How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 50

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 50

* * *

As expected, the match concluded swiftly.

Barangka, having been unhorsed, readily conceded defeat and approached me, extending his hand.

“You fought well, Third Son.”

“Lord Barangka, you too fought admirably.”

The moment our hands clasped.

Wahhhhhh!

Cheers erupted, celebrating the victor, and flower petals rained down upon the arena.

“The King will be pleased to see you, Third Son.”

“I hope that’s the case.”

“Since ancient times, a special privilege has been granted to the tournament winner. What is your request?”

The platform above bustled with activity as preparations were made for the victor’s commendation.

Royal guards and knights began to secure the perimeter. The crowd buzzed with excitement, eager to hear my request.

“As a knight, I wish to explore the origins of chivalry.”

“Pardon?”

Barangka questioned, taken aback by my statement.

“You will soon understand.”

I replied with a smile and dismounted my horse.

The King was carefully descending onto the platform. He appeared greatly impressed by the earlier match, his face flushed with excitement.

However, the sight was somewhat awkward.

He stumbled several times, struggling with his long cloak, and the large crown seemed ill-suited to his small frame.

‘A monarch born in the wrong era.’

Belintes Aransel.

A distant descendant of Belangkas the Great, the founder of the kingdom and the progenitor of the Aransel family.

How old is he?

Fifteen? Sixteen?

Either way, he was too young to bear the weight of a kingdom.

His father, the previous king, had died suddenly from illness, leaving him to inherit the throne at an early age.

Still, he carries the bloodline of the Great Emperor. Given time, he could surely mature into a ruler worthy of the throne.

The problem is that time is a luxury he doesn’t have.

Before the young King Belintes can even come into his own, the kingdom will be thrown into turmoil.

Numerous nobles will rise up from all corners, vying to usurp the throne.

Even internally, the situation is precarious. What if foreign powers also seize this opportunity? Can that young monarch truly withstand such pressures?

I wonder how many wise advisors surround him.

But if he had such advisors, the kingdom wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.

‘If the roots are rotten, the tree cannot grow straight.’

Indeed. The kingdom’s roots are decaying.

And I must excise and remove those rotten roots to save the branches.

Because I made a vow to protect the kingdom and minimize innocent casualties.

Even because of that promise I unintentionally made with Kerwyn Apen. Or even to find a clue to escape from this novel.

I must guide that young king.

“Kneel.”

Jeskal, who had approached, gestured for me to kneel. At his command, I knelt sharply. Following protocol, I lowered my head and raised my right arm in front of my head.

“Raise your head.”

A voice, still youthful but on the cusp of puberty, echoed loudly throughout the arena.

Glancing sideways, I noticed someone who appeared to be a magician standing next to him.

It seemed they had amplified the voice with magic so that everyone could hear clearly.

As I raised my head, the lord of Midland and the owner of Capital came into view.

“Your feats have impressed all. Some even say you are the reincarnation of Lord Hans Rodgon.”

Belintes’ face bore a striking resemblance to Belangkas. Of course, he is his descendant.

Looking directly into his clear eyes, I calmly replied.

“That is an overstatement.”

“An overstatement? You are the hero of the founding anniversary. I hear that Count Lindaier also won the tournament at a similar age to you?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“The Lindaier family has been the guardian family of the kingdom since ancient times. I am overjoyed to see that the lineage remains strong.”

A promising scion.

I felt an inexplicable sense of relief at Belintes’ words, which conveyed sincerity.

“Thank you.”

“Since ancient times, the winner of the tournament has been granted a reward befitting their glory.”

The arena fell silent as Belintes concluded his statement.

I could feel it. All eyes were fixed on me, awaiting my request.

“I wish…”

What is it that I truly desire?

It was not a confession to a noble lady, nor was it to become a royal guard and gain unparalleled honor.

“I want to follow the will of the Great Emperor, who was the kingdom’s founder, everyone’s knight, and the kingdom’s first sword.”

My voice shattered the silence that had enveloped the arena.

There was no cheering or murmuring. Everyone was contemplating the meaning of my words.

“…Explain in detail what you mean.”

King Belintes, also intrigued by the ambiguity, asked me to elaborate.

I understand his confusion. Even I thought it was vague.

I took a light breath and began to explain.

“I wish to peruse the Royal Knights’ Records.”

Sreung!

At my words, the Knights of Radiance surrounding me drew their swords.

“Explain yourself immediately, Third Son.”

Jeskal, at the forefront, aimed his sword at me.

The message was clear. Just as the Wind Knights’ Records belong to Count Lindaier, the Royal Knights’ Records are the exclusive property of the royal family.

Desiring access to them could be interpreted as a transgression, depending on one’s perspective.

Of course, I anticipated this reaction. I never expected them to readily grant my request.

“I would like to become a royal guard and rightfully earn the qualification. But.”

Belintes gestured with his chin, signaling me to continue.

“As Your Highness knows, the monsters teeming in the north are constantly attempting to invade the kingdom.”

“And so?”

“I am of the bloodline of a guardian family. My duty is to watch over the north, and therefore, my place is to return there. I must lead the family and protect the kingdom.”

Guardian family.

As I reminded him of his earlier statement, Belintes nodded.

“That is correct. So?”

“That sense of duty to protect the kingdom… I need something to firmly anchor my resolve, to prevent it from wavering.”

“And that ‘something’ is?”

“It is the reason I have come this far, it is everything. It is my identity as a guardian family.”

“And you believe you can confirm that identity through the Knights’ Records?”

“My family’s founder was a loyal knight under the Great Emperor in the old days. I want to find the achievements of those two heroes, see them with my own eyes, feel them, and solidify the path I must take in the future.”

Having finished my explanation, I lowered my head once more.

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

Clap- clap-

Then, a smattering of applause broke the tension.

“Truly loyal.”

Belintes nodded, impressed. Perhaps due to his youth, an emotional side was evident.

“Could there be a more honorable request in the world? I, Belintes, as king, command! Permission is granted to Cain Lindaier, the Third Son, to peruse the Royal Knights’ Records!”

Belintes, his face flushed with enthusiasm, declared his approval.

“Wahhhhhh!”

“Long live His Majesty the King!”

“Long live the Lindaier family!”

The arena erupted in cheers.

* * *

The perusal of the Knights’ Records was postponed until after the banquet. The schedule would proceed in accordance with the founding anniversary celebrations for the time being.

Thus, the performance that was the tournament came to an end.

I, the main character of that performance, felt a sense of relief as the curtain fell.

“Have a drink, Third Son.”

And when the performance ends, there is bound to be an after-party.

Attending the endless banquet, I found myself clinking glasses with Ruth, Lord Barangka, and other gathered knights.

“This… it would be awkward in the Hall of Radiance.”

“Why?”

“Because today’s protagonist has not appeared.”

The knights gathered around Ruth’s words burst into laughter.

Indeed, it was customary for the tournament winner to mingle with prominent nobles in the Hall of Radiance.

But I did not head there. Instead, I was holed up in the Knights’ Hall, taking a break in my own way.

The reason is simple.

‘A knight should act like a knight.’

Belintes was impressed by my words, but cunning nobles would suspect that I had ulterior motives.

It’s a kind of performance, a play.

I am a knight. I simply want to see the Knights’ Records with a pure desire as a knight. That’s why I’m still in the Knights’ Hall, isn’t it? A play.

“By the way, Third Son.”

Lord Barangka, who was drinking with me, spoke up.

“Do you have something to say?”

“I would like to share something with you in confidence for a moment.”

Yes. It’s about time.

“Then shall we take a walk for a moment?”

“Let’s do that.”

Leaving Ruth and our other drinking companions behind, Lord Barangka and I headed to the hall’s terrace.

“What is it that you wanted to share in confidence?”

Then, pretending not to know, I tilted my head and asked, and Lord Barangka shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s because of what you said in the arena earlier.”

“If it’s what I said in the arena… to His Majesty the King?”

“Yes. I’ll ask you directly. Was it intentional?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you doing this knowingly, or do you truly not realize the implications?”

How could I not know?

I gazed out at the scenery from the terrace for a moment and took a deep breath.

“The wind is cool.”

“Third Son, please tell me quickly.”

“Yes. You’re right. It was a knowing statement.”

As I readily admitted it, Lord Barangka fell into deep thought.

The reason for his concern is simple. It stems from a passage in my earlier statement in the arena.

[I must protect the kingdom while leading the family.]

Words that foreshadowed my intention to take over the Lindaier family in the future.

It is this prospect that troubled Barangka’s heart.

“Are you planning to fight in earnest?”

“Fight? Who am I fighting with?”

“Don’t you have the First and Second Sons?”

With those two?

I let out a light chuckle and held out my glass, and Lord Barangka lightly bumped his glass against mine.

“Lord Barangka, you are mistaken.”

“Mistaken, you say…?”

“The ones I will fight are not my brothers.”

“Then…?”

“My opponent is the existence that threatens our Lindaier family, and furthermore, the kingdom.”

“…”

“My brothers are merely protruding stumbling blocks. Proverbs say that stumbling blocks are just stepped over so as not to get caught.”

Confidence bordering on arrogance.

Lord Barangka may perceive me as arrogant. But it’s the truth.

From the outset, I never considered Dane or Seine as my competitors.

They were just minor obstacles to be overcome.

“You have great confidence.”

I clicked my tongue at Lord Barangka’s evasive response, mumbling those last words.

It is the law of the world that if you attack, you must also be prepared to receive it.

“How is it?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think it’s the childishness of a young Third Son who doesn’t understand the ways of the world?”

“…”

If he affirms, it means that he will definitely be at odds with me and take a different path.

But if he denies it, it means that he agrees with treating Dane and Seine as mere stumbling blocks.

“…The Captain had something to say to me.”

Suddenly, Barangka brought up the story of Gilaine [Esteban, the Knight Commander].

“Are you talking about the Knight Commander?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

Waiting for the answer, Barangka, who had drunk the wine, let out a low breath.

“Third Son and Ruth Meyer.”

Me and Ruth?

“Seeing the two of them reminds me of the Lord [Count Lindaier] and himself when they were young.”

“…Lord Esteban said that?”

“Yes. I didn’t know what that meant at first.”

Count Lindaier and Gilaine.

And me and Ruth.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Gilaine Esteban. It was clear that his heart was leaning in my favor.

“Don’t you understand now?”

Lord Barangka also wore a faint smile at my question.

“I think I know what the Captain meant by those words now.”

Knight Commander and Vice Commander.

It was the moment when I set the hook in the mouths of two big fish.

“Lindaier Third Son.”

It was then. A guard appeared behind the terrace and greeted with a formal gesture.

“What’s going on?”

“There is someone looking for the Third Son.”

“Me? Who is it?”

“It’s Marquis Halin Irfe.”

Barangka’s eyes widened.

I was also speechless at the unexpected news.

Halin Irfe, the Chief of the Royal Household.

The Chief of the Royal Household is the de facto second-in-command of the kingdom, managing all the major and minor affairs and direct territories of the kingdom.

‘Why is he looking for me?’

Why is he looking for me?