My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 224

작위식(3) [Knighthood Ceremony – Part 3]

Sian said he felt Rushuria’s energy emanating from Durak.

“What… what do you mean?”

Aria stared at Sian, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Just as I said. I sensed a faint trace of Rushuria’s energy coming from Durak just now.”

“So, what does that imply…?”

*Is he kidding me right now?*

But Sian’s expression was serious, not at all playful.

It wasn’t a subject to joke about, to begin with.

*That means Sian is serious right now.*

“I didn’t feel anything at all?”

Despite this, Aria found it hard to believe Sian’s words.

Evil energy is the polar opposite of divine power.

If Sian’s statement held any truth, Aria should have been the first to detect that energy.

Aria, revered as the reincarnation of Muriel [a powerful, benevolent deity].

It was almost inconceivable for a demon to elude Aria’s senses.

And this was precisely why Sian approached Aria first.

But Aria claimed she felt nothing.

“Above all, Rushuria was completely annihilated.”

Besides, Rushuria had been annihilated.

, imbued with Muriel’s last will.

Kyle’s Extreme – Asura’s Massacre, amplified by that buff.

Rushuria was undoubtedly destroyed by that single, devastating blow.

“Aren’t you mistaken?”

So, it was highly probable that it was simply a misunderstanding, but…

“Maybe…”

Sian couldn’t simply dismiss it as such.

Firstly, Aria stated she didn’t sense anything.

Ironically, Sian gained a degree of certainty precisely because Aria felt nothing.

None other than the evil possessed by the seven demon lords.

That was something even Aria couldn’t sense.

According to Leah, even Muriel from a thousand years ago couldn’t detect it.

It was impossible for Muriel, as well as other Arnaises [powerful warriors or guardians], to detect the seven demon lords who had concealed their presence.

Only Kyle could sense that energy.

And the annihilated Rushuria.

‘Was it really annihilated?’

To be honest, I doubted whether it was truly annihilated.

I’m sure it was annihilated, but I wasn’t sure if it was *really* annihilated.

It was annihilated, but it wasn’t *really* annihilated.

You might say, what nonsense is this?

But if you think about it carefully…

It wasn’t that absurd.

If that wasn’t the case, Sian wouldn’t have been able to confront Rushuria in the first place.

That’s because a thousand years ago.

The seven demon lords had already been annihilated by the six Arnaises.

In other words, Rushuria had been annihilated a thousand years ago.

But after a thousand years, Sian confronted the annihilated Rushuria.

The seven demon lords who were annihilated but not annihilated.

And the energy of Rushuria felt from Durak.

I don’t know what kind of relationship Durak and Rushuria have…

‘If the seven demon lords can be resurrected…’

Then it would be quite troublesome.

An immortal being who cannot die even if they die.

There was no way to fight and win against such an existence.

It meant that even the Arnaises and Kyle couldn’t do anything about it.

Maybe…

Kyle might have known something about this.

The truth that Kyle faced at the end.

Some truth that he had to abandon Leah and his companions and leave alone.

Could that truth be related to this?

A stream of thoughts continued.

‘Ah, right.’

Sian suddenly recalled a fact he had forgotten.

『[Story Main Quest] – ‘Unresolved Question’

▶Find the relic.』

.

.

.

None other than the story main quest to find the relic.

I don’t know what the relic is or what it’s used for, but…

“Aria. Do you know anything about relics?”

“Huh? Relics?”

Aria tilted her head at Sian’s question.

“Why suddenly relics?”

“Just wondering. Is there anything called a relic in your order [religious organization]?”

“There are many relics. But I don’t know what relic you’re talking about.”

It seemed that there were quite a variety of relics.

Sian thought for a moment and asked again.

“A relic related to demon subjugation or the Arnaises?”

“Demon subjugation or Arnaises? Hmm…”

Aria tilted her head slightly as if lost in thought.

“I don’t know…?”

She didn’t seem to know exactly.

“What. You don’t know?”

“How can I memorize each and every one of the relics managed by the order?”

“You’re a saintess, aren’t you? Aren’t you managing them?”

“Do you think a saintess is omnipotent? Above all, both demon subjugation and the Arnaises… They’re all from a thousand years ago, so I don’t even know if they exist anymore.”

Aria answered, slightly averting her eyes.

“So that means there is one?”

“Maybe… I think there might be one. I think I’ll have to ask Laura to find out.”

“Laura…?”

A name I’ve heard somewhere.

“The priest who travels with me. You met her when you came to the Holy Empire last time.”

“Ah. That person.”

Sian was able to recall Laura’s name then.

None other than the female priest who assists Aria.

And, as Aria said, I remembered meeting her when Sian went to the Holy Empire.

“Laura manages the relics. Laura probably knows best.”

Aria’s words followed.

Anyway, it seemed like she would know if I asked Laura.

But Laura was nowhere to be seen right now.

“Where is she now? Don’t tell me she’s in the Holy Empire…”

“She’ll be here soon. She had some business in the middle, so she acted separately for a while. I came first to 맞춰 작위식 시간에 맞춘다고 먼저 온 거고 [came ahead to be on time for the knighthood ceremony].”

Aria answered as if not to worry.

I don’t know what it is, but it didn’t seem like it would take that long.

I thought I should ask about the relic again then.

“So you don’t have anything more to tell me right now?”

“Not really…?”

“I see.”

Sian answered lightly and turned his back on Aria.

“Huh? Hey! Where are you going all of a sudden!”

Then Aria shouted urgently from behind.

Sian turned his head slightly and answered.

“You said you didn’t know anything more.”

“Is that all?”

“Then?”

Sian tilted his head slightly as if asking what was wrong.

Then Aria averted her gaze slightly and answered.

“W-Well, how have you been, and if you’ve been well… W-Won’t you ask me about these kinds of things?”

“Do I have to?”

“Wh-What?”

“Looks like you’ve been doing well.”

I don’t know where you picked up divine power, but you’re stronger than before.

‘Maybe that’s why my head is still dizzy.’

Sian shrugged his shoulders once.

“Y-You really…!”

Then Aria clenched her fists tightly and glared at Sian.

She even looked very upset for some reason.

‘Why is she like that?’

Sian wondered for a moment, but…

Well, I didn’t pay much attention to it.

‘Marquis Egret has been staring at me intently since earlier.’

To be exact, I was focused on the other side.

All the numerous nobles who came to this banquet hall were gathered to celebrate Sian’s knighthood.

In other words, Sian’s guests.

Well, I didn’t have to respond to all the guests, but…

‘Marquis Egret is a bit of an exception.’

There were guests I had to respond to no matter what.

I couldn’t treat Egret coldly no matter what.

“Then tell me when that Laura comes.”

Sian turned away from Aria and moved towards Egret.

#

“When did you leave without a word? You’re only coming now.”

Osly said as Sian approached.

Osly snorted and opened his mouth again.

“Is a woman more important than us?”

As expected, Osly slowly turned his head and looked at where Aria was.

Sian also followed Osly and looked at where Aria was.

Aria was really surrounded by people and buried.

Not only the men in the banquet hall,

Almost all the nobles were standing there trying to talk to Aria.

Is this Sian’s knighthood ceremony?

I don’t know if it’s Aria’s fan meeting.

Aria was making a very annoying expression to those people.

It looked like she wanted to chase them all away, but she was holding back.

I wonder if she is aware that this is a foreign country.

She was suppressing her temper quite a bit.

A quick glance.

At that moment, Aria’s eyes met Sian’s.

Soon Aria’s expression changed strangely, and she began to talk to the male noble in front of her.

As if she had never made an annoying expression.

She began to mingle with several nobles with a pure face.

At the same time, she glanced at Sian.

It was as if she was saying, ‘Look, I’m such a popular woman.’

“Well, if that woman is a saintess, it’s understandable.”

Osly’s voice was heard in an instant.

Looking at him, Osly was smirking and looking back and forth between Aria and Sian.

Sian shook his head and answered.

“It’s not what you think. I just went to Aria first because I had something urgent to ask her.”

“Aria? Are you on a first-name basis with each other?”

Osly’s eyes changed strangely as he looked at Sian.

It seemed like he was having strange misunderstandings and imaginations.

So, just as Sian was about to correct the misunderstanding.

“Father. Stop it. Isn’t our benefactor uncomfortable?”

Before that, a word came to stop Osly.

None other than Osly’s son and the eldest son of the Battenberg family, Bennington.

“Lord Bennington has also come.”

“How can we miss our benefactor’s celebration?”

Only then was Sian able to exchange greetings with Bennington lightly.

Immediately after exchanging greetings with Osly and Bennington.

Sian slowly turned his head and looked at the old man next to him.

An old man with an impressive white beard.

An old man like a sage who has mastered the world.

“I greet Marquis Egret Rothschild.
Thank you for gracing my knighthood ceremony despite your busy schedule.”

Marquis Egret Rothschild.

The head of the Rothschild family and a great wizard who has reached the 8th level.

He was an absolute powerhouse on par with Durak.

“What is this old man saying.”

Egret smiled lightly.

And unlike Osly, Egret didn’t seem particularly uncomfortable.

Of course, Osly was closer to a joke than being uncomfortable.

Well, anyway.

“More than that, I heard that Count Sian… There’s a story that you handle dark mana…”

Egret stroked his white beard and carefully asked Sian.

“As expected, there’s no way a heavy-assed marquis would just come.”

At the same time, Osly chimed in with an expression that said, of course.

Sian quickly understood what Osly was talking about.

No wonder Egret, of all people, was making a move.

And the dark mana Egret just mentioned.

More precisely, the reason Egret knew that Sian handled dark mana.

Sian subtly turned his gaze.

Then, he saw a man standing next to Egret.

A man with striking blue hair.

“Haha…”

Panat gave an awkward smile and avoided Sian’s gaze.

As expected, Panat seemed to have told Egret.

Panat, whom he had met during the incident in the North the other day.

Panat knew that Sian handled dark mana.

And in fact, dark mana was a forbidden area.

Dark mana that sacrifices the mind of existence.

There was a reason why dark elves who used black magic had been ostracized from the world.

“I heard that you even have extensive knowledge of dark mana…”

However, Egret’s tone when mentioning dark mana wasn’t like that of someone issuing a rebuke.

Although cautious, there was no sign of disapproval.

‘This…’

From that, Sian could roughly grasp the situation.

It seemed that it wasn’t just Panat.

It seemed that Panat was not the only wizard studying dark mana.

The Rothschild family, including Egret, seemed to consider it a major topic.

Well, that’s how wizards were.

The truth that makes up this world.

The truth that only God knows.

Bringing that truth into the realm of human reason.

Thus, defining all providence as law.

To make all truth understandable by reason.

That was the ultimate goal of all wizards in the world.

And dark mana was still an unexplored area.

It was known to be impossible to handle its power.

Since Sian was said to handle such unknown power,

even Egret, who was usually so composed, had no choice but to investigate.

“I only know it superficially. It’s far from extensive. But if I were to briefly explain, dark mana is actually…”

Sian briefly told Egret about dark mana.

Firstly, he was here as a guest.

And if he tried to gloss over it, the situation would only become more complicated.

That’s because wizards had a very strong desire for knowledge.

The habit of wizards clinging to what they wanted or the truth they sought to the end.

So much so that there was a saying, ‘I’d rather be bitten by a mad dog than be bothered by a wizard.’

Especially for a great wizard like Egret, it was even more so.

So, it was better to tell him a little bit than to gloss over it.

And well, even if he told them, it wasn’t a type that could be easily used.

It was only because Sian had Kyle’s Soul Control Method.

To be honest, Sian didn’t perfectly understand and use the contents either.

Therefore, the story Sian was telling now.

“In the process of explaining the laws of the world… um… was this right? Just a moment. So…”

This story was also just reciting the knowledge that Elodie had organized.

He was just reading the written words.

But.

“······!!!”

It seemed that Egret heard it a little differently.

In an instant, Egret’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

Panat, who was listening to the story together, also widened his eyes as if they were about to tear.

Well, it was a slightly different story from the one he had told Panat last time.

It could be said to be a slightly upgraded version with the opening of .

In a word, upgraded Elodie’s knowledge.

Even if it was just reciting, it was the knowledge established by Elodie, the 10th Circle Archmage and Arnaise of Exceed [a title or rank].

Since such Elodie’s knowledge was coming out of Sian’s mouth.

“H, how can this be···!!”

Egret had no choice but to widen his eyes as if they were about to tear.

“Th, then. Then···! Does the madness of dark mana mean that the orbit of its essence is different?”

Soon, Egret asked Sian with a very interested expression.

It seemed that his desire for knowledge as a wizard had been triggered.

Somehow, it seemed that he had become more entangled than trying to get rid of it.

If he mixed any more words here, it would only become more complicated.

Sian spat out words as he pleased, thinking of getting rid of Egret.

“I’m sorry, but the knowledge after that requires… additional payment…”

“······?”

Egret’s expression froze at Sian’s sudden words.

To be exact, Egret did not understand the meaning of Sian’s words.

What did he mean by payment?

And what kind of additional payment was that?

Could it be the payment when paying money?

So, you have to pay money to hear the knowledge after that?

Egret couldn’t understand the meaning of the words he understood at all.

He couldn’t understand the meaning of the words he understood.

It felt like nonsense, but it was actually true.

A dazed look in Egret’s eyes.

“Ahem.”

Sian coughed, subtly avoiding his gaze.

Well, it was a word he spat out thinking of getting rid of Egret.

To be honest, it wasn’t just a word he spat out.

That’s because you really needed gold to get the knowledge after that.

You couldn’t just browse the higher-level Elodie knowledge if you wanted to.

First of all, it was necessary to research related knowledge in the laboratory.

Also, the level of Elodie’s laboratory itself had to be raised.

It was clear that gold was needed in many ways to browse new knowledge.

So, it wasn’t a lie that additional payment was needed.

Of course, there was still knowledge that he could tell even without additional payment.

But Sian didn’t bother to mention that fact.

Because it was honestly annoying!

No matter who the other party was, whether it was Egret or not.

He didn’t want to give a trivial magic lecture.

In the first place, a knight teaching magical knowledge to a wizard.

What nonsense was this?

Besides, there was a limit to giving away knowledge for free.

How could he just spit out the knowledge he had obtained?

Of course.

“H, how much… do you need?”

If he paid, the story was very different.

Egret asked back with a bewildered expression.

It was an absurd feeling, but what was contained inside was clear interest.

Somehow, it was a word he threw out carelessly…

‘Wait… this.’

There was an unexpected reaction.

Sian’s eyes twinkled and he immediately spat out words.

“The price varies depending on the level of knowledge you want to obtain…”

Sian trailed off and quickly tapped the calculator in his head.

The knowledge researched in Elodie’s laboratory.

Including the cost of opening ─.

“······”

The thoughts of Sian, who was tapping the calculator in his head, stopped for a moment.

He roughly knew the estimate, but…

Was it okay to say this?

If he said it, it seemed like not only Elandur but also Rothschild would turn into enemies.

It seemed like he would turn both pillars supporting the empire into enemies.

Including Conrad’s swordsmanship restoration of Charlotte…

No, if he thought about the gold he would get…

‘Isn’t he turning the entire empire into an enemy?’

Perhaps… he suddenly thought that might be the case.

That’s why he hesitated deeply…

‘Oh well, I don’t know.’

Sian didn’t think deeply.

When did he ever think deeply?

Sian subconsciously avoided his gaze and opened his mouth.

“About 100 million gold as a base…”

Thud.

Then, he had the illusion that he heard this sound…

And it wasn’t just an illusion, Egret’s movements actually froze.

Panat’s mouth, who was listening to the story next to him, was wide open and stopped.

“······ Crazy bastard.”

Osly’s words were heard next to him.

Osly was looking at Sian with an expression as if he was looking at a crazy bastard.

And Bennington next to such Osly.

It was a rude remark from Osly, but Bennington did not step in this time.

Because Bennington had the same thought as Osly!

100 million gold…?

Even as a base.

So, it meant that he might have to pay more than that.

Just as there is a saying that there is no one who has only paid once, even if there is someone who has never paid.

Maybe it could exceed 200 million or 300 million!

Of course, it wasn’t like the Rothschild family didn’t have hundreds of millions of gold.

But no matter how much, it was definitely not an amount that they would spit out willingly!

A silent shock descended.

Osly and Bennington were still looking at Sian as if he was a crazy bastard.

Egret and Panat still did not show any movement.

Ding!

And an alarm sounded from inside his pocket.

How long has it been since you consumed causality···!

Ah, no···! Don’t fall for it!! Egret-mother!!

Nooooo!!!

A notification window that Mobile Lord was horrified was floating all over the screen.

And it was Egret, not Egret-mother…

Well, anyway.

“The knighting ceremony will begin soon! Distinguished guests, please move to the venue!!”

In an instant, the door of the banquet hall burst open and a thunderous voice was heard.

It seemed that the knighting ceremony was about to begin soon.

“If you have any thoughts, please tell me again.”

Sian moved his steps and left the banquet hall.

#

The knighting ceremony was held in a huge venue.

To be exact, it was the venue where the selection of the Zodiac Swords took place during the National Foundation Day event the other day.

It was a large venue that could easily accommodate thousands, even tens of thousands of people.

Numerous nobles filled his vision.

Sian was at the very front of the venue.

And he was sitting alone in the place closest to the stage.

Sian subtly scanned the scenery of the venue.

Numerous people were packed in, but the ones that stood out among them were Osly and Bennington.

And Egret and Panat.

However, while Osly and Bennington were silently seated,

Egret and Panat were whispering to each other.

Looking at their ever-changing expressions…

It seemed that they were having a serious conversation.

Next was Aria.

Aria was sitting in her seat with a sulky face for some reason.

Of course, her facial expression was not clearly visible.

But it seemed that a female priestess next to Aria was appeasing Aria.

And the last one that stood out was Durak.

‘Wasn’t he leaving earlier?’

For some reason, Durak was showing up at the venue.

He was silently seated on one side, exuding an atmosphere like a detached wolf.

Sian focused his senses and looked at Durak.

At the same time, Durak’s gaze turned to Sian.

It seemed that he felt Sian’s gaze.

Sian and Durak’s gazes briefly collided in the air.

And.

‘It’s a little more… intense?’

Sian could feel the energy of Rushuria, which was a little more intense than before.

Even though Durak was not emitting his energy, the lingering energy was clearly felt.

And right then.

“His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince are entering!!”

A thunderous voice burst out throughout the venue.