Chapter 164

Ed Rosstaylor Contest (4)

When all of this is over let’s go back to our hometown.

This is what commanders always say while walking around the battlefield.

When everyone comes to the front line and pulls the trigger for their own reasons what suddenly comes to mind is the scenery of their hometown.

Knowing that you have a place to return to sometimes gives you strength to endure the harsh reality. Whether it is your hometown or the embrace of your family. It may not be so strange to think about ending this hellish life and returning to my hometown.

As I drifted through the hazy world of unconsciousness those difficult times seeped into one of my memories.

Unfortunately there is no place in this world worth calling home.

*

“Senior Ed was seriously injured. “Princess Selaha.”

As Selaha appears the frozen atmosphere still shows no intention of thawing.

There is a strange chill between the people gathered around Ed Rosstaylor and Selaha. Many nobles who followed Selaha also held their breath as they sensed that the atmosphere was unusual.

“Of course I was also caught up in this massacre of the Ross Taylor family and I suffered quite a few injuries here and there. “The Holy City will not take this matter lightly.”

Saint Clarice mobilized as many justifications as possible to secure Ed’s recruits against Selaha.

“Senior Ed is a baptized member of the Telos Church but there are suspicions that he helped harm me a saint. “He is a lamb who must be brought to Seonghwangdo to undergo the Holy Law trial.”

“... ”

“The religious laws of the church are strict laws that even I a saint cannot break. “Senior Ed’s new recruits must be guided by our Seonghwangdo branch.”

“The religious laws of the religious order deserve to be respected but the laws of our imperial family also cannot easily overlook this matter.”

Selaha spoke quietly with his eyes down.

The religious laws of the church and the laws of the imperial family. Who had the upper hand between the two varied depending on the era.

The period of fierce conflict between the religious authority and the imperial power lasted hundreds of years. Sometimes castle laws and sometimes imperial laws took precedence.

Recently as Emperor Cloel’s prestige soared the imperial laws began to take on more weight. If the two started clashing the priests of Holy Emperor Capital would have no choice but to be more cautious.

“More than ten high-ranking nobles in our empire have died. There are many people seriously injured. “How can we sit still in the Imperial Palace of Cloel?”

Originally Princess Selaha did not want to be in conflict with the Holy Emperor’s side.

However the situation itself is completely bizarre.

The person named Ed Rosstaylor is like the key to the imperial power structure that will cause great upheaval in the future.

Anyone who wants to exert influence even if they are not Selaha will want to secure Ed and Tanya as new recruits.

Among them Selaha is the person who has the first access to the two recruits. Because he was there.

However aside from Ed the characters are all big names.

“... ”

After confronting him directly Selaha suddenly had no choice but to swallow dry saliva.

They are not just friends who worked together in the Sylvanian Academy but they are a desperate team that protects Ed with desperate determination.

Yenica and Lucy who were active in the battle to subdue the Crepins also appear to be glaring at Selaha with cold gazes.

The reason the two faced the disaster at Ross Taylor Mansion was not out of heroism to reduce the number of casualties but rather to protect Ed Ross Taylor.

I look up at Lucy Mayril who is standing blankly in front of the zelkova tree her white hair flowing.

Only then did Selaha realize. She is more of a disaster running wild than a hero.

He is not someone who is driven by political logic or self-interest. money power fame. There is no interest in the values ​​that ordinary people hold highly.

I do what I think is right and don’t care about anything else... It is an existence outside the world.

Are you planning on turning even the imperial family into enemies if you feel like it? Even that feeling comes flooding back and I end up with an intuition.

If you touch that man carelessly you might get very angry.

However if you leave it like this you may end up in even greater trouble in the future.

Even though he looks like he’s in a bad state right now big names like him are already following Ed.

It seems certain that if even a small amount of power is acquired or a power begins to form it will threaten the imperial power.

Fenia Elias I realized why Cloel was so conscious of that man.

I don’t know what part of that man I saw but he has the power to bring big names together.

The shoots that will become the root of major troubles must be trampled down while they are still weak. However the methodology did not immediately come to mind for Selaha.

It seems that Saint Clarice is even thinking of mobilizing political influence and she cannot even compete with absolute force unless she mobilizes the core personnel of the imperial army.

If we don’t secure Ed Rosstaylor here there’s no telling when we’ll be able to get a reason to take him down again.

Selaha’s intuition cries out. This is your last chance.

If you cannot suppress him with authority you must first bring him to the imperial family either by compromising or deceiving him.

I have no idea what position he will be in when I next see him.

“Ed Rothtaylor deserves praise for his hard work.”

Selaha slowly closed and opened his eyes and spoke.

“First we must take him to the imperial palace treat him and report his hard work to Abamama so that he receives the compensation he deserves.”

When Selaha said that the atmosphere among everyone changed.

Selaha lowered her tail. There was a murmur among the nobles as they couldn’t believe that fact.

I couldn’t bring myself to raise a voice of dissatisfaction with Selaha and ask what that meant but I couldn’t help but look at each other in confusion at the unexpected reaction.

“Of course Tanya Rosstaylor too. “The reason I am trying to secure new recruits for those two is because I understand their positions best and can best represent them within the imperial castle.”

Seeing Selaha’s reaction Lortel smiled softly under his robe.

Saying that Selaha is trying to hand over Ed Rothtaylor’s recruits to the Elte Company rather than the imperial family.

Even if negotiations are successful Ed Rothtaylor will come under Lortel’s management anyway. In that case with the support of the Elte Company we will be able to recover her body regain her consciousness and think about a new solution to attack Selaha.

It’s a rumor.

Now that Sellaha has gotten caught up in this no matter what option he chooses he has no choice but to be dragged into a situation that is advantageous to Ed Rothtaylor.

Whichever way you choose the only path left is one that leads to a cliff.

This is why the merchants of Old Deck never turn Lortel into an enemy.

Naturally everyone could not help but look at Selaha with suspicious eyes.

It is suspicious that Selaha who was so tied to status and authority appears in such a cooperative manner.

But Selaha’s boasts are like the devil’s temptation.

If Selaha really sticks to Ed’s side he can gain an advantage in the future investigation of the truth at the imperial court.

Princess Fenia will also take Ed’s side... With the support of those two it might not be a punishment but a lottery.

“... ”

It goes without saying but once Ed’s new recruit is handed over to the Imperial Palace there is no going back.

Once Ed’s life is taken hostage the group becomes unable to move quickly. Therefore it is difficult to easily hand over Ed’s recruit to Selaha.

However I cannot become a body chased by the imperial castle like this. Ed Rosstaylor needs a break.

“Investigating the truth and hearing the circumstances do not necessarily have to be done by the imperial family.”

At that time Tanya raised her dusty body and spoke.

“I will remain on this mansion site.”

At those words not only Selaha but everyone’s eyes focused on Tanya.

“There may still be living occupants and restoration work needs to be done on the mansion site. Because I can’t leave it like this. We’ll have to collect your father’s body too. “All family members in the imperial family will also have to return.”

then... ”

Lortel just wanted to live with Ed in need not to overwhelm him with extravagant wealth.

Therefore I understood that the villa was smaller than I expected.

“If you come back after vacation you can move in right away.”

The northern forest where the crescent moon shines brightly.

Belmaia who came to inspect the camp after work that day felt empty again.

The greatest reward I gained from working as a maid at Ofilis Hall was helping students who had difficulty adapting to an unfamiliar environment and maintaining their lives.

That’s why students feel empty during this vacation period when they leave Aken Island. Although I’m quite used to it now I still get a strange feeling when I walk around the empty Ofilis Hall and the bachelor’s hall.

But that doesn’t mean I’m too busy during the semester... There is no middle ground. Although she is a workaholic it is not a very bad environment for her.

After finishing closing the door at Lortel’s small villa Belle Maia stretched out to relieve her sore body.

The way she who is always cool and blunt stretches feels unnatural like a robot stretching.

I wonder if the tension has eased a bit since there is no one watching.

Belle Maia was clearly influenced by the free-spirited vacation atmosphere of this late summer.

The shadow of a grasshopper passed by the crescent moon. Only then did I become aware of the sound of insects in the grass on a summer night and the rustling sound tickled my ears.

Leaves swaying gently in the moonlight. The sound of them passing each other was faintly heard between the camp buildings.

Iidaji is so peaceful that it feels like I’m in another world.

With that in mind the moment I turned to go back to Ofilis Hall a boy appeared from among the grass.

“... !”

Even Belle Maia who usually maintains a blunt expression was a bit surprised this time.

Ed Rosstaylor who I believe has returned to his home... So I staggered through the grass and walked into the camp.

Even if I pretended my red face and limp legs were not normal conditions.

Taking advantage of Belle Maia’s panic he flopped down on a tree stump near the bonfire... He dropped the leather pouch he was carrying on his shoulder.

His luggage bounced and rolled on the floor a few times.

“Eh Master Ed? Aren’t you supposed to be returning to school around the end of vacation? The other party members... how... ?”

When Belle Maia asked in confusion Ed Rosstaylor took his dazed mind and swept his face.

“You were at camp Belle.”

“... yes? Ah yes... .”

“Light a fire. “It’s a bit difficult for me to use my magic power right now.”

When Bell said that in a dying voice he lightly drew on his magic power and lit a bonfire.

The camp fire softly illuminated the surroundings as if welcoming the owner who had returned after a long time.

Ed sat in front of him wiping his face and lowering his head resting his forearms on his knees.

Warm heat tickled my face.

The smell of grass along with the familiar sound of insects at night irritated the tip of my nose. Ed felt the strength in her shoulders relax and her stiff muscles slowly relax.

Bel Maia looked at that... She stood behind me for a moment unable to speak.

The shadow of the camp which had been stretched by the moonlight split into several branches and covered the camp as a new light source called the bonfire was created.

The heat of the crackling and fluttering flames seemed to massage my body.

“... Was the journey difficult?”

Belle who had been waiting for Ed for a while with her hands folded behind him slowly asked.

When Ed heard that question he was lost in thought for a moment.

Those who wandered around the battlefield would eventually wander around looking for a place to return to. Was he no different himself?

The traces of the hard work rolling and gritting one’s teeth when one first fell into this world remain intact in this camp.

The first wooden shelter I made the first fishing rod I made the first campfire cabin I made the window the hunting tool clasp the leather of wild animals the book for magic training the woodworking workbench the hammer the fishing net... .

Was this camp a place worth returning to in the end?

I feel more attached to this camp where we spent difficult and arduous times together than I thought... I wanted to come back even if it meant leading my body in complete disrepair.

Ed refused his companions’ offer to return with him and eventually returned to camp alone.

He even refused all dissuasion from Yenica who was trying to throw away her plan to return home and Clarice who was trying to coordinate the entire schedule of the Lortel Holy City to follow even at the cost of business losses. Tanya even encouraged him to recover first as she would be staying at the mansion to finish work.

I glanced up at the crescent moon floating in the sky... I ponder Bel Maia’s question.

Was the journey difficult?

Of course this journey during vacation was difficult.

He went back to the Ross Taylor mansion risked his life and somehow ended his bad relationship with the Ross Taylor family leaving him completely devastated. Her journey was a short one but it was so arduous and tiring that even Ed who never said anything couldn’t help but cry.

Plus there was still a lot of work left to do.

Although I somehow ended my bad relationship with Ross Taylor I felt like I had exerted unnecessary influence on the imperial power structure and I had to worry about what to do with the remaining power of the Ross Taylor family. I still can’t think of a clear way to catch Seong Chang-ryong’s Belbroke and I have a lot of school schedule left for next semester.

Of course if you look back at the path you have taken it has never been easy. From the time he was struggling to survive in this forest until now Ed has lived every moment trying his best.

So the place I wanted to return to after finishing work was... It was in front of this campfire.

“Of course it was difficult. “I almost died several times.”

Eventually Ed answered.

“So... I wanted to come back here quickly.”

“... ”

Belle gently folded her hands and glanced at Ed’s back. It looked like he needed nursing care right away but he seemed to want to be alone right now.

Still I was worried that I could leave it alone so I was thinking about it for a while... Suddenly I felt a sense of discomfort.

Come to think of it... “You finally spoke up.”

“Okay you won.”

“I’m glad you understand. “It’s just that there was a change in his mood...”

“Hey Bell.”

Ed lowered his head and quietly called Belle’s name.

Through this vacation journey I feel like I have finally gotten a taste of the life of Ed Rothtaylor.

〈 The Failed Sword Saint of Sylvania 〉 Act 1 Scene 1. This is the life of a third-rate villain who is the first to exit.

The moment when the whole journey began... I vaguely remembered the image of the senior maid who discovered the scene where Ed Ross Taylor was about to end his life and stopped him and spoke in a low voice.

“You’re a better guy than I thought.”

“... ”

“I am grateful in many ways.”

At his sudden words Belle tilted her head for a moment and then... Soon she lowered her head and spoke.

“That’s too much praise.”

Belle said that and quietly walked out of the camp leaving him in front of the campfire.

Suddenly he looks back and sees him resting in the dark forest with a soft bonfire in front of him.

I’ll have to check his condition starting tomorrow but I think I’ll have to leave him to enjoy the camp alone for just one night.

The maid at Ofilis Hall is always good at getting things done. Reading your employer’s intentions and letting them do whatever they want is also a necessary virtue.

So Ed Rosstaylor sat in one corner of the camp watching the campfire for a while.

There was a lot of work left to do but I also needed time to forget everything and relax for a while.

The quiet summer night deepens. The faint light of the crescent moon seeped through the forest.

The long summer vacation was slowly coming to an end.