Chapter 62: The Hero’s Return (#3)
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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“Ooh! Our hero has returned! Sound the trumpets and drums!”
The Baron, having received prior notice, was waiting for me at the gate. His vassals were lined up behind him in a semicircle.
Segeric, catching my eye, nodded with a bright smile, while Ailgar, standing nearby, wore a forced expression.
The citizens lining the streets cheered, waving cloths embroidered with my family crest, the griffin, and showering us with flower petals.
“The one who opened the gate with three stones!”
“The one who fought three battles and won three victories!”
“The undefeated knight!”
It had been a war destined for defeat. We were on the verge of accepting a humiliating truce agreement after losing a key stronghold.
Yet, I, without receiving any additional resources, had restored everything to its pre-war state. I had even avenged the Baron’s wounded pride by laying waste to the enemy’s territory.
That was why the Baron had organized such a grand welcome. However, considering his miserliness, it wasn’t entirely for my benefit.
I was reminded of modern-day politicians who always made sure to be seen at major events. I bowed my head slightly and said,
“A hero? I’m hardly worthy of such praise. I wouldn’t have even been able to start this war without your permission, My Lord. It was your bold decision that led to our victory. You are the true hero.”
A flicker of something crossed the Baron’s otherwise impassive eyes as I gave him all the credit.
“Haha, and humble too!”
The Baron seemed quite pleased with me, having understood and skillfully addressed his unspoken desires without being asked.
This was evident from the way he grasped my hand and raised it.
“Wooo!!!”
As the vassals and citizens cheered, the Baron, like a returning general, led the procession.
He hadn’t provided any support, yet he was now basking in the glory of victory, like a thief claiming credit for another’s work.
Still, I smiled and followed him. It was an opportunity to publicly demonstrate the Baron’s favor.
Not everyone was pleased.
“My Lord! He’s not a hero! He’s a treacherous traitor!”
Bolton, bound and restrained, rushed towards the Baron. His voice was so loud it silenced the cheers. Instead, curious gazes turned towards us.
The Baron’s brow twitched as his carefully orchestrated spectacle was disrupted. A guard moved to stop Bolton, but retreated at the Baron’s gesture.
The Baron quickly regained his composure and addressed Bolton, his smile not reaching his eyes.
“Bolton of Bryuen, is it not? The war has taken its toll on you, I almost didn’t recognize you! You… too, are a man worthy of being called a hero! Now… now, let’s discuss the details at the castle after you’ve had a chance to rest.”
“We must speak now! A victory celebration for a traitor? How is that even possible?!”
Oblivious to the fact that he was ruining the Baron’s carefully prepared spectacle, Bolton focused solely on accusing me and escaping his predicament.
He was truly clueless. Perhaps his position as the heir to a powerful family had made him so.
“Allow me to apologize on his behalf. He’s not normally like this, but it seems the war has taken a toll on him.”
I stepped forward before the Baron’s frown could deepen. The Baron’s gaze softened as he looked at me.
“Indeed, war can do that. I myself couldn’t sleep for days after my first battle. Bolton of Bryuen, let’s discuss this at the castle after you’ve had some rest.”
“My Lord…?”
The Baron turned and resumed walking. Bolton stared blankly at his retreating back. For the first time, his family’s status and political influence had failed him.
I clicked my tongue.
“He’s truly clueless.”
“What trickery is this?!”
“You’d be wise to watch your step if you want to keep your head.”
Bolton didn’t heed my warning. He confronted the Baron again as soon as we entered the castle, where a victory banquet awaited.
“My Lord! He’s a traitor! Not only did he plunder our allies’ territories, but he also conspired with the enemy and attacked his own men! How can you call such a man a hero?! He should be executed!”
While I had provoked him hoping for this outcome, his reaction was almost too perfect.
Bolton was framing me for the plundering he himself had orchestrated, and even the ambush he had set up and lost to Powell.
While the latter was partially true, he didn’t seem to realize it.
The celebratory atmosphere in the banquet hall vanished instantly. All eyes turned to Bolton and me. Segeric looked flustered, while Ailgar’s eyes gleamed sharply.
The Baron finally turned his full attention to Bolton. His smile was gone, replaced by his usual impassive expression.
“Betrayal? What are you talking about?”
“He plundered our allies’ territories to replenish our dwindling supplies after the enemy barricaded themselves in the tower! He even conspired with the enemy commander and had him attack your loyal vassals!”
Bolton, seemingly emboldened by the fact that his family’s influence was finally working, pointed at me and continued his accusations. The Baron turned to me.
“Is this true?”
“There’s no need to ask! A traitor wouldn’t tell the truth!”
“Hardly.”
I shrugged casually.
“Look at this! This lying traitor! You’ll lose your head!”
Bolton continued his relentless accusations. Murmurs spread through the banquet hall. Those with close ties to the Bryuen family seemed to believe him, while others looked suspicious.
“Plundering his allies? Such a thing is unthinkable!”
“Perhaps even this victory was staged! He might have planted a spy within our ranks for a greater victory!”
Ironically, it was the lords whose territories had been plundered by Bolton who supported his claims. They were Ailgar’s supporters, who saw this as an opportunity to eliminate me, a thorn in their side since I had sided with Segeric.
Ailgar and Joang Conrad were at the center of this, their eyes gleaming as they seized this opportunity.
It was almost comical. To think even Ailgar and Joang Conrad would fall for Bolton’s flimsy lies.
‘Or perhaps they simply didn’t care about the truth.’
Segeric’s supporters had been significantly weakened by the war. Eliminating me as well would give Ailgar’s faction a decisive advantage.
Considering Ailgar and Joang Conrad’s cunning, this was a more plausible explanation.
“I have heard reports of plundering in the territories near the tower.”
“It was the work of that traitor disguised as a hero! Punish him, My Lord.”
Bolton grew even more arrogant as the Baron seemed to agree with him. However, his arrogance was short-lived. The Baron’s gaze turned cold as he looked down at Bolton.
“However, I’ve heard that the true culprit is someone else.”
“What…?”
The atmosphere shifted abruptly. Bolton involuntarily took a step back, but the Baron’s guards had already positioned themselves behind him.
Bolton, trapped, stared at the Baron in disbelief. Even Ailgar’s supporters, who had been clamoring for my execution, fell silent, sensing the sudden change in the atmosphere.
“Tsk, tsk. Bolton of Bryuen, be informed that the victims have already identified you as the culprit.”
“No! That’s not true! He framed me!”
“There are witnesses who saw your family crest.”
“That’s impossible! I made sure to conceal it! How could they possibly…!”
In his panic, Bolton inadvertently revealed the truth. The Baron’s gaze turned even colder.
“Moreover, the victims themselves came to me and testified against you and your followers, providing detailed descriptions of your appearances. They’re still at the castle, so I can arrange a confrontation if you wish.”
“How… How can you believe the words of those ignorant fools and accuse me, a Bryuen, of such a dishonorable crime?! I am a Bryuen! A Bryuen!”
Bolton tried to use his family name to intimidate the Baron, but the Baron remained unfazed.
Bolton desperately looked around for help, but no one stepped forward. Even Ailgar’s supporters, who had been so eager to attack me alongside him, averted their gazes.
“D-Do you really believe the words of those fools?! Is that really true?! Someone, say something!”
I shook my head. Ailgar’s supporters hadn’t changed their tune because they knew the truth.
The problem was that the Baron had already secured the evidence and witnesses before they could.
‘This is the Baron’s doing!’ Wouldn’t they think that? That was why they had chosen to retreat, intimidated.
It was as I expected. Weren’t they the same people who had turned a blind eye to the Baron’s attempt to steal my territory? I knew they would react the same way in a similar situation.
“H-How…!”
It seemed Bolton finally realized there was something he didn’t know. He grasped at his last straw.
“Lord Segeric! It’s a lie! Tell him it’s not true!”
Segeric had no choice but to intervene. Bolton was his biggest supporter. He had to save him.
However,
“How shameless and dishonorable! Bolton, I had such faith in you! How could you disappoint me so?!”
Segeric, instead of defending him, condemned Bolton. It was an unexpected reaction. I noticed Segeric and the Baron exchanging glances.
‘Did they have a secret agreement?’
It seemed the Baron and Segeric had made a deal, using Bolton as a bargaining chip. Judging by Ailgar and Joang’s shocked expressions, they weren’t aware of it.
What could Segeric have gained from the Baron to make him abandon Bolton, his biggest supporter?
As I pondered this, the Baron’s gaze returned to Bolton.
“Bolton of Bryuen, do you think I’m a fool? Or did you think you could get away with betraying your lord and escape punishment by relying on your family name?”
“How… how…?”
Bolton, dragged away by the guards like a criminal, still couldn’t comprehend the sudden turn of events.
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The atmosphere in the banquet hall remained unsettled even after he was gone. Just as the Baron was about to have the musicians resume playing to lighten the mood,
“There’s something we need to address.”
Ailgar, who had been letting his supporters speak for him, stepped forward. The Baron looked intrigued.
“Speak.”
“Sir Allen was the commander of Bolton and his cohorts, who committed such atrocious acts. If he had properly managed his subordinates, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”
Ailgar wasn’t satisfied with just Bolton. Why would he be, when eliminating me as well would give his faction a decisive advantage over Segeric’s?
However, he didn’t get his wish. The Baron shook his head.
“You’re right that a commander bears responsibility. However, Sir Allen only recently joined my service. It would have been impossible for him to have complete control over his subordinates from the start.”
The Baron looked around the banquet hall and continued,
“Moreover, even if he bears some responsibility, it pales in comparison to his achievements. Let no one mention this matter again.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Ailgar, bowing his head and retreating, couldn’t hide his disbelief.
If the Baron had agreed with him and diminished my contributions, he could have justified reducing my reward in the upcoming distribution of spoils. Yet, the miserly Baron had refused to do so.
Ailgar glared at me, suspecting I was the reason for the Baron’s unusual behavior. I simply smiled in response.
‘He has no idea that I offered a third of the plunder as a bribe. Moreover, the Baron will also seize the Bryuen family’s assets.’
While I would also have to share with the families plundered by Bolton, the Baron would ultimately receive the largest share. That was why he couldn’t help but support me.
I didn’t mind the cost. After all, the Baron’s wealth was destined to be mine. I was simply letting him hold onto it for a while.
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With the commotion settled, the victory banquet resumed, accompanied by the musicians’ music.
“Sir Allen.”
“I was here first! Wait your turn!”
“Ahem, I’m next.”
Countless people approached me, eager to speak with me. Segeric, too, was surrounded by a crowd.
The victory in the war he had sponsored had proven Segeric’s foresight and decisiveness. Moreover, his condemnation of Bolton suggested a prior agreement with the Baron.
People now believed that Segeric’s position as heir was secure.
It was exactly what I wanted. However, I couldn’t be completely at ease. I didn’t know what Segeric had gained from the Baron in exchange for abandoning Bolton.
I tried to approach Segeric to find out, but the crowd was too thick. It seemed Segeric was deliberately avoiding me as well.
‘What’s going on?’
In the end, I couldn’t speak with Segeric that day and had to wait until the next.
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Ugh man I miss FIORE For REAL!
Thanks Teot!