Chapter 1. Grasp your weakness and shake it. (6)
However, contrary to expectations, no sounds were heard around.
“…….”
I frowned and then opened my mouth.
“I know you’ve been watching. Come out and let’s talk.”
I tried to hide my shyness and pretended to be calm.
“…….”
The embarrassing silence returned.
“under.”
It was the moment when the world’s Abel Kindreal became an idiot shouting alone in an empty alley.
‘Is it empty soup? That can’t be possible.’
Liam clearly recognized me.
I saw the lord’s son right in front of me and saw him win at gambling, and there was no way I could just pass it by.
‘That also means,’
It was clear that he was hiding nearby and watching me.
‘You’re being annoying.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
In this situation where every minute and every second was regrettable and precious, it was truly a useless act of caution.
“I guess I should go back to the castle right away.”
In the end, I had no choice but to issue an ultimatum.
“I should go and tell you who I saw at Kader’s compound today.”
How, even if I go this far, can I still get tired of you without coming out?
I stood with my arms crossed and one leg twisted. And I focused my ears on the sounds around me.
Step by step.
Soon, heavy steps came from behind.
I turned back. Between the narrow alleys, I saw a figure that had not been seen before.
Maroon-colored hair and eyes so dark that they look pitch black.
Liam Schmidt was standing in front of me. Wearing the mask he used at the gambling house earlier.
Seeing him up close like this made me even more confident in his skills.
Even though he is just standing there, his presence is enormous. It was definitely different from the three beggars from before.
I smiled and took off the mask I was wearing.
“We both know each other’s identities, so let’s get this out of the way, right?”
I also took off the wig that had been frustratingly tying my hair. She sneered at Liam, who was still wearing his mask.
“I’m telling you now, that mask really sucks. Next time, buy a bigger one.”
“…….”
Liam, who had been standing motionless, moved his hand. With a click, the mask flew off and a rough-looking face was revealed.
“How did you know?”
A low voice mixed with a slight squeak.
“Master Abel.”
He looked at me closely, as if trying to explore me. Eyes like old trees gave off a cool glow.
I returned his gaze.
“You can tell just by looking at them. They are the knights of our territory.”
It was better not to reveal the fact that I had come to visit him on purpose.
Liam asked in a questioning tone.
“You just knew by looking at it?”
“Yes. The knight’s unique aura and his size. Will that be hidden just by wearing a mask?”
Liam was stung by my caustic tone.
“That’s how you recognized me, didn’t you?”
“There’s no way you wouldn’t know. Master’s eye color is famous.”
“Oh yeah?”
He grinned and gestured behind me. In the direction the three guys fled earlier.
“And yet you were just watching?”
“You don’t look like you need help.”
Liam seemed unfazed by my criticism. His eyes turned to the puddle of blood left on the floor.
“Besides, it seemed like you were enjoying it, Master.”
“But there were three of them. What were you planning on doing if I was in danger?”
“That wouldn’t have happened.”
Liam said in a confident tone.
“Because the master would have revealed his identity first.”
He pointed to the mask lying on the floor.
‘Not a word.’
I smiled secretly.
Until now, I had only seen people shiver when I opened their mouths, so it was refreshing to see someone who stood up to me without being discouraged.
Plus it’s pretty accurate.
The reason I confidently fought against the guys who chased me was because I had faith, as Liam pointed out.
If I had revealed my identity, those three guys would have immediately lost the will to fight.
“Then it’s no fun.”
“…….”
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As I grinned, Liam’s expression darkened. It seemed like he was remembering the moment when the three guys were egged on earlier.
“……Are you calling me to say that?”
He soon changed the topic. With a face still full of reluctance.
From the fact that I ran into him at the gambling house to the fact that he noticed his presence watching nearby.
The whole situation made him very alert, like a scared cat.
“No. That’s not my business.”
I paused for a moment and then spoke.
“Make a deal with me.”
Liam raised his eyebrows, perhaps because the remark was unexpected.
“What deal do I have with you, Master?”
I lifted my finger and pointed at Liam’s forearm.
“I want your sword skills.”
“…….”
Perhaps because the words were unexpected, Liam’s face stiffened. After standing frozen for a moment, he opened his mouth.
“It is taboo to teach swordsmanship to you. It is a matter decided by the lord. I have no intention of going against the lord’s will.”
“Oh, really? A very loyal knight.”
The twisted tone of speech continued.
“I guess gambling is a skill of a knight these days?”
Liam’s shadow trembled. I said before he had time to say anything.
“My request is simple. Teach me swordsmanship, and I’ll forget what I saw today.”
After a moment of silence, Liam asked in a stern tone.
“Are you threatening me now?”
“I don’t care what you think. I just need to get what I want.”
Liam’s eyes became even more grim. Her eyes were harsh, even though they were directed at the son of the lord she served.
‘It seems like you know at least a little bit about me.’
Abel clearly revealed his cruel and violent tendencies within the castle, but he thoroughly prevented them from leaking outside the castle. To the so-called Yeongjimin and the knights under Diego.
Because of that, they thought of Abel as nothing more than an immature fool and a petty bastard.
Diego thought that since he was the son of the only woman he loved in his life, he had no choice but to listen to his son without hesitation.
‘That’s not all, though.’
I stared at Liam.
“Would you like to hit me?”
“……sorry.”
Liam answered reluctantly and lowered his eyes. She seemed to think for a moment and then she made eye contact with me again.
“It might not be a good choice to talk about today.”
“Hmm, why?”
“I’m not the only one who participated in gambling at that gambling house.”
It was a threat that if he told me what happened today, he wouldn’t stay quiet either.
‘Is that what you thought?’
Liam’s number was clearly visible. So shallow and meaningless.
“You’re right.”
I lazily tapped my chin.
“My father will be very angry that I went to the gambling house.”
“Yes, it is no different from Donggwijin. So…….”
“but.”
A faint smile crossed my lips.
“Even so, I am his only son. There is no way I will be kicked out of this territory.”
“…….”
“But what about you? You are a human resource that can be replaced.”
“that……!”
Liam gritted his teeth. Her face turned slightly red, as if her pride had been hurt by my words.
“You’d better not try to convince me of anything, Liam.”
I urged him to make a choice in a relaxed voice.
“So, let’s choose. Will you teach me, or will you be kicked out of this territory?”
Liam pursed his lips and was lost in thought. His distorted eyebrows twitched with intense conflict.
Finally, he raised his gaze. Deep in the brown eyes, a strong will like the grain of wood was visible.
‘Well. It looks like he’s trying to refuse.’
It seemed like he calculated that nothing good would come of being tangled up with me. That was an idea he could do because he knew one thing but didn’t know two.
“I know what you’re worried about.”
I quickly hit the player.
“But we won’t be able to cover the debt the way we are now.”
The air around me changed suddenly. Liam tensed his body and stared at me.
“How do you do that….”
“There is nothing I don’t know about in this territory.”
I let out a faint laugh.
“If you do that, the debt will only increase. You probably know that the people who run the gambling establishments are not that clean.”
“…….”
“Once the debt collection starts, then visiting the gambling house will no longer be a problem.”
Rather, something else might be the problem.
“-!”
Liam, who was looking at me with suspicion, was shocked.
I intentionally didn’t say anything until later, but it seemed like Liam had guessed the story well enough.
“…….”
His face became even darker.
Hearing what I already knew from someone else’s mouth seemed to make my heart feel even heavier.
‘I guess the whipping is enough.’
Well, now it’s time to throw the carrot.
“You said we would make a deal earlier, right?”
“……yes.”
“If you agree to my deal, I will help you pay off your debt.”
A flash of light appeared in Liam’s eyes. He pressed his lips as if he wanted to agree right away.
“…….”
But no words came out as sentences. He still couldn’t make a decision and the conflict continued.
It would be best to step away from here. Because the worries are his.
I kicked the mask and wig off the floor.
“I’ll give you time to think. When you make up your mind, come to the stables by 8 o’clock tomorrow.”
Tomorrow is Liam’s off day. It was something he could say because he knew the work log well.
“then.”
I left the place, leaving Liam behind.
❖ ❖ ❖
“next.”
I flicked the document I was holding to the side. Philip, who was standing by the desk, handed over the following documents.
“This is the last time.”
His voice trembled subtly. Philip looked at the table as if he was tired.
“…….”
His eyes moved up and down along the file tower.
Taxes, distribution, farming, commerce… … . All official documents within the territory are put on the table every day.
If you ignore it as something trivial, you may end up with some kind of loss later. You must make your choice carefully, looking ahead to a few moves and considering the consequences of this choice.
And Abel had been handling all of those things alone.
‘It is a monster-like ability.’
I finally realized how much of a genius Abel was in the original.
Amazingly sophisticated memory, extraordinary brain rotation several times faster than others.
Perhaps, without Abel, the Ovest estate would have gone bankrupt.
‘Diego doesn’t even know that and thinks the estate is running well. All I did was stamp the documents the butler had organized.’
Anyway, even though that person is good at physical work, he is not very good with his head.
I quickly scanned the last document while muttering to myself.
“You seem to be getting things done very quickly these days.”
Philip’s eyes moved as if he was anxious.
It seemed like he was afraid of what I would do after finishing work so quickly. Or, you recall something you had forgotten because you were idle.
Philip’s efforts were virtual. I never mentioned what happened last time because I was afraid that he would call the servant again.
But despite his efforts, I never forgot that servant. He even always had it in mind.
Of course, I didn’t tell Philip that fact.
“Why not?”
Philip shook his shoulders in surprise at my question.
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