Chapter 51: The Doomsday Death Knight Returns

Chapter 51: Scheme (1)

"…Did you just say a marriage proposal?"

The flustered Jackson Cutter immediately asked.

However, Jacques Noire did not answer the question and started to move.

As usual, Jacques Noire gave no explanation. Jackson Cutter sighed and followed his master.

They arrived at the tent used by the Copperhead Earl.

As befitting the Earl's use, it was the largest tent, and elite knights were on guard.

"Let's go in."

Jacques Noire headed for the tent. Surprisingly, the knights did not stop Jacques Noire.

This meant that Jacques Noire had visited this place several times before.

Once inside, Jacques Noire sat in a guest chair.

"…Master, when did you start contacting the Earl?"

Jackson Cutter, unable to contain his doubts, asked again.

"Two days ago."

Jacques Noire answered briefly. Jackson Cutter was greatly shocked by this.

Two days ago was the day of the banquet, before the jousting tournament even began.

'Really, he didn't trust me at all…!'

Jackson Cutter did not know what Jacques Noire was planning.

However, he knew that to achieve that plan, he had to win the jousting tournament.

Jacques Noire had judged that Jackson Cutter had no chance of winning and had contacted the Earl to achieve his plan through other means.

"Master, what are you thinking? Why do I have to propose marriage to Lady Olivia? Can you at least explain…."

Just as Jackson Cutter was questioning, the Copperhead Earl entered the tent, accompanied by Lady Olivia Copperhead.

"Sir Jacques, I apologize for keeping you waiting. I was delayed because I had to wrap up the tournament."

"Don't worry about it. We just arrived as well."

Surprisingly, Jacques Noire spoke respectfully even in front of the Earl.

What was even stranger was that the Earl did not seem to mind at all.

"…Father, what's going on here?"

Lady Olivia asked with a wary look.

"Olivia, I haven't told you yet. This is Sir Jacques Noire. And over there… you've seen him before, right? He's Sir Jacques' student, Jackson Cutter."

The Earl added with a bright smile.

"We've gathered here today to discuss the marriage proposal between the two of you."

* * *

"That's ridiculous!"

Lady Olivia shouted and immediately protested.

"I've never even had a proper conversation with him! And now you're talking about a marriage proposal?"

Like Jackson Cutter, Lady Olivia seemed to have received no explanation.

"How could you make such a decision without even consulting me!"

In response to Olivia's outburst, the Earl spoke calmly.

"Olivia, don't misunderstand. You are the eldest daughter of our family. Your marriage is not something you can decide on your own. It is for me, as the head of the family, to judge and decide."

"What exactly are you going to judge, Father?"

"Of course, I'm talking about the benefits our family can gain from this marriage proposal."

Olivia stood still, glaring at the Earl.

"…What about Sir Damian Hassen? Didn't you decide to bring him into the family?"

"That's true. But Sir Jacques offered much better terms."

The Earl looked at Jacques Noire. His expression was much softer than when dealing with his daughter.

"Sir Jacques has agreed to help our family as a Mid-Class if this marriage proposal is accepted. Olivia, do you understand? I'm talking about a Mid-Class."

The Earl's eyes sparkled.

"Among the great nobles of the West, only the Goldpicks Dukes and the Lionbloom Marquises possess a Mid-Class. Through this marriage proposal, our family can gain the powerful force of a Mid-Class."

Mid-Class.

A strategic weapon capable of changing the tide of war.

If the Earl's words were true, gaining a Mid-Class would be incomparable to Damian Hassen.

"Sir Damian is an excellent knight, but he's only a Low-Class. Whether he can reach the Mid-Class level in the future is uncertain."

The barrier to becoming a Mid-Class was very high.

Most Low-Class knights failed to overcome this barrier and were left frustrated. Among them were those who were called geniuses.

"That's not all. He has also promised to provide the martial techniques and mana cultivation methods that our family's knights will use. And not just any, but those used by Master-Class."

This statement surprised Jackson Cutter.

Jacques Noire had collected and studied a vast amount of knowledge to reach the Master level.

Among these, the most cherished were the techniques used or created by Master-Class.

To offer such things, which he had never even shown to his student Jackson Cutter, was surprising.

"Do you understand now why I accepted this marriage proposal?"

Lady Olivia bit her lip. Even she thought the terms were extraordinary.

"Then, let's sit down. I haven't finished talking with Sir Jacques Noire yet."

Lady Olivia sat down weakly.

"Do you accept the marriage proposal?"

After the conversation between father and daughter ended, Jacques Noire asked.

The Earl shook his head.

"Well, there's a bit of a problem."

Jacques Noire's eyebrows twitched at the Earl's words.

"What is it?"

"The terms you've offered are satisfactory. But it would be embarrassing to bring a knight who hasn't even made a name for himself in the jousting tournament into our family as a son-in-law, wouldn't it?"

In other words, Jackson Cutter's reputation was so insignificant that he was not worthy of being a son-in-law to the family.

"That's not a problem. My student will win the jousting tournament tomorrow."

"Just one good performance in a match is not enough."

"What if he not only wins but also defeats Sir Damian Hassen?"

The Earl's expression changed at this.

"If he can defeat Sir Damian… he could gain a reputation befitting our family's name. But is it possible?"

The Earl had keen eyes.

The skills Sir Damian Hassen displayed in the jousting tournament were truly extraordinary.

It was doubtful whether anyone in the Low-Class could defeat Sir Damian Hassen.

"It's possible. If I fail, I'll provide sword techniques and mana cultivation methods without any conditions."

"Well, it doesn't have to come to that… I'll accept those terms."

"In return, I need your help."

The Earl spoke as if it were a difficult request.

"We're not related yet. I can't fulfill unreasonable requests."

"It's not a big deal. If Sir Damian Hassen dies, I want the Copperhead family to not interfere."

The Earl fell into thought.

"I can grant that request."

"One more thing, I need to see his body first."

"That shouldn't be a problem. But why do you want to examine Sir Damian Hassen's body?"

At the Earl's question, Jacques Noire smiled faintly.

"There's something I need from his possessions."

* * *

"Master, why are you doing this!"

As soon as they stepped outside, Jackson Cutter questioned Jacques Noire.

"Marriage proposal? Why didn't you even ask for my opinion… Gah!"

Jacques Noire kicked Jackson Cutter in the stomach.

Jackson Cutter rolled on the ground, retching.

"Shut up for a moment. I'm in a very bad mood right now."

Jacques Noire looked down at Jackson Cutter with a distorted face.

"If you had the skills to win, I wouldn't have had to make such a proposal to the Earl. I wouldn't have had to waste my resources and knowledge."

Overwhelmed by the suffocating killing intent, Jackson Cutter could do nothing.

Only then did Jackson Cutter realize why Jacques Noire had demanded that he win the jousting tournament.

He must have intended to propose marriage as the winner of the jousting tournament.

"If you understand, shut up and follow my orders."

Jacques Noire retracted his killing intent. Only then was Jackson Cutter freed from his pain.

"Master… I have Sophia…"

Jackson Cutter said, catching his breath.

"That woman is no longer useful, so abandon her."

Jacques Noire said bluntly. Jackson Cutter looked up at Jacques Noire in shock.

"The reason I allowed your relationship with Sophia Russell was to gain support from the Russell Viscount family."

Jacques Noire continued in a stern tone.

"Thanks to the Russell Viscount family, I was able to obtain the necessary sword technique books. And you were able to get the elixir needed to reach the Low-Class."

The Russell Viscount family had supported the two of them, even going into debt. As a result, both of them were able to achieve their goals.

"But the Russell Viscount family can't do more than that. That's why I'm now looking for a new family."

"Is the new family the Copperhead Earl's? To receive support like the Russell family?"

"It's not about receiving support. I plan to dominate this family using the marriage proposal."

"Why… why go to such lengths…"

"For my vengeance."

Jacques Noire's vengeance was to become a Master-Class.

To become a Master, he needed elixirs to enhance his senses and the knowledge left by Masters.

And such items were extremely expensive, beyond imagination.

"I need as much money as possible. The Copperhead Earl's family will be the stepping stone for my vengeance."

Only then did Jackson Cutter realize why Jacques Noire had taken him as a student.

He was to be used as bait to lure a wealthy family.

Jacques Noire truly saw him as nothing more than a tool.

"…I can't follow this order."

Perhaps due to his defiance, Jackson Cutter clenched his teeth and said.

"I have Sophia. I can't abandon her!"

"Are you still clinging to a woman who would immediately turn her back on you just because her fiancé became a bit more successful?"

It was the first time.

Jacques Noire's words left Jackson Cutter speechless.

"Sophia Russell no longer intends to keep her promise to you. Are you going to disobey my orders for such a cheap woman?"

"That…"

Jackson Cutter's eyes wavered greatly. Jacques Noire pressed the issue.

"If you reject my proposal, you will never be able to defeat Sir Damian Hassen."

Jackson Cutter suddenly came to his senses.

"Was what you said inside true? Is there really a way to defeat Sir Damian Hassen?"

At this question, Jacques Noire nodded.

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"Exactly… how is it possible? Could you perhaps reveal a secret to defeat Sir Damian Hassen…"

Jacques Noire pulled something out of his inner pocket.

It was an old bracelet made of iron. It had no special features or characteristics.

But for some reason, as soon as Jackson Cutter saw the bracelet, he felt a sense of foreboding.

"This bracelet has the effect of disrupting the enemy's mana. It might even induce a mana surge."

Mana surge.

It referred to a phenomenon where the mana in the body goes out of control and wreaks havoc.

When a mana surge occurs, not only does the mana suffer significant damage, but the body is also severely damaged.

As a result, knights who experience a mana surge usually lose most of their strength.

"Such an old bracelet… does it really have such a powerful ability?"

"It's not something you can use recklessly. You'll need to consume some of your mana and life force."

At this, Jackson Cutter frowned.

The cost was too high. Of course, if it could defeat Sir Damian Hassen, it might be considered cheap.

Then, Jackson Cutter suddenly remembered.

The effect is brought about by paying a price. This was like….

"Master, is this bracelet perhaps a… black magic…"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Jacques Noire said in a chilling tone. Jackson Cutter tightly shut his mouth.

"Choose. Will you accept my proposal, or reject it?"

Jackson Cutter thought deeply before speaking.

"…I will follow Master's orders."

"Good decision."

Jacques Noire threw the bracelet to Jackson Cutter.

Jackson Cutter caught the bracelet and put it in his pocket.

"Tomorrow, wear the bracelet and fight Sir Damian Hassen. If a mana surge occurs in Sir Damian Hassen…"

Jacques Noire added firmly.

"Pretend it's an accident and crush his head to death."

* * *

That night.

Olivia Copperhead made a decision.

"…I can't just sit here and do nothing."

She had always been swayed by her father's orders.

The Copperhead Earl ignored Olivia's opinions and made all the decisions.

This jousting tournament was not something she had wanted.

She took a dagger from the drawer.

The tent was firmly fixed to the ground, so it could only be cut from the entrance.

Olivia used the dagger to tear the tent and slipped out through the gap.

She quickly ran, avoiding the gaze of the soldiers guarding the tent.

She headed straight for the tent where Damian Hassen was staying.

She had learned from Abel which tent he was in, so it was not difficult to find.

Olivia Copperhead pushed aside the tent and entered.

"If Brother wins, Father will be incredibly surprised… Lady?"

Damian Hassen and Abel Hassen, who were chatting, were startled and stood up when they saw Olivia.

Olivia, catching her breath from running, spoke to the two of them.

"Sir Damian, someone is after your life."