------------------
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
------------------
Chapter 224: Did You See Me That Way All This Time?
"Mother, watch your step."
I held my mother's hand and guided her path like a knight escorting a noblewoman.
"Thank you, Allen."
Mother smiled brightly.
"It's been so long. Since we took a walk like this."
On a night when moonlight settled quietly on the waves, we were walking outside Grunewald Castle.
"Of course, you wouldn't remember."
"It was written in my diary. It seems the young me loved everything we did together, Mother."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I also enjoyed meeting people from your side of the family."
"...I see."
We were heading to a meeting point to meet the survivors of Eisenach—Balthazar, Knut, and Tara.
"Now that I think about it, this is my first time leaving the castle this late at night."
Mother's face was slightly nostalgic.
Well, during all her years as a duchess, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to go outside the castle without escorts.
Of course, strictly speaking, we were being escorted even now.
'Special Operations Division, 6th Battalion.'
None other than Rudgarda, Turnak, and troops from Angantyr were quietly following behind us.
'In the past, I would have barely noticed something suspicious only if I concentrated hard.'
But now, using the Insight Star, I could clearly sense how they were positioned and how they were escorting us.
'Unable to go out without escorts—such lack of freedom. When you think about it, even a noble's life can be suffocating.'
Having a full stomach and a warm back doesn't necessarily make a person happy. Comfort is an emotion that's easy to grow tired of.
"In my lifetime, I thought I would never meet my clan again."
Mother gazed at the stars scattered across the night sky.
"But life is truly unpredictable. To think such a day would come."
Mother looked at me and smiled.
"It's thanks to you, Allen."
Seeing that beautiful smile, I felt that all my efforts, and the tormented soul of young Allenvert, were being redeemed.
"Yes. It's been a truly long wait."
And I felt like I had become an ordinary son visiting his maternal relatives while holding his mother's hand.
'The Karzan of my previous life never had such an opportunity.'
So this was essentially my first time.
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"I'd like to introduce you to my trusted subordinates and colleagues from the underworld."
"Please do."
Mother smiled brightly.
"Zizek, I'm grateful to that man as well."
"About that."
"Yes?"
I lowered my voice.
"I'd like to play a slightly mischievous prank, if that's alright with you?"
"What kind of prank?"
I put on the Mask of Aminicrus.
"Ah!"
Mother was greatly surprised to see Karzan's appearance.
"I plan to go there like this, and then reveal my true identity by taking off my mask in front of everyone."
"Oh? Ahahahaha!"
Having understood my intention, Mother burst into laughter.
"You're so naughty, Allen."
But, Mother asked.
"Perhaps you're doing this because you're feeling shy?"
I scratched my head.
"I can't hide anything from you, Mother."
* * *
"That's Zizek's base. The first floor is a pawnshop and general store, and they live and eat on the upper floors."
"Allen, have you been coming and going here every night?"
"Yes."
"How impressive."
Mother listened to my trivial stories with interest, like a mother watching her child's playful antics.
"I'll escort you inside."
The night streets were still lit, with occasional drunkards and night dwellers wandering around, but they dared not look at the noblewoman with her face covered, escorted by a threatening-looking man.
"Zizek, I'm here."
"Boss! We've been waiting for you!"
An ugly fellow who seemed to have recently gotten a haircut and was trying his best to look stylish greeted me.
"Zizek, you manage to look newly ugly every time I see you."
"..."
Zizek glanced at my mother before responding.
"I don't deserve such words from the boss."
"Oh my?"
How dare he utter such nonsense to me, Allenvert, the pride of Grunewald and a sculpted beauty? I wonder if he'll maintain such an attitude after I remove my mask.
"Gareth, Rob. It's been a while, fellow executives. Moritz, have you been well too?"
"Of course."
"I feel like I'm going to die from work..."
"Boss, I missed you!"
As the three responded in their own ways, Mother gently held my hand. It was as if she was saying, 'You've surrounded yourself with good people.'
"By the way, Boss, could this person be...?"
"Yes. Kneel and show proper respect."
I spoke solemnly.
"The Fourth Lady of Lusatia Grunewald. She is the birth mother of Lord Allenvert and the precious jewel of the Eisenach clan."
At that, the four of them knelt on one knee in a rather convincing posture.
"We are honored to meet the Duchess."
"My, my! What good posture. Did you practice?"
Gareth responded with embarrassment.
"I served as a knight for many years, didn't I? It might be a bit different from Grunewald's etiquette, but still, meeting such an honorable person requires at least basic courtesy."
"Excellent. Indeed, an organization needs wise elders."
I clapped my hands.
"Anyway, Zizek, follow me. We'll meet the Eisenach clan members there and discuss important matters."
"Understood."
When I turned my head, I saw Mother with surprised eyes behind her lace veil. She must have found it strange and fascinating to see me conversing so casually like a man of the underworld.
'Well, it's certainly not the refined speech she would ever hear at the castle.'
"Mam, let me escort you this way."
As I escorted my mother, Zizek marveled quietly.
"The boss really shows his class as someone who served Lord Allenvert, with such formal etiquette."
"Shut up."
Mother finally whispered in my ear.
"Allen, your acting is so convincing. How do you make it seem so natural?"
"..."
I felt a bit guilty.
'This is actually my normal speech pattern.'
Mom, I'm sorry.
* * *
"Sister, why are we visiting such a remote fishing village?"
In response to her brother's question, Siena replied sternly.
"Keep quiet. It's best to hear about reputation from the mouths of the low class people."
The place the two had arrived at was the fishing village where Allenvert and Venion had previously visited to subjugate Nepherus.
"When we get there, keep your mouth shut. You lack respect and your speech exudes aristocratic arrogance at every turn."
"...Yes."
Siena Valkenhain and Jillian Valkenhain.
The two had arrived quickly at the Grunewald Duchy by switching horses along the way. Normally, they should have been received by local lords, but they had pushed forward their schedule by several days through forced marches.
"Though with Grunewald's intelligence network, they probably already know of our arrival."
Nevertheless, Siena planned to use these few days gained through forced marches to survey the duchy, gather information on the public sentiment, and also collect information on Allenvert's reputation.
"Couldn't you have sent subordinates for such tasks, Sister—"
"Stop grumbling. You can sleep in a nice castle with comfortable blankets all you want when we return."
At his sister's rebuke, Jillian shrunk his neck.
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"Look over there. That's the village where Allenvert supposedly subdued a massive Nepherus alone."
It was a quiet fishing village with small fishing boats docked and dozens of low-rise houses clustered together.
"Call for the village head. I want to hear the story."
"Yes, my lady."
A guard from Valkenhain, dressed like a mercenary, bowed his waist.
Currently, the two were pretending to be curious and ambitious children of a merchant guild.
"I'm curious about how that man caught the Nepherus, and how he treated the people."
Siena's eyes were sparkling with anticipation for the opponent she would meet for the first time in her life.
'Young Master Allenvert, are you a warrior worthy of my respect?'
* * *
"It's been so long since I last wore these clothes. How many years has it been?"
The old man, Balthazar, looked at himself in the mirror, wearing the traditional attire of the mountain people.
"I've grown a span older in the meantime."
Such was the transience of time.
"Meanwhile, you two have grown too big. You can no longer wear your old clothes."
Knut and Tara were feeling their newly woven traditional clothes made for today's meeting.
"Haha, Tara, you must feel awkward. You've only worn these when you were very young."
"Yes."
Having lived longer as a member of Haglandere in the shadows of the city than as a mountain person, Tara touched her clothes with a slightly dazed expression.
"It feels strange."
"Haha, the way the fabric is woven and the way it's made are slightly different. It's loose and rough, but effective in maintaining body temperature."
It was clothing suitable for the mountains where temperatures fluctuate rapidly.
"Come, let's go. It's almost time for our appointment."
They were ready to welcome Allenvert and Lusatia at their base.
"Ah, there they come."
Three people were coming up the hill. Zizek was in the lead, and behind him, a large-built man and a noblewoman were walking side by side.
'...Lusatia.'
The old man's eyes moistened.
'And that man must be Karzan.'
There he was—the man he had only heard of, Allenvert's confidant who had become a figure in the underworld.
"...Welcome."
Tears were already flowing on Lusatia's face as she lifted her veil.
"Uncle, my niece and nephew."
It was not the Duchess of Grunewald, but a member of Eisenach, Lusatia, who unhesitatingly embraced the three.
"I've wanted to meet you."
"...How much you must have suffered."
"I'm only sorry I couldn't find the courage earlier, Uncle."
"Don't say such things. Regardless of the process, I'm just grateful that we can meet like this."
After patting Lusatia's shoulder, Balthazar also bowed his head to Karzan.
"You must be Karzan. I deeply appreciate your efforts."
"Not at all, Elder."
As Karzan politely responded, Balthazar asked.
"But this is strange. Where is Allenvert, my nephew?"
"!"
Karzan, barely holding back a mischievous smile, glanced behind him.
'Just look at that gleaming in his eyes.'
How amusing was Zizek's expectant gaze.
"...Actually."
Karzan said.
"Lord Allenvert is already here."
"...?"
Everyone looked at Karzan with puzzled expressions.
"What do you mean?"
Only Lusatia was trying to hold back her laughter by pursing her lips.
'Normally, even with the Mask of Aminicrus, they would have eventually discerned my true identity, but—'
By combining the spiritual technique of the Dark Star with the principle of Whispering Snow in the Night, the current Allenvert had achieved a perfect disguise.
"Everyone, let me introduce Lord Allenvert."
When Karzan removed his mask, Allenvert's face was revealed. A fairy-like beautiful man with golden hair and blue eyes, closely resembling Lusatia.
"Ah!"
"...!"
"...?!"
The three were shocked, but there was someone else who was so startled that he almost fainted, as if he had seen a ghost.
"What the fuck is going on here?"
Having realized the unbelievable truth, Zizek pointed at Allenvert.
"Wait a minute. Boss Karzan was actually that lord?"
Allenvert replied.
"It's me, Allenvert."
"No way. That foul-mouthed lunatic?"
"This bastard's language is quite harsh to hear."
Look at Allenvert, with his fairy-like face and nightingale-like voice, speaking vulgar words. There was no doubt that the two were the same person.
But to think that the perfect lord he had imagined was actually such a madman, this was truly...!
"Ah!"
After being confused, Zizek finally slapped his knee.
"My lord, your acting skills are truly remarkable. How could such a noble person perfectly act as such a vulgar underworld figure..."
'This guy's words are truly disappointing.'
Allenvert asked.
"Did you see me that way all this time?"
------------------
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
------------------
