Episode 128 Karlstein (2)
At one time, it seemed like all my worries and concerns would disappear if I just made a contract with the soul master.
But the reality was different.
[It’s the Glacier Water, Skadia.]
The cold voice and the gaze of my father, as if he were dealing with a stranger, were still the same. It was just that he didn’t speak as directly as before.
[Have you ever told anyone about this?] [Oh, no…] [Good. Let’s keep this between you and me for now.]
It’s not a request or anything like that, it’s a notice.
[yes yes…….]
Misha nodded without saying anything.
Well, there was something that stung.
She didn’t make the contract in a normal way. She succeeded in making the contract through trickery, using a strange ring called the Frost Spirit Ring.
If my father knew about this… … .
‘I guess this kind of treatment is expected.’
Of course, I didn’t have the courage to ask that.
For her, her father was the most fearful person of all.
So when his father asked him if he would ever bring the barbarian to the mansion, he said yes.
Well, I didn’t say a word to Bjorn though.
‘Yeah, this is a problem I have to overcome on my own.’
Haven’t you already received a favor that would be difficult to repay?
I can’t be a burden anymore.
Although he tried hard to rationalize it that way, deep down inside he had another true intention.
‘I don’t want to get caught.’
He didn’t want to make his situation known.
Hikuro, Dwalki, Rotmiller… … .
Even if they all found out, I wanted to make it seem like I was doing well, at least to Bjorn.
So I stopped by the house often.
[I guess I should go now. I have to stop by my parents’ house for a bit today.]
I tried my best.
The gazes of my brothers who asked why I visited so often, the contemptuous gazes of the servants, and the lonely air that felt like I was left alone on a deserted island during dinner.
Faced it head on.
‘You can’t run away any longer.’
Because I learned it from Bjorn.
You won’t get anything by running away.
One month, two months, three months passed like that.
[Is he still there?]
His father’s urging to bring Bjorn became more intense. He tried to explain that he was reluctant, but his father seemed to know that he was lying.
Looking at the conditions set out like this.
[Bring me here within this month. Then I will reconsider how I treat you. Do you understand?]
In simple terms, it means that he will let his family know that he has made a contract with the soul beast and treat them like proper children.
I couldn’t figure out why he went to such lengths to meet Bjorn.
However, Misha decided to invite Bjorn.
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I felt a bit bad because it seemed like I was using him… … .
‘I can repay you by doing better.’
He thought that if he did well, he would be able to stand up to Bjorn in the future. He also had a calculation that if he could gain support from Karlstein, it would help his actions.
[Okay.] [… … What? Really? Really? Wow! It’s not that bad?] [Okay, what time do I have to be there tomorrow?]
Contrary to his worries, Bjorn readily agreed.
But my joy was short-lived, and I soon became anxious.
Once you get to the mansion, you won’t be able to hide it anymore.
What should I do about that?
If Bjorn were to cause a ruckus there, it would certainly be uncontrollable.
but…….
‘… … It’s excessive self-consciousness! Excessive!’
Misha chuckled and shook off her anxiety.
Well, Bjorn is a warrior who is hot when he’s hot, but colder than anyone else when he’s cold.
A holy place for other races.
And he wouldn’t do something like that in the middle of a pureblood family.
Aren’t we related by blood like family?
There is no way that he would choose to side with Karlstein or Chuck at such a high price.
‘Yeah, that’s ridiculous. What did I say…?’
Misha organized her thoughts like that.
Somehow, after admitting it, a corner of my heart ached, but dreams and reality are definitely different.
Now she knows it too.
“Behel—raaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
The tail stood stiffly at the sound of a roar so ferocious that it hurt my ears.
It was a natural thing.
The employee looks like he is wondering what the heck is going on… … .
She knew, having been stuck with him.
“You definitely have a head problem.”
That means I’m going to smash your head in!
***
“Hey, you crazy! Ha, stop it! Why are you doing this all of a sudden!”
Misha grabbed my arm in surprise and turned her head around to look around, as if checking if anyone else had heard the commotion.
Looking at that sight, I felt sorry for him too.
‘It’s just like when I was in elementary school.’
Compromise and consideration. It’s about erasing yourself by prioritizing other people’s feelings.
I also once thought that was normal.
but…….
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“Why? I just wanted to!”
“What, what are you talking about!!”
I said, pulling Misha’s arm away from the game.
“Misha, sometimes you can do whatever you want.”
“Uh, yeah… … ?”
“Why do you endure it? Even if you endure it, in the end it’s all just for the good of others.”
“I am not someone else, I am family… … .”
What about family?
Now that I think about it, I guess you could say it’s not someone else, but a guy.
I asked again.
“So that family is more important than your life?”
Misha kept her mouth shut.
Well, I’m sure you know it in your head.
What was the source of his efforts to visit his family periodically in hopes of creating a harmonious family?
“… … .”
It’s all just foolishness.
Even if you have it, it’s of no use.
Emotions that are nothing but the epitome of inefficiency.
“Answer me. If you say yes, I will stop here.”
I checked with the doctor one last time, and Misha didn’t say anything.
That was the answer for me.
“From now on, just watch. You won’t have to worry about anything.”
“Ha, but if you hurt that guy—”
Yeah, it’s going to be a mess.
It’s not the fine that’s the problem, but the wrath of the Karlstein family, who are presumed to be honor-conscious.
however…….
“Misha Karlstein, when have I ever said something I couldn’t keep?”
“… … There wasn’t any.”
“Okay, so trust me.”
It’s not that I did things without thinking.
The ignorant barbarian mode shines when you turn it on and off depending on the situation.
Thump.
I take a step forward, leaving Misha behind.
The servant was still arrogant.
thus.
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“What on earth were you two talking about? No matter how ill-mannered you may be—”
Snap, grab the guy by the neck and lift him up.
“Aren’t you the one who has no manners?”
“Ugh, ugh!”
“How dare you, as a servant of Karlstein, act so insolently without even recognizing your master.”
“That, that’s… … !”
The guy looked distressed.
Also, he had a look of disbelief in his eyes.
Well, you might be wondering if this is a dream.
Did you ever imagine that this would happen in broad daylight, in front of the mansion’s front gate, and not in a dark alley?
“No, let go… … Whew!”
Is it because I lack imagination?
“If you do this, … … .”
Are you saying that if I do something like this, I’ll be in big trouble?
Sigh.
If he knew that, he wouldn’t do something like this.
If he did, it would be more correct to see it as meaning that he had thought about it.
But you don’t even know this simple truth.
“You, you really have a problem with your head.”
Clench your fist and apply moderate force.
Of course, if he were to be killed, even the country would be in a situation that would be difficult to handle.
“Don’t worry. Most of the time, hitting will fix it.”
“Ugh, ugh!!”
I grabbed the guy by the neck who was trying to say something to silence him, then gently rubbed the area that was suitable for hitting.
And then, like a honeycomb, he struck it with only the strength of his wrist.
Phew-!
A guy who lost all strength in his body and passed out with just one blow.
I checked the wound while holding the neck as if looking at an object.
Blood flowed profusely from the crushed nose, but… … .
We need to do this much to become an example for the future.
“… … What are you going to do now? If your father finds out, he won’t stay still.”
Misha, who had been watching with an almost resigned expression, asked about his future plans. He stayed still because she told him to trust her, but it seemed like he wasn’t at ease.
“You’ll know if you wait and see.”
I lifted the unconscious man up with one hand and headed toward the mansion entrance. As I passed the garden, I saw the servants around me.
People mowing the lawn or carrying things somewhere.
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“… … Eek! Tell Lord Beros the news quickly!”
As attention focuses on them, some of them run away into the mansion.
I followed them into the open door.
and…….
“Stop, Barbarian.”
I was surrounded by about fifteen men.
Combat personnel armed to the teeth and bearing a fierce demeanor. As I stopped, the tough guy who seemed to be the leader opened his mouth.
In a tone that almost seemed like an order.
“Misha Karlstein, can you explain to me what is going on? Who is that barbarian? Why is Brande, who is supposed to be guarding the main gate, in such a state?”
His name was Brant.
“Uh, that’s… … .”
“Misha, you don’t need to explain.”
I threw the now useless Brant into the crowd of men, and at the same time they caught him in surprise.
“What the hell are you guys doing!!”
He shouted so loudly that the mansion shook.
The people all had blank stares.
Should I say that I have a feeling that my head can’t keep up with what’s going on?
“I came here because your master invited me. But this guy insulted me, calling me a barbarian!”
Misha tilted her head at my continued shouting.
And he hummed so quietly that only I could hear.
“Oh, did you say something like that?”
This kid also tends to worry about little things.
If you insist that you don’t remember because you hit your head on purpose, that’s the end of it.
“Don’t lie! Brant would never do something like that.”
For a moment, he was taken aback by my shouting.
The punk refuted it as if it was nonsense.
In my opinion, it was like digging my own grave.
Because the ignorant barbarian is immune to logic attacks.
“Are you lying? Are you insulting me too?”
As I took a step forward as if I was going to attack at any moment, the punk stepped back.
I don’t think it’s because I’m afraid of fighting.
I guess it’s because I’m the guest of the owner.
“What the hell is this noise!”
While the crowd was at a loss, a man jumped down from the second floor connected to the central staircase.
It was a face I remembered.
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Misha’s older brother whom I met on the third floor the other day.
So, the name is… … .
I don’t remember. No, did I even hear it in the first place?
I decided to put aside the trivial stuff and focus on the present.
“Surely I didn’t expect that the guest my father called was you.”
“It’s been a while.”
“So that’s the greeting, so what’s going on here?”
My brother narrows his eyes and glares at me.
“If you can’t explain it properly, even you won’t be able to get back on track.”
Yeah, that look in your eyes is really murderous.
Last time, I even saved your life.
‘Anyway, I told you he’s a kid I don’t like.’
I repeated the same story of how I had been insulted by the gatekeeper, Brande, before, and added something else to it.
“If it were just me, I would have tolerated it. But what on earth is this crazy guy doing? He lives off his family, and he dares to insult Misha?”
As I shouted, pointing at the unconscious Brande, a wrinkle appeared clearly on my brother’s forehead.
“I told you to be careful around outsiders.”
It was a slightly bewildering reaction.
It was a hastily made story, so are you just going to let it go like that?
Damn, this place is even worse than I thought.
It must have been something that happened on a daily basis.
I said, not hiding my rising disgust.
“So you’re saying that you all knew about this but just turned a blind eye to it?”
“It’s a family matter. There’s no reason for me to explain it to you. And you can all go back to your seats.”
“Yes, Tailon.”
Soon, my brother took off his guard, turned his head, and stared at me again.
“Bjorn Jandel, this incident was clearly a mistake on our part, so let’s not make it an issue.”
“and?”
“… … If it is true that Isa insulted you, I will give you an appropriate punishment. So be satisfied with this.”
“Satisfaction… … .”
I chuckled, trailing off.
Give a good education to a spoiled brat.
Furthermore, it impresses upon many people that I am not a pushover.
Originally, this was my plan.
but…….
‘I guess I’ll have to go with Plan B.’
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I smiled and approached my brother.
“Do you have any problems with your head?”
Plans always change.
