How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 173

Foolish, foolish, foolish…….

Walking through the long corridors of the palace, I repeated the same words countless times.

‘Foolish Marquis Irfe, foolish Bashrun, foolish officials, foolish Capital, and foolish…… Cain Lindayer.’

After cursing for a while, I ended up blaming myself.

‘It can’t be helped. It’s already over.’

Yes. It’s already over. Even though it wouldn’t have happened if I had been more alert.

But what can I do? Looking at it coldly, I can’t say that I had no fault at all.

‘I should have been suspicious at least once at the name Unholy Knight.’

Unholy Knight. An impure knight.

Impurity also implies corruption, so connecting it to that, there’s only one answer.

Death Knight.

A fallen knight.

In the Midland worldview, Death Knights had quite a few things in common with Liches, who become fallen wizards.

Liches, as is known, store their life force in a secret object to enjoy impure eternal life as undead. It’s common to find a suitable guinea pig as a shell to use as a substitute.

‘Death Knights have the same mechanism.’

In the same context, knights, like liches, could become immortal.

Of course, unlike liches, they have no magical abilities, so external help is essential, and they must abandon all the honor and beliefs they had in life.

Anyway, if I assume that black-haired guy is a Death Knight, everything that has been questioned so far fits.

The appearance of a skilled person I’ve never seen before is possible if he changed his shell, and summoning Ghouls is not a difficult ability for a Death Knight who has been reborn as the essence of black magic.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it…….’

It’s a moment when I feel pathetic that I haven’t noticed it until now, even though I had all that information in my head.

Of course, if I make excuses, there was a reason. Death Knights only existed as settings and never appeared in the novel.

Maybe the black-haired guy’s identity would have been revealed at the very end of the novel.

Of course, I’ve experienced Aslahina in Elven Lake.

But when I think about it, Aslahina should be seen as a wish fulfilled by Kerwin rather than a concept of corruption, so it’s hard to see her as a typical Death Knight.

‘It’s a headache.’

It’s definitely an advantage to get new information about the enemy. I don’t know what variables I would have experienced if I hadn’t known this fact.

But conversely, it was a clear loss that he also gained information about me.

It was meaningless to weigh which was the bigger loss and gain. It would be fair to say that each of us revealed one of our cards.

‘But I still have a lot left.’

I unconsciously touched Afien, which I was wearing on my waist.

[Hey, hey, is your body okay now~]

‘What’s with that annoying tone?’

[Ehehe? I was bored when you were sleeping, so I asked Rahenna to read me a book. That’s the tone that comes out of it!]

What did Rahenna read?

I sighed inwardly and walked for a while, and soon I saw my destination.

It was the center of the palace, where I had come to see the King before. The knight of radiance, who guided me to the front of the gate as before, opened the door and held out his hand to me.

“I will keep your weapon.”

Of course, weapons are prohibited in the center where the King resides, except for the Royal Guards.

I released Afien from my waist, sheath and all, and then stepped into the center.

And there was someone who came out to greet me in the center.

It was Marquis Halin Irfe.

There was no change in his appearance. He still had a dignified physique and a confident face that didn’t match his age.

But the atmosphere was a little different. How should I put it…….

Tension? Yes. He looks nervous.

I laughed inwardly at that fact. Where did the look of cheerfully laughing at me as a traitor go? And now you’re nervous?

“You look healthy.”

“It must be because I took a good rest.”

“Is that so? Well, if you slept for two months, it’s understandable. Then let’s go.”

After exchanging simple greetings, Marquis Irfe and I started walking side by side.

Where are we going? It didn’t seem like a private space like when I met the King last time. Maybe it’s a hall where official meetings are held.

“It’s a little early.”

“Early? I came right on time.”

“Oh, is that so? I must have told you the wrong time. Well, is there anything urgent? Let’s have a cup of tea.”

Wrong time, you could have just said you called me early because you had something to say, you dishonest old man.

With that, Marquis Irfe led me into a lounge in the palace, of which there must be hundreds of unnamed ones.

After that, Marquis Irfe, who was sitting face to face with me with warm tea in front of him, opened his mouth after a long time.

“Baron Cain.”

“Yes, Marquis.”

“This time is different from the last audience.”

“I suppose so.”

“Last time, everyone inside may have seemed different on the outside, but inside, they were all on your side.”

“Are there people who treat their own people as traitors?”

“……Anyway, I wanted to let you know that this time, not everyone is on your side. Of course, I trust your actions, but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful. Every gesture, every move, and even the movement of your lips will be recorded officially.”

The key figures of the Royalist faction, including Duke Bashrun and Count Lindayer, had all returned to their territories or direct jurisdictions.

Two months is a long time. They couldn’t have left their territories empty for that long.

Maybe that’s why the Marquis was worried. He must have been worried that I might make a mistake.

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you just make a script? I’ll memorize it and just recite it.”

“What script? It’s been two months already. The investigation has been done enough, and the conclusion has been tentatively reached.”

“Why are we gathering when the conclusion has already been reached?”

“There is a procedure. Besides, nothing is known about your actions that night, is there? Of course, I don’t think you had any impure intentions. But it’s different for other people. It’s a situation that can be interpreted maliciously enough.”

“Maliciously…… Are you saying there’s someone I should be careful of?”

“Baron Callem.”

“Baron Callem…….”

“He’s Marquis Rodkius’s lackey.”

“Is he a Capital official and Rodkius’s henchman? What a funny guy.”

“Considering Rodkius’s power, it’s not strange to have a henchman or two. Besides Baron Callem, his eyes and ears are all over the Capital.”

“Hmm, so is Baron Callem a dangerous guy?”

“Dangerous…… In some ways, he might be.”

What is it? Marquis Irfe gave a sly smile.

“Well, I’ll know when I meet him. By the way, Marquis Rodkius didn’t come out himself in the end and sent his lackey.”

“Officially, he’s too ill to attend.”

“I guess he has hemorrhoids.”

Marquis Irfe chuckled at the joke I threw.

“I hope so. Anyway.”

The Marquis, who had been silent for a while, took a sip of tea and nodded.

“Anyway, everyone acknowledges that you have made a contribution by finding the black-haired man who was the cause of this incident. You’ll probably get a proper reward.”

“I don’t like rewards disguised as shackles.”

“You’re a friend full of suspicion to the bone. Don’t worry. It’s a reward purely to commemorate your achievements.”

“Then I’ll gratefully accept it. What is it?”

“You will be awarded a title.”

“When you say title…….”

“From now on, I’ll have to call you Count Cain.”

Count? Suddenly like this?

Of course, even if he is a Count, he can be treated worse than a Baron if he has no ability due to the characteristics of the feudal system. After all, the power of the nobility was gold and swords.

But no matter how much that is the case, the title of Count is not something that can be given out as freely as giving out souvenirs.

“Suddenly, out of the blue, the title of Count? The backlash from other nobles will be very strong. Even if they are from the same Royalist faction.”

“Of course. Do you think I haven’t thought about that much?”

Marquis Irfe chuckled and put down his teacup.

“To be exact, it’s an honorary Count. Inheritance is of course impossible, and when you die, the title will disappear. There are no separate fiefs or by-products. It’s literally an honorary position.”

That’s right.

Well, in the first place, the royal family wouldn’t give such a reward unless they were out of their minds, but I still feel like they’re giving it and taking it away.

“When I hear that, it doesn’t seem like a reward given only for merit?”

“Do you know?”

“Isn’t it to give strength so that a low title doesn’t become an obstacle to the upcoming war in the East and the Southern Invasion plan?”

“If I tell you one thing, you understand two, so it’s really easy.”

Well, I have nothing to lose either.

Even if it’s an honorary position, it’s true that the higher the title, the stronger the voice and influence.

After that, Marquis Irfe got up from his seat as if he was done talking.

“Let’s go soon.”

“I understand.”

“I think you’ll do well, but please pay attention because it’s a place of high importance. I keep saying it because of my worries.”

“Don’t worry. What could happen?”

I nodded at Marquis Irfe’s words. After all, if it’s a play, I’m so sick of it that I’m used to it.

* * *

“I will ask Baron Cain Lindayer. Why did you suddenly leave the palace banquet hall that night?”

“I was going home early because I was tired from the tournament.”

“A knight who handles mana is physically and mentally tired from a simple mana spear match? That doesn’t seem to make sense.”

“There are two types of fatigue, physical fatigue and mental fatigue. I was the latter.”

“Please explain why you felt mentally tired.”

“…….”

Why is he arguing about whether I’m tired or not?

It’s been like this all the time. Every time I reveal my actions that night, he has been questioning me with questions disguised as questions.

Was it Baron Callem? It’s not like he rented this place, so why is he constantly picking on everything so that other people can’t even speak?

Now I understand why Marquis Irfe smiled slyly.

I wanted to grab him by the collar and throw him out, but I suppressed my anger because it was a place of decorum.

“……My opponent in the opening match was the famous master, Count Lindayer. Isn’t it natural to feel burdened when meeting such an opponent?”

“The tournament is a match that doesn’t use mana. Why did you feel burdened when you only had to compete with mana spear skills, whether your opponent was a master or not?”

Should I really throw that bastard?

I glanced at King Belintess, who was sitting on the highest seat.

The play seemed to be continuing. Belintess, who was sitting with a ‘I don’t know anything’ expression, felt my gaze and made a mouth shape without showing it to others.

‘You’re holding up well?’

……It was the moment I immediately understood why Belintess was doing such a play.

If you talk to guys like Baron Callem who are determined to pick on everything, you’ll go crazy.

It was a very wise move to pretend not to know and pass it on to Marquis Irfe.

‘It’s just today anyway, so let’s just bear with it.’

Yes. This too shall pass. It is said that if you have three patience, you can avoid murder.

I endured Baron Callem’s absurd quibbles for a while, but my patience soon ran out.

“Count Lindayer said that the black-haired man was a master, or an expert of the highest level equivalent to him. How did you survive fighting such a man?”

“…….”

At Baron Callem’s words, I turned my body and looked straight at him.

“Then are you saying I should have died there?”

“Please refrain from making misstatements that undermine the purpose of the question and answer honestly, Baron Cain.”

“Well. How would I know that? I ran away to live, and he just couldn’t catch me. What kind of trick or method is there in that?”

“Are you saying that the black-haired man deliberately spared you?”

“I told you a little while ago. How would I know that? Why don’t you ask the black-haired man directly?”

“The sinner committed suicide by an unknown and ominous method and became a ghost. So I’m asking you, aren’t I?”

“Then the conclusion has been reached. Since the only person who knew the answer died, the answer must have disappeared too.”

“Isn’t it possible to think of it in another way? Isn’t it possible that the death was a pre-planned event or operation?”

“Oh, is that so?”

I nodded and took steps toward Baron Callem from the platform.

Baron Callem looked embarrassed at that.

He wouldn’t have known that I would act so recklessly. Maybe the image of me that he imagined was sweating under a barrage of questions.

I bent down and whispered in Baron Callem’s face.

“You know that all questions and answers are officially recorded, right?”

“……What are you trying to do now?”

Baron Callem lowered his voice as the conversation turned private.

“From now on, I will seriously accept questions as many as the number of your teeth. How many teeth does a person have? About thirty? I don’t have that many chances. So you should choose your questions carefully.”

“T, teeth count?”

“For reference, I only count healthy teeth. I’m not interested in rotten teeth.”

“Are you threatening me now, Baron Cain!”

“What threat? It’s serious advice.”

I smiled at Baron Callem’s frowning face.

“Oh, and from tomorrow, you’ll have to raise your words to me [use more polite language]. It wouldn’t be bad to practice from now on.”

“R, raise my words?”

“I’ve been promoted to Count.”

“……B, Count?”

Even if it’s a feudal system, the story is different in Callem’s case. A bureaucrat noble family with nothing, even if it’s an honorary position, can’t ignore the Count.

I turned my back on the embarrassed Baron Callem and returned to the platform, and as expected, Callem did not say a word after that.