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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 44
Luca Rogers.
I couldn't place the name at first, but it turns out it belonged to that lunatic who was caught trying to assassinate a bishop of the Holy Kingdom in a past life.
The reason I didn’t recall it sooner was because, during the assassination attempt, he was in perfect disguise as a completely different noble—down to the name.
It wasn’t until much later that it was revealed he was actually Luca Rogers.
In my mind, the name “Hamilton Lesias,” the alias he used in disguise, had left a much stronger impression.
Sigh…
A sigh slipped out.
That bastard’s insane stunt at the Brillant Kingdom’s banquet had soured relations between Brillant and the Holy Kingdom, throwing Brillant into a terrible state.
I’ve been doing all I can to save Brillant, but one more reckless act from Luca Rogers and it could become completely irredeemable.
We must maintain a good relationship with the Holy Kingdom.
Eventually, they will be the key military force in the fight against the demons.
“Is something wrong?”
“What’s wrong, you ask?”
How could I explain this…
I couldn’t just come out and say I’ve returned from the future—they wouldn’t believe it.
Well, maybe they’d react like my ancestor and say, “Stranger things have happened,” but that’s unlikely.
‘The upcoming banquet held alongside the coming-of-age ceremony for Brillant’s third princess… That’s where he made his move.’
I don’t know exactly how he fooled everyone, but he infiltrated the banquet completely disguised as Hamilton Lesias.
I still don’t know why he did it, or who he worked with.
All I can guess is that this man—likely a follower of the black mages—colluded with them to commit that act.
‘To find out their goal, I first need to understand why Luca Rogers joined the black mages.’
The reason he sought the artifact…
Why were the black mages after it, and why Luca Rogers of all people?
‘Spiritual energy…’
Yes, they were definitely collecting spiritual energy.
They killed the living, created graves, and conducted experiments—all clearly centered on the power of souls.
So what was the artifact’s connection to all that? Could they extract spiritual energy even from ancient relics?
I still don’t know.
‘What could have driven Luca Rogers to join the black mages? … There are too many possible reasons.’
He wasn’t into gambling or pleasures, just a timid guy who swung a sword as his family commanded.
That kind of person is easy to manipulate, precisely because they’ve never tasted anything for themselves.
Pleasures and indulgences hit hardest the first time you experience them.
‘No, wait… I need to change my thinking. Focus not on Luca Rogers, but on Hamilton Lesias.’
Hamilton Lesias.
He was thoroughly investigated.
Because of the high crime of attempting to assassinate a bishop, the entire Lesias family was branded as criminals overnight.
The Lesias family are nobles from the Baran Empire.
Hamilton Lesias was sent from Baran to Brillant to keep an eye on the royal family and check the influence of other nations.
‘Thinking about it now, everything fits.’
The black mages used Luca Rogers—disguised as Hamilton Lesias—for one assassination attempt that earned them three strategic gains.
First, it created a rift in the strong alliance between the Baran Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
Though it was officially Hamilton’s lone action, the Holy Kingdom would naturally be reluctant to keep Baran close after something like that.
Even a hairline crack is a big difference from a flawless wall.
Looking back, that was when the rift between the two nations began.
Second, it completely severed ties between the Holy Kingdom and the Brillant Kingdom.
This made it far easier for the black mages to infiltrate Brillant—undoubtedly part of their plan.
Third, by using the identity of Luca Rogers, they created a connection to the First Prince, while simultaneously crafting a piece that could be used to threaten him.
If the man who attempted to assassinate a bishop while aligned with the black mages turns out to be from the Rogers family, it would be a huge blow to the First Prince, who leads them.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked up and saw two faces watching me curiously, clearly wondering what I’d been so lost in thought about.
“Have you noticed anything strange about Luca Rogers lately?”
“Hmm… Nothing particularly strange… Ah! Lately, he’s been trying to leave the city more often.”
“Leave the city? Where does he go?”
“He’s been caught sneaking out several times to the southern village outside the city walls.”
“He doesn’t know we’re watching him?”
“Probably not. We’ve got some skilled trackers and stealth experts keeping tabs on him.”
I nodded at Cohen’s words and fell back into thought.
‘The southern village…’
If I want to find a link to Hamilton Lesias, the woman he loved lived in that village.
‘Could this really be a coincidence?’
Something smells fishy.
“Don’t put any more pressure on Luca Rogers. Just keep watching him from a distance.”
“But Luca Rogers is clearly connected to the black mages. We need to investigate thoroughly.”
“No. Timid men like him are unpredictable when pressured too much. This is the time to let him be. Just confessing the secret about the First Prince probably caused him massive mental strain.”
I still can’t reveal the truth about my return.
I have to use a reasonable excuse and throw a wrench in the black mages’ plans.
[Main Quest – Protect Brillant.]
[The black mages are steadily executing a plan to swallow the Brillant Kingdom from the shadows. Stop their plan entirely and protect the kingdom.]
[Reward – Chain Quest]
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a main quest.
Just like the last one, this one also revolves around the black mages.
‘Another chain quest?’
Sure, a quest continuing from the last one is reasonable.
But that means the bishop assassination attempt wasn’t the end of it?
‘This is insane…’
All I know is that the black mages are trying to use Luca Rogers to bring down Brillant.
But the presence of a chain quest implies there’s something even deeper.
“Ren, you don’t look so good again. Something’s bothering you?”
“Our Trevis family has decided to follow your lead. If there’s anything you suspect, please tell us.”
Layton and Cohen are trustworthy.
I already knew Layton was a reliable man from my past life, and Cohen’s actions now have confirmed his character.
But revealing everything about my abilities would be premature.
‘The time will come when I can tell them… But not yet.’
I nodded at their words and finally spoke.
“Actually, I heard something from the wraiths in the graveyard.”
They can’t see the dead, so they have no way of verifying what I say.
“What did you hear?”
“Hamilton Lesias had a woman he loved.”
“Hamilton Lesias?”
The two men looked confused at the sudden mention of a seemingly unrelated name.
Understandably so.
I’d just thrown out the name of someone who seemed completely irrelevant.
“That woman lives in the southern village—where Luca Rogers keeps going.”
“…And what of it?”
“Actually, I suspect Hamilton Lesias. I believe he may be in league with the black mages.”
Their eyes went wide.
“Hamilton? That’s impossible.”
“He’s a man of Baran—a high-ranking member of the Lesias family. Why would someone like that…”
“The wraiths told me he made contact with the black mages.”
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Of course, that never actually happened.
“…Is that true?”
“Yes.”
No, it’s not.
“Ha! Someone with power second to none—why would that person do such a thing...?”
Probably because he had nothing to envy, he didn’t collude with the black mages.
Sorry, but I’ll have to pretend to be the black mage’s ally for a while.
“That’s why I’m suspicious of the man from the Hamilton family. What I’d like you to do is keep an eye on three people: Luca Rogers, Hamilton Lesias, and the woman who seems to be connected to the two of them. Just watch them, and no matter what happens to Hamilton—please don’t interfere.”
“Why not?”
“We can’t let the black mage know we’re watching. They’re all trash who’ve conspired with him anyway. They deserve whatever they get.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to keep them alive as witnesses?”
Layton didn’t particularly want to spare Lesias either.
He was one of those hyena-like nobles from Baran who were always looking for something to leech off of.
There was no reason to have any fondness for him.
“No. It’d be better if he just died.”
“Why do you think that?”
“...Because I plan to ruin the black mages’ entire plan.”
* * *
Trevis Training Grounds.
Ren and Khalid stood facing each other on the platform.
‘Can I even win...?’
He had promised to spar with Khalid during their journey to Cormir.
As soon as Khalid was done with his errands, he reminded Ren of the promise.
Ren had forgotten, but was dragged here against his will.
‘My opponent’s at a mid-to-high knight level. I’ve only just reached low knight level. I won’t win with standard swordsmanship.’
Ren ran simulations in his head of how he might counter Khalid.
“I’m nervous. I didn’t expect to be sparring with you so soon, Ren.”
“You’re the one who dragged me here instead of waiting until tomorrow, Sir Khalid.”
“When an opportunity like this comes up, of course you take it! You don’t often get to spar with a high-level knight!”
Khalid grinned with a mix of nerves and excitement as he drew his sword.
“High-level knight?”
“Our lord isn’t at high knight level.”
Layton and Cohen, who were observing, tilted their heads and murmured.
Since Abel had fought Ren when he was possessed, Cohen and Layton had a fairly accurate grasp of Ren’s current physical capability.
“Just consider it a meaningful exchange of blades. Don’t worry too much about it, Ren.”
“Understood.”
“I still can’t get that fierce sword technique of yours out of my head. Now I get to face it myself.”
That ruthless technique wasn’t from Havenberg’s style—it was from the Crimson Moon Tribe.
“It’ll be different this time.”
“Are you holding back? Haha, well, either way, I look forward to it!”
He completely misunderstood what Ren meant.
Ren didn’t want to change his sword technique—it was that he simply couldn’t use it anymore.
Ren and Khalid raised their swords at each other.
The air on the training ground grew heavy.
The lighthearted smile Khalid had worn moments earlier vanished.
His eyes turned sharp, gleaming as they bore into Ren.
‘Haa…’
Their breathing slowed, and as if on cue, Khalid launched forward.
Their eyes locked at the same moment, and their blades clashed, sparking fire.
Chaaaang!!
Ren clenched his teeth.
The sheer pressure of Khalid’s force was overwhelming with each clash.
If he hadn’t learned from his ancestor how to redirect force and dissipate impact, the match would have been over in just a few exchanges.
Clang! Clang! Chaaaang!!
Their swords narrowly scraped past one another, producing sharp metallic screeches.
Khalid stiffened his expression, trying not to show confusion at how things weren’t going as easily as expected.
‘Is he underestimating me? Or is he luring me into a trap?’
His mind raced.
If it were any ordinary opponent, he’d press the attack—but this was Ren Arzen.
Someone with the skill level of a high-ranking knight.
There was surely a hidden move waiting.
‘I mustn’t let my guard down.’
Since his humiliating loss to the black mage, Khalid had trained obsessively.
He wouldn’t allow himself to lose like that again.
“Ho...”
“Is it starting for real now?”
The two spectators murmured with interest.
Focus.
Khalid’s sword began to shimmer with aura.
He couldn’t stall the fight forever with hesitation.
It was time to land a decisive blow.
Whoooom—
Spinning like a vortex, his aura wrapped around the blade.
‘Now!’
Having spotted an opening, Khalid drew his elbow back and thrust his sword forward.
At that moment, a faint mist shimmered along Ren’s sword path.
‘What is this...?’
Khalid’s brow furrowed.
Just for a moment, he lost track of Ren’s movements.
Fwoosh!!
Even with his full extension, his sword hit nothing.
His blade drifted powerlessly through empty air.
‘Damn it!’
Frantically, he tried to recover, but it was too late.
The mist vanished—and there was Ren.
His blade was headed straight for Khalid.
“Ugh!”
In that split second of sensing death, Khalid winced and let out a groan.
But there was no sensation of being cut.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked down—Ren’s sword was hovering just in front of his neck.
“I... lost.”
Ren furrowed his brow with an unsatisfied look as he withdrew his sword.
“Hahh...”
“So that’s... Ren Arzen, huh.”
Gasps of admiration came from behind them.
“What was that technique just now?”
Ren twisted his lips and replied,
“Hmm... It’s an unfinished technique. I’m not ready to explain it yet.”
“That was unfinished?!”
Khalid stared, dumbfounded.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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