The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 35

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Our Neighborhood’s Strongest (35)
Baron Daparon received word from Baron Jabedra that Jang Gain might visit his castle as soon as today, or by tomorrow morning at the latest, and his expression turned bewildered.
“My son told me it took him two days on horseback from the village of the Dberge Tribe where he stayed with Lord Dimitrion to reach this castle, but you’re saying he could arrive here this afternoon from an even deeper forest?”
―Yes. I also think it’s absurd, but since Lord Cain asked me to relay it that way, I’m relaying it as such.
“Well, I understand for now.”
Baron Daparon clicked his tongue softly after ending the communication.
“What’s gotten into everyone’s heads? Lord Dimitrion keeps spouting nonsense about calling that fellow Cain Master-class, and now he’s saying he could arrive in half a day from a distance that takes two days on horseback!”
After the servant managing the communication chamber withdrew, he headed toward his study to attend to morning business.
“Father, have you come out?”
Standing before the study entrance was his eldest son, Mogoyas Daparon, his hands clasped before him.
“Didn’t I tell you to rest for a few days since you’ve suffered living in the forest for the past month?”
Baron Daparon had heard from his son yesterday about the events that took place in the village of the forest’s minority tribe and the various things he’d experienced alongside Dimitrion.
“Chamberlain Reogin said yesterday that while I was away, quite a bit of work had accumulated, so I came out early.”
“As far as I know, Chamberlain Reogin handled most of the pressing matters on your behalf. Why would he say something like that?”
“He said there are decisions that only I can make, and asked me to come today and make them.”
“Ah, I see. But why are you sweating so much?”
Baron Daparon noticed sweat running down his son’s face, and then saw that his clothes were damp with perspiration as well, his expression turning puzzled.
“I received Swordsmanship instruction from Lord Dimitrion at dawn, and the heat from it hasn’t cooled yet. After greeting you, I plan to shower, eat breakfast, and then go to Chamberlain Reogin.”
In that moment, Baron Daparon’s eyes widened. He recalled once offering Dimitrion a large sum of money and requesting he teach his son Swordsmanship.
Back then Dimitrion had scoffed and refused, yet now he had given instruction in Swordsmanship.
“You received Swordsmanship instruction from Lord Dimitrion?”
“Yes.”
“How much money did you offer him?”
“He didn’t take any money. He simply gave Swordsmanship instruction.”
“What? He didn’t take payment? That doesn’t make sense…….”
“After Lord Dimitrion was defeated by Lord Cain, it seems he underwent a considerable change of heart, and now he’s teaching Swordsmanship not only to me but to the servants as well.”
“Hmm, I see. Did having his lofty pride as one of the home country’s Ten Swords broken cause a change of mind?”
“That’s quite likely. He’s been teaching me Swordsmanship for about two weeks now.”
“If something like that happened, you should have told me sooner! If you had, I wouldn’t have criticized Lord Dimitrion so harshly yesterday.”
“Yes? What happened yesterday?”
“After hearing about recent events from you yesterday, I went to the reception hall and found Lord Dimitrion and Lord Leodoseon about to have quite the clash. Fortunately, Lord Laila mediated and it didn’t come to blows, but if she hadn’t been there, a serious fight would have broken out.”
……
“And in that place, I said some harsh things to Lord Dimitrion about the matter of the mining shares. In any case, since it’s because he was defeated by Cain that things came to this pass.”
“Ah! So that happened. I didn’t know about it because after reporting to you yesterday, I was meeting with your mother and Chamberlain Reogin. In any case, since Lord Dimitrion is now my Swordsmanship instructor, I hope you’ll show him consideration.”
“Understood. From now on, I shall treat him with the respect due to your master.”
“But why were Lord Dimitrion and Lord Leodoseon about to fight? Aren’t they both Ten Swords from the home country?”
“I don’t know what caused it, but it seems their relationship has been poor for some time. From what I heard, they had a fierce fight before, and it was stopped when Count Johansen intervened.”
“Ah! So their relationship is that bad. Still, Lord Leodoseon is fortunate.”
“Hmm? Lord Leodoseon is fortunate? What do you mean?”
“If he had fought with Lord Dimitrion, he wouldn’t have come out unscathed.”
Upon hearing his son’s words, Baron Daparon’s expression became flabbergasted.
“You don’t seem to know, but Lord Leodoseon is among the fairly strong of the home country’s Ten Swords. It’s rather Lord Dimitrion who is fortunate.”
“There are parts I didn’t explain in detail when I gave you a brief report yesterday, but Lord Dimitrion’s skill has increased tremendously since receiving Swordsmanship instruction from Lord Cain.”
“What! He received Swordsmanship instruction from Cain?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, Lord Dimitrion himself said he seems to be nearly at the highest level of Expert.”
“He said that? Hmm, even if he did receive instruction from Cain, it’s only been a month—could his skill really have improved that much?”
“According to Egoedan, Lord Dimitrion’s servant, monsters he struggled with before he now subdues with ease. So even though it’s only been a month, it’s not something to dismiss.”
“Is that so? Then it makes sense.”
As Baron Daparon nodded at his son’s words, his thoughts grew increasingly complicated.
“Mogoyas.”
“Yes, Father.”
“In truth, the reason Lord Leodoseon and Lord Laila are here is to kill Cain and recover the lost shares of the Centron Mine, but do you think the two of them could actually kill him?”
“They absolutely cannot. No matter how excellent Lord Laila’s magic is, she won’t be a match for Lord Cain.”
When his son answered without a moment’s hesitation, Baron Daparon’s face stiffened.
“What? How can you be so certain? Don’t you know that a knight and a mage working together can face someone a level above them?”
“Father, it’s not just one level above. Didn’t I tell you before? Lord Dimitrion couldn’t even graze Lord Cain’s sleeve. Would there be such a difference in just one level?”
“Hmm! Have I been thinking about this wrong? If you’re that certain, this is serious.”
“Father, it’s not too late even now, so…….”
“Heh heh, this is truly exasperating!”
At that moment, a voice cut off Baron Daparon’s words.
When he turned his head, Leodoseon and Laila were approaching.
“L-Leodoseon, Laila…….”
As Baron Daparon’s expression grew flustered, the two fixed their gaze on Mogoyas Daparon, his son.
“Did you just say that even if we combined our strength, we couldn’t kill this man Cain?”
“No? Ah, no, I didn’t mean it would certainly come to that. I only meant not to underestimate Cain so lightly.”
Though Mogoyas Daparon hastened to explain, the two wore expressions of ice.
“Had you not been the son of Baron Daparon, you would have died for those words just now.”
“I—I apologize.”
“Mogoyas still doesn’t understand how strong those of our rank truly are. Forgive the boy.”
“Hah! I shall hold my tongue for the Baron’s sake, but if this Cain falls by our hands, there ought to be proper compensation for your son’s preposterous remarks.”
“Would I ever feign ignorance of your labors? I shall fill your coffers beyond what I promised Count Johansen, so lay aside your displeasure.”
“Mm, well. We shall let the matter rest for the Baron’s honor.”
“But what brings you two here?”
“Our Count instructed us to visit the Centron Mine ourselves, meet with Baron Jabedra, and demand he answer for his role in this affair. We came to inform Baron Daparon that we shall depart for Hailong Territory today.”
“Eh? Demand Jabedra answer? Answer for what?”
“For drawing this man Cain into matters and robbing Baron Daparon of his rightful claim. He surrendered your share entirely to Cain, yet gave none of his own—did he not?”
“Ah! That’s so. Now that I think of it, I’m the only one who lost. Jabedra lost nothing at all.”
“Through clever wordplay, he set this man Cain as the public face while he alone reaped the benefits from the shadows. Our Count saw through the true nature of the scheme.”
“Indeed, the Count discerns the heart of matters well. But it seems there’s no need for you two to depart for Hailong Territory.”
“Pardon? What do you mean? Is Jabedra coming here?”
“No, but word came from Jabedra just now—this man Cain is coming here. He’ll arrive this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Why not resolve matters with Cain first, then press Jabedra afterward?”
“It’s somewhat unexpected that this man Cain would come here, but we’re spared the trouble of seeking him out, which is fortunate indeed,” replied Laila, a faint smile crossing her face.
A mage’s preparations take longer than a knight’s, and with more time, far more insidious and potent spells can be woven.
* * *

Around the Saber Tiger’s neck was fitted a leather guard studded with pointed spikes, and leather reins like bridle straps were tied on either side. Gripping those reins and seated upon the Saber Tiger’s back was Eldom.
“Ungh! S-Saber, slow down a little! I think I’m going to be sick! Ugh!”
Despite Eldom’s pleas, the Saber Tiger’s pace down the mountain path never slackened. It bounded faster than a flying bird, each leap covering well over twenty meters.
“C-Cain! Please tell Saber to slow down. I’m really going to throw up!”
“You seem to have adapted much better than last time. Once we clear the forest ahead, there’ll be flat ground—hold on a little longer.”
“I thought I’d adapted too, but she’s running twice as fast as before, and I can’t hold it together. Ungh! I’m r-really gonna—ugh…….”
“Saber, Eldom looks like he’s about to be sick. Stop for a moment.”
Cain tapped the Saber Tiger’s flank, and the beast that had been racing like the wind came to a halt.
Retch…….
Eldom leaped down at once and retched while Jang Gain watched with a quiet laugh.
After roughly two hours of riding, flat ground came into view ahead—fields and a stream where the trees began to thin.
‘Saber’s gotten really fast.’
Normally, larger size meant sluggish movement, yet the Saber Tiger had grown faster and stronger in proportion to its bulk. And the aura it naturally exuded now surpassed that of a forest ogre, the king of the woods.
“Huff, huff…… I think I’ll live now.”
After one final bout of retching, color returning to his face, Eldom shook his head and looked at the Saber Tiger.
“Saber, can’t you please go a little slower? My stomach’s turned inside out.”
Growwwwl…….
The Saber Tiger tilted its head with a low rumble, and nearby trees swayed, their leaves scattering.
“Eldom, now that you’ve emptied your stomach once, you should be able to manage. Please, get back on.”
“Ha! I must be out of my mind. I should’ve just had the ladies guide us instead.”
“I don’t like that.”
“Hm? Why?”
“Well, just…… because.”
Seeing Eldom’s puzzled expression, Jang Gain laughed awkwardly.
The truth was, he’d ridden the sisters on the Saber Tiger’s back through the forest a few times before, and each time they’d shrieked and clung to him, which had been more than a little awkward.
* * *
Standing upon the ramparts of Daiaran Territory, Guard Captain Alberto gazed with satisfaction at ten knights mounted and arrayed inside the gates, and a hundred soldiers armed with bows, spears, and shields.
“Even if this man Cain is an Expert-class knight at the highest tier, he’ll lose his nerve against this.”
“Indeed. Four Expert-level knights alone could match Dimitrion. And to that we’ve added six lower-ranking knights, myself, you, Captain, and a hundred armed soldiers besides. If Cain comes alone, we won’t need the Count’s retainers—we can settle this among our own. And even if he brings Dberge warriors with him, they’ll lose their spirit just passing through these gates.”
“According to merchants’ reports, the Dberge settlements in the Crelarion Mountains number around a hundred households each, so even mustering all their warriors, they can scarcely exceed fifty.”
“And fifty only if other Dberge villages send reinforcements. Otherwise, we’ll be lucky to see thirty.”
Craaaaaahhhhh…….
Then a monster’s cry echoed from the distance.
Reflexively turning his head, Alberto saw an enormous Saber Tiger, as large as an ogre, approaching and calling out loudly. At the sound, merchants and their horses and donkeys waiting to pass the gates ahead scattered in panic.
“A-A Giant Saber Tiger! All forces, battle stations!”

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