Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 53

53

I can only offer carbonation, carbonation, and more carbonation.

Those who didn’t attend the reopened party were from noble families closely associated with Kashgar and were thus under investigation.

The remaining nobles, except for those under scrutiny, were diligently following the royal request, trying to show their loyalty to the royal family, who must be very upset right now.

‘Still, the atmosphere is already ruined.’

Just moments ago, crazy bastards with knives barged into the palace and caused a ruckus; it would be stranger if the atmosphere were good.

Perhaps thinking that another group of crazed lunatics might burst in at any moment, most of the nobles, except for a few, were clearly trying to hide their unease.

“I am deeply sorry for the unfortunate incident.

However, thanks to those who thought of this kingdom and offered their loyalty, we were able to prevent their wicked plot without shedding any blood. We will not be discouraged by the collapse of a part of the wall.”

“···.”

“Let you all enjoy this ‘victory’ together with the previous victory.”

King Edgar IV made a point of emphasizing the word ‘victory.’

The word victory might not seem appropriate, as the palace walls were breached, and intruders stormed inside.

However, as he said, no one was hurt in such a terrifying scheme, and the plot was thoroughly crushed, so it wouldn’t be right to call it a ‘defeat.’

With those words, the royal-hosted party resumed.

A place filled with cheerful music, luxurious wine, and fragrances, just like before.

However, the subtly cold undercurrent flowing through the place was unavoidable.

“Tsk.”

As if deeply displeased with the current situation, Marquis Volkov approached Zion.

“Those who were happy about winning the war are now terrified when the blade is pointed at them, and look at the things they’re doing.”

“Someone might hear you, Marquis.”

“That’s why I’m saying it.

As you said, those who only watched the war from behind think that glory, honor, and advantages are everything.

And most of the noble riffraff gathered here are those who were right behind them.”

With those words, Marquis Volkov emptied the contents of his wine glass in one gulp, with a gesture full of dissatisfaction.

The Ledenen Marquisate had been at the forefront of the charge against the enemy when Hispania entered the war, mercilessly dealing with them.

If the Klausen Margraviate was a reliable shield, the Ledenen Marquisate was a sharp spear.

‘The only downside is that their personality is so fierce and difficult that they can’t be controlled unless it’s by the royal family.

And the biggest problem, though it’s a future concern, is…’

Ludwig Ledenen, as expected.

He possesses mediocre talent but firmly believes he is an incredibly skilled person.

Kim Yu-hyun could come and smack him in the head, and he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

“By the way, Ludwig is nowhere to be seen.”

“Why?

Is he trying to pick a fight again?”

“Of course not.

Do you think I’m such a rude person?”

“You’re showing signs.”

“···.”

“Just kidding.”

Was it possible to make jokes with such a serious face?

Has humor in this town all frozen to death?

Those words involuntarily rose in Zion’s mind.

“My son has returned to the family.

He said he thought it would be better to wield a sword after seeing the attack on the palace.”

“Is that so.”

“You’re probably thinking, ‘That little punk ran away scared, didn’t he?’

Isn’t that right?”

“Surely not.”

At that reply, Count Volkov chuckled.

Zion also laughed along, and they seemed to be getting along quite well.

“Are you picking on another young friend and making pointless jokes again?”

It was a voice he heard for the first time, and a face he saw for the first time.

However, Zion had already finished ‘organizing’ everything in his head.

‘The only people who can speak so comfortably to Marquis Volkov of the Ledenen Marquisate, besides the king, are just two.

The heads of the Gutchen Marquisate and the Oner Marquisate.

But Estia came in place of the head of the Oner Marquisate, who is bedridden due to illness.

Then that man is…’

Marquis Joaquin Gutchen.

If Marquis Volkov plays a central role in the war aspect of Hispania, Marquis Joaquin was a noble who was the center of the economy.

From the beginning, the Gutchen Marquisate was a giant merchant who helped the founding of the Hispanian royal family, so it was natural for them to rise through commerce and maintain a boom with economic power.

“Marquis Joaquin Gutchen.”

“It’s been a while, Young Master Zion.

How many years has it been since I’ve seen you?”

“···It has been a long time.”

Well, there was no way to know when Zion Klausen had come to the palace, so he had no choice but to skip over it.

Fortunately, Marquis Joaquin only shrugged, saying, ‘That’s right.

It’s been a long time.’

“The moneybags have arrived.”

“Isn’t that the old man who thinks showing off strength is everything?”

“···.”

No, aren’t these guys a little too much, growling at each other as soon as they see each other?

Zion, watching Volkov and Joaquin glaring at each other with cold eyes, sighed, ‘Ah.’

Come to think of it, he had forgotten.

How dirty the relationship between the Gutchen Marquisate and the Ledenen Marquisate was.

They were so eager to tear each other apart that it was said they couldn’t stand each other.

If you were to ask if it was a do-or-die relationship, he could definitely say no.

If the two marquisates were to clash in earnest, Hispania could be shaken to its core.

Both knew that, so they didn’t cross the ‘line’ they had each set.

‘Only to the extent that they don’t cross the line.

Until then, they said they really enjoyed tearing each other apart.’

The Ledenen Marquisate is always a family that stands at the forefront of war.

Therefore, they despised those who took war lightly, and at the same time, they didn’t treat those who looked down on armed groups as human beings.

Naturally, their personality was hotter than fire and difficult.

Conversely, the Gutchen Marquisate is a family at the center of the economy, focusing on commerce.

Therefore, they were always accustomed to calculating profits and losses in all aspects and extremely disliked the destruction of commercial districts due to unnecessary disputes.

And they never showed their emotions, saying that getting excited was a very low-class thing to do.

Both families were noble families working hard for Hispania.

However, because they had extremely contrasting temperaments, they would growl at each other like dogs on the street whenever they met.

“Do you have a reason to be at this party?”

“I don’t know what you mean, Volkov.”

“Aren’t you the one who always shouted that a full-scale war with Nudia was absolutely impossible?

But you’re here at a party celebrating the victory in the war with Nudia.

Instead of sending condolences to Nudia, that is.”

“Our Hispania paid a lot of money to suppress the pirates in the south three years ago.

And you can’t possibly not know that the country staggered for over a year, can you?

The cost of the war was a problem, and more than anything, countless young people who should have been the labor force died and were injured.”

“So you made a humiliating peace proposal, is that it?”

“As a result, didn’t we buy two years of time?

Thanks to that, Hispania is now reviving again.

Above all, the Klausen Margrave blocked them well, so the time to counterattack will soon be near.”

“···Are you saying you won’t oppose the opinion of starting a war this time?”

“I’ll have to consider it.

Which is more beneficial to Hispania.

If war is beneficial, I will agree, and if not, I will oppose it.”

“Sometimes you have to fight even knowing it’s a loss.”

“You can only say you’ve truly won when you fight a battle without suffering losses.”

As expected, the two middle-aged men didn’t give an inch.

What was Zion doing during that time?

That’s an obvious question.

Since he couldn’t find popcorn, he was cheering them on in his mind, saying, ‘Fight more!’ while putting honey-soaked fruit in his mouth and munching on it.

Didn’t they say that the most interesting things are watching fires and watching fights?

“Are you two working energetically even here?

Do you have to continue arguing even at a party celebrating the kingdom’s victory?”

Eventually, Estia, unable to watch any longer, revealed herself.

Since she came to the party in place of her head of the family, who was not in good health, she was officially the representative of the Oner family.

Therefore, the two marquises couldn’t treat her carelessly and just groaned and swallowed their words.

“By the way, Young Master Zion.

Are you feeling well?”

“Ah, yes.

Thank you for your concern, Lady Estia.”

“You’re still so formal.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t you think we don’t need to use the words ‘Young Master’ and ‘Lady’ between us?

Just calling each other by name would be enough.”

Estia said that, giving a soft smile.

Fortunately, Ludwig wasn’t here, but if that self-proclaimed future best knight had been there, he would have definitely glared at Zion with a very uncomfortable expression.

“Well, then I won’t refuse and will call you comfortably, Estia.”

“Hehe, yes.

Thank you, Zion.”

Just as Estia was about to continue speaking,

An unexpected person suddenly appeared.

“The real powers of Hispania are all here.”

At the sound of a clear woman’s voice, everyone in the room stopped talking and turned around.

Then, they politely bowed and opened their mouths.

“Princess Vanessa, have you arrived?”

“You’re all being so stiff again.

I’m telling you, let’s just enjoy the party as we were.”

Even at the princess’s words, the nobles were cautious in their words and actions, watching her carefully.

It was the royal family that had suffered the humiliation of being attacked in the palace.

If they did something to displease a member of the royal family at a time like this, they would be implicated in treason and have no excuse even if they moved to Count Sepher’s side.

After briefly talking with Marquis Volkov and Marquis Joaquin, Vanessa now approached Zion and Estia.

Then, she glanced at Estia and then turned her gaze back to Zion.

After rolling her eyes around for a moment, she carefully opened her mouth.

“Um, well.

That, Young Master Zion.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“That, um.

That, well, you see.”

“Please speak.

I’m listening.”

“Ah, that’s.

That, what kind of story··· were you having so much fun with Lady Estia?”

Um?

Zion inwardly exclaimed in question.

Estia and he had only been talking for a short time, no more than two minutes.

Was she saying that she had been watching it all from the beginning?

“Ah, it was nothing much.

We were just talking about removing heavy titles like Young Master and Lady and just calling each other by name.”

“···Only by name?”

At that moment, Vanessa’s gaze turned from Zion to Estia.

With a slightly sunken gaze, Estia had to tilt her head, thinking, ‘···Did I do something wrong?’

“Ahem.

Young Master Zion.

Still, you are both from great noble families, so I’m worried that if you treat each other too casually, other nobles might see it strangely.”

In other words, if the relationship between the two became closer than necessary, wouldn’t those gossipy, crazy nobles who are addicted to gossip get excited and run wild?

Zion also didn’t like being talked about by the nobles on strange topics, so he nodded and agreed with the princess’s opinion.

“Ah, Princess.

Have you met that man by any chance?”

“What man?”

“The man who single-handedly stopped the intruders during the palace attack.”

“···Ah.

The man who is said to be a disciple of Raido [likely a famous martial artist or figure of legend].

His name is···.”

“Yu-hyun.

Kim Yu-hyun.”

“That’s right.

His name is unique, so I remember it.”

Ooh, remembers it.

This is quite a positive reaction.

A romance between the princess and the male protagonist that ended in tragedy in the novel.

It would be fun to watch this as well.

As a reader, it was definitely quite enjoyable to watch the protagonist flirting.

“I talked to him a bit.”

“Yes, yes.

So?”

“···You’re being strangely proactive.”

“Ah, I’m just curious.

If I was being rude···.”

“It’s not that.

Rather, if I answer the question of how he was··· he was quite a lonely-looking man.

He doesn’t seem to be even thirty years old on the outside, but when you listen to him talk, he’s like an old man who’s lived through everything.”

As expected, a woman’s intuition is scary.

Of course, he wouldn’t even dream that Kim Yu-hyun was really that kind of man.

“Anyway, we talked for a few words and parted ways.

Honestly, it was hard to believe that a man with such a spooky atmosphere had helped the royal family.

If it weren’t for the fact that he was a disciple of Raido, he would have been considered more suspicious than the attackers.”

“···.”

“That’s all, Young Master Zion.”

Eh?

That’s all?

Are you saying there was no pink atmosphere at all right now?

Ah, you fucking impotent bastard.

Zion cursed Kim Yu-hyun, who maintained a strange nobility despite being rated R [referring to mature content].

In the Murim world [a genre of martial arts fantasy], he had captivated the hearts of women from the orthodox sect, the unorthodox sect, and even the Demonic Cult, earning him the nickname ‘King of Virility’ from the readers, but why did he suddenly become a stone Buddha when he came to this other world?

‘Fucking bastard.

I went to the trouble of setting the table, but he doesn’t even know it’s food and didn’t even try to taste it.’

Vanessa has top-notch looks, body, personality, brains, and talent, and even boasts the noble lineage of being a direct descendant of the royal family.

If he wasn’t an impotent bastard, wouldn’t it be normal to try to do something about it?

Originally, wasn’t the cliché of shocking protagonists to start by seducing the princess first?

‘Sigh.’

Thinking that he would need more time, Zion judged that it was time to unpack the gifts.

There were two heads of the three marquis families, the next head, and even the princess around, so it was the perfect time to use them as a backdrop.