Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 40

“I don’t really have a talent for telling long, drawn-out stories.”

I decided to feign reluctance as a formality.

If I eagerly took the bait, some would be pleased, while others would be suspicious.

To completely draw them into this play, I needed them to willingly take a seat before the stage.

“Why are you being like this?

You’re usually so eloquent in front of the ladies.”

Ludwig was the first to grumble, his tone laced with irritation.

He seemed quite upset about being outsmarted in his own castle and wanted to find a way to exploit Zion’s weaknesses.

Estia of the Oner family, despite being acquainted with Ludwig, warned him to mind his manners.

Ludwig, who secretly harbored feelings for Estia, had no choice but to back down, grumbling in a way that was unbecoming for a knight who claimed to be responsible for the kingdom’s future.

“For once, I agree with Ludwig.

Why are you so quiet in a place like this, when you often boast about yourself?

Here, your boasting wouldn’t be empty bragging but a compliment that elevates the nation’s prestige.”

“Because it’s not a pleasant story.”

At Zion’s words, not only Berekrick but also Estia’s expression stiffened slightly.

Why would someone who had won a war and achieved great feats say that telling their story wasn’t enjoyable?

“…Sir Zion Claussen.

What do you mean by that?

Not enjoyable?”

“Exactly what I said, Lady Estia. I simply don’t want to tell a story that isn’t enjoyable.”

With those words, Zion made sure to gaze deeply at Estia.

It wasn’t an attempt to seduce her or win her over.

It was simply to irritate Ludwig.

“…”

Of course, the effect was remarkable!

For a moment, Estia blushed and avoided Zion’s gaze.

And Ludwig’s face twisted horribly.

“Wait a minute, Sir Zion.

Didn’t you achieve victory?”

“I did.”

“And weren’t you the leader who stood at the forefront of that victory?”

“That’s also correct.”

Then why isn’t it enjoyable?

That seemed to be what Berekrick was asking.

For someone who advocates for war, winning a war is the same as a merchant closing a deal or a farmer having a bountiful harvest.

Estia and Ludwig seemed to share Berekrick’s sentiment, as they stared intently at Zion.

Zion sighed lightly and glanced around the party venue.

“Those who watch from behind the war only see the glory, honor, and advantages it brings, and they focus solely on that.”

“Hmm?”

“I was like that once too.

I thought that if we won, if we were victorious in war, we would gain glory that no one else could grasp.

That it would be worth risking everything to achieve.”

This is where it begins.

Zion slowly started to act.

If it were his original self, it would have been ridiculous, but Zion Claussen’s appearance was so handsome that even the noble ladies were shy around him.

He had to use this body, which had nothing but a face, at this moment.

“Ah.”

The moment he made a sorrowful expression, a sigh escaped Estia’s lips.

Of course, Berekrick and Ludwig probably thought, ‘What nonsense is this?’ but at least it was an expression that would appeal to women.

‘The key is to deliver the lines very slowly here,’ he thought.

He had set the mood, now it was time to throw himself into it.

“But… but you see… Standing before the war… Seeing the devastation with my own eyes…”

The two men were unnecessary.

He only needed to appeal to the woman.

The other two would be controlled by Estia anyway.

“I realized that it was all, all meaningless…”

Ah, another sigh escaped Estia’s lips.

Not only that.

Most of the noble women and ladies who were eavesdropping and watching the situation covered their mouths and exclaimed, ‘Oh my.’

‘I’ve got the spotlight for now. Now to get the ones who haven’t boarded this train yet on board.’

The nobles were wary of each other and worried that the royal family would become too powerful and take away their power, but they generally worked and fought for the country and fulfilled their minimum obligations.

If the country collapsed, all of them, who had their basic rights recognized within it, would be thrown into a fierce death match where it was eat or be eaten.

So, whether they liked it or not, they had to protect the country, and to do so, they were required to receive education from a young age that they should love and maintain the nation of Hispania.

Zion was planning to exploit that very point.

“In the moment I threw myself back into that horrific battlefield to save a soldier who had fallen behind, I saw my fellow soldiers, all exhausted and wounded. Perhaps they had nothing to do with this war, but when war broke out, they were the first to be called up and thrown into the devastation.”

Expanding the stage.

Now he was addressing not just the three men and women, but the nobles gathered around.

“His Majesty the King gloriously called me a hero. But when I think about it, I wasn’t the hero. I was merely fighting alongside the heroes.”

“Ah…”

“This is a celebration of the victory in the war against Nudia. To that, I dare to add my gratitude to all the heroes who bravely sacrificed themselves, and also to all of you gathered here, who will dedicate all your efforts to this country in the future.”

It was an extremely light-hearted pun, but there was definitely a trap hidden within.

A place where nobles who would dedicate all their efforts to the country were gathered.

It was a statement that shifted the atmosphere as if they were swearing allegiance to the country and the royal family once again.

‘Kim Yu-hyun isn’t here, right?’

Before moving on to the next part, Zion glanced around.

Even if Kim Yu-hyun was present, there was a very high probability that he wouldn’t notice, but he still had to be careful.

Fortunately, Kim Yu-hyun wasn’t at the party.

Since Lucia hadn’t appeared at the party, he hadn’t moved either.

‘Okay, next.’

Zion paused for a moment and looked around.

Victory, hero, bravely sacrificed, gratitude.

The keywords to move them were all out.

Now, all he had to do was gently touch their emotions, and they would be swept away by the atmosphere.

“This is a letter left by a soldier who died in this war.”

“…”

“For the record, the day that soldier died was the day his wife gave birth to their child.”

Zion was planting a death flag that tugged at people’s heartstrings in a non-existent letter.

A father who died on the day his child was born, what a cliché.

But it was a cliché because it worked even when it was obvious!

Holding a blank piece of paper as if it were a will with heartbreaking content that he couldn’t bear to look at any longer, Zion recited the last verse.

“When I am called upon, O God. Grant me the strength to face the enemy on any battlefield. Protect the young children of my neighbors from the hands of the enemy, and save the elders who tremble in fear.”

Zion recited the last verse, looking at the blank paper as if it were a will filled with heartbreaking content that he could no longer bear to look at.

“And if I lose my life according to God’s will, by God’s grace, may you… watch over… my wife and family…”

Good, the part where he trailed off, choking back tears at the end, was perfect.

More than that, he felt a little guilty for doing such a terrible thing, but Zion comforted himself by thinking that he could do even dirtier things than this to survive.

“…”

“…”

“…”

No one spoke.

The nobles gathered around, Berekrick, Ludwig, and Estia, all of them.

They were just staring blankly at Zion, waiting for his next words.

“It is a country protected by nameless people, and a victory achieved by them. We must all strive to ensure that their will is not tarnished.”

There was no applause.

No, it wasn’t a place where applause should be given in the first place.

If someone had applauded, Zion might have knocked that person unconscious by hitting them over the head.

Swoosh.

A noble slowly raised his glass.

Very high, stretching out his hand.

Then another noble next to him followed suit, and another next to him.

The noble next to him, and all the nobles around him, raised their glasses.

Finally, when everyone gathered in the room unified their actions, someone spoke again.

“Glory to our country. Loyalty to our royal family.”

“Glory to our country, loyalty to our royal family.”

Of course, less than half of the nobles would be following those words with sincerity.

Loyalty to the royal family was merely a desire to maintain their power.

Love for the country was merely a desire to not see their influence diminish.

But that didn’t mean they needed to go against the atmosphere in this strangely charged place.

No, rather, they would be branded as traitors if they did.

Right now, Zion Claussen, the protagonist of today’s party and a war hero, was looking at them with tearful eyes, so who could not move!

The nobles said that and emptied their glasses in one gulp.

Whether the oath they uttered was false or sincere, one thing was certain.

They had all said those words in a place where everyone was gathered, even in the royal palace.

Now, whether they liked it or not, they had to show even more effort than usual.

Why?

The reason was simple.

‘You said those words in that place, but you’re ignoring the royal family’s words and benefiting the enemy? Then you’re in treason.’ If that happened, the other nobles would gain the ‘justification’ to tear him apart.

He swore allegiance but didn’t act on it, so it was okay to attack him!

That was the justification.

‘It was just a cheesy play, a bunch of nonsense.’

That’s what politics is like.

Politics is about thoroughly manipulating the other party with a single word and ultimately destroying them, and power is about killing everyone, including parents and children, with eyes rolling back in their heads.

Justification can be a weapon that strangles one’s own neck, or a dagger that can pierce the other party’s heart.

The other side of politics, which seems so noble and dignified, is truly childish.

Zion knew that better than anyone.

No, perhaps he had been made to know it well.

The political arena was a place where, as soon as you watched television or read internet articles, you would film a splendid video that was more entertaining than any comedy show and made comedy movies pale in comparison.

‘I’ve done my part, Your Majesty. Now the rest is up to you, so please do well.’

As promised, Zion had provided the king with a wonderful picture and justification: ‘Nobles who have sworn allegiance to the country and the royal family.’

So, does Zion gain nothing?

Absolutely not.

He would be remembered as someone who had instantly thrown away the image of being successful just because he had a good father, and who had swayed the nobles with just a few words, so wouldn’t that be the biggest gain?

‘Above all, the princess won’t react aggressively to my words anymore.’

Judging from the situation, it seemed that this body had done something rude in the past.

That was not a pleasant thing for him, who was burdened with the task of advancing the relationship between Kim Yu-hyun and the princess.

So, Zion disguised himself as ‘a guy who was once a immature idiot but has now become a decent person’ to ease the princess’s wariness of him.

‘Yu-hyun. Trust me, bro. I’ll get rid of your eunuch title soon.’

Still, Zion felt sorry for Kim Yu-hyun, who seemed pathetic even though he was the protagonist of the novel, as he couldn’t even properly take care of one of the heroines after going through all sorts of hardships.

He smiled, thinking that he should at least treat him this well since he was the protagonist of the novel.

Looking at Vanessa, who was looking at him with strange eyes, Zion thought that things would work out more easily than he thought.

Of course, that was a ridiculous delusion.

[Author’s Note] Last day of June!

Everyone, it’s hot, right?

Cheer up!

My air conditioner is broken!

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA