I Became God of War’s Youngest Disciple - Chapter 341



Only Krnovel

Episode 341

Immediately afterwards, it occurred to me that perhaps smiling was a mistake.

Because if Hatem Goodspring had the discerning eye, he could have noticed that I had come up with a clever idea.

As soon as that thought occurred to me, I relaxed my eyes and lightly bit my lower lip.

Wouldn’t this make you look somewhat resigned and sad?

“… … .”

In that state, I take in the sight of the Jewel Mountain Range once again.

This jewel mountain range was completely three-dimensional, so it took a moment for the map in my memory to sink in.

I fought the traitor Ocel while traveling through the Jewel Mountains, and while being chased by the assassins of Harden-Eihar, I met Kalzak. After that, I fought the Sapphire Snake.

Somehow, that time felt like a long time ago… but when I think about it, it’s only been about half a year.

‘Time really doesn’t pass that fast.’

It’s not strange.

Since returning, I’ve had a really jam-packed time.

“I appreciate your consideration, Your Grace, but there is a saying in Badnikker: Those who retreat for fear of loss will never achieve great things.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard that.”

Got caught.

“Even if it were someone else’s life that I would lose?”

“I trust my family. The Knights of the Iron Blood, including their commander, Sir Luke, are all skilled men hand-picked by my father. They have the ability and experience to overcome unexpected situations.”

“… … .”

Hatem’s expression became subtle, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Disappointment?’

The moment I wondered about the fleeting feeling, the fragment disappeared faster than it had appeared.

“Very well, Luan Badnicker. Then you choose which area to occupy first.”

“… Should I speak first?”

“okay.”

“… … .”

I looked at the Jewel Mountains with complicated eyes.

In general, it seems like it would be advantageous to choose first, but… if you look closely, that’s not the case.

The odds of picking a prime location in District 17 are simply 1 in 17.

Even if there are one or two more good spots, the odds are still low.

He must have calculated it all and given me a choice.

If you choose first, there is a chance that you can guess the advantageous area based on that location.

I somehow expected this to happen with Hatem Goodspring.

Because I felt that he was a man who was extremely thorough when it came to stepping on his enemies.

Hatem was not wrong.

In general, yes.

The only thing this man could not have guessed was that the source of this information was me.

It’s a minor omission, if anything… … .

Sometimes these little things can change the situation 180 degrees.

“… … .”

As I continued to remain silent, Hatem spoke.

“Why? Can’t I just choose it easily? But I can’t give it up anymore.”

“Who said it was soft?”

I answered in a somewhat sharp voice and made the most pitiful expression I could, but surprisingly, I’m good at this kind of acting.

Just think back to the times when you were like an idiot.

“This alone is not enough. Please let me choose at least three places first.”

“…Three places?”

Hatem’s tone became somewhat meaningful.

‘Eek, did I go too far?’

Anything in excess is bad, but I think this might have crossed the line a little.

But since I couldn’t take back what I had already said, I continued speaking shamelessly.

“Yes. I’ll choose three places at once. Even though it’s forbidden, it’s a mountain range, but you can tell which parts are rugged and which parts are easy just by looking at them.”

“… … .”

Although he dared to make foolish remarks that looked down on the imperial ban, Hatem’s eyes remained sharp.

Soon, a low-pitched voice reached my ear.

“But three places are too many. Let’s do two.”

You are very thorough.

‘Well, I guess this is it.’

If you are too greedy, you might lose what you have achieved.

I said, taking off my mask of a bastard named Luan.

“A4.”

“… … .”

“Is this the right way to read it? Anyway, Badniker will be in charge of that area.”

Hatem closed his mouth.

It was a terribly expressionless face, but now it felt a bit stiff to me.

“Then let’s take the D1 region as well.”

I fired a series of shots.

How to react?

‘This is invalid, invalid! … It would be fun if I shouted.’

Of course, instead of showing such an amusing reaction, Hatem simply stared blankly at the virtual jewel mountain range he had created.

“… … .”

Sometimes, that cool gaze would fall on me, and every time, the back of my neck would shiver pleasantly.

If the gaze of the Iron Blooded One reminded one of the burning, murderous nature of Guihua, then Hatem Goodspring’s eyes felt like glass beads set in a doll’s eyes.

But why is that?

I felt like this inorganic, doll-like feeling I was feeling right now was the essence of the human being Hatem.

Hatem stared at the Jewel Mountains for quite some time, then chuckled when I started to get a little tired.

“I see.”

What does that mean?

Before I could even question it, Hatem continued speaking to me.

“Let’s do that. I’ve taken the two best areas, so I can do with the rest as I please.”

“wait a minute.”

I took another look at the Jewel Mountains just in case, but apart from the two areas I mentioned earlier, there didn’t seem to be any places that stood out.

“Okay. Is there anything else you need to take care of?”

“There are only things like replenishing supplies, conducting reconnaissance in advance, and reporting to the imperial court, but I will take care of those as well.”

I nodded, since most of it was just annoying aftercare.

Hatem smiled again and stood up from his seat.

“It was an unexpected meeting, but it was very impressive, Luan Badnicker. I have a feeling we will meet again soon.”

“Um. Yes… … If I see you, I’ll say hello.”

“I know.”

Hatem nodded.

***

Clunk, clunk… … .

Hatem closed his eyes and sat lost in thought in the carriage leaving Badniker.

“… … .”

The sudden absence of Delak C. Badniker and the mood within the household, conversations with the guide, and conversations with Luan Badniker.

I wondered if I might have missed anything small, so I reviewed everything I had seen and felt since coming to Badniker.

“Did you have a good conversation?”

A voice from the stable broke his thoughts. Hatem opened his mouth, half-opening his closed eyes.

“I didn’t do well, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Hmm. That’s… unexpected.”

“Karen, do you know?”

“Please speak.”

“Delak is the busiest man in the empire.”

“yes.”

“Maybe that’s why. Once I make a promise, I rarely break it. At least, as far as I know, never.”

Then, a man who appeared to be a groom asked a question in a suggestive tone.

“What happened to Iron Blood?”

“It’s just a guess, though.”

“But wasn’t the atmosphere in Badnikker the same as usual?”

“They are the most closed family in the empire. Even those who appear to be mere maids or gardeners must undergo rigorous training and verification to become one of them. Even if they are captured and tortured, they will not tell the truth, so hiding my feelings will not be difficult.”

“hmm…….”

“Of course, as I said, this is all speculation. Who knows? Maybe something really busy has come up for Delak.”

“… … .”

Karen, who was dressed as a groom, but was actually one of Hatem’s confidants, thought.

Even though he added that, Hatem seemed certain that something had happened to the Iron Blood.

“Sogaju… How was the Friday Fairy Luan?”

“It was quite impressive, but it didn’t seem to be of Delak’s blood. In a different sense than before.”

Even if it’s a transfer, it was only half a year ago.

It was a time when it was called the stain of Badnikker and the only failure of the Iron Blood Company.

For some reason, it felt like a very long time ago to Karen.

“Luan Badnicker. Do you need surveillance?”

“Arthur. That is a beast that will become a monster in the future. It will be impossible to find a rival among the Youngbloods.”

“Is that it?”

“In terms of talent, the only one who can compare is the disciple of the Blue Mage, Coralis, but when you add in his practical experience, even that is incomparable.”

“… … .”

Karen was slightly surprised.

Because Hatem had never given such a generous evaluation to anyone before.

Even Barter, the eldest son of Goodspring and a brilliant performer, was like that.

‘No. There is one.’

Iron-blooded.

Although he was the man Hatem hated the most, paradoxically, it was also Hatem who recognized and valued him the most in this empire.

“Would you like to return to your hometown?”

“Yeah. Oh, and.”

Hatem pulled out the name buried in his memory and asked Karen.

“… Where is Seren Goodspring now?”

***

After Hatem left, I was left alone. I sighed in relief, but I also had to suffer from a nagging headache.

When people do things they aren’t used to, they tend to get sick, and that’s exactly what I was in right now.

A fight over each other’s interests… … . They did something that was not in their fate.

It felt like I had once again confirmed that being a host wasn’t for me.

It’s fun to fight in a back-and-forth fight, but this kind of political confrontation where you hide your true colors is not for me at all.

A situation where you gain benefits but still feel frustrated and tired.

As I was nervously gulping down water from the kettle, the door opened and Assad came in.

“Thank you for your hard work. How did it go?”

I replied, wiping the corner of my mouth.

“… It seems like things have been resolved fairly well.”

He then told Assad a summary of the conversation he had had with Hatem.

Assad, who had not been expecting much, looked surprised as I continued to speak.

“No, if you had told me from the beginning that the place where the joint mission was carried out was the Jewel Mountains, the story might have developed much more favorably.”

“Aha. So you were the one who brought the map of the Jewel Mountains back then?”

“… I explained it to the elders at the time, but you didn’t know?”

“I’m an honorary member. I have most of the rights of a senior member, but I’m definitely not a senior member.”

That looks like a really convenient seat.

“And maybe the reason you were able to land a big hit on Hatem was because you looked flustered at first.”

“yes?”

“Let’s say you knew from the beginning that the mission location was the Jewel Mountains. If you had tried to lead the conversation in that direction, wouldn’t Hatem have responded differently? He’s a guy who’s good at reading others’ reactions.”

“hmm…….”

I wouldn’t have believed it before meeting him in person, but the Hatem I actually met was that kind of person.

Was I born with a snout?

“What else did you talk about?”

“What was it? He said he would take care of regional redistribution, supply supplies, and reporting to the imperial family.”

“… … .”

“Why is your expression like that?”

“As expected, he’s not a man you can take lightly.”

Assad clicked his tongue and looked at me.

“It may seem like a small thing, but reporting to the Imperial Court is a pretty important part. At least the Empire will understand that it was Goodspring, not Badnicker, who led the joint mission. They will also be able to decide how to package the mission.”

“ah.”

Only then did I realize my mistake.

Should I say that he is a man who looks like he has boiled and eaten hundreds of snakes?

He seemed pessimistic as if everything was over, but it seems like his true feelings were different.

“There’s no need to be discouraged. The opponent is Hatem Goodspring. Even Delak has suffered losses more often than not when dealing with him. It’s great that you’ve just gained an advantage. The Council of Elders will also look upon you with favor.”

“… Thank you very much.”

I expressed my gratitude in a curt tone.

And then he asked Assad, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, first.

“So what happened to your father?”

I expected a hopeful answer like, “Miraculously, he quickly regained his memory,” but Assad shook his head firmly.

“It’s still the same. I explained the situation, but it’ll take some more time to accept everything.”

Of course so.

From the Iron Blood’s perspective, it’s like closing your eyes and opening them only to find yourself in a world several decades into the future.

Even if Iron Blood is a monster-like character, it is difficult to accept all of those situations at once.

Even more so if you were a young Iron Blooded Man.

“…What happens next?”

“First of all, we’re going to have a meeting of the elders this evening. We’ll come up with a solution there.”

“… … .”

“One thing is certain, all of us in the family, including myself, will spare no effort in fixing Delak. However, we must be prepared for any eventuality.”

“A one in a million situation?”

“Yes. For now, I have regained consciousness, my life is not in danger, and there are no aftereffects to my body, so right now… … .”

“… … ?”

Assad glanced at me for a moment and then closed his mouth.

“No. Let’s talk about that later.”

“… … ? Well, it’s good for now.”

I asked.

“Where is your father now?”

***

The moment I headed towards the room where the Iron Blood Knight was staying, the room opened roughly and Hector appeared.

“older brother?”

“… … .”

Hector passed me by with a red face even though he saw me.

Crack.

His jaw muscles were so clenched that it looked painful because he had clenched his molars so hard. It was the first time he had seen Hector like that, so he was secretly embarrassed.

“Why are you like that?”

I was going to chase after him and ask, but it seemed strangely not the time, so I went inside.

The Iron Blooded Man sitting on the bed… Delak had a half-souled look on his face.

He was just blankly staring at me and our eyes met.

“… … .”

“… … .”

It’s getting awkward again.

Well, it would have been awkward even if I was in my right mind, but now the awkwardness feels different.

I came to my own conclusion about this man, but Delak backed away again as if to laugh at me.

“Luan Badnicker.”

“… … .”

“Right?”

I nodded, not knowing how to respond.

Then Delak smiled faintly.

“It’s easy to recognize him because he’s the only one with a different hair color. I’ve definitely heard that he’s the youngest… but strangely, I don’t really get that feeling. He actually feels more mature than the two people I saw before.”

“… … .”

At this moment, my complexion probably hardened as well.

As I clenched my fist without realizing it, I could fully imagine the feelings Hector had just felt when he ran away.

‘… This is definitely going to be hard to endure.’

A past appearance seen at the academy.

The true feelings written in the letter.

The expression I saw on the cliff.

Even I, who probably knows the various aspects of the man named Iron Blood the best, had a hard time holding back a sigh.

For Hector, who had revered her beyond respect, it would be difficult to accept that sight.

“father.”

“huh?”

“… … .”

I called, but I didn’t really have anything to say.

I was in a situation where I didn’t know what to say.

Sensing my confusion, Delak spoke again.

“I heard the whole situation from Assad… no, from Assad.”

“… … .”

“First of all, I want to tell you that you don’t have to worry. Everything will return to normal soon.”

“Does that mean I can regain my memories?”

Then Delak slowly shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

“sure.”

“Whether or not you regain your memories, your skills will recover in no time. I heard that Badnikker said that this is the most important time. Then, it is not the time for me to be hesitating on my sickbed either.”

“… … .”

As we talked, I felt an indescribable sense of discomfort.

How should I express this feeling?

The fog in my head, the thorn in my throat, the lead on my chest… … maybe it was all of that.

I don’t know.

I don’t know, but some things are clear.

The Iron Blooded of these times… Delak Badniker is not good at hiding himself.

“You’re lying, right?”

“what?”

“Or maybe you’re hiding something.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Delak asked back in a puzzled tone, but I did not take this feeling as a groundless hunch or guess.

It was for a simple reason.

Delak wasn’t making eye contact with me.

At that moment, a possibility flashed through my mind.

‘…no way.’

I opened my mouth, even though I thought it was nonsense.

“father.”

“huh?”

“I’m not really your son.”

“what?”

I wonder if he dismissed it as a joke.

Delak, who was slightly flustered, looked at my features the next moment and his face became serious again.

And then he looked at me quietly, as if trying to determine the truth of my words.

“… … .”

When I saw that sight, I felt my spirits drop.

Now, Delak will have a hard time accepting my nonsense as nonsense.

That’s how different my appearance was from Delak.

This is even more so when compared to Hector who stopped by earlier. To begin with, except for me, everyone else has dull hair color.

So, what I’m trying to say is… … .

… Originally, at a moment like this, Delak would have used his protection.

Since it is before receiving the blessing, you may not know about the blessing you possess?

No, it is not.

My damn guardian is a bit special, usually you can accurately determine the utility of a guardian just by owning it.

but…….

Now Delak did not even use the simplest of precautions to determine the truth of my words.

Protection of truth.

Because of the protection Delak had, I was especially careful with my words in front of this man and in Badnicker.

“father.”

“… … .”

“Could it be that Gaho has disappeared?”

Delak was silent, but that silence soon became the answer.

And this time I couldn’t hold it in any longer and let out a sigh from the depths of my heart.