Chapter 152: Rogue Master (1) (1/2)

Terms used in this chapter:

Arrow receiver – a person or army who stood in the front of a group in order to stop arrows from flying towards the group. Basically a human shield for arrows.

Penal battalion – a military formation consisting of convicts who are mobilized for military service.

One more thing, Saint Tail’s line of Lord, please allow me to be a righteous thief again today is usually said before her magical girl transformation:

The Ten Great Swordmasters.

The ten great swordmasters who were the pride of the Sälen Kingdom.

Each one of them could not be simply defined as a knight.

They weren’t ordinary people

They were the chosen ones.

They were those geniuses who had been gifted by the heavens with a talent for swordsmanship and eventually rose to the level of superhumans after endless efforts.

Therefore, each one of them was a legend, a living incarnation of the sword, and a goal for everyone who walked the path of the sword.

Duke Antarius.

He was the oldest among the ten great swordmasters, and was also the hero who saved the country in the war between the Sälen Kingdom and the Argon Empire.

He was more famous for his nickname ‘Lord Protector,’ but he wasn’t of noble origin.

He was presumed to be a commoner’s child.

A war orphan who did not even know who his parents were.

So he began his life from the very bottom.

Before he grew up, he worked as a pickpocket and moved around the back alleys, and after he grew up, he was conscripted and became a soldier.

He wasn’t even a proper soldier, but an arrow receiver stuck in the penal battalions.

But he did not face a miserable death.

When he picked up a sword instead of a mediocre spear which he didn’t knew if it came from their allies or enemies, he felt a strange sensation as if the sword had stuck to his hand.

And he survived.

He sharpened and polished his swordsmanship in actual battles, and when the war was over, he was no longer a criminal conscripted into the penal battalion but a nobleman with a title.

‘A success story.’

War hero.

He started out as a commoner but became a nobleman through his own skills.

The soldiers loved him and were proud of him.

He became a legend in the war against the Argon Empire at a time when the king was just crowned.

Not only did he lead numerous battles to victory, but he also saved the king’s life. He eventually ended the war by defeating the imperial swordmaster, Carlos, who was the actual commander-in-chief of the enemy.

He had stopped the invasion of the Argon Empire.

He had protected the Cilates Plains, the most fertile land on the continent.

‘That is why he’s the Lord Protector.’

A hero who protected and saved the country.

The man then raised his head.

He saw the duke to be around sixty to seventy but still looked healthy.

The duke’s back was very straight, and the muscles in his entire body did not weaken at all.

That was why Count Lohan bowed down and held back his fear as he faced the Lord Protector.

“Did you say Rogue Master?”

“Yes, someone who claimed to be that stole the Green Goddess’ Teardrop and several treasures from Viscountess Venus’ mansion.”

“So?”

“Excuse me?”

“So what?”

The eyes of the Lord Protector as it looked down on Count Lohan were very cold.

Count Lohan unconsciously gulped and realized it.

The Lord Protector wasn’t angry at the Rogue Master.

He was indifferent and only a bit angry.

Did Lohan talk to him when only Venus’ own possessions were stolen which weren’t important to him?

Should he pay attention to such trivial things?

“I will make sure it will not interfere with our work.”

Count Lohan quickly spoke, and the Lord Protector gently turned around.

Feeling more anxious about the duke’s movement, Count Lohan opened his mouth again.

“Apart from Viscountess Venus’ work, the preparations for the revolt are steadily progressing.”

The 300th founding anniversary of the Sälen Kingdom was only a month away.

That day would also be the beginning of a new history for the Lord Protector and those who followed him.

‘A new royal family.’

A restructuring of the political circles.

Count Lohan’s face did not hide his joy.

For him, the founding anniversary was the day of the revolt where the existing royal family would disappear and be replaced by a new royal family, and that Count Lohan himself would become the new center of power.

The Lord Protector knew what Count Lohan was thinking deep inside.

But he did not bother to correct Count Lohan’s misunderstanding since it was an idea that he himself had planted in the first place.

What Count Lohan wanted and what the Lord Protector wanted.

They looked similar, but were different in essence.

“We don’t have much time left. Prepare thoroughly.”

“I will do so.”

Count Lohan bowed before he hurriedly left the room of the Lord Protector.

As the Lord Protector had said, he shouldn’t be bothered by the theft.

‘I have no choice but to leave it to the Black Moon.’

He didn’t bring up the Rogue Master’s story because of Viscountess Venus.

It was because a second notice had arrived last night.

Like Viscountess Venus, the Rogue Master would visit Count Macan’s mansion tomorrow night, a man who was in charge of money laundering and other shady things.

‘It would be perfect to stop a thief with another thief.’

Those were things they were used to doing in the first place.

Count Lohan spoke to himself as he hastened his steps.

As the Lord Protector had said, they only had a month left until their revolt, so he shouldn’t be caught up in trivial matters.

“Marquis Lohan… No, Duke Lohan.”

Count Lohan stroked his well-groomed beard and imagined his future self. He did not hide his smile.

He joyfully smiled and walked forward.

***

And the next evening.

Adelia sat at the head of the high-end table she bought after spending half a year’s salary, and she held her chin with a very sullen expression even though she was eating.

It was because of the sight that was happening before her eyes.

“Wow, this is really delicious.”

“Yeah, isn’t the sauce really good?”

“Milord, Milord, can you cook this?”

“Perhaps?”

“Wow, as expected of Milord.”

“Why? Do you want to eat it again later?”

“Yes, I want to eat this again next time.”

“If my princess wants it. But Princess, isn’t it bad to be a picky eater? You should eat your carrots.”

“Do I have to eat boiled carrots when I have Milord? Eat some for me instead. Here.”

Cordelia took a carrot with a fork and held it out to Jude, who skillfully grabbed the fork and held it out to Cordelia.

“Here, say ‘Ah.’ Ah.”

“Hey, what are you doing? I’ll just eat it so give it to me.”

“So you don’t want to say ‘ah’?”

“You… Ah. Okay. Ah~”