How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 137

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 138

I will swallow the East whole.

And if anyone tries to stop me, they will pay dearly, so leave me be.

As part of that basis, Redran revealed the power of his sorcery.

At first glance, it seemed like excessive arrogance, but there was a solid foundation for his confidence.

‘If we fight…….’

If Lindeyer and Basarak were to clash.

In terms of pure power, Lindeyer would win. That much is certain.

But would Redran honestly accept a fair fight?

Of course not.

If so, the situation changes. The power of the ‘sentence’ [likely referring to a magical incantation or decree] I saw today was unexpected.

And who knows what other cards he might be hiding.

‘Annoying.’

Even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory [a victory won at too great a cost]. The image of a beast swallowing a hedgehog and suffering came to mind.

After organizing my thoughts, I looked up at Redran.

He still had a relaxed expression, enough to make me want to punch him.

“So, you want me to find the reason myself in fifteen days?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you show me?”

“It wouldn’t mean anything if I showed you. I don’t want you to think I’m just putting on a flashy facade. Wouldn’t it be better for you too? To dig around and unearth the territory with your own eyes? You can also take a vacation while sightseeing.”

“You showed me the power of your sorcery directly, though.”

“That’s because I needed to explain that, so I showed it to you directly.”

“Well, whatever. There’s no need to refuse if you’re willing to expose your territory.”

“I don’t like people who just talk big and pretend to be strong. Anyway, see for yourself and judge. You’ll probably change your mind.”

Redran smiled confidently.

“You will eventually be with me.”

* * *

The next day at noon.

After sleeping in for the first time in a while, I called for Ruth as soon as I opened my eyes.

Ruth, who came at my call, was dressed neatly, ready to go out at any time.

“Are you awake?”

“Food?”

“Not yet.”

“It’s already midday?”

“I’m too curious to be hungry.”

Ruth joked, probably very curious about the story Redran and I had shared last night.

“Is that so? That’s good. Let’s talk slowly while we eat.”

“Sounds good.”

Afterward, servants brought food into the room, filling the table.

The meal was excellent. Redran must have told them to treat us as honored guests.

After taking his seat, Ruth tore off a chicken leg, took a big bite, and asked.

“So, what did you talk about last night?”

“Nothing much.”

“Nothing much?”

“He said he’s going to swallow the East.”

“Cough, cough!”

Ruth coughed, as if he had choked.

“The East?”

“Yeah.”

“Even so, why would he tell that to you, Young Master……? Ah, don’t tell me he’s declaring war, telling you not to interfere?”

“It’s not a declaration of war, but it’s similar.”

“He’s got a lot of nerve. How dare he put pressure on the Lindeyer family when they’re just huddled in the backwoods of the East?”

“That’s for me to see and judge.”

“See and judge?”

“Yeah. Redran told me to find the reason why we shouldn’t be at odds.”

“Find it yourself?”

“Yeah. He said I could rummage around the territory as much as I wanted. I guess he wants me to see Basarak with my own eyes and judge.”

“That’s a lot of confidence. From Redran’s perspective, you could be an enemy. How could he show everything to such an opponent? Isn’t he stupid?”

“No, he’s not stupid, he’s cunning.”

“Yes? Cunning?”

“Yeah. He knows how to use his head.”

At my answer, Ruth tilted his head with a chicken bone in his mouth.

“I don’t quite understand. What’s the point of completely revealing his power to someone who isn’t even a definite ally…….”

“It wouldn’t matter if the revealed power was full of bluff. We can just interfere and destroy it.”

“Wouldn’t that be likely? I don’t think the East’s power has become that strong, no matter how much time has passed.”

“Redran may seem twisted, but he’s not the type to bluff that would be easily exposed.”

“So you’re saying…….”

“If there really is something as he says, then the problem is that I’ll have no choice but to become Redran’s advocate.”

“……Advocate.”

“Yeah, advocate.”

No matter how much Redran raises his thorns and shouts loudly, unverified cries are easily ignored.

But if I thoroughly grasp the reality and judge that this fight is inevitable…….

Then I’ll have no choice but to roll up my sleeves and stand on Basarak’s side to stop Lindeyer.

If that happens, the story will be different.

No matter how great Count Lindeyer is, could he intervene after I step in to stop him?

Meanwhile, Ruth, who belatedly understood what I meant, put down the chicken he was holding.

“So that’s why he was so eager for you to stay here.”

“That’s right. He’s not a fool; he wouldn’t offer a ship [a generous offer or opportunity] without any compensation. He’s trying to easily win a diplomatic war by using me.”

“……Then what are you going to do? I don’t like the idea of things going the way Redran wants.”

“Let’s wait and see for now. It’s not too late to think about it after we figure out the facts.”

I didn’t tell Ruth that Redran had offered me a hand [proposed an alliance]. It’s not that I don’t trust Ruth, but there’s no point in spreading the story outside.

After organizing my thoughts, I nodded.

“Let’s finish eating quickly. I have somewhere to go with you.”

“Yes? Where to?”

“We can’t neglect our original purpose just because of various trivial matters.”

I shrugged at Ruth’s bewildered expression.

* * *

The fundamental reason I was promised a visit to the Red Castle during the National Foundation Day.

It was for the sake of the deceased sleeping in the Red Castle.

That deceased was none other than a lord who rebelled against Emperor Belangkas during the Tribal Wars.

Rebel King Rungsen.

Rungsen, who once ruled the Red Castle and was a powerful overlord of the East, is now a forgotten existence branded with the derogatory term “Rebel King” after his family was destroyed.

But few people know his detailed history.

No, it’s safe to say almost no one does. Rungsen is a figure from hundreds of years ago; therefore, those who knew the truth are long dead.

“This is the place you were looking for.”

The Basarak family’s butler, who had guided me to the top of the Red Castle’s spire, pointed to the ceiling.

Looking up, I saw a solitary, pure white skeleton.

“That’s him?”

“Yes. It’s the Rebel King.”

The skeleton of Rebel King Rungsen.

His appearance, revealed to me after hundreds of years, was miserable.

His neck was roughly hung from a chain attached to the spire’s ceiling, suspended in the air.

The armor he wore was rusted and faded, and the wind blowing through the openings seemed intent on not letting him rest in peace, even in death, shaking the skeleton.

“How wretched.”

The butler nodded at my brief remark.

“All the honored guests who visit the Red Castle say the same thing.”

“Is there a reason to leave him like that?”

“It is the fate for one who rebelled against the royal family. There is no room for sympathy. Anyway, please take your time to look, but do not touch anything, and then come down.”

“Understood.”

As I nodded, the butler turned and left the spire.

As soon as the butler was completely gone, Ruth cautiously approached me.

“Is that the famous Rebel King?”

“Yes. Rebel King Rungsen.”

“I heard he was a great figure in his time.”

“He was a knight of both literary and military prowess. The siege of the Red Castle is still a story that is often told.”

“Yes. I heard he defended the castle for three months against an army several times larger. He was a great commander. But…”

“But?”

“He was still a villain. There’s no reason to admire him.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. He committed a terrible crime, didn’t he? To draw a sword against the Great Emperor, who fought for the fate of humanity. It is a fitting punishment that he cannot rest in peace even in death.”

“Rungsen was a villain, huh…”

Indeed, the Great Emperor fought for humanity.

Then, is Rungsen, who opposed such a Great Emperor, a villain?

“I suppose you could think that way.”

“…It sounds like you have a different opinion, Master.”

“Rather than a different opinion, I would say I have a broader perspective.”

Because I read the novel.

I didn’t say the last part, so Ruth looked serious.

“Master, I’m fine, but you shouldn’t say such things carelessly in other places. It could cause big trouble.”

“Why? Do you think I’m going to commit treason?”

“Master!”

I shrugged and slowly moved towards Rungsen’s remains.

“There’s a saying.”

“…What is it?”

“History is written by the victors.”

“It’s a cliché, but it’s also true. Achievements are elevated to the heavens, and shameful deeds are hidden beneath the surface.”

“In any case, as those of us living in the Great Emperor’s legacy, we can only see a fragmented picture.”

“Even so, you’re not suggesting there’s a different truth now, are you?”

“That’s right.”

“Yes?”

Ruth’s dumbfounded reaction is always amusing.

“That’s right.”

“What’s right…? Don’t tell me there’s a suspicious reason behind Rungsen’s death?”

“Yes.”

“That’s absurd!”

“It’s possible.”

Ruth looked dumbfounded at my assertion.

“…One in a thousand, one in ten thousand, it might be possible. But what does it matter? The current kingdom clearly belongs to the Aransel family, the descendants of Emperor Belangkas. Even if it’s unfair, it’s over, and there’s nothing to gain by digging it up again! No one would believe it anyway!”

“I know.”

“Oh, Master! Even thinking about such things could be a serious crime of blasphemy!”

“Are you a coward?”

“That’s not the point!”

“I know. I know very well that there’s no point in digging it up. But it’s not just because of that.”

“……”

I looked up at Rungsen’s face, which had not a single piece of flesh left.

“It’s too old of an incident to expose, blame, or reproach anyone’s faults. Nothing will change even if we dig it up now. But his power is still valid. And his unjust resentment still remains in the world. We’re just making a simple deal.”

“A deal, you say…”

“We borrow his power, and Rungsen uses us to fulfill his unfulfilled grudges.”

“Borrow power? Are you saying it’s similar to how Ilya got stronger?”

Ruth’s eyebrows twisted strangely.

Ruth still doesn’t know the details of how to summon the power of the past using the Dream Demon’s authority.

But even so, there are things you can feel when you’re together. She must have vaguely guessed that Ilya has changed because of me.

“You’re quick to notice?”

“I absolutely won’t do it. I don’t know what the method is, but even if it means getting stronger, he’s still the Rebel King! A traitor!”

“That’s why.”

“……”

“That’s why I’m telling you to look at the inside story and judge. I said it before, history is written by the victors, so we don’t know anything about the other side.”

“……”

“So, first see, experience, and feel it for yourself. After that, I’ll leave the judgment to your beliefs.”

Ruth’s face was quite a sight.

She frowned and relaxed her expression several times before biting her lip.

“You’re not going to forcibly manipulate my thoughts…”

“Do you think I’m a black magician?”

“You’re not going to force me to obey with some kind of spell…”

“I’m not a shaman either.”

“…Can I really do as I please?”

“Have you only lived being deceived?”

Clap!

I put my hand on Ruth’s shoulder and smiled.

“I promise on my honor. Accepting or rejecting it, I will follow your will.”

Of course, I can see the ending.

Ruth will have no choice but to accept Rungsen’s power. At least, if it’s the Ruth I know, she will definitely have to.

I am certain.

Ruth will be reborn as the Knight of Fire.