The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

92 – Blood-Related Family (04)

093.

Laris’s question of whether he could help.

Since Kalen had already followed her this far, the answer seemed to be nothing but affirmative.

Laris’s act of confiding her true feelings and asking once more was more out of courtesy.

She didn’t know how Kalen created the mental image.

It’s hard to believe that he could create a mental image in the first place,

but listening to the story, the process didn’t seem easy.

There was talk of risking one’s life, that it would be a very dangerous task.

So, Laris’s attitude towards Kalen now was closer to expressing gratitude than persuasion.

And that wasn’t just out of gratitude towards Kalen.

It was an ‘old wish’ that had been hidden away for so long, it had become unbearably heavy.

Just confiding that to him made her feel a bit stronger.

Laris had always thought that telling others about her story was just a childish act of seeking sympathy, relying on the kindness of others.

Was he special?

Kalen’s serious demeanor made her want to confide in him without realizing it.

It was something she realized while staying at the inn during the Ecclesia incident.

Of course, they hadn’t had any deep conversations back then.

But she knew that Kalen had something special when it came to listening to others’ stories.

It wasn’t for nothing that the daughters of the four great families were trying to have the boy.

In a way, this boy was perceptive, but at the same time, he could be oblivious.

Anyway, it was certain that Kalen would help.

Laris, feeling much better, waited for his answer.

But contrary to her expectation of an immediate response,

Kalen hesitated for quite a while.

At that moment, Laris, feeling anxious, thought, “Could it be-?”

“Alright. Since I’ve come this far anyway.”

Fortunately, the expected answer came from Kalen.

Laris let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Without showing it, she carefully asked Kallen.

“Is there something bothering you? You seem to be troubled by something.”

“Ah.”

Usually, one does not ask about past events, especially those that caused anxiety.

If it is something that could shake the other person’s decision, just bringing it up again could make them reconsider.

But Kallen had already followed her here.

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From the banquet hall to now, although it was a short time, Laris knew that Kallen was not that kind of person.

“It was nothing.”

So her curiosity grew even more.

Laris asked with that curiosity in mind, and Kallen replied in a calm tone.

“I was just imagining what it would be like if the Lyle Trading Company didn’t keep their promise.”

“…What?”

But contrary to his calm tone,

the content made Laris snap to attention.

“They won’t keep their promise?”

“Yes. Didn’t they warn you? If you keep resisting, they will drive you out by force.”

“…They did say that.”

“Those with such power have taken control. It was your request to hold your mother’s funeral as a ‘talented young lady with a vision’.”

“…”

“Well, it would be fine if the funeral was held first, but I wondered if they would leave a renowned young lady who has awakened her vision alone.”

It was a cruel statement for Laris.

Wasn’t it like pushing the last hope she had clung to into the abyss of despair?

But even so, she couldn’t just let it go.

Being used and discarded would be too sad an ending.

Above all, Kallen, who had heard Laris’s old story, did not want her to meet such a sad end.

“I… never thought about it…”

Laris was visibly flustered.

There is a saying that vague hope makes one cling to the impossible.

No matter how wise and intelligent a young lady is, she is still just a girl of her age.

It is nearly impossible to think calmly about everything when what she has longed for is right in front of her.

Even more so when it comes to extinguishing one’s own hope.

Like that.

Laris tried to lower his head with a gloomy voice.

But.

“As far as I know.”

The voice that held his head up was Kalen’s, so calm and composed.

A voice so steady and natural that Laris couldn’t help but lift his head.

As if the previous concerns were of no matter.

Laris, who had been lowering his head, lifted it again.

Kalen continued, as if in response.

“The head of the Plache family is said to have the lowest magical achievement among the current heads of the five great families.”

“…That’s right. At least, he was one of those who held onto the era of the sword until the end, along with the head of the Hiatt family. But…”

The era of the sword refers to the world before the advent of magic.

Magic is still almost exclusively the privilege of the nobility, rarely found among commoners.

Strangely enough, it was also the nobility who were the last to accept magic.

By refining their bodies and minds, the honorable existence of knights was born.

The sword, too, was more accessible to the noble, so it was not unusual for the nobility to be late in accepting magic.

And to the extent of placing knights as gatekeepers of their mansions.

The head of the Plache family regarded knighthood as an honor.

Naturally, he started studying magical talents the latest.

Unlike the head of the Hiatt family, who had monstrous talent, his achievements were not high.

Of course, he surpassed the fourth rank, befitting the name of the head of one of the four great families, now the five great families.

But unlike the heads of the Rakatus or Hiatt families, who aimed for the fifth rank, the head of the Plache family couldn’t even surpass the middle of the fourth rank.

That is a well-known fact.

“My father… He was a man who rose to the top with the sword. In terms of the sword, there was no one to compare, and even the lord of the north didn’t want to cross swords with him…”

“Is the head of the family the strongest?”

Laris said this because he had a bad feeling.

Kalen’s words felt as if he was going to fight the head of the family.

Given the previous conversation about betrayal and the use of force, it was not unreasonable to think so.

But Kalen cut off Laris’s words at once.

In the end, Laris had no choice but to answer Kallen obediently.

For some reason, it seemed like she had to.

The boy, who had always seemed somewhat dazed surrounded by women, was now serious.

How should I put it, it feels overwhelming.

Even her father, whom she had followed as a ‘knight’ when her mother was alive, was not like this.

“…The Lyle merchant group has many soldiers, but in terms of strength, my father is the strongest.”

When Laris answered, Kallen nodded as if that was enough.

It was even more incomprehensible.

She said there were many soldiers, and moreover, her father was stronger than them.

However, the boy nodded as if relieved.

The young lady of the social world knows how absurd that is.

Generally, when a noble or young lady with some talent in magic debuts in the social world, they are considered promising if they can skillfully handle the first level.

Moreover, unlike when magic first appeared, it is no longer used for combat.

The heads of families study magic not for combat purposes.

Somehow, they have achieved some combat accomplishments, but magic currently serves as a form of culture.

Kallen has not yet had his coming-of-age ceremony, so he has not debuted in the social world.

So, no matter how talented he is, it would be surprising if he could handle the second level.

And a second-level magician cannot defeat a fourth-level magician.

Laris’s own father is even a swordsman.

Adding the soldiers of the Lyle merchant group, it is not something that can be handled by force.

Laris herself must have tried every possible effort.

Of course, there were many methods that came to mind, including hiring a group of mercenaries to pressure the Lyle merchant group.

The reason she gave up on all of that was, of course, her father’s presence.

With her father on their side, the soldiers of the Lyle merchant group, who have a strong leader and a lot of combat experience, create an invincible majesty.

“Then it’s fine. My worries were unnecessary.”

“…My words-“

“Lady Laris.”

But Kallen was unaffected by those words.

Rather, he seemed to have gained some certainty.

Laris, unable to understand his demeanor, tried to add more.

Likewise, Kallen interrupted.

As if to say, don’t worry, Laris knows his own heart.

“Did you ask for help? Then just think about achieving it. You said it was a long-cherished wish, didn’t you?”

“…”

“And maybe things will work out easily. I was wondering how to deliberately create a life-threatening situation.”

“Surely that thing…!”

Again, the words were cut off.

Laris spoke with force.

Because of that, Laris was surprised by his own agitated voice.

Just listening to what Kallen is saying now, you can tell.

What is needed to create an image is a serious event that is life-threatening.

He is now, clearly, trying to do that against the head of the Flache family and the Lyle merchant group.

Is he out of his mind?

Or was he deceived by the seemingly normal appearance and the young ladies chasing after him?

Kallen’s way of thinking was closer to that of a madman.

Soon, Laris, who had calmed his emotions, continued speaking.

Fortunately, this time, Kallen did not interrupt.

“Surely you don’t think that leaving such a dangerous thing to luck, like a bet, will somehow work out…?”

Kallen quietly looked at Laris and shook his head.

“Of course, nothing is certain yet. They might break their promise, and above all, there is no guarantee that I can definitely create the image. But.”

His gaze did not waver from beginning to end.

Only then did Laris realize.

“Even so, I’m confident in bets.”