The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 138

Chapter 138: A Momentary Dream (3)

“I have yet to relinquish my claim to the throne.”

Olivia’s bold declaration of war.

Cain chuckled and poured the tea he had just brewed into the wooden cup.

She held the cup in both hands and hesitated for a moment.

“This is my first time drinking tea like this.”

Her eyes widened.

“I didn’t think there would be tea in Airian that I had never tasted before. Is it a personal blend?”

“Not exactly me, but Lady Arna.”

Arna had a thing for tea as well.

Despite her reputation for making apple pies, she had a hobby of making her own tea, which was quite high-quality.

“She looks like a beautiful tea shop owner.”

With her shimmering lemon-colored hair, slender figure, and beautiful features.

Cain laughed wryly and replied,

“Not if she’s holding a bow.”

“She is quite intimidating.”

Anyone would think she wasn’t a half-elf, as she transformed into a warrior worth a hundred men the moment she picked up a bow. Moreover, her aura changed to that of a mercenary, exuding an overwhelming presence, far removed from that of a tea shop owner.

They exchanged light-hearted banter before moving on to more serious matters.

“Tea is your hobby?”

“Not drinking it, just collecting it.”

“That’s like you.”

“What’s ‘like me’ about it?”

Olivia replied cheekily, still holding her teacup.

Cain also poured himself some tea and took a sip, holding the cup in his left hand.

“You want to possess it.”

“Aha.”

Her light chuckle echoed in the teacup.

The magical lantern hanging in the barracks swayed gently from side to side, its light and shadow flickering across their faces.

As Olivia was briefly enveloped in shadow, she said,

“I have not given up my claim to the throne.”

“Anyone outside knows that.”

“You say that, but you’d make a great husband.”

“……crazy.”

And Olivia’s face, now illuminated again, wore a slight smile.

Cain was not one to curse often, but this time he couldn’t help it.

If it were a powerful enemy, he would rather face them in battle.

But not Olivia. He could not do that. In her eyes, there was a gleam of undeniable possessiveness and madness.

“Cain, do you know that your refusal to accept the dukedom here will be a great trial for Oleciren?”

This time, it was Cain’s face that was cast in shadow. In the darkness, Cain said calmly,

“I know.”

“Oh, come on. You should’ve realized that if you knew.”

Thump━.

The flickering lantern once again illuminated Cain’s face. It was a calm face that had not changed in the slightest.

“Despite being nominated by Hybolt, Oleciren was not recognized as the rightful heir to the throne because her support base was too weak.”

“Ooh.”

Olivia’s possessiveness gleamed even more. Cain continued, pretending not to notice.

“On the other hand, you had the support of two marquises and most of the counts under them, as well as the Seven Great Noble Houses.”

“Yes, I did. Not anymore, though.”

Her light chuckle.

But the weight behind it was on a different level than before.

One of the two marquises who supported her had joined hands with the elves and died a dishonorable death.

And not only that.

With the exception of Count Bradley, the westernmost of the five counts, Wareham, Crowl, Lamaring, and Ethelred,

Four of them had turned to Cain’s side.

Looking at it now, they would have welcomed Cain as their king, rather than Oleciren.

“What if you become weak and Oleciren is joined by the duke who killed the Elf Queen Glumiêm, who has been Airian’s greatest enemy for three hundred years?”

“Aren’t you ashamed? Calling yourself a hero?”

Cain shrugged.

“Am I not a hero?”

“……Well, it’s undeniable.”

“And you know what. What it means to be a hero.”

Cain held out the wooden cup he was holding. Olivia nodded gently and clinked her cup against his.

Clink━.

It was not a thin glass cup that made a crisp sound when they clinked, but the dull sound of wood had its own charm.

“You create it. Like your father did earlier.”

Someone who would become the center of public opinion and the masses.

A hero is not someone who is born and raised, but someone who is created by those around them.

In that sense, no one was more worthy of the title of ‘hero’ than Cain, and it was in the same vein that Hybolt had knelt down when he bestowed upon him the dukedom.

“That’s why I refused.”

“Oh ho. You’ll take the honor but postpone the actual power?”

Olivia saw through Cain’s intentions in an instant.

‘As expected, Olivia is quicker on the uptake than Oleciren when it comes to these messy political calculations.’

Oleciren was more virtuous with her gleaming and righteous heart. But how could the position of a king be guided by such a heart alone?

A small territory might be fine, but the king’s position, which encompassed the entire kingdom and the complex relationships based on their vested interests, required a cunning rather than a righteous person.

“Is that a good idea?”

Cain laughed lightly.

Olivia was right.

“Why?”

“Until now, I have been the one leading Oleciren.”

“Yes, to the point where there were voices saying that if you married any of the princesses, you would change your surname to Airian and be crowned king.”

Just as Abel had not yet been able to reach Cain’s sword.

Oleciren had also been constantly changing and improving, and had even come to wield witch’s power, but she was far from catching up to Cain.

In this expedition, for example, it was not Oleciren’s lava giant but Cain’s sword that had killed the World Tree and the elf queen, Glumiêm.

“That must not happen. At the very least, the throne must be taken by one’s own hand. Like you.”

Cain pointed his index finger forward. Olivia, the embodiment of desire, raised the corners of her mouth.

“You’re dangerous. I just wish you would continue to keep my sister stupid.”

“If she ascends to the throne as she is now, I can clearly see you hitting her on the back of the head in a few years.”

The throne is not a personal matter.

The forces represented by the two princesses were already different, and the beliefs they supported were different.

In such a situation, if one of them were to ascend to the throne carelessly, it would be easy for the other side to rally against them and hit them on the back of the head later.

Clink━.

Olivia put her cup down.

And with a mysterious smile, she raised her index finger.

Click━.

She bowed her waist and stretched out her arm forward, placing her hand against the index finger that Cain was holding.

“You’re thinking of leaving, aren’t you?”

“…….”

Cain frowned and immediately withdrew his finger. The sweet scent of perfume that had wafted as she approached seemed to linger.

Olivia, who had deduced Cain’s whereabouts from their conversation, smiled with satisfaction.

“You either want Oleciren to become independent or you’re taking a step back now because you’re worried about Airian without you.”

“…….”

“Are you going to the continent? Both you and Count Edmund are too big for this small island.”

“Don’t make reckless predictions. I might stay here indefinitely and support Oleciren.”

“Oh, really?”

Her sly laugh.

He had not expected to learn his intentions from Olivia’s conversation, as most people would be heading south tomorrow and he wanted to tie up loose ends before then.

‘What a schemer, a politician.’

If Marquis McLoud were to remain in his current state but become younger, he would become Olivia.

No, Marquis McLoud would have to infuse the burning desire that he possessed into Olivia.

Cain enjoyed being on the political stage, which was as thrilling as a battlefield.

“The Saintess has decided to support me fully.”

“She told me the same thing. She can get over the fact that she’s a witch, but the throne is a definite no.”

“Fortunately, the Saintess, who is the most noble in the Holy See, which is strictly neutral in politics, supports me.”

“Speaking of which, isn’t she going back home?”

Olivia shrugged.

Not only in the Holy See, but throughout the continent, Cain, who treated the noble Saintess like a next-door neighbor, was someone they all wanted to have.

But it was impossible for now.

And because it was not in her own hands, she continued to suppress that desire as she knew how brilliant and great it was.

“She said she wanted to see who would take the throne.”

“I guess she has nothing better to do. For someone like the Saintess to wait to see who will become the king of another country.”

“That’s because of you, too. If you stand on my sister’s side as duke and hero, the scales will tip.”

“I’ll figure it out myself.”

Cain stood up.

He lifted the tent flap of the barracks and looked outside. Then he gestured towards it.

“Since you’re annoyed, why don’t you just go? We’re going to have the same conversation out there anyway.”

“Since the master tells me to leave.”

Swish━.

Olivia stood up, holding the teapot that had been pouring tea on the table.

When Cain looked at her as she took the teapot right in front of his eyes, she shrugged.

“I’m not asking for the throne, I’m just saying that I like the tea and I’d like to take the teapot with me. Is that so wrong?”

“No.”

Olivia stood opposite Cain and uttered a single word.

“Thief.”

“Tea thief.”

Of course, Cain was not to be outdone.

Click━.

Olivia put her left hand to her lips and made a loud sound, then blew out her breath.

[‘Winter’ says this is the first time a woman has turned her eyes like this.]

“Crazy tea thief.”

Cain felt like kicking her in the butt, but he held back, as she was still a princess of a country.

“After the teapot, it’s the throne, and then it’s you.”

“Think whatever you want.”

“Oh my, did you just give me permission?”

Exaggerated gestures and voice.

[‘Winter’ wonders if she would still be spouting such nonsense even if her neck were cut off.]

‘Winter’ had a more Cain-like aspect than he expected. Perhaps it was because they had spent so much time together, but Cain chuckled inwardly.

Thud━.

He struck his empty waist.

“Ask my sword, too.”

“It’s not there, is it?”

“If it were, someone would have cut your neck.”

She laughed, her neck long, thin, and white.

“This kind of threat is thrilling.”

[‘Winter’ wants to show her what real thrill is.]

Cain agreed this time.

Crackle━.

As he raised his left hand, Pure White Thunderbolt began to glow, showing its foul nature.

Thud━.

Olivia, who had already been defeated several times, took a few steps back.

The cure for madness is a good dose of electricity.

“Didn’t father lose to that?”

“He was being too annoying.”

“Traitor.”

“Thief princess.”

“……You’re so great, I doubt you were really born and raised in Airian.”

Olivia’s eyes sparkled.

A man who suited her better than anyone she had ever seen.

Her desire grew even stronger, and she spun around for no reason, her hair fluttering in the starlight.

“Are you attracted to me?”

“Just go away.”

“Don’t be shy.”

Click━.

Cain reached into the barracks. Agweska, who had been let loose, flew through the air and into his hand, and she flinched.

“Provisional duke Cain.”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if the few days when you are not here and Oleciren is left to handle the situation will be a blessing or a curse.”

“One thing is for sure. Those few days without me will be your last chance.”

She laughed lightly.

And holding the teapot in her arms, she declared,

“By the way, is this a declaration of war?”

“Then now I can kill you━.”

Crackle━.

Cain said, raising his hand with Pure White Thunderbolt crackling, and she ran away before he could finish speaking.

‘I’ll have to arrange some training with Abel starting tomorrow.’

Cain turned around, thinking about the forest environment, and entered the barracks.

As Olivia and Cain turned away in opposite directions, starlight descended upon the spot where they had stood.

As if to bless or curse the days that lay ahead for them.

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