[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 334: No Respect for the Elderly?

I went to see Zamuel.

“I understand what you mean, Boss.”

Zamuel said with an ambiguous expression.

“If it’s truly difficult to choose either path, I think it’s better to go with the one your heart is more drawn to.”

“The one my heart is drawn to, you say.”

“To be blunt,” Zamuel said, looking me straight in the eye.

“The Boss has always lived doing whatever the hell he wanted, but when it came to matters of great responsibility, you had a tendency to sacrifice yourself.”

“Because that is what responsibility is.”

“But this is, in the end, a personal matter for you, Boss. You should act as you wish without worrying about this and that.”

It was simple but logical, just like Zamuel.

“If our positions were reversed, the Boss I know would have given the same advice.”

I nodded at his words.

“It’s just like you to be you, now as ever.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The second-in-command who assisted this Karzan for so long, the adjutant, the King of the Underworld, the one below one man and above ten thousand. That is you.”

“I heard you reached the 9th-tier and thought you’d have turned into some kind of Taoist sage or immortal, but you seem the same as ever.”

Zamuel snickered.

“I’m relieved, thanks to that. I was a little worried the Boss I knew might disappear.”

“What are you, a child? Worrying about such strange things.”

“During my training this time.”

“Yes.”

“I recovered all of Allenvert’s lost memories.”

“Ah, is that so? How strange.”

“I don’t know if it was a hallucination or what, but I saw Allenvert and Karzan standing there, looking at me at the same time.”

I recalled the moment of my final awakening.

“I took their hands and became one with them. Only then did I truly become Allenvert.”

In other words.

“I came to a new realization. Karzan died, and was reborn as Allenvert.”

Zamuel listened to my story with a serious expression.

“If that’s the case, then it’s right for me to prioritize my current life. Even if I carry the connections and grudges of my past life, I was reminded of the fact that Allenvert’s life comes first.”

“My goodness, what are you even talking about?”

Zamuel shook his head.

“Isn’t that obvious? To think you’ve only just realized it… It’s like a fortune-teller who can’t read their own fortune.”

“I suppose so. I’m sorry about that, to you.”

“What are you sorry about? For me, just seeing you alive again is more than I could ever ask for.”

“What have I ever done for you?”

Feeling momentarily at a loss for words, I shook my head forcefully.

“Must you go this far, Zamuel?”

“You gave me everything. You saved my life, gave me food and a place to sleep, taught me the sword and discipline, and created a place for me.”

Zamuel pointed to his own chest.

“That was enough. Does a man need any more reason to devote his life?”

I smirked.

“I don’t know who taught you, but you sure know a thing or two about romanticism.”

“And you, Boss, didn’t you abandon your home to avenge Daikin, even though you hadn’t received any great favor from him?”

“……Yes, I did.”

I don’t know if it is the soul or memories, or both, that form the essence of a person—

But the essence of the man that is me has not changed at all since then.

“……I will meet Adeline. And when everything is over, I will go to grandfather’s grave and offer him a drink.”

Zamuel nodded and smiled.

“Now that’s more like the Boss. I know you’re overwhelmed by your luck with women, which you don’t deserve, but frankly, it’s been a bit frustrating watching you?”

“Damn it. Try being in my shoes.”

“Heh heh. Not likely to happen.”

Zamuel asked.

“Let’s settle it now. What are you going to do about Lady Siena?”

“……It’s difficult to decide how much I should say.”

To speak of Adeline’s existence, I would inevitably have to talk about my reincarnation and my past life as Karzan.

“Once she hears everything, she will be able to understand your heart.”

“You think so? A love from a past life that couldn’t be… I can’t even imagine it.”

Thinking about it from the opposite perspective, it was true. My head might understand, but my heart would not feel good about it.

“She might feel jealous, and also a sense of powerlessness.”

“For the Boss, you’re being quite considerate.”

“Shut up.”

“Still, you’ll have to tell her eventually. Hearing it after everything is over versus being told even your most intimate secrets are two completely different things.”

In other words.

“This is ultimately a question of how much you think of the Lady. If your own heart is firm, you can eventually resolve anything.”

……Indeed, he was right.

* * *

After two months of training, Siena had overcome the wall of the 7th-tier.

It was thanks to Ulbhild, who had taken good care of her whenever her heart threatened to grow dizzy from thinking of the damage Valkenhain had suffered.

“We’re like family now, so I have to take care of you.”

To have such a kind sister-in-law!

……But still, her heart was not at ease.

[Siena, was everything alright today?]

The communication network had been restored.

Thanks to that, Siena could communicate with her father, who was busy with reconstruction in the Valkenhain Duchy, through a crystal ball.

“Yes. I’ve overcome all the walls I needed to through training, and now I’m refining the finer details of my proficiency.”

[I’m proud of you. There were no swordsmen among our ancestors who reached the 7th-tier at your age.]

It was true. This was an unprecedented speed.

It was in no way inferior even when compared to Verdzig and Ulbhild.

However, the enemy, even excluding the Dark King, commanded five 8th-tier warriors, and below them, a great legion of evil with numerous powerhouses of the 7th and 6th-tiers, as well as monsters like Death Knights.

[……I am worried.]

Duke Valkenhain said with a face full of concern.

[We couldn’t even properly stop the commando unit led by Amilcar. They were too strong. If even Lord Leszek couldn’t defeat a demon god—]

While understanding her father’s worry, Siena replied resolutely.

“It’s alright. If we lose, everything is over anyway. It is better for us all to gather our strength and challenge him together.”

[……If that is your will, then your father can only pray for your fortune in battle.]

“After everything is over, I will take Amilcar’s head and offer it at Elder Heinz’s funeral.”

Siena revealed her will for revenge.

[The Elder would be pleased if that were to happen.]

The Duke nodded and then asked something else.

[By the way, how are things with the Young Lord these days?]

“Um.”

Siena was flustered.

“Well……”

[Don’t tell me you rejected him?]

Instantly, a murderous aura appeared on the Duke’s once-gentle face.

“Ah, that’s not it. It’s just that it’s such a difficult battle, so a definite answer is……”

The Duke clicked his tongue.

[What? What a pathetic man. At a time like this, he should…….]

Siena had to listen to her prospective father-in-law denounce his prospective son-in-law for a good while before she could finally end the call.

“Whew.”

Her heart felt heavy. She fully understood her father’s concerns.

‘The Young Lord…….’

He would often look at her with troubled eyes, as if he were hiding something.

What could it be?

‘What if it turns out he has a first love or something—’

What should she do then?

Of course, it was something that happened before their paths crossed, so she should be dignified about it…….

“Lady, may I come in?”

At the knock that came at that moment, Siena lifted her head.

“Young Lord?”

How could it be such a coincidence? After clearing her throat and straightening her clothes, Siena opened the door.

“Young Lord, what is it?”

“……Um, well.”

Allenvert hesitated for a moment before speaking with a resolved expression.

“I am about to say something that will sound like the biggest joke. But I swear, there are no lies. So please, listen until the end.”

“……?”

Blinking her large eyes for a moment, Siena asked.

“What on earth are you trying to say?”

“It is about the secret I hold.”

“!”

Her thoughts halting for a moment, Siena imagined the worst possible scenario.

“Don’t tell me… you were a married man?”

“……?”

* * *

At that moment, Georg had gathered Geninghen and Verdzig for a military strategy meeting.

“Tch, can’t you just leave this stuff to that Lorentius fellow instead of me?”

Geninghen clicked his tongue.

“I’m a mage, a mage. Why don’t you guys handle the military strategy?”

“Haha, we need your wisdom and insight, Elder, so please understand.”

“This old man is busy, I tell you. Verifying a new theory with that Royal Magic Tower Master fellow……”

Even at his age, even in this situation, Geninghen’s burning passion for magic showed the makings of a true eccentric.

‘Though he is a bit clueless.’

Georg was an adult who could keep that thought buried in his heart.

“Then let’s continue. We must first decide on the time of departure—”

Geninghen immediately offered his opinion.

“The sooner the better. The question is whether we defend, or we cross the sea.”

“With our current strength, I believe an attack is better.”

Verdzig said.

“Present your reasons.”

“First, the upcoming battle is completely different from conventional wars. It will not be decided by logistics, the difficulty of enemy terrain, or brilliant strategy, but ultimately by who is stronger, the Dark King or Allen.”

Verdzig explained, folding his fingers one by one.

“The battlefield will be razed by the fight between the two transcendents anyway. In that case, it would be better for us to strike first and make their land the battlefield.”

“Well said.”

“It would also be a poor plan for Allen to go alone. It would be best to select warriors capable of handling their forces and dispatch a small, elite unit.”

Georg nodded, satisfied.

“Your words are logical. The next Sword Elder, or the next Military Strategy Elder. Whatever it may be, it will be yours.”

“That is a matter for a future too distant.”

Verdzig gave a bitter smile.

“Next, we must decide the route of advance. Our forces are divided between the Royal Castle here and Grunewald, so we could either depart from both sides or rendezvous in the middle.”

“In the former case, is there not a risk of being defeated one by one?” Verdzig asked.

“That is the problem. If the Dark King personally targets the weaker force and annihilates it, we would be serving him a fine meal.”

“Then it would be best to gather in one place and advance.”

Geninghen clapped his hands, summarizing.

“So, a preemptive strike, with a single, unified route of advance? I like it, it’s clean.”

“Yes. Now we just need to decide on the details.”

“Before that, something just occurred to me.”

Geninghen asked.

“If Leszek, the Clan Head, and I were to lead one force, and Allenvert were to take charge of the other, which side would the Dark King be more wary of?”

Georg answered immediately.

“It would be Allen. Even if he doesn’t believe in the boy’s talent, he won’t take our judgment lightly.”

“Is that so?”

Geninghen grinned slyly.

“I thought he’d be so pissed about the Dragon Heart switch that he’d come to kill me first.”

“That is, hmm.”

Georg stroked his chin in thought before finally saying.

“That has merit.”

Then, Verdzig added a word.

“In case of an emergency, using the Elder as bait could yield good results.”

At that, even the unflappable Geninghen was taken aback.

“Does this punk have no respect for the elderly?”

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]