Chapter 226, You Won’t Be Able to Handle It (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Hina was angry again.

 

And quite angry at that.

 

‘The people I’ve been healing, almost all of them, came because they were injured by the kind Prince.’

 

Of course, among them, Kalian and Plants had been the most seriously injured, but those were truly unavoidable situations, so she did not count them.

 

However, Kalian, who had always worried that our Hina might become tired from healing unnecessary wounds and had declared he would put anyone who deliberately got injured just to receive treatment to permanent sleep so they could never even dream of being healed, was actually the one leading the charge in creating patients.

 

So naturally she would be angry.

 

‘Whenever they spar with the kind Prince, everyone comes with throat injuries. The other Mages too. Even the clueless Deputy Commander, and especially the good Prince.’

 

Having completely healed Dmirea’s wounds, Hina spoke with frustration at how perfectly fine people were being needlessly injured.

 

‘It’s as if he’s doing it on purpose. Older brother, who he trains with the most, never gets hurt.’

 

Indeed, he was being so careful that Kyrie, whom he was most diligently teaching and sparring with, did not even get a scratch.

 

“He is doing it on purpose.”

 

Dmirea, seeing Hina angry for the very first time, readily nodded and answered.

 

Would things have been any different when Kalian was at Siegfried Territory for several days? Even then, patients who received treatment from Hina had continued to emerge, so Dmirea knew well of Kalian’s ruthless touch.

 

“He’s warning them. Because it’s a sword. He’s teaching them to always be careful, as letting their guard down will lead to greater trouble.”

 

‘I tried to think that way too.’

 

Having said this, Hina pressed her firmly closed lips together and furrowed her brow. Then she looked at Dmirea with her large, dark eyes and let out a deep sigh.

 

‘That kind Prince sometimes just wants to vent his anger.’

 

He had one very bad habit of occasionally venting his anger while pretending to spar. Knowing it would be pointless to bring this up, she simply kept her mouth shut.

 

‘For someone at the Lesser Duchess’s level, there’s no need to teach by creating injuries like this. When I see the kind Prince, I’m definitely going to scold him.’

 

“There are certainly wounds that must be remembered to improve, Lady Bern. Like the calluses from before.”

 

The tea with lemon-scented herbs and dried apples had a peaceful taste that calmed the mind. The mood of receiving a cup of tea as a gift, which she had forgotten to drink when going to the residence, was also peaceful.

 

“When I was at Siegfried Territory, there wasn’t much to smile about, but thanks to the troublemaking Third Prince, I’m enjoying myself in various ways. He teaches me many things and lives up to his reputation, so I have no complaints. I don’t mind the injuries, so please don’t scold him.”

 

Thanks to the brother, who was being well cared for by that Prince, many shadows in her heart had disappeared. When she met the thoughtful friend her own age whom she had made thanks to that Prince, she felt as if she had briefly become like other ordinary people her age.

 

Watching such a Dmirea, Hina smiled brightly.

 

‘The Lesser Duchess is teaching me many things.’

 

“Is that so?”

 

She had learned to stop worrying because she knew, instead of worrying because she didn’t know.

 

‘Still, what’s bad is bad. Later, if he ever gives someone an injury without reason, then I’ll really scold him.’

 

Dmirea, who had no reason to prevent that, nodded and opened her mouth.

 

“The tea’s fragrance is always so peaceful.”

 

And then, after giving this answer that didn’t match Hina’s words at all, she laughed with a quiet sound.

 

The sky was clear after the rain stopped.

 

It was a peaceful day, just as Dmirea thought.

 

While Hina and Dmirea talked about Kalian’s venting, Kyrie began showing Plants Kalian’s swordsmanship in slow motion, continuing his explanations one by one.

 

Euria, who had gone home early after a long time, smiled with satisfaction while drinking Majurini along with the purple cake Allan had sent.

 

Satinn, the wardrobe attendant who had completed the outfit Kalian had specially ordered to wear on Freya Hwiteurin’s memorial ceremony day. He carefully inspected the clothes and accessories for any flaws, and after confirming there were no problems, leaned back on the sofa as if melting into it.

 

And because Rerik, who had visited the office shared by Plants and Arsene, quickly left saying ‘Our Prince won’t be coming today,’ Arsene and Nidlen, having been notified of a fellow worker’s sudden vacation, debated whether what was accumulating was overwork or anger.

 

Everyone was spending such a peaceful time.

 

“This is interesting.”

 

Perhaps that was why.

 

Kalian, who had taken a sip of the cold tea with its strong mint fragrance, smiled. He held Euria’s investigation results, which he had thoroughly reviewed without missing anything, in his other hand.

 

“I came to make a request, but you’re showing me information I never expected.”

 

*Tap tap tap…*

 

Allan opened his mouth toward Kalian, who was tapping the glass in his hand several times.

 

“Actually, since you have many things to worry about these days, I wasn’t going to immediately convey those investigation results to you. But since you said you would visit the Elves’ Mother Tree, I thought it would be better for you to see that material first, so I’m sharing it with you.”

 

“You don’t need to protect me that much. It’s good for deciding what needs to be done if I know everything that’s being confirmed, and there’s also someone smart enough that I can dump all the headache-inducing things on them.”

 

“That’s fortunate. It seems you’re dividing the bitter orange well.”

 

“Yes, very well. Except for occasionally going crazy because of that smart person, they are helpful.”

 

Though he was not sure if it was truly occasional.

 

Because he liked the pleasant sound of clinking ice, Kalian shook the glass several times deliberately to make the sound, then continued speaking.

 

“The investigation was actually about Tansyll’s Crown Prince, but I feel like my curiosity about Secritia’s King is being resolved.”

 

[How he could be so certain about me? Not knowing everything about the past I’ve lived through, yet how someone who had died could now cause such eye-catching trouble.]

 

“The White Hawk, who likely knew I was disguised as Red Swan, was a member of Zeon. Secritia’s birds probably saw me at Siegfried Territory where I stopped by. The birds would have seen Crown Prince Chase helping me. And many other birds belonged to Zeon.”

 

“That’s right. Debeullan would have known that Cyries’ Third Prince, who was dying, suddenly changed one day into someone who used swordsmanship similar to Lord Kastrin’s while knowing the birds’ codes.”

 

“It’s amusing that Secritia’s King knows in detail facts that His Majesty doesn’t know.”

 

Though he was mixing in jokes and calling it an amusing story, Kalian didn’t feel like laughing at all. Of course, it was also difficult to find any trace of laughter on Allan’s face.

 

*Tap tap tap…*

 

Kalian, who had put down the glass, placed his finger on the documents this time and briefly lowered his eyes.

 

“This time, Secritia’s King appeased the Elves and then used that as an excuse to summon me. The Elves referred to me with the words written on Arcus Tempus: Zeon, King of Humans. The characters written on Arcus Tempus are also engraved on the pebbles held by Zeon’s members, and the scholar who seemed connected to the pebbles died and disappeared long ago with those characters pasted on the wall… That means Arcus Tempus, Zeon, the Elves, and even Secritia’s King must be connected to each other somehow, right?”

 

Allan only nodded without answering.

 

“First of all, since the Secritia’s King knew what Arcus Tempus was, it wouldn’t have been difficult to connect the news about me transmitted through Zeon with Arcus Tempus.”

 

“That’s right. What had happened to Cyries’ Third Prince, who was someone Lord Kastrin, Debeullan’s Escort Knight, would teach his swordsmanship to, and whom Chase was trying to take care of so much? It wouldn’t have been difficult to create a hypothesis by mixing the disappearance of Arcus Tempus with such news.”

 

[Whether he realized I was his son. Or mistook me for someone else who was close to him. Secritia’s King became certain about my secret.]

 

*Tap tap tap…*

 

The finger that had been tapping on the documents instead of the glass stopped for a moment.

 

“And… The Elves, who would be connected to Zeon, made contact with the Secritia’s King, and Zeon also includes the Wolves of the Great Dunes. Tansyll’s Crown Prince joined hands with those wolves. Many people are entangled with Zeon at the center.”

 

Zeon, was the thing which connected all of this.

 

Randel’s heart, which would be connected to Zeon. Tansyll’s Crown Prince, who would be connected to Randel.

 

Euria’s investigation results that included his recent movements.

 

“It’s different. Very different from the content I knew and his ‘past’ actions that Crown Prince Chase told me about. Whether Zeon is making Tansyll’s Crown Prince move differently from the past, or conversely Tansyll’s Crown Prince is acting differently from the past and moving Zeon, I don’t know yet. But I understand that Tansyll’s Crown Prince must be included at the center of mysteries that haven’t been solved until now.”

 

*Tap tap tap…*

 

Kalian’s hand, which had been tapping the paper, finally stopped making sounds.

 

“Lord Taillan Kastrin, Duke Sleiman Hone Siegfried, Marquis Evan Beurisen, and me.”

 

Kalian, who had mentioned the names of four of the five Sword Masters excluding Gray Beurisen, raised his red eyes to look at Allan.

 

“Shiona Hill. We need to find out where that woman is now.”

 

Suddenly mentioning the remaining Sword Master whose whereabouts were unclear, Kalian continued with sharpened eyes.

 

“I’ve been thinking about it. When the Warriors of the Great Dunes had those pebbles, their abilities became so strong, so if that were implanted in my heart, could I defeat Master? Could I point a sword at Syspanian… I felt I could do it. Then, if Lord Kastrin or Master were to have that, what level would they reach?”

 

Zeon was the center of everything.

 

They even seem connected to Debeullan.

 

“If Zeon is really moving Tansyll’s Crown Prince from behind, it means Zeon has the ability to commit even greater acts. For instance, something like turning a Sword Master into a monster.”

 

“I don’t want to imagine it, but is a possibility.”

 

Kalian, who had been watching Allan nodding, moved his lips several times before speaking.

 

“Master. May I make one difficult request?”

 

“What would be difficult about a request from Your Highness?”

 

If asked to kill Debeullan right now, he would do so, and if asked for Evan’s life, he would do that as well. If told to ascend to the throne immediately from this spot, he would enter Rmain’s office right away.

 

Moreover, if asked to capture the Golden Dragon Syslestian, he would gladly accept Syslestian’s curse while trying to remove that young Dragon’s heart.

 

So what request from Kalian could be difficult to fulfill?

 

“I plan to first check Shiona’s whereabouts through Duke Siegfried or Lord Kastrin. But the other two Archmages besides you, Master. I think we need to know exactly where they are and what they’re doing.”

 

The two other Seventh-Circle Archmages staying in Liberen. He meant he wanted to determine whether they were connected to Zeon. To do that, naturally, it would have to be through Etienne.

 

For Allan, it would be easier to send a letter to Syspanian and receive some teachings.

 

“I’ll check.”

 

But Allan only answered this way and smiled gently.

 

The conversation with Allan had grown long.

 

It was because they had to talk even about what he had originally come to request. Thanks to that, Kalian, who had ultimately made Dmirea wait, hurriedly headed to Chermil Palace in a small Royal carriage.

 

Entering Chermil Palace like that, he ran right into the person upstairs whom he had thought he would not need to see anymore today, knowing Kyrie would have taught about the spar with Dmirea anyway.

 

Kalian, who had greeted the guy floating around the artificial lake like duckweed, opened his mouth.

 

“It seems you finished faster than expected.”

 

Kalian knew best how good Plants’ memory was. He also knew well that the pea had properly understood even with just being told about things Plants had not seen with his own eyes.

 

Therefore, Plants only nodded once toward Kalian, who spoke without much surprise.

 

Though he needed to convey to Plants what he had heard from Allan today, since the appointment with Dmirea was more immediate, Kalian tried to leave after bowing once more in greeting. But Plants stopped Kalian.

 

“Why did you go to Arpia Palace?”

 

[Hey, where did my privacy go?]

 

Kalian, who had completely forgotten that he treated Plants’ room like his own, was about to ask how his older brother would know where he had been, but thinking it was obvious, just made a dismissive laughing sound.

 

There was no special schedule, and since that guy who had been at Wilhelm Hall’s training ground until now would know better that he had not gone to Wilhelm Hall, he would have known the only place left was with Allan.

 

“I’ll tell you later. I’m busy right now.”

 

Kalian, who answered with a face saying he had no time to leisurely talk because his fiancée was waiting, tried to leave but stopped briefly.

 

It was because he remembered one thing he needed to confirm with Plants before meeting and talking with Dmirea.

 

“Older brother.”

 

Kalian, who had looked around briefly, manifested the Spell, Silent. Plants, who couldn’t feel the movement of Magic but knew what that translucent barrier was, looked straight at Kalian. He seemed curious about what would require using Silent while standing in the middle of the path entering Chermil Palace.

 

“Do you really have no thoughts of going to Camilon?”

 

Plants, who had been staring at Kalian, turned around. Having asked what was going on only to be barked at with such strange sounds while even wasting Mana, he gave up on even responding.

 

“I’m speaking to you.”

 

“…Haven’t you grown tired of barking?”

 

“I’m tired today. I don’t have the energy to bark.”

 

“What is it, then?”

 

“Human speech.”

 

[Informal speech again.]

 

“A position needs to be decided, and it seems there will be many occasions to leave the Royal Palace, so that’s why. I don’t know older brother Randel’s intentions, so I can’t give it to older brother Randel. So couldn’t you do it, even temporarily?”

 

Setting aside the informal speech, Plants, watching Kalian barking with comprehensive problems about why he was suddenly saying he would give up the Crown Prince position, made a low voice.

 

“I have no intention of taking anything more from my younger brother.”

 

“It’s not taking what’s in my hands, but you gave me a position that was originally yours. Besides, I…”

 

[No matter what thoughts I have, the fact that at my core I don’t belong to this country hasn’t changed…]

 

Kalian, who barely swallowed the rest of his words, let out a small sigh. One corner of Plants’ mouth rose as he watched such a Kalian. Wasn’t it obvious what worthless thoughts he would have inside?

 

“No.”

 

Plants, who gave the most firm answer ever, as if there wasn’t even a trace of value in reconsidering. He just turned around and went inside just like that, before even hearing a reply.

 

In the end, Kalian, who had only confirmed Plants’ intentions again this time and wasted precious time, laughed.

 

It was because he thought even if he met his mortal enemy from his previous life, communication would have been better than with that guy.

 

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Silavin: Sorry for the belated release.