How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 169

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Episode 170

45. A Midsummer Night’s Capital

It’s been a year since I last saw him after the attack. He’s clearly the leader of the Unholy Knights, possibly the Master.

The situation wasn’t good. I was clearly tracking the aura of black magic, so why is he here?

Did he set a trap? But how did he know I would track him down?

I can’t know the details, but the most certain thing is…

‘I’m screwed?’

This is probably the worst situation since I entered the novel.

A year ago, I was able to escape because he was careless. But it would be greedy to expect him to make the same mistake again.

He casually swept back his hair and shrugged.

“Why so silent?”

“Were you expecting a warm greeting?”

“Well, we’re not exactly on friendly terms.”

He nodded and then closed his eyes. It was a puzzling action. Closing his eyes in front of an enemy.

Is it the *yoyuu* [composure] of a strongman?

Well, he is strong. This cathedral is entirely within his domain right now.

‘Compared to Lordain…’

Is it fortunate? I felt less overwhelmed than when I first saw Lordain.

But then again, how many monsters like Lordain are there in the world?

Still, I have to remember that this guy has special abilities, like the two Unholy Knights I met in the Basherun Territory war.

“Hmm.”

He opened his eyes and smiled contentedly.

“You came alone.”

How did he know that?

I was momentarily taken aback, but I nodded, trying not to show it.

“Because this is the Capital.”

It was a roundabout way of saying that where he is, is in the heart of the enemy.

But he didn’t seem to care much even after hearing my words.

“Well, that doesn’t matter, but there’s no need to drag things out. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“The point being?”

“To put it bluntly, Cain Lindayer, join our side.”

Join them?

I chuckled at the sudden offer. Join them out of the blue? What is he talking about?

“Last time you wanted magic stones, and now you want me to join?”

“It’s no longer at a level that can be resolved by recovering magic stones. It’s because of you.”

“…So you’re going to try to win me over? And find out who knows information about me and clean them up?”

“That’s just a minor benefit we can get from winning you over.”

“So there’s another purpose?”

“Of course. It means we recognize your skills and talent.”

“Recognize?”

“The talent to reach the Expert level in just one year of seriously handling mana, the uncanny foresight that repeatedly thwarts our plans, and the courage to remain composed even when meeting me. How can we not be tempted? It would be a waste to kill you. A troublesome enemy is an invaluable ally.”

“Why all the sudden praise?”

“If I were to properly explain why I want you, a few hours wouldn’t be enough. But we don’t have that kind of time right now.”

His smile felt ominous.

The praise is nice, but still, joining the Unholy Knights? Of course, it’s ridiculous.

But if I refuse right away, I might miss the chance to find out his purpose.

“…If I join, what will I get?”

“Anything.”

“Anything?”

“Yes. Anything you want.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“Wealth? I’ll pile up gold coins into mountains. Women? Every woman you point your finger at will come to your bedchamber. Honor? You’ll be a proud axis in the new history we’ll create. Is there anything else you want? I’ll make it happen.”

Hmm, the second one sounds good?

But I’m not stupid enough to fall for such sweet talk.

There’s no guarantee that promise will be kept in the first place, right?

But unlike my inner thoughts, I crossed my arms with a serious expression.

“I’m intrigued.”

“Is that so?”

“But before that, if I join, who will I be serving?”

“You’ll naturally find out once you join.”

“I need to know who my employer is before I work.”

“Don’t play games. The only choices you have right now are to join or not.”

He was dodging the important part. Well, he wouldn’t be the leader if he were that stupid.

“What if I refuse?”

“Do you even need to ask?”

“…”

It was a foolish question. He wouldn’t say, ‘That’s a shame. Maybe next time,’ and leave if I refused.

Hmm, if I run away, can I save my life?

What’s fortunate is that he doesn’t know my true abilities yet.

If I focus on running away, I might be able to survive. Of course, that’s also a gamble with slim odds.

To plan my escape, I cooled my head and decided to buy time by saying anything.

“So, you came all the way to the Capital just to win me over? Isn’t that a bit of a waste? Why not just send an invitation by letter?”

It was obvious that I was trying to buy time. He seemed to know that, and he chuckled.

“Are you trying to buy time?”

“I’d be too upset to die without satisfying my curiosity.”

“Haha!”

He seemed to like my guts, and he nodded.

“Why did I go to all this trouble…? How should I put it, you’re a thorn in my side.”

“…”

“Yes. You’re like a thorn. You don’t pose an immediate threat to my life, but if I leave you alone, the wound will fester and rot, leading to death.”

“…”

“I’ll suffer a lot of damage from what happened in the Capital today. But that’s a natural process we go through as we move forward. Am I tearing off flesh just because of one thorn? It may seem like a loss right now. But as I said before, I can’t leave that thorn alone.”

“Didn’t you think you might die from complications from tearing off flesh?”

“Of course, there’s Graham in the Capital, and Count Lindayer, so it could be dangerous. But I’m confident I can kill you and get out before those two old men arrive. And this is not a lie or a bluff.”

“How did you know I would come looking for you like this?”

“You ask too many unnecessary questions. It seems like it’s time to answer.”

…He’s hiding the important part again.

Anyway, it was likely that he wasn’t bluffing, as he said. The *yoyuu* [composure] he’s showing is probably because he’s sure I came alone.

And from his point of view, it would be very easy to break the neck of someone who just entered the Expert level.

But as I thought before, I had a card he didn’t know about.

“So, do I only have one choice left?”

“Probably.”

Yes. There’s only one choice left.

Of course, the content of that one choice that he and I are thinking of will be different.

I nodded and put my hand on Aphen.

“Then you know my answer.”

“It’s a foolish choice.”

“Whether it’s foolish or not is not for you to judge.”

His face, which had been full of *yoyuu* [composure], hardened at my answer.

“No, it’s the right of the strong to judge that.”

“…”

“And in my opinion, you’ve made a foolish choice.”

His hand also went to his sword hilt.

Instantly, the feeling of my hair standing on end ran through my whole body.

The scene of my neck being cut was automatically drawn in my head. Instinctively, I drew my sword and raised it, creating an aura.

Clang!

A deafening explosion, unbelievable for a clash of blades, echoed inside the cathedral.

A bone-crushing shock was transmitted to my wrist. The aura that had bloomed on the sword quickly disappeared as if it had never been there.

I checked my mana heart. Only half of my mana was left. It was hard to believe that this was the result of a single collision.

‘Ha.’

Aura blocks aura.

Under that truth, the mana lost to block the opponent’s aura was enormous.

Fortunately, new mana was flooding into the emptied mana heart.

It was fortunate that the mana tunnel was open. If I were an ordinary knight, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the consumption of mana and would have collapsed helplessly.

“Still not thinking of joining?”

Mana was still dripping from his sword like molten lava.

Perhaps the attack I barely blocked just now was just a jab to show the difference.

Thinking that way, I can only laugh.

How am I supposed to survive?

“Too strong, isn’t it? Isn’t this a bit too much?”

“I can’t repeat the mistake of a year ago. Didn’t I tell you earlier? You can’t get out of here alive.”

“Okay. This changes things.”

“Are you thinking of joining?”

“Just 30 seconds. Let me think about it one last time.”

“I’ll give you 10 seconds.”

What a stingy guy.

But there wasn’t even time to argue about that stinginess. At this rate, my death was a foregone conclusion.

I nodded and spoke to Aphen.

‘Aphen.’

[…Ugh?]

‘I’m sorry for treating you carelessly all this time.’

[What? Is that your will? No! Don’t die!]

Who are you treating like a dead person right now?

I gritted my teeth, feeling annoyed.

‘I’m not dying. I’m asking you to help me.’

[Huh? Y-yes. How can I help you?]

‘Don’t you have anything? A spell that can get us out of this situation.’

[If I had something like that, I would have told you already!]

‘I guess so. Damn it.’

What would help? Haste or Strength?

But such auxiliary magic can’t bridge this absolute difference in skill.

That’s when it happened.

Something flashed through my mind.

‘What about the sleep magic?’

[It can work! But there’s no way it’ll work on a monster like that, right?]

That’s right. The magic resistance of a knight who handles mana is beyond imagination, so unless it’s at the level of a great mage, it’s practically ineffective.

‘But what if the person receiving it doesn’t resist and fully accepts it?’

[Well, it might work then… But unless that guy is crazy, he wouldn’t do that!]

‘You’re saying it works. Good, get ready to cast a spell.’

[What?]

Ignoring Aphen’s question, I grabbed my sword. I only have one chance. I don’t have multiple lives. So I’ll go all out from the start.

“10 seconds have passed.”

“Already?”

“So, what’s your answer?”

“Hoo.”

I took a light breath, smiled, and opened my mouth.

“My sword is the wind.”

「My sword is the wind」

The guy, who was tilting his head as if wondering what the sudden nonsense was, twitched his eyebrows at the white flash that suddenly came before his eyes.

But perhaps because he had experienced it a year ago, he easily dodged the flash and smiled.

“…That incredibly fast swordsmanship you showed last year. So you’ve finally chosen death?”

That’s not going to happen.

Immediately taking the second action, I opened my mouth again.

“A whirlwind that fells giant trees.”

「A whirlwind that fells giant trees」

At the same time as the second phrase was recited, the secret technique that had ground Birun and the two Unholy Knights alive in the past unfolded.

One wind was one flash.

The whirlwind created by countless flashes intertwined and rushed towards him.

“…”

The guy, who initially had a ridiculous expression, changed his expression and stepped back. It was a completely different response from Birun, who had faced it without much thought in the past.

Kaga gagak!

The whirlwind, which had grown so large, ground down the chairs and decorations inside the cathedral, becoming a storm that engulfed him.

But he calmly created distance and began to strike down each one that came at him first.

He was blocking it so calmly that I was losing my strength just watching. It was completely different from Birun, who had been ground down without being able to resist at all.

But still, the result isn’t bad. Thanks to the guy’s cautious attitude, I bought some time.

Jureureuk…….

After squeezing out the last of my strength to finish the sword dance, I felt the blood flowing down my nose and jumped out of the cathedral.

The inside was still chaotic due to the aftermath of the whirlwind. I can buy some time.

After that, I quickly took out the bow I was carrying behind my waist and drew the string in the air.

Beee-!

The signal arrow echoed across the dark night sky.

I gritted my teeth as I watched the scene with a swaying vision due to the aftereffects of the Avatar.

‘Okay, now the problem is…’

How long can I run?