Chapter 327: Schwartz


    When we reach the gate of Deuce.


    A huge lightning strike struck down inside the city.


    Its daytime. Moreover, the sky is clear blue.


    That was not a natural phenomenon.


    Magic huh.


    Quite a powerful one at that too.


    There is no doubt that it was a modern magic spell but the level of the user is quite high.


    There is a high-level mage inside this city.


    What is going on here?


    The gatekeeper is absent, the city is too defenseless.


    We decided to enter Deuce just like that.


    My heart is beating rapidly with an unpleasant premonition.


    And my gut is often right.


    Thats why I hurried the horse forward by myself.


    When I reached the city square what entered my sight was a battle.


    There were knights present on both sides but on one side, the knights are with bandits while the other is protecting crying citizens.


    Which one should I side with? Thats plenty obvious.


    Some houses seem to have been burned down and some looked ransacked.


    The number of bandits is overwhelmingly higher.


    However, that didnt matter to me.


    At the center of the square.


    There was a scorch mark. The lightning strike earlier must have struck there.


    And beyond that scorch mark.


    Was a ck coffin.


    It seems like a grand funeral was being held here.


    The bandits must have broken into the city while it was being held.


    Shilling! Why did you betray our gracious lord!


    The lord is dead! There is now here anymore! I will gift this ce to His Highness Gordon! He will surely reward me handsomely!


    Those words entered my ears but I couldnt understand them well.


    I just slowly advance my horse.


    Lars seems to be screaming something in the back but his words didnt enter my ears either.


    I rushed my horse forward in a daze, breaking in between the two conflicting sides.


    Seeing a stranger wandering into the scene, a bandit stood in my way.


    Hey, punk!? Who the hell are you!? This ce is ours alright!?


    ..shut up or I will kill you.


    HII, HIIIIIIIII!!??


    I red at him with the intent to kill.


    The bandit fell on his back and desperately crawled away.


    After seeing him crawl away, I got off my horse and approached the coffin.


    There was a name inscribed onto the coffin.


    Marquis Adam von Zweig.!


    It was the full name of Marquis Zweig.


    Why, How.


    My attempt to understand the situation floated in my mind but I still couldnt process the word death.


    There is the me that can calmly ept his death and another me that is still confused and unable to understand it.


    My emotions mixed together and became uncontroble.


    When I slowly reached out to the coffin, only the feeling of coldness came back.


    That coldness made me understand it.


    My benefactor is dead.


    What are you doing! Just kill that guy already!


    It was the young knight that was called Shilling from earlier.


    Using the Marquiss funeral as his opportunity, he betrayed Marquis Zweig and brought in the bandits.


    A fool who got caught in Gordons scheme.


    A ridiculous fool who sullied Marquis Zweigs funeral and tried to destroy his city.


    Ah, thats right.


    There was one thing that can sort out this emotion.


    It was something that Shilling said.


    If I just order my men to kill them all, I would feel refreshed.


    I have the subordinates that willply with that order with me.


    It would be easy to subdue them. ughtering them all is fine as well.


    Even so.


    Such a simple order wont leave my mouth. The more I try to say it, the more my heart tries to reject it.


    I understand the reason.


    I wanted to show my growth to the Marquis. I wanted to prove to him that it was not a mistake when he kneeled for me.


    Even so, I cant do what I did in the past. I cant expose such a shameful figure to him.


    Marquis Zweig was not someone dominated by emotions. He was someone who acted while thinking ahead.


    Back then, he didnt say any simple words either. He didnt choose the easy way out.


    Right now, I cant choose such an easy way out either.


    I realize your greatness again today


    It is difficult to control your emotions.


    Marquis Zweig continued to endure his unreasonable treatments without anyints.


    He had been killing his emotions. All for the future that lies ahead of us.


    Because he believed that was for the best.


    I cant afford to show my ugly side to such a person.


    I have to get my emotions under control. What would happen if I ordered my men to kill them? I will just feel refreshed.


    There are more important things than that.


    To keep my presence here a secret.


    And to persuade the Northern Nobles.


    Then there is only one thing I can do.


    Thisnd is ruled by the greatest noble of the North. Such conflict doesnt suit hisnd. And-we have no need for thieves. Protect his citizens! Do not let them suffer any more harm than this!!


    As you wish.


    With that said, Lars leaped out in front of the bandits and instantly cut down several of them.


    Then.


    Is incapacitating them enough, Young Master?


    Yes. minimize the killing. Apprehend the ringleader.


    Yes, sir!


    The Narbe Ritter in ck cloak unsheathe their swords and began hunting down the bandits.


    The knights who were with them are caught.


    As expected of the Narbe Ritter, they didnt miss any single one of them.


    Had I order them to ughter the bandits, it would only plunge the situation into chaos. The damage would have increased and some bandits would have fled.


    This is good. Still, the emptiness remains in my heart.


    The situation should be in ourplete control soon.


    I turned my eyes to the coffin and touched it again.


    Its cold after all


    Why does it always like this?


    I couldnt cure my mothers illness, and when I am finally going to pay back my benefactor, he is already dead.


    Even though I was pushing Leo to be the emperor for the sake of our country and the people, both the country and the people have to suffer because of the session war.


    Why cant anything I do go well?


    I wanted to hear your advice.


    My hand that was touching the coffin gradually turned into a fist.


    There was a feeling of water flowing down my cheeks.


    Are you crying..?


    When I turned my eyes to the voice, a beautiful blonde girl was standing there while being supported by a maid.


    She has long hair tied on the left and right sides and is dressed in a simple long white dress. Perhaps she was ill, herplexion seemed pale and it felt like she has a hard time standing.


    A girl that leaves the impression of being sick.


    The girls left eye is green while her right is reddish-brown.


    Odd eyes. That might be the reason why I can feel arge amount of magic power from her.


    There were tears in her eyes as well.


    You seem to be crying too though


    Of course, I am crying. After allI am the granddaughter of the person sleeping in the coffin you are touching.


    ..I see. How did the Marquis die?


    He was bedridden for a long time. The other day, his conditions worsenedit must be because of the war. The anxiety must have shortened Ojii-samas life.


    .thats a shame.


    While putting various emotions into words, I slowly kneeled in front of the girl.


    My name is Schwartz. I lead a mercenary corps. A long time ago, I was taken care of by the Marquis. I came here thinking that I might have found the chance to repay my debt.


    Schwartz(ck) huh..is that an alias?


    I inherited it from my father.


    I see..my name is Charlotte. You saved me, Schwartz-san. I think we can have a slow funeral now. Do you..want to join us?


    Of course.


    Thank you


    Charlotte sadly muttered so her atmosphere turned sorrowful.


    For some reason, her figure ovepped with my mother and I turned my gaze away.