My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 120

§ 120 – Knight, Mage, and Swordmaster…?(1)

Osley’s roar exploded with a chilling intent to kill.

The palpable intent to kill pressed down on the skin.

The Frontier Count of the North, and a Master-level expert.

Osley was a figure always mentioned when discussing the top swordsmen on the continent.

“Father!”

Bendington rushed inside, panting.

Cyan followed Bendington into the village.

A group of people was gathered there.

One side was wearing neat armor and fur coats.

The other side was dressed in ordinary clothes.

Clothes that didn’t seem capable of withstanding the cold.

And all the people in ordinary clothes were kneeling.

Huddling together, trembling with fear.

Or perhaps trembling with cold.

They were clinging to each other, shivering.

“It should have been like this from the start!”

A great voice boomed out again over the people.

True to the resounding voice, he was a man of enormous size.

Over 2 meters [6’7″] tall, with muscles packed tightly all over his body.

And on top of that, a brown fur coat covering his armor.

The man was reminiscent of a huge bear.

And the tremendous aura emanating from that man.

That’s why Cyan knew it instantly.

That he was the Frontier Count of the North, Count Osley Batenberg.

“The screams of the Imperial citizens who died because of you are constantly ringing in my ears!”

Osley spat out his sharp anger and drew the greatsword from his back.

A greatsword that was much taller than the average adult male.

A greatsword so huge that it made one wonder if a person could even lift it.

“Your Excellency, Frontier Count, please calm down. There are still many things to uncover.”

A man stepped forward to stop Osley.

A man in his early 30s with blue hair and a calm, intellectual air.

None other than the rising star of the Empire, Panat Rorschild.

Panat blocked Osley’s path.

However.

“Get out of the way.”

Osley didn’t listen to Panat.

Instead, he simply stared at Panat with a cold gaze.

A force erupted that threatened to cut down even Panat if he didn’t move.

Faced with Osley’s intensity, Panat said nothing.

And after a moment, he reluctantly stepped back.

Panat was the eldest son of the Rorschild family and a figure known as the star of the Empire.

And Osley was the Frontier Count of the North.

Although Panat didn’t hold a title yet, Rorschild was Rorschild [a powerful and influential family].

And Osley was a Count, a noble.

However, not just any Count, but a Frontier Count.

The position of Frontier Count was not something to be easily ignored.

A Frontier Count was a noble responsible for the border.

He was a noble who held the title of Count.

But due to his heavy responsibilities and authority, he was superior to other Counts.

Of course, a Count was a Count, so officially he was lower in rank than a Marquis.

However, the power he possessed was significant.

First of all, he was the highest authority in the region in terms of administration, military, and law, and he had a degree of autonomy.

The Frontier Count was practically a king in the region.

Furthermore, the Frontier Count could even defy the Emperor’s orders if necessary.

Posthumously, if the action was deemed justifiable, immunity would be granted.

Of course, even so, defying the Emperor’s orders was not easy.

But the Frontier Count’s position and status were so great that he was given that much authority.

That’s why Panat was not someone who could easily dismiss Osley’s authority.

Not only Panat, but also the head of the family, Egrid, and even.

Durak could not treat Osley lightly.

“S, save me…”

“We really don’t know anything.”

People trembled in fear at Osley’s chilling aura.

But Osley didn’t listen.

The intent to kill intensified, and a clear murderous intent erupted.

At that very moment.

“Father!”

A familiar voice reached Osley’s ears.

Osley’s head naturally turned in the direction of the sound.

And he faced a familiar face.

“…Bendington? How did you get here…?”

Osley’s expression momentarily turned to bewilderment.

The eldest son and heir of the Batenberg family, Bendington.

Bendington shouldn’t be here.

No, to be precise, he couldn’t be here.

Because the North was almost entirely occupied by barbarians.

Whether he knew Osley’s question or not.

In an instant, a blonde man appeared next to Bendington.

Someone with a somewhat dim atmosphere.

Pale skin and a refined appearance.

One of those pampered nobles who only blather in the central political scene.

The kind that girls would swoon over.

But an immature or inexperienced person who couldn’t survive even a day in this harsh North.

That’s all Osley in the North could see.

“Who is that?”

“He is Lord Cyan Elandur of the Elandur family.”

“Elandur…?”

Osley’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Cyan stepped forward and said to Osley.

“I am Cyan, the Lord of Ruben. It is an honor to meet Your Excellency, Frontier Count.”

Osley said nothing.

He simply lowered his gaze and looked at Cyan.

Cyan could feel an unknown pressure from Osley.

And it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

“Why are you here? And with Bendington.”

A voice as cold as the winter in the North came from Osley’s mouth.

As expected, Osley’s expression was also extremely ruthless.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know the name Cyan.

Unlike Rorschild, he also knew about the forces sent by Elandur.

He knew they came to help.

But it seemed like a ploy to show off rather than genuine assistance.

That’s why Osley’s reaction was natural.

And Bendington knew that fact as well.

“No, Father! It’s a misunderstanding!”

Bendington stepped forward and blocked the space between Cyan and Osley.

Osley frowned and said.

“A misunderstanding?”

“That is…”

Bendington trailed off, at a loss for words.

Because he didn’t know where to start explaining this.

First of all, he himself couldn’t believe it.

At that moment.

“Could it be… the Holy Son?”

A strange voice came from one side.

“Huh?”

Cyan tilted his head, wondering what that was about.

Because of the term Holy Son.

A knight who deals with demons, what Holy Son?

Nevertheless, Cyan had heard that word before.

But that was a term he wouldn’t expect to hear in the Charlotte Empire.

Cyan’s head naturally turned in the direction of the sound.

It was none other than the people who were trembling in fear.

That is, the people Osley was trying to kill.

Cyan tilted his head and said.

“Could it be people from the Holy Empire?”

“Oh my! I knew you were the Holy Son!”

“The Holy Son has come! The Holy Son!”

Then the people began to stir greatly.

“Holy Son?”

“What is that…?”

At the same time, Osley and Bendington also stirred.

Because what the heck is a Holy Son?

They knew of the existence of a Holy Woman [a religious figure].

But they had never heard of a Holy Son.

Osley and Bendington stared blankly at Cyan.

And.

‘What is it?’

Cyan really wondered what it was.

Seeing them call Cyan the Holy Son, they seemed to be people from the Holy Empire.

That is, the people from the South that Cyan had cured of the plague.

If not, they wouldn’t have recognized Cyan’s face or called him the Holy Son.

But.

‘Why are they here?’

Why the heck are they here?

Cyan really wondered what it was.

Like that, Osley and Bendington.

Even Cyan himself.

Everyone stared at Cyan with dumbfounded faces.

After a little time passed.

“Lord Cyan. I’ll go talk to my father for a moment…”

Bendington spoke to him, and Cyan nodded.

There was a need to explain the situation to Osley, but…

“The Holy Son has come.”

“Oh my, oh my.”

Cyan also needed to figure out what was going on.

#

“So… you mean you wandered around looking for a way to survive and came all the way here…?”

It was a series of heartbreaking stories.

But to summarize, it was like this.

“That’s right.”

“No one would say anything even if we lived here…”

The northern part of the Empire.

That is, beyond the North here was the land where barbarians lived.

And they were lumped together and called barbarians.

Just because they were barbarians didn’t mean they were all the same.

Those who mainly committed slaughter and plunder.

It was a word referring to the barbarians that Cyan had swept away on his way here.

However, it also referred to those who wandered around without a place to live.

Those who continued a life like a tribal society without a base.

They were also lumped together and called barbarians.

For this reason, the Empire did not conquer beyond the North.

Of course, it was also useless because it was a harsh and barren winter land.

If they were to conquer, they would eventually have to drive out even these people.

They even had to kill them if necessary, so they couldn’t overlook the moral issue.

Why should they do such a thing in a useless land?

So, as long as they didn’t covet the Empire’s territory, they didn’t care.

In that way, beyond the North was called the land of the barbarians, and it had become a land where many tribes lived that didn’t belong anywhere.

‘I didn’t know they would flow in from the Holy Empire either.’

Of course, Cyan had been to the southern part of the Holy Empire last time.

There were quite a few people who were not treated as citizens.

But wasn’t it okay after Rachel disappeared?

Has Aria not taken control yet?

Or is that originally the policy of the Holy Empire?

Or are these the people who were pushed out before Rachel disappeared?

Then they wouldn’t know I’m the Holy Son?

‘…Oh well, whatever.’

Cyan shook his head at the complicated thoughts.

He wondered if he should ask about the details, but…

What’s so important about that?

There was only one important thing now.

“I heard that traces of black magic were found in this village…”

Traces of black magic.

When Cyan first faced this sight.

That is, when people saw Cyan and called him the Holy Son.

He wondered if it was because of the plague…?

He thought it was a misunderstanding.

The plague is a kind of evil derived from the demon of lust, Rushuria.

If someone who didn’t know saw it, they might mistake it for black magic.

But it wasn’t the plague.

In the first place, that couldn’t be.

Because the plague disappeared when Rushuria disappeared.

There was no trace of the plague left in them at all.

That meant there really were traces of black magic.

Above all, the aura of demons felt by Cyan’s senses.

It was clear that something was related.

“Th, that is…”

But the people didn’t answer.

They were just rolling their eyes and looking around.

It looked like they had something to hide.

At that moment.

“It’s no use. They won’t open their mouths even with all sorts of persuasion and threats.”

Someone spoke to Cyan.

He looked at that place.

“I’m Panat Rorschild.”

Panat was standing there.

“I am Cyan.”

“I think we’ve met before… Should I call this a familiar face or a first encounter?”

It was none other than during the National Foundation Day event.

At the banquet hosted by the Crown Prince, Konrad.

Cyan had seen Panat there.

However, he had only seen his face and hadn’t really had a conversation with him.

So, it was like a familiar face, but not quite a first encounter.

You could say it was a subtle relationship.

“I am familiar with you, Panat, from the rumors I’ve heard.”

“Aren’t the rumors about you even more rampant than about me?”

With that, Panat gave a small smile.

*I don’t know what it means.*

It was a word with various meanings implied.

“More than that, I thought Kai Elandur would come. For you to come…”

Panat muttered with a surprised expression.

Cyan shrugged his shoulders once.

Likewise, it was unexpected for Cyan as well.

“And the White Wolf Knights… or not.”

Panat muttered, looking at Ruben’s knights waiting far away.

This too was a statement with various meanings.

Cyan also glanced at the back of Panat.

There were people dressed in outfits that shouted, ‘I’m a mage!’ to anyone who looked at them.

It was the Arcanic Magic Corps, considered the best on the continent.

They were looking at Cyan and Ruben’s knights with different expressions.

Some with sneers.

Others with dissatisfied looks.

In short, they didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

Cyan shook his head slightly.

He knew the relationship between Rorschild and Elandur.

Sword and magic.

The two families were the best in their respective fields.

And sword and magic were like water and oil.

A relationship that could never mix.

Mages are those who formalize the truths of the phenomenal world and wield its power by understanding it.

However, those who wield the sword ignore the stern laws of the world and twist them.

In the end, it’s power from the same root called mana, but the way they handle it is completely different.

Mages see knights as ignorant fools who only know how to use their bodies.

Knights see mages as arrogant snobs who only know how to show off.

They couldn’t understand each other.

Knights and mages are inherently like this.

Elandur and Rorschild were the most prestigious families in the empire.

Because of that, they were constantly talked about by the people.

Who is stronger? Who will win?

Thus, is the sword stronger, or is magic stronger?

It was a truly childish argument, but it was the perfect entertainment for the people.

So, people used Kai and Panat as a topic of conversation.

Or Durak and Egret.

They even had heated debates about who would win if they fought.

With the situation like this, there was no way they could be on good terms.

Even if they wanted to be on good terms, people would divide them, so they couldn’t get along.

That’s why Elandur and Rorschild.

They would just growl at each other whenever they met.

Panat was being very gentlemanly right now.

At least he wasn’t openly ignoring them like the Arcanic Magic Corps over there.

Honestly, I wondered if he was ignoring them.

From Cyan’s point of view, Panat seemed genuinely curious.

Pure curiosity as a mage.

It just seemed to be that much.

“Anyway, despite the clear traces of black magic, they just keep their mouths shut. That’s why the Margrave [a noble title, ranking below a duke] couldn’t stand it and got angry.”

Panat said, glaring at the people.

So, Osly seemed to be trying to kill them.

The northern part of the country was in chaos due to the barbarians using the power of black magic.

However, those who were convinced that they had used black magic didn’t say anything.

But.

“Are you saying these people used black magic?”

“That’s right.”

“Did you see it yourself?”

“I didn’t see it. But…”

Panat was silent as if lost in thought.

But that was only for a moment.

“There is something.”

Panat dismissed the words like that.

Somehow, it seemed like they wouldn’t understand even if he explained it.

*Well, it’s not exactly wrong.*

It seemed like he had repeatedly analyzed and researched based on various clues…

The thought of listening to those complex magic theories already gave him a headache.

Cyan is a knight, not a mage.

If mages define, ‘There is this law!’

What is that? Knights are the ones who break it.

So, Cyan had his own way as a knight.

Very simple and straightforward.

And a way to confirm the truth very clearly.

“Is that really true?”

“No! We didn’t use black magic!”

“Please believe us! We don’t know anything!”

People were horrified and denied Cyan’s question.

Cyan said to Panat.

“They say they didn’t use it.”

“……”

Panat’s expression went blank for a moment.

His mouth didn’t say anything.

But his blank expression was saying, ‘What the hell is this guy?’

“Does a person who committed a crime confess that they committed a crime?”

“Most of them don’t, right?”

“Right now, they are–.”

“But there are also those who confess, aren’t there?”

“……”

Panat gave an expression that seemed to say, ‘What the hell is this guy doing?’

Then, did he think that he couldn’t communicate?

“… Think for yourself.”

Panat left the spot like that.

After that, the Arcanic mages followed.

Disregard and ridicule in their passing glances.

And a clear sign of contempt.

Cyan shrugged his shoulders once.

Of course, Cyan knew what Panat was saying.

Could he really believe what people say at face value?

That was no different from an ignorant fool who only knew how to use his strength.

The reason why Cyan believes their words.

It was because he didn’t feel any magical energy from them.

The magical energy felt now was rooted in this village itself.

And there was no madness felt in this.

Above all, if they had used black magic, this couldn’t have happened.

So, they couldn’t have been maintaining their sanity like this.

The barbarians Cyan had encountered on his way here.

They had to be stained with madness like them.

That means.

“Who is it?”

There is someone else besides these people.

Wince.

People seemed greatly agitated by Cyan’s words.

It was obvious that there was something going on.

Cyan let out a hollow laugh at the sight.

*No, if you’re going to hide it, hide it thoroughly.*

I could see why Osly was so angry.

“I’m sorry… I can’t tell you…”

Then a man lowered his head and spoke.

But right then.

“Hey, isn’t he the Holy Son?”

“Yes. It’s okay to tell the Holy Son.”

People persuaded such a man.

It seemed that this man was the one representing the people.

“The Holy Son is my wife, my children. He is the benefactor who saved our families.”

“Even if we are ignorant, we know the grace we have received.”

“That’s why I can’t speak. We promised to keep our mouths shut until we die. If we open our mouths here, we are betraying them.”

The man persuaded such people in reverse.

But.

“Still, isn’t he the Holy Son? If it wasn’t for the Holy Son, we wouldn’t even be here.”

“If it wasn’t for the Holy Son, your two daughters would have all died. And if it’s the Holy Son… they will understand.”

“If you don’t believe in the Holy Son, who do you believe in?”

People persuaded the man again.

Then the man’s two eyes trembled greatly.

How much time had passed?

The man soon looked at Cyan and lowered his head.

“T, that is, in fact…”

#

Bendington explained to Osly what had happened in the meantime.

He told him without exaggeration the actions and merits of Cyan and Ruben’s knights as they came here.

Immediately after the explanation was over.

“Is that… really true?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Hmm…”

Osly was lost in thought and lowered his gaze for a moment.

Honestly, it was unbelievable.

To have wiped out the barbarians who had almost occupied the northern part of the country.

Even in this short amount of time.

How could that be possible?

Of course, it was not that they had dealt with all the barbarians in the northern region.

Nevertheless, it was still a difficult task.

It was not just difficult, but almost impossible.

If it was possible, Osly or Bendington would have done it long ago.

Moreover, it was even more impossible with only 20 knights.

So, it would be foolish to believe it.

“You may not believe it… but it’s really true.”

However, there was no way Bendington would lie.

It seemed that even Bendington couldn’t believe it.

“Hmm…”

That’s why Osly didn’t rashly say anything.

“More than that… what’s going on here?”

Then Bendington asked Osly.

Osly shook off his thoughts and briefly explained the situation here.

“Such a thing…”

“If Panat is so sure, it must be clear that they used black magic. And he says that the barbarians are exerting such power because of that black magic.”

“I see…”

Only then could Bendington understand the mysterious power of the barbarians.

Of course, I don’t know how that could be.

“If Panat says so, it must be true.”

Panat is a genius called the star of the empire.

He was a great mage who had reached the 6th level.

If he said that, it must be right.

“And they must know the same guys. We have to find them and wipe them all out. But they won’t open their mouths at all.”

Only then could Bendington understand the situation just now at Osly’s words.

“But it doesn’t matter now. Barbarians are barbarians. Just kill them all.”

A chilling aura burst out from Osly’s whole body.

The northerners are suffering from the barbarians.

A terrible scene in a village.

Children being slaughtered, a wife being abused in front of her eyes.

He can’t forget the screams of a man crying out in despair and anger.

Osly can’t forget it even now.

Bendington knew that, so.

Bendington couldn’t say anything.

Just.

“Perhaps… how about entrusting it to Young Master Cyan once?”

“To that Elandur?”

Bendington nodded.

“I don’t know the details, but he seemed to know something about the traces of black magic.”

“……”

Osly didn’t say anything.

That’s because there was no way that could be.

His first impression was no different from a fledgling and a rookie.

But listening to Bendington’s words, he seemed to be a knight.

Yes, not a mage, but a knight.

And Osly was also a knight, so he could know.

Knights cannot understand magic.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for Panat, Osly wouldn’t have known anything.

It seemed that Bendington was sending excessive trust because Cyan had succeeded in doing something absurd.

Even so, this is–.

Right then.

“Your Excellency! I’m really sorry to interrupt the conversation!”

A knight’s voice was heard from outside the barracks.

“What’s going on?”

Osly asked, and soon the knight’s words were heard again.

“Right now… Young Master Cyan has revealed the mastermind behind the black magic!”

“What?!”

Osly jumped up from his seat without realizing it.