The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 15



Only Krnovel

Episode 15 4. The Wretched Man of Cheonghae Castle (4)

7.

On the train heading to the Barondom of Belus.

Rohan looked at the woman in front of him with a very stiff expression.

On the outside, she was a young and beautiful woman. However, Rohan knew that her youth was actually a sign of the level the woman before him had reached.

Sabina Reston.

One of the living legends of the Duke of Reston.

A hero who entered the palace together and established justice during the dark times when the evil emperor ruled the empire.

That’s why dealing with her was bound to be somewhat difficult.

But Sabina, whether Rohan thinks so or not.

“You must not have mercy in your hands. Real combat is different from duels or sparring. If you don’t kill, you die. Leo, do you understand?”

“Sabina. This is your first time with Caron too… … .”

“Caron is a man who would sell you to survive. That’s why he cares about you.”

“As expected, you are my teacher. You know me so well, don’t you?”

“Master! That’s very nice to hear. It’s much nicer to hear than the stale titles like “Great-aunt.” Yes, during this mission, let’s call each other Master and Disciple instead of family.”

He was giving passionate advice to his grandchildren.

Of course, most of the advice was focused on Leo.

“Caron, do you have a plan?”

Rohan listened with bated breath to her question.

I’ve heard a lot of rumors that the boy in front of me is a genius.

Wouldn’t that boy come up with a clever plan to save Yeongji in one go?

But the answer from Charon was enough to disappoint Rohan.

“Not yet.”

“To accomplish a mission, you need more than just force. You also need a variety of abilities, such as perfect planning and the ability to make decisions in response to variables.”

Not everything can be solved by force alone.

Especially in an external environment filled with numerous variables, improvisation is as important as force.

The success rate of the Blue Wolves’ first mission is not very high.

It’s not that they lack strength, but rather that their ability to respond to variables is significantly reduced.

How could those who only trained in swordsmanship on Haerangdo Island have any social experience?

You can tell just by looking at it.

Leo, that guy.

“… … Wow. But trains are really amazing. Caron. Aren’t you amazed?”

“Have you ever ridden a train, brother?”

“No… … . There must be something I need to do outside of Cheonghae Castle. Ever since I was little, I only learned about swordsmanship from my father.”

“But you’re worse at using a sword than me.”

“This is really too much.”

I was watching the scenery passing by quickly outside the window with my eyes wide open.

‘If you leave it in a rough place, it will peel off in less than a day.’

Of course, that is also your own responsibility.

Sabina wanted to use this opportunity to test the two eldest grandsons’ ability to improvise.

Are the ones she has raised and cared for really worthy of being released into the world, or are they still lacking?

It was a good opportunity to check it out.

“Baron Belus.”

“Yes, White Empress.”

“… … Just call me Sabina.”

“Understood, Sabina.”

“It must be kept secret that I am going with our dear grandsons. You know why, don’t you?”

“of course.”

Rohan nodded immediately.

The moment word spreads that Sabina has arrived in the Baronial domain of Belus, the bandits who have settled in his territory will disappear without a trace.

There are few beings in the current empire who can handle her. No, there are probably only a few if you search the entire continent.

To deal with a knight who has reached the pinnacle of 8 stars, you need to bring your best division, not bandits. And even then, you need to bring weapons that can be used on standby.

Rohan didn’t want the bandits to escape.

He wanted to repay the suffering his father had endured, the suffering of the people of Yeongji.

“It was a secret of Cheonghae Castle that I was there. If you want to blame the bandits, don’t make a mistake yourself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Sabina. But Sabina, can I ask you something?”

“Make yourself comfortable.”

Rohan continued speaking as he looked around the train carriages.

“This train is heading straight to the Barondom of Belus. If you get off at the Barondom with us, there’s no way that rumors won’t spread… … .”

“Well, I have a way of thinking about that.”

It’s a method.

Rohan thought that someone as strong as Sabina would have enough stealth artifacts.

She must have connections with the great wizards too.

If it were the treasure vault of Cheonghae Castle, which has countless treasures, it would be more than enough to store artifacts of that level.

“Your Highness?”

As Rohan nodded, lost in thought, Caron opened his mouth.

“You can just go and listen to the briefing anyway, but have you confirmed the location of the bandits’ base?”

At those words, Rohan bowed his head and answered.

“……sorry.”

“You said you carried out a punitive expedition once.”

“We were stuck at the entrance to the mountain without even finding our base.”

“… … That kind of thing.”

There is no information.

The terrain of the Baron Belus is known for its rugged terrain, so you have to visit each and every bandit’s stronghold.

‘It’s become annoying.’

Caron shrugged, clicking his tongue.

I had thought that the military power of the territory could be this poor, but considering the state of the Barondom of Belus that I had heard from my father, it was entirely possible.

‘Okay, it’s okay.’

If there’s no information, just dig it up.

Charon smiled as he fiddled with the handle of the guillotine that lay neatly beside him.

“But I have something else in mind.”

“What is it?”

“There are quite a few traitors within the castle. We can use them.”

Rohan said with a bitter smile.

At those words, Caron nodded slowly.

“That’s a good idea.”

As time passed and passed, an announcement rang out inside the train.

-You will arrive at Baron Belus in 20 minutes.

“It’s time.”

As soon as she heard the driver’s voice, Sabina slowly got up from her seat.

“I, Sabina.”

“Why do you call, Baron?”

“There are still 20 minutes left until arrival.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Sabina continued speaking in a solemn voice, looking down at Leo and Caron.

“The first mission must be completed solely by your own strength. As I promised you before we set out, I will not step forward unless it is a situation where you will die. I will just watch from a distance.”

“yes!”

“……yes.”

“It’s nice to hear a brave answer.”

She walked slowly to the window and opened it.

A strong wind came in through the window.

“I’ll be waiting.”

With those words, Sabina climbed out the window and jumped off the moving train.

And after a while, Rohan, who was watching this shocking scene right before his eyes, jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“Yes, Sabina!”

I never dreamed that the method she had been thinking of earlier would be ‘opening the train window and jumping out.’

If it had been someone else, it would have been shocking and surprising, but the two boys in front of me were calm.

Rohan asked them in a trembling voice.

“Are you two… … okay?”

Then, Charon opened his eyes wide and asked back.

“What?”

“Just now… … Sabina looked out the train window… … .”

“So what about that?”

“……yes?”

“As expected, she’s my great-aunt. She really is hot-tempered. How did you come up with the idea of ​​jumping off the train? You’re learning another trick, Leo. Let’s try it together later.”

“Please… … . You do that a lot… … . Don’t involve me in that kind of thing. Okay? Please, cousin.”

“Good things should be shared. Isn’t that right, Baron?”

Rohan was speechless for a long time at the boy’s question.

… … Can these boys really save Yeongji?

It felt like the future of Yeongji was becoming bleak.

8.

The train arrived at the station.

Caron and Leo got off the train with Rohan.

“… … What is that smell?”

As soon as he got off at the station, Leo frowned and covered his nose.

That was understandable, because a disgusting smell was coming from all directions.

The stench from the garbage piled up everywhere.

Usually, a train station is the face of a territory, but this one was not even properly managed.

Unlike Charon, who was used to this smell thanks to his past life experiences, Leo needed an adjustment period.

Rohan said with a bitter expression at Leo’s reaction.

“I apologize. Most of the people who can fight in the territory have been mobilized… … . The management of the territory is inadequate. I ask for your understanding.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Caron.”

“Do you have extra food and water?”

Rohan nodded at Caron’s sudden question.

“We can hold out for two weeks. The railroad is still intact, and my father has stockpiled food in Yeongju Castle in case of an emergency. The people of Yeongji are currently holding out with that food. We have also dug a well in Yeongju Castle to get water.”

“You’re a good lord. Normally, in a situation like this, you’d just run away.”

“My father is a good man.”

In fact, most lords would consider their own safety more important than the lives of their subjects.

A truly desperate situation, with many of the troops injured as the expedition failed.

If the situation in the territory had reached this point, it would have been possible to escape to a neighboring territory and wait for a later date.

Nevertheless, Baron Belus remained in the castle.

Just from that alone, you could tell how much he loved this place.

‘But it was too complacent.’

I understand how much the lord cares for his territory and its people. However, objectively speaking, he has failed to fulfill his duties.

But I had no intention of criticizing him harshly.

‘Because it was a territory with weak economic power to begin with.’

In order for a territory like this to increase its military power, it must squeeze the people of the territory. And since Baron Belus was the type of person who couldn’t do that, this is how it ended up.

Of course, blaming someone wouldn’t make a difference.

In the first place, the bad guys are bandits.

Rather than arguing about who did well and who did not, the situation will end if we just sort out those bandits.

“I couldn’t prepare a special welcoming party because I kept the fact that I visited Cheonghae Castle a secret. I’m sorry.”

“We’re not so foolish as to expect a welcoming crowd at a funeral.”

“… … Thank you for your understanding. Then, I will invite you to Yeongju Castle.”

Follow him through the streets of Barondom.

A gloomy atmosphere.

People walking down the street with dark faces.

Even though an outsider had arrived, they didn’t even glance at him. They all just went their separate ways with their shoulders hunched.

In this place that seemed to have lost its color, there was no hope to be found.

“Caron.”

While walking quietly down the street, Leo cautiously called out to Charon.

“huh?”

“We really grew up happily.”

Leo seemed to have a change of heart just from seeing this place.

Caron smiled faintly as he looked at his handsome cousin.

“You know that now, bro? It’s hell outside.”

“This is your first time outside the dukedom, too.”

“Then you should read a book. If you read a book, you will get better.”

This guy was the type of guy who would curse at his parents for no reason when he first came into the mansion.

But now he has developed some empathy and is growing into a great man who lives a good life.

If he continued to grow like this, it seemed like he would become a famous master who would make Mangnani shine.

“My brother, you’re all grown up now. I’m proud.”

“What are you talking about? You’re younger than me.”

As expected, fists were a very effective means of rehabilitation.

Although it still needs some tweaking, I am very satisfied with Leo’s transformation even considering that.

“Don’t worry, brother. Everything will be okay.”

Charon patted Leo’s back, whose expression was clearly tense, and then lightly gripped the handle of the guillotine hanging from his waist.

Woohoo.

The guillotine has been reacting little by little since a while ago.

I’m not sure what the hell this crazy sword was reacting to, but one thing was certain.

The time is approaching when this sword will be stained with blood for the first time.

‘… … What kind of sword is that?’

Rohan shuddered slightly as he looked down at Charon, who was fiddling with the guillotine.

I felt it from the train, but just looking at that black thing makes me feel scared.

So he shook his head slightly, tried to shake off his fear, and spoke in as calm a voice as possible.

“Im here.”

Charon raised his head and looked at the castle of the Baron Belus.

A castle that is so small that it cannot even be compared to Cheonghae Castle.

This castle, so small as to be unsettling, seemed to speak volumes about the state of the Barony of Belus.

“First, take a rest and then… … .”

“no.”

Caron cut off Rohan’s words and looked at him quietly. Then he spoke in a low voice.

“I will see Baron Belus right away.”

There was no reason to waste time unnecessarily.

If they had received information that the Duke of Reston was getting involved, they would have run away without hesitation. In other words, the mission would have been a failure.

So from now on, it’s a race against time.

“There’s no need to drag it out, right?”

“Then I will guide you to your father right away.”

Charon had no intention of failing this mission, nor of dragging it out.

Quick and easy.

That’s the crux of this mission.

which.

“Let’s deal with it quickly before strange bugs swarm the trash.”

It was a field he had been confident in since his previous life.

Caron clenched his fists lightly and walked into the castle.

There’s a mad dog living in the duke’s house