The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 95

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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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The Strongest in Our Neighborhood (95)
Princess Angelina harbored reservations about holding the wedding ceremony at the Royal Palace, but when the king and his ministers pressed firmly, Jang Gain found himself unable to refuse.
“Sigh! I was planning to return to my domain right after receiving my marquis title, but the departure keeps getting pushed back.”
Noxscasarsis tilted his head at Jang Gain’s words.
“You’ve become a marquis, sure enough, but honestly, whether you’re there or not, the people living there have managed fine all this time and will continue to manage somehow. So there’s no need to worry about a mere few days’ delay.”
“It’s not that I’m worried—it’s just frustrating that I keep failing to leave when there’s a mountain of work waiting for me there.”
“Those tasks piling up? The people living there probably don’t even know they exist. They’re all just your ideas and plans.”
“Hmm, you’re right. My heart’s just racing ahead of itself.”
“And once you actually arrive and start governing the marquessate, you’ll be so buried in work you won’t have time to rest. So enjoy whatever leisure you have while you’re here.”
“You make a good point. Then I should dedicate myself to training until the wedding—something I haven’t had time for recently.”
Jang Gain drew a sword from his Subspace and rose from his seat, prompting Noxscasarsis to tilt his head questioningly.
“I understand that training is important because you need to prepare for battle with a dragon, but shouldn’t you be going on dates with Princess Angelina, who will soon be your bride? And you ought to meet Orphiena, too—the deposed one. She’s going to be your future mother-in-law, and you’re just going to leave her locked away in Byulseong Palace?”
“I spoke to the king about that yesterday. Why would he keep Orphiena locked in Byulseong?”
“Even if you spoke about it, the king would need to go through several procedures to restore a deposed queen to her position. Especially with an indecisive king who’s always watching his queen’s expression—I’m sure he’s not restoring her easily.”
“Hmm! Looking at how the king defers to the queen, you might be onto something.”
“And if you want to score some points with your future mother-in-law beforehand, you should take the lead in pushing for her restoration.”
“Fair enough.”
Jang Gain put the sword back into his Subspace and left the guest quarters, with Noxscasarsis following behind.
“Why are you coming?”
“Bored.”
Moments later, when Jang Gain met with the king and broached the matter of Orphiena’s restoration, the king said he had submitted the proposal at the morning council and it had passed unanimously, with the restoration procedure already underway.
“Unanimously? There truly wasn’t a single minister opposed?”
“Even the queen’s faction didn’t object.”
“Is that so? Then when will Orphiena return to the palace?”
“The court ladies will prepare her quarters today, so I’ll issue a Royal Decree to restore her tomorrow.”
“Write that decree now and give it to me, please. I’ll deliver it to Orphiena on my way to Byulseong Palace.”
“You’re going to Byulseong?”
“Yes. I thought I’d pay my respects in advance and score some points—and bring a gift while I’m at it.”
The king tilted his head upon hearing Jang Gain’s words.
“Angelina told me that while you claim you’ll take her as your wife, the true meaning is stronger—that she pleaded for her life, and you agreed to marry her so you could take her out of the palace. Are you saying you’ll go pay your respects to Orphiena?”
“Princess Angelina did tell me that, and I do harbor the intention of taking her beyond the palace walls for that reason. But even so, once we perform the marriage rites, the princess will truly become my wife. And as a husband, I have a duty to uphold her honor.”
“So you’re not thinking of it as merely a nominal marriage, as Angelina suggested?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hmm! I heard from Count Jasllan, who succeeded Count Johansen, that you rejected Count Johansen’s granddaughter.”
“Yes, it seems Count Jasllan mentioned that as well.”
“Count Jasllan said his niece received the blessing of a Spirit and is the most beautiful woman in his county. You rejected such a beauty, yet you accepted Angelina—why?”
“I felt pity for Angelina’s situation, and besides, I find her beautiful.”
“Eh? Angelina is beautiful? I’m hardly one to say as her father, but aren’t the other princesses considerably more beautiful?”
“The other princesses are lovely as well, but Princess Angelina is the most beautiful of them all.”
“Is that so? It seems your aesthetic standards differ quite a bit from mine.”
“Well, everyone’s sense of beauty differs somewhat, don’t you think?”
“Ha! If you say so of Angelina, then I take it to mean you’ll cherish and love her greatly?”
“She’s my wife, so of course I must cherish and love her.”
“I worried in my heart when granting permission for the marriage, but hearing your words, I wonder if I was worrying needlessly.”
“Please, write the decree now.”
“Very well.”
Moments later, the king drafted a Royal Decree affirming Orphiena’s restoration and impressed his seal upon it, which Jang Gain received with a satisfied expression.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Oh, and might you be thinking of coming along to Byulseong Palace?”
“I’d rather not. I’ll see her at the palace tomorrow anyway. You go alone.”
“Understood.”
Jang Gain knew the king was mindful of the queen’s feelings, so he pressed no further and made his way to Byulseong Palace.
“Marquis Jang Gain! Thank you so much. Mother’s restoration is all thanks to your kindness.”
Upon arriving at Byulseong Palace, Princess Angelina rushed toward him with tears glistening in her eyes, and Orphiena followed close behind, approaching with quick steps to greet him.
“Marquis Jang Gain. It is my first time meeting you. I am Orphiena Maran. Angelina came yesterday and spoke of you all through the night.”
Jang Gain had worried that Orphiena, having been confined to the secondary palace for so long, might have suffered in her health. Yet contrary to his expectations, she appeared remarkably well and bore an air of elegance and refinement.
“I am Marquis Jang Gain of the Smed Kingdom, and I am honored to meet you, Queen Orphiena Maran.”
“Just as Angelina described, you are truly impressive. Thanks to your help, I have been restored. I scarcely know how to repay such kindness.”
“Though you are restored, you cannot remain in the palace. You must come with Princess Angelina to my domain.”
“I am aware of that, and I prefer it that way. This palace is like a prison—the outside world would be far preferable.”
“Then I’m glad to hear it. Ah, and this friend who came with me is the Green Dragon Noxscasarsis.”
“It is an honor to meet you for the first time, great one. I am Orphiena Maran.”
“So the princess inherited her mother’s beauty—no wonder she’s such a striking woman. I’m pleased to meet you. I am Noxscasarsis of the Green Clan. Cain dislikes being called a ‘great being,’ so from now on, address me simply as Noxscasarsis.”
“Understood, Noxscasarsis.”
“Unlike some, you have a pleasant manner about you.”
Jang Gain handed Orphiena a Royal Decree from the king along with a Dragon Scale he withdrew from his Sub-space.
“This is the Royal Decree of reinstatement from His Majesty. And this is a gift from me to commemorate your restoration.”
Orphiena accepted the decree and the scale Jang Gain offered, her expression growing puzzled.
“What is this?”
“A scale from Noxscasarsis here beside me.”
“A scale from Noxscasarsis! Something so precious! Thank you so much.”
“If you plant it in the earth and infuse it with Mana while imagining a form of your choosing, it will grow into that shape. A knight would ordinarily imagine armor, but I’m curious to see what you have in mind.”
“It grows according to imagination—how extraordinary. But I’m afraid I have no Mana of my own.”
“Ah, then Noxscasarsis, would you infuse the Mana and help her create what she desires?”
“Hmm, very well. What would you like me to make for you?”
“Since you mentioned that knights imagine armor to defend their bodies, I thought I might like something similar. What of armor suited for a female knight?”
“If defense is your concern, armor isn’t strictly necessary. What about a Robe, the kind Mages wear?”
“A Robe? But a Robe is more like an overcoat—it wouldn’t have any defensive power, would it?”
“A sufficiently skilled Mage can inscribe not only defensive Magic Circles into a Robe, but also ones that regulate body temperature against heat and cold. I shall, as a special favor, inscribe Magic Circles that can withstand destructive power up to Seven-Star Grade and maintain your body temperature as well.”
Upon hearing Noxscasarsis’s offer, Orphiena grew delighted with surprise, while her expression remained complex—as though she couldn’t quite believe it.
“Great Noxscasarsis, I am deeply grateful. But why do you show me such kindness?”
“Because you’ll be Cain’s mother-in-law. Besides, he asked me to.”
“Ah, yes. I understand. Thank you.”
“Then I shall create the Robe.”
Noxscasarsis planted the scale in the earth and infused it with his power. Moments later, a large green Robe grew forth, large enough to cover Orphiena’s entire form.
After inscribing several Magic Circles into the Robe, Noxscasarsis handed it to Orphiena.
“With this Robe on, your body will be safe from harm—unless someone like Cain, a Swordmaster, strikes you directly.”
Orphiena’s eyes glistened with tears as she put on the Robe that Noxscasarsis had given her.
“Such a precious gift. Thank you, Noxscasarsis.”
“You should thank Cain, not me. I merely granted his request.”
“Duke Cain, thank you for this precious gift.”
“You’ve endured much hardship, and you deserve such a gift. Besides, I will soon be your son-in-law—please, don’t bow so low.”
Jang Gain waved his hand dismissively at her continued bowing, offering an embarrassed smile.
* * *
Queen Olivia contacted her grandfather through a Communication Crystal—a Duke of the Grand Junor Kingdom and a Swordmaster himself.
The Mage in charge of communications carried the Crystal to seek out Duke Flora Noid, and when it glowed, his image appeared within it.
“Grandfather, I hope you have been in good health. Your granddaughter Olivia sends her respects.”
-Ah! It has been far too long, Olivia. How have you been?
“I’ve been well, thank you. And how are you, Grandfather?”
-I remain as I always am. Still reaching toward the moon, even though my hand will never touch it, no matter how far I stretch.
“I was taught that the Swordmaster represents the pinnacle of swordsmanship that humans can achieve, yet you still cannot reach the moon?”
-Now that I have become what people call a Swordmaster, I understand that this Realm is not the end of the sword—it is merely the beginning. So I reach toward the moon once more. But tell me, what is the purpose of your call?
“Ah, that’s right, Grandfather. A new Swordmaster has appeared here in the Smed Kingdom.”
-Ah, you mean Duke Cain, who survived his battle with the dragon?
“How on earth do you know that, Grandfather?”
-It would be strange if I didn’t know about a dragon’s appearance and the destruction of a neighboring kingdom’s palace, wouldn’t it?
“Ah, of course—I should have realized that your eyes and ears extend here as well.”
-I’ve heard he not only survived the dragon but has since befriended it. Did you call to inform me of this new Swordmaster’s emergence?
“Yes, partly that. But also… Duke Cain caught the eye of Angelina, and since she was once my rival, my position has become rather awkward. I was hoping to ask for your assistance.”
-I’ve heard that you must host Duke Cain’s wedding ceremony with Princess Angelina at the palace in grand fashion. Are you perhaps asking me to attend as an envoy and defeat Duke Cain for you?
At that moment, Queen Olivia’s eyes widened.
“What! G-Grandfather, I have chills running down my spine. How do you know the palace affairs so well? And to guess my intentions so precisely…”
-Didn’t you just say I have eyes and ears in the Smed Royal Palace?
“Even so, I never expected you to know such details. And I certainly never imagined you could discern my purpose from those facts alone.”
-Truth be told, upon hearing that this Duke Cain is a Swordmaster, I became quite curious about him myself.

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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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