The Reincarnated Martial God Brings Down the Heavens

Chapter 82 – To Black Swan (2)

‘Journeys should be taken in a good mood.’

With this, everything was in place. A smile naturally spread across my face when,

“Milon!”

A loud voice erupted from one side. Of course, it was none other than Duke Kairos.

“……Of course he wouldn’t just sit and let this happen.”

Old man, did he eat a chimney for breakfast?

“Come down before you set off and have a quick chat with me!”

“……Your Grace.”

Duke Hermann, who was beside him, called out with a grim expression.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”

“…”

“If something happens to Her Highness, won’t it bring disgrace to the country? At the very least, I must offer some words of caution.”

Duke Hermann, who had been locking eyes with him for a moment, finally averted his gaze.

“……Do as you will.”

“Then, excuse me.”

With that, Duke Kairos tried to take Marquis Milon aside. Of course, I wasn’t about to just stand by and watch, either.

“Marquis Milon!”

“……?”

“I’ll make sure you don’t regret this decision!”

At that moment, a sharp vein bulged on Duke Kairos’ shiny head.

***

Once they were a fair distance away, Duke Kairos turned to look behind him. Marquis Milon was standing there, staring blankly.

“I thought you were a smart man.”

“…”

“But it seems I was wrong.”

“…”

“Is there any specific reason you made this decision?”

“…”

“Say something. You’re not mute, are you? I know you’re not the type who dislikes talking.”

“…”

“I’ve learned a lot about you this time. I didn’t know you were such a drinker. If I had, I would have invited you to our gatherings long ago.”

Marquis Milon, who had been silently listening, finally opened his mouth.

“It depends on the company.”

“Finally, that precious voice of yours. Go on.”

“If you drink with someone you dislike, the alcohol tastes bitter. On the other hand, if you drink with someone you like, even the strongest liquor tastes sweet.”

“……So?”

“Why ruin your body with alcohol, especially with unpleasant company?”

Duke Kairos let out a small chuckle.

“You’re still young.”

“…”

“Politics and social life often require drinking that awful alcohol, even if you don’t want to. Do you think they willingly ruin their bodies because they like it?”

Marquis Milon sighed.

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“I’m getting a little tired of this. As expected, Your Grace and I think very differently. Maybe it’s because of the generational gap.”

“I understand that you have no interest in power or status. But you should at least consider your country. You were born a noble of this land, after all.”

“Do you think associating with that child is neglecting the country?”

“Do you even hear what you’re saying? You’re well aware of the internal situation in the Principality of Meeke.”

“My perspective differs somewhat.”

“Look here, Marquis!”

The usually calm Marquis Milon’s brow furrowed slowly.

“……This is starting to annoy me.”

“What? A-Annoy?”

“If the 7th Prince of Principality of Meeke gains power and ascends the throne, will you still be able to say the same?”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“You, among our grand nobles, have been in politics the longest, Duke Kairos. You may see things that we younger folks have missed. Experience is not something to be dismissed.”

Though Milon’s words acknowledged him, Duke Kairos’s face only grew harder. After all, Milon wasn’t finished speaking.

“But stagnant water rots. A stone that doesn’t roll gathers moss.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Isn’t it that Your Grace simply doesn’t want to accept change? You’re not willing to let go of the principles you believe are right in the first place, are you?”

Duke Kairos gritted his teeth.

“You’re just the same. No matter what I say, you won’t budge. What do they call someone like you these days?”

“……”

“I don’t wish to provoke you any further. Let’s discuss something more realistic. What will you do about your sister?”

“……!”

For the first time, Marquis Milon flinched.

“She can’t afford to be wandering around outside, can she? Every second is precious. What if something happens to her while you’re away? What if her heart races too fast and an emergency emerges?”

Marquis Milon’s face gradually twisted in anguish.

“As far as I know, there’s no other high-level mage in this region as skilled as you. Can you confidently say you won’t regret it?”

“……May is……”

At that moment.

“You don’t need to worry about that part.”

“……!”

Both of their heads turned around to look at the source of the voice that came from behind them. Marquis Foltaine had been quietly walking in their direction.

“My apologies for eavesdropping.”

“……What brings you here?”

“It’s almost time to depart, but since no one seemed to be coming, I decided to check for myself. I couldn’t just send the kids on their own.”

At that, Duke Kairos glanced sideways at Marquis Milon.

“……We’re almost done. I’ll return shortly……”

“We’ve invited a very capable pharmacist from my family. He should be arriving in the capital soon.”

“……!”

Both of them widened their eyes in surprise as Marquis Foltaine smiled faintly. A conversation with a certain annoying brat naturally came to mind.

“What brings you here at this late hour?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Weren’t you behind the attempt to poison me using Lady Isabelle of the Arsene County?”

“……Ahem. Did something like that happen? I don’t recall……”

“I’m not here to blame you. I’d like you to introduce me to the pharmacist who concocted the White Flame Burst Poison back then. It would be even better if you could summon them to the capital right away.”

“……Why would you need them?”

“I know the formula of a certain medicine, but I don’t have the skills to make it myself.”

* * *

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* * *

The smile on Marquis Foltaine’s face deepened as he shook off his wandering thoughts.

“That pharmacist can make a medicine that slows down the heart.”

“……!”

“That cheeky brat even asked me for a favor and even gave me the formula.”

Milon felt as if he was in a vivid dream.

“‘Brat’……?”

Bam!

Duke Kairos, watching the scene unfold, slammed his fist into the wall. With one tremendous punch, debris came crashing down.

“What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this!?”

“……”

“I can’t understand it at all! You, Duke Hermann, and everyone else— why are you all acting out of character? There’s a saying that when people suddenly change, they’re close to death. Are you all about to die?”

Marquis Foltaine shrugged.

“We’re from the same generation. If we die, we’ll going hand in hand. Why would you say something like that?”

“You!”

“Don’t try to understand. That kid isn’t someone we can comprehend with our heads. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. You can even think of it as my political scheming if you like.”

“……Do you really mean that?”

Marquis Foltaine nodded without hesitation.

“After all, it’s no secret that neither you nor I are clean. We were both willing to sell out the country for our goals.”

“Sell out the country? That’s diplomacy! You make deals with the devil if it’s for the nation’s benefit! You’re the one saying this?”

“Then this situation isn’t much different.”

“What?”

Marquis Foltaine straightened his posture.

“I’ve judged that the 7th Prince of Meeke, Andrew von Meeke— or rather, our knight Ancelot— will be of greater benefit to our nation than that crazy old woman running Principality of Meeke. That’s all.”

“……!”

Duke Kairos’s eyes twitched uncontrollably.

“You can’t be serious…… You’re weighing a single person against an entire nation?”

“I believe that one person has the power to change a country. Just like the real Ancelot, who was called the Great Hero.”

“’”

This time, Duke Kairos had trouble thinking of a response. Just days ago, he would have shouted that it was utter nonsense.

But last night, he had witnessed that brat’s greatness with his own eyes. He couldn’t deny it.

The 7th Prince of the Principality of Meeke…… He was a genius among geniuses, unmatched even across the entire continent.

In terms of potential, he was on a level above the heavens.

‘……But there are limits to what one person can change.’

Wasn’t this evident from the story of the Great Hero Ancelot? With power, your voice grows louder.

You might scold a king to govern on a grander scale, or point fingers at corrupt officials, cursing them for ruining the country.

But beyond that?

‘……That’s it.’

Still, changing the world is impossible.

In the end, the Great Hero committed joint suicide with the emperor. Humans are creatures driven by desire, and power constantly changes hands.

Even when the corrupt ruling class fades, their spots are filled by new embodiments of greed.

That’s politics.

But still,

“What in the world is that brat……?”

These thoughts spilled from Duke Kairos’s mouth. At the same time, the other two glanced at each other, smiling as if on cue.

“If I could ask one question to the gods, that would be it.”

“……What do you mean?”

“What in the world is that brat, to shake up people’s hearts like this?”

“……!”

***

Pause.

Milon, who had been heading back to the marching grounds, stopped in his tracks. Ancelot had stepped away from the group and was waiting for him.

“You’re here?”

“…”

“I’m counting on you for this journey.”

Milon stared at the outstretched hand for a moment. Then, after a brief silence:

“……You did something unnecessary.”

“Huh?”

“My sister.”

“…”

The silent Ancelot shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re saying things you don’t mean.”

“…”

“I told you, I won’t let you regret this choice.”

“…”

“All the obstacles have been dealt with. Let’s go. Time is of the essence. We need to be back before the diplomatic meetings.”

As Ancelot turned and began to walk away, Milon, watching his back, finally spoke from the heart.

“……I will repay this debt, without fail.”

For some time, he had scoured all sorts of books. However, there was no mention of a formula for a drug that slows down the heart among them.

If such an incredible medicine were to be developed……

‘Even if something happens to me, May will survive. By analyzing the drug, we can even find a way to completely cure her.’

If that happened, this child would be nothing short of their savior.

But then,

“……We talked about that before, didn’t we?”

Unexpectedly, Ancelot paused and replied.

“That if you give something expecting something in return, that’s a bribe.”

“……!”

Ancelot turned his head and flashed a mischievous smile.

“What kind of bribe is there between friends? Just buy me a drink when your sister gets better.”

For a moment, Milon’s eyes widened in surprise, but then he grinned back.

“I do have a sense of conscience.”

“Huh?”

“Next time, stick to orange juice, you cheeky prince.”

***