How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 250

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 251

Chapter 60. The Ultimatum

The thick fog that enveloped Capital in the evening cast a gloomy pall over the city.

It wasn’t just the weather’s doing; there was something else in the air.

Workers returning home, housewives haggling for dinner ingredients at the market, and soldiers patrolling the streets – a diverse mix of people, yet their conversations all revolved around a single, unsettling topic.

“I hear a war is brewing….”

“And there’s talk of a demon appearing in the south.”

“My cousin, who works on a boat down south, says people are vanishing without a trace.”

“I heard there are fanatics who worship demons! They’re capturing people and offering them as sacrifices!”

These weren’t just idle rumors; there was a disturbing undercurrent of truth to them. And that truth had become a persistent thorn in the side of those residing within the inner castle, the royal palace.

As I walked through the streets, thick with these unsettling whispers, I bit into an apple I’d bought from a street vendor and glanced at Lordain beside me.

“Want some?”

“I don’t need it.”
The curt reply came from Lordain. He kept his face hidden beneath a hooded black cloak, and sighed softly as he surveyed the bustling street.

“Annoying.”

“What is, sir?”

“Smelly, noisy, and messy.”

“It’s a city that ordinary people dream of seeing once before they die.”

“A pathetic dream.”

“You’re not a very good tourist.”

“I didn’t come here to sightsee.”

Lordain clicked his tongue, clearly displeased, and pressed me again.

“So, is this damn playhouse over today?”

“Are you that bored?”

“Are you even asking? I’ve been rotting in that cramped inn for weeks.”

Indeed, the old, shabby inn room must have felt like a prison to Lordain, with his naturally free spirit. Drowning his sorrows in drink was only a temporary fix.

“I’m sorry about that. But it’s all a necessary process. You know, you have to let it sit to make delicious rice.”

“Let it sit? Rice?”

“It’s like that. Anyway, that tedious life will end today, so try not to be too angry.”

“Words… tsk.”

Just as I finished speaking, Lordain and I reached a busy intersection. A large tree stood firmly rooted in the center of it.

A figure leaning against the tree straightened up as he spotted me. He pulled back his hood and slowly approached.

It was a familiar face – Sir Taylor, the knight I’d accompanied Jeskal to meet at the palace shortly after arriving in Capital.

Taylor approached and gave a slight bow to Lordain, who stood beside me. He seemed every bit the old-fashioned knight I remembered.

“Sir Taylor, it’s been a few weeks. Has anything happened?”

“Nothing much, except that I’ve been a little busy.”

“That’s good. Then let’s get straight to the point. What about the task I asked you to do?”

“I’ve arranged a place. Would you like to go right away?”

“There’s no need to waste time. Let’s go right away.”

With that, I took a step forward, handing Taylor the apple I’d bought earlier. He took a bite.

“Where is the meeting place?”

“Um… an abandoned building on the outskirts of the castle.”

“An abandoned building?”

“That’s how it looks. In reality, it’s a base used by secret investigators.”

A base for secret investigators… My mind conjured up images of kidnapping, confinement, and torture, along with the metallic tang of blood.

“Can I take that as a good sign?”

“I don’t know. I just received orders. But there is something I can guess.”

“Is there a problem?”

Taylor, still chewing on the apple, nodded at my question.

“Count Kain, is it true that you spread the rumors circulating in Capital yourself?”

Words travel fast. The stories I had subtly leaked to the captain of the Golden Honor had been amplified and spread throughout the kingdom by the Blue Wind Merchant Guild for weeks.

Clearly, this wouldn’t sit well with those in power.

If I thought about whether it was necessary, it might not have been. But if I said it was unnecessary, that wasn’t the case either.

“I wonder.”

“Problems can be created as much as you want if you make an issue of it. In other words, you could be punished on the pretext of conspiracy to internal rebellion.”

“I suppose so. If it’s a rumor I spread.”

Sir Taylor shook his head as I continued to play dumb.

“I don’t know if you’re brave or reckless.”

“Let’s change the subject. What about Sir Jeskal and Investigator Peter?”

“As you said, Sir Jeskal and I only reported what we saw. I don’t know what Investigator Peter did. But wouldn’t he have acted according to your wishes? That’s why he arranged a private meeting instead of ordering you to be taken into custody.”

A private meeting. If I guessed correctly, Marquis Halin Irfe, the head of the Royal Court, would have arranged it.

After receiving a detailed report of what happened in the Southern Islands, he would have pondered how to respond to my proposal.

And the answer was revealed by creating today’s meeting. Of course, nothing has been confirmed yet.

Taylor, who had chewed the apple down to the seeds, spoke again.

“And I asked you before, to find out the atmosphere inside the inner castle.”

“How is it?”

“As you pointed out, there were quite a few people calling for a reversal [a change in policy or decision]. Of course, if you present Alione Rodkius and the magic stone as evidence, they won’t be able to do anything about it, but wasn’t your original purpose not that?”

“Of course.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to cut off the protruding branches. Cleanly. That way, they will grow straight and upright without being crooked.”

“They are nobles.”

“Well, do nobles not die even when they are hit by a sword?”

“……”

“If I hadn’t had them in mind from the beginning, there would have been no need to waste time like this for weeks.”

Having heard my answer, Taylor walked on in silence. Lordain didn’t care in the first place, so he didn’t say anything.

In the midst of that silence, the sun completely set, and night enveloped Capital. Reaching the outskirts through the darkness, I looked at the building Taylor pointed to.

“Is it there?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

“Wait.”

Taylor stopped me. He sighed softly and began to speak.

“Count Kain, I’m not a naive person. I know that the opposite of evil may not be good, but the lesser of two evils. That’s why I like you. It’s not a matter of justice and nobility. Rather, your methods are close to the opposite. But your purpose is clear: to benefit the kingdom. That’s why I don’t want you to die or be disgraced.”

“Are you confessing?”

“…So I hope you don’t act rashly in that place. This is sincere advice.”

Lordain chuckled at my attempt at humor, but Taylor remained serious. Feeling a little embarrassed, I nodded slightly.

“I understand. I’ll be careful.”

“Go in.”

Taylor turned and blocked the entrance, raising his hand to his sword as if he wouldn’t let anyone else pass.

Leaving him behind, Lordain and I knocked on the door of the abandoned building.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Kain.”

It was a voice I had heard before. And at the same time, Lordain smiled.

“That’s quite the welcome.”

Before I could question Lordain’s words, the door opened, revealing a figure in the dim light inside.

He concealed his body with a black cloak, but he couldn’t hide his broad build. In addition, golden wings stood out on his slightly exposed chest – the dragon, the symbol of the royal family. You didn’t need to see the whole thing to know who it was.

When I raised my gaze, a white beard and strong features were revealed inside the hood. In my faint memory, I was able to place the owner of that face.

“Is that you?”

“Have you been well, Count Graham?”

The kingdom’s best swordsman and the royal family’s sharpest sword, Royal Knights Commander Master Count Graham, stood proudly, looking down at me.

But soon his gaze shifted to the side. Graham’s eyebrows twitched as he looked at Lordain, who met his gaze unflinchingly.

I felt the surrounding atmosphere grow tense.

Then, a fussy voice was heard from inside the building.

“If the Commander is blocking the way like that, you can’t come in.”

It was Marquis Halin Irfe, the head of the Royal Court.

At first glance, I thought Marquis Irfe had brought Graham to keep an eye on Lordain.

But Marquis Irfe wasn’t sitting in his seat. Instead, he was standing with his hands clasped in front of him in an old-fashioned manner.

“Ah, that’s right.”

Graham, who had taken his eyes off Lordain, slowly moved to the side of the door.

But the knife-like tension remained, as if he were screaming that he would draw his sword if anything went wrong.

As Graham stepped aside, the inside was clearly visible through the opening.

The outside was an abandoned building, but the inside was neatly organized. There was a spacious hall, and a round table was placed in the center.

And a man was sitting in the center seat of the table. It was a familiar face.

Sunken eyes, an expression where arrogance and prudence coexisted, and flowing golden hair that fell to his shoulders.

Belinthes Aransel.

The ruler of Midland and the owner of Capital was looking at me with his head tilted.

“It’s been a while.”

I started to kneel when I recognized him, but Belinthes waved his hand before I could.

“Don’t stand on ceremony.”

Then, he smiled slightly as he looked at Lordain, who was clearly unimpressed beside me.

“I apologize for making you walk to such a shabby place when I should be giving you a proper welcome, Elder Elf.”

“It doesn’t really matter.”

Lordain, who had been condescending to everyone he faced so far, used honorifics. Although his tone was still arrogant, I knew it was the greatest courtesy Lordain could show.

But Graham, who didn’t know him, twitched his eyebrows. Belinthes waved his hand dismissively.

“So, what are your impressions of facing my city in person? I hope you liked it.”

“I don’t think it’s a good place to live.”

“Hahaha! Of course, elves would be more comfortable with lush greenery than splendid buildings. I asked a foolish question. Well, let’s take a seat first. Kain Arfen, you sit down too.”

At Belinthes’ command, Lordain and I slowly pulled out chairs and sat down.

At the same time, Belinthes gestured. A servant, who I hadn’t even noticed, appeared, placed teacups, and poured tea.

Belinthes savored the tea with elegant movements, then put down the cup after wetting his throat. He fixed his unique, sunken eyes on me.

“I heard from the head of the Royal Court about the harvest you obtained in the South. It’s a wonderful heroic tale.”

“You flatter me.”

“Your modesty is excessive. You have uncovered the mastermind of the conspiracy and even captured the cunning bear’s cub, so who can belittle this as excessive praise?”

The Neviros Order, the conspiracy and magic stones they dream of, and the direct heir of Rodkius who cooperates with the Order.

From Belinthes’ satisfied expression, I thought things would be easily resolved.

“But I don’t understand why you are confusing me when only the finishing touches are left.”

Of course.

Belinthes, his expression turning serious, tilted his head.

“Why did you spread such strange rumors in my kingdom?”

I remember when I first had an audience with Belinthes. At that time, I gave a lengthy briefing in exchange for Flores’ amnesty. At this point, doesn’t Belinthes enjoy it too?

I pushed aside my trivial thoughts and nodded.

“I’ll explain from the beginning.”