In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 279

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head

 

Side Story Episode 22

 

Where I gestured, there was a group of people.

 

People wearing black uniforms of similar yet slightly different styles.

 

They were of various ages, genders, and appearances, enjoying the banquet among themselves on the opposite side of the banquet hall.

 

They weren’t sitting rigidly, and perhaps looked a bit too free-spirited, yet they had a mysterious atmosphere.

 

A weight that anyone even slightly sensitive could never ignore.

 

As if to prove this, there seemed to be an invisible wall between the other guests and them.

 

The eastern people seemed to know who they were, never approaching closely and keeping their distance.

 

Thanks to this, only the area around them was quite quiet in the bustling banquet hall.

 

“Ah, those people are…”

 

The Lord of Ruman chose his words carefully.

 

“Duke Nox and his subordinate executives who came from the Eastern Continent.”

 

“The Eastern Continent?”

 

This time, I was quite surprised, unlike myself.

 

Of course, I knew that people lived on the Eastern Continent and that there were countries with long histories there.

 

But it was so far away that there was no exchange with the Lambru Empire.

 

“Isn’t it very far to cross the sea back and forth?”

 

The Lord of Ruman nodded at my question.

 

“That’s right. However, the navigation skills and technology of the Eastern Continent are far superior to ours. Not only regarding the sea, but they continuously research a technology called ‘mana engineering.’ So they’re said to have many fascinating items.”

 

“Oh, is that so?”

 

At Indit Ruman’s explanation, my instincts as the Lombardi clan head stirred within me.

 

I had literally discovered a new continent.

 

“Ruman has had frequent trade with the Eastern Continent since ancient times. So we did send an invitation… but we never thought they would actually come.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

The Eastern Continent.

 

It was a place that could become a new market.

 

Moreover, the term ‘mana engineering’ caught my attention.

 

“If you’re interested in the Eastern Continent, why don’t you talk with that silver-haired Duke Nox over there.”

 

“You mean that man over there?”

 

In this crowded banquet hall, there was only one man with clean, dazzling silver hair.

 

“So that person is a duke.”

 

The man called Duke Nox was sitting alone on a sofa with one leg crossed long, tilting a wine glass.

 

If not for the occasional slow movement of swirling the wine glass in one hand, I might have thought he was a painting.

 

“Unlike our Western Continent, the Eastern Continent has titles. In order: Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron.”

 

“And that person is a duke among them?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct. Also, the Eastern Continent has two distinctive features…”

 

The Lord of Ruman stroked his lips once and spoke with some difficulty.

 

“Unlike the Western Continent unified by the Lambru Empire with its solid imperial authority, the Eastern Continent is divided among various kingdoms and empires. It’s a chaotic period. Also.”

 

Indit Ruman’s voice lowered slightly.

 

“Organizations that grew naturally in each region and established themselves have more power than imperial or royal authority.”

 

“Organizations? Are you talking about something like the underworld?”

 

“Well, something like that.”

 

“Then suggesting I talk with that Duke Nox means…”

 

“Duke Nox’s full name is Killian Nox, and he’s the head of an organization called ‘Nox’ named after his surname. According to rumors…”

 

The Lord of Ruman smiled awkwardly as if it was quite uncomfortable to say this in front of me.

 

“He’s said to have greater power than the emperor of the Rumpelt Empire where the ducal house is located. Moreover, there were recent rumors that he succeeded in weaponizing mana artifacts.”

 

“Then he must truly have unlimited power.”

 

After hearing the Lord of Ruman’s explanation, I now understood.

 

At first glance, the executives of the organization called Nox in black uniforms seemed scattered without order.

 

But at their center was the duke.

 

As if they were guarding him.

 

“His personal martial prowess is also incredible. There are numerous witness accounts of him tearing people apart with his bare hands.”

 

“Really… he’s like a monster.”

 

It was when I said that.

 

Duke Nox, who had been languidly looking only at his wine glass, raised his head and looked at me.

 

Could he have heard my voice from that distance?

 

As if confirming my thoughts, our gazes met perfectly.

 

And goosebumps rose all over my body.

 

It was killing intent.

 

Duke Nox’s eyes, which I met under the bright lights of the banquet hall, glowed strangely golden.

 

“Mmm.”

 

Somehow I couldn’t move carelessly.

 

It felt like facing a massive being that wasn’t human.

 

“Tia.”

 

Then, Peres blocked my front.

 

He had definitely been conversing with eastern nobles far away.

 

Peres, glaring at Killian Nox, didn’t hide his cold anger.

 

“What’s that bastard?”

 

“That black thing, does he want to die?”

 

From somewhere, the twins appeared and stood guard on both sides of me.

 

Then there was a reaction from the other side too.

 

The Nox executives who seemed to be leisurely drinking were hardening their faces and rising from their seats one by one.

 

Their expressionless faces, hardly seeming like the same people who had been chattering and playing just moments before, looked ready to charge toward us at a single gesture from Duke Nox.

 

As the situation flowed that way, the people filling the banquet hall began to sense something strange and started looking around one by one.

 

“At this rate, Larane’s wedding will be ruined.”

 

I couldn’t let that happen to such a difficult occasion to arrange.

 

“Peres, I’m fine.”

 

I stopped Peres, who was glaring at Duke Nox with an unprecedentedly cold face.

 

And someone moved from the Nox camp too.

 

It was a woman with curly black hair tied up high that caught the eye.

 

She, also wearing a black uniform, walked steadily toward Duke Killian Nox.

 

Then, without hesitation, she placed her hand on the duke’s shoulder and could be seen frowning while saying something.

 

Is that okay?

 

Won’t she get hit for that?

 

I found myself worrying about that unnamed woman without realizing it.

 

Then something unbelievable happened.

 

Duke Nox, who had been emitting killing intent so intense it stung the skin, smoothly turned his head away.

 

And as if he had never done such a thing, he began drinking again.

 

The tension that had been stretched taut as if something would happen immediately disappeared.

 

The Nox executives who had taken defensive positions also began chattering noisily again.

 

“Phew.”

 

A small sigh escaped me without realizing it.

 

It seemed the same for the woman on the other side, as I could see her shaking her head.

 

“Oh, our eyes met.”

 

The woman looked at me.

 

She had very red eyes like Peres’s.

 

I had never seen anyone with such red pupils except for that guy, so I stared curiously, and the woman nodded her head slightly in greeting.

 

It probably meant she was sorry.

 

Anyway, I was the one who made the slip of the tongue first.

 

I nodded back in greeting as well.

 

It was quite a distance across the banquet hall, but why did I feel some inexplicable sense of camaraderie being conveyed?

 

“Tia, is something wrong?”

 

“Oh, Larane.”

 

Perhaps noticing that the atmosphere wasn’t good.

 

Larane and Avinox approaching me didn’t look well.

 

On a day when they should be nothing but joyful.

 

Feeling somewhat sorry, I smiled even more brightly.

 

“It’s nothing. Don’t I need to talk with people a bit more?”

 

“Mm. Both Avinox and I are a little tired. Really nothing happened?”

 

“Of course. Oh, that’s right!”

 

I took Larane’s hands firmly and said.

 

“Congratulations on your marriage, Larane.”

 

“Ah… thank you, Tia.”

 

Larane’s face turned red as if flowers had bloomed on both her cheeks.

 

“You must have heard that dozens of times today. Are you embarrassed?”

 

“It’s not just anyone, but when you say it like that, Tia, it somehow feels really real.”

 

“Congratulations to you too, Avinox. Live happily and beautifully, okay?”

 

“Of course! Don’t worry about Larane, Master Lombardi.”

 

When I first helped Larane escape in the night, honestly I was quite anxious.

 

I had pushed forward with this plan knowing how Larane’s life ended in my previous life.

 

But just because he wasn’t that scoundrel from back then didn’t guarantee he could make Larane happy.

 

But fortunately, Avinox cherished Larane more than anyone else.

 

Even without asking, I could tell from the loving gazes they exchanged silently.

 

Hmm, how satisfying.

 

I smiled contentedly as I took in the sight of Larane and Avinox together.

 

“I’m getting jealous.”

 

I heard a low voice by my ear just as I was nodding at the sight of Avinox looking lovingly at Larane.

 

“Of what?”

 

“You’re looking at another man instead of me, Tia.”

 

“…Avinox is a man?”

 

Well, he is a man.

 

But he’s family now?

 

“I wish you’d only look at me. The symptoms are getting worse.”

 

Peres said like a soft sigh.

 

He says it like a joke, but I know that’s his true feelings.

 

I narrowed my eyes and clicked my tongue.

 

“You’re really severe too.”

 

“Still, don’t hate me, Tia.”

 

“…I told you I can’t hate you.”

 

I’m being sincere too.

 

No matter what he does, I could never hate Peres.

 

“You know that already.”

 

Still feeling a bit annoyed, I lightly poked Peres in the side without hurting him.

 

Larane spoke to us.

 

“You look happy too, Tia.”

 

Larane’s face as she smiled saying that seemed similar to mine from earlier, or was I imagining it?

 

“It’s fortunate, isn’t it?”

 

That despite all the many things that happened, we’re gathered here like this, being happy.

 

What a miraculous thing that is.

 

Larane’s gaze, who had been looking at me and smiling, turned toward behind me.

 

At the same time, like flowers blooming in full, an unmistakable smile spread across Larane’s lips.

 

“Rik!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————