The involvement of a black mage. This news spread quickly.
“Hah… a black mage, you say.”
“Those wretched things, they truly never disappear.”
“To target the Count’s daughter at this juncture, it must mean…”
“Hmm, it surely is not unrelated to the bandits on Mount Phils.”
“Hmm, so that’s why the previous subjugation force was wiped out. A black mage…”
The Eastern nobles, gathered for a meeting before their departure, stirred with unease. When they had agreed to join this subjugation, they had approached the matter without the slightest tension. In truth, nearly all the Eastern nobles had assembled at the command of Count Parmas.
With such a force, it was impossible that they would fail to subjugate a mere group of bandits. So, the subjugation was a side benefit; their real goal was to achieve greater merit than the others, catch the eye of Count Parmas, and bring fame to their families.
These were men who would normally squabble over who would lead the vanguard, but now, they were already thinking of slinking to the back. The name ‘black mage’ was just that threatening. Count Parmas looked at the intimidated nobles, inwardly displeased.
‘A noble’s duty is to fight and protect. If they are too afraid to fulfill that duty, they might as well die.’
To Count Parmas, anyone who only enjoyed their rights without fulfilling their duties could not be called a noble, no matter how noble their blood. They were no different from disgusting pigs. However, not everyone was cowering and backing down.
There were also those who saw this crisis as an opportunity and actively stepped forward. One robust man came forth and spoke.
“My Lord Count. Please allow our House of Haspir to stand at the vanguard.”
“Oh? You will?”
“Yes, that is correct. Our family will be the first to ascend Mount Phils.”
The Count smiled at Baron Haspir’s words. Then, another man stepped out from the side and spoke.
“No. Please entrust it to our House of Freis. I will personally lead the charge.”
“Oho, Viscount Freis. Yes. I knew you would step forward.”
Though he was older now, Viscount Freis had once been renowned throughout the eastern territory for his valor. Count Parmas, remembering the man’s younger days, gave a pleased smile. And then, another family stepped forward.
“Our House of Bison has a four-star knight. If you entrust this to us, you will not regret it.”
“Hahahaha. Excellent. Truly excellent.”
While others were backing away, they volunteered for the vanguard and stepped forward. Count Parmas showed them a benevolent smile and said, “There is surely a black mage behind the bandits of Mount Phils. And still, you would lead the charge?”
“Of course.”
“Naturally.”
“Just leave it to us.”
Count Parmas smiled as he watched them answer without hesitation.
“Yes. That is what it means to be a noble of our eastern territory. You are truly paragons of the nobility.”
The Eastern nobles, who governed the harshest of lands, traditionally held strength and bravery as virtues. Count Parmas gladly accepted the three families who had volunteered to lead the vanguard. Even if they failed to achieve any merit, they had already made an impression on the Count at this very moment.
“Very well. I will entrust the vanguard to your three families. Lead the way up Mount Phils and defeat the bandits.”
“Yes, sir!”
Watching the three nobles answer with vigor seemed to ease his worries. But on the other hand, there was a sense of disappointment.
‘Is he not going to step forward?’
Count Parmas’s gaze was fixed on Baron Schneider. Having seen Patrick’s skill firsthand, it would have been reasonable for him to be greedy for the vanguard position, yet Baron Schneider remained in the back, observing a silent vigil. He did not seem particularly frightened, but he held back as if it was not his place to step forward.
‘Well, no matter how strong Young Lord Patrick is, it must be difficult without the support of knights to back him up.’
According to the reports, there was not a single knight among the forces Baron Schneider had brought. Even if Patrick was a genius with the sword, he was still only fifteen. It would be a heavy burden to stand in the vanguard relying solely on his son’s talent, without any seasoned knights.
‘Still, if he himself were here, he might have stepped forward out of youthful vigor. It is a shame.’
Just as Count Parmas lamented, Patrick was not present. Right now, Patrick was…
“This is tea brought directly from the capital. Please, have some.”
“…I prefer alcohol to tea.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Patrick could not attend the meeting. It was because he had been summoned by Marianne, Count Parmas’s daughter.
‘Why did she call me?’
He wondered, but he could not refuse a summons from the Count’s daughter. When Patrick arrived, Marianne personally brewed tea, served cookies, and spoke.
“Thank you for saving me before.”
“It was nothing.”
“How could it be? If the young master had not saved me, I might have died then.”
That was true. In any case, there was nothing wrong with her expressing her gratitude. Tea had not been to his taste in his past life, but perhaps the tea of this new world he was reborn into would suit his palate?
“I will drink it well.”
Patrick took a sip of the tea before him.
And then…
‘Yup, tea is not for me in this life either.’
It seems a person's tastes don't change even if they die and are reborn. He still couldn't understand why people spent so much money to buy and drink this bitter water that couldn't even get you drunk.
“How is it?”
“It’s bitter.”
“Oh my. Such a concise yet accurate expression. It's a bit profound.”
What was so profound about calling something bitter, bitter… Above all, Patrick was a man who, since his past life, had absolutely no connection to anything profound. Even to the Shaolin Abbot’s sermon…
[Is this damn monk asking for a lighter beating by spouting nonsense?]
To the Wudang Sect Leader’s lengthy speech…
[This phony, long-nosed bastard is asking to die. Get over here. Present your head!]
And to the Emei Sect’s matriarch’s explanation…
[Has this old hag gone senile? Who does she think she's fooling? Selling snake oil!]
Perhaps this man was the very reason the Twin Dragon Sect was on the Nine Great Sects' bad side… In any case, there was no way a man like that would suddenly develop a sense of profundity just because he died and was reborn. Patrick drank the tea in one go, stood up, and said, “The tea was good.
I must be going now, as there is a military council meeting.”
“W-wait a moment.”
“Is there something else you need?”
At Patrick’s blunt response, Marianne said in a small voice, “Young master… do you, by any chance, have a fiancée chosen by your family?”
“I do not.”
There was a young lady his mother had in mind, but it was not a formal engagement.
“I see. And you said you will be an adult next year, correct?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“I see. Um… what do you think of older women?”
“…Pardon?”
“Older women. Not by much, say five years older. What do you think of a woman who is also very smart and capable?”
If one couldn’t understand the situation after hearing this much, they were a fool. Patrick thought to himself.
‘Honestly, this popularity of mine…’
It might be surprising, but in his past life, Radiant Dragon Grandmaster Jin Cheon had been the subject of quite a few romance rumors throughout the martial world. After he made a name for himself, matchmakers visited the threshold of the Twin Dragon Sect daily.
Putting his personality aside and judging solely by his abilities, Radiant Dragon Grandmaster Jin Cheon was a very desirable groom. How could he not be, when he single-handedly made a third-rate sect on the verge of collapse famous enough that no one in the martial world was unaware of it?
Wouldn't it be wonderful to bring him in as a son-in-law and have him use those abilities for our sake? It was a fantasy worth indulging in once or twice. Of course, most of the people who thought that way had never personally experienced Radiant Dragon Grandmaster Jin Cheon.
In any case, before he met his wife and got married, Patrick had played the field quite a bit in the martial world. His senses hadn't dulled so much that he couldn't recognize the fervent gaze Marianne was giving him now.
However…
‘Sorry. Girls who stuff cotton balls in their chests aren't my type.’
That's right.
Patrick saw through Marianne's deception at a glance. He wasn't sure how she did it, but with that bone structure, those curves were impossible. It was anatomically impossible.
And the curves themselves were subtly unnatural. They were undoubtedly created by stuffing a great deal of artificial material.
‘Truly amazing. Even those in the martial world who research body modification arts couldn’t create such natural body curves.’
Patrick couldn't take his eyes off this display of a woman's dedication to beauty.
And…
‘Oh, dear… he’s staring so intensely.’
Marianne squirmed in embarrassment as she watched Patrick, who couldn’t take his eyes off her chest (padding) and even seemed to be admiring it faintly. When other men had sneaked glances at the banquet yesterday, it had only been unpleasant, but Patrick's gaze wasn't unpleasant at all. In fact, she wanted him to look more.
‘Expensive things really are better. It looks completely natural, doesn't it?’
Marianne thought Patrick had fallen head over heels for her. To deliver the final blow, she brought her hand to his arm, caressed it, and said, “If the young master wishes, we could…”
“I apologize, Lady of Count Parmas.”
Patrick thought.
I have to cut it off here. If I don't want a messy situation to arise, I have to nip it in the bud right here. But the problem was…
‘The problem is... these young ladies, raised like precious jade and gold, hold a grudge when they're rejected.’
[That’s so cruel. You played with my pure heart.]
When did I ever?
[If this was how it would be, why did you save me?]
Because you looked like you were about to die.
[I will have my revenge. I will never forget this humiliation and shame.]
What did I even do? It was difficult in many ways. He had simply saved a woman who was kidnapped by bandits, a woman about to be killed by the unorthodox alliance, and a woman who was about to be violated by a lecherous fiend by showing up at just the right time.
Was it not too much to earn their resentment every time? So, over time, he developed a knack for turning down women. First, Patrick bowed his head politely and said in a business-like tone, “I apologize.
But I am afraid that staying with you any longer might cause a misunderstanding with Lord Count Parmas.”
“Uh… yes? That is…”
“I know how much the Count treasures you, and I am concerned about continuing to meet with you any further. Please, I hope you understand.”
“I have received your gratitude and goodwill. I will take my leave now.”
Bowing politely, Patrick inwardly smiled a smile of triumph.
‘How's that? This is my secret move: the 'I can't because I'm scared of your dad' strategy.’
[I love you. But your father, the High Official of Kaifeng, will never approve of us.]
[I love you. But as a mere man of the wilderness, your esteemed father would never permit me to become the son-in-law of the Gold Heaven Merchant Guild.]
[I love you. But…]
Wow, what a piece of trash. In any case, it worked quite well. He later heard that the ladies of those families threw fits and cried to their fathers, but…
‘That’s none of my business.’
Patrick raised his head, maintained his professional demeanor, and said, “Then I shall be on my way.” And without giving her a chance to stop him, Patrick left Marianne’s room.