65. Unbelievable
Flap.
Joo-yeon landed on the balcony, his black wings fluttering.
The wings disappeared in an instant, returning to his ordinary shoulder blades.
‘I got here quickly thanks to the wings.’
Aiden and the butler were waiting for him on the balcony. They had been waiting after receiving a message from the wizard, Bayner.
Of course, their expressions were worth seeing.
“Th… What the heck are those wings?”
He looked like a demon.
No, they were black, but strangely cool and even sacred, leaving him speechless.
Joo-yeon answered calmly.
“What do you think? Do you like it? Do you want to fly too?”
“Huh? Could it be an artifact like the Bloodthirst? Then let me borrow it for a bit…”
“Aiden-nim is currently the acting head of the family.”
At the butler’s cough, Aiden regained his senses.
“I’m good. It’s black… It’s a bit ominous.”
“There are many ominous things.”
The people of this world really hated the color black.
‘Well, it’s understandable since demons symbolize the color black.’
Even the Demon King’s heart was black.
But that wasn’t important right now.
“What’s going on? Why did you call me so urgently?”
“It’s nothing.”
Joo-yeon followed Aiden into the banquet hall. It was filled with people.
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They were people who had arrived from various factions.
Leaders of each race or high-ranking people from the factions.
The representative of the kingdom and the king himself.
Priests of the temple.
From the crown prince of the empire to the great general.
They all had the same expression, waiting for the protagonist to arrive.
Aiden saw them and whispered to Jooyeon.
Jooyeon heard something and snorted.
“Really? Then they are worthy of being called.”
But there was something to check before entering.
“You did what I told you?”
“Of course.”
The people in the banquet hall didn’t just come.
They brought a huge amount of gifts, saying they would meet Jooyeon. All the gifts were placed in Jooyeon’s room.
“But there wasn’t enough space, so I had to prepare a separate warehouse.”
“Was there that much?”
“Are you kidding me? We’re emptying the unused warehouse and filling it up.”
Of course, there were expensive jewels, gold, and treasures.
Some people brought precious elixirs.
All of them were brought to look good in front of Jooyeon.
No matter what happened to the auction for the master’s seat, the purpose was to get acquainted with the hero for the time being.
Jooyeon chuckled.
“Take good care of it. I’ll take it all later.”
“Whose stuff would I touch? He even stood up to the previous duke.”
“But you never know. There are people everywhere who think differently when faced with enormous wealth.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve even mobilized the knights in case there are any guys who think differently.”
“Knights? Who?”
A group of 100 knights.
They were watching in case any of the working servants did something stupid.
Because they couldn’t put pressure on the precious guest of the Knight King.
Aiden agreed with that part.
‘He’s the one the previous duke was looking for, and he’s the current hero.’
He might succeed the Knight King in the future.
It wasn’t a bad idea to treat him well in advance.
It was also the Knight King’s intention.
-Think of Jooyeon’s will as mine. Because he is the true future of this world.
And the Edmer family moved perfectly according to the Knight King’s words.
In some ways, they were even processing Jooyeon’s words before his.
‘But that doesn’t matter. That guy is going to make our family greater and grander.’
Aiden also admitted it.
It didn’t matter who Jooyeon was.
‘He’s not only my life savior, but he also took care of my problematic father and kept the position of the next duke safe.’
The third brother was now resting comfortably, regardless of his power. Jooyeon had been a great help to Aiden since the moment they met. Rather, he was so grateful that he was here beside him.
However, Joo-Yeon’s expression was slightly hardened.
“The King of Knights and those who brought gifts are not important.”
Those gifts were something that Joo-Yeon should have received naturally. After all, how many times had he saved the continent by playing the game up until now?
If there was a problem, it was on the other side.
Joo-Yeon’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Have you made the list?”
“I’ve prepared it without needing to be told.”
A book was clutched in Joo-Yeon’s hand.
It was a list with names written in large letters.
[The Book of Execution]
It contained the names of those who had prepared gifts for Joo-Yeon but had not prepared anything for the Edmer family.
Joo-Yeon laughed playfully.
“I never thought there would be those who would come empty-handed.”
“As I said, there are more shameless people in the world than you think.”
The problem is the other side.
“You’re saying that there are those who have received help and forgotten about it?”
Aiden nodded.
On the continent, the Edmer family was special.
It wasn’t just because it was the family of a hero who had defeated the Demon King.
– The first and last line of defense against the northern barbarians.
– The honorable family that is the first to rush forward whenever monsters invade.
– The bulwark that prevents conflicts with other countries.
The peace on the continent was all thanks to the sacrifices of the Edmer family.
That was why support funds and reinforcements came from the continent on a regular basis.
“I didn’t say anything about expecting anything in return, but lately, there have been very few who have properly supported us.”
“They just took and took?”
“Yes. Those kinds of people would come and talk shamelessly.”
They weren’t shameless, they were brazen.
– Oh my, you’re receiving gifts so openly. I’m worried that the honorable Edmer family’s name will be tarnished.
– We’re always grateful. Rather than that, where is the warrior right now? I’d like to meet him once.
Normally, they would just express their gratitude for the Edmer dukedom’s dedication and sacrifices.
Yes, even if it’s not something material, if they could at least express their gratitude sincerely, it wouldn’t matter.
The problem is that they try to freeload while badmouthing the Edmer family behind their backs.
Joo-Yeon said in a cold voice.
“So? What did you do?”
You didn’t just let them in like suckers, did you?
Aiden’s lips curled up at Joo-Yeon’s sharp voice.
“Of course, I did as you said.”
– Those listed here, please turn back.
– A list? What list?
-You have come to the Edmer Duchy empty-handed.
-……!?
It was only natural that there would be a commotion.
-Are you ignoring us now?
-How can the Edmer family treat us with such disrespect!
-We are envoys of the Ilayeon Kingdom…
-You are making a mockery of the noble envoys…
Of course, Aiden responded coldly.
-It seems to me that you are the ones who are disrespecting me and the Edmer Duchy.
Clang!
All 100 knights of the Order drew their weapons.
The escort knights of the Knight King, who was called the strongest knight, were also present.
Everyone understood what Aiden meant.
Those whose names were on the death list became anxious.
-No, we are here to meet the hero…
-We might become his teacher, but like this…
Aiden answered firmly, as Jooyeon had instructed him.
-Those who would be teachers are indeed rude. You have come to the northern border empty-handed.
-……!
-Come to think of it, I see some of you who haven’t even sent proper troops until now. And some of you haven’t paid your support funds for years, yet you have come here so bravely?
-Ah… that’s…
Aiden drove the wedge in.
-So it’s not a matter of gifts now. From this moment on, those who have not sent troops or support funds will be banned from visiting the north for the rest of their lives. Of course, we will also abandon our defense of those areas.
-Gasp!
Why had the Edmer family been swayed by the likes of Count Sanderson in the first place?
It was because the family’s sacrifices were increasing while the support was decreasing.
If they had provided support on time, they would not have been swayed.
“So what did they say?”
“Of course, they protested.”
They had the nerve to turn red in the face and shout.
-Listen here, acting head of the family!
-This is outrageous!
-To put personal feelings into an important matter with the hero!
Of course, Aiden won.
-This is the will of the hero and the ＜Knight King＞. If you don’t like it, get out.
-……!?
The Knight King himself said this?
He who never bargained over the lives and missions of others? The man of chivalry who protected the weak?
But there was nothing they could say.
After all, no one would think of fighting the Knight King or the hero head-on.
It wasn’t merely a difference in power.
They were even being pushed around in terms of legitimacy.
‘If we had foolishly attacked the Knight King, we would have become the laughing stock of the continent.’
The same went for the warrior.
Jooyeon raised the corners of her lips, satisfied with Aiden’s response.
“So you obediently left?”
“What? He was about to go out and buy a present.”
Even that was within Jooyeon and Aiden’s expectations.
They had already contacted all the merchants in the duchy.
– Sell goods to the outsiders on this list at 100 times the normal price.
It was only natural that those who had tried to get through the crisis with minimal effort would cry out in protest.
– A single sack of wheat for 1 gold?
– No, what kind of price is that! You could buy several cartloads of wheat for 1 gold!
Of course, the merchants of the duchy scoffed at them.
– If you don’t want to be ripped off, then don’t buy it. We won’t lose anything if we don’t sell it.
– Oh, really? Then we won’t buy it here. We’ll go to another territory…
– The closest one is at least a week away. I wonder if the warrior will still be here by then.
– Cough…
– And besides, why should we sell anything to people who have ignored Edmer territory? We won’t sell you anything, so get lost.
– I… I was wrong. Here, I’ll give you 1 gold, so please forgive me.
– Oh, the price just went up. It’s 10 gold now.
– What?!
The merchants of the duchy remembered them.
Because of those bastards, the family of the great Knight King had been treated like dirt.
As if that wasn’t enough, they were the reason why the already poor North had become even poorer.
Even the nobles whose names were on the kill list were sweating profusely.
– It’s not just about the money, it’s downright robbery.
– And I remember the warrior saying that he would take the one who brought him the greatest gift as his disciple. By the time you guys get back, that position will already be filled, won’t it?
– Oh… I see. Can’t I just give it to you now?
The freeloaders gritted their teeth and bought the items.
Thanks to them, not only Jooyeon’s warehouse but also the Edmer family’s warehouse was filled to the brim.
And so, the banquet could finally begin.
“For the time being, those bastards have washed their mouths and the Duke of Edmer has certainly received what he didn’t get before.”
“Not just what he didn’t get… It’s enough to not have to worry for the next few decades.”
“Those bastards. They should have done this sooner.”
But it still wasn’t enough.
This was just getting back what they were owed, and it was only a temporary measure.
‘What’s important is the future.’
That way, they could use it when they needed it.
“Don’t erase the list. Keep it with you, along with the presents they brought.”
“……!”
“I knew you’d roughly patch me up just to serve your own ends.”
“……No, but you’ll probably bleed to death even after my rough patching.”
Aiden, the noble, knew very well.
How much they had spent to see the main character.
Honestly, it felt a little too much for what he deserved.
But as if he didn’t hear those words, the main character’s eyes flashed.
“What do you mean bleeding? You have to gush blood for it to be bleeding.”
“……!”
‘Once a freeloader, always a freeloader.’
Freeloaders can never be trusted.
“How dare you trifle with the knight king and territory that I raised?”
“What? What? Who raised what?”
So, he would continue to pester them with the excuse of the list in the future.
But for now, he had to deal with the banquet hall first.
Creak!
Joo-yeon opened the balcony door and went inside.