Chapter 31: I Should Be Careful From Now On (1)
Imperial Year 372, July 20th.
“Haat!”
A bright morning. My swordsmanship training was in full swing in the open space of the Royal Palace.
After the formation of specialized combat groups such as the Hall of Martial Arts and the Small Forest Shrine, many changes have come to martial arts. For example, the concept of swordsmanship has shifted from simply using a sword to attacking the enemy with the whole body along with the sword.
Slashing forward, turning around and slashing backward, I delivered a side kick along with the sword. However, Levidian dodged it with skillful footwork and thrust her sword into the gap created after the side kick.
Taeng!
I swung my left hand, parried the sword with the gauntlet embedded with a hard metal plate, and corrected my posture.
I’ve already sufficiently trained to respond to openings……Huh? What’s with the foot?
Thwack!
“Keck!”
Kicked precisely between the collarbones, I fell backward and rolled over once more. Ugh!
“The beginning was good, but it’s still lacking. I’ve told you countless times not to use kicks unless you’re sure you can land them. I was hoping you had set a trap or something, so my heart was pounding.”
She said it with a frighteningly bright tone. After delivering a blow that would have knocked me unconscious if she was serious……! Ugh. Cough!
“I’ll keep that in mind. Egogo……”
I got up and dusted off my clothes.
Levidian’s face, facing me, was still cold. However, her beauty, which never gets tiring even when seen every day, is always admirable. But that doesn’t mean I can’t draw my sword.
A woman’s body also has many places to strike, you know. Besides, after hearing every day that I should never distinguish opponents by gender when crossing swords, I’m now indifferent to her beauty.
Oh, as a healthy man, I fear for the future.
I feel like my swordsmanship is improving day by day.
The reason why it’s just a feeling is probably because every time I grow, Levidian also raises her level accordingly.
If I see her as a mountain to overcome, it’s like digging into the fog that covers the top of the mountain every day. It feels like a very high mountain where you can only see that the fog has cleared after you’ve climbed it.
“Haap!”
After clashing swords with her for a while, I lunged forward with a thrust, throwing my whole body. To close the distance and engage in close combat……Ugh?!
Her arm wraps around mine like a vine. Then, her body moves behind me, and the moment I thought her hand touched the back of my head, I couldn’t stop the passionate kiss between my cheek and the ground.
“Kuhuk!”
“Starting today, I’ve added a new pattern, which is to win.”
She’s holding one of my arms, and her legs are pressing down on my shoulders. That way, my arm is nestled in her arms……Ugyagyagya! Don’t pull!
“Kuaa! I surrender! I surrender!”
I pounded the ground with my remaining arm, and only then did she let go of my arm. My body went limp. She brushed herself off and said,
“Although it’s not something you’ll experience often, there are those who attack like this. If this were a real battle, I would have broken Risel’s arm within 2 seconds and held a sword to your neck.”
“Phew, yeees……”
I said, still sprawled out, unable to get up. Levidian sighed lightly and said,
“What the……You would have jumped right back up before, but you seem to be tired these days. What are you doing at night?”
“Hard work.”
“You’re trying awfully hard to have just one man. Hmm. They say love knows no gender.”
“Kaaaat! How long are you going to keep bringing that up!”
I ended up jumping to my feet. My arm was numb, but the words she uttered were no different from the strongest anesthetic.
She’s still teasing me about what I said to Jay the night before last!
“What I want is his time and abilities!”
“Yes, yes. Personal time and abilities in bed are the same thing, right?”
“Teacher, I’m an extremely ordinary person!”
I practically pleaded. Even so, a homosexual? Truly, it’s an outrageous suspicion. I might not have gotten married, but I was quite popular in social circles!
Ugh. This is why people should be careful with their words. Once you become the subject of ridicule, it never disappears. Sniff.
However, Levidian still wore an expressionless face with a slight sneer, a mischievous look, as she said,
“You never know. You might discover your hidden nature one day. I was truly surprised. I never thought Risel would say such things to a man……W, What are you doing?”
Even though I’m illegitimate, I’m still the second son of the Duke’s family. I can’t just let this ridicule slide.
I wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her towards me. Although I was shorter than her, our eyes met because she was leaning back.
Just like that, I looked into her eyes and said with a resolute expression,
“Shall I show you that I’m normal?”
“Huh? No, what are you……Risel……!”
I slowly brought my face closer to hers, and her face flushed red with embarrassment. Her wide-open eyes, reddened cheeks, and trembling shoulders seemed completely unfamiliar with the concept of resistance.
Perhaps because I had just finished exercising, my body was hot. The faint scent of sweat. Her slender waist held within my arms, even if this was just a playful act, somehow felt incredibly alluring.
“R, Risel, I, I understand, so……Ah……”
“Shh, someone might see us.”
I said with a suggestive expression, and Levidian became even more flustered, wearing an expression as if she might cry. I continued to bring my face closer to hers, and she became so flustered that she stiffened, unable to do anything. Her slightly dry, red lips looked soft.
“R, Risel……”
The sound of her voice, as if sighing. I pushed my face forward until I could almost feel her breath.
I’ve met many ladies in social circles. Even though I couldn’t get married, at least I’m more skilled than someone who took a sword as a lover.
“I always think this……Ibi is truly beautiful.”
“Aah……”
Now she relaxes her body. Perhaps she reached her limit of endurance. It seems she realized she’s not immune to this kind of thing. In that case, her teasing earlier was likely just a bluff.
I brought my face close enough that our noses almost touched. I leaned in so much that my face was reflected in her black pupils. As if we were dancing a passionate dance at a ball, I supported her waist and shoulders.
Her expression seemed to have lost its strength. I could almost hear her heart pounding with nervousness.
Hmm. This is as far as I go.
“Ibi……”
“Risel……”
I grinned and removed the hand that was supporting her.
“Did you think I was going to do something?”
“Huh? Kyaaat!”
She tumbled down and landed on her bottom. It was a very cute scream. As always, she has many cute sides, which makes teasing her worthwhile. Wahaha!
I turned my back on her and walked away, saying,
“You know now, right? So stop it. By the way, Teacher, your expression was really cute. Hahahaha……?”
I burst out laughing, but I turned around because I felt like I was being pierced by a gaze. No, I knew I shouldn’t turn around, but I couldn’t help but be drawn by a strange force that transcended instinct.
“Hiek?!”
There was a ‘devil’ there.
“Risel……!”
Her face was bright red, her eyebrows raised, her lips tightly pressed together, and her eyes filled with fury as she took the Seven Star stance.
I flinched and held out both hands.
“A, Are you going to kill me?”
“No. I’m not going to kill you just like that……”
“Sob! W, Well, I did that as a joke, so please don’t be too……”
“A joke? I see. So Risel does that kind of thing to women as a joke. Then I can’t forgive you even more. Enemy of this woman!”
“Didn’t you say not to distinguish by gender!”
I pulled out my last weapon. Maybe she’ll calm down if I bring up what she usually says?
She shouted resolutely with a bright red face.
“I don’t……know that!”
Seven stars flashed in the morning.
Today, I understood why Seven Star is Death Star.
I’m lucky to be alive.
★⭐★⭐★⭐★
“Puhahahat! So that’s why your face looks like that? Puhahahat!”
“Shut up, Jay.”
“It must be hard because she’s so strong. Use this.”
“Thanks, Old Man.”
Feeling the extreme urge to kick Jay’s laughing butt, I put a cold towel on my forehead.
If Levidian’s Seven Star had been real, I would have been the first person in history to be killed out of shame. Why would someone swing their sword with all their might to hide their embarrassment? I guess it can’t be helped since she’s the Sword King.
I said, cooling the bruise with a wet towel,
“Anyway, I won’t be going to any meetings with nobles for a while because of my face. So, let’s hear about the business you’re working on. Jay, how’s it going?”
“Hmm, well, it’s not difficult. Thanks to the funds the boss gave me, I don’t have to ask the Viscountess for help. Thanks to you, I saved my pride.”
“And? Anything else?”
“It’s going to be difficult in the short term. Even though we have the funds, there are more people who say it’s better to be under those seven organizations than to oppose or go against them.”
“That’s only natural. So you’re going to keep letting that natural thing stay natural? Make your investor happy, will you?”
I said curtly and gulped down water. Then, my chest, which had been hit by one of the Seven Stars, throbbed. Ugh, I can’t even move.
“Hey, boss. Don’t take your anger out on your subordinates after getting slapped by your master. It’s not like you’re trying to show off your youth.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m having a hard time thanks to my incompetent subordinate. Tsk.”
“Oh! Incompetent, you say! I just hate troublesome things. Umhahat!”
“Leave out the laughter at the end! Don’t laugh like you’re all that!”
I owed Jay All Master and Old Man Behind a lot.
In the past, I had agreed to cooperate with Viscountess Jei Aswan instead of paying them back……but I intercepted that. Just calling her Viscount made me wonder if she was a different Viscount. At least distinguish by gender.
Anyway, I paid off their debt with 50 platinum coins, let them buy what they needed, and gave them the rest as miscellaneous funds. And as I said the day before yesterday, I became their employer for three years.
I gave them 300 platinum coins as funds for three years and helped them grow. And they listen to me as much as they can.
It’s an extremely simple relationship, but it’s like homework for myself. After all, I have to make these two, who will become giants of the underworld in the future, my people within three years.
The task I’ve given them now is to keep the seven organizations of Ast busy. The method doesn’t matter. They just need to make sure those organizations can’t interfere with the Imperial Culture Street during the coronation festival, which starts today.
“Anyway, there have been results. They won’t be able to pay attention to the Imperial Culture Street today or tomorrow.”
Old Man said calmly and handed me a new wet towel. I silently exchanged the towels.
This is a house a little away from Morian’s Tavern.
Jay said it was a hideout, and I couldn’t understand why Old Man was wearing an apron in a hideout.
The sight of a slightly skinny and serious-looking middle-aged man wearing an apron and cooking will be etched in my memory forever.
“Anyway, the boss’s enemies are that Viscountess, Baron, and Count, right?”
“Do you remember their names?”
“Old Man would remember, wouldn’t he?”
“I remember.”
“See? But like the boss said, this isn’t an easy task. Nobles who don’t run legitimate businesses have to take bribes one way or another. Maybe the Count, but the Baron is famous around here. He’s thorough with giving and taking.”
“Sigh, this is why they’re called salaried nobles……So, can you take them down?”
“Tsk. Honestly, it’s difficult.”
Jay shrugged, and I suddenly wanted to throw the wet towel at his face. Thanks to Jay, who has a tremendous talent for getting under people’s skin, it seems like I’ll be training my patience for a while.
“At least, it’s impossible in the short term. We’re short on manpower.”
“I won’t give you any more hands here. I told you, I’ll see if you’re worth hiring for three years based on your skills.”
“Sigh, what kind of boss is so picky……But things are progressing well. If we do well, those anti-empire guys, or whatever they are, will be hiding like turtles for a while.”
“Not funny.”
“Oh my! I guess I’ll have to study hard!”
Jay said playfully, hitting his own head. I ended up sighing in defeat. As expected, you can’t judge a person by their appearance. Old Man is a bit different though.
“Well, this guy is still somewhat usable. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be helping him.”
“Hmm. That’s believable. Old Man, your words are trustworthy.”
“You’re welcome. But Master, it’s a bit early to ask, but how should we operate after you return to the Empire?”
I shrugged. When I hired them, I had to reveal my identity. Even setting aside Levidian, it’s a natural process if we’re going to be in a cooperative relationship.
Old Man tilted his head at my action, and Jay pouted.
“Hmph. I don’t know what an Imperial noble is trying to do, but just keep sending the money regularly. We’ll take care of things here.”
“Let’s see if you can say that again in five days. Now, let’s stop chatting and tell me about the information I asked for yesterday.”
“Here it is.”
Old Man took out an envelope that was tucked away in a drawer like a file and handed it to me.
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