How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 191

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 192

Chapter 49. Road Maker

Redran, having lost his sharpest weapon, the Berserkers, returned directly to the main camp surrounding the Trot Barony.

Since then, Redran had remained silent for days, without making any notable moves.

It was expected. He needed time to recover.

Of course, Redran being quiet was also fortunate for me. I had my own problems to deal with.

“How is she?”

Having hunted a wild rabbit, I entered Kalandart’s house and immediately asked about Ilia’s condition.

“As you can see.”

Lahenna, who was leaning against a chair and reading, closed her book at my question.

“That’s a relief.”

Next to Lahenna was a bed, and on it, Ilia was sleeping peacefully.

“When do you think she’ll wake up?”

“I don’t know. I’ve told you repeatedly, great power comes with a great price.”

“You have.”

“You’re not even human, and this child is different. It must have been a great strain.”

“Saying I’m not human, that stings a little.”

“I don’t think I said anything wrong.”

“That’s why it stings even more.”

I sighed deeply and looked down at the sleeping Ilia with my arms crossed.

Indeed, Ilia was remarkable that day. Of course, it shone brighter because of Lahenna’s power, but the power she displayed was purely Ilia’s own ability.

But as Lahenna said, great power comes with a price.

As a price for releasing and bonding with the sealed Demonic Sword, Ilia couldn’t even maintain her sanity for a while after the battle.

She couldn’t even recognize me properly, so there’s no need to say more.

After I stepped in and forcibly subdued her, Ilia had been sleeping ever since.

“When will she wake up?”

“She’s not just sleeping. She’s probably fighting something.”

“Fighting?”

“Is this child’s sword a normal weapon that exists for humans?”

“No.”

“Right. It’s a Demonic Sword. One that devours even its wielder. It would be stranger if she were fine after bonding with such a thing.”

“Well, she won’t be devoured.”

“She won’t?”

“When Ilia and I were alone in the Blue Mountains, I tested it a few times. From simple use to briefly using full power.”

“Was it different then?”

“She endured it quite well back then. But this time, the stress of a real battle must have been quite significant. So, it must have been a bit difficult to control.”

“You make it sound too easy.”

“I know Ilia well. She’s not one to be eaten by such a blade.”

“Well, if you say so.”

Taking advantage of the brief silence, I prepared the rabbit and started making stew.

“Where’s Kalandart?”

“In his room.”

“He must be painting. Why don’t you go be his model?”

“……Quiet.”

I shrugged at Lahenna’s fierce glare.

“So, what are you planning to do?”

“Redran is quiet for now, but we can’t just stay here. I’m planning to move soon.”

“What about Ilia?”

“Kalandart will take good care of her.”

“Isn’t he unreliable as a babysitter?”

“Lahenna will be there to help.”

“…….”

I chuckled at Lahenna’s glare again.

“You know what? You two are surprisingly a good match.”

“Quiet.”

“Anyway, when Ilia wakes up, give her this. And feed her this too.”

I took out the letter I had written from my pocket and placed it on the table. After confirming that the stew was done, I turned off the fire.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Redran’s army is everywhere. I have to move when it’s dark.”

“Be careful on the road.”

At Lahenna’s words, I smiled faintly as I packed my things.

“What’s there to be careful about on the road when Kalandart is here?”

* * *

Kalandart, transformed into a giant raven, was flying in the sky, and I was enjoying the night breeze on his back.

The scenery was great. Looking down, I could see the lights of Redran’s army surrounding the Trot Barony at a glance.

However, I couldn’t just admire it. Even though the Red Knights had been defeated, Redran’s army was still powerful.

I was worried about the upcoming battle. Of course, I had a basic plan in place. But the situation changes every moment, and I had to consider all the variables each time.

“Is that it?”

After flying for a while, I began to see the Trot Baron’s castle in the distance.

It wasn’t difficult to recognize even in the dark night, thanks to Ruth, who had lit a beacon on one of the castle walls as promised.

“Fly a little lower over that wall. I’ll get off on my own.”

Caw-!

At my words, Kalandart opened his beak and let out a clear cry.

Hmm, I was honestly a little disappointed. I thought Kalandart would stutter even his raven cry.

Afterward, Kalandart increased his speed and began to descend towards the ground as if diving.

Timing my jump, I felt the moment had come and threw myself onto the castle wall.

Thud!

Even with pulling up mana and performing a parkour landing, a tingling sensation ran through my ankles.

‘Tingly.’

I got up and looked around.

Thanks to Ruth’s prior arrangements, there was no one on the wall.

Well, it wouldn’t be good to be caught coming and going from here during the war.

“Young Lord.”

Scratch that, there’s no one here.

A shadow began to walk towards me, sensing my presence.

It was a familiar figure. A sturdy build, broad shoulders, and a familiar gait. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize that.

“Ruth.”

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yeah.”

“Is that the druid you mentioned before?”

“That’s right. Big, isn’t he?”

Ruth nodded as he watched the raven soar again and begin to disappear.

“He is big.”

“Ask him to give you a ride sometime. It’s quite fun.”

“……I’ll pass.”

“Scaredy-cat. Anyway, it’s good to see you again after a long time.”

“Welcome back safely.”

Ruth and I shook hands firmly and exchanged brief updates.

“How’s the Trot Baron reacting?”

“What do you think? Redran’s Red Knights were completely crushed. He’s very excited.”

“Really? The soldiers don’t know yet, do they?”

“Not yet, but I don’t think there’s any point in hiding it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rumors are spreading like wildfire among both allies and enemies that the Red Knights who were chasing the Frost Mercenaries have disappeared.”

“……I can’t stop the rumors. Well, that aside, where’s Sella now?”

In any case, the person I needed to meet most urgently right now was Sella Flores.

As I’ve repeatedly said, the key to this plan is her.

“Sella? Let’s go together. I’ll guide you.”

Following Ruth, who started walking ahead, I opened my mouth again.

“How’s Sella doing?”

At my question, Ruth paused for a moment, lost in thought. He probably understood the meaning behind my question: whether she was just a figurehead with only bloodline, or whether she was showing her steps as a confident lord.

Ruth’s answer after much deliberation was simple.

“I think it’s best if you see for yourself. Sella seems to want to meet you too.”

See for myself? And she wants to meet me first?

Puzzled by the ambiguous answer, I headed to the upper part of the castle, passing through the fortress.

Finally, Ruth stopped in front of a door, straightened his clothes, and knocked.

“Count Cain Lindayer has arrived.”

The closed door slid open.

Facing the figure that appeared, I could belatedly understand Ruth’s words to judge for myself.

‘Is that the woman I knew?’

Certainly, the Sella in my memory was a woman with the rough edges of a mercenary that irritated people.

But the current appearance was different.

Dressed in a uniform that a military commander might wear, her distinctive red hair was neatly braided.

On her chest was a red rose brooch, the symbol of the Flores family, and around her waist was a longsword that knights would use.

At the dignified appearance, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I wouldn’t recognize you.”

Sella, who met my gaze, nodded slightly.

Wow, such refined gestures. What kind of time did she spend under Marquis Irfe?

“It’s been a while.”

Her voice was also dripping with softness.

Is this why parents are so eager to send their children to Seoul? How can a person change so much just by staying in the capital?

“You’ve changed a lot.”

However, upon hearing my compliment, Sella released her stiff posture and raised the corners of her lips.

“Well, this much is basic.”

What, where did the graceful woman from before disappear to, and a flashy thug reappeared?

“Was that acting?”

Sella giggled at my bewildered question and gestured into the room.

“Don’t just stand there, come in.”

After entering the room, I sat at the table and chuckled again.

“Thinking about it again, it’s ridiculous. What was that act? I was really fooled.”

“Think of it as revenge for leaving me alone in the capital.”

“…….”

Sella smiled slyly at my laughter.

“Don’t be too upset. You’re not the only one who was fooled.”

“Anyway, it seems like it’s been a while since we met. How have you been in the capital? Marquis Irfe didn’t bother you, did he?”

“Not really.”

“Not really? I thought you might have been uneasy.”

“Ah, Marquis Irfe took good care of me. I didn’t receive any discrimination or anything like that.”

According to Sella’s explanation, after staying in the capital, she underwent swordsmanship training and accumulated the culture and academics that she should learn as an aristocrat under the leadership of Marquis Irfe.

“Wasn’t it hard?”

“I had a lot of complaints at first. It felt like I was forced to wear clothes that didn’t fit. I was also upset that you and my colleagues just left me behind.”

“Understand. There were reasons.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Still, looking at you now, it seems like you’ve put in some effort? I was completely fooled just now.”

“Anyone who spends time with those extreme capital noblewomen will become like this.”

Sella sipped her tea and nodded.

“It’s not like I only have bad memories.”

“That’s a relief. So, how does it feel to be reborn as Flores [referring to her family name and status]?”

At my question, Sella sighed softly.

“I still don’t really feel it. But I did read the story of the Flores family in the royal library because it’s a burden I have to bear in the future.”

“Impressions?”

“It’s really the most terrible family in the world, isn’t it?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Sella’s words, who pouted her lips.

“I guess so. It’s a family that committed treason.”

“Still, Sir Ruth told me that there was some misunderstanding in the facts known to the world, that there was a clear reason why Runcen had no choice but to do so.”

Ruth, you blabbermouth.

Ruth turned his gaze out the window at my burning gaze.

“Don’t blame him too much. He never told me exactly what it was.”

“……Well, anyway.”

“It was one day when I was living busily.”

Sella’s expression changed as she put down her teacup.

Her appearance, biting her lip with her teeth exposed, resembled the time when she lived as a worn-out mercenary.

“Marquis Irfe took me somewhere, saying he had a gift for me.”

“A gift?”

“I wondered what it was and followed him. He went down to the gloomy royal underground prison. When we arrived, there was a man imprisoned there.”

“A man?”

At my question, Sella got up from her seat and took out a bundle of papers from the drawer and handed it to me.

I took it and started reading the contents slowly.

The contents were simple: someone offered a large reward and commissioned a request, and those who accepted the request handled it neatly with an assistant.

“…….”

The problem was that the guys who accepted the request were a group of looters, and the target they targeted was the Riley family.

And the client and assistant were…….

“The Basarak family.”

After confirming the last content, I tilted my head.

“Then the man in that prison was?”

“He was a mercenary who participated in the request at the time. His testimony was said to be decisive.”

“Is it reliable information?”

“Marquis Irfe said it was information brought by investigators, so I could trust it.”

Investigators.

Then there’s nothing more to say. If necessary, these were the secret investigators who would get testimony from the dead.

“So, Marquis Irfe gave you this as a gift?”

“Yes, saying it would help me get my mind right.”

……A fox-like old man.

He must have been worried that Sella’s shaking mentality would disrupt my plan. Anyway, he gave me a good motive.

“So, what’s your intention?”

Sella, who sat back in her chair at my question, lit up her eyes.

“I have a few questions to ask.”

“What is it?”

“If we win this war, what will happen to Redran’s custody?”

“It’s usually a matter for the lord who wins the war to decide, but in this case, it will probably go according to the royal family’s wishes.”

Originally, Sella Flores would be in charge of Redran’s punishment if she had overthrown Redran with her own power.

But her current situation is nothing more than an empty shell. She has no choice but to be dragged around by the royal family.

Sella, who also knew that fact, sighed softly.

“What will the royal family do with Redran?”

“They’ll probably execute him. Redran is a dangerous guy, so the royal family will want that too.”

I’d like to keep him alive and use him as a chess piece. Whatever his humanity, Redran is a powerful knight and has excellent command skills.

But that was the story when he was willing to be persuaded.

Considering his past actions and his cunning nature, he won’t come in nicely. So, Redran will probably die.

“Count Cain.”

It was then. Sella, who heard my explanation, suddenly got up from her seat.

Then she came to me, knelt down, and bowed her head.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. So, please keep Redran, that bastard, from being touched by others.”

“……What do you mean by not being able to touch him?”

Sella’s eyes, who raised her head again at my question, were burning with anger.

“I want to give that bastard the same sense of loss that I experienced without anyone else’s interference, with my own hands.”

Loss.

She, who had lived as the Riley family, had spent a long time with the terrible memory of her family collapsing and her family being murdered.

What level of loss did she experience? I can’t dare to guess, but it was probably the pain of living without being able to die.

I smiled bitterly as if Sella’s emotions were being conveyed.

“That’s difficult. As I said before, Redran is someone the royal family wants to kill and get rid of. It’s almost impossible to take such a guy out just for your own personal gain.”

“……You once told me something.”

“What I told you?”

At my question, Sella nodded with a firm look.

“That there are things that only a broker can do.”

Ah, was that what I said back then?

It was a story we shared alone in the forest during the journey to the capital with Sella for the first time.

“But you seemed dissatisfied with being swayed by the royal family back then.”

“I was. But I’ve thought about it a lot. Can I shake off the royal family’s touch and lead Flores at the same time?”

“Conclusion?”

“It’s impossible. I was immature. I thought the position of Flores was similar to leading a mercenary group.”

“So.”

“I’ll accept it. Even if I’m swayed by the royal family, I’ll endure it and endure it, and someday I’ll be able to become independent. I’m going to work hard, study, and build strength for that time.”

Is it a positive change?

Sella, who nodded slowly, soon had an intense look again.

“But there’s no chance for Redran unless it’s now. But I have no ability or qualifications. But you’re different. So, please find a way. I beg you.”

Sella, who now had both arms on the floor, bowed her head as if touching the ground.

A way…….

Is there a way? A way to get that Redran, who is like a tumor to the royal family?

It’s not certain, but it was worth a try. If it succeeds, and if I can subdue Redran, it’s not a bad thing for me either.

“I’ll try.”

Sella, who raised her head sharply at my answer, looked at me.

“But there’s a lot to do in the future to do that. So, you have to follow everything I tell you to do without complaint. If you can’t, I can’t grant your request.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“And one more thing.”

I opened my mouth slowly, looking at Sella, who was very nervous.

“As you know, I’m not a volunteer. So, you’ll have to pay me a very high price. Is that okay?”

“……I’ll pay any price.”

“Good. Then the contract is established.”