Chapter 144, Where One Belongs (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

How many times a day did he say this word, ‘Crazy’?

 

When he told Kalian to go to Wilhelm Hall alone and received a simple ‘yes’ with nothing else as a reply, Plants should have anticipated something like this would happen.

 

‘I’m not angry because they drank and caused trouble.’

 

‘I know.’

 

At that time, Plants clearly said ‘I know.’ Kalian asked what he knew, and Plants did not answer.

 

‘I’ll teach you.’

 

From the moment he said those words, Plants had already noticed that Kalian’s attitude toward him would change to some degree. It was not like he didn’t know what kind of person Kalian was. Nevertheless, he had overlooked it.

 

If he had known that teaching would be done in such a fierce manner, he would not have looked at that carefree face and said, ‘I have something to think about, so I won’t go to Wilhelm today.’

 

‘Then. Rest well.’

 

Just a while ago, after the meal ended, Kalian had said only this without any other words and left. Plants then went to the rear garden for a walk. After meeting the cat and Hina and having a conversation, he stood up to return to Chermil Palace.

 

But then, he felt killing intent so intense it seemed like someone was about to tear someone apart right now. It was Kalian’s.

 

That crazy younger brother, who should be at Wilhelm Hall, was radiating killing intent so strong it could be felt all the way from Chermil Palace. Plants immediately mounted his horse and rode straight to Wilhelm.

 

Too late, he realized what thoughts Kalian might have harbored when he stood before Valkan, and who else he might be angry at.

 

While clearly caring for Valkan yet pretending not to be interested, pretending to be indifferent even when they had committed wrongs, pretending not to know even though the direct responsibility lay with the two Deputy Commanders, acting as if it did not matter.

 

He was angry at Plants for showing such an attitude.

 

‘If you don’t care, I’ll take care of everything myself. I’ll get angry in my own way and crush everything in my own manner.’

 

As Plants dismounted and entered Wilhelm Hall, a voice so low that no one could hear seeped through his clenched teeth.

 

“If you’re going to be angry…”

 

[If you’re going to be angry, just be angry at me. Don’t act irresponsibly, just say it to me. Don’t take it all out on them!]

 

* * *

 

Allan, who had been sitting in his office savoring the aroma of coffee, suddenly stopped moving his hand.

 

“…Our Prince seems to be angrier than expected.”

 

Despite his casual words, his eyes, which he always tried to make appear softer than they actually were, gleamed with a keen light. It was because of the killing intent.

 

Arpia Palace and Wilhelm Hall were not very far apart. So this dense killing intent could be felt directly.

 

But something was a bit strange.

 

Kalian was certainly someone who knew how to control his killing intent. Until now, it had been quite rare for Kalian to release such unfocused killing intent, hadn’t it?

 

Allan, who had been tilting his head in wonder, unconsciously massaged his tense neck and muttered.

 

“I thought it would end with just scolding and reprimanding, but isn’t this too excessive?”

 

If necessary, Kalian could impose punishment. Since his Disciple had sufficient authority to do so, Allan had decided not to interfere. That was why he was handling his duties at Arpia Palace rather than Wilhelm Hall.

 

But what was happening now had exceeded the scope of scolding and punishment. Those facing this energy directly in front of Kalian would be feeling a genuine threat to their lives.

 

Allan’s shoulders stiffened as he thought that far.

 

It was because he recalled Chase’s pale face when he had visited Allan’s office recently.

 

It was the day Chase had encountered Arsene.

 

[Could it be?]

 

[Could it be. That he is unable to control his anger right now?]

 

Even Chase had not been able to compose his emotions. Moreover, today was the day Chase left Cyriesus. In such circumstances, facing Valkan…

 

Allan, who had thought of this, shot up from his seat.

 

[Why didn’t I think that far!?]

 

Allan, who felt self-reproach and no sense of leisure, hurriedly left his office. If by any chance Allan’s concerns were correct, he needed to get there quickly before exactly fifty-one corpses appeared at Wilhelm Hall today.

 

And one more thing.

 

Ren Adrian, who was guarding Rmain, could not possibly not feel this tremendous killing intent, so he needed to tell him not to rashly go to Wilhelm Hall.

 

*Bang!*

 

As Allan hurriedly opened the door, he saw someone.

 

Allan’s feet came to an abrupt stop.

 

And before long, a hollow laugh escaped. It was because he saw someone he had not expected.

 

Focused on Kalian’s unprecedented killing intent, he had failed to notice who had come to visit.

 

“Ah. Count Manasil.”

 

Round, blue-gray eyes and bronze curly hair.

 

It was the Baby Elephant, Ian.

 

Ian, who had been exchanging words with Grand Chamberlain Raul in front of Rmain’s office, turned his head to look at Allan. Then, after a simple nod toward Allan, he opened his mouth.

 

“Your Highness asked me to tell the Count that you should wait.”

 

Though there was no other explanation, that was enough.

 

He had already anticipated that Allan or Ren would move and had sent Ian ahead. This meant that the tremendous killing intent right now was definitely not a mistake.

 

For a very brief moment, he had felt suspended between life and death.

 

Looking at Ian’s innocent face, unable to sense anything, Allan unconsciously let out a long sigh filled with various emotions. It was because he realized that while he thought he knew to worry about Kalian, he still often forgot what kind of person Kalian was.

 

“Our Prince…”

 

[Absolutely, never took just a single gain from a single matter.]

 

Allan clicked his tongue as he saw the silver-white horse rushing toward them through the corridor window and the figure mounted on it.

 

“To have such a generous heart.”

 

With those words, Allan went back into his office as if nothing had happened. Then he took out a cookie and put it in his mouth.

 

It was Etienne’s cookie that he had taken from Rmain.

 

* * *

 

In the world, there were always fools and idiots. There were also decent lunatics and hopeless lunatics. And of course, there were those smart and good.

 

This was exactly Arsene’s standard for categorizing people.

 

Of course, there were those not even worth categorizing by these standards, such as Marquis Evan Beurisen or Count Gray Beurisen, but they were not considered ‘people’ to Arsene, so they were outside such considerations.

 

For reference, Raven was classified as a decent lunatic.

 

Most people were not smarter than Arsene, so he had not made any other classifications besides ‘fools and idiots,’ but recently he had created a category called smart people. This was because of Allan, and Plants, an unexpectedly intelligent life form who surpassed Allan.

 

And in the category of ‘good people’, there was exactly one person.

 

Kalian.

 

He did not know when it started, but after the passing of his Master, the ‘good people’ category had always contained only Kalian. He had never once questioned this classification.

 

“…Your Highness.”

 

And now Arsene was looking at that good person with extremely anxious eyes. While his eyes followed Kalian’s movements, he was continuously suppressing his cold Mana that kept trying to concentrate at his fingertips.

 

Kalian’s killing intent was that intense.

 

[It’ll be harder to endure much longer.]

 

Mages were all crazy folks, but they were just as sensitive. He thought that if this continued just a little longer, the Mages would not be able to endure it.

 

It would be better if he drew his sword or used Magic instead. Getting cut somewhere or broken would be better than feeling like dying right now.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Therefore, Arsene called Kalian once more.

 

Kalian did not answer. He did not withdraw his killing intent either. With an unchanged, expressionless face, he just stared at the Mages.

 

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Arsene took a step forward to move in front of the thirteen Mages. Only then did Kalian’s head turn toward Arsene. When Arsene saw the faint reproach in those eyes, he felt that unmistakable ‘oops’ inside him.

 

“Kalian.” A deep, subdued voice called out to Kalian.

 

Only three people in the Royal Palace could call Kalian by his name.

 

One of them, Second Prince Plants, walked forward and stood in front of Kalian.

 

He positioned himself precisely to block between the Mages and Kalian.

 

“Stop it.”

 

Kalian turned his gaze to look at Plants, who stood between him and the Mages. His killing intent remained unconcealed, and Plants also had a tense expression. Plants was also experiencing this level of chill for the first time.

 

Plants slightly turned his head to look at the Mages standing behind him. At least half of them looked like they would collapse immediately. They all had terrified faces.

 

After observing them, Plants turned his head back to look at Kalian. A voice that sounded like giving up or like admitting defeat flowed out.

 

“I understand.”

 

Something that could be called an expression briefly appeared and disappeared on Kalian’s face. It was quite complex, so even Plants could not immediately grasp its meaning.

 

Whether it was pleasure, anger, regret, joy, or sadness, he could not tell. Or perhaps it was all of those mixed together. With that kind of face, Kalian glanced at Plants briefly and nodded.

 

Soon a short answer followed.

 

“Alright.”

 

The blade-like killing intent that had been raging disappeared like it had been a lie.

 

Along with that, Kalian said to the mages.

 

“Until I die, I’ll take only worthy bastards with me. I don’t need worthless bastards.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

The Mages answered immediately.

 

There were no one who collapsed when the killing intent disappeared or looked at Kalian with resentful eyes.

 

“If you’re going to get drunk and cause trouble, do it in my name.”

 

It also meant that if it was not trouble worth causing in Kalian’s name, then do not cause it. Just like Arsene.

 

“Understood.”

 

Mages were different from Knights.

 

Their loyalty was different from allegiance. They were blind and devoted, but one never knew when or how they might snap. It was absolutely impossible to force such people to yield.

 

As Kalian well knew, they were crazy.

 

So, unlike Kyrie, just running a few laps around the training ground could never change those bastards’ perception. They would only believe when they saw exactly how much power he had, what he could do right now, and how much he had been holding back.

 

Were Mages not all insane, in a rational way?

 

“I’ll handle all the trouble you cause in my name. That’s what I have power for.”

 

Not the black hair and red eyes that they liked so much, but real power. They only believe when they experience it directly.

 

So, the reason the Mages’ eyes were sparkling as they looked at Kalian now was because they were crazy. They knew that just moments ago, Kalian had been the one choking their breath. Now, they would truly believe.

 

They would never make the same mistake again.

 

Kalian briefly looked at Plants.

 

With his gaze fixed on Plants, he concluded his words to the Mages.

 

“This is what real responsibility is.”

 

‘Don’t try to avoid it half-heartedly, but step forward properly and protect them like you just did. That’s the responsibility you should have in your position, older brother.’