Chapter 42: Honorary Count Deon Hart

“While playing a game of hitting trees with weapons at the training grounds, he broke 11 weapons and knocked down four trees. Later, it evolved into a game of targeting our knights.”

I silently glared at the Killer Knight member.

He shifted his eyes as if embarrassed, but then puffed out his chest, deciding to be brazen.

“It’s training, training.”

“Shut up! You call ambushing us during our rest time training?!”

“It’s not like the enemy will only attack when we’re not resting. We need to get used to it.”

“Then what about stealing our meals?!”

“Training to prepare for situations where food is scarce?”

“Ugh, my stomach medicine….”

That sturdy knight needs stomach medicine….

And it’s only been a week. I couldn’t hide my sigh.

Sir Cain, who had finally found and taken his stomach medicine, called out to me desperately.

“The number of knights taking stomach medicine is increasing. Please, do something about these son of a… this knight order.”

“Were you about to call them sons of bitches just now?”

“No.”

“Don’t even try! Want me to show you what real sons of bitches are like?”

It felt like the knights of the Count’s mansion had good complexions just a week ago.

I stared at Sir Cain’s haggard face before turning my gaze back to the mad dog rampaging around.

As if sensing my gaze with his animalistic senses, he seemed to quiet down, only to start scratching his head and offering clumsy excuses.

Actually, they couldn’t even be called excuses.

“Still, it’s more restrained than what we did at the Imperial Palace….”

“You did this at the Imperial Palace too?!”

No, they did even more? These crazy bastards!

Drip.

Blood fell.

Of course. I was already tired from various things today, and now my blood pressure is rising, my body can’t handle it.

“Count!”

“Captain, no, Count!”

I quickly pinched my nose and leaned back against the chair.

Damn it, I thought I was going to get through the day without seeing blood for once.

My vision is blurry. My eyelids are getting heavier, and then darkness came.

The last things I vaguely saw were Rememver and what looked like Sir Lien.

‘Thank goodness. Someone get this bastard out of my sight….’

The familiar scent of blankets. I opened my eyes, and the equally familiar ceiling filled my vision.

I blinked for a moment, unable to grasp the situation.

“Are you awake?”

A calm voice asked.

In my memory, there’s only one person who has such a calm voice.

“Rememver.”

“Yes, Count.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Not long. Exactly one hour and twenty-four minutes.”

Seems like a long time for just a nosebleed-induced fainting spell?

Whether they called the physician while I was out, the physician who was waiting nearby approached and began examining my body.

As if the physician wasn’t even there, Rememver stared intently at me and calmly spoke.

“What would you like to do?”

“…Pardon?”

“The knight who upset you is currently being escorted by Sir Lien. If you call for him, he will arrive shortly.”

His silver-blue eyes gleamed mysteriously.

I met his gaze without a single blink before lowering my own and answering.

“Then, would you please summon him?”

“Yes, I will bring him immediately.”

“No. Tell him to wait in the office.”

“…Understood.”

His expression was surprised, but he didn’t question it.

Rememver slightly opened the door and relayed the message to the servant waiting outside. Instead of leaving, he returned and stood a step away from the bed.

I wondered why he insisted on staying here, but it seemed to be because of the physician.

“Your body is weak, and you are very fatigued, but there is nothing seriously wrong. Other than advising you to be careful of fatigue and stress, there isn’t much else to say.”

“Is that so? I have a lot of paperwork piling up…. This is troublesome.”

It seems he’s not worried about me, but rather trying to get the diagnosis so he can use me for paperwork…?

A shiver ran down my spine, and the startled physician rushed back to examine me.

Only after saying I was fine several times could I finally get rid of him.

Anyway, that guy should have arrived at the office by now. It’s about time I met with him.

As I got out of bed, Rememver naturally followed.

He’s my butler, so that’s expected….

‘Why are you following me?’

For some reason, even the physician came along. I was so surprised when I turned around and saw him.

He had been hesitating and watching my mood since earlier. It seems he’s quite timid and missed his chance to leave, inadvertently following me.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and glanced at him before opening the office door—

I couldn’t help but commend the physician’s choice to follow me.

“Cough-”

The member’s face was swollen, clearly beaten quite a bit.

Trying to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out, my nose started bleeding again.

The physician quickly handed me a handkerchief.

I followed his instruction to hold it on the bridge of my nose and looked at the guy again with a serious expression.

‘His face is familiar… what was his name again? Mil? Mal? Malla?’

“What was your name again?”

“Excuse me? You’ve forgotten my name? It’s Milan. Of all things to forget, why my name….”

“You!”

Sir Lien, who was with Milan as his superior, looked like she was about to throw a punch.

He’s always been like that, what can you do? It would be easier if she gave up like I have.

I quickly stopped her and trudged over to the office desk chair and sat down.

Even though I bled so much, thankfully the documents were fine.

…Well, there were some red marks on the white paper, but the words are intact, so it’s fine.

Anyway.

“Milan, I have something I’m curious about.”

“Please, ask anything.”

“What on earth were you doing in the Imperial Palace?”

This is the reason I called him here.

From the start, I didn’t intend to punish him.

Even looking like this, we rolled around battlefields together during the eight-year war, trying to save each other’s lives.

Especially these guys who insisted on protecting even a lacking commander like me, how could I give them a severe punishment?

“Um… you’re not going to scold me?”

“You!”

“Sir Lien, it’s alright. I won’t scold him, so tell me.”

Honestly, I’m a bit anxious.

What kind of trouble did they cause that even these guys, who don’t care what others think, are asking if they won’t be scolded?

Worried that my blood pressure might spike and I’d collapse, I subtly gestured for the physician, who was trying to slip out, to stay, and put on a benevolent smile.

Milan, who had been rolling his eyes around, scratched his cheek and slowly started talking.

“Starting with the minor stuff, while trying to catch the Revolutionary Army, we destroyed a few buildings.”

“Minor…? No, before that. Revolutionary Army?”

Why are they going after the guys who ambushed my carriage and threw bombs at the mansion?

I understand why the Revolutionary Army would target them, but why are they going after the Revolutionary Army?

“Well, like I said during the carriage ambush, His Majesty told us to earn our keep by suppressing the Revolutionary Army causing trouble in the Imperial capital.”

“…”

Did he? I didn’t know. My memory from that time is gone.

So these guys were the ones who saved me back then. No wonder I, who thought I was going to die, ended up at the Imperial Palace banquet. I was so bewildered when I came to my senses.

‘So, the reason my body was covered in blood back then was…?’

I narrowed my eyes at him, and the guy, feeling unjustly accused, started making clumsy excuses.

Of course, the content of his excuses was infuriating.

“B-but they didn’t tell us to pay for it. The Chancellor did glare at us though….”

He noticed he was being glared at, his perception has improved a bit.

But shouldn’t I send these guys back to the Imperial Palace right away? If things go wrong, I might end up paying for those buildings.

My silence seemed to make him quite anxious.

Sweating profusely and looking around nervously, he decided to go for broke and started spouting nonsense.

“Do you know how hard it is to subdue the Revolutionary Army who are running around with bombs without causing any damage? It’s understandable that a few buildings might get destroyed!”

“…How many buildings exactly?”

“Uh… about twelve?”

“…”

“…”

Sir Lien sent a look from the side. ‘Shall I drag him away?’

After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.

If destroying a few buildings is a minor thing, then they must have caused other bigger incidents. I should hear about those too.

“What other incidents did you cause besides that?”

“We had a brawl with the Imperial Guards.”

“With the Imperial Guards….”

“Somehow, we got into an argument and had a bit of a scuffle.”

“A scuffle….”

“Ah, but of course, we didn’t lose. It ended in a draw. Against the Imperial Guards, no less!”

“…”

“Actually, we were pushed back a bit, but then I bit the Captain of the Imperial Guard’s ear! For someone who’s supposed to be the captain of the Imperial Guard, he couldn’t even handle that and showed an opening. Of course, I didn’t miss that chance! Hahaha!”

Sir Lien, please drag him away.

Am I allowed to beat him?

Go ahead.

“Huh? Captain? Why are you grabbing my collar…? Hey? Count? Counttt!!”

You said you wouldn’t scold meeeee….

Click.

The noise was kindly cut off thanks to Rememver closing the door.

I said I wouldn’t scold him, not that I wouldn’t get angry. Though that’s just me being petty.

He can spout nonsense so confidently, why can’t I?

I lowered the hand that had been massaging my neck and touched under my nose. Thankfully, my nose wasn’t bleeding. My neck is fine too.

‘What am I going to do with this guy….’

No, the entire knight order is the problem. What should I do with these damned mad dogs….

With a deep sigh, I told the physician, who was still lingering nearby, to leave and picked up any random document in front of me.

And before long, I jumped up from my seat.

‘This is it!’

The reason these guys are causing trouble is because they have too much energy.

Then wouldn’t it be fine to just exhaust their energy!

It just so happens that monsters are lurking in the territory near the border. Getting these eyesores out of my sight and having them exhaust their energy while they’re at it is perfect!

With a weight lifted off my shoulders, I hummed a song and started writing the orders,

“Count! I see monsters over there!”

“…Okay….”

Contrary to my plan, I ended up being dragged along on a monster subjugation with these damned fools.

***

When the Lofty Knights received the order to go on a monster subjugation, their reactions were different from others.

Monster subjugation is extremely dangerous. And their location is near the border.

Even though they might face life-or-death battles, instead of shock or anger, they cheered.

We thought you were going to punish us, but you’re giving us such fun work! This is practically a vacation!

“Wow, as expected of the Count! We were going crazy from boredom! So he does recognize that we didn’t cause trouble for no reason!”

“Even in his busy schedule, he’s taking care of us who were getting bored! Who was the bastard who insulted our Count?!”

“It wasn’t an insult?! I was just discussing the difference in how the Count treats the knights of the Count’s mansion and our knight order!”

“So it was youuuu!!”

The strapping men in clean white knight uniforms soared through the air. Their landing spot was a man named Milan, who was cowering in fear.

As a miserable scream erupted, one of the more composed members barely regained his senses and picked up the forgotten order that was tossed away in the corner.

I bet these bastards didn’t read it until the end. So, I should read it properly.

Sure enough.

“Only our knight order is going? The Count isn’t coming with us.”

“…Huh?”

“What?”

Silence fell.

The guys who were beating up Milan all looked this way.

Seeing their wide eyes as if asking what he meant, the member Kleter pinched his forehead and shook his head.

“You have to read the whole thing, you bastards….”