Chapter 97: The Great Bear of the North 2
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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The group emerging from the undergrowth made no attempt to hide their identities.
"Father. As the Duke responsible for the North, your sense of--"
"Ah, I said I'm sorry!"
The Northern Duke, his daughter, and two escort knights.
On their armor's breastplate was engraved a crouching wolf, the symbol of their house.
On their waists hung a sword, unsheathed yet radiating a chilling aura.
Magic swords.
To sum it up, an armed group is strolling around in the blessed forest of the Royal family, their family crest on full display and they're even carrying weapons.
They aren't disguised assassins or fraudsters, especially given Kaiden's shock at the woman's appearance.
'What the hell is going on...?'
Our group now includes a disguised runaway noble lady and her likely father.
Along with his daughter and knights.
To top it all off, the new lady doesn't even seem to recognize Kaiden.
She hardly spares her a glance.
As Han Se-ah and her viewers, try to deduce the drama, I lead the way for the group.
I too was trying to guess at Kaiden's familial situation.
As we were walking and guiding the party of the Northern Duke, the view, which had been filled with green, opened up to reveal bustling buildings and a swarm of soldiers.
"Who is there... My Lord?!"
As soon as we emerge from the forest, a few soldiers approach us as if to surround us but soon freeze in shock.
The sight of the giant Duke seems to petrify the soldiers, as if they've seen Medusa.
From what I remember in K-Fantasy, a Duke was a noble house mixed with royal blood*.The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.
So, this situation must be more intense than a private in front of a celebrity.
"Ah, we shall escort you inside!!!"
"There's no need for that. I just want to hear a little about the tower from these adventurers."
"In that case, we'll prepare a room and refreshments!!!"
A soldier shouted with such force it seemed his veins would burst.
Despite trembling with fear, he bravely continued speaking, probably because they couldn't leave such a high-ranking person standing aimlessly at the edge of the forest.
In response to the pitiful sight of the trembling soldier, the Northern Duke waved his hand dismissively.
Just as he didn't demand formality from us, adventurers, he showed generosity to his soldiers.
However, when a person as powerful as a Duke encourages a low-ranking soldier to relax...
How can a soldier be at ease?
"Must-uh re-main ca-lm, I have to-to..."
From behind the stiff soldier, another one grumbled, grinding his teeth so hard that his jaw muscles were trembling.
Although he mumbled under his breath, there was no way his words wouldn't reach the superhumans before him.
Well, if you've done your research, you'd know that I'm an adventurer who stopped on the 37th floor of the tower and came down.
I heard you enjoyed a rather long break.
I thought Id rest a bit after nearly 10 years of adventuring. Well, I also saved quite a bit of money, so if need be, I could rest for a lifetime.
Comfort in old age is a universal law, wherever you are.
So I went on with my story accordingly.
Mage Hanna, whom the receptionist sneakily left to me, Rangers Grace whom I met in the tower during my adventure, and Nun Irene who was in another party but transferred to ours.
Lastly, Kaiden, who joined the party as a mercenary.
Up to this point, the nobleman, who had been chuckling at my interesting stories, changed his attitude as soon as the topic shifted to Rebecca and Kaiden.
His fingers started twitching, his previously relaxed posture stiffened, and he seemed to grow several times bigger.
-Isn't he too obvious?
-It seems he's someone who can't lie.
-Han Se-ah being assigned by the receptionist, sounds like a lost child at a protection center.
-Anyone can see that he's twitching because he wants to hear about Kaiden lolol
-It looks like Roland intentionally told the stories of the other party members first.
Looking at the chat, even the viewers can tell.
I suppose it's okay if I pretend to notice something.
Its great that I can confirm this in real-time thanks to the chat.
Kaiden joined the party on the recommendation of a mercenary captain I knew from my adventurer days. Since I wield a shield, I thought it would be nice to have a more aggressive vanguard.
Hmm, is that so? Rebecca, The Rebecca Mercenaries
"Then, the son of the Duke ended up joining our party."
As I read the chat and the Duke's reactions, I put my mind to work.
I could pretend to know nothing, but then I wouldnt gain anything.
Whether you're an adventurer or a mercenary, it's a profession where you always strive for benefit.
With a golden honey pot like the Northern Duke right before me, I can't pass it up without taking a bite.
There's no need to show off that I know everything, but there's no need to pretend I know nothing either.
Pretending to know just enough to demonstrate competence and win the Duke's support for the party would be the best way to go.
"...Did you know?"
"Kaiden introduced himself to me as the heir of a fallen family and asked me for help with repairs for his magic armor."
"So, you recognized him from his armor, you're quite perceptive."
In reality, I don't remember the exterior of the armor well, and I only found out due to the system window and Han Se-ah's stream, but what does that matter?
The crucial point is that the man before me and the viewers behind the camera believe my words.
I wonder how he will respond.
After beating around the bush with his explanation, will he ask me to take good care of his child, or will he try to take Kaiden away?
I kept my silence.
Arthur Wesley, scratching his head once again, lets out a loud exclamation.
"Ah, damn it! Let's go outside and have a man-to-man, heart-to-heart talk."
When the burly man stands up like that, the pressure is no joke.
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