How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 75
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 75】
Carlisle opened his eyes only after midnight had passed.
“Cool, coool…”
At his bedside, the Baby Dragon was sleeping soundly, curled up in a ball.
Why is this one here…?
Carlisle wondered how the Baby Dragon had been able to find him.
Grumble, Carlisle suddenly felt hungry and opened the guest room door.
Food that the Innkeeper had brought was placed in front of the door, but it had gone cold since mealtime had passed.
‘I should just go downstairs to eat.’
Carlisle pulled down his hood and left the Guest Room.
Inns in this world generally had the First Floor serving as both restaurant and Tavern, with Guest Rooms operated from the Second Floor up, so he had to go downstairs to eat.
Since it was dinner time, there were quite a few customers on the Inn’s First Floor.
“Ah! You’ve come down? I brought your meal to your door…”
When Carlisle sat at an empty seat, the Inn Owner came running over, setting aside everything else.
“It had gone cold. I guess I woke up too late.”
“I, I see.”
“Warm Bread, soup, beef. Just a little vegetables.”
“What would you like for drinks?”
“Hmm.”
Carlisle thought for a moment before speaking.
“Beer.”
“…”
The Innkeeper was flustered.
The bustling interior suddenly became quiet as if cold Water had been poured over it.
“What? Beer?”
“He’s drinking Beer?”
“What bastard drinks Beer?”
The atmosphere suddenly became menacing.
“Um, customer?”
“…?”
“Asking for Beer here might be a somewhat dangerous action.”
“Ah, right.”
Carlisle realized his mistake.
Beer was a specialty product of the [Schwerin] Territory ruled by the Lauren family, one of the hostile forces against the Sigmund Family Estate.
The problem was that Northerners hated the Schwerin Territory as much as they hated Barbarians.
No, Northerners despised Schwerin.
Schwerin had once been Dekaron’s ally.
During the era when Chaos King Cain, the third head of the Sigmund Family Estate, was still active, it had been a member of the [Northern Alliance], a union of three territories in the Northern Region, and they had been as close as blood allies, even arranging political marriages.
However, when Chaos King Cain led the Northern Alliance in rebellion, Schwerin was the first force to betray them.
Schwerin showed cowardice by attacking the Northern Region when Cain led the main force toward the Capital, causing not only the collapse of the Northern Alliance but also the devastation of Dekaron.
As a result, the rebellion failed, and Dekaron and the Sigmund Family Estate had to kneel and surrender to the royal family.
Afterward, Schwerin received the royal family’s generous favor as the greatest contributor to suppressing the rebellion, and by being granted vast and fertile lands, it rose to become the kingdom’s largest food production area.
Moreover, it had been the source of making Northerners’ lives miserable by constantly pressuring and restraining Dekaron as the royal family’s loyal dog until now.
The Beer that Continental people now enjoyed was also made from barley produced on the vast lands the royal family had granted to Schwerin, so it wasn’t unreasonable for Northerners to grit their teeth at the mention of Beer.
Originally, Northerners mainly drank cheap and strong Vodka, while Schwerin Territory Residents had been drinking Beer primarily since long ago.
“Give me Vodka for the drink.”
“Yes, understood. I’ll bring it right away.”
Only after Carlisle ordered Vodka instead of Beer did the menacing atmosphere somewhat ease, and the concentrated gazes dispersed.
‘As if I’d be too scared to drink a single Beer.’
Carlisle smiled bitterly.
Thinking that they probably wouldn’t even sell Beer in the first place…
While eating, Carlisle listened to the conversations between customers.
It wasn’t that he was trying to eavesdrop, but the interior was so cramped and the Tables were packed so closely together that he couldn’t help but hear even if he didn’t want to.
“Things are a complete mess these days. Have you seen the Black Officers going around?”
“They’re everywhere, House by House.”
“I don’t know how many are dying at the Front Lines. I wonder if a conscription order might be issued at this rate.”
The [Black Officers] the customers were talking about referred to Messengers who delivered news of soldiers’ deaths to their families.
‘It seems there are many casualties besides our Military Unit too.’
That was probably the aftermath of Command Headquarters forcing each Military Unit to carry out Magic Stone mining operations…
Carlisle decided to listen more carefully to the ongoing conversations.
“Those damn royal bastards.”
“Why are you suddenly cursing the royal family?”
“Haven’t you heard? The royal family has raised taxes ridiculously high.”
“Really?”
“The amount of Magic Stones they’re demanding is enormous, so the Engineers are suffering tremendously.”
“Fucking hell, really. How long do we Northerners have to be exploited?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
The customers having the conversation vented their resentment.
‘So there was a reason Command Headquarters forcibly pushed the Magic Stone mining operations.’
Then why did the royal family increase taxes?
At this time when the Barbarians’ movements are ominous and a large-scale war might break out soon…
‘Could it be… because of Evangeline?’
It might be possible.
The royal family, the Parnas family, was never lenient.
They had never wielded tyranny, but that didn’t mean the successive kings were benevolent rulers either.
They ruled thoroughly according to the logic of stick and carrot, and were famous for not allowing even the slightest challenge.
They were ones who would definitely retaliate in some way if their mood was crossed.
‘If that’s the case… did so many people die because of my stubbornness? For refusing to send Evangeline to the royal family?’
His heart turned cold.
He got goosebumps from the eerie feeling.
‘No, it can’t be. It won’t be.’
Carlisle downed the Vodka in one gulp.
Thud, the empty Vodka glass hit the Table.
Several customers glanced over, but Carlisle didn’t care.
Trembling…
Carlisle’s hand gripping the glass trembled slightly.
* * *
Carlisle holed up in the Inn for three days, doing nothing but drinking.
That didn’t mean he drank until he was completely intoxicated.
He just sat by the Window, occasionally drinking a glass of Vodka while lost in thought.
His heart was troubled by the thought that the recent high casualties at the Front Lines might be because of his stubbornness.
“Butler.”
“What.”
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“There’s something like that.”
Carlisle gave a bitter smile at the baby dragon’s question.
“Is there something you can’t talk about?”
“No, nothing.”
“Don’t be like that, tell me about it. I’ll listen.”
“You?”
Carlisle let out a snort.
“What would you know?”
“Butler, are you looking down on me right now?”
“It’s not looking down on you. You’re a newborn, right? You don’t know much about the world, so how can I tell you?”
“You are looking down on me.”
“When did I?”
“I may look like this, but I’m a dragon.”
“So?”
“Do I really look like a newborn to you?”
“That… no, you don’t.”
“So tell me.”
“Hmm.”
Carlisle thought for a moment about where to start, then opened his mouth.
“What happened was…”
“Hmm.”
The baby dragon quietly listened to Carlisle’s story.
“If the tax increase this time was because of Evangeline… then the deaths of the fallen soldiers would be entirely my responsibility.”
“Why would that be the butler’s responsibility?”
“If it’s not my responsibility?”
“Thinking one-dimensionally, it could be the butler’s responsibility. The Royal Family wanted that girl, and this is retaliation for the butler’s refusal. But that’s not the fundamental problem. The real problem is exploitation by the Royal Family, isn’t it?”
“…!”
“Butler, this kind of problem will keep repeating as long as the unequal relationship between your family and the Royal Family isn’t resolved. In one way or another.”
In this world, dragons were considered very wise beings.
It seemed that wasn’t an exception even for baby dragons.
“But we can’t hand over the Earth Elementalist to the Royal Family. That girl has high strategic value and a clear identity as a Northerner.”
“That’s right.”
Carlisle recalled what Evangeline had said before.
– I am a Northerner.
– I am a Northerner.
She had clearly established her identity by calling herself a Northerner and had refused to go to the Royal Family.
“And when it’s not even certain that this is retaliation from the Royal Family, is there any need to feel guilty first?”
“That’s true too.”
“Whether you feel guilty or seek revenge, the circumstances need to be clea…”
The baby dragon stopped mid-sentence and nodded off.
It seemed that since it hadn’t been long since eating, drowsiness was setting in.
“A newborn is a newborn after all.”
“Snore, snooore.”
Carlisle looked at the sleeping baby dragon and chuckled.
‘Then I should first figure out the circumstances. If this is retaliation for Evangeline… I’ll make them regret it.’
Carlisle’s eyes gleamed coldly.
* * *
Two days later.
“Butler, when are we going home?”
“Well. If there’s no particular reason to go, I don’t plan to.”
“Then can’t we go live somewhere else?”
“Somewhere else?”
“This place is too cramped, smelly, and dirty.”
The baby dragon frowned as if it really didn’t like it here.
“Somewhere else…”
“Can’t we just buy a house?”
“Should we?”
Money was abundant.
Wasn’t the large subspace inventory full of gold coins, gold bars, and various gems obtained from the dungeons of Antiros and Crowley?
“Right. We can’t keep living here forever.”
“So let’s go house hunting!”
“Alright, then.”
Carlisle put on his cloak and pulled down his hood.
“Let’s go house hunting.”
“Hehe.”
The baby dragon slipped into Carlisle’s cloak as if it had been waiting.
‘Where should I go to buy a house? There’s no way this world has real estate offices. There must be something similar. What was it?’
While thinking this, he came down to the first floor, and someone was waiting for Carlisle.
“Are you just coming down now, Young Master?”
“Oh, what’s this?”
Maranello was smiling.
“How did you know I was here?”
“…!”
When Carlisle spoke while removing his hood, not only the innkeeper but also the guests were startled.
The suspicious guy who had been wearing his hood deep even indoors was the notorious scoundrel…
“You were already keeping track and watching, weren’t you?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“What about father?”
“He said nothing in particular.”
“Really?”
A smile slowly appeared on Carlisle’s lips.
“His Grace the Grand Duke said he has no intention of forcing you to do anything, so stop wandering around and come home.”
“He said that? Father did?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Hmm.”
“Young Master, let’s handle this nicely. This isn’t proper conduct.”
“Proper conduct?”
“Rebellion should have some pressure or coercion behind it. But Young Master just ran away from home without any basis…”
“Think of it as establishing discipline in advance.”
“Pardon…?”
“You have to threaten first so they won’t dare to bother you.”
How could he call that reasoning…
“Haha.”
Maranello just laughed in disbelief.
A son who throws himself down first, telling them not to mess with him…
Maranello felt his fists unconsciously clenching and barely managed to calm himself.
“So will you come?”
“I should. He said he won’t bother me, so surely he won’t go back on his word.”
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
Carlisle nodded and spoke to the innkeeper.
“No deposit needed, so put it away.”
“T-thank you! Young Master Carlisle!”
The innkeeper nodded with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
When they stepped outside the inn, that six-horse carriage from before was waiting.
The carriage bearing the seal of House Sigmund.
“Maranello.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I have something I’m curious about…”
Just as Carlisle was about to say something.
“Neighhhhhh!”
“Neighhhh!”
Thud thud thud thud thud thud!
In the distance, a massive six-horse carriage was charging toward them at a terrifying speed.
The seal carved on the carriage was…
‘Schwerin!’
The six-horse carriage belonged to the Loren Family, a hostile force to House Sigmund.
There was a problem.
“…!”
In front of the six-horse carriage that was charging like some runaway locomotive, a child was picking up a candy bag that had fallen to the ground.
In just a few more seconds, that massive and heavy six-horse carriage would be on the verge of crushing the child.
‘No!’
Just as Carlisle was about to throw himself forward.
Whoosh!
Maranello’s figure disappeared first.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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