How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 138

A damp rain was falling that night.

The atmosphere inside the Red Castle’s conference room was as gloomy as the weather outside.

In the center, a man with a dignified physique that was clearly visible even under his armor, Roongsen, nervously fluttered a letter in his hand.

“He’s telling me to walk out on my own two feet and accept my arrest obediently. If I do, he’ll pardon the rest of you.”

At Roongsen’s words, those gathered in the cramped conference room shouted in unison.

“Absolutely not, Lord!”

“We’ve held out for three months. They’re making such offers because they’re exhausted too.”

“Pardon us? All that awaits is rotting in a lightless prison until death. Don’t fall for their tricks!”

At the knights’ dissuasion, Roongsen smiled weakly.

Their fighting spirit was admirable, but the situation was not favorable.

Rations had run out long ago. They were surviving by slaughtering warhorses, but that was only a temporary measure. Soon, everyone would be starving.

The soldiers’ condition was also terrible. The prolonged siege warfare without sufficient rest was enough to exhaust them mentally and physically, and their burning will to fight had long been lost.

“There’s also intelligence that Bain Lindaier, who has temporarily left the northern front, will be coming here as the new commander.”

The already frigid atmosphere grew even colder at the name that came from Roongsen’s mouth.

Bain Lindaier.

A general under Bellancus and the commander-in-chief of the northern front. If he joined them here, the fate of the Red Castle, which had been barely holding on, would end that day.

“That doesn’t mean we can surrender.”

“Bellancus has more to worry about than just this place; he has the entire continent!”

“That’s right! Even if Bain Lindaier comes, he won’t be able to leave the northern front for long. If we hold out properly just once, we can definitely negotiate favorable terms!”

The knights, who were furious at the mention of surrender, each burned with fighting spirit.

Roongsen smiled at the sight and nodded.

“I was being weak without realizing it. Good. Let’s fight to the end. Everyone, perfectly reorganize the formations in your assigned areas once more.”

“Understood!”

The knights jumped up from their seats and left the conference room.

Watching them leave, Roongsen erased his calm expression and leaned back against the chair with a tired face.

Then, looking at the empty conference room, he opened his mouth.

“Have you come?”

Responding to the words addressed to no one in particular was a figure hiding in a corner pillar.

“I have.”

“You’ve been watching everything, haven’t you? What do you think? Aren’t they truly loyal?”

“They just look like moths flying into a bonfire to me.”

The one who appeared was a man with shaggy, ash-gray hair and thin, sharp eyes.

With a neat physique, he stood leaning against the pillar with one hand on his hip in a slanting posture.

Roongsen opened his mouth with a frustrated expression at his cocky appearance.

“If my knights are moths, what are you guys who couldn’t break through them for three months?”

“I didn’t come here to play word games, Roongsen.”

“Your lack of wit is still the same, Bain Lindaier.”

The identity of the one who appeared from behind the pillar was the enemy commander called the Knight of the Frozen Gale, Bain Lindaier, commander-in-chief of the northern front.

But Roongsen wasn’t particularly surprised.

For him, who was almost a superhuman, it was more than possible to scale the walls of the castle, which had been half-destroyed by the long siege, in the deep dawn.

Besides, as they were once close acquaintances, there was enough reason for him to visit. Probably to persuade him to surrender.

Roongsen, who knew him, sneered.

“More importantly, do you think this is your house? Coming and going as you please? I could call people right now.”

“Don’t worry, I have no interest in assassination.”

“Assassination? You, me?”

Ignoring Roongsen’s scoff, Bain strode over and sat opposite him.

Roongsen sighed softly at the sight and shrugged.

“How many years has it been since we last met?”

“Twelve.”

“It’s been a long time.”

“An old memory.”

“You were always saying you’d make it big. Looks like you got what you wanted. Even if you are Bellancus’s hunting dog on a leash.”

“A hunting dog… Still, isn’t it better than being the prey?”

Roongsen snorted at Bain’s words.

“You always lost to me. Now you’re going to hunt me down?”

“I lost?”

“Have you forgotten being beaten with a wooden sword by me in Perso?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Wow, did you get dementia while I wasn’t looking?”

“You’re the one who’s old if you’re bringing up something from over a decade ago.”

“Look at that. You remember?”

“…I’d win if we fought again.”

“Shall we try? The Red Castle’s training grounds are always open.”

At the brief exchange, Bain, who had shown no expression until now, let out a silent laugh for a moment.

But reminiscing about old memories was only temporary. Roongsen and Bain, who had returned to the reality of the present, shut their mouths.

And it was Bain who broke the silence first.

“Roongsen, you have no chance of winning. Just surrender.”

“Surrender… Why should I? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Disobedience to orders during wartime is a serious crime tantamount to treason. You must know that.”

“That’s ridiculous. It was an operation that couldn’t be followed from the start.”

“The proposed Annihilation Operation was perfect. If you had just followed it, you would have become a hero who defeated the Orc Lord.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

Thump!

Roongsen slammed the table and stood up.

As if representing his anger, the mana [magical energy] that erupted blazed like a burst of flames.

“Are you saying I should have agreed to use my territory, my knights, and my people as consumables just to catch one monster? Is that something you can say?”

“It’s just a small sacrifice for the greater good.”

“Bullshit! They are my everything! I can’t abandon them under any circumstances!”

“War is originally like that. You have to give up something to get something.”

“Even so, there are things you can’t give up!”

Bain was faced with Roongsen’s burning anger right in front of him, but he still wore a cold expression and smirked.

“That’s funny.”

“What did you say?”

“Your everything? So, how much is all your everything worth? Even if you combine your tiny territory, does it even reach 50,000 people?”

Blue light began to leak from Bain’s thinly opened eyes.

“But how many humans will the Orc Lord, whom you let escape, kill in the future? 100,000? 200,000? Maybe he’ll sweep through the east and kill all the humans. By then, 500,000 would be easy. It was a very great decision.”

Clap, clap, clap.

Bain clapped sarcastically.

At that, Roongsen reached out and grabbed Bain by the collar, and Bain was dragged along without particularly resisting.

But Bain’s momentum did not subside. Rather, the cold light shone even more, as if further pressuring Roongsen.

“But because of your great decision, countless people will watch with their own eyes as they are torn apart by orcs and their insides are eaten.”

“Shut up.”

“And as a bonus, those you called your everything will have to live with the stigma of being traitors. It’s a very spectacular ending. Excellent, Roongsen. I admire your decision.”

“I told you to shut up!”

Roongsen pushed Bain back and drew his sword from his waist.

Whoosh!

The mana flames that erupted in an instant, as if fire had been set to oil, filled Roongsen’s sword.

Bain, who had been pushed back, did not stand still.

Bain’s sword, which he didn’t even know when he had drawn, was condensed with chilling blue mana.

Kwaang!

Soon, swords clashed in a burst, and a storm of mana erupted in the conference room.

What was revealed after the storm subsided were two men grinding their teeth while facing each other with their swords.

“I’m glad you’re always so rational. I hope the day comes when you have to coldly abandon the person you love the most, Bain Lindaier!”

“For the sake of the greater good! If I have to, I’m ready to abandon anyone at any time, traitor Roongsen!”

Paang!

The two men pushed away the swords they had been facing and distanced themselves again.

Then, unlike the way he had been showing until now, Bain shouted with a passionate face.

“Why didn’t you follow the orders! It was a chance to save so many people, why did you choose to remain like this! Everything went wrong because of you!”

“A lord has a duty to protect his territory and people.”

“You’re talking nonsense when the very survival of humanity is at stake!”

“You wouldn’t know because you don’t know how I built this territory. I felt their sweat and passion in my heart. I can’t abandon them.”

“Damn it!”

Bain spat out a curse and then gritted his teeth.

Silence flowed again like that.

When only the flickering torch and the pattering rain filled the space, Bain finally opened his mouth.

“You want to protect them that much?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Then I’ll protect them for you.”

Roongsen’s eyebrows furrowed at Bain’s words.

“What did you say?”

“I said I’ll protect them for you.”

The energy that had been burning in Roongsen subsided.

On the other hand, Bain’s energy grew even stronger, indirectly revealing his emotions.

“Instead, you will have to bear countless things.”

“……”

“You will be remembered in later generations as a cowardly traitor who pointed his sword at the king because he was afraid of death. The honor you have built up, the fame of the Knight of Fire, and the noble sacrifice you have cherished will all be forgotten and disappear. Of course, your family will be torn apart and disappear completely.”

“……”

“You must hide the truth even at the execution ground. You must say that you locked the castle gates because you were afraid of death, because you were afraid of the Orc Lord, and you must be stoned by the knights and people you loved, and you must swear on your honor that you have been deceiving and using them until now.”

After pausing for a moment and swallowing hard, Bain barely managed to say the last words.

“You won’t be able to close your eyes in peace even after death. You will suffer for an eternity as a model to show the end of those who wielded a sword against Bellancus.”

“……”

“Still, even if that’s the case, if you take responsibility for what I said, I promise to protect your territory and people, which are your everything.”

A man who knows honor does not fear death when following his beliefs.

But he cannot tolerate those beliefs being contaminated by false facts.

That’s why Bain secretly thought that Roongsen would not accept his demands.

But that thought was wrong.

Tang!

The sword that Roongsen dropped collided with the floor, making a clear sound.

“If it means I can protect everything I have.”

Roongsen smiled.

“Gladly.”

* * *

De-eng!

The steeple bell rang, announcing the evening. I, who had fallen asleep with Ruth under the influence of the sleep grass, groggily got up and looked for Ruth.

“……”

Ruth, who had woken up before me, was standing straight and looking at Roongsen’s skeleton hanging lonely from the ceiling.

Seeing Ruth like that, I carefully approached and spoke.

“Did you see it?”

“Yes. I saw it.”

Ruth, whom I glanced at, was shedding tears.

The reason is clear. It must be because he keenly felt Roongsen’s beliefs and justice, which had been hidden in history.

After a while, Ruth wiped away his tears and nodded, as if his heart had calmed down.

“What the Young Master said about there being another side was true.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you know about the operation that Roongsen didn’t follow?”

“…It was a large-scale military operation. The Great Emperor, who found out that the Orc Lord’s target was Roongsen’s territory, knew that the Orc Lord would lead his army deep into the territory to overcome the lack of troops. The plan was to surround and annihilate them by burning the entire territory.”

“While ignoring the innocent people who would be sacrificed in the Orc Lord and the flames.”

“If the troops or people were evacuated in advance, the cunning Orc Lord would immediately notice. He was a guy who hadn’t been caught for a long time, so there must have been an obsession to end him for sure when the opportunity came. That’s why he made such a radical plan.”

“Do you think the Great Emperor’s will was right?”

“Sacrificing the few for the sake of the many. Who would judge whether that’s the right justice? Well, it’s true that the Orc Lord, whom they missed in the end, massacred more people than the number of Roongsen’s people.”

“Even so, there are lines that should not be crossed. The Great Emperor was wrong about that.”

“Come on. You were telling me not to even mention the crime of blasphemy until just now.”

“……”

“Well, I agree with you to some extent. No matter what, there are lines that must be protected.”

Ruth, who heard my words, was silent for a moment and then nodded.

“I understand what role the Young Master wants me to play and why he showed me Roongsen.”

“Is that so?”

“Isn’t it because you want me to correct you with a strong belief like Roongsen if you ever cross the line? So that you don’t get caught up in the cruelty of war.”

Well, it’s more of a dream than reality, but it’s not exactly wrong.

“Let’s just say that’s it.”

“I understand. I will perfectly assist you as you wish.”

“…Thank you. Anyway, that’s just a bonus option. The most important thing is Roongsen’s power.”

“……”

“Did you learn it?”

Ruth, who nodded at my question, closed his eyes tightly.

Then, he slowly took a deep breath and began to summon the Avatar [a spiritual or magical manifestation of a person].

I didn’t think he would fail. Ruth’s tendencies clearly had aspects similar to Roongsen. If there was an Avatar that suited Ruth the most on the continent, I think it would be Roongsen.

‘Ilia is Aslahi, Ruth is Roongsen.’

To be able to use the cold-blooded swordsman Aslahi and the Knight of Fire Roongsen as chess pieces…

The moment I was happy just thinking about it.

Whoosh!

Ruth’s eyes, which had reopened, began to flutter with a blazing crimson energy.

At the same time, I admired inwardly.

‘Yes, that’s the color of the Red Castle.’

The energy possessed by the true owner of the Red Castle.

The color of Redran and his Red Knights was a red color that anyone could see was filled with the stench of blood.

But now, the energy that Ruth was emitting was a pure crimson color that perfectly resembled the color of the Red Castle.

“How do you feel?”

“Right now…”

Ruth, who was momentarily speechless in the face of the overflowing power, nodded.

“I think I can even beat the Vice-Commander.”

I nodded in satisfaction at Ruth’s words that he could even beat Barangka, the vice-commander of the Wind Knights.

“Yeah. It’s worth feeding him.”

Cough!

But as expected, the price of summoning the Avatar was terrible. Ruth, who couldn’t maintain it for long and erased the energy, coughed up blood and staggered.

“T, this is no joke. It’s a huge burden on my body.”

“Yeah, you’ll have to train hard.”

“There’s too much to do all of a sudden.”

“There’s a lot to do? You can just train here alone for the time being. I can take care of the rest of the business myself.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?”

Ruth shrugged, shaking his head.

“Didn’t you say, Young Master, that it was a simple deal? Instead of borrowing power from Roongsen, you should help him resolve his resentment.”

That was just what I said to persuade you.

“I did say that.”

“Roongsen has shaken off everything else, but there’s one thing he’s been worried about.”

“…What is it?”

What is it, this creeping sense of unease?

“Roongsen’s family, who were branded as traitors and disappeared.”

“……”

“I have to help that family.”

“Help them?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know how that family was treated in the kingdom?”

“Yes.”

“But you’re still going to help them?”

“It’ll be a little difficult, but I got something from him.”

“Well, even if I concede a hundred times and say you will, how are you going to help a family that has already been destroyed and disappeared?”

Ruth nodded as if telling me not to worry at my question.

“Looking through Roongsen’s memories, there was a child who was adopted far away after changing his identity before surrendering. If we track them down, can’t we find their descendants? Even if it’s not exactly a reconstruction of the family, I want to help them somehow.”

Ruth’s eyes were already filled with determination.

Besides, I have to do what I said earlier, so I can’t stop him, which is a headache.

“…Okay, do as you please. Good luck.”

I feel like I’ve got an unexpected side quest, but what can I do? Whatever will be, will be.

Anyway, I’ve achieved the most important goal by getting the Knight of Fire as my subordinate.

Then the next goal is…

‘How to screw over the arrogant Redran.’

This is a problem I need to think about, so let’s take it slow.