How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 234

Living as the Third Son of a Wasted Masterpiece – Chapter 235

The backyard of the brewery.

A chilling atmosphere hung in the moonlit darkness.

It began with Fleta. To avoid causing a commotion so late, she cast a Silas spell [a spell that creates a soundproof barrier].

“Now, no sounds from here will be heard outside.”

Taylor nodded at Fleta’s words and stepped forward. His dark, rugged breastplate, offering minimal coverage for mobility, was prominent.

Lordain, facing him, wore an ordinary shirt and was slowly tying back his flowing white hair.

Peter sat at a distance with a glass of wine, observing, while Fleta stood beside me, arms crossed, watching.

Jeskal… unlike the confident Taylor, he was intently studying Lordain.

Did he sense something unusual?

We’d find out soon enough.

*Swish!*

Taylor’s longsword was drawn with a chilling sound.

Lordain merely twirled the dagger in his hand.

Despite his seemingly nonchalant attitude, Taylor took slow, deep breaths to compose himself.

He was an excellent knight. He had regained his composure, ready to face the fight. Perhaps his earlier anger stemmed from someone provoking Graham, a pillar of the Royal Knights.

“Hah!”

The duel began abruptly, without a signal. Taylor, with a short, sharp breath, pushed off the ground and charged towards Lordain.

*Swish!*

The blue energy radiating from Taylor’s longsword began to surge. It was a manifestation of mana, capable of destroying anything it touched.

Common sense dictated countering it with the same energy. Mana should naturally emanate from Lordain’s dagger… or rather, it *erupted*.

Yes. It didn’t rise; it erupted.

Because it was so small, the dagger was obscured by the blue energy. All that remained was a long blade of blue flames.

What should I call that? A lightsaber? Yes. It resembled a lightsaber spitting flames in all directions.

“……!”

Taylor’s eyes widened.

It was the epitome of inefficiency. Manifesting aura [a warrior’s life energy] in that form was difficult, and maintaining it would be even more so. His mana would likely be depleted as if pouring water into a bottomless pit. But Lordain greeted Taylor with a relaxed expression.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Three explosions erupted. The blue light, torn apart by the collision of power, decorated the night sky.

After the brief blurring of my vision cleared, I chuckled softly as I assessed their condition.

“It’s over.”

Fleta, hearing my words, tilted her head.

“It’s over?”

“Look at their swords. Though one of them can barely be called a sword.”

Fleta’s gaze quickly shifted to the two combatants.

“What do you mean, look at the swords… Ah.”

Fleta exclaimed belatedly.

The reason was clear. The aura torn from Taylor’s sword in the previous collision hadn’t yet recovered.

On the other hand, Lordain’s dagger? It was the same as before. No, it was so perfect it was as if nothing had happened.

What’s even more surprising is that…

*Whoosh!*

Lordain’s aura, initially the size of a longsword, now soared as high as a two-handed sword.

He’s a monster. Even I, with a mana tunnel [a naturally high affinity for mana], couldn’t afford to waste mana like that; my supply wouldn’t keep up with the demand.

Lordain seemed to be roaring, as if proclaiming the extent of his power to the world.

At the same time, I caught a glimpse of Jeskal slowly shaking his head.

“This time, I’ll take it.”

Lordain issued a warning.

He pushed off the ground and swung the sword made of mana.

Taylor’s stiff expression spoke volumes. But he didn’t give up or back down. He took a step back with his left foot, ready to counter.

*Thud!*

However, contrary to expectations, the sound of impact was as soft as a pebble falling.

“…….”

Lordain’s blazing greatsword was merely resting lightly on Taylor’s sword.

Taylor’s eyes widened as he faced him up close.

*Sizzle!*

The sweat flowing down his cheek evaporated in the heat.

Lordain, who had only lightly touched him, slowly stepped back.

As he retracted the power he had been emitting, the blue flames slowly disappeared, leaving only a small dagger.

*Twirl-!*

Lordain skillfully twirled the dagger and looked at Jeskal.

“Next.”

Lordain indicated that his duel with Taylor was over.

No one publicly declared victory or defeat, but no one opposed Lordain’s decision.

Amid the quiet silence, Fleta’s small whisper was heard.

“If Lordain had used his full power…”

“Even without knowing, Sir Taylor would have been bedridden for a while. The internal injuries would have been severe.”

Taylor wasn’t some common thug but a proper Expert-level knight.

Expert-level.

A talent who would receive the best treatment in any family and could secure a leadership position in any knighthood.

Of course, one cannot fully assess an individual’s skill by simply dividing them into levels.

But no matter what, the authority that an Expert holds does not change.

Lordain defeated such a strongman so easily, and in a way that everyone could understand.

‘I have to have a proper fight with that monster? I’m going crazy.’

Suddenly, the destiny that Hashunar left me came to mind, and I felt a chill.

“Just as Lordain cut me with his will, may you also cut Lordain with a sentence that is my will.”

…Can I?

There’s no way. Not in my current state. Damn it.

While I was lost in such thoughts, I saw Jeskal getting up.

He approached Lordain and, contrary to expectations that he would immediately show hostility, politely bowed.

“May I request a duel without imbuing aura into our swords?”

A duel without using aura.

The reason for this is simple: when the gap between the two is clear and a proper duel is impossible.

In other words, Jeskal acknowledged the other’s superiority by requesting it first, and furthermore, he was asking for guidance.

It was a truly dignified and sophisticated way to declare surrender.

“If that’s the case.”

And Lordain would know that fact well. As expected, Lordain, whose fierce energy had subsided considerably, turned to me.

“Hey, kid!”

“Are you going to keep calling me a kid when everyone else is listening?”

“Shut up and give me a decent sword.”

“Did I leave something with you from before…”

I rummaged through my subspace bag [a magical bag with extra-dimensional space] and took out a suitable longsword that I had prepared in advance.

“What’s that? What kind of sword comes out of such a small bag?”

“It’s not like I’ve been doing nothing for years.”

“Looks like you’ve had some interesting adventures.”

Lordain grinned, swung the received longsword around, and got a feel for its weight. Then he turned and faced Jeskal.

“Then, I’ll go first.”

Lordain grinned at Jeskal’s declaration of war.

“Come on.”

* * *

The noisy duel was over.

To change the atmosphere, I told them to take some time and gather again, and I went to find Lordain.

Finding Lordain drinking again, I sat across from him at the table, unable to resist.

“How was Jeskal?”

“Huh? You saw it too, didn’t you?”

“Seeing it is different from facing it.”

“That’s true.”

Lordain nodded and paused, stroking his chin.

“What should I say? He was well-honed. He has great talent.”

“Is that so?”

“If he hadn’t seen you, he would have been quite surprised. Especially considering the short lifespan of humans.”

Jeskal and Lordain’s duel ended quite anticlimactically, even though they didn’t use aura.

Jeskal only fought for about twenty or thirty moves before stepping back without a word and declaring his defeat.

Isn’t it ironic? Usually, the more eager one is to learn, the more persistently they cling.

As if reading my thoughts, Lordain let out a faint laugh.

“Those who have to see and experience everything themselves are third-rate. A first-rate person knows how to grasp the forest by looking at just one tree.”

“I guess I’m third-rate then.”

“That’s right. That’s why it’s even stranger. How a third-rate person possesses such monstrous talent.”

“Is that a compliment? An insult?”

“Both.”

While we were exchanging pointless jokes, the door opened and Jeskal and Taylor appeared. Both had taken off their armor and changed into comfortable clothes.

Following them, Fleta also appeared. Her hair was wet and shiny, so she must have taken a quick shower.

“There are many good inns nearby.”

“It doesn’t seem like the story will end easily.”

“That’s true. Sir Taylor, Sir Jeskal, please come and sit down too. The story will be long.”

At my words, Jeskal approached and took a seat at the table first. Taylor, who followed, nodded slightly to Lordain and sat down awkwardly.

If that’s the case, he must have lowered his pride considerably to an elf, an alien, as he said himself.

As expected, Lordain just shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing.

Confirming that everyone was gathered, I stood up and clapped my hands.

“There was a small commotion, but anyway, everyone gathered here will be working as a team from now on.”

At my words, the five people except me looked at each other briefly.

It’s definitely an amazing force.

First of all, including me, there are three Expert-level knights. In addition, there’s a monstrous elf who’s close to Master, or maybe even a Master.

Besides that, there’s the 5th Circle mage [a mage’s power level] Fleta, who will be in charge of the rear, and Peter, an intelligence agent raised by the royal family. It’s truly a member that deserves the name of a small elite force.

I nodded, feeling a good premonition.

“From now on, what we’re going to do is an operation that hasn’t been officially approved. Therefore, from now until the end of the operation, everyone gathered here, regardless of their position, will carry out their duties equally.”

Well, of course, no one objected. I didn’t even think of bringing someone who would.

“In addition, I will be in charge of directing this operation. We will actively respond to variables that arise on the ground, but we will prioritize my command in the big picture. Anyone opposed?”

Again, there was no opposition.

“Good. First of all, Sir Jeskal, did you hear the rough outline of this operation from Marquis Irfe?”

At my question, Jeskal slowly nodded.

“If it’s an operation that Count Cain personally devised, I only know the rough outline.”

An operation that I personally devised?

Ah, is he talking about what I explained in front of King Belinte and the key figures of his royalist faction?

Fleta, hearing Jeskal’s words, sent a scary look as if asking what kind of operation it was. I guess I need to go over it properly.

“Since there are those who don’t know, I’ll explain it again. The operation name is New World.”

After that, I slowly began to explain.

The New World Project.

Expel Basarak, who seized the Red Castle, the center of the East, through the pardoned Flores family. After that, unify the divided East under the name of the reinstated Flores, and finally, use the power of the East to eliminate those with sinister plans.

“…….”

“…….”

Everyone who heard my explanation looked surprised. Ah, except for Lordain, who was still drinking indifferently.

“I have a question.”

The first to break the silence was Jeskal.

“Ask away.”

“I understand that the expulsion of Basarak and the unification of the East have already been completed.”

“That’s right. So now only the final stage remains. We must lay the foundation for that final stage to proceed smoothly.”

“The final stage is, of course, dealing with Rodkius?”

“Ultimately, yes.”

“Ultimately……?”

At Jeskal’s question, I gestured, and Peter, seeing it, moved the blackboard that had been placed in one corner.

Standing in front of it, I took a chalk and wrote ‘Rodkius’.

“Rodkius is a clear goal. But as I said before, dealing with Rodkius is just the final stage of this entire plan, and it cannot be said to be the most important goal.”

“It cannot be said to be the most important goal……? Are you saying there’s something more important than Rodkius?”

Nodding, I wrote ‘Nebiros Order’ next to Rodkius.

“They are the root cause of all this.”

“……Nebiros Order?”

“You must remember the ghoul incident that occurred in Capital during the National Foundation Day. For reference, the ones behind that incident are them. The same goes for the Baschren Territory War.”

*Crack!*

The sound of Taylor grinding his teeth echoed. And that anger was the same for Fleta, who had been calm throughout.

“There are many other criminal acts, but that’s not what’s important now.”

I bundled Rodkius and the Nebiros Order written on the blackboard together.

“Currently, these two groups are presumed to be in a cooperative relationship. Even though their ultimate goals may be different, they are an ominous alliance formed for the division of the kingdom, which is immediately beneficial to each other.”

Following that, I wrote the word ‘Evidence’ in large letters below the two names that were bundled together.

“The goal of me and you is to track down this Nebiros Order, identify its true nature, and at the same time, find the connection with Rodkius. If we do that, we can secure the justification for our final goal of conquering Rodkius.”

After finishing speaking, I gestured to Peter.

Then Peter began to distribute the bundles of paper that had been put together to the people.

“The contents written there are the information about the Nebiros Order that I have grasped so far. In addition, there is also information about the Unholy Knights, a military group held by the Order, so please familiarize yourself with it and then discard it.”

As soon as I finished speaking, people began to receive the papers one by one and read the contents seriously.

Looking at that figure, I became curious.

If they were to learn about the ugly conspiracy related to magic stones, what kind of reaction would they have?