TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 22
-Clang! Clang!
A sharp resonating sound echoed through the chapel.
The battle between Malik and Pascal.
It was a tense exchange of offense and defense.
‘Maybe, I can handle this on my own.’
Trained by tension, he was pressing Pascal hard.
When Malik’s sword struck Pascal’s dagger, Pascal’s stance wavered greatly.
Seeing Malik’s overwhelming brute strength and his tyrannical swordsmanship, I hypothesized that perhaps Malik might win.
‘As expected of the Histania Family.’
The Son of the Knight Commander.
The Sub Male Lead, Malik.
The martial prowess of the Eldest Son of Histania exceeded expectations.
It became clear why Rowen had said Hanna lacked talent, as Malik’s talent stood out starkly.
It took him one minute to grasp Pascal’s swordsmanship.
Three minutes to figure out the time it took for Pascal’s Dark Magic to unfold.
In this battle, he displayed monstrous adaptability, needing less than five minutes to analyze his opponent.
By offsetting Pascal’s magic targeting his blind spot with Body Strengthening Magic, and using Elegant Swordsmanship to distract attention, he calmly mixed illusion with reality, inflicting a wound on Pascal’s shoulder.
It was understandable that he would act confident about capturing Pascal alone.
With this level of skill, most criminals would choose surrender over resistance. While it’s unclear if all Imperial Knights are this monstrous, one thing was certain—Malik’s skill was on par with Pascal’s.
However, if judged by experience, Malik couldn’t match Pascal.
Having survived countless life-and-death situations.
The overwhelming experience of Pascal, who had ended the lives of many adventurers, was unmatched.
Pascal was also exceptionally talented, comparable to Malik.
And through numerous battles, he had honed his skills to their peak.
-Clang…!
Pascal, blocking Malik’s sword with a dagger slightly longer than his forearm, smiled.
“Isn’t this way too easy?”
From a Third-Party Perspective, Malik was clearly dominating the battle, yet Pascal provoked him with a relaxed smile.
Malik expressed irritation at Pascal’s bluff.
“Are you losing your mind at the thought of going back to prison?”
“No. It’s just that I was initially intimidated because of the Histania name.”
Whoosh. Pascal’s dagger sliced forward.
Malik couldn’t avoid it.
As red blood trickled down his cheek.
Pascal grinned and licked the blood off his blade.
“You’re far more pathetic than I thought. Heehee.”
I, who had read the novel, knew this.
Pascal was the Archbishop of Madness.
A crazy bastard who laughed a lot.
And no matter the situation, he always started with provocation.
Especially this guy’s ability.
-Stagger.
It was the ability to control a person’s body.
Malik’s body staggered greatly.
Ever since Pascal cut his cheek, it became difficult for Malik to maintain his balance.
The more he staggered, the more wounds accumulated on Malik’s body, and as Pascal savored the blood on his sword, Malik’s strength gradually drained away.
As his body staggered against his will, Malik asked Pascal.
“What did you do to me?”
Pascal shrugged his shoulders in response.
“Who knows?”
Bang.
Malik swung his sword broadly.
Aiming precisely for Pascal’s neck.
He made a wide horizontal slash.
But the blade struck not Pascal, but a chapel bench split in two.
“Where are you swinging? It’s not even winter yet; are you chopping firewood?”
“Shut up….”
“Keh keh keh….”
Pascal tucked his dagger into his waist and walked toward Malik. The sound of his hard shoes echoed through the chapel, signaling the end of the fight, as Malik trembled greatly.
“Now~ Sir Malik… Sir Malik… What genre do you like?”
Despite being within striking range, Malik’s body couldn’t move. He bit his lip tightly and desperately tried to swing his sword, but his immobilized body had long since abandoned his will.
“…”
Pascal’s expression began to fill with certainty. That Malik had fallen under his Dark Magic.
He approached until he was right in front of Malik and said.
“A poignant romance dreaming of impossible love? Or perhaps heart-pounding action. Oh, this would be good too—a comedy where the Eldest Son of Histania can’t do anything!”
“Shut your mouth before I rip it off…!”
“Puhaha, Sir Malik, keep going.”
“Shut up.”
“More… more… more! Struggle to become the ultimate masterpiece!”
With eyes soaked in madness, Pascal said to Malik.
“Smile.”
Pascal grabbed Malik’s face.
Forcing him to smile.
Demanding he show his gums as he smiled, Pascal insisted.
Malik trembled with rage.
He felt so pathetic for being unable to do anything, and so wretched for losing the fight due to mere carelessness.
Seeing the hatred-filled gaze in Malik’s eyes, Pascal smiled in satisfaction.
“Finally, another one of my masterpieces is complete. What should I name it….”
Pascal turned to look at me, sitting in a chair, and said.
“Should we call it ‘Friendship’?”
In response to his expectant gaze, I slowly rose from my seat.
“I’m not really into comedies.”
“What?”
“Personally, I prefer romance over comedy.”
“The actors starring in my works don’t get to choose the genre, you know?”
“Ah! Like how insects can’t choose their habitat?”
“Just die already.”
Deprived of his freedom, Malik walked toward me. The closer he got, the more Pascal’s laughter was drenched in madness.
Holding his sword and casting Magic to Strengthen the Body, Malik was consumed by Self-Loathing.
“…Run away. No matter what, you can’t beat that guy.”
Malik tightly shut his eyes.
The only freedom allowed to him now was his mouth.
‘Damn it.’
He hadn’t wanted to become a burden.
He had confidently said he could do it.
But he felt so pathetic for being unable to do anything, ashamed of himself.
He regretted being stubborn and not giving up when told not to come. If he had, he could’ve avoided this humiliation.
Malik bit his lip tightly.
Blood trickled down his chin, an unpleasant sight to behold.
“I’m sorry.”
Malik’s sword was pointed at me.
The well-sharpened blade was kindly resting on my nape, poised to sever my breath.
His hands were trembling uncontrollably.
It seemed he was resisting in his own way.
Impressed by his effort, I spoke sincerely.
“You know, Malik.”
“Run away….”
“It’s so embarrassing right now, isn’t it?”
“Damn.”
Malik immediately spat out a curse.
He must have hated me for trampling on his noble spirit of sacrifice.
But what could I do? Teasing is just too fun, like eating fried chicken in front of someone on a diet.
I sneered as I spoke.
“You said you could handle it alone. Where did the person who said it was possible run off to?”
“Shut up.”
“See, this is why Miss Hanna is greater. At least Miss Hanna managed to swat the Mantis once.”
At the mention of ‘fly swatter,’ Pascal flinched noticeably. It seemed like PTSD was kicking in.
“Alright, watch carefully.”
I raised my sword.
It was brimming with abundant aura.
I forcefully crammed the aura into it until it felt like it might burst.
“This is the Stick of Love.”
Humans, you see, learn lessons by getting hit. That’s how it begins.
“Even if it stings, bear with it. Only then will the Dark Magic be dispelled.”
[Limit Break (L) tests the limits of Aura (A).]
I spoke to Pascal as well.
After all, the chance for rehabilitation should be given equally.
“Mr. Mantis, watch closely.”
“?”
“It’s an Electric Fly Swatter.”
The red aura began gathering relentlessly.
Something felt off to me.
“Oh no, I overdid it.”
With a flash, Malik’s vision lit up.
*
*
*
Inside the cathedral bathed in the morning sun.
Malik, regaining consciousness, clutched his splitting headache and rose from his spot.
“What is this?”
Beside him lay Pascal, foaming at the mouth, clutching the Divine Healer’s hand tightly as he lay flat.
“Young Master, are you awake?”
The Knight of the Household greeted him with hands respectfully clasped. It was strange that morning had already arrived, and even stranger that Pascal was lying beside him.
There were many questions, but only one mattered the most.
Malik asked the Knight.
“Where did That Guy go?”
The Knight avoided Malik’s gaze as he answered.
“Since overnight stays are prohibited, he left at dawn yesterday.”
Malik thought of the Red-Haired Butler.
Truly, a son of a b*.
***
“Let go!”
Pascal, now reduced to Insect Taxidermy and being transported, brought tears of pity to my eyes.
“Don’t cry.”
Malik, with not a single unscathed spot on his body, patted my shoulder in his disheveled state.
“It’s embarrassing, so please don’t cry.”
“But… it’s so sad to see such a lucrative source of income leave….”
“Please….”
Malik seemed to have gained some realization from his battle with Pascal. While he hadn’t awakened his aura, it felt like he had grown as a person.
Indeed, sometimes the Stick of Love is the answer.
[Histania Malik Lv. 48]
[Job: Imperial Knights’ Order ‘Knight’]
[Favorability: 34]
[Favorite Conversation Topics: Self-Awareness/Swordsmanship/Repaying Kindness/Apology/Reconciliation]
[Disliked Conversation Topics: Perfectionism/Neglect/Discrimination/Pascal/Insects]
Though his temper was still terrible, he seemed to view me favorably.
Malik spoke to me.
“After everything is over, I plan to apologize to Hanna.”
“You’ve become a decent person.”
“Haven’t I?”
Malik’s change was pleasing to see.
“If Hanna says she’ll hit you, you have to let her.”
“…Will she hit me?”
“She said if the opportunity arises, she’ll beat you until you’re a rag.”
“…”
Malik swallowed dryly.
Being hit by his aura-awakened younger sister—it seemed it would hurt quite a lot.
Malik, boarding Pascal’s Transport Carriage, spoke.
“You can deposit the promised reward amount into the same account where the bounty was sent last time, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
Before leaving, Malik pulled out two pieces of paper from deep within his Chest Pocket and placed them in my hand.
“And take this.”
“What is this?”
Malik, as if it was nothing, calmly replied.
“It’s a Friends of Forest Meal Voucher. It’s hard to make a reservation, so take the Young Lady with you when you have time.”
Friends of Forest.
In the novel, it was one of the top five best restaurants. The Young Lady would surely love it.
Come to think of it.
The way Malik addressed the Young Lady had changed from ‘Daughter of a Noble Family from a Fallen Household’ to ‘Young Lady.’
I smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
The thought of going out with the Young Lady after such a long time lifted my spirits.