Chapter 175 - EPISODE 175 – COUNTDOWN (2) (2/2)

“He’s fine. He’s doing well.”

First Sword was in his early 30s while Gaël was in his late 20s, so it was hard to say that they belonged to the same generation because they were about 5-6 years apart in age.

But as the Girin of the Sword School, First Sword was already acquainted with Gaël because they met at a previous Banquet of Swords.

“I see… that guy should really get married though.”

It was rare for a count’s eldest son to be not yet married despite being in his late twenties.

Having just finished her prayer, Cordelia softly answered when First Sword spoke as if he was worried.

“He’ll be married soon. With my sister.”

“I see, your sister… Wait, what? Gaël is getting married? And with the Golden Yaksha… I mean, with Adelia?!”

When First Sword asked in surprise, Cordelia smiled again and nodded.

“Yes, with my sister.”

The Golden Yaksha.

The Hell Witch.

All of these referred to Adelia Chase, the 7th commander of the Royal Guards Magic Corps, and that was why it made First Sword laugh.

“That’s really amazing. That Gaël lad would be marrying Lady Adelia… How did he win over her?”

First Sword murmured low, and the other two stared at him with a slightly surprised face.

Because they did not expect First Sword and Gaël’s connection to be that close.

“Well, congratulations anyway. Please tell them that my congratulations.”

“We will.”

Jude politely answered, and First Sword returned to his usual idle posture before he spoke again.

“As I’ve said before, one of the main reasons I chose to stay was because of you two. I feel like I have to stay in the royal capital when I see you two.”

“We also want to be close whenever we see First Sword-nim.”

Cordelia spoke in a charming manner, and First Sword smiled in satisfaction.

“Yes, maybe it really is fate. To begin with, I really like the two of you. Aren’t you talented geniuses?”

“I’m flattered.”

“I’m not that much.”

First Sword laughed at Jude’s humble response, and he said as he buried his back in the chair.

“Have you heard it from Cornwell? I had gone to the empire and met some monsters.”

“Yes, we’ve heard about it.”

“Maximilian de Avis and Leon Gadreel.”

Jude and Cordelia narrowed their eyes at the two names mentioned by First Sword.

Because they had already expected to hear those names.

Even among the playable characters made up of geniuses, one was the owner of a monstrous talent who was the true protagonist of Legend of Heroes 2, and the other was a sword genius who could face such a monster.

“In my life, I had seen many people who were called geniuses, but it was my first time meeting someone like them. What surprised me in particular was their strength that didn’t fit their age.”

First Sword himself was strong right now.

But what about in ten years?

What about in twenty years?

“Even if we’re the Ten Great Swordmasters or Sword Saints, we’re still human beings in the end. We have no choice but to get weaker as we get older. In the past, the Lord Protector boasted of an outstanding strength among the Ten Great Swordmasters, but the present him is not as good as he used to be.”

First Sword continued to ramble before he ended his words with a bitter smile. He looked at Jude again and said.

“I don’t know if Cornwell has already said this, but I’m quite excited about you. The kingdom should also have at least one monster, and not just the empire.”

Jude nodded at First Sword’s words. He responded with a serious face, as if he wanted to meet First Sword’s expectations.

“I will do my best.”

“Ah, darn it. If it weren’t for Landius-nim, I would have taken and made you my disciple.”

“Thank you very much for your kind consideration.”

“You’re really polite.”

First Sword chuckled again before he stood up instead of continuing their conversation.

“Anyway, we’ve had a good meal, and I’ve said hello, so this unwanted guest will show himself out. I’d like to stick with you until you go home, but… uh… what do you think?”

“Thank you for your thoughts.”

Jude made a stiff smile, making First Sword laugh loudly.

“Yes, it’s natural for you to decline it. Anyway, see you next time. Lady Cordelia, see you next time too.”

“Thank you for the meal. I look forward to seeing you next time.”

“Me too.”

First Sword greeted Cordelia back in a theatrical manner, and he turned around after greeting Jude for the last time. Jude then stared at the back of such a man.

First Sword.

The Sword Saint of Light.

A bright, energetic, mischievous, and cheerful man.

As Jude continued to stare at First Sword, Cordelia asked in a low voice.

“What is it? Is it because he may leave without paying?”

“There’s that too.”

Anyway, he was one of the most important characters in their quest.

“Ah, he paid it.”

Cordelia said while Jude nodded his head. It was only then that he looked back at Cordelia.

***

“Haa, I’m happy. It was really delicious.”

Around 30 minutes after First Sword was gone.

After drinking tea followed by dessert, Cordelia left the restaurant and patted her stomach with a very satisfied face.

“Ahem, it definitely seem to be a bit bigger than usual.”

“What did you say? You wanna die?”

“I didn’t say anything. Anyway, it was delicious. Let’s stop by that place again next time.”

“Hmm… rejected. It’s too expensive. Wastefully spending money is a sin.”

She had been surprised in seeing the price tag on the menu when they had ordered dessert.

They had eaten it because First Sword had paid for it, but Cordelia had no intention of eating it if they had asked her to pay for it.

“You’re a strange frugal woman, you know that?”

“It’s not that I’m strange, but it’s you who is weird, Jude. You waste your money on luxurious stuff. I do buy items, but I don’t crazily spend my money on clothes and food.”

“So items are okay?”

“Items are okay. Because it increases my combat power. Which is directly related to my life.”

At Cordelia’s argument that was more reasonable than he expected, Jude nodded his head, prompting her to speak cheerfully.

“Moving on, I have decided. I’ll be the one to manage our money later.”

“Later?”

“Yes, later.”

“What later?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, later. What do you mean by later?”

Cordelia blinked at Jude’s question.

She had to do that.

Later.

After everything was over.

To be more specific…

“L-later is later, and later is somewhere in the future. Anyway, let’s go see the night view. Yes, yes, the night view. The night view. Yes, I’m excited to see it.”

Cordelia spoke gibberish as her face turned red.

Therefore, Jude snickered before he said.

“Okay, but there’s a place we have to stop by in the middle.”

“Stop by?”

“Yes, I did talk about the third crime of Pink Bomb, right?”

“Yes. Ah, so you’re sending a notice?”

“That’s right. After all, it would be hard to come out at night when we’ve entered the palace. Considering the rest of our schedule… and so on, we’ll have to send a notice today, rob them tomorrow, and meet Princess Daphne the day after tomorrow.”

“How busy.”

“Because that day is just around the corner.”

The time after the 300th founding anniversary ball was over.

The time after it had reached its peak.

“Okay, so tomorrow is also the day we’ve decided to meet Scarlet. What’s our goal this time? What are we going to steal?”

“We’re going to raid the headquarters of the Black Moon that’s disguised as a shopping complex. Our target is the Black Moon’s terror plan for the day of the founding anniversary.”

“Eh? Was there something like that?”

“Yes, it’s this.”

Jude naturally responded as he took out some documents in his enchanted chest pocket and showed them to Cordelia, who looked at him with wide open eyes.

“Hey, Jude, the second son of Count Bayer. Is that thing you are holding the Black Moon’s terror plan?”

“Yes, Lady Cordelia, the second daughter of Count Chase. It’s the terror plan that you’ll be stealing from the headquarters of the Black Moon.”

“I’m going to steal it, but you’re already holding it?”

“Yes, the important thing is that we made everyone believe that we seized the terror plan of the Black Moon in their headquarters, and not the fact that a terror plan existed in the first place.”

It was the same trick they used in Langesthei.

False evidence.

But those documents contained real information that could put the Black Moon into deep trouble.

Cordelia shifted her gaze to the documents in Jude’s hand before she looked back at Jude again.

“Jude.”

“Yes, Cordelia.”

“You’re a really, really bad guy.”

“Isn’t that good? Aren’t you attracted to bad guys?”

When Jude shamelessly retorted, Cordelia looked at him as if she heard something ridiculous, but she soon widely smiled. She grabbed Jude’s arm and answered.

“I primarily like good guys.”

“Primarily?”

“Yes, primarily.”

Cordelia spoke quite haughtily and gestured with her chin, and Jude got up right away.

“Then let’s go, Milady.”

“Yes, Milord.”

To be a righteous thief again today and tomorrow.

To turn the Black Moon and the Lord Protector upside down again.

The fantasy couple walked forward in a close manner.