Chapter 65, It’s Been a While (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian breathed out lightly as if to shake off Gray’s killing intent directed at him. Meanwhile, Gray’s ominous voice flowed out from inside the carriage.

 

“Stop the carriage.”

 

The carriage that had been moving continuously finally came to a halt.

 

Seeing this, Kalian briefly turned his head to check on his companions.

 

Sure enough.

 

Kyrie, who had sensed Gray’s killing intent, looked ready to pounce at any moment, while Mana was swirling around Arsene and Rauchel’s hands.

 

Kalian raised his hand to warn them not to move carelessly. He particularly stared intently at Arsene, who seemed to be roughly gauging the pink carriage.

 

Then, he spoke to Ian.

 

“Leave Kyrie here and go ahead first. I’ll join you soon.”

 

What he was about to do now was something only Kalian could handle, so except for Kyrie who knew Kalian’s secret, no one else should be here.

 

Seeing Kalian’s determined expression, Ian wordlessly led the group away, along the road to the Capital.

 

Kalian, watching them leave, closed his eyes for a moment.

 

It was, for a short while, to become Bern rather than Kalian.

 

[Gray must not go to Cyriesus. However, I cannot kill him. Nor can I merely rough him up a little for him to create an opportunity for future trouble.] Kalian intended to completely drag Gray down to rock bottom. He needed to make him show his belly so that he would never dare to stand against Kalian again.

 

*Creeak!*

 

Gray opened the carriage window.

 

With that, Kalian opened his eyes.

 

Kalian, now with the eyes of Bern, looked down at Gray who was peering out the window.

 

Unaware of this change, Gray hissed at Kalian, who was sitting on a large black horse looking down at him inside the carriage.

 

“How dare a lowborn!”

 

Kalian reached his hand deep through the window.

 

Then, he grabbed Gray’s collar and yanked him hard.

 

*Crack!*

 

“After all my patience… *kuk*!”

 

Gray, whose neck was suddenly pressed against the carriage wall, made a choking sound.

 

Killing intent came from Gray first.

 

The insult came from Gray first.

 

So, from here on out, it was all self-defense.

 

Kalian lowered his head toward Gray, who was held in his hand. He unleashed the anger he had been suppressing and holding back for days.

 

“After all your patience?”

 

Kalian smiled fiercely.

 

*Bang!*

 

Kalian stretched out his arm and pulled it back to the carriage wall again. As a result, Gray, who was held in that hand, hit his head again.

 

Gray glared.

 

“You… *kuk*!”

 

*Bang!*

 

Kalian had been releasing the Mana that had been concealing his Aura since the moment he encountered Gray. Gray merely had not noticed it.

 

This was the third Sword Master among the six.

 

Yet, despite that, he could not even sense Kalian’s Aura, who had just become a Sword Master. This essentially meant he had not properly trained since embarking on the path of the sword.

 

Therefore.

 

Kalian was the stronger one.

 

“You, what?”

 

*Thud!*

 

Gray’s eyes lost their reason after hitting his head against the carriage wall one more time. Finally, his hand moved toward his sword handle. There was no way Kalian outside the carriage would miss that movement.

 

*Bang!*

 

Kalian lowered his head further toward Gray, who had hit his head for the third time. Then, as if whispering near Gray’s ear visible through the window, he said.

 

“Get out.”

 

At the same time, Kalian’s killing intent exploded.

 

Lannen, Gray, Sillike, and Plants…

 

All the anger toward Beurisen that he had been holding back erupted at once.

 

“If you don’t want to die.”

 

Gray’s companions came out of the carriage at the sudden commotion. The butler and coachman also stood up from their seats, not knowing what to do. All their gazes were fixed on Gray and the six Knights.

 

The six Knights stepped back one by one with pale faces. It was because of the killing intent that even Kyrie, who was standing far away, felt was suffocating.

 

Until now, Kalian had never revealed killing intent to this extent. This was the same Kalian who had made Allan Manasil tense with just a brief display of killing intent. So, how much worse must it be for Gray, who received the full, unrestrained killing intent?

 

Gray’s entire body stiffened.

 

“I told you to get out.”

 

Gray could not even distinguish whether those words meant to get out of the carriage or to leave this world.

 

Finally, Kalian applied force to his arm again.

 

*Bang!*

*Crack!*

 

The carriage wall could not withstand the strength of the arm concentrated with Aura, and Kalian easily pulled Gray out with the window frame.

 

“Wait, wait a moment!” Gray made an urgent plead.

 

Kalian threw him away but still held him by the collar. Then, he dismounted from Raven.

 

Like Master, like Servant.

 

Like Kalian, like Arsene, who acted to the limit of what was ‘acceptable’.

 

[As Master said, as long as it’s not a sword, I can cause any amount of trouble.]

 

*Whoosh!*

 

A transparent light gathered at Kalian’s fingertips and formed a round, elongated rod. To simply put it, it was a club.

 

“Now, let’s see how tough you really are.”

 

As soon as those words ended, the beating began.

 

Gray could not even draw the sword at his waist.

 

He too was a Sword Master. Yet, the club was too fast for him to even draw his sword, let alone dodge. He was only surrounding his body with Aura to make the blows less painful.

 

He had beaten others countless times.

 

Just recently, he had vented his anger on four Knights thrown into the lake until all their bones were broken.

 

However, being beaten himself was a first.

 

Thanks to his Family and his own power, he had never been beaten even once.

 

[Once I get out of here, I’ll definitely kill him!] Although it did not hurt much, the shame and anger came rushing in together. Naturally, killing intent spewed out once more.

 

Seeing this, Kalian smiled.

 

“Do you really need to lose everything to come to your senses?”

 

And, he kicked Gray in the abdomen.

 

*Whack!*

 

Once, twice, three times, he kicked, stomped, and trampled him countless times. He did not even take away Gray’s sword. He thought he would truly face him once Gray pointed his sword at him. It was just that Gray could not even draw his sword.

 

Finally, a wheezing sound escaped from Gray’s mouth. Along with it, the Aura that had been supporting Gray’s body disappeared like sugar melting in water.

 

The source of the Aura had vanished.

 

Kalian, who had just reduced the continent’s Sword Masters back to the five original, now had a slightly larger elongated rod than before. In short, he formed a somewhat stronger club.

 

The transparent, beautifully glowing club began to dance, tracing brilliant trajectories in the air.

 

“How dare you.”

 

*Thwack!*

 

“How dare you speak of my mother before me?”

 

*Whack!*

 

Gray twisted his body and spat out blood mixed with teeth.

 

His anger had already disappeared, with shame remaining.

 

Seeing this, Kalian moved his hand again.

 

Blood did not even splash except for what Gray had spat out. No sound of bones breaking was heard. Kalian was now just thoroughly beating all the parts that would be unbearably painful without being fatal. His hand was truly harsh.

 

“Wait, wait a moment…”

 

Kalian’s hand paused for a moment. Gray sat up. Then, he briefly looked at his two concubines. Since his pride still remained, Kalian resumed his laborious activity.

 

Gray was going mad. He understood why he was being beaten, but he did not know how to stop being beaten. So, he was beaten again. He could not help but wonder where that accused club keep appearing from?

 

As Gray’s face seemed deep in thought, Kalian continued to hit him.

 

Even without Aura, he did not pass out.

 

It was because Kalian was only hitting parts that was not make him faint.

 

It was too painful.

 

Despite wielding a sword for a long time, this was the first time he had experienced such pain. Finally, after being beaten for over an hour, Gray knelt before Kalian.

 

Only then did the club finally disappear.

 

Kalian took a step toward Gray.

 

Gray’s body flinched and he backed away. Kalian raised his hand and grabbed Gray’s collar again to lift him up. Deep-rooted fear shadowed Gray’s eyes.

 

Kalian asked in a low voice.

 

“Who beat you?”

 

Killing intent was thick at the end of that questioning voice.

 

It meant he should answer well.

 

[‘I wonder if the Marquis would also get rid of his first son who covets the Marquis title, for money.’] At that moment, was it survival instinct that reminded him of what Kalian had said earlier? Gray quickly opened his mouth.

 

“Evan, Marquis Evan Beurisen…”

 

He knew what his answer meant.

 

[What a truly devoted father-son relationship.] A sneer spread across Kalian’s face.

 

Gray was now simply too afraid even of that.

 

With that same expression, Kalian looked around. Gray’s retainers, including the six Knights, were barely standing in place.

 

Kalian released his grip of Gray’s collar. Gray’s body collapsed weakly with a *thud*. Soon, a chilly voice flowed from Kalian’s mouth.

 

“Having made his son like this. What a cruel father indeed.”

 

With those words, Kalian stepped on Gray’s back.

 

*Crack!*

 

“Aaaargh!” With the pain of his spine breaking, Gray finally foamed at the mouth and fainted. Kalian, who had been watching the scene with calm eyes, turned his gaze to Gray’s butler.

 

“You. Do you have the brains to understand my words?”

 

At those words, the butler nodded so hard that his head made creaking sounds.

 

“We will return to the border right away. And I will report the injustice suffered from this incident. I will say that the Marquis had deep discord with his son, that he sent people here, and that he made his son like this.”

 

“But the Count’s travel route was the same as mine. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?”

 

The butler’s mouth quickly found an answer.

 

“No. The Count became like this tw-two days after. Your Highness was in the palace at that point. So coincidentally, you did not encounter each other.”

 

Hearing the satisfactory answer, Kalian moved his head once. Then, he gave a final warning in a voice that seemed to freeze.

 

“Yes. If my name appears even once in any rumor…”

 

Seeing the faces of everyone, including the butler, turn pale, Kalian smiled wickedly.

 

“I will find you. Wherever.”

 

“Y-Yes. Understood.”

 

The butler sobbed and moved his head again.

 

Kalian finally turned around.

 

Mounting Raven’s saddle, Kalian looked at Kyrie and said.

 

“I’ve paid back your share while I was at it.”

 

Kyrie, with a pale face, nodded.

 

* * *

 

It was nearly two hours later when the companions waiting where Kalian was no longer visible saw two horses approaching.

 

As a result, they were able to enter Nessia, the last Lord’s castle, well past evening time. Kalian had skipped dinner due to his over exertion that day. After roughly briefing Allan on the content, he immediately fell into a deep sleep.

 

Kyrie watched over Kalian, who slept soundly until the next morning. He was worried that Gray’s Knights might come for revenge. Though, contrary to his thoughts, Gray’s Knights were shuddering just at the thought of Kalian’s face.

 

From the next morning, Ian and Hina were very busy.

 

Thanks to them, Kalian was momentarily confused whether this was Chermil or the castle of Lord Nessia.

 

“They say a huge crowd has gathered.”

 

To Kalian’s suggestion that they could do with light clothing, as they did when they departed from Reddington Castle. However, Ian persuaded him otherwise. So, Kalian was currently staring at the Prince’s formal attire, wondering why Ian had brought it on this journey?

 

“…Ian, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

 

In the end, unable to win against Ian, Kalian dressed up in his formal attire, and his other companions could not dress casually either. After all, they were the Prince’s Roselita attendants, so they had to match his standard.

 

So, everyone, from early morning, finished bathing and grooming before mounting their horses. After leaving Lord Nessia’s castle, where they had stayed last, they arrived at Cyriesus, an hour’s distance away.

 

Afterward, Kalian immediately regretted wearing formal attire as soon as he set foot inside the outer fortress. It was because the cheers of the people there was far too loud.

 

[Sometimes, being too beautiful and excessively handsome is tiring…]

 

Though he complained, hardly anyone could sympathize.

 

These cheers were so loud that they reached the inside of the Royal Palace, surprising Rmain and Allan, who were waiting for Kalian in the study.

 

“Seems like he has arrived.”

 

Saying so, Rmain, who had been sitting, finally picked up his teacup. He seemed quite tense, as if worried that something might happen.

 

It was understandable, as Allan had said such things as soon as he entered.

 

“Your Highness’s son has broken someone else’s back this time.”

 

It was a somewhat familiar statement. However, it was very different from before as someone was broken. So, Rmain covered his face with both hands. Then, he pulled out the right question that Allan had previously taught him.

 

“Whose back was it?”

 

Allan, showing a satisfied smile, answered as if praising.

 

“It was Gray Beurisen’s back, or so they say.”

 

This is why one could not be at ease.

 

To the question of how he broke a Sword Master’s back, Allan casually replied with.

 

“It somehow ended up that way.”

 

[Surely he would not have faced him alone. Is Kalian injured? They probably fought and fell somehow, right?]

 

At Allan’s words, Rmain barely nodded, and Allan opened his mouth with a gentle face.

 

“A father who lacks the power to protect himself. So, the son stepped in to drive away the thief.”

 

It was a statement that pierced deeper into his lungs than ever before.

 

And a little later.

 

As soon as Kalian, who had entered the Royal Palace, jumped off Raven, he nestled right into Allan’s arms, who had already come outside.

 

“Master!”

 

Allan embraced this lovely Disciple, who came running after breaking someone else’s back, tightly with his whole arms.

 

“Welcome back. You’ve worked hard.”

 

Afterward, Allan’s face, which was full of triumph as he smiled at Rmain, once again pierced deeply into Rmain’s lungs.