a goal].’

There was no need to think for long.

After all, it was also true that I had to approach Redran to some extent to find out what I wanted.

Okay.

Then shall I play along?