Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 33

On the way to the royal capital, encountering bandits!

Or something similar!

Someone rescuing a woman in danger and becoming a hero!

That’s what carriage journeys are all about!

If anyone were to spout such nonsense, Zion would consider punching them in the face.

‘Are there any bandits crazy enough to collect tolls on the road to the royal capital?’ he wondered.

Merchant guilds employ escorts that are nearly as good as regular soldiers, and the nobles are guarded by their own private forces.

If the country were that lawless, it wouldn’t even be able to call itself a kingdom.

‘Boring… I miss my phone for the first time.’

Carriage, city, carriage, some noble’s territory, carriage again, city again, and carriage again.

It was like his life in the military, going back and forth between the supply depot, training material storage, and food storage.

Zion subtly scanned the inside of the carriage.

Lilith had already fallen asleep with her head on his lap, and Lucia had been silently concentrating on her mana training for over an hour.

Rishikida was excluded since he was riding a horse outside, and lastly, the protagonist Kim Yu-hyun was…

Clatter―.

Clatter―.

The sword is drawn from its scabbard, then put back in, and then drawn again.

There’s no particular reason.

That was just Kim Yu-hyun’s habit when he was spacing out.

“…”

Clatter―.

Clatter―.

‘Scary bastard. He’s even scarier when he’s doing that. I’m afraid he’ll appear in my dreams.’

With his eyes unfocused, he looks like a real madman.

If he had some blood on his face and swung his sword around in that state, he’d be a perfect demon.

Or a serial killer performing a sword dance?

“Young master.”

At the sound of his name, Zion subtly opened the carriage window.

Rishikida was right next to him, whispering as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the people inside.

“They say we’ll reach the royal capital by tomorrow morning. So I was wondering if we should rest around here today.”

“Wondering?”

“The other knights said they’d like to avoid the city where that noble’s estate is located, if possible.”

At those words, Zion tilted his head, roughly estimated the date and distance, and then exclaimed inwardly.

‘This area is ‘that bastard’s’ home.’

‘The Redenen Marquisate.’

A noble family that boasts several warriors with fiery personalities.

The problem is that their people’s performance ranges from ace to trash, so the extremes are clearly distinguished.

It was there that Kim Yu-hyun would clash with a stubborn fool until the middle of the novel.

“Rishikida.

There aren’t any other nobles’ estates near the Redenen Marquisate, are there?”

“That’s what they say.”

“It’s not good to sleep in the carriage again, and the Redenen Marquisate is a place where my father has some acquaintance, so tell the knights that it would be better to visit and say hello.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Fortunately, Volko Redenen, the current head of the Redenen family, was still reasonable.

He was acquainted with the Lichten Margrave.

Of course, they were by no means close friends.

Rather, they were rivals who were quite conscious of each other.

The problem was his son.

‘I remember his name because it was quite impressive. Ludwig Redenen. A self-proclaimed knight who will lead the future of the kingdom.’

Don’t misunderstand.

It’s self-proclaimed.

Not called by others.

He even uses that openly when introducing himself in front of others.

It makes the listeners cringe, but he doesn’t realize it.

And the bigger problem is that’s not the end of it.

He lives with a sense of superiority and is very skilled at looking down on and ignoring others.

Because of this, he and Kim Yu-hyun were at odds from the start, and even when Hispania was in crisis, they were busy bickering and checking each other.

‘It’s a good thing that guy’s skills weren’t great, so he retired early. Otherwise, I might have become a mana-using Zion Claussen.’

Ludwig would be very upset if he heard this.

He didn’t get along with Kim Yu-hyun, but Ludwig got along even worse with Zion Claussen.

There were several reasons, but the biggest reason was that his first love, a young lady from another noble family, fell in love with Zion at first sight and ignored him.

‘An unnecessarily handsome guy. I wonder if the author was aiming for that….’

Zion Claussen, who had a setting that he attracted many women with his face for no reason.

Could it be that mana sensitivity and appearance are inversely proportional?

Meanwhile, the carriage entered the Redenen Marquisate.

As expected of one of the top ten noble families in the kingdom, its power was evident from the start.

Even if a rich family goes bankrupt, it can last for three years, and it was a family that endured to some extent even when Hispania was destroyed.

Of course, it became a complete mess due to self-interest and Trisha Faker.

“What, where is this?”

“It’s the Redenen Marquisate, a place to stay for a while today.”

“Hmm. There seem to be quite a few decent guys here. I can feel a lot of dense mana.”

Kim Yu-hyun had also withdrawn his dazed gaze and was looking around outside the window with a sparkling look in his eyes.

He seemed to be interested in the presence of the decent knights he felt here and there.

Of course, for those two, knights were just ‘good experience points to devour.’

“Okay, everyone. Focus, please. Focus.”

“?”

“I have two things to ask you before we go to the Redenen Marquisate’s castle.”

“What is it?”

“First, don’t be embarrassed. He’s being sincere.”

“Huh?”

“Second, don’t be surprised. He’s always like that.”

It was a nonsensical request.

Lilith, as well as Lucia and Rishikida, who were riding horses next to them, had to tilt their heads, wondering what this meant.

Even Kim Yu-hyun.

And the reason was revealed after entering the Redenen Marquisate’s castle.

“I sincerely welcome you to the Redenen Marquisate. Ah, I am Ludwig Redenen, a perfect knight candidate who will lead the future of Hispania. Ah, that’s right. I am the heir to this family!”

“…”

Don’t be embarrassed. He’s being sincere.

The group remembered Zion’s words.

No, in a situation where it’s funny to call himself the perfect knight who will be responsible for the future of the kingdom, he even smiled and shushed when he said, ‘I’m the heir to this family!’

If it was a joke to make people laugh, or just a setting that he does once in a while when guests come, it would have been better.

But Ludwig was just a young man who lived his daily life like that.

A man who lives his day exploding with his own greatness and coolness!

“But there’s an uninvited guest?”

Ludwig suddenly exuded a murderous aura, throwing away his earlier greasy appearance.

He strode up to the man standing in front of him with his arms crossed, looked up slightly as if he were dealing with a subordinate, and continued in a voice with a strong sense of contempt.

“Now you’re even stealing the Margrave’s achievements and making them your own? I’m starting to feel sorry for him for having such an incompetent son.”

“…?”

Suddenly, insults and offensive remarks.

The situation was so sudden that they wondered, ‘Are they doing this because they’re close to each other?’

But Zion’s reaction made it clear that this was not the case.

“The heir to the Redenen Marquisate should keep some dignity, Ludwig.”

“Ha! It’s funny when you say that? You’re just holed up in the Margrave’s territory, thinking about picking up women! Dignity? Did you have the right to say that?”

Don’t be surprised, he’s always like that.

The group finally understood those words.

Zion had already foreseen this situation, so he opened his mouth in a nonchalant voice.

“I don’t.”

“…What?”

“I don’t have the right. I know very well what kind of person I am, so I know I don’t have the right.”

It takes two hands to clap, but Ludwig, who slammed his hand down with all his might, ended up looking ridiculous because Zion immediately avoided it.

One side was acting childishly and picking a fight, but the other side naturally brushed it off as if he wouldn’t play along with children’s games.

‘Look at this guy?’

Ludwig was dumbfounded.

Zion Claussen used to get angry and flare up whenever he provoked him.

When the desired reaction came out, Ludwig would say, ‘Prove it with your sword if you have any complaints,’ and then Zion Claussen would shut his mouth.

Every time, he gave Zion an insult that he couldn’t refute, calling him a cowardly bastard who was afraid of fighting, and it was a great pleasure in his life to watch Zion tremble with anger.

But this time, Zion Claussen’s reaction was different from usual.

It seemed that he was trying to eliminate the possibility of a clash, as if he would no longer play along with his pranks.

‘No way!’

It would be a big mistake if he thought that he would back down just because he came out like that.

Anyway, he knows how to defeat Zion Claussen.

Every time he asked him to compete in swordsmanship, he would whine and back down like a scared puppy.

And this time would be no different.

“The eldest son of the Claussen Margrave, the shield of the kingdom, is admitting it right away. If it were me, I would have picked up a sword and used it to determine who is right and wrong, Zion Claussen.”

“…”

“Too bad. If you liked handling swords…”

“I don’t like it. But I know how to use it. In that sense, shall we cross swords once?”

“What?”

For a moment, Ludwig wondered if he had misheard.

That Zion Claussen, that handsome but cowardly brat who was afraid of swords!

Is now telling him, to cross swords!

To Ludwig of the Redenen Marquisate, to the knight who will be responsible for the future of the kingdom!

“…What’s your intention all of a sudden?”

No matter how much Ludwig was, he couldn’t help but be suspicious because the other person was showing such a drastic change.

Could it be that he had achieved something great in that short period of time?

Maybe his swordsmanship has suddenly improved dramatically and he has gained confidence based on that.

I heard that he made a contribution in the war, could it be related to that?

“No, I was too dismissive of him as a war hero. I don’t know if you know how much I suffered in the war with Nudia, Ludwig Redenen.”

“…”

At those words, Ludwig sneered inwardly.

Zion Claussen, of all people, went to war and fought directly with Nudia?

A guy who was afraid of even a simple swordsmanship sparring?

Ludwig was now able to grasp the situation a little.

The handsome guy in front of him was led to the battlefield by his father, and he was boasting as if he had won the victory by his own efforts.

‘Stupid guy. I knew it. I was a little nervous because he went to the battlefield himself, but it was as I expected.’

Objectively and subjectively, he is clearly an outstanding knight candidate.

He was already able to fight against most low-ranking knights!

Today was the day Zion Claussen met his match.

‘I was already furious that that guy was going to the royal capital as a war hero, but this is a good thing. I have to drop his pride to the bottom here.’

Ludwig, who had decided so, shrugged his shoulders as if he was worried that Zion Claussen would notice his true feelings and run away.

“Well, if you want it that much, I can’t help it. Follow me. I’m going to take a shower before going up to my room to rest anyway, so I need to sweat before that.”

“I agree, Ludwig.”

Stupid guy, I don’t know who that lady is, but I’ll crush him properly in front of her!

Ludwig trembled with the thrill that was exhilarating just by imagining it.

An intelligent atmosphere and a woman who looks cold at first glance, but is beautiful enough just with that.

Looking at Lucia, Ludwig was eager to suppress this arrogant guy and show off all the cool poses he could.

“Well, shall we start?”

The training hall was not far away, so Zion and Ludwig immediately faced each other with wooden swords.

Zion glanced at the group.

First of all, Lucia, who seemed the most nervous, caught his eye.

In this world, if you can’t handle mana, you’ll be defeated even in a simple swordsmanship sparring.

Therefore, it was natural for her to worry about him.

Lilith was wearing a hood, so her expression was not visible, but it was probably similar to Lucia’s reaction.

Kim Yu-hyun was…

‘Don’t make that face. It’s disgusting. Damn it, it’s disgusting!’

Perhaps he understood the man’s desire to protect his pride even though he had no strength.

Kim Yu-hyun was making a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“Then, shall we see the swordsmanship you used on the battlefield?”

At Ludwig’s teasing, Zion sneered at the other person inside.

He was clearly mentioning ‘real combat swordsmanship’ himself.

To Zion, that meant that he could do anything from now on.

“The way to determine the winner is simple. If you point your sword at the other person’s neck, it’s over. Any objections?”

He’s saying something obvious.

There’s no way there would be any objections.

Ludwig had already lost to Zion at the point of saying that.

[Author’s Note] I’m in the middle of a 4-part series.

Recommendations?