Chapter 90: Damn it, Can I Have Money Instead...?

"Failure..."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Only the sound of Lenok Aslan's fingers tapping the armrest of his chair echoed in the quiet room.

Blond hair and blue eyes, common in the northern part of the continent where the Iron Kingdom was located.

But the sculpture-like face and indifferent expression sculpted those common features into a cold, icy atmosphere.

Then, a moment later.

The eyebrows on his expressionless face twitched slightly.

"Did I give such an unreasonable order?

Or, were the family's 'daggers', which I thought were comparable to the royal family's shadow, actually subpar?"

The moment a voice mixed with slight annoyance emerged.

The masked man prostrated before him slammed his head on the floor.

Thump.

"I ask for punishment."

"Punishment... Yes, of course, the crime must be punished. But before that, we must be clear about the reason, right? Recite it."

As soon as the nervous voice echoed again.

"Based on the information that the target, a 3-Star knight, was also using an artifact, we deployed 'Lauel' in addition to two dagger squads."

The answer followed as if he had been waiting.

A voice more emotionless and monotonous than his master's.

"Lauel?"

"Yes. That is correct."

"So you're saying you failed even after mobilizing two dagger squads and Lauel to deal with a single 3-Star knight?

Does that even make sense!?"

Thump.

As Lenok's brow furrowed and he slammed his hand down, the armrest of the chair made of northern ironwood crumbled.

A murderous aura surged, pressing down on the prostrated masked man.

But the voice of the masked man delivering the report continued without a tremor.

"...Originally, it was assessed internally that one squad and Lauel would be more than enough."

"I know what that bastard did in Ruble, and that's all you thought was necessary?"

"The power of the anti-magic artifact is certainly great, but his other capabilities were assessed to be only slightly exceptional among 3-Star knights."

"Hmph. Is that why the result is this pathetic?"

"The target was hiding a special power other than what was known."

"A special power?"

"In addition to the previously known artifact armor and chains, he reportedly used a power that appeared to be Spirit Arts."

"What?"

"It is presumed to be a metal-specialized Spirit Arts.

Lauel's arrows all missed, even at close range.

As if their trajectory was bent by some kind of power. Above all, Lauel confirmed that the bastard was chasing her by following the arrows.

That was the only metal she had."

"Hah..."

At those words, a sigh of disbelief escaped Lenok's lips.

Then.

"So, you're telling me that bastard, who is only sixteen, is a 3-Star Corporeal Arts user and also a Spirit Master?

Did I hear that correctly?

Is he some kind of hero from a myth!?"

Thump.

The utterly absurd report finally made his anger explode.

But the masked man, prostrated quietly on the floor, did not even flinch.

Soon, seeing the state of his subordinate, Lenok's face began to freeze over again.

"So it's true. Hmph... That young brat is that much of a monster... How absurd."

"Based on the new information, we will prepare a trap outside the capital. He will not escape this time."

The monotonous voice suggested a countermeasure for the mistake.

But the only answer that came back was the sound of fingers tapping the broken armrest.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Then, a short while later.

"No, forget it.

For the time being, we must not touch that bastard.

Do not act until further orders are given."

A voice mixed with a faint annoyance gave an unexpected command.

"Pardon?"

"Do not underestimate the royal family.

Even if we left no evidence, they will be suspicious.

We must not give them a pretext."

At those words, the masked man flinched noticeably.

As the subordinate who should have repeated the order remained silent, Lenok's eyes, sensing something strange, grew fierce.

At that moment.

"...Lauel reportedly showed her face to the target."

At the masked man's belated reply, Lenok's eyebrows twitched again.

"What!?"

"In the heat of the battle, her mask was cut..."

Thump.

"You're doing all sorts of things, really! You pathetic things!!"

Lenok Aslan's composure crumbled at that report.

"Is there another skinny half-black wench in this northern region besides her!?

You're doing pathetic things to ruin the family...!"

Lenok, whose anger had reached the top of his head, shouted, then, realizing his own unseemly behavior, gritted his teeth and sat back down.

After forcibly suppressing his anger.

"...Tell that wench to finish it."

"Pardon?"

"Tell her to finish it, whether she succeeds in killing the bastard on her own or fails and dies!

And even if she succeeds, I will not allow her to return."

"...Are you abandoning Lauel?

She is a rare 4-Star Corporeal Arts user specialized in the bow, Your Excellency.

No one in the family can match her in assassination by sniping."

The masked man strongly argued for her necessity.

"If we give the royal family a pretext, the family will be in danger! Abandon her!"

"...I understand."

"Pathetic things.

You couldn't even deal with a single insignificant bastard who insulted my moron son, and now this loss..."

"I apologize, Your Excellency."

He had no choice but to answer with resignation in the end, and Lenok also gave up his lingering attachment at that moment.

"Enough.

That aside, what about the servants of the devil who have spread within the family?"

Aslan, who had denied the existence of magicians in the conflict with Trian.

But that was just a claim to maintain their justification in a fight between families; they didn't actually think so.

Aslan was not a fool, so they couldn't help but be aware of the tails of the magicians who had entered their midst.

"We are keeping a close eye on the targets that Collid mainly contacted.

When the royal family's method, which has proven its effectiveness in this contest, is distributed, we will be able to confirm and deal with them immediately."

"How many of them are direct descendants?"

"We have also investigated the aides of the young masters, but it has not been confirmed whether they are directly involved."

"The first and second are not so foolish.

Tidy up their surroundings for sure.

I'll say it again, don't give the royal family a pretext... Ah!"

Lenok, who had been speaking with annoyance, suddenly smiled faintly, as if a good idea had come to him.

"...We can just get rid of them along with that wench at this opportunity."

"Pardon?"

"According to the Queen, an investigation will begin as soon as the Founding Day party ends and the contest of intellect is over.

We need to sort out the suspicious ones before then.

We'll deal with that Drasen country bumpkin and those who have soiled Aslan with filth all at once."

There was not a hint of hesitation in Lenok's words as he said to kill all of them, even those who were not certain to be the tails of the magicians.

"In that case..."

"The Founding Day party would be about right.

Put her in the mission to deal with that bastard then, along with them.

Since he'll be on the 3rd Prince's side, we can ruin the 3rd Prince's party as well, which is perfect.

Ah, it would be best to make the official announcement right before that."

"By official announcement, you mean..."

"Even if the servants of the devil, who were caught trying to pull tricks in Aslan and ran away, attack the country bumpkin from Drasen, that has nothing to do with us. Right?"

"...Your will shall be done."

"Good."

Lenok finally regained his usual composure and showed a smile again.

* **

- His Majesty, the King, is entering!!

Grrrr.

As the side door of the Great Hall's throne was opened with a thunderous roar.

The king, dressed in his usual excessively splendid artifact clothing (?), appeared from beyond.

At that.

"We greet the Master of Steel!"

Thump.

The many ministers and nobles in the Great Hall simultaneously paid their respects to the king.

Their gazes alternated between the king entering the Great Hall and the three knights kneeling in the center.

Among them, the knight in black armor in the middle received the most attention.

'Ugh, damn...'

The person in question, however, had a hardened expression, feeling like a monkey in a zoo.

- Since the subjugation was announced in advance, everyone expected that only the remnants would be left.

- But no one knew that the number of those magician remnants would exceed 100.

- Well, thanks to someone who made a huge mess while crossing the capital in a very conspicuous way, the citizens were in an uproar.

And thanks to that, the royal family also became noisy.

- So... a hero became necessary. To turn the attention in a positive way.

'But I just feel uneasy...'

It was nice to be wearing armor instead of formal wear, but since that was also to attract the attention of the ministers and nobles, it wasn't entirely comfortable.

Muno's gaze flickered towards the blond-haired middle-aged man in the center of the ministers.

'Lenok Aslan...'

The one suspected to be behind those assassins, especially the impressive black female archer.

His smiling face as he looked at me was particularly annoying.

And then.

"Good. I trust everyone is already aware of the achievements our kingdom's heroes accomplished yesterday."

The gallant king, as expected, got straight to the point as soon as he sat down.

"Thankfully, the temple also cooperated actively, and the Silver Knight here, as their representative, has eradicated over 20 servants of evil. And..."

The king's gaze passed the slender Holy Knight and landed on Anthony.

However, the statement that followed was unexpected.

"The Blood Knight's 'distinction method' is selective, but it has proven its usefulness by eradicating over 40 servants of the devil.

Therefore, I will give bonus points in the contest of intellect to the 3rd Prince, Christopher, who developed that method."

"Ah...!?"

At those words, gasps escaped from among the ministers, and the sound of murmuring began to grow louder.

'Hul...'

Muno also let out a hollow laugh as he confirmed that Orlando, who was present in place of the 3rd Prince, was smiling.

'So they had a way even if I didn't join them after all.'

Just when he thought he finally understood the confidence of Prince Christopher and Grand Princess Roanna.

As the king, who had been quietly watching the assembly, gestured with his hand, the knights in red armor standing beside him struck the floor.

"Quiet, quiet!"

Thump. Thump.

The Great Hall, which had become noisy, quieted down in an instant.

And in it, a declaration that no one had expected followed.

"And the new sanctity that has risen in our kingdom, the Black Knight, has eradicated nearly 50 servants of evil with a method more efficient than the wisdom that the temple and the royal family have put their heads together to devise.

Therefore, I, with a joyful heart, will grant the heroes of today the right to have one of the treasures in the royal treasury!"

Huh?

"Of course, the grade will vary according to the rank."

This is...?

"Isn't that too excessive..."

"He's bestowing an artifact?"

"It might not necessarily be an artifact. Spirits are selective..."

"Hey, you. Do you think those three over there wouldn't be chosen by the spirits?"

The sound of small whispers began to spread through the Great Hall.

Of course, they were only voices soft enough to be heard by those with good hearing.

It was a scene that clearly showed the power difference between the Iron royal family and the nobles.

But that wasn't what was important right now.

'What a windfall.'

Muno's mouth, upon hearing the king's announcement, was on the verge of splitting from ear to ear.

The uneasy feeling from before had vanished without a trace.

So what if he was a monkey in a zoo. The reward was a whopping artifact.

'Well, what's good is good...'

As a pleased feeling filled his chest.

"However, Your Majesty, from the perspective of one who follows God, possessing an excessive treasure goes against the law.

I request that you replace that great grace with a stipend from the temple."

The Silver Knight, Ellorang, spoke words that poured cold water on his heart.

To be precise, he had reminded him of one fact he had forgotten.

"Oh, Silver Knight. I fully understand your faith. I shall do as you wish."

And watching the king's willingness to accept his wishes.

The threat (?) of the commander of the Steel Knightly Order, Paren Glut, echoed in Muno's head.

- 10,000 gold.

- Either you tell His Majesty, or we bill Drasen?

- If you're scared, join us.

The voice that the fierce face had spat out was re-edited and weighed down his excited heart.

Before the king who was bestowing a whopping artifact.

How could he ask, 'Can I have money too?'

'Damn it...'

Muno had no choice but to bite his unwilling lips and force them to move.

"Your Majesty... Can't I, have it in money, please...?"

The gazes of the Great Hall focused on the voice that had crawled out with his eyes squeezed shut.