Chapter 58

The audience was in an uproar at the incredible upset.

It was no wonder.

The child of Count Kleinzelt, a symbol of incompetence, had toyed with the successor of the formidable Count Trinen, and in the end, ignoring the physical disparity, had thrown him to victory.

Many rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

Amidst the commotion, Count Kleinzelt was more excited than anyone else.

Glancing at him, Duke Belze could not openly rejoice due to the presence of Count Trinen.

Count Trinen, with a stern expression, crossed his arms and let out a heavy sigh.

"Duke Belze, do you know who prepared the glass bottle and wooden weapons used by Sora Kleinzelt?"

"Knowing that you won't be convinced, I'll say it was Sora."

"Is it possible to learn the method of manufacturing those weapons?"

Duke Belze raised an eyebrow, showing a slight confusion.

Count Trinen was staring at Sora with narrowed eyes.

"That's up to Sora to decide. I can't say for sure."

"Could you put in a good word for us?"

Duke Belze, at a loss for words, looked up at the sky.

Count Trinen believed that Sora was Duke Belze's puppet and thought that Duke Belze could make him reveal the method of manufacturing the weapons.

Even if Duke Belze denied it, he wouldn't be believed.

"I'll try to get him to the negotiating table."

In the end, it was a matter of leaving it to Sora. He could only hope that the misunderstanding would be resolved.

Every time Sora produced unconventional results, he risked being suspected as the mastermind, leading to all sorts of trouble.

Count Trinen nodded and pointed at Sora with his chin.

"He didn't flinch even when a sword was swung in front of him. If the soldier is a monster, then the one who uses him must be a monster too. Was his plan from the start to close the distance and strike unexpectedly, or is he just a death-seeker?"

"If he sees a clear path to victory, he won't make unnecessary moves, so he says."

"What does that mean?"

"That's what Sora said."

Duke Belze shrugged, and Count Trinen exhaled irritably.

The injured had been carried away, and Sora and Chaff were kneeling before the king in the center. Duke Belze, who felt a sense of déjà vu at Sora's profile, dug into his memory and realized the truth, his eyes widening.

"Duke Belze, what's the matter?"

Count Trinen, finding his behavior strange, asked him. Duke Belze hesitated before speaking.

"…May I ask what Sora would demand if he wins?"

Count Trinen's mouth dropped open in surprise, a rare expression.

"What does he intend to demand?"

Count Trinen had no way of knowing what Sora would demand.

"Ask Sora."

There were no other words to say, but Count Trinen, still mistaking Duke Belze for the mastermind, glared at him sharply.

Duke Belze silently wished his young friend wouldn't make unreasonable demands.

Sora, unaware of this wish, was receiving the king's formal praise.

Knowing that the king didn't think highly of him for embarrassing the future Count Trinen, Chaff, Sora put on a happy face.

The king, who saw through this, delivered the praise with a bitter expression and promised to grant the viscount title as per the pre-arranged agreement.

"Sora Kleinzelt, if you have any demands as the victor, speak now."

The king urged him, inwardly gritting his teeth.

If Sora intended to meddle in the Trinen territory, the king planned to skillfully reject his demands.

"Then, I will exercise the rights of the victor—"

"Sora, wait!"

Sora, who had started to speak with a smile despite the king's stern gaze, was interrupted by his father, Count Kleinzelt.

"I have a good suggestion for your demand. Come here."

The surrounding nobles frowned at the audacity of the count, who was trying to take the victor's rights.

However, Sora, without turning around, said firmly:

"No."

"…What did you say?"

The count was speechless at the unexpected defiance.

Sora was smiling. It was a thin, malicious smile, like a cockroach being crushed with sadistic pleasure.

"By the authority of the victor, I summon Chaff Trinen as an advisor to the Kleinzelt viscount territory."

Count Kleinzelt was taken aback, unable to understand Sora's words.

But the other nobles were different. They were taken aback because they understood.

The decision to grant Sora the viscount title was made just before the duel began. Thus, Sora had received no instructions from anyone.

The nobles with quick minds deduced that Sora's demand was something he had come up with himself.

Among them, the king and Count Trinen, for their own reasons, could not stop their faces from twitching.

Sora's demand was equivalent to asking for Chaff as a hostage.

It was a declaration that he would govern well enough to meet Chaff's demands, and since he was using the victor's authority, Chaff, the loser, had no say.

The king could reject it, but doing so would embarrass the kingdom's most formidable general, Count Trinen.

Their thoughts aligned.

—You little fox!

Despite the king and the general's murderous glares, Sora maintained his thin smile.

Sora had no intention of holding Chaff hostage. The true purpose of his demand was to place someone from another house in the position of advisor.

His enemy had not changed in the past five years.

This was Sora's first direct attack on his enemy.

—I'll take a part of the Kleinzelt territory, you fat father!

Corrected on January 10

Corrected on June 16