How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 184

The tavern’s dining hall still buzzed with the sounds of people enjoying their food and drinks. Despite the lively atmosphere, a chilling tension hung over the table where I sat.

“Are you really serious about this, Young Master?”

“Of course. Do you think I’d be joking about something like this?”

“……”

Sensing my firm resolve, Ruth didn’t push the issue and fell silent.

Then, Ilia, who had been listening quietly, spoke up cautiously. “In that case, how should we go about recruiting mercenaries? The requirements would have to be quite strict.”

“We won’t be recruiting mercenaries separately.”

“……Surely you and I can’t operate alone, Young Master.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. Marquis Irphe has promised to send people.”

“Mercenaries? But if we don’t screen them ourselves, there could be security issues…”

“It’s fine. They won’t be ordinary swordsmen.”

“What do you mean by ‘not ordinary’?”

“Ilia, you may not know it yet, but the royal family has more assets than just the Royal Knights.”

Ruth, who had been listening intently, narrowed her eyes at my words.

“Are you saying Marquis Irphe is sending investigators?”

“Yes.”

Royal secret investigators, reporting directly to the King.

Marquis Irphe was able to gather and utilize vast amounts of information behind the scenes because of their existence. [These investigators acted as the King’s eyes and ears, gathering intelligence and carrying out sensitive missions.]

If the Royal Knights were the royal family’s sword, wielding power openly, the investigators were the royal family’s sharp daggers, operating in the shadows.

Recalling Marquis Irphe’s promise of support, I nodded.

“In any case, Ilia and I will be solely responsible for handling this first phase of the plan.”

“……”

Ruth wore a conflicted expression. She clearly wanted to follow me, but seemed hesitant because it went against her principles.

“Ruth, I have another important task for you, so don’t be too disheartened.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Sella will be arriving in this area soon. One way or another, Sella is the most important person in this project. So, I need you to protect and guard her at all times.”

“……Understood.”

“That doesn’t mean you can just relax and do nothing. While Ilia and I are in the southeast, there’s something you need to do after you meet up with Sella.”

“I’ll do anything I can.”

“Good.”

At Ruth’s eager response, I took out a bundle of papers I had packed in my bag and handed it to her. It was a plan I had been constantly pondering, supplementing, and revising since I first met Sella.

“Memorize all of this. Then burn it.”

Ruth’s jaw dropped at the thickness of the bundle.

“A, all of this?”

“Yes, all of it. Can’t do it?”

“No, I can. I’ll stay up all night memorizing it.”

“It’s not just about memorizing. There are actions you need to take written there, so you have to proceed without any mistakes.”

“Understood.”

“Keep in mind that if this gets leaked, we’re all finished. So, manage it more carefully than your own life.”

“Yes.”

At my serious words, Ruth carefully took the bundle of papers, as if afraid someone would see it.

*Thump!*

Following that, I placed a pouch full of gold coins on the table.

“Use this to cover the necessary expenses. If it’s not enough, I’ve already told Jess to provide more if you ask.”

“Yes.”

“Now, I’m going to meet Baron Trot, explain the current situation and plans, and then head down to the southeast with Ilia.”

“How much information are you planning to disclose to Baron Trot?”

“I’ll have to gauge it appropriately. Either way, Baron Trot won’t worry too much since I’ve offered him Lindaier as insurance.”

“Understood.”

*Clang!*

Feeling that things were settled for the time being, I picked up my beer glass to lighten the mood.

“Stay healthy until we meet again.”

“Yes, you too, Young Master. Ilia, you must take good care of the Young Master.”

“I’ll serve him well, even at the cost of my life.”

Was I going to be separated from Ruth again, after being together since the Bashrun estate battle last year? A sudden wave of unease washed over me.

I let out a small sigh and clinked glasses with Ruth.

* * *

After parting ways with Ruth, I headed to Baron Trot’s manor. [In this world, a Baron’s manor often serves as both a residence and a fortified castle.]

As I entered the still combat-ready castle, I was greeted by a familiar face.

Was it Talogan? His thick beard was etched in my memory.

“You’ve arrived, Baron. Ah, I should call you Count now.”

“It’s been a while, Knight Talogan.”

When I first came here, he was full of hostility towards me, but now Talogan regarded me with respect.

“I never imagined Redran would reveal his ambitions so openly. It’s amazing how things are unfolding just as you predicted, Count.”

“There’s nothing great about it. More importantly, where is Baron Trot?”

“He’s waiting for you. This way.”

As I began to walk down the long corridor of the castle, I spoke to Talogan.

“What’s the current war situation?”

“According to the messenger pigeon that arrived yesterday, the southeast is on the verge of being invaded. It’s practically at our doorstep.”

“How are they responding?”

“All the lords of the southeast are evacuating the citizens from the outskirts and hastily summoning their knights and arming their forces. Having seen the army that Redran has raised this time, they must have realized that this is not a simple matter.”

“Not everyone would have been able to respond so quickly.”

“Well, it seems that a few territories adjacent to the Basarak estate have already surrendered to Redran. They had no choice, as their territories would be burned to the ground before they could receive support from other lords.”

“What about the others?”

“For now, the lords of the northeast have decided to form an alliance under Baron Trot’s leadership… but there are still a few issues.”

I had a rough idea of what the problems Talogan was referring to. But that was also within my expectations.

“I see.”

“In any case, it’s only a matter of time before Redran occupies the central region, so you can assume that the allied forces will be divided into the northern and southern armies. You can hear the details from the lord himself.”

Following Talogan’s guidance, we arrived not at the formal lord’s hall, but at a humble lounge.

“Count Cain! Welcome!”

Baron Trot, whose face was etched with worry, hurriedly got up from the sofa when he saw me.

“How have you been?”

“How can I be well! I’ve been worried sick that you haven’t come to see me in this situation!”

“That’s why I’m here now.”

“That’s a relief. Talogan! Tell them to bring out the tea.”

After we sat down, a person who appeared to be a butler placed two cups of tea on the table and disappeared.

“I never dreamed that a real war would break out.”

“Didn’t I warn you?”

“At the time, I accepted it because you promised that Lindaier would protect me, so there was nothing to lose. I repaired the castle walls and stockpiled enough military supplies just in case, but I still couldn’t imagine things would turn out like this.”

“You did well just by doing that.”

“For now, all the lords of the northeast have decided to unite, but some of them are saying that it would be better to recognize Redran as their liege even now. They’ve been frightened after learning that the size of Redran’s army is larger than they thought. It’s troubling when we should be united as one.”

This must have been the problem Talogan was talking about.

“Is that so?”

“Even if they say they’ll unite, who knows what kind of schemes they’re already plotting with Redran behind the scenes. Frankly, even if we unite, I’m also wondering if we’re not letting the enemy in.”

“That’s something to worry about.”

“You didn’t come just to comfort me, did you? What’s the plan going forward?”

“Well, won’t a hero appear from somewhere to save the east?”

“A hero? Are you talking about that rumor going around in the east? Don’t joke around, what are you even saying…”

Baron Trot, who was about to scold me, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“Could it be…?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what it is.”

“Are you saying that you spread that rumor?”

“For now, yes.”

“Oh, so that means you have a plan. So, who exactly is this hero? Even if we unite, the army will be far smaller than Basarak’s. He’ll need to be quite capable to lead them.”

“Well, he’ll probably lack the leadership skills to handle an army in many ways. Ah! But he might have some talent for gathering people.”

“……Are you kidding me right now? If a general leading an army doesn’t have leadership skills, what’s the difference between him and a scarecrow?”

“He’ll probably be the same as a scarecrow. All he’ll have is his lineage.”

“Lineage?”

“Yes. The person I’m bringing is the heir to the monarch who once ruled the east. I can guarantee that much.”

“……”

At Baron Trot’s reaction, which seemed to be saying, “What on earth are you talking about?” I let out a faint smile.

“I need to explain more, don’t I? Now, let me ask you. Do you know who the original owner of the Red Castle, which Redran now occupies, was?”

“The original owner of the Red Castle, you say?”

Baron Trot’s face gradually began to pale as he pondered my words.

“……Are you talking about the Flores family?”

“You guessed it right. The one who inherited the blood of the Flores family will be the savior of the east.”

At my confirmation, Talogan, who was standing beside him, flinched, and Baron Trot’s face also turned ashen.

“Flores is the family of a traitor who committed treason. It’s a name that shouldn’t even be mentioned!”

“Don’t be too harsh. Wasn’t it once the spiritual pillar of the eastern lords?”

“I don’t intend to deny that. It’s a clear fact that we once served Flores! But the situation is different now, isn’t it?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. Surely the Capital won’t send the Royal Knights to arrest the heir of Flores, will they?”

“……”

Baron Trot, who had brought his hands to his mouth in thought, began to consider the situation.

If he wasn’t an idiot, he would understand what I meant.

And Baron Trot wasn’t an idiot.

“The Flores family’s heir is opposed to Basarak, and from the royal family’s perspective, Basarak is a nuisance.”

“That’s right.”

“So, from the royal family’s perspective, they’ll be killing two birds with one stone and will remain silent for now?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case?”

As I smiled and answered, Baron Trot’s eyes began to widen.

“If we gather under the banner of Flores and overthrow Basarak?”

“How would the royal family react? Would they bother to capture Flores again and risk a second or third Redran emerging in the east? Or would they choose to take Flores back under their wing?”

“Taking them under their wing means…”

“Wouldn’t they order them to pledge allegiance to the royal family under the pretext of fulfilling the oaths they couldn’t fulfill in the past? For the sake of the stability of the east and the strengthening of royal authority.”

“But that’s only possible if we win the war, isn’t it?”

“Let me just say one thing. Although I won’t be on the front lines, I, who led the Bashrun estate battle to victory, will be in the shadows of Flores.”

“Count Cain in the shadows? So, the idea of the royal family taking Flores back has already been discussed to some extent behind the scenes?”

“Well, what do you think?”

I know my public image well.

Throughout the kingdom, they call me a young hero born of the times, and the royal family seems eager to bestow a title on me and bring me into their fold.

At my words, Baron Trot’s eyebrows twitched, and he swallowed hard.

Seeing that, I thought it was time to wrap things up and nodded.

“The appearance of the forgotten Flores will reunite the east, and Basarak will be shaken. The knights of Redran, who recall the loyalty of the past, will also have doubts. So, how will the war go from now on? Will it be Flores, who has gained the moral high ground, and the allied forces gathered under him, or Basarak, who only has spears and swords?”

“Ha, but those spears and swords…”

“Let me promise you just one thing. I will break those spears and swords at the cost of my honor.”

“……”

The contempt and oppression that all the eastern lords had received for hundreds of years for having once served a traitor was a common mark of shame.

But now, at the thought of washing away all that infamy and regaining their honor, joy began to fill Baron Trot’s face.

“Did you say that the lords of the east are frightened? Then, accompany the savior who will soon appear and receive their renewed loyalty. Then there will be only one path for them to choose.”