The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 197

Chapter 23 Extra: Enough of a Scoundrel

#3

Lloyd Estate.

I’ve become a jobless bum.

Let me tell you about my daily routine: I wake up in the morning (around 2 PM).

“Sion.”

I only muttered it softly, but she noticed with her Sword Master-like hearing and placed breakfast in front of me.

“Did you cough, Master?”

Today’s meal is nicely grilled sausage, scrambled eggs with a touch of butter, and toast that’s crispy on one side and soft on the other.

It would be perfect with coffee, but sadly, there’s no coffee on the Arnia Continent.

I need to search the entire continent for plants similar to coffee beans.

If that doesn’t work, I could go to Earth and bring back some coffee seeds when I return.

“Sion.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been lazing around like this for months. Am I okay?”

“Master spent his whole life loafing around before being busy for a few years. You’ve spent far more time playing than working, yet you’re worrying like a diligent person.”

“Ugh.”

Sion’s tongue is as sharp as her sword, now as it was then.

Peace is good, but… is it just my imagination, or is Sion’s gaze turning back to how it was during my scoundrel days?

“Sion, you’re one of the Seven Stars now. You don’t need to be my maid.”

After the Demon King died, there was a major reorganization of the Seven Stars system.

With Hans Knight Commander dead and the number of high-level experts reduced to six, Sion, who became a Sword Master, was included to establish a new Seven Stars system.

Where am I, you ask?

I’m not included in the Seven Stars because I’m the Hero.

Just like Hero Kyle wasn’t one of the Seven Stars, the Hero is just the Hero.

“Serving Master is my duty. My swordsmanship improving doesn’t negate my duty.”

Still rigid and inflexible. Her expression is cold too. That’s part of Sion’s charm.

I’ve had a small hope lately.

I want to see that bright smile Sion showed me when we returned after defeating the Demon King again.

When I asked Sion about it, she forcibly pulled up the corners of her mouth.

But that smile didn’t come out.

Instead, Sion seemed embarrassed and her face turned red, radiating coldness for days.

“I’m bored. Is there anything to do?”

“Why don’t you go on an inspection tour of the territory? You’ll have to govern the territory as the heir soon, won’t you?”

“I suppose I will.”

My father is still handling the territory’s affairs.

I’m taking a step back under the pretense of saving the continent, continuing my filial piety with fire attributes [a sarcastic way of saying he’s avoiding his responsibilities].

But I can feel the Hero buff disappearing.

The number of times my father calls me to his office is increasing.

I was about to go for a walk with Sion to digest my meal.

Just then, I ran into Butler Sebastian at the entrance.

But Sebastian’s condition is strange.

His eyes are sunken, his skin is rough, and he looks exhausted.

A master like Sebastian should be thorough with self-care, so I have to ask what’s wrong.

“Butler, is something the matter?”

“No… You don’t need to worry about me…”

Sion, who was next to me, also looked at her father with a worried expression.

A father who worries his daughter.

I have to scold him.

“Sebastian, are you hiding something from the Young Lord? I’m very disappointed.”

“Yes? No. It’s nothing like that at all.”

“If there’s nothing bothering you, tell me right now.”

I put on a serious face and released a bit of my aura, causing Sebastian’s face to show embarrassment.

But only for a moment, before a surprising story came out of his mouth.

“Yes? Father and Karina?”

“Yes. The two of them are secretly exchanging letters, and because it’s personal, I’m personally going back and forth to Black Castle.”

The distance between Black Castle and the Lloyd Estate is not short at all.

Even at my pace, it takes two hours.

For Sebastian, it would take a whole day.

I haven’t felt that Sebastian has been away for a long time recently, so I can only imagine how much he’s been overworking himself.

“What on earth is in those letters that’s making you suffer so much?”

“The content isn’t the problem. The relationship between the two is the problem.”

According to Sebastian, Karina and Father fought particularly close together during the Demon King subjugation.

So, an unexpected spark ignited between the two who had been quiet?

“That’s surprising.”

“Karina has always had feelings for the Marquis. However, the Marquis has been pushing her away.”

“Was that so?”

“Yes. But this time, the Marquis has opened his heart, so I think their relationship has progressed a little.”

“A little? They exchange letters every day. How can it only be a little progress? At this rate, they should be meeting and kissing and…”

“Master.”

Sion stopped me.

“Everyone has a different pace for wanting to progress in a relationship. Not everyone enjoys one-night stands like Master.”

“Who said anything? And I don’t like one-night stands either. I’m a pure man who wants serious love.”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure.”

Anyway, the story is that my father, who has been on a long dating hiatus and has become a dating idiot, doesn’t know how to treat the young and fiery Teacher Karina?

“Sion, I can’t stand it. Cupid of love, move out.”

“…Yes?”

“Just watch. I’ll save your father.”

In the sense of saving the poor Sebastian caught between them, I immediately went into my room and wrote a letter.

「To Karina.

It’s been a while. How are you? I’m being a bum next to my father. I need to pick up my sword, but I can’t seem to. I’ve lost my motivation since defeating the Demon King.

The path of the sword seems endless. I need someone to solve my problems right now. I know you’re busy working in the North, but I’m shamelessly asking for a favor. Please come to the estate and guide me.

I have always regarded Karina as more than just a patron, but as a mother. I hope to see you soon.」

Just one day after sending the letter.

Karina rushed over.

For someone who’s busy working in the North, her movements were excessively swift.

She needed a legitimate reason to stay at the estate, and I scratched her itchy spot perfectly [helped her with what she wanted].

“Look at this guy, how fat he’s gotten? Who would think you’re a swordsman? I’m going to completely remodel your mindset from start to finish, so be aware.”

I just winked at her as she poured out her nagging as soon as she entered the inner castle.

Then Karina’s mouth was zipped shut [she stopped talking].

The quick-witted her confirmed that I was a tacit ally.

That night.

Karina and I sparred in the training grounds, or rather, pretended to spar.

Clang! Clash! Clang, clang, clang!!

I deliberately used skills that made a lot of noise.

It was so loud that the servants working in the inner castle couldn’t sleep.

‘I’m sorry.’

Just as I was apologizing in my heart, the target ambled out.

“Ahem! That’s a very rough sparring session.”

It’s Father’s appearance.

How long I’ve been waiting for this moment.

“Did our sparring wake you up? I’m sorry.”

“No. I wanted to swing my sword for a long time because my body felt stiff.”

Marquis Lloyd swung his sword a few times in the air for no reason.

I laughed inwardly at the sight of him pretending to have stopped by while being more interested in this place than anyone else.

“How about a free sparring session since we’re here? We’ll each have a one-on-one match.”

“That sounds good. Let’s play around.”

Chasing a natural encounter.

How difficult this is.

In fact, aren’t all natural encounters in the world the result of someone’s meticulous calculations?

Just like the sparring between Father and Karina unfolding before my eyes.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Under the moonlight, the three of us danced with swords.

Then I slipped away.

Even with just the two of them left, Karina and Father didn’t stop their swords.

Rather, they clashed their swords even more fiercely.

Normal couples entrust their bodies to the melody of a waltz, but this unique couple enjoyed the metallic sound of swords clashing.

The two men and women’s brutal date continued for a long time.

From that day on, the servants and maids sleeping in the inner castle gained two things.

The first was chronic fatigue due to sleep deprivation, and the second was the new mistress of the estate.

#4

After catching the Demon King and peace came, I suddenly got a wandering spirit [a strong urge to travel].

If I stayed still in the territory, I couldn’t stand it and had to leave for another place in less than a month.

There were plenty of destinations to visit.

There were many areas I hadn’t been to even within the Elden Kingdom, as well as the Calron Empire and the small kingdoms and duchies beyond it, and the desert kingdoms in the south.

I had built many memories with Sion while traveling around these places, but this time, exceptionally, I decided to revisit a place I had been to before.

That is the Eastern Great Forest.

The home of the Elves.

Unlike in the past, the Elves were no longer objects of exclusion.

Since Sasha became the chieftain, the relationship between Elves and humans had gradually improved.

The turning point in that relationship was the Demon King subjugation.

Humans and Elves are both intelligent beings with emotions, so they couldn’t forget the other races they had risked their lives to fight alongside.

Unknowingly, a sense of camaraderie arose, and there were fewer cases of blatant discrimination and infighting like before.

In addition, King Rebecca sent an official delegation to Sasha to promote friendship with the Elves.

Chieftain Sasha responded by dispatching Amelia, and a friendship treaty was signed in the capital, Fontano.

The ‘Fontano Treaty’ marked the beginning of an era of multi-racial harmony.

“Tom’s portal is convenient.”

“That’s right. Otherwise, it would have taken a whole day just to get there.”

Pilgrim Tom is probably the only Seven Star who is the same before and after the Demon King subjugation.

Even after peace came, Tom still explored ruins and followed in the footsteps of the Aslan Empire.

He found artifacts and appraised them or processed them into useful items for everyday life.

It’s hard to see his face often, but he still rushed over to fill the guest seats when he heard about Karina and Father’s wedding.

Anyway, thanks to the wormhole generator that Tom gave me, I teleported to Molty Territory in an instant.

Spot!!

Molty Territory has also become a completely different city than before.

This territory, which was once Philip’s base, now symbolized peace between the Elves and humans.

“Red boar meat caught from the forest.”

“Elven amulet. Brings good luck.”

“Here’s our family’s traditional medicinal herb. Good for men.”

The vast Eastern Great Forest was a treasure trove of natural resources in itself, and the Elves sold goods they brought from the forest in the market.

Humans bought Elven goods and provided the Elves with their own handmade items and food.

Even the Elves who were initially reluctant to mingle with other races gradually mixed with humans like clothes getting wet in a drizzle [slowly and naturally].

“There are many human and Elf couples in the northern district.”

“Recently, an edict was issued that exempts those who marry Elves from taxes and provides them with free housing. For humans without homes or money, the Elves are the best bride and groom candidates.”

The policy itself is friendly to the Elves, so there should be no worries about the relationship between the two races for at least ten years.

I crossed over to the Eastern Great Forest again through the portal.

Originally, Sasha should have come out barefoot to greet me, but today, Amelia came out instead of Sasha.

“Welcome.”

“Am I late?”

“It was close.”

Sion and I hurried to the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is where the Tree of Life is located.

I had a life-or-death battle with Elder Richard here before.

At the time, I was the only one who could enter the sanctuary, but now Sion, who has become a Sword Master, followed me.

When we arrived at the top of the mountain, we saw the back of Sasha’s head.

And next to her, a huge human was breathing heavily.

“Adam, how can you go like this? You can’t go. Sniff…”

That’s right.

We had traveled a long way to be with Adam, the first human, in his last moments.

Adam suffered fatal injuries in the Great Snowfield battle.

Sasha had taken care of him with utmost devotion, prolonging his life, but he had finally reached his limit.

Without saying a word, I sat next to her and held Sasha’s hand tightly, and she sobbed in my arms.

Adam’s eyes met mine.

At first, he and I met as enemies.

Twilight’s Great Officer, Wrath.

He was a man with many sins, but he was also a man with many wounds.

A man who killed hundreds of thousands and helped save tens of millions.

The weight of the sins he carried on his shoulders is not for me to judge.

“Human…”

Adam called my name when he saw me in his dying moments.

“What is it?”

“…Thank you.”

At the final moment.

His last words were surprisingly gratitude towards me.

“Why? I haven’t done anything good for you.”

“You sent me here. You let me meet the kind girl Sasha and the friendly Elves. I saw the Mother Tree again.”

“I just made the most rational decision from my perspective.”

“The year I spent here was the happiest of my entire life.”

“……”

“Thank you. Human.”

Adam closed his eyes.

Sasha wailed next to him, and Sion looked up to hold back her tears.

With Adam’s death, the natives of the Arnia Continent disappeared.

We, who were called the New Humans, became the first humans.

I feel sad and bitter, but this is also the way of the world.

The human race that currently dominates the Arnia Continent will one day be pushed back into the annals of history by another race or a new humanity.

If Adam’s last moments were happy.

That’s enough.