The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 97

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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 (97)
“Is my lack of courtship experience really something to mock me over?”
After Princess Angelina fled as if escaping, and Noxcasarsis and Aleingde Mir departed in turn, Jang Gain, left alone in the Training Ground, tilted his head in puzzlement.
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, a man’s popularity was naturally determined by the strength of his Martial Arts.
If one’s Martial Arts were strong, one could rise to a high position, and matchmakers sent by parents with daughters would line up endlessly.
He himself had risen to the position of leader of the Dark Blood Brigade and experienced such things, able to choose a wife from among the daughters of noble families.
Of course, he’d missed that opportunity while chasing after dragons, but once he returned to the Demonic Cult, he could take a woman of good family and beauty as his wife whenever he wished.
Jang Gain recalled words he’d heard from the elders of his household since childhood.
“Women, by nature, need only listen well to their husbands, keep the household, and raise children well. Beauty is fleeting. Beautiful women simply live up to their faces. Men, by nature, need only the ability to feed and clothe their wives and children. Popularity like a court entertainer’s—once you’re married, you don’t need any of that.”
When he reflected on his current self against what the elders had said, he found nothing whatsoever to be mocked for.
“In this world too, now that it’s known I’m a Sword Master, the Count tries to marry off his granddaughter to me, and the King tries to marry off his daughter to me. In the end, ability is what matters. Courtship skills aren’t an important factor in marriage.”
Jang Gain reached his conclusion and wore a satisfied expression. Once he’d settled the matter, the irritation born from the dragon’s mockery vanished cleanly.
Shortly after, Jang Gain left the Training Ground and walked toward the Palace Hunting Grounds where Sabel Tiger was.
Sabel Tiger had fled to the hunting grounds after his fight with the dragon and Jang Gain, hiding there until discovered by Eldom, and for some reason had since claimed the place as his own home, preying on the beasts released into the hunting grounds.
Upon arriving at the hunting grounds, Jang Gain saw Eldom and Violet sitting atop Sabel Tiger’s back.
“Eldom, what are you two doing up there?”
“Ah! Marquis Gain. We were practicing Spirit Magic.”
Jang Gain gazed at the two people clinging so closely to Sabel Tiger’s back with a somewhat suspicious look.
“You practice Spirit Magic while sitting that close on Sabel’s back?”
“Ah! Ha ha, we’re practicing Spirit Magic and also playing with Sabel!”
As Jang Gain approached, Eldom and a flushed Violet hastily climbed down from Sabel Tiger’s back, and Sabel Tiger came toward Jang Gain, nuzzling his face and rumbling.
“Are you cowering here because you’re afraid of the dragon?”
Jang Gain asked directly, knowing that Sabel Tiger was remarkably intelligent and understood human speech almost completely.
At that, Sabel Tiger nodded.
“With me here, why would you fear the dragon? What? You’re still afraid? Well, it’s not easy to shake off instinctive dread. But you’re coming with me when I return to the Crerarion Mountain Range. What? You don’t want to go with the dragon? Don’t worry—I’ll stop the dragon from eating you. Even if you make that reluctant face, I’m taking you along. Understood? Nod if you understand. Yes, good thinking.”
Violet, listening to Jang Gain converse with Sabel Tiger, tilted her head in bewilderment.
“Marquis Gain, surely you don’t actually think Sabel understands everything you say and nods in response?”
“I do. Sabel’s a Spirit Beast—intelligent as a person.”
“But how could he understand every word you say, no matter how smart? He’s just nodding because he likes you, Marquis.”
“He understands everything.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Fine, then let me prove it to you. Sabel, roll to the right. That’s it! Now roll to the left. Yes, good. Climb that tree and jump to the next one.”
Crack.
A branch snapped as Sabel Tiger did as instructed, but he landed gracefully on the ground without tumbling.
Thud.
Seeing Sabel Tiger obey every command, Violet’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
Once Sabel Tiger had completed everything Jang Gain commanded and returned to nuzzle against him, she asked in bewilderment.
“Heavens! He really does everything Marquis Gain tells him to! A Sabel Tiger that understands human speech! And not just any Sabel Tiger—a Giant Saber-tooth at that!”
“That’s why he’s a Spirit Beast. Sabel, I’ll smoke some meat for you, so go catch me a deer.”
Slurp.
Hearing Jang Gain’s words, Sabel Tiger drooled eagerly, disappeared into the forest of the hunting grounds, and returned in less than a minute with a deer clamped in his jaws.
As Jang Gain watched Sabel Tiger lay the deer at his feet, he spoke to Violet.
“Now do you believe Sabel understands human speech?”
“Yes. He’s incredibly intelligent. Do you think other monsters are this smart too?”
“Ogres make stone axes and carry them around, so even if not quite as intelligent as humans, they must be quite clever. Orcs build houses and form villages—by the look of it, they have considerable intelligence.”
“You’re right. Hearing you speak, it seems there are many intelligent monsters out there—we’re just biased by the word ‘monster.'”
“That’s why the Demon Race enthralls monsters. They’re strong and intelligent, so once enthralled, they become formidable forces immediately.”
Jang Gain nodded at Violet’s agreement, then built a fire and began smoking the venison.
“Oh, by the way, Marquis Gain—Eldom told me you’re going to hold a wedding ceremony with Princess Angelina soon?”
“Yes. He said they’re calling in seers to determine an auspicious day.”
“When I tried to seduce you, you didn’t budge an inch, but you gave in to Princess Angelina so easily?”
As Violet wore a smug expression, Jang Gain stole a glance at Eldom’s face behind her.
“Princess Angelina had her reasons, and besides—she’s beautiful, so I gave in.”
“If beauty is the measure, I don’t think I’m inferior to Princess Angelina.”
Eldom’s expression began to crumple noticeably.
“I don’t know where that confidence comes from, but Princess Angelina is far more beautiful than you.”
“What? Far—far more?”
“Yes, far more! Honestly, comparing you two is downright rude to her.”
“You’re being too cruel, aren’t you? How can you say such things to me?”
“You seem to be under the illusion that you’re beautiful, so I said it plainly. Can’t help it if you’re upset.”
When Violet’s face crumpled as if she were about to cry, Jang Gain turned his head away and focused intently on the smoked venison.
* * *
Dark clouds had hung thick in the sky since morning, and a bitter wind cut through the air. By midday, heavy snow began to fall.
Jang Gain, who had been training in Martial Arts, looked up at the sky, catching falling snowflakes in his palm.
“The world changes, but snow looks the same everywhere.”
Standing still, receiving the snow, he found his mind drifting to various memories tied to winter.
Snowball fights with children his age when he was young, pestering his parents to build snowmen, sitting around a brazier to warm his frozen hands while roasting potatoes—memories he had nearly forgotten.
Suddenly his chest tightened, and a wave of longing rose within him.
He missed his parents, missed his younger sister who had married young and her child, missed the other disciples he’d competed with, and even found himself missing the enemy-like figure of Mado-un.
“Hah! Is this homesickness? I’ve only been in this world for a few months.”
What had fallen melting into the ground now accumulated without melting, piling up enough to cover the tops of his feet.
Jang Gain gathered the snow and shaped it into a snowman.
Using his Internal Energy to compact it, the snow hardened like stone.
‘Father was always so skilled at carving snowmen.’
Jang Gain drew out a Small Blade and began carving his family’s faces into the snowman he’d made.
First his father, then his mother, his sister, his nephew, and his brother-in-law.
By the time he finished the last carving, the snow had stopped falling.
“If a dragon comes looking for me, I should ask whether it has the power to send me home before I kill it.”
“Duke Gain, what are you doing?”
At that moment, Princess Angelina entered the Training Ground carrying an umbrella.
“Ah! The snow came, so I was catching some of it.”
“Last year, when the first snow fell, I cursed at the sky while watching it. But this year, the first snow looks so beautiful that songs pour out of me on their own. It’s all thanks to you, Duke Gain.”
Upon hearing the princess’s words, Jang Gain shrugged slightly.
“One’s state of mind determines how one experiences the same phenomenon. Ah, speaking of which, I came several times to apologize for the trouble I caused you with the Chimera Wyvern, but you were always busy and we couldn’t meet. What brings you to visit me in person now?”
“Ah! Well, that is… the truth is, I was avoiding you because I was afraid you’d offer me another ride on the Chimera Wyvern.”
For a moment, Jang Gain’s expression grew bewildered.
“What? Surely I wouldn’t offer you another ride after seeing you get so terribly sick?”
“But at first, even though I said I was scared and didn’t want to ride, you forcibly made me get on, saying it would be a thrilling experience. So I was afraid you’d force me again.”
“That, well, it was truly meant to be thrilling… No, I was shortsighted. And I apologize for flying the Chimera Wyvern so roughly that day. Next time, I’ll make it fly very smoothly, so it won’t be scary or dizzying.”
“No, no. I just feel more at ease keeping both feet on the ground rather than flying. So I’ll absolutely decline riding the Chimera Wyvern.”
“If you prefer keeping both feet on the ground, what about the Sabel Tiger? Since it runs on four legs, that might be acceptable?”
“I dislike the Sabel Tiger too. I just think horses or carriages are better as a means of transport. I’ll decline anything else absolutely.”
“Is that so? That’s a shame.”
“Not at all. I’m not disappointed in the slightest.”
Princess Angelina waved her hand dismissively and took a step back, whereupon Jang Gain gave a bitter smile.
“But what brings you here?”
“Ah! It’s to tell you that the date for our wedding has been set.”
“I recall you said you were going to summon diviners to choose the date. Has it finally been decided?”
“Yes, they set it for the seventh of next month.”
“The seventh of next month? That’s only about twenty days away… won’t it be terribly cold then?”
“Some thought the ceremony should be held in spring after winter passes, but the majority of the diviners persuaded His Majesty, saying that the only auspicious day in the Month of the Ice Witch is the seventh.”
“Is that so? Since I’ve received my territory but haven’t yet taken even a first step in it, I’d be glad to marry quickly and return, but are you content with this, Your Highness?”
“I’d be willing to leave this palace tomorrow if it meant following you, Duke.”
Upon hearing Princess Angelina’s words, Jang Gain felt a wave of concern.
“You seem uncomfortable here. Is someone making things difficult for you?”
“Sigh! Clearly, life has become incomparably easier than when I was living with Mother in the Separate Palace, yet even in fine clothes I feel no joy, and even precious food tastes like nothing. Yet there’s no one in particular making things difficult for me.”
“The Queen and her faction aren’t making things difficult?”
“They’re the ones using every shameless trick imaginable to make Mother and me uncomfortable. At first they cut off our financial support, but these days, since they can’t touch Mother and me directly, they bully and mock and frighten the innocent maidservants instead.”
“The maidservants? Why them?”
“They serve Mother and me, but they must remain in the palace. So they threaten them, saying they should make things hard for Mother and me with an eye to the future.”
“Hmm! How contemptible—tormenting helpless maidservants. Shall I give the Queen a warning?”
“Even if Father knows, he turns a blind eye because the Queen’s backing comes from the Grangjunor Kingdom. And the Sword Master, Duke Fura Noid of Grangjunor, is the Queen’s grandfather.”
“Still, I don’t see why I shouldn’t give her a warning.”
“Once the wedding ends, I’ll be heading to the Crerarion Mountain Range anyway. There’s no need to clash over a time that’s already so short.”
“That may be your thinking, but my position is different.”

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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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