The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 40

Silence descended, a heavy blanket muffling the sounds of the evening.

No one expected a knight in full armor to be unseated, defeated so decisively by an unknown swordsman. The sheer improbability hung in the air.

Moreover, the knight had been charging on horseback. Even if caught off guard, such a swift defeat seemed impossible.

“…Who are you?” the apparent leader of the pursuit party asked, his eyes quickly assessing the stranger.

Now that he looked closer, the man’s clothes, though well-tailored, were travel-worn and damp with sweat. The sword he wielded also looked unusual, hinting at considerable expense.

“Funny,” the stranger replied. “You barge into someone else’s territory and demand their identity? How low has the Lloyd family fallen for you to act this way?”

“We are not disregarding the Lloyd family,” the knight said, his tone shifting, becoming more formal. “We are simply inquiring if you are authorized to use the Lloyd name.”

The knights’ sudden politeness was almost comical.

Furthermore, they still hadn’t revealed their own identities.

And those eyes… a chilling, murderous intent still flickered within them.

“It seems prolonging this conversation is pointless. I’ll say it again: don’t run. It’s annoying.”

“Since you refuse to identify yourselves, you must be mercenary scum, clinging to the Lloyd name to save your hides! Kill him!”

Two more knights spurred their horses forward, their confidence seemingly restored, believing the first knight’s demise was a fluke.

They misjudged the situation once more.

I decided to unhorse them first.

[Casting Wood Control.]

[Binding the target.]

I couldn’t bind a hundred owlbears at once as I did when I consumed the acorns. That was a unique situation.

Still, having advanced to a beginner druid, I easily ensnared the ankles of the two approaching horses with the Bind skill.

Heeeeeeing!!

Even a rotten fish still has bones. [A Korean proverb meaning even something weak can still put up a fight.]

Even as the horses stumbled, the knights agilely rolled free, avoiding a fall.

So what?

The game was already over.

Anticipating their landing, I rushed forward, swinging my sword with blinding speed.

Thwack! Thwack!

The heads of the two men were severed in an instant.

Now only five knights remained.

The others recoiled as if splashed with ice water.

I cracked my neck, the sound echoing in the sudden silence, and muttered, “Compared to the prey I hunted in the North, this is laughably easy.”

“!!!”

The knights’ pupils dilated.

“The North!”

“Indeed, so you were a mercenary from that region.”

“That explains his skill.”

“Or was it just luck? It looked like the horse tripped over a rock.”

The knights descended into disarray.

Then, the knight who had maintained a stoic presence at the rear stepped forward.

“There’s no choice. We’ll eliminate him and be done with it.”

The captain’s sword glowed with a faint mana. He was a Sword Expert.

“Blame your misfortune for witnessing something you shouldn’t have. This is nothing personal.”

“What a load of crap.”

“…Your language is vulgar, as expected of a mercenary.”

The Expert captain, learning from the fate of his subordinates, dismounted and approached on foot.

If a mana-imbued sword clashes head-on with a normal sword, the normal sword will shatter unless it’s exceptionally well-made.

The captain relied on this principle and launched a direct assault.

The problem is…

-Left.

-Right.

-Feint right, then strike above.

The Cheonma-gation [likely a reference to a specific swordsmanship technique or style] was functioning flawlessly.

Honestly, I could have won without it, but with Cheonma added, it was like slicing through butter.

The captain, after exchanging a few blows, wore an expression of utter disbelief.

“What are you? How are you anticipating my attacks? You’re occupying the space I intend to strike before I even think of attacking there. What is your identity…”

Those were the captain’s last words.

A decapitated man cannot speak.

The mysterious man who had been pursued cried out in shock as the Expert knight fell with a single blow.

“This can’t be! Sir Lehman died without even putting up a proper resistance!”

The remaining rabble were equally stunned. They now understood they had no chance of victory.

To make matters worse, the silver-green sword energy was already radiating brilliantly. The morale of the enemies who witnessed my true power crumbled further.

And…

“Huh? Who are these guys?”

“We came because we heard a commotion, and it seems there were uninvited guests,” Campbell and Sion emerged from the bushes, their expressions grim. Even the numerical advantage, their only remaining asset, had vanished.

“A variable. Retreat!”

The knight who seemed to be second-in-command attempted to flee, but it was too late.

Campbell and I charged, unleashing sword energy, while Sion moved with his water lizard steps [likely a reference to a specific fighting style].

The remaining knights’ skills were insignificant to any of us three, and the cleanup was swift.

“Unbelievable… The Hilton family’s knights defeated so easily. What is your identity?”

“These guys have been barging into our territory and demanding our identities since the beginning? Tie him up. I’ll personally peel off his skin and find out who he is.”

The stranger, hearing the threat of torture, quickly blurted out in terror, “There’s no need for that! I am Peter Albus, the son of Baron Albus under the Lloyd Marquisate!”

Sion’s steps, which had been directed toward the man with a drawn sword, faltered.

“If you wish, I can even show you the brooch with the family crest.”

“Regardless, produce everything that can verify your identity. We’ll be the judge.”

A brief search of three minutes confirmed the stranger pursued by the masked knights was indeed Peter Albus.

“So, an explanation seems necessary. But first… you look terrible. Come with me for now.”

* * *

The sudden incident brought the Cave Manor party to a halt.

Peter, having eaten his fill with the remaining food and taken a bath, reappeared looking refreshed and presentable.

Dressed in new clothes, he certainly possessed the air of a well-bred nobleman.

“Are you saying you are Henon Lloyd? The infamous bastard of the Lloyd family…”

“It would be beneficial to your continued health to finish that sentence carefully.”

“…a precious young master. The rumors of your recent display of tremendous power in the North were indeed true.”

Peter was sweating profusely.

Having spent time among rough men in the North, the southern nobles seemed almost innocent in comparison.

“So, would you care to explain why you were found on our territory, on the verge of death?”

“That’s… sob…”

Suddenly, he burst into tears.

Initially, I was going to chide him for crying like a child, but after hearing the circumstances, it was understandable.

“Your uncle executed Baron Albus and handed over the barony to Count Hilton?”

“That’s right. Lord Henon knows better than anyone that our family has served the Lloyd family for generations.”

“The Hilton County…”

The Elden Kingdom was structured with hundreds of families dividing and governing the land. Upon hearing a name, there were countless families one might not recognize.

Among them, a select few great families shone brightly, and the Hilton County boasted one of the most prominent powers in the Elden Kingdom, with a size comparable to the Lloyd Marquisate, known as the Seven Stars of the continent.

Moreover, with adjacent territories, the two families were unlikely to be on good terms.

The Albus territory was situated directly between the two powers’ spheres of influence. It seemed this situation arose because it was inevitably influenced by both sides.

“My uncle, who became the new Baron Albus, received help from the Hilton family to eliminate me after my father. The men Young Master captured were the Hilton family’s hunting dogs.”

“I see.”

“Honestly, I thought everyone here would die. Especially the man Henon killed single-handedly at the end is a well-known expert in that area…”

“You’re quite knowledgeable.”

“Our family had to be aware of both the Hilton and Lloyd families to survive. That’s how it turned out… sob…”

Peter wept again.

For now, I decided to return to the Marquisate and report the situation to my father.

I had become entangled in a strange incident on my triumphant return.

* * *

In any case, I endured a period that felt both long and short, and honorably returned from the North.

Arriving at the Marquisate, the castle gates stood wide open, and people lined the left and right sides, awaiting my arrival.

“There he is!! It’s Young Master Henon!!”

“Hooray!! Hero of the North!”

“The Immortal who defeated the Twilight executive!”

“Immortal! Immortal!!”

Defeating the Twilight’s Great Executive was a significant achievement, news that would boost the morale of the residents. It seemed the rumors had spread rapidly throughout the Elden Kingdom.

And my nickname seemed to have solidified as the Immortal.

“Tch! They’re cheering without even knowing what the Immortal means,” Campbell, who was being cheered alongside me, grimaced awkwardly, as if recalling unpleasant memories.

“Still, it seems the Vice Commander is popular. Was it always this good?”

“It was good in a different way.”

“Ah.”

Sion, standing next to him, wore a deeply moved expression. The looks of contempt and scorn directed at Henon had been a constant. Even Sion himself had once been among those who cast such gazes, but now he was respected by everyone, a change as surprising as the world turning upside down.

As I walked toward the inner castle, stepping on the flower petals scattered on the road, Marquis Lloyd himself emerged to greet me. He smiled brightly upon seeing me.

“You’ve worked hard! You’ve really worked hard!”

My father’s hug felt somewhat awkward.

Over his shoulder, I saw Philip and Rosaline.

Even though they were rivals, it was good to see them after a long time. Perhaps even better because they wore sour expressions.

“…Henon, I heard the news. You’ve made quite a name for yourself. But don’t be complacent. I’ve often seen those who achieve great fame at a young age like you fall from grace,” Rosaline, the master of veiled criticism, twisted her words while feigning concern. Philip, on the other hand, looked like he was about to faint and avoided eye contact.

That’s how I made my splendid return.

Entering the castle, the way the servants and maids looked at me had changed.

As of yet, disbelief outweighed awe. Because they worked within the inner castle, they had witnessed my past misdeeds firsthand.

It must have been strange for the young master to change so suddenly. But gradually, that gaze would also change. I could already sense that the animosity of some of the servants toward me had lessened.

Evening banquet hall.

A variety of dishes adorned the table to the point where the legs threatened to buckle.

It wasn’t Thanksgiving, but a delicious-looking turkey occupied the center of the table. Each seat had a medium-rare steak. Soft candlelight illuminated the surroundings, and the sparkling silverware reflected the light.

Today, in addition to the family, Campbell and Sion were also specially invited to dinner. Although they were not nobles, it was an act of courtesy by Marquis Lloyd for their service in assisting me and for being honorable veterans of the North.

“There’s nothing more to say.”

The evening began with Marquis Lloyd’s praise.

“I only hoped you would return alive, even from the rear. The North is such a dangerous place.”

“It was indeed a harsh land.”

“That’s right. I also experienced the North, so I know how barren and rugged that place is. But to survive there and even defeat the Twilight’s Great Executive…”

“I was just lucky. Actually, the Commander did most of the work, and I just barely contributed.”

“You’re teasing your father. I know it’s not something that can be achieved with luck. Tell me in detail what happened.”

The story became quite lengthy.

Starting from the initial struggles to adapt, to Victor’s identity, the crisis of discovering Niflheim [likely a place name or significant location], and finally overcoming it and becoming a hero of the North.

When I stumbled in the narrative, Sion and Campbell would jump in to supplement the explanation or embellish it further.

“Ah, the Vice Commander was amazing. Especially when he single-handedly defeated all those owlbears, I wondered if he was the reincarnation of the hero Kyle.”

“Young Master was also an excellent Vice Commander of the Rangers. He always encouraged the members and volunteered to search the most dangerous areas.”

After all the stories were told.

As the shadows flickered in the candlelight, the Marquis, who had finished his meal and was sipping warm tea for dessert, spoke.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No. It was an honor to bring glory to the family.”

Throughout the dinner, Philip and Rosaline wore sour expressions. It must have been because I had emerged as a strong contender to succeed the Marquisate.

Even as they sat silently, they were likely plotting how to deal with me.

I decided to add another bombshell.

“I almost forgot.”

“What is it?”

“Before leaving the North, I received a letter from the Margrave. I will deliver the letter to the Marquis.”

I handed over Karina’s letter.

Marquis Lloyd smiled faintly as he read the letter, but his eyes widened.

“What, what is this? Is this the truth?”

“I don’t know what’s written in the letter. Please explain it to me.”

“Karina says she will be your patron.”

“!!!”

Clang!

Rosaline’s wine glass fell to the floor, shattering with a loud noise. The maid who was waiting behind quickly cleaned up the mess.

The Margrave’s offer to be a patron was incredibly surprising. Besides, wasn’t Karina a single woman who hadn’t even married? It was certain that she would be a powerful backer.

“It seems she mentioned something like that.”

“Haha…”

Even the Marquis let out a hollow laugh.

“I was going to give you a significant reward, but now that things have turned out this way, I don’t even know what kind of reward I should give you. As a father, I can’t offer you a better reward than Karina…”

“It’s alright. I didn’t do it for a reward.”

I could feel Rosaline and Philip’s nerves on edge.

The reason they had patiently listened to my heroic tales was because they wanted to hear what kind of reward the Marquis would bestow upon me.

It seemed my father was struggling, so I intervened.

“Marquis, there is one thing I desire. May I speak?”

“Oh, what is it! Tell me.”

The Marquis, relieved that I was requesting something specific, readily agreed.

I brought up the matter I had prepared in advance.

“Please allow me to assist the Albus Barony.”