Chapter 415

How many nobles were there in the capital?

And not all of them were exactly sane.

It was a fact anyone could realize with a little thought.

“How about it? If you come to my territory, I can personally grant you the title of Territory Guardian along with a manor….”

Baron Somerset was just the beginning.

Encrid tried to refuse as gently as possible.

“I’m not interested.”

It was a situation he had never experienced before. In his life, had he ever received this much attention from nobles?

Encrid made his stance clear to push him away.

“Well, um…”

Baron Somerset was at a loss for words. The tone had cut him off so decisively. He didn’t even realize this was the polite version.

So inwardly, he found it rather insolent.

He knew Encrid was a man of great skill, but how could one live in this world by the sword alone?

Everyone needed backing.

If he wanted to stand out in the capital later, wasn’t that the natural path?

Since people are only seen as much as they are known, this was obvious to Baron Somerset.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Encrid gave a slight bow and turned away. The boy attendant saw his master’s hands trembling slightly.

Even so, the hero who saved the nation looked cool as he turned his back.

‘So cool.’

Noble or not, he just said what he needed to say and left. How many youngsters wouldn’t envy that?

The envy existed elsewhere too.

Among the royal palace maids, gatherings had even sprung up to debate whether Encrid or Jaxson had the more outstanding face.

In the midst of it, Audin and Rem, Dunbakel and Teresa also came up in discussions.

Encrid had already made a name for himself among noble ladies before, but now it was on a different level. Among the nobles in the capital, there was no one who didn’t know the names of Encrid and the Madmen Company.

Some even brought their daughters.

Thinking of Krang, Encrid met with everyone who came.

“This is my daughter.”

She was rather pretty. Seeing her shyly bow her head, she seemed genuinely innocent.

Encrid looked at the lady’s exposed arm and thought, ‘With those arms, she probably can’t even hold a rapier properly,’ and declined.

“I’m busy.”

“Busy with what?”

“I have to train.”

There were various polite exchanges, but that was the gist of it.

If some brought their daughters, others came to say he should become their successor.

“I have no children.”

He looked around seventy, a gaunt old man. He said he had never squandered his wealth in his life, and that siding with the King this time was the biggest gamble of his life.

As Encrid dealt with him appropriately and sent him away, Jaxson approached and said,

“They say he has six children but kicked them all out because none were to his liking.”

A miser among misers, a noble who even at home ate black bread instead of white.

That man had come offering his entire fortune.

No, he had even brought the deed. All that was left was to stamp it with a seal.

Encrid had no seal. He was a commoner.

After that, a few more nobles came.

At least the riffraff stayed away, and only those with real clout came, so it only reached this extent.

In the midst of it, some slightly special ones also appeared.

“Let me say this first: I am not a person of Azpen, and this is just a commission. So there’s no need to cut or beat me. My entire job is just to convey their words and hear your answer.”

He was so nervous that cold sweat dripped from him under the shade of a tree.

He seemed to be a magistrate working in the capital.

A low-ranking noble, but someone who earned extra income through various commissions.

Seeing how he pleaded for understanding, it seemed like he had some weakness that could be exploited.

Encrid nodded.

“Azpen promised the rank of Duke.”

Was the civil war only Naurilia’s problem? No. It was something all surrounding nations would be interested in.

That Azpen was the first to make such an offer was, in a way, only natural.

What kind of person was this Encrid?

Was he utterly loyal to the nation, or did he have other desires?

“They said marriage talks with the Princess are also possible if you wish.”

Encrid began to worry about the magistrate’s dehydration.

The sweat was flowing like a river.

“I refuse.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

He didn’t seem to have any intention of persuading him a second time.

Piling up gold coins like a mountain, offering beauties…

Anyway, around the time all of this began to grate on his nerves—

“Why not cut off a few arms? Then they won’t come.”

Rem offered advice. Encrid was so annoyed the suggestion sounded tempting.

“Just ignoring them is better.”

Ragna stepped in. It was gentler, but the problem was that the noble brats didn’t come alone. They brought attendants or maids.

Would a noble suffer? The attendants suffered.

Seeing a young kid trembling all over as he sought him out made it hard to ignore them outright.

“Hoho, you can control your mind with prayer. You can also pray with those who come to see you, Brother Captain.”

If the first prayer was literal, the latter could be a prayer where fists and feet flew.

Encrid thought it was no different from Rem’s method.

Dunbakel and Teresa had no interest in such matters.

Jaxson inwardly thought it would be easier to kill them secretly, but he didn’t say it out loud.

He knew how to distinguish reason.

Esther just watched with drowsy eyes.

“Since you’ve been marked by a demon, you should be careful.”

When she said that, Encrid’s reaction truly shook Esther.

“How many?”

Asking about the demon’s military strength.

“Won’t be easy to defeat?”

A face that looked forward to fighting the demon.

“Madman.”

Esther deliberately turned human to spit out the curse, then turned back into a panther.

It was a mutter, but if she didn’t say it out loud, she’d feel even more stifled.

To maintain the Spell world, she couldn’t carry such stifling feelings.

It wasn’t as if Encrid was someone who would scold her for suddenly saying such things anyway.

In any case, Encrid decided not to heed anyone’s advice and just fend them off as best he could.

Still, it was annoying. He was even thinking of escaping to the Border Guards in the middle of it all.

“It’s been a long time. Hero who saved the nation, Demon Slayer, the Border Guards’…”

“You can stop there.”

It was a familiar face. Encrid thought that if he forgot her name again, the beauty’s face would turn into an angry ghoul, so he spoke.

“Lady Vaisar.”

“…You haven’t forgotten my name, have you?”

“How could I?”

Encrid was a man of particularly skillful speech. He could get through without saying her name.

Even Kin Vaisar, counted among the capital’s greatest beauties, couldn’t press further.

She hadn’t come alone, and there was no opening in his words.

It wasn’t something she could demand here.

It would be impolite and unbecoming of a noble’s dignity.

‘He seems to have forgotten, though.’

Still, she was suspicious.

It was a valid suspicion. Encrid had indeed forgotten her name amidst repeating today.

But as he watched, wondering why she had come all the way to the training grounds—

Five attendants and an old man approached from behind her.

“I hear many bothersome people have been visiting lately?”

It was Marquess Vaisar.

Kin bowed her head and stepped aside.

“No need to give up your seat, and I have no intention of taking up your bothersome time either.”

Marquess Vaisar was an efficient man. He hated wasting time.

That was the difference from the others. Instead of sending attendants or maids, he sent a member of the family and came to the training grounds himself.

With Rem and the others watching, the Marquess spoke.

“I hear you’re of a considerable age. Marry Kin.”

Encrid was no fool. His cleverness was something Krys acknowledged. Kin bowed without a hint of shyness, and the Marquess carried himself as if the proposal couldn’t be bad.

“My Marquess title will go to Markus.”

With that, the meaning of what he was saying became clear.

Kin Vaisar was a symbol.

A symbol connecting Encrid to the Vaisar family.

And the benefits of that?

When the merit award ceremony began, the Vaisar family would receive the rank of Duke.

They had that much influence, and Markus Vaisar was one of those who had performed great service in this war.

If he became head of the Centerfall family, the Duke rank was certain.

Have the kingdom’s one and only ducal house as your backing.

Do whatever you want.

And I will not force anything.

That was the hidden meaning of the proposal laid out before him.

Marquess Vaisar was also no fool. He had no intention of using coercion or oppressive measures against Encrid.

If Encrid would simply deepen the bond, he would give him the kingdom’s greatest beauty and anything else he needed.

That was the Marquess’s proposal.

Here, he could have offered another daughter instead of Kin, but he did not.

Kin Vaisar was the Marquess’s show of respect.

Even if it were Krang hearing this, it was bold enough to make him think, ‘Perhaps.’

Encrid stared at the Marquess for a moment, then shifted his gaze.

To Kin Vaisar.

Daughters of noble families often entered political marriages. It was a society that encouraged it.

So, is that fun? Is it enjoyable?

Encrid didn’t know Kin Vaisar well. But he saw her as a person, not just a woman. He didn’t know her well, but they had exchanged words a few times in passing.

The Kin Vaisar he saw then didn’t seem to desire a life as the mistress of a mansion.

Even though this could be seen as presumptuous, Encrid did as he always did.

Since when had he lived holding back his words for propriety?

“What is your dream?”

So he asked.

Kin Vaisar, who had been expressionless, looked at Encrid.

She was a symbol. Merely an object for political marriage. That was all. There was no need for affection, and doing nothing would be fine.

But what dream? It didn’t fit the situation.

“You have no dream? Something you want to do?”

Kin Vaisar was flustered. She also thought, ‘This guy is really an unpredictable bastard.’

Marquess Vaisar said nothing. He was not a man to show his expression.

Was it okay to answer?

“There might be.”

Though born into a noble household, she hadn’t stayed quietly at home. So she had things she wanted to do. But they weren’t things to say in front of the family head.

Within the family, the Marquess’s word was law. If he said to enter a political marriage, that was what you did.

“It is to be with the hero who saved the nation.”

Kin gave the model answer. No one spoke. The Marquess also just watched.

“Something you want to do.”

Encrid asked again in a clipped tone, and Kin began to sweat. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff.

“Speak.”

The Marquess said, staring intently at Encrid. Only then did Kin cautiously open her mouth.

“I have an interest in handling gemstones and do it on a small scale.”

“For something small-scale, you’ve even sought out trading companies of considerable size, haven’t you?”

The Marquess already knew.

Kin Vaisar had an excellent eye for gemstones. She also led fashion and trends in the capital.

It was thanks to her innate sense and the eye cultivated since childhood, having been born into the Marquess Vaisar household.

Of course, she also had a sense that could be called genius.

“Do you want to do that?”

The Marquess asked. Kin didn’t know how to answer here.

As she hesitated, Encrid spoke instead.

“Why ask? It’s because you get stubborn when you get old. Stop being so stubborn and stop tormenting her.”

Half the attendants went pale.

Wasn’t that crossing a line?

Not that they had any intention of attacking.

Encrid alone was fearsome enough, and with those standing behind him, it was only natural they didn’t dare.

Rem was grinning and licking his axe blade with his tongue.

“That’s filthy.”

Ragna scolded him.

“Don’t mind them.”

The two soon started bickering.

“Is it because I’m old?”

The Marquess blinked and asked back. There was no trace of a smile.

One might have felt pressure, but compared to Count Molsen possessed by a demon, this was cute.

“My sword is proof enough of who I am.”

Encrid answered.

End of conversation.

Unlike the other nobles, there was no reason to entertain him. Encrid genuinely thought so.

Whether it was Marquess Vaisar or Somerset or anyone, they were all the same.

“Well then.”

Just bothersome humans taking away training time.

He bowed as courtesy and turned to leave. The Marquess glared at Encrid for a moment, then turned his head.

He looked quite sulky.

“But he’s a Marquess, you know. Is that okay? Or should we just, you know, shhk?”

Rem made a slicing motion across his own neck and offered advice again. Encrid ignored him.

“A waste of time.”

He meant it.

There was so much he was newly learning and realizing. It made his body restless.

It was understandable. Encrid had no talent from the moment he first picked up a sword.

Yet he had awakened [Will] in an instant, applied and used it, and even imitated Ragna’s sword.

After feeling the changes in his own body, every time he swung his sword, it was ten times more fun than before.

Of course, to outsiders like Pell and others who didn’t know, he was just a madman obsessed with training.

Pell, who had seen Kin Vaisar, looked at Encrid and thought, ‘Does that guy really have two stones and one stick made of rock?’

“Is he a eunuch?”

So he asked Dunbakel beside him.

“I think so too. He never falls for me either.”

Pell looked at Dunbakel, who smelled musty, and thought.

‘Even I wouldn’t fall for you.’

The Beastkin next to him really hated washing.