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[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 32
Having returned to Brillant, Louise was completely absorbed in uncovering the recent events in the desert.
So much so that he had forgotten all about the elixir from the Red Moon Tribe that Ren had given him.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Louise, may I come in?”
“Please do.”
A desk in utter disarray, and dark circles stretching down to his cheekbones.
Louise brushed his disheveled hair aside with his hand as he greeted Jane.
“What brings you here, sister?”
Jane frowned at the messy room and stepped up to the desk.
“Stop this. Right now.”
She pointed at the scattered documents with her finger.
“If that's all you came to say, then please leave.”
“Louise! Do you even realize how dangerous the path you’re walking is?”
“That’s exactly why I’m taking it. Who else in the royal family would dare cut out the rot from this country?”
His firm tone made Jane glare at him.
“But it doesn’t have to be you!”
“You’re right. It doesn’t have to be me. If there’s someone else who can do it, I’ll step aside. But is there such a person?”
She clenched her teeth, unable to respond.
No matter what she said, Louise wasn’t going to listen.
Jane knew this — and still, she couldn't just give up, which is why she had come.
“...Do you know who’s involved in all this?”
This was the real reason she had come here.
The person involved in this incident—
A royal who had always seen Louise as a thorn in the side.
“It’s the First Prince!”
She lowered her voice, but still nearly shouted.
“He can’t hear us anyway.”
“Oh, really? Still! How can you be so nonchalant? Do you not understand what our brother thinks of you?”
“I do.”
Seeing the look in his eyes, as if telling her to stop bothering him, Jane stood up in frustration.
“Tch! Fine! You do know you only survived this time because I sent Ren, right?”
“Ah, that…”
This time, Louise fell silent.
He owed his life to Ren twice already.
And on top of that, he’d received the Red Moon Tribe’s elixir from him.
Which ultimately meant he was indebted to Jane, who had sent Ren.
“Thank you, sister.”
“Do you think I’m doing this just to get a thank-you?”
She slumped onto the couch again.
“You think we have any real power? The royal family is fractured, and we have no idea how far the black mages have infiltrated…”
“Sister, that’s exactly why I have to act.”
“You think I don’t know that? But now’s not the time! The three princes are already fighting over the throne — do you want to create another enemy in the middle of that? You might go poking around and end up getting bitten by a snake!”
“If a mere snake is enough to scare me, then I’ll forfeit my claim to the throne.”
“Louise!”
As if there was nothing more to hear, Louise stood up and turned his back to her.
“Sister. Do you know something?”
He pulled back the curtain from the window, and square moonlight streamed in.
He gazed out into the night before speaking.
“You can’t win just by running away.”
A man appeared in his mind.
“Even in situations where there seems to be no way out, someone will always find a way. But someone who only runs will never even think to break through when they’re cornered.”
Swish!
Closing the curtain again, Louise turned to her with a hardened expression.
“I will defeat my brothers and become king.”
“...What?”
Jane blurted out in surprise at his blunt declaration.
She knew he had considered the throne, but given his cautious nature, she never thought he’d say it out loud like this.
“And for that, I need your help. Please, help me.”
Louise knelt on the floor.
Jane, startled by the gesture, tried to lift him, but he wouldn’t budge.
“Fine, fine! Get up! Who else would I support if not you?”
“Thank you, sister.”
Louise stood, taking her hand.
Then, from inside his coat, he pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her.
“I trust you wouldn’t agree to help without good reason. Take this.”
“What is it?”
“Proof that Prince Rev is colluding with black mages.”
Jane gasped and quickly looked around, then sat on the couch beside him and carefully unfolded the paper.
It was a letter, written in the handwriting of the First Prince, Rev Heretia, stating that a black mage must be planted in the desert expedition.
“Is this really Rev’s handwriting? How did you get this?”
“I haven’t been sitting around doing nothing.”
Since returning from the desert, many people had quietly begun offering Louise their support.
His survival — between the black mages and the desert boss — may have seemed like luck, but those in power knew: luck doesn’t come for free.
‘The Trevis family... I never expected them to approach me.’
It was largely thanks to the Trevis family that he had discovered the First Prince’s secret.
They hadn’t openly pledged allegiance, but they seemed to be testing him — helping him while gauging his capabilities.
That was another reason Louise couldn’t walk away from this.
“Oh my, our little brother seems to have grown up quite a bit, hasn’t he?”
Jane teased, delighted by his growth.
“Please don’t mock me.”
“Tch, you’re handling things just fine. Anyway, is there anything else I can do to help?”
“There is… one thing.”
He bit his lip and avoided her gaze.
“What is it?”
“Um… well…”
Unable to answer easily, Louise hesitated until Jane slapped the table with both hands in frustration.
“Come on! Just say it! If we’re helping each other, be honest!”
“Could you… hand Ren Arzen over to me?”
Louise mumbled, embarrassed.
“R-R-Ren Arzen?!”
Jane stuttered — something she never did — utterly shocked by the unexpected request.
“Yes. I don’t have enough people. If I’m going to reform this rotten royal family, I need someone like Ren Arzen.”
In truth, Louise had wanted to ask Ren to become his ally during their time in the desert.
But Ren had come to help him at Jane’s request.
No one in Brillant knew the full extent of Ren’s abilities — only Jane did.
And now, by joining the desert expedition, Ren had been exposed to the black mages and others.
The fact that someone like Ren, who had remained hidden, chose to act now — it had to mean he was Jane Heretia’s person.
That’s why Louise couldn’t even propose the idea to him.
‘She’s flustered… was it too shameless of a request?’
Normally, Louise would never have made such a bold request of his sister.
But after witnessing Ren Arzen firsthand, he couldn’t shake the desire to work with him.
His quick judgment in finding the Red Moon Tribe’s grave, his swordsmanship that overwhelmed the black mages, his willingness to sacrifice for his allies, and his ability to survive even in the face of death—
With Ren by his side, Louise truly believed he could change Brillant.
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[Translator - Night]
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That’s why, swallowing his pride, he had asked her for help.
“J-Just… wait a moment...?”
Jane was at a loss over what to do about this request.
It was the first time Louise had ever asked her for anything.
And it wasn’t just any request—he’d made it while declaring a grand ambition to become the King of Brillant and change this place.
Jane didn’t want to dismiss his plea so lightly.
‘Damn it, even I can’t say no to that man…’
Jane also had feelings for Ren, but for the greater good, she was willing to concede him to Louise.
But that was just her personal resolve.
She had no real power to tell Ren to become Louise’s man.
‘Maybe… if I just meet him and ask… it might work?’
Him and Louise had been through a lot together in the desert, and surely that had forged some deep camaraderie.
Maybe he would agree more easily than she feared…
‘…Yeah right. Ugh.’
She let out a sigh and hung her head.
She couldn’t lie to Louise about something she wasn’t even sure of.
‘But then again, you never know, right?’
That tiny bit of hope made her hesitate.
The mental pendulum that had been swinging back and forth suddenly swung out into reality.
“Okay, maybe if I talk to him, it might—”
Louise suddenly grabbed her hand.
“Thank you so much, Sis! I swear, I won’t let you down!”
“Uh, uh?”
Startled, Jane widened her eyes and stammered.
‘What did I just say out loud…?’
She had meant to think it, but accidentally said it, and now Louise had misunderstood.
She wanted to correct the misunderstanding right then, but Louise’s eyes were misty with emotion.
Seeing that, Jane couldn’t bring herself to say it was a mistake.
“Y-Yeah… I’ll try talking to him.”
How many times had she stammered today?
For someone who was usually so blunt and straightforward, Louise was the one person who made her feel off balance.
As Jane left Louise’s room, she pressed her forehead in frustration.
“Sigh…”
“What’s wrong?”
A voice asked her from the shadows.
It was Sica.
“I need to go to Decaine.”
“Huh? You’re going back there?”
Sica asked, clearly uncomfortable.
“Yes. Sigh…”
And Jane was no less uncomfortable than she was.
* * *
Whoosh—
I swung the sword lightly.
No resistance.
It felt solid in my grip—heavy, but not in a way that dragged me down.
I slammed it against a steel shield mounted on a stand.
Clang!
A loud metallic ring echoed out, but the shield only dented slightly.
Soulcall hadn’t taken so much as a scratch.
Vmm—
The blade vibrated.
Almost indignantly.
It was practically howling for spiritual energy.
‘Alright, take as much as you want.’
Vmm—
The green gem embedded in the guard lit up as I infused it with energy.
The entire blade shimmered with a soft green glow.
Whoosh—Kaang!!
I drove the blade into the shield again.
Creak—
This time, it punched clean through the center.
“…That’s insane.”
A sword with this kind of power and resilience, just from spiritual energy—no aura?
I let out a dry chuckle and shook my head.
“What do you think? Satisfied?”
I turned at the sound of the familiar voice.
Caleb was standing there.
“Shouldn’t you still be resting?”
“Resting? Please. Seeing my masterpiece in action matters more.”
“It’s incredible. Honestly, I can’t believe I’m the one holding a sword like this.”
“You’re worthy of it. The blade itself is saying you’re its master.”
“You can tell?”
“Of course. Until just a few hours ago, it was in my hands. That sword is like a child to me… though it’s already fallen completely for you. Hahaha.”
He beamed like a proud father.
“Thanks.”
“Use it well. And let everyone on the continent know that its greatest blade came from my forge.”
“No worries. This sword will carve its name—and yours—deep into their memories.”
“Hahaha! I knew I had an eye for people.”
As our light conversation wrapped up and Caleb was about to stand—
“Someone from the Trevis family is here.”
One of the blacksmiths stepped in and addressed me.
“Lord Cohen has returned to Cormir and wishes to see you, Lord Ren.”
“Ah… got it.”
Perfect timing.
Since I was already in Cormir, I might as well take care of Cohen Trevis’s business too.
The Trevis family tomb, huh…
Now that I had Soulcall, I needed even more spiritual energy than before.
Hopefully, I could gain a solid amount this time.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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