Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 273

Episode 273. Sense of Crisis (1)

A drop of cold sweat ran down Urhar's chin.

The buried Kikuba is alive.

That fact alone was enough to make him feel suffocated, but the words he spoke when he returned alive were like holding a sword to Urhar's neck.

“No matter how many Black Knights I am, I have nothing to say.”

Urhar opened his mouth, turning tension into speculation.

Whether he was the real 'Black Knight' or someone pretending to be the 'Black Knight', his presence there was an act of defiance against Yulsis.

If Kikubad had wanted to, it would not have been strange for him to have executed him on the spot, and it would have been quite possible for him to have informed Yulsis of this fact and have him taken to the execution grounds.

“Kekekeke, is keeping that secret more important than your life?”

Urhar thought about Kikuba's question.

I have no intention of saying who is the 'real' one, and I don't want to say anything betraying the 'Black Knight' here.

“I decided to live like that.”

The wound was stinging, but I was quite confident that I could overcome this situation if I used 'Aura'.

"okay?"

Kikubad tilted his head after listening to Urhar's words.

A moment of silence passes.

The room was filled with an atmosphere that felt like a bomb that could explode at any moment, and Urhart took a stance that made it seem as if he might draw his sword at any moment.

“Well then, I guess this story ends here.”

However, contrary to expectations, Kikubaad appears to have decided to end the agenda regarding the 'Black Knight' here.

Why? At the moment when such a question arose, Kikubad handed Urhar a ‘letter of resignation.’

“I will reject this as well. Urhar, if there are people like you who think of the empire, wouldn’t this ruined country have some sort of function?”

Although he let out a sly, treacherous laugh, the words that Kikubad spoke were perfectly normal.

In the gap, Urhar looked at Kikubaad with bewildered eyes.

“……He spoke as if he didn’t care if the world was ruined underground.”

“Huh? Did you think he was that crazy?”

The mansion of Fullgorn. Just bringing up the conversation we had back then would be tantamount to admitting that he had been there, but now that it had come to this, Urhar decided to clear up the doubts.

"huh."

“……It looks like that, hmm.”

Kikubaid flicked his chin once.

“Do you not care if your country is ruined? Isn’t that the kind of thinking that only a crazy idiot or a mama’s boy like the Fourth Prince would have?”

“Wh, what……!”

“Really. After all, this is a place where only you and I have ears to hear.”

Feeling agitated, Urhar coughed and cleared the air.

“Why is someone like that helping Yulsis?”

Stop.

For a moment, it felt like the atmosphere wasn't calming down, but rather falling into the abyss.

Urhar quickly realized that the starting point of that atmosphere was Kikubad.

“Well, just to prove it.”

proof?

I tried to ask, but the words didn't come out easily.

“Anyone who walks the path of the sword wants to prove their strength. This deviation is merely a process for that purpose.”

“Where can I prove it……”

"oh my god!"

As they talked, Urhar began to feel dizzy.

“If I can overcome this crisis with my sword alone, even if it means turning the world into my enemy, then I will have defeated the world.”

I don't usually talk to Kikuba that much, but I've never once been so open about my feelings.

That was fortunate. I never thought someone would have such crazy thoughts.

“I was originally going to be satisfied with defeating the Empire’s First Swordsman, but what can I do? He’s already dead.”

The Empire's First Sword.

I know that means 'blackness'.

“But you know.”

The deep wrinkles under his eyes were a testament to his countless trials and executions as a 'Royal Knight'.

The eyes were dark and shadowy, but within them flashed a madness like a flame that burned ceaselessly.

“Recently, I met a guy who looked just like the Empire’s First Sword.”

Kikubad has no hesitation in eliminating the subjects of the Empire to prove his swordsmanship to the world. The cold murderous urge that can be felt from his fingertips flows through his scabbard.

“So, I’ll spare your life, Urhar.”

Kikuba's voice was low and threatening.

“If you stay alive and pass the information to the Black Knight, won’t it reach me?”

The smile that spread across his lips seemed to prove that no one in this world could break his will.

“I must live to see the birth of a new swordsman, a new imperial swordsman.”

***

A ritual site for possible 'ground contamination'. Finding the location is more of a problem than needing equipment, but rather a lot of legwork.

That takes a lot of legwork too.

I also know that it is difficult to travel to as many 'areas' as possible on my own.

That's why I called Pintel. I felt a little bad about calling him again right after he returned, but he readily accepted.

“Then, I, Pintel, a loyal servant of Sir Yurian, have an idea!”

As I was saying that I should speak my mind now and let people go and investigate, Pintel suddenly stood up from his seat and loudly asserted his opinion.

Loyalty? Since when did I become in a position where such an awkward thing was needed?

“Please tell me, Sir Pintel.”

“Yes! Lord Yurian, don’t you need someone to search the inside of the system thoroughly!?”

"you're right."

“Then, why don’t you try using the newly formed ‘Land Spider’, the personal guard of Sir Yurian……!”

“No.”

Of course, this wasn't the guy I was consulting with. I clicked my tongue inwardly as I watched Pintel getting excited.

“Why, why……!?”

“Didn’t I say this before? ‘Closed Eyes’ cannot form a private army like the Guard.”

Not only does not he want to stand out as the leader of the 'New Dawn Society', but he also goes against the rules of the 'Closed Eyes'.

“Then I will do it myself……!”

“Isn’t this what you should be doing? Arch Bishop Pintel.”

“That, that’s true, but…….”

“Then, the most urgent task is to resolve the matter that needs to be resolved. The recently organized ‘New Dawn Society’ is in need of the Arch Bishop’s help in many ways.”

“That is the correct answer……”

Pintel, who had been raising his voice at the fire, gradually began to feel intimidated by my words.

“The New Dawn Society needs Fintel now. Fintel, whom I trust, if you don’t take the lead, who will be the pillar of the New Dawn Society?”

Still, I said those words because I wanted to do well. When I thought about it that far, I hated seeing you looking so intimidated.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, only Sir Pintel can do that. The other Arch Bishops are not as proactive as Sir Pintel.”

Sure, Pintel helps. I've had more than a few headaches with the guy running wild, but in the end, it worked out for me.

Even so, how could I throw him out since he played a big role in taking control of the 'New Dawn Society'?

“Oh……!”

Pintel listened to what I said, shook his fist, and looked at me with respectful eyes.

Are you bipolar? Why do your emotions change so drastically?

“Then, how about asking around to Lord Fern or other members of the sect?”

Next to him, Lazrot opened his mouth. In this situation, the more brains the better. Reflecting on that thought, Lazrot had also been called.

“That’s not bad either.”

Pintel nodded at Lazrot's words.

Sure, that would be the easiest way right now.

'Should we do that for now?'

With that thought in mind, I looked at Pintel's face once more.

The feeling of wanting to use 'land spider' was clearly written on Pintel's face.

***

The third son of the Cryphat family, Herand, visited the mansion after being summoned by his father, the head of the household.

The trees in the garden where he had played as a child still greeted him with their sturdy appearance, and the moment he passed through the large stone gate, what permeated him were vague memories and a heavy sense of responsibility.

'… Ugh.'

The current elder of the family, 'Orn Craiphat', has been driven out to the north for some reason.

His absence began to eat away at the current state of the 'Craiphat family', making the term 'Imperial Four Great Houses' meaningless.

So, Herand vaguely realized why his father Oben had summoned him.

“Did you call, Father?”

As he entered the reception room in a calm manner, Oben greeted him. Next to him, the old knight Ehark bowed to Herand.

“There is a reason I called you.”

Oven began to speak. His voice was heavy.

“When I think of the future of this family, I believe that it is time for you to take my place.”

As expected, Herand had expected that he would say something like this.

He plans to hand over the position of 'head of the household' to himself and have Oben take over the chairmanship of the 'noble council' that became vacant due to 'Orn', in order to calm the chaotic situation a little.

'Originally… …one of the two older brothers should take over.'

There is a saying in the world. In the past, the Craiphate family, which had built up glory along with the history of the empire, would not fall due to external forces or internal affairs, but would perish due to failure in raising children.

As such rumors spread, the first and second children born to the head of the household, Oben, were a mess.

Hunchbacks and alcoholics.

Either way, it is impossible to succeed to the position of 'Gajoo'.

“Father, this is too important for me.”

First, Herand was good at grasping topics.

A coward who is incapable of swordsmanship and lacks leadership skills cannot stand above anyone. The position of 'noble' is only a position that he has obtained thanks to his blessed birth.

It was definitely not a dark thought born of inferiority complex. Herand had a clear understanding of his position.

“Rather, I think it would be better… to leave it to Joshua.”

“Joshua is too young. Don’t you know that?”

Herand kept his mouth shut at Oben's argument.

“For the sake of the Craiphate family, could you please take over the position of head of the family for just one year?”

Even though he could have pushed through with force, Herand flinched at Oben's pleading attitude. Then, one person came to mind.

“What about Yurian?”

I have already heard the family members' thoughts on 'Yurien' at the family meeting.

Surprisingly, the backlash against 'Yurien' from the members of the Cryphat family was not great.

In addition, 'Kaldrak', who had a great connection with him and was awarded a medal that only the royal family could recently receive, returned to the system.

“Hyun, in the current situation, I think it would be better for the family if Yurian took over.”

There was a hint of anxiety in Herand's tone, but at the same time, it felt resolute.

When Oben saw that, he stopped for a moment, looking bewildered, and looked at his son.

Oven didn't know that Herand would refuse. However, his eyes gradually softened and an understanding smile spread across his lips.

“It seems like Yurian really wants to accept you as a member of the family.”

If he becomes the 'head of the household', no matter how many times he is called 'Prason', he has no choice but to be accepted as a member of the household.

Herand took aim at that point.

“Hey, we’re family.”

Oven nodded.

“Then, I’ll leave this to you.”

Herand nodded at his father's words. He understood his situation, as Oben had difficulty talking to Yurian.

“Herand.”

Herand was about to get up, but Oben called him and he stopped for a moment.

“I, Father, had different thoughts than the right-hand man.”

"yes?"

“Of all the sons I have, I thought you would be the one best suited to take on the role of head of the household.”

"ha ha ha……."

At Oben's strange words, Herand couldn't help but laugh.

The future of the family was still uncertain, but for this moment, the understanding and respect between the two generations were perfectly aligned.