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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Red Thread Rebellion
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The sun was beginning to set.
The mission end time was approaching.
I was still sitting by the pond.
Holding my fishing rod.
Lirian sat beside me.
Still.
"......"
An awkward silence lingered.
There was hardly any conversation.
Occasionally, Lirian would say something.
And I'd give a short reply.
That was it.
Not a single fish had been caught.
It didn't matter.
Fish weren't the goal anyway.
Avoiding first place was.
"We should probably head back soon."
Lirian said.
"...Yeah."
I reeled in my rod.
Stood up.
Lirian stood too.
"Let's go."
Lirian walked ahead.
I followed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Heading back to the campsite, the participants were gathered.
The men were drenched in sweat.
Covered in dirt.
Some had blood on them.
They'd all been running around hard.
"Great job, everyone!"
The host smiled brightly.
"Now, time to announce the results!"
The area fell quiet.
Tension hung in the air.
Me?
I wasn't tense.
I'd just gone fishing, after all.
No way I'd take first.
"The most impressive participant today is..."
The host paused for effect.
"Leon von Kreutz!"
The count's third son.
He cheered.
"Yes!"
He pumped his fist.
A staff member brought something over.
A deer.
A pretty big one.
Impressive antlers too.
"Lord Kreutz hunted this magnificent deer. It's perfect to present to Her Highness!"
The host showered him with praise.
The count's third son puffed up proudly.
"I tracked it for three hours. Chased it deep into the northeast forest..."
The boasting began.
It was going to drag on.
Me?
"......"
I felt relieved.
Phew.
I'm safe.
No first place.
No alone time with the princess.
No misunderstandings with big bro.
No dying.
...
Perfect.
I nodded in satisfaction.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇📰 Breaking News[Breaking] Galju Eliminated Writer: Anon | Views: 12,847 (Rising Fast) Count's third son takes 1st Galju eliminated for fishing💬 Comments— Anon?????????— AnonWhat???????— AnonWhat is this nonsense?— SilverHairBeauty_MineOKRigged judging???— AnonGalju eliminated???? Galju?????— NorthernWolf_BiteMePleaseFuck, what are the producers doing?📰 Breaking NewsProducers Who Eliminated Galju, Come Out Writer: EasternMarquis_3rdDaughter_Pseudonym | Views: 8,291 Does this even make sense? What's impressive about catching a deer? Galju went fishing in the hunting grounds. Fishing. Isn't that more impressive? By originality, Galju wins hands down?💬 Comments— AnonFr, even objectively fishing is more impressive— AnonAnyone can catch a deer. Only Galju fished.— AnonWhat the hell are the judging criteria?— SilverHairBeauty_MineOKWhere do we file complaints against producers?📰 Breaking NewsTime for a Coup? Writer: Anon | Views: 15,847 (Rising Fast) This is too much Galju eliminated? I reject the judging results Coup go go💬 Comments— AnonLmao coup lol— AnonI'm seriously pissed but coup? Lmao— EasternMarquis_3rdDaughter_PseudonymHey, my dad's territory has 500 knights and 3,000 infantry. Count me in.— NorthernWolf_BiteMePleaseOur house has 200 private soldiers. Can we join?— AnonLmao this is a joke right??? Right????📰 Notice[Notice] Northern Grand Duke Household Support Force Recruitment Writer: RofanGalJju-dak (Admin) | Views: 18,472 Rejecting the judging results, recruiting forces. Let's restore Galju's honor. [Participation Status] (0/100,000) Participation method: Reply with family name + troop count💬 Comments— EasternMarquis_3rdDaughter_PseudonymEastern Marquis Household, 500 knights + 3,000 infantry— NorthernWolf_BiteMePleaseNorthern minor territory, 200 private soldiers— AnonWestern baron's house, 50 militia (joining secretly from dad)— AnonCentral knight family, 30 knights— AnonWtf lmao joke but why is it actually gathering lol📰 Notice[Live] Troop Status Update Writer: RofanGalJju-dak (Admin) | Views: 31,847 [Participation Status] (5,780/100,000)💬 Comments— AnonWhy is it actually increasing lmao— AnonOver 5k now lmao— SilverHairBeauty_MineOKThis is a joke right????— AnonJoke but everyone's serious lmao— EasternMarquis_3rdDaughter_PseudonymNot a joke? Can't tolerate Galju's honor being tarnished.— AnonAre you serious???? Serious?????📰 Breaking News[Breaking] Breaks 10k Writer: Anon | Views: 42,847 [Participation Status] (12,847/100,000) Holy shit actually over 10k💬 Comments— AnonLmaooooooooo— AnonThis is rebellion crime lmao— AnonWhat if the imperial family sees this lmao— NorthernWolf_BiteMePleaseFor Galju, I'd even rebel— AnonCalm down lmao calm down— EasternMarquis_3rdDaughter_Pseudonym20k go go
...
I stared at the window floating in front of me.
"......"
What the hell is this.
Coup?
Troop recruitment?
12k?
"......"
A joke, right?
Has to be a joke.
No.
The numbers were still climbing.
In real time.
"......"
Big bro.
If big bro sees this.
I'm really dead.
No joke, actually dead.
"......"
I tried to close the window.
It wouldn't close.
The numbers kept rising.
(15,284/100,000)
(16,847/100,000)
(18,291/100,000)
(20,234/100,000)
(22,324/100,000)
"......"
I'm done for.
This time for real.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Princess Irene la Imperia sat in her chair.
In front of her stood the count's third son.
Leon von Kreutz.
Today's winner.
The man who caught the deer.
"Your Highness, this deer was hunted deep in the northeast forest."
Leon explained eagerly.
His eyes sparkled.
"I tracked it for three hours. Followed the footprints, sniffed the scent, even calculated the wind direction..."
He was passionate.
Very passionate.
"When the deer bolted, it was so tense. Nearly lost it, but I leaped at the last moment and..."
His words didn't stop.
"I gave it my all to present to Your Highness. How about gloves from its hide? Ah, of course, if Your Highness has other ideas..."
"......"
Irene nodded.
"I see. Good work."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Leon beamed.
"I'm thrilled you're pleased! Next time, something bigger—a bear, or maybe a boar..."
...
Irene was listening.
She was listening.
She even responded.
Politely.
"I see."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Impressive."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
But.
...
Strangely.
She couldn't focus.
Leon's words weren't registering.
More than the man before her.
Her attention kept drifting elsewhere.
"....."
She looked out the window.
Far off.
The pondside was visible.
A silver-haired man sat there.
Fishing rod in hand again.
"......"
Beside him sat a black-haired woman.
Lirian de Goldwin.
Cat-like eyes.
Posture like she was eyeing prey.
As if waiting to snatch the fish the moment he hooked it.
"......"
What are those two doing?
"Your Highness? Your Highness?"
Leon's voice pulled her back.
"Ah, yes."
Irene turned her gaze.
"Sorry. What did you say?"
"Oh, I was explaining about the antlers..."
"I see."
"Yes! These antlers are unusually seven-pronged..."
Leon started explaining again.
Irene nodded.
"......"
But her eyes kept flicking to the window.
That man.
Kasian de Valentine.
The other men risked their lives for alone time with the princess.
Catching deer.
Sweating buckets.
Bleeding.
But that guy?
Fishing by the pond.
Time with the princess?
Acted like he didn't care.
No.
He truly didn't seem to care.
"......"
Intriguing.
A new type.
What did that man want?
Power?
Honor?
A connection with the princess?
None seemed right.
Then what?
"......"
She looked out the window again.
Kasian moved his rod.
Something seemed to bite.
Lirian leaned in beside him.
Eyes full of curiosity.
Like a cat pouncing on fish.
...
"Interesting."
Irene murmured.
Inadvertently.
"Pardon? What's interesting, Your Highness?"
Leon asked.
"Nothing."
Irene smiled.
A polite smile.
"Continue with the antler story."
"Ah, yes! So these seven prongs..."
Leon chattered on.
Irene pretended to listen.
"......"
But other thoughts swirled in her mind.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
At the same time.
In the North.
Outside Valentine territory.
"Gaaahhh!"
A scream echoed.
One knight went flying.
Armor and all.
Crashed into a tree and fell.
Didn't move.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The ground shook.
Footsteps.
A giant's footsteps.
"Retreat! Fall back!"
The knight captain yelled.
Too late.
The giant's foot slammed down.
An earthquake hit.
Knights lost balance and toppled.
"Grrraaaah!"
The giant roared.
Over 10 meters tall.
Skin like rock.
Its eyes bloodshot.
A berserk giant descended from the mountains.
A disaster-class monster that appeared once every few years even in the North.
First platoon! Target the legs!"
"Second! Flank attack!"
"Third! Rear support!"
The Northern knights charged.
Hundreds strong.
Swords pierced the giant's legs.
Spears stabbed its sides.
Arrows rained down.
...
Scratches.
That was all.
"No good!"
"Skin's too tough!"
The giant swung its arm.
Ten knights flew off at once.
"Aaaagh!"
Blood sprayed.
Armor crumpled.
Screams unending.
"Damn...!"
The knight captain gritted his teeth.
Hundreds clinging on, yet only scratches.
This way, total annihilation.
"Young master...! Where is the young master!"
Then.
Wind blew.
No.
Not wind.
Someone passed by.
"......"
The knight captain blinked.
Something streaked past.
Black coat.
Silver hair.
And.
Greatsword.
"Grrraaah..."
The giant's roar cut off.
Strange.
It stopped midway.
"......?"
The knights looked up.
The giant stood.
Still standing.
But.
"......"
Something was off.
A line carved on the giant's body.
Vertical.
From knee to head.
Straight line.
"......"
Riiip.
A sound rang out.
The giant's body began to split.
To the left.
To the right.
Both sides.
"W-Woah...!"
Knights backed away.
Booom!!!
The giant's body collapsed.
Cleaved in two.
The earth trembled.
Dust rose.
Blood flowed like a river.
"......"
In the center.
One man stood.
Silver hair.
Black coat.
Wolf-like eyes.
Slowly sheathing his greatsword.
Click.
The sound of blade entering scabbard.
Not a drop of blood.
On his clothes.
On the sword.
On his face.
Raon de Valentine.
The Northern Grand Duke Household's official heir.
The prodigy said to be closest to Swordmaster among the new generation.
"Y-Young master...!"
The knight captain knelt.
The other knights followed.
Hundreds.
In unison.
"Good work."
Raon said.
Low voice.
Emotionless.
"Tend to the wounded and return."
"Y-Yes!"
The knight captain replied.
Raon turned.
Walked away.
Behind him, the giant's corpse smoked.
Thud.
The giant's head rolled free.
Raon didn't look back.
Just walked.
"......"
He murmured.
"Little brother."
Low voice.
Unreadable emotion.
The giant's fall echoed like an aftershock.
Raon didn't stop.
He walked into the darkness.
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