My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 164

§ 164. Confrontation (2)

Kai Elandur.

The eldest son of the Elandur family, and Sian’s eldest brother.

A genius among geniuses, known as the star of the Empire.

Kai stood opposite the main gate of Ruben.

The magnificent fortress of Ruben was reflected in Kai’s eyes.

However, Kai stood alone before it, unfazed.

He looked like a lone, noble wolf standing in a snowfield.

And behind Kai, knights in white armor were lined up.

White armor was a fairly common sight on the continent.

However, among them were the most renowned.

“The White Wolf Knights?”

“Why are they here?”

The White Wolf Knights of Elandur.

Conrad and Elena, who followed behind Sian, questioned the scene before them.

There was no apparent reason for the White Wolf Knights to come to Ruben.

More precisely, there was no reason for so many to come.

It seemed like they had brought almost three knight orders.

And three knight orders of the White Wolf Knights were enough to devastate a considerable earldom [a territory ruled by an Earl].

Even Kai came?

This was not something to simply brush over.

But.

‘Ah, right.’

Sian knew the reason for this situation.

It was none other than what Durak had said right before Sian left the Elandur mansion for the Imperial Palace.

Durak had said this to Sian:

‘After you leave, I will soon send Kai to Ruben with the White Wolf Knights.’

The reason was to eliminate Ruben.

The intention was to keep Sian firmly attached to the family by eliminating the place for Sian to return to.

It seemed that the current situation was unfolding as part of that order.

‘But wasn’t it already over?’

The problem was why this situation was unfolding now.

Durak had clearly said that he would send Kai soon after Sian left for the Imperial Palace.

The distance from Elandur to Ruben was not short.

But it wasn’t as far as Sian going to the Imperial Palace and returning.

In other words, this situation should have happened when Sian was in the Imperial Palace.

‘But why···?’

So Sian was puzzled, but quickly shook off the thought.

Durak’s ‘soon’ and Sian’s ‘soon’ might have different meanings.

Or perhaps the departure was delayed because of Sian’s embezzlement.

Of course, the expedition also needed a budget, and 82 million gold was enough to delay the departure.

Anyway, the important thing was that Kai and the White Wolf Knights were in front of him now.

“We clearly warned you! If you approach any further, we will respond strongly!”

Lucas’s cry was heard again.

Along with it, the soldiers of Ruben on the ramparts were ready for battle.

Kai stood alone in that pressure.

He simply raised his eyes and looked at Lucas on the ramparts.

A strange silence descended with the confrontation.

And after a short time.

Tsutsutsutsu─!

In an instant, a chilling aura erupted from Kai’s entire body.

At the same time, the White Wolf Knights lined up behind Kai drew their swords.

It was truly a touch-and-go situation.

“Wait!”

Sian blocked between them without hesitation.

At Sian’s sudden cry, everyone’s eyes turned to him.

Kai’s momentum subsided, and the atmosphere that seemed about to explode also subsided rapidly.

Soon, Kai’s gaze turned to Sian.

And after confirming Sian’s approaching figure.

“······!”

Kai’s eyes widened in an instant.

Looking at him.

“Why··· are you here?”

As expected, Kai frowned and asked.

Sian did not answer Kai’s question.

There was no reason or need to.

“Young Master Kai.”

In an instant, Aaron’s voice was heard from behind Sian.

Along with it, Aaron brushed past Sian and went to Kai.

“Commander Aaron?”

At the sight of Aaron, Kai frowned once again.

It was strange enough that Sian was here.

It made even less sense that Aaron, the commander of the White Wolf Knights, was here.

Aaron immediately approached Kai and began to whisper something.

It was too quiet to hear what he was saying.

But he could guess what he was saying.

He was probably telling Kai about the situation in the meantime.

As expected, Kai’s gaze moved quickly each time Aaron spoke.

His gaze, which initially went to Sian, turned back to Conrad and Elena.

And then that gaze went to the Royal Knights lined up next to them.

And finally, it stopped again at Sian.

Kai did not show any particular emotion.

Even though he had clearly heard all the circumstances, he simply looked at Sian with a nonchalant and indifferent face.

If it were Nathan, he would have been furious and thrown a fit.

Sian quietly met Kai’s gaze.

And a heavy silence fell.

And after some time had passed.

“The disposition of Ruben is temporarily suspended.”

Breaking the silence, Kai opened his mouth.

Kai slightly turned his head and said to the White Wolf Knights who had followed him.

“For now, we will take Sian and return to the family.”

Sian seemed a little surprised by Kai’s decision.

He didn’t expect him to take only Sian so easily.

It was true that Durak had ordered him to bring Sian.

But it was also clear that he had ordered him to erase Ruben.

So he could just take some men to bring Sian and leave the rest to deal with Ruben.

Thus, there was no need to postpone the disposition of Ruben.

Was it because of the Crown Prince and Princess?

Or was there another reason?

Kai seemed reluctant to fight right now.

Kai looked at Sian once again.

It was still a nonchalant look, but this time he could understand the meaning.

*Come along quietly.*

Then he wouldn’t do anything to Ruben right now.

Kai slowly turned his back like that.

And.

“I refuse.”

Sian spat out those words at Kai’s back.

Thud.

In an instant, Kai’s movement stopped.

At the same time as Kai, the movements of the White Wolf Knights, including Aaron, also stopped.

Sian spat out the words once again towards Kai.

“Who do you think you are to make such a decision?”

At Sian’s words, Kai slowly turned around.

Gazing at each other once again.

“Are you saying you will defy the Lord’s command?”

“No.”

Sian slowly shook his head.

The Lord referred to the owner and representative of a family.

Therefore, the Lord of the Elandur family meant the owner and representative of the Elandur family.

And in Elandur, the Lord’s will was absolute.

Those who wished to live in Elandur should never defy it.

Therefore, Sian also had to follow the Lord’s will as an Elandur.

But that was only when he was ‘as an Elandur’.

He had not yet formally held the investiture ceremony [a formal ceremony where someone receives the rights and responsibilities of a noble title].

However, as declared in the name of the Emperor.

Sian currently held the title of Count.

And a Count was the highest administrator in a region. A feudal lord who had achieved hegemony.

A high-ranking noble who could appoint nobles under him.

This was a being who could be called a true noble in the five-rank system [a hierarchical system of nobility].

Sian was a true noble who could build his own power.

“Durak is no longer my Lord.”

To Sian, Durak was no longer the Lord.

Sian himself had become the Lord of a family.

At Sian’s words, the White Wolf Knights’ momentum changed rapidly.

That was because of Sian’s words now.

Although he said it indirectly, it was no different from directly defying Durak’s command.

Even saying Durak instead of Lord.

“Young Master’s remarks have gone too far.”

Aaron, unable to watch any longer, took a step towards Sian.

He pressured Sian by raising a thick aura.

“Stop.”

But Kai stopped Aaron.

Aaron did not seem to want to stop despite Kai’s dissuasion.

But Aaron had to withdraw his momentum quickly.

That was because of the atmosphere that was felt from Kai now.

That atmosphere was not good at all.

As expected.

“Does it matter if Ruben is destroyed right now?”

In an instant, Kai’s momentum exploded.

The terrible momentum emitted by a Master’s knight covered all directions.

Only the intent to kill existence.

The killing intent became murderous intent, urging Sian to die.

In response to Kai’s momentum, the White Wolf Knights, including Aaron, also raised their momentum.

Those enormous momenta were directed solely at Sian.

A pressure that felt like needles pricking the skin, making it impossible to even breathe properly.

Sian stood indifferently, facing that pressure.

Kai, who was trying to forcibly drag Sian away.

If it were the old Sian, the past Sian.

He would have followed Kai, unable to overcome this pressure.

The domain residents would have grabbed Sian, but Sian would have stopped those domain residents.

He would have left with just an apology.

Thinking that it was the only way to protect them all.

And in fact··· it was also the right thing to say.

The two pillars supporting the Empire, the Elandur family.

There were not no families in the Empire who were at odds with Elandur.

Numerous families had fought against Elandur and all disappeared into history.

So he had to kneel and beg now.

Therefore, following Kai like this might have been the only way to protect Ruben, the people.

Perhaps, the old Sian would have thought this was the answer.

But not now.

He knew now.

That it was not protecting Ruben, the people.

But just running away.

The current Sian knew better than anyone.

So the past Sian had always run away.

Sian had always shrunk in front of Elandur.

But no more.

“Lucas!”

There would be no more hiding and running away.

Clang!

Sian shouted, drawing an SSS-grade sword from his inventory.

“Do not allow anyone related to Elandur to set foot in Ruben!”

“Understood.”

Clang! Clang!

With Lucas’s answer, the soldiers on the ramparts drew their respective weapons.

The determined eyes and the erupting momentum showed that they would enforce the intention of not letting a single person into Ruben.

The White Wolf Knights sneered at the sight of those soldiers.

They looked at Sian and Ruben with mocking eyes.

The meaning contained in those eyes was different, but the message was unified.

*How dare you. How dare you guys.*

It was a question of what you could possibly do.

Sian calmly faced those gazes.

And he took a step forward.

At the same time, he muttered quietly.

“Kendrick.”

Saaaa···!

At that moment, a strange sound was heard from inside Ruben.

Geueoeoeoeoeoe···!!

Chilling screams erupted in all directions.

The wails of the dead.

The screams of the dead.

It contained an ominousness that could not be explained by anything.

Black darkness rushes in.

The darkness of pitch blackness engulfs the space.

Thus, it indiscriminately devours the momentum that is cast.

Soon, a thick darkness sprang out from Ruben and took its place next to Sian.

Scattering jet-black mist.

Through it, a deep blue light flashed and a being rose.

A being stained with darkness.

Death Knight Kendrick.

“······!”

“······!”

The White Wolf Knights staggered and trembled at the sudden appearance of Kendrick.

That was because of the energy from Kendrick now.

That was··· not the kind of thing they could dare to oppose.

-Give me your command, my lord.

Kendrick, who was born from the darkness, knelt on one knee and said.

Sian spoke to Kendrick in a whisper.

“These are beings who threaten Ruben.”

And Sian’s voice continued.

“Kill them all.”

-Understood.

Kendrick bowed his head and stepped back.

Soon, Kendrick drew his sword.

And at the same time, the main gate opened and a series of knights rushed out.

Knights wearing jet-black armor.

They lined up in an orderly manner behind Sian and Kendrick.

And the terrible magic power (魔氣) [Demonic energy] that was emitted.

“······!”

“······!”

The power felt within was not at a level that could be taken lightly.

Kiyaaaaaaaaak!!!

A chilling ghostly cry (鬼哭聲) [a banshee’s wail] erupted from somewhere.

The mind became dizzy from the long echoing roar like a name from hell.

Fear and terror penetrated the exploding darkness, paralyzing reason.

And the thousand-year-old vengeful spirit, Leah, was visible.

From such Leah, endless thoughts of death (死念) [deathly intent] erupted.

Leah took her place on Sian’s right and raised a thick thought.

In front of that thought, the White Wolf Knights’ momentum simply disappeared helplessly.

Darkness that engulfs the space.

Sian stood indifferently in the gap of that jet-black darkness.

Such Sian had Leah on his right and Kendrick on his left.

And behind Sian, Ruben’s knights and soldiers were lined up in an orderly manner.

Thud.

Sian took a step forward.

In the concentrated gaze, Sian looked at Kai and muttered.

“You asked if it mattered what happened to Ruben.”

And Sian’s next words.

“If you can, try it.”

At the same time.

Geueoeoeoeoeoe─!!!

Ferocious magic power (魔氣) [Demonic energy] began to run wild in all directions from Sian’s entire body.

#

Jet-black mist, like dark clouds, engulfed the surrounding space.

Darkness soaked the earth, dyeing the surroundings black.

Tension was etched on the faces of the White Wolf Knights, including Aaron.

The ominous fighting spirit that is felt on the skin now.

This is something you can’t dare to…

It’s a kind that you can’t dare to handle.

Therefore, a question arises.

“H, how can this be···?”

Aaron muttered without realizing it.

The shock of disbelief was not the kind that could be easily hidden.

First of all, the Death Knight who scatters that thick darkness.

And the vengeful spirit floating above it.

Silver hair and deep gray-white eyes.

There was no sign of life at all, as if two tombstones had been embedded in his face.

The muscles are stiff and hardened.

The sharply drawn spirit binds the body.

The will that is etched in the mind.

The fear that paralyzes the mind.

Kiyaaaaaaaaak!!

Geueoeoeoeoeoe─!

The consciousness moves far away from the erupting ghostly energy (鬼氣) [ghostly energy] and the falling magic power.

It created a chilling name from hell.

And a man at the forefront of those two beings, Sian.

Sian was at the forefront, facing the momentum of the White Wolf Knights.

The swirling jet-black magic power was wrapped around Sian’s entire body.

The amount of that magic power was significantly small.

Compared to that Death Knight and vengeful spirit, the expression ‘pathetic’ was appropriate to the point of being significant.

But Aaron couldn’t simply think that way.

It’s not simply a matter of quantity.

Something more fundamental.

The magic of the origin (魔) [Demonic origin].

The other two magic powers were surrendering in front of that magic of the origin.

As if welcoming a true lord.

As if worshiping the power that is cast.

Sian’s magic (魔) [Demonic energy] contained a different dimension of ominousness.

A ominous premonition that you can’t dare to handle Sian.

But··· does that make sense?

Aaron vehemently denied the thought that came to mind.

That didn’t make sense.

It shouldn’t have made sense either.

Aaron was the commander of the White Wolf Knights and a mid-level Master.

Wherever you go in the Empire, wherever you go on the continent.

There was no being that could threaten Aaron.

There was only one being that could threaten Aaron.

There was only one being that Aaron could feel the emotion of fear.

Durak, the Lord of Elandur.

It was only Durak, who was called the best sword in the continent.

But now.

Aaron was feeling some kind of fear at Sian’s momentum.

But still, it didn’t make sense.

It would only be a ominousness.

For Aaron to feel fear from Sian meant that Sian was comparable to Durak.

Durak, who is called the best sword in the continent.

Aaron knew how strong he was because he had experienced it himself.

That was absolutely impossible.

That was an insurmountable wall.

There was only one being who could cross that wall.

No, there was only one being who was expected to be able to.

Kai Elandur, who is next to him now.

It was an area that only Kai could do on the continent.

Aaron looked at Kai with trembling eyes.

Kai stood silently in his place.

He did not show any emotion in the process.

He was just looking at Sian with a nonchalant expression and eyes.

I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking at all.

But Sian, who was facing that gaze.

Sian could tell.

*It’s different.*

That Kai was different from usual.

The expression and face he showed were no different from usual.

However, the momentum that was felt was quite different.

Like throwing a stone into a calm lake, Kai’s momentum was slightly fluctuating.

And for a moment.

Kai’s eyes, which had been nonchalant, lit up in an instant.

*He’s coming.*

At the same time as Sian’s thought, Kai disappeared from sight.

Kwaaaang!

An illusion that the space was vibrating.

The explosion that burst with a kwaang! shook the vision in an instant.