Translator: Nox

30 - Marquis Maron

Episode 30

I remembered how two-faced and contradictory they were in the original story.

The Order outwardly pretended to support peace while secretly instigating various divisions, fearing that the three kingdoms might unite and weaken their power.

I couldn't even begin to guess how much money they had spent to secure children born with divine power. They stole children from their parents and deprived parents of their duty.

The Holy Knight Order was a group created by the Order, selecting children born with divine power and raising them from a young age to be devout and molded to their liking.

Since there weren't many individuals who possessed both divine power and martial prowess, only the five Cardinals and the Pope could issue orders to them.

But for that great and holy knight to become a green-eyed monster. A monster that kills anyone and doesn't die even when beheaded.

In fantasy terms, would that be a Dullahan or a Death Knight?

As I slowly recalled the contents of the original story, I remembered how much power they would wield in the later half of the novel under the name of 'Executioners.'

"Reikart."

"Yeah?"

"How much do you know about the Order?"

"Hmm. Just that they value money more than God?"

I laughed.

"No, they want power more than money."

His blue eyes calmly settled.

What should I do?

I could say goodbye to Selbon here and return to Maron Keep. I could ignore the fact that I had saved the lumberjacks' lives, saying I had done my part, and that it was none of my business how this world turned out.

Whether the Order would try to appease Selbon or erase it from the map.

I could just live a long and comfortable life in my keep with my motley crew.

"Aish."

Still, it's not right to just leave when there's an obvious solution right in front of me, is it?

"Good grief."

I can't help it.

I'll help just one more time, I guess.

A man was walking out of Fatima's inn. He seemed like a traveler who had entered the empty inn and was staying there without permission.

Despite the commotion in the village, the man appeared very relaxed, strolling out and yawning widely.

Vivid navy blue hair covering half of his face, a perfectly balanced, cat-like gait even with casual movements.

It was the Snowbeast Rango.

I didn't know why he was in Selbon at this time, but I thought it was a very good thing.

"Reikart."

"Yeah?"

"Bring him over here."

I pointed at Rango with my finger. Reikart raised his eyebrows slightly and then nodded lightly.

As if sensing an ominous premonition, Rango looked this way.

He grinned.

I laughed.

Rango was soon dragged over, Reikart gripping him by the collar.

"Hey, what's the big idea? Do you think I came all the way here with you guys because I don't have any clients? The Order's people are all over Grandis, making it hard to make a living..."

"Go to Grandis. As quickly as possible."

"Why should I?"

"There's a young Cardinal there. Eugene Widemark. Tell him about what happened in Selbon. Whether you write a letter or meet him in person, it's up to you."

"No, but why me?"

"Just convey the objective facts. You don't need to make anything up. Then that bastard will rush back here, right? Then you can go your own way."

"Do you think I'm your subordinate? Just because you're a Demon Marquis? Where do you get off ordering people around like this?"

"Demon Marquis?"

I asked back in disbelief, and Rango asked with an even more dumbfounded expression.

"After corrupting people like that in Grandis... blabbering on about 'I am the Demon Marquis.'"

"Hey, when did I ever do that! I said Maron Marquis!"

"No? Didn't you say Demon Marquis?"

I thought this guy was just stupid, but his ears are bad too!

"I'll give you a commission. A generous one."

"How much?"

"Would this be enough?"

What I held out was a gold coin I had brought from Maron Keep.

It was said to be a very rare gold coin, used a hundred years ago, so the edges were slightly distorted and the color had changed. The Order was suspicious of the people of Selbon because of this, so that says it all.

I took out three of them and held them out.

Rango, being an assassin, quickly recognized how valuable the gold coins were. He snatched the coins from my hand with lightning speed.

"What is this? Where did you get this?"

"It's mine."

"This is an old gold coin... one of these is worth ten modern gold coins. You could get even more if you take it to collectors."

"Yeah, I know."

I didn't know it was that much, but I pretended to know.

Rango grinned, holding the gold coins in his hand. Reikart glared at him with a displeased expression, and he quickly stuffed them into his clothes as if he was afraid they would be taken away.

"Demon Marquis, what did you say I had to do? I didn't hear you. Tell me again."

This stupid bastard.

I started again from the beginning, explaining in detail what errand he had to run. I was going to tell him to figure out the method and what to say on his own, but it seemed he wasn't just a little stupid, so I specified everything down to the details.

"Okay, okay."

"What do you know! Say exactly what I said again. I have to be able to trust you!"

"Go to Grandis and secretly approach Cardinal Eugene, then tell him what happened in Selbon. One of the Holy Knights turned into a monster and killed the other one, and started killing soldiers and villagers, but was defeated by the suddenly appearing hero Reikart Winter."

"Huh?"

"If you meet him in person, you might get caught by the Order, so deliver it through someone or by letter."

Is this guy really stupid? How did he memorize it all at once? I looked at Rango with amazed eyes, and he awkwardly explained.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I get smarter when I get paid."

"Ah."

"I'm glad I came here. I felt like I wanted to hang around this area."

"Go quickly. Get lost."

"I was going to anyway. I don't think I should be around you. I saw that Holy Knight from afar, and he was really not normal. It was creepy. Scary."

"An assassin being scared of something."

"Hey, I'm not afraid of dealing with people. But monsters are a bit... Anyway, I'm going now? Let's never meet again, Marquis."

"That's what I want."

What's the point of seeing assassins often? I'd be lucky if I didn't get stabbed in the neck. I waved back with the same sentiment.

Ten days passed after returning home like that.

I had cleaned the office that the Maron Marquis had used a hundred years ago and even equipped it with plausible writing tools. Unusually, I was sitting at my desk writing in my diary.

"Today, I told my Doraji that it seemed to have grown by 1mm, and the bastard got angry. It was supposed to be a compliment, but I think this is a tragedy brought about by the lack of communication between humans and Doraji..."

"Lord!"

"Yeah?"

"Today is the tenth day. When are you going to Selbon?"

"Ah..."

This is a headache.

I felt like Selbon would be in my dreams soon. How many incidents happen in that tiny village? I guess I should go and sprinkle some coarse salt or something.

Looking at Fatima's flushed face, I sighed and asked.

"Do you really want to go with me?"

Fatima asked to accompany me, saying she wanted to check if the villagers were okay.

"Yes, and I need to pick up the luggage I left at my inn. I also want to collect the debts. The amount of alcohol the men have run up is quite..."

"Let's go, let's go."

I had to ride a horse again, so I clung to Reikart's back like a cicada. Fatima giggled when she saw that and showed off her cool horseback riding skills, making me lose face as the lord.

I shouldn't have bought two horses.