It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 195

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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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500 Years as Just an Extra,

The Original Story Still Won’t Begin

Episode 195

[…The older I get, the more troublesome things pile up.]

[That’s all part of becoming an adult.]

“Tsk.”

Seeing Termion click his tongue briefly, Marquis Havir let out a silent chuckle, when someone quietly approached them.

“It’s been a while, Grand Duke.”

The person who greeted Termion was an elderly man with faded brown hair.

Upon confirming the other’s face, Termion slightly furrowed his brow before soon smiling and responding.

“You look healthy, which is fortunate, Duke Kaif.”

“…Thanks to your concern.”

“You should be careful now that you’re getting on in years. If a pillar of the Empire were to suddenly collapse, wouldn’t that be a great loss to the nation?”

He could immediately tell that Duke Kaif had deliberately omitted the honorific ‘Your Highness.’ It was truly a petty trick, too subtle to openly point out.

However, Termion knew an even better way to provoke his opponent.

“Haha… That’s unlikely to happen.”

“You never know what life holds. You should at least attend your grandchildren’s weddings, shouldn’t you?”

Duke Kaif unconsciously gritted his teeth before forcibly pulling up the corners of his trembling mouth.

Grand Dukes and Dukes basically receive treatment as quasi-imperial family. Tracing back their family origins, both had imperial blood mixed in.

The only difference was this: in case of an emergency in the Imperial Palace, Grand Dukes were granted regency authority along with succession rights to the throne, second only to princes.

Therefore, according to imperial protocol, Grand Dukes ranked higher than Dukes in ceremonial order, but in practice, it was an unwritten rule for them to show each other appropriate courtesy.

However, Termion lacked legitimacy and was close to being Duke Kaif’s grandson’s age.

For him to speak down so openly in front of others, even Duke Kaif couldn’t help but feel thoroughly irritated.

‘Damn… A lowly bastard acting like this.’

Though it had become obsolete, protocol was still protocol. Causing unnecessary conflict would likely result in humiliation in the middle of the Imperial Palace.

It might be different if only other nobles were present, but with Marquis Havir standing right beside them, he had to be even more cautious.

Duke Kaif, suppressing his annoyance, acted as if he had just remembered something.

“Oh my, I was so happy to see the Grand Duke after so long that I forgot. Actually, I came to introduce this person.”

“It’s my first time meeting you.”

As he spoke, a suddenly intense aura began flowing from the man standing beside Duke Kaif.

A sharp, awl-like pressure that pierced through gaps attacked from all directions, but Termion only gazed at his opponent with calm eyes.

“Admiral of the Navy, Rivein Marcos pays his respects to Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

To openly raise his aura while taking a respectful military salute – Termion swallowed a hollow laugh and opened his mouth.

“I didn’t expect to see the Empire’s strongest spear here.”

“It’s merely an empty reputation.”

The Admiral of the Southern Empire’s Navy, and as Termion said, the man called the strongest knight of the current era.

Count Marcos was one of only two Aura Blasters currently existing in the Empire, and also Duke Kaif’s brother-in-law.

To such a man, Termion even smiled as he offered a handshake.

“Pleased to meet you.”

“Please treat me well.”

Count Marcos also smiled back and grasped Termion’s hand.

At that moment, Count Marcos felt the killing intent he had released disappear.

‘What is this…?’

It wasn’t countered with opposing aura, nor was it deflected and redirected. It simply scattered like sand swept away by waves.

“When we have time, let’s have a sparring match. Though we’re both too busy to find the time.”

“…It would be an honor.”

Count Marcos’s response was slightly delayed. Termion had already let go of his hand and turned his head away.

“It was good seeing you, Duke Kaif. I’ll see you at the meeting hall later.”

“…Take care.”

Crack.

Duke Kaif, who had been glaring intently at Termion’s retreating figure, finally ground his teeth roughly.

“How was it, in your opinion?”

“…”

“Count Marcos?”

“Hah.”

Count Marcos, who had been repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists until then, let out a short sigh.

“I apologize, Your Grace. I was momentarily distracted.”

“Nothing to apologize for. But still… it’s rather unexpected to see you react like this.”

Count Marcos had never experienced defeat since becoming an Aura Blaster. He was truly invincible within the Empire, without exaggeration.

For such a man to show this level of tension was quite unexpected for Duke Kaif.

“Wasn’t Grand Duke Retis known to be an Aura Master?”

“Publicly, yes. Perhaps he’s actually reached Aura Blaster level.”

“…Is that all it could be?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Honestly, I can’t tell what level he’s at.”

Of course, one couldn’t accurately gauge an opponent’s skill through aura alone. It wasn’t easy unless there was a clear gap between them.

However, Count Marcos instinctively felt that the possibility of Termion being below his level was slim.

“Retis has always been famous as a family that trains in both aura and magic simultaneously. Wouldn’t they have at least one hidden trump card?”

“That does make sense, but…”

“Anyway, if you use your ‘full power,’ you won’t lose to him. Isn’t that right?”

At Duke Kaif’s hand patting his shoulder, Count Marcos gave a reasonably positive response.

“Yes. It shouldn’t be that much.”

“You probably won’t need to step forward anyway, so don’t worry too much about it. Go get some fresh air for a while.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Count Marcos bowed his head and headed outside.

Feeling the cold wind in the nearby garden, he reflexively shivered slightly. Cold sweat he didn’t even know he had shed was thoroughly soaking his nape.

“…Was I nervous because it was our first meeting?”

Suddenly recalling the age difference between himself and Termion, Count Marcos let out a hollow laugh.

No matter how exceptional one’s talent, no matter how many fine elixirs one consumed, overcoming the gap of years was a distant prospect.

Just the years of wielding weapons alone was at least twice as much. There was no reason to feel fear toward a youngster not even thirty yet.

‘A match isn’t always decided by skill alone.’

Simple sparring might be one thing, but if they fought with their lives on the line, the story would be different.

Considering that, there was absolutely no possibility of his defeat.

Thud thud.

Several withered and twisted branches fell beside Count Marcos, whose eyes gleamed ominously.

‘How boring.’

Termion looked over the other nobles with tedious eyes.

The morning had been tolerable. They listened to the Emperor’s congratulatory speech in the conference room, then immediately moved outdoors to attend the New Year’s mass hosted by the Liriana Order.

But after the abundant lunch time, endlessly tedious meetings continued.

The Emperor’s faction and the moderate faction raised their voices in what could be called either debate or argument, with active discussions about various policies.

Since the Retis Grand Duchy stood back from power struggles, for Termion it was nothing more than watching a fire across the river.

‘…Should I try making contact?’

He fiddled with the area around his solar plexus that protruded slightly.

Unlike regular communication devices, Ailesia’s pendant didn’t let sound leak outside. It used a method of directly conveying thoughts through message magic.

Now that he could use a similar method, wouldn’t it be possible?

When he emerged from his thoughts, he had already infused aura into the pendant.

[Ailesia, can you hear me?]

[Huh?]

Hearing her flustered voice made him feel somewhat alive again. He quietly suppressed the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.

[Weren’t you busy?]

[I’m in the Grand Council Chamber. I have no idea when this will end.]

[I never knew the Communication Function could be used like this. You’re not speaking out loud right now, are you?]

[No.]

[A salary thief in the middle of the Imperial Palace, good heavens.]

[…Pardon?]

Another incomprehensible phrase came out. Occasionally, she would blurt out things like this that were impossible to understand.

[I don’t know what a thief is, but I don’t receive a salary from the Imperial Palace.]

[Ah.]

[Did you have lunch?]

[I ate with Elly. The Grand Duchess Dowager went out with the Head Maid.]

[How are you feeling?]

[I told you I’m fine during the day, didn’t I? I could probably launch about 100 Meteors at the Imperial Palace right now.]

[Unfortunately, I’ll have to decline.]

It was quite a tempting proposal in terms of being able to end the meeting, but if he had intended to do that, wouldn’t he have already destroyed this place himself?

The fact that he was thinking this way showed that he was gradually following Ailesia’s way of thinking. He even felt strangely cheerful.

[Don’t you need to pay attention to the meeting?]

[There’s nothing that particularly requires my involvement.]

After answering absentmindedly, an interesting thought suddenly occurred to him.

[Would you like to listen in?]

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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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