How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 142

Living as the Third Son of a Wasted Novel – Chapter 143

A few days later.

The conclusion came sooner than expected.

Just as I was having dinner at the inn I had booked, two people I didn’t recognize approached me.

Their attire didn’t reveal their status, but I could easily guess who they were.

When they took off their deeply pulled-down hoods, it was, as expected, Baron Trod and Talogan.

“Baron Trod.”

“There are many ears listening.”

The two of them, raising a finger to their lips, slowly looked around and sat down at the table.

“We’ve come to give you an answer.”

“Why didn’t you call me to the Lord’s castle…”

“There’s no need to stir up trouble unnecessarily.”

“Are there any concerns?”

“Although it’s not official, many lords in the East are tacitly united against Basarak. In such a situation, it wouldn’t be good if word got out that a member of Lindayer set foot in this lord’s castle, and a positive atmosphere followed.”

They had to meet while avoiding the eyes and ears of other lords. That meant Baron Trod’s mind was leaning towards it.

“Have you made a decision?”

“For now.”

“For now…”

When Rihas picked up the bottle, Baron Trod gladly raised his glass to receive it.

“I can’t just accept everything blindly. I have to consider many things.”

“Good. Let’s talk frankly. What do you want, Baron?”

“First of all, I heard you were giving up the Southeast.”

“That’s right.”

“If that happens, we’ll lose the opportunity to unite and fight against Basarak. It might even give them an excuse to defeat us individually.”

“That’s probably true.”

“So, I need assurance.”

The Baron, who had downed the strong liquor in one gulp, hardened his face.

“Assurance that Lindayer won’t abandon us.”

“Assurance, you say?”

“I’ll cooperate with everything, so guarantee at least the Trod territory.”

“Guarantee…”

“I don’t know what your plan is, but if it fails and you lose, Lindayer will take full responsibility.”

“What do you mean by responsibility?”

“The Lindayer family will take responsibility and defend the Trod territory. If a member of my family is captured, they’ll pay the ransom; if territory is taken, they’ll retake it.”

You’re taking out double, triple insurance.

Well, there’s nothing I can’t agree to, but there are things I need to make clear.

“Alright. However, that responsibility will be limited to the people and territory of the Trod baronial family.”

“Good.”

The pack of wolves that had been fighting together to face the tiger named Redran was no more.

All that remained was a desperate struggle to protect themselves in the rapidly changing situation.

“Is that all?”

“And after we defeat Redran, I need a definite answer regarding the disposition of Basarak.”

“Is it not enough to remove Basarak’s influence?”

“From what you’ve said, it sounds like you’re going to make the Trod territory a battlefield, so there must be a price for the bloodshed, right? Post-war reconstruction can’t be solved with a few gold coins.”

That’s a fair point.

But how much can we squeeze out of Redran? I tried to estimate it in my head, but it wasn’t promising.

“Even if we stop Redran, it would be impossible to counterattack. We should focus on simply negotiating a favorable end to the war. Therefore, we won’t be able to demand much.”

“I don’t expect too much either. I’d be satisfied with regaining some of the land they took from us long ago and signing a non-aggression pact [an agreement between countries not to attack each other].”

“That’s not difficult. I promise.”

“Good.”

Baron Trod picked up the bottle, and I raised my glass to receive the liquor.

“Then, let’s put aside the detailed agreement for a moment and ask something. I heard that you and two subordinates, just three of you, can stop Redran. What on earth is that extraordinary method?”

“I can’t tell you the method rashly right now. I have to maintain security.”

“…If I don’t know that, I can’t do anything.”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that. There are only two things you need to do, Baron.”

“Two things?”

“Yes.”

“Simple, I like it. So, what do I need to do?”

“First, you must follow my opinion on everything regarding the territory war with Basarak.”

“…You’re asking me to hand over command?”

“No. I won’t take over command. I’m just asking you to refrain from acting independently and always discuss things with me. If you act separately, you might unintentionally disrupt my plan.”

“Act separately, you say?”

“After all, it will take quite a while for Redran to invade the Trod territory. You can’t stay here until then, can you?”

“That’s true. And the second thing?”

“The second thing is even simpler. Don’t do anything until I tell you otherwise.”

Talogan, Rihas, and Ilia, who were listening, all had dumbfounded expressions.

“…What did you just say?”

“I said, don’t do anything. Go about your daily life peacefully, as if you’re not making any preparations.”

“Even if Redran goes crazy?”

“Yes. That’s why I made the first condition. If you think something needs to be done, consult me. Well, I’ll probably just tell you to stay put.”

“What on earth is that…”

“The moment we annihilate Redran must be a decisive moment to turn the tide of the war. Until then, there’s no need to rashly be on guard. Don’t move unnecessarily, and focus on quietly gathering strength.”

“If we’re going to join forces, shouldn’t you tell me the detailed plan? Are you going to hide it from me too?”

“Since I’ve agreed to take responsibility, I have no intention of doing things half-heartedly. Well, if you’re still uneasy, you can take back your choice. I can just go find another lord.”

Go find another lord.

It was a bluff-like pressure. It’s clear that Baron Trod’s territory is the best place to use as a stage for me.

Baron Trod was lost in thought.

But that thought wouldn’t last long. My warning about Redran was a reality, and Lindayer’s promise to take responsibility would be too sweet to resist.

“It’s time to decide. Will you face Redran directly, or will you borrow my strength?”

Adding one more word at the end, the Baron’s eyes wavered.

“…I’ll join you.”

In the end, Baron Trod accepted the offer.

With this, the battlefield was secured. Now that a place to fight has been created, it was time to find a way to fight.

Ah, but there was something to finish first.

“Ah, and Baron Trod.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

I glanced at Rihas and shrugged.

“It’s about the lance martial arts sparring. Can I borrow the castle’s training ground for a bit?”

* * *

The day after I beat Rihas to a pulp with lance martial arts.

I immediately spurred my horse and headed to the northernmost part of the Trod territory.

“This place is…”

Rihas, whose face was bruised from rolling on the ground several times during the sparring the day before, narrowed his eyes at the distant scenery.

It was a huge mountain.

Even though we had come to the northernmost part, it was definitely a mountain of a scale rarely seen in the East.

What’s unique is not just that.

The mountain stood alone in the plains. Considering that a mountain of that size would usually have a stem extending to form a mountain range, it was quite an unusual sight.

“Have you never seen a mountain before?”

“It’s not that, but… didn’t you say you were going to find a way to deal with Redran? But why did you come here?”

“That’s right.”

“But why did you come here? Surely there’s no secret weapon hidden in a place like this.”

“A secret weapon… maybe.”

“Yes? I was joking?”

When I affirmed it quite positively, Rihas opened his eyes wide in surprise.

A secret weapon. There’s something similar.

Leaving Rihas behind, I rummaged through the bag attached to the saddle.

Soon, what was caught in my hand and taken out was a scroll sealed with beeswax.

‘How long has it been already?’

It’s been almost half a year since I came out of the Great Forest and returned. Thinking about how fast time flies, I recalled the memory of that time.

“There is a druid [a priest, magician, or soothsayer in the ancient Celtic religion] who lives in seclusion in an isolated mountain in the Northeast. Deliver this to him and pass the test. Then you will get what you want.”

Rahenna Grantree.

The existence she spoke of is living in seclusion on the mountain standing tall before my eyes, and he probably has what I need.