Chapter 25: Aroma and Stench
3KlIcvBanquet hall of Valdrova Castle.tnG
82LPerda was observing from above as the knights gathered.E6vrG
PmwEO“How repugnant.”f2oZ
FTl36Ruri, who was also looking toward the hall, said that.5VOT
K0JD“It seems that your hatred toward humans is too strong.”zEA6
FWD“It is not hatred toward humans. It is that those are repugnant.”mgoub4s
2qyKMAs if she could no longer endure it, Ruri covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief.GtwY8R
q3P4“When I heard they were wandering knights I thought they would be like field rats, but how can they be even worse?”lQ9
ysvvAll of them were covered in perfume all over their bodies.jylEq
qSfBut that was only meant to cover the smell according to the human sense of smell.JVRMG1
g6LKkFor Ruri, who was a dragonspawn, it did not work.lepzt
KzQf1NqRuri gagged.pZe
SSUfLs“Do humans really go around giving off such strange smells? This is neither smell nor aroma. What is this stench like garbage and waste?”x6U
H060BPerda nodded as if he understood.16ZkTWv
ZvmPpQQ“When one is going to have an audience with a king, that is the minimum.”8QHBchF
KzQMtv3“Do you mean not bathing?”5UMu
ILnhMRuri asked with an incredulous look, and Perda nodded again.kWj
db14“It is one of the virtues of knights. Bathing and eliminating the odor is a disgrace for a knight. Even if they have arrived in haste, the important thing is to demonstrate that they can emit fragrance.”8EIzH
JTuYQnh“You know those primitive customs well.”8GtFoB1
4wN“I come from a family of knights, so it is natural.”Y8TdI
CeJBbVZPerda had also always thought it was a primitive custom.Yzn3
W3QeRgProbably most knights thought the same.ju4
UTnr1But it still existed simply because of what they call tradition.TwwzOAj
CV2B47The knights of the empire are capable even of stabbing their own father for tradition.HYmlF
CHSGO“Do you also do it, Perda?”sAMc
Ap88Mc“I am not a knight. There is no reason to do it.”NSQyc
sv6qmPerda liked cleanliness.XnwSl
JX4rzUqWhen he lived in the bath, he always kept it clean, and cleanliness had become something impossible to separate from him.5A9HjZM
SNLB“It seems they have all gathered. What will you do?”p7j
23aH3l“Hmm…”uNP
7zokCtPerda observed the people carefully again.t6R6S
ojO‘As I thought, he is not here.’FQJzCEx
rQyDOrPerda had attracted the wandering knights by promising a territory in exchange for delivering thirty monsters.Ko9gwMU
vpXSilIt was a condition to gather monster corpses quickly, but it also had another purpose.C59qV
rgGHe wanted to observe the wandering knights.WIJSA1
jOmr‘Is the walking fortress, Alberto, not here?’OIJQvF
roMQA wandering knight who wore armor as heavy and resistant as a turtle’s shell.HkPmq
YaJOReHe wielded a great sword in one hand and a large shield in the other.Mnk
fZCsgHe walked the world only with his two legs, without horse or squire.GfQ
zXYIAGA humble knight, but at the same time noble.NykEs
1Pa6rGd‘He was never someone interested in territories or loyalties, but I thought the far east would catch his attention.’T6hWir
CWZyBxPHe had sworn to fight everything that threatened humanity.o0OJT
JPqo4pAnd the far east was full of threats.HYnb
BrHRVhThat was why Perda thought the walking fortress would want that position.FrnB
mth“Are you looking for someone?”Ym4D6
dcUee0VWhile he was observing, Ruri asked cautiously.lEq
TQjdh“If I am looking for him, I am looking for him. If I am not looking for him, I am not looking for him.”JWmS
BaiF“What does that mean?”1BHGdW
v4Ci“It is like hoping to find a silver coin lying on the road while you walk. Enough talk, let us go down.”ONjU9
0vdMf“Yes.”gt98
xLvRuri’s index finger pointed at Perda’s feet.2kNU
UQvxShe moved her finger and a white whirlwind began to spin silently beneath Perda’s feet.eKzV
x67PwHTPerda felt his body become light.8p4
7tc‘Heaven Stair.’bopjuAE
ImqUA third-level spell that allows one to descend from the air to the ground slowly and safely.MvyTN
K9JnfgyA small and almost useless spell, but very used by nobles to maintain their elegance.yvPmNn
UuwHNSGPerda placed his foot in the air.z5B9k
U4uxRHis body slowly descended diagonally toward the platform.JndB
3wG4S“Eh?”fZfWtkt
bi6WqSomeone saw him and exclaimed.NFkFfBL
avX“Someone is coming down.”p5RhK
8dx4CUv“Is that… the owner of this castle?”e5aqa
wDLiThe wandering knights, lacking much perception, stared as he descended.At7mw
tNyPerda placed his foot on the platform with his hands behind his back.bNvv9C
0ahKgThen he slowly turned to observe the wandering knights.gsL9j
NiknvshHe had the dignity of a great magician that fit perfectly with that elegant magic.Rbi9
9X9gMEven the most clueless wandering knights fell silent.EGC
xZF5“A pleasure.”lpF
55HxNeHe greeted with a solemn voice.t61
RL2bxmw***nr0M0
sioQIStephan, who was observing Perda, was momentarily stunned by his presence.M45
PPCvG8m‘Is that the man who lives under Valdrova’s roof? An idiot brat drunk on power?’tZjPx
rgqgdHe could not help being surprised.BbTg
hPw6ESHe had heard that the dragon queen’s fiancé was barely a recent adult, but he really was young.oE6ORr
rzAIc4zAmong the wandering knights there was no one younger than him.gCjqr
uW7yCbiEven the youngest was five years older.tDF
SgsbPqh‘And even so his bearing is as imposing as that of the heads of families who have maintained their position for decades.’2ZRp
q4ufUfQAlthough he was at least five years younger, no one dared to impose themselves using age.YRZdwaf
ybN0gG‘This is not the time to think about that!’AafVq
4qbPStephan recovered from his trance.oUAwSn
1hwMZHe was standing in front of a ruler and still standing stiff-legged!a1k
PWt0Some quicker knights were already kneeling.IlycMs
OM8WpiqStephan lightly struck Robellus’s side.9HeV0
D2NUdW“Knight.”1hfhN7
SF7tu“Eh? Yes?”BTs2BEv
CZny“You must kneel.”cfXT
Tiabm“Eh? …Ah!”ZrL2U
1CQ4Then, hurriedly, he knelt.I5K
jMEwTa6It was an awkward attitude and poorly aligned with protocol, but what did that matter now?a8vvUxo
AvyYlEdThe other knights also reacted and knelt.z82ZSBu
VCes4CPerda continued speaking.LnP
VG5“I am Perda Valdrova, fiancé of Queen Valdrova and currently regent of the duchy.”ZTCbAFQ
ZVuun3O“We greet the regent of the duchy!”IIwEX
MNpvSomeone shouted in a loud voice.rQJ
5ndqeIxThe knights who had been distracted repeated the greeting with delay.QCplpG
0xSS2XOne of the knights standing at the front adjusted his hair.TUk
9PcbHe tried to introduce himself before anyone else.2TcwZ2
UOyMa“It is a great honor to step upon the territory of the ruler of great power. Allow me to introduce myself…”HKkhSO4
pVWP“Ah, that is not necessary.”Qbu
kgOzf5Perda cut off the arrogant knight.R7cKZ5
vlbmNot listening to a knight’s introduction was contrary to royal protocol.r93
OYXz3LX‘Why did he stop him?’7HuZ
iSzmwZThere was no need to think too much.ioHz
E60awkKHe simply had no intention of following protocol.RLz
S94l5“The wrappings you prepared are useless. What is inside is pure garbage. Why create expectations?”BRYHeJD
AUF“…What?”XXPesE3
zpR89KT“W-what do you mean…?”kIv
QpkrAll the wandering knights reacted in surprise.PPjduXh
kTfw0Their plate armor clattered with a metallic roar.ALakF
VAQvr‘This is getting very dangerous!’VE4oyE
qWw3HoThe smell of perfume was already making Stephan dizzy, and now the atmosphere was turning hostile as well.O71bb
ySeFQfBut Perda, after throwing that insult, remained as calm as an immense river.cvPpQ
47q“Do you want me to say it more clearly? It means that all of you are empty inside. Inflated bread with no filling. Empty carts that only make noise.”pES
DAuI5Bang!BlF
ljEHuRdSomeone struck the floor with his gauntlet.UhZ
eBbnEi“Your words are excessive, Regent! I ask that you withdraw that comment!”SbmZ
o9JVA fierce-looking knight spoke.mSskrK
nkmHis armor was full of scars, as if he had passed through countless battlefields.ZQHcr2
k99OsTHe was the same one who had bought thirty monster corpses from Stephan.So6Pr
AWGb‘Wow, what incredible audacity.’ZF05
sHbWhile Stephan observed with a tired expression, Perda stared down at him.8VtSPR7
6ivbuCk“That my words were excessive…?”JmtKz
aW5He nodded slowly, as if accepting that point.ekWib3r
OLcjdC“Very well. If my words were incorrect, then I will apologize.”lSaAxE
h2faq1IPerda walked with his hands behind his back along the edge of the platform.jDvRnEY
nZXnCg4His gaze passed over all the wandering knights.J4T3scF
0Fx“Is there anyone here who hunted the thirty creatures with their own hands?”v5aF
7CXVy“Ugh…”XIUM
W1R“Ahem…”cOwq0
xQdSome of the knights who had been about to protest the insult cleared their throats and lowered their heads.BOXG
bSrWBut those who had not done so observed the reactions of the others with mocking smiles.QE6Jju
HF1R2FXThe fierce-looking knight kept his head high.zbJ
quz4xxHThis time Perda asked those who still held their heads up.B75Am
4p9“Is there among you anyone who hunted thirty by himself?”F8B
eCw“Hmm…”f8ip7x
qyPAZ5“Hunt them alone? How could someone…?”pAbmwxC
QX4vSome murmured, but when overwhelmed by Perda’s gaze they closed their mouths.H6muJ2g
wgKvSeOthers lowered their heads again awkwardly.YEYvw
nqEaGxThat meant they had captured the monsters solely with their own strength, without obtaining them elsewhere.EiyGFo
9U66BD‘There is no one like that.’y0sYgj
mmdWqZIf a wandering knight had the strength to hunt thirty monsters alone, he would already be serving under someone.gtiL
lSSVk3zThe fact that all of them kept their heads raised meant they were all lying.tor00BT
NP3q5G5Perda could not know what they had done, so they simply acted shamelessly.wTJB
JqU2Yx‘No… if the lord of the territory were not a complete idiot, he would not believe that either.’Hiy
ouVrjSStephan observed Perda’s reaction.6aMw0
7sFC9Perda looked at those who had their heads raised and nodded.EtiDRcp
w3O“I see.”qO6FQ1F
BdYHRx8However, Perda accepted it.WV7m
huqLXSo easily?VBaef2d
mN4X“Then I will apologize.”xNo
W5iPerda approached the young maid beside him and extended his hand.Tn4G
6MHShe took from her skirt a parchment sealed with red ink.wvZE
qSCQ“Do you know what this is?”fFioP
1LRrtH7Perda held it up while asking.FXf
6GSUhtREven the dullest immediately understood what it was.FMYN
W601KJJ“What I have here is the certificate of ownership of the territory and the title that belonged to Tesalos Wolcher. Only your names need to be written for it to become valid.”qT0
QtJIt was exactly what all the knights desired.rmMi0h
ahpKJ“After all, you have hunted thirty monsters and offered them, so I must keep my promise, must I not?”7vqhSV
lo98enFHe said that while placing the document on the table of the platform.3TI
Jih5By“If you wish…”oixriel
vAEeoyThat was like the gunshot that signals the start of a war.ALULqHR
enU“Come and take it.”JaWOF
d8ecThe light burst in the eyes of all the wandering knights.aHLf
d4CyhStephan flinched instinctively.XYf2c
hjfnn9jIt was a scene he had seen far too many times.0e34SG
xdjmg0‘It is just like when we put up a 70% discount sign to clear inventory!’9MV
12ZWhen one gets trapped among those ladies with bulging eyes, one ends up crushed.dIgS6D4
x84hAnd here they were knights.80SRvn
qJ9Tj0The fight would be even worse.n0BT
NRGxDHe decided it was best not to look and lowered his head.gSQ6
C164VBut no one moved.9rb0YJ
KcIM5kBNot even Robellus beside him.boZEb5v
Up1XizxStephan slightly raised his head and asked him.2PpNmr0
SiC“Knight, are you not going?”wn7
RLIb“Ugh… ugh…”thEKA
gJbsDzHe could not.n37gO
Jtl3isqRobellus was suffering.e0jG
wHzHis eyes were so wide it seemed they might pop out as he stared at one point.aLiN
FWdTAIRStephan turned his head out of curiosity.IcJd
MS3IUjY“H-hah!”5YLoKts
Ef3He also let out a choked cry.9Csx
8XHJ‘A… dragon?’l9j
HBxjHxzIn the place where the maid had been.oJf
2PSlDqNThere was a silver dragon coiled up, looking at them with fury.dnBI
JDTyNNo one could move under that gaze.kWcc
vVrw456‘What in the world is this? When did it appear here? Or… were we the ones who arrived somewhere else?’huh
tIqStephan even wondered whether they had been transported somewhere else.HNBj
XnCMThe fear was so deep that it prevented clear thinking.tkzGfgz
hYJnkJJWhile everyone was paralyzed, someone stood up.KAqrRMt
hkORm“Success…”qLodzB
7GQOVHe breathed like an old man about to die.qqF
3Q0X50D“A territory…”bhNmWBk
LMYXUg“Marriage… escape…!”iuZ
5mQxbcgLike dying elders, they began to advance with difficulty toward the blank certificates.m5YP1N
2ZbUThe race toward the platform had begun.q26TYe5
982JThen—BUUSPC0
9zYjdGw— Grrrr…Rl4
6iMeQvThe dragon’s figure distorted.S2a4Bm
s9FOoWThe form that had remained still began to growl with fury as they approached.Ls0s
I3hThe wandering knights who had forced themselves to move froze again.e6f31kj
JdNyCIDThe silver dragon, which had been coiled, began to move.TSv
Fsl— KROAAAR!9W7bThl
QHJIt roared as if someone had touched its inverted scale.Tzkp
RPSAk***5ZIF
56H— If you use Dragon Fear, what will happen to the knights?hkZz
zdhCUtABefore meeting the knights, Perda asked Ruri.kccGk
LLdNG8n— Most will flee. They will believe a dragon is chasing them.WlvZGaP
2B3PPsH— And if you use it weakly?27CElr
sF1— Hmm… their senses will believe there is a dragon and they will not be able to move.NlcXII
S1WL— That will be enough. When I give the signal, could you release a little Dragon Fear?89oLc
T5AnR— Against knights?Gfy
39yC— Yes. If we are going to choose the lord of the territory, at least he should not be a coward.zjbR6
LqXPerda said it, and Ruri more or less agreed.tz8AI
PxrZU‘I thought anyone would do…’qcBvTH7
1zQ5w0But her thoughts began to change.NAija
1Au‘Damn smell.’hTv
oLJIt was because of the smell.r6bcO
eQP0yDragon Fear made them break into cold sweat and their body temperature increase.IDYJLV
goZciuThe heat intensified, and the smell of perfume mixed with sweat became even stronger.7mJO
4bMt80On the ceiling a nauseating cloud had formed, what people crudely call a burst of stench.mriN4a5
nNHg74Even Perda could now perceive that unbearable smell mixing in the air.KG4MLl
dBgVYFor Ruri it was a true hell.slCQFu
vBewXoThose who were sweating did not even realize it.1Pk
OlOJThey were too busy trying to endure Ruri’s Dragon Fear.VRW
CJA1cr2Some trembled with fear.lvIX1
HckWMOvOthers advanced by force, driven by greed.t8DQ
KoD8k“M-me too… now… I will prosper…!”GWAvWT
E1jB“A dr-dr-dr-dragon d-doesn’t s-scare me…!”5QqlO
AFw2AeThey even began to say their most miserable thoughts out loud.mtjZ3c
l27It was a perfect combination to test Ruri’s patience.o4kO3GM
URiXYT‘I want to throw them out right now.’Xfta
d2lBut Ruri fulfilled her role.pCiUnDR
OWExtFrShe tried to observe until the end.F5J2
YAPTJtThen her silver eyes finally saw him.nCYLO
E7qThat man who was at the front and climbing the platform.4dIY
fL90He had gone days without bathing and gave off an unbearable stench.uycqY
24sJYOn his skin, sweat had run and dried repeatedly in several layers.YBqhu
Rs5xA drop of sweat slid down that man’s cheek.3FeJtbh
d3oFAs it slid, it dragged the accumulated dirt on his face and mixed with it.D1p65g
mVbUWhen that sweat reached the tip of his chin, it fell like a drop formed at the end of a stalactite.SF82dgw
zIYnPloc—SS3N
tDTQAeAThe dirty, foul-smelling sweat seeped into the precious floor of Valdrova Castle.sQCZ3O
mXUmlCrack.GVUy9wx
K7nWs5wInside Ruri’s mouth, the sound of something breaking could be heard.UpH5B
1jpeGIcAt the moment all that information connected in her mind, Ruri lost her reason for an instant.cv6a
UHfihdiDragon Fear was released at its maximum and covered the entire banquet hall.dfriN4y
ZqsEyIt was only an instant, but it was more than enough.efp
YycaSF“Ahhh! I don’t want to die!”0q2ZO
xGS7tj0The knights who had managed to move while overcoming the fear were the first to turn around and run.YMlsc4
i9BWaqhPanic spread in an instant.hZ0CTcM
RHBwzw“Move! I’m getting out of here!”YwkmhM
Rxt7tP“Aaaah! Mom! Mommm!”JeB0
K2OFUThe knights began to run in a pathetic way, making noise with their armor.SXG
QoVWtLWithout anyone ordering it, everyone ran toward the exit, and the hall became empty in an instant.SPKNd
1iiOZc“Hmm…”LMb
iVfPerda, who had been observing everything, looked at the enormous doors now shattered and spoke.MjVlsSN
MGKO“I wanted to observe a little more. What a shame.”vpshV
H5iDX4y“…I’m sorry.”asaa
V0IaC“It doesn’t matter. There are many useless people like those. Others can always be chosen.”0ZhH
uhwPerda’s eyes slowly moved to another place.eaO1
xBE90Iu“Besides, it seems the selection was not a complete failure.”mhj7
XcHxbhIn the place that seemed to have been swept by a storm, one man remained standing.VnH53J
8fSvDwHe was not a knight.bHUMqGa
HQqMHis legs trembled, but if one looked carefully, it was because he was forcing himself not to run away.OwNLyXm
x80His eyes were full of tears and mucus hung from his nose.D9FnwSv
DHGYFluids came out of every opening in his face.YQbg
xcJUfuhThe situation was so terrifying that it seemed he might suffocate.hAEz
Dk1Even so, his eyes continued to look at Perda.TAqx4hN
T6CWhoever he was, he seemed like someone worth listening to.wUGjbR
62kc**jtPQW
fIVpKGValdrova Castle, reception room.CVOoqYr
2RXR“What is your name?”Jl3
vQgPENA“M-my name is S-Stephan Pascal.”z081jJd
arho“Your name is S-Stephan?”g47gA
ztM9“I-I’m sorry. I-I stuttered. S-te-phan.”IygHvY
vjG7E3“It’s fine. I understand. I only wanted to make sure. Speak calmly, you don’t need to force yourself.”99LU9ox
Dpnn21p“Y-yes, sir… Huff…!”Wp5pLT
O1H3IdZStephan had still not recovered from the aftereffects of Dragon Fear.CYvy7
7te0WHe breathed deeply again and again, but a few attempts were not enough to calm down.g1D396
CWou6‘He has an extraordinary mental fortitude.’pvsyc
DcWDEven with trembling lips he was able to maintain a conversation.lBsGn
kcHYPerda kept that thought to himself and asked him.jHR
vRYuP“If you belong to the Pascal family, do you have a connection with the Pascal trading company that I am thinking of?”nFPP
GaQdY“Y-yes. I am the second son of H-Herman Pascal. C-currently I am sub… deputy chief of the imperial main branch. No, de-puty chief.”ZASDj
nYik“I see. What brings you here?”hLl9vFn
YPoEeou“I-I was selling monster corpses to the knights… and I thought that perhaps Your Highness might need them… so I came to talk about it…”Iyw
JOAKwUHe was a man who had come with a clear purpose.XYXGbBd
bC9aHe had suppressed his instinct to flee because he could not give up that objective.EFZ
bmPHUd‘But what makes me hesitate is…’iix
VmseqHis name.nwHcaHa
Jw0eLStephan Pascal.9jOU5x2
VZD9‘It is a name I have never heard.’rD0
RIciqcHerman Pascal was the most famous merchant of the empire and the continent, so Perda knew him well.Y4SH
RCUO4hAfter his death, the struggle for the inheritance had intensified.qIFuT
YaB6But the protagonists of that dispute were only two.PFKrZS
FEsM6Merchit and Tilda.5zrB
iFbJc‘Then Stephan is a solitary candle in the middle of the sea.’OoSI
qC2z8jROn a windless day, a ship condemned to wander forever until it dies forgotten.IIPhY
bt5A man with the qualities to be an heir, but without support, destined to disappear without glory.jT6
gkvdThere were enough reasons to consider him someone insignificant.bSImTq
QKIo‘But if he is destined to collapse due to lack of support…’zgXb3x
8CNWhat would happen if he himself provided that support?XiAaQ
bPT‘Merchit and Tilda have already consolidated their own factions.’FmpUl
3zmEven if Perda supported one of them, he would gain nothing.kZzeJ
f6mo‘But if I introduce Stephan as a new force into that struggle…’mSxD
GazdwhdIf he succeeded, he could use the commercial network and information of the Pascal Company, considered the best in the empire.O5ic
1tFC3That would greatly help the development of the Far East, which was practically wild territory, and even a technological revolution.G05la
u20di7R“Stephan.”Ywvqd3A
mA8Perda, who had already made a decision, spoke.B2wK
PAQ“While you calm down, do you want to hear a rather absurd proposal?”VefHo
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