This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 133

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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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Chapter 133

I turned my head in alarm at Kimarise’s words. Baron was entering, the sailors stirred with excitement, and Stanley and the Guard made no effort to hide their bewilderment.
For good reason—there was no adult man beside Baron, not even a person at all!
‘Is he really bringing Crockel out right now?’
Standing at a proper distance from Stanley, Baron spoke to Crockel, whom he held tucked under his arm.
“Listen carefully. Attack only those two, and go easy on them. Don’t kill them. Understood? And absolutely do not bite anyone else.”
“Pant, pant.”
Crockel’s tail wagged as he lolled his tongue toward Baron.
‘Good heavens, Baron’s duel partner is a dog named Crockel.’
I was too stunned to speak, when Baron addressed Raven.
“Go ahead, give the signal.”
Then Stanley asked Baron a question.
“Kid, are you really going to fight alongside that dog?”
“I could take both of you down alone, but since the rules require exactly two for a 2v2 match, I brought him along.”
Baron stroked Crockel with a confident expression.
“Crockel might finish everything before I even have to step in.”
Stanley looked genuinely exasperated. Veins bulged on his Guard’s forehead.
“Ha, so the kid really doesn’t know his limits. Fortunately, you won’t die. His Majesty is showing mercy due to your youth, and you’re also under the protection of the Merchant Guild Master, our benefactor.”
The Guard raised his massive fist.
“But my knuckle sandwich is going to hurt quite a bit.”
His fist, which he was using to threaten Baron, looked terrifying.
‘This won’t do.’
I tried to stand up from my seat. I was thinking that if things went wrong, I’d just step in and take a hit for him instead.
‘Kelite’s laws are only binding in Kelite, and I’m from the Ilpein Empire—besides, this ship technically belongs to the Ilpein Empire anyway.’
That’s when Kimarise gently pressed my shoulder back down into my seat and spoke in a low voice.
“Lady Hailey, there’s a reason your chair was placed here.”
“What?”
“In case you were thinking of intervening, I’m here to stop you. Please, don’t interfere under any circumstances.”
What? How did he read my mind like that?
As my eyes widened, Kimarise smiled warmly.
“Baron will win, so don’t worry.”
Then Raven raised his hand, declared the duel rules, and rang the bell once.
“Begin.”
The sailors began to stir with excitement.
“I can’t believe it—is he really dueling a kid?”
“In Kelite, they don’t go easy on anyone, not even children.”
“Huh, the kid’s got some guts.”
That’s when it happened.
“Woof!”
Crockel barked spiritedly and charged forward with courage toward Stanley.
“Good grief.”
Stanley looked exasperated and lifted one foot. He seemed intent on kicking Crockel away lightly and ending this.
‘I mean, Baron was the one who suddenly accelerated, but even so, his character is rather lacking.’
Where on earth was he going to kick such a tiny puppy?
But then a twist unfolded.
“Ugh!”
“Gasp! Your Majesty!”
Stanley was the one who kicked Crockel as he charged in a straight line. Yet Stanley was also the one who let out a single scream.
He flew backward in an instant and collided with the sailors standing around him.
“Thud!”
“Gasp!”
The screams of the sailors who caught Stanley’s body echoed across the ship deck. They toppled over in succession like bowling pins.
The murmuring around us ceased in an instant, and I doubted my own eyes.
‘What? How did this happen?’
“Growl!”
Crockel stood firm where Stanley had fallen, baring his teeth before immediately lunging at Stanley’s guard.
“You damned mutt!”
The guard’s complexion changed drastically. He tried to throw a punch while dodging Crockel’s charge, but Crockel nimbly evaded the fist and leaped again.
What followed was a high-pitched scream from the man who had been bitten on the buttocks by the dog.
“Aaaahhh!”
At that moment, Baron approached the guard with his fist clenched, raising one corner of his mouth.
“I’ll take it easy, but you should still clench your teeth.”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
The guard’s nose gushed with blood, and he collapsed helplessly.
I was utterly dumbfounded by the completely unexpected situation. Yet Raven didn’t seem particularly surprised and rang a bell once.
“Baron’s victory. Since it was two versus two, the victor may ask the loser two questions.”
Raven looked at Stanley groaning and the guard suffering, then shrugged his shoulders.
“The loser appears unable to answer at the moment, so I shall arrange for treatment first, then prepare a place for the question and answer session.”
At this point, I felt sorry for Stanley and his guard. And I understood why Raven and Kimarise hadn’t batted an eye.
Come to think of it, Baron had gone to Raven’s Mansion several times, saying he would watch Kyle’s swordsmanship.
‘They must have sensed just how talented Baron is back then.’
I turned to Kimarise standing behind me to confirm.
“Did you perhaps already know about Baron’s talent?”
“Yes.”
Just as I thought.
“Looking at it now, he doesn’t seem ordinary… Just how talented is Baron?”
Kimarise thought for a moment before finally offering an answer.
“As for armed conflict, there is no need to worry in any circumstance whatsoever.”
“Any… any circumstance at all?”
“Because he is a prodigy. Truly gifted from birth.”
“Good heavens.”
Kimarise accepted this as obvious, but his certainty gave me much to contemplate. Noticing my expression, Kimarise asked.
“What occupies your thoughts so deeply?”
“I knew Baron was exceptional, but if this is the case, shouldn’t I search not just the Academy but the entire Empire to find a mentor worthy of his caliber?”
“That will not be necessary.”
Raven approached us, having overheard our quiet conversation.
“There exists no human in this world capable of teaching such talent.”
“What? To that extent?”
My child—an unparalleled prodigy?
“Baron should simply continue living as he always has. That would be best.”
I found myself at a loss for words.
“Filthy. Do not eat that.”
Meanwhile, Baron was brushing off his hand and removing Crockel, who still clung stubbornly to the Guard’s posterior.
Riiiiip.
The Guard’s trousers tore lengthwise. Only then did Crockel release the scrap of fabric he had been gripping so tenaciously.
“Woof! Woof!”
But displeased with the gazes directed at him, he began barking while glaring at those around him.
Baron hoisted Crockel and tucked him under his arm, then looked toward Raven.
“He is being loud, so I will take him to his room. Clean up the area while I am gone.”
“Yes, I shall await your return.”
Baron disappeared with Crockel. Watching his departing figure, I could not help but click my tongue.
“Crockel seems truly remarkable as well. For such a young pup, where does such strength come from?”
No matter how I considered it, something seemed amiss.
‘Do even dogs in this world possess such extraordinary power?’
But Raven offered an unexpected answer.
“Ah, it is not a dog but a pup of a phantom wolf—a Monster—which is why.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
What manner of thunderbolt from a clear sky was this?
“He picked it up near the Gate Vicinity, I understand.”
Raven’s expression remained perfectly serene. But my mind reeled.
“When… when did you learn of this?”
“From the beginning. I instructed him on how to care for it.”
“I see. But is that not dangerous?”
“It is fine. It appears to have imprinted on Baron. As for Hailey, it seems to recognize her as family.”
A phantom wolf pup considers the first being it encounters as family and rejects all others, it seems.
Learning that Baron was safe brought relief, yet I could not entirely suppress my concerns.
“Still, what if it bites someone at some point and causes an accident? What if it attacks or even kills an innocent person?”
Raven shook his head.
“Baron has excellent control over him, so that won’t happen. Once he’s fully grown, he’ll be quite large, which will make for a comfortable ride as well.”
My question about the remarkably powerful puppy had been answered.
‘At least it’s not dangerous.’
Now another question surfaced.
“Does Baron know that Crockel is a Monster?”
“Yes. That’s why he brought him along.”
“….”
I was at a loss for words, and seeing my expression, Raven rolled his eyes with a look of dismay.
“Oh dear, it seems Baron didn’t mention that part.”

* * *

The next morning, Baron headed to a specially prepared location.
“Welcome.”
Kimarise, who had arrived earlier, greeted him with formal courtesy.
Baron nodded and examined Stanley, who was already seated. The discontent etched across his face was accompanied by a cast on the leg that Crockel had rammed into him.
“It broke? Crockel should have held back.”
Kimarise answered quickly to Baron’s question.
“A hairline fracture, sir.”
Baron nodded. That degree of injury meant Crockel had followed his instructions very well.
“Good.”
At Baron’s gesture, Kimarise bowed respectfully and left the room.
Once they were alone, Baron addressed Stanley.
“I’ve been curious about this anyway, so we’ve met at a convenient time. You’ll need to answer my questions properly.”
Stanley’s brow furrowed.
“Since I lost the duel, I’ll answer, but I’d like to teach you that your attitude won’t help you in the long run.”
They said Kelite people held no grudges over duel outcomes.
Contrary to what was known, his words hinting at lingering resentment made Baron chuckle softly.
“That’s my line, so you just focus on answering. First question.”
In that moment, Baron’s eyes shifted to a crimson glow. Stanley felt a chill run down his spine as Baron’s cold voice pierced his ears.
“I’m curious about the circumstances when Kelite struck the Kingdom of Meridon. You’ll explain everything you know.”

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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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