Chapter 10

EP.10 Reinhardt-5

[...]

“...”

[...]

“...”

[...]

The sage and Leo looked at each other in silence. No, they didn't even look at each other.

Leo couldn't even meet the sage's eyes.

[...Ha...]

A deep sigh, a deep breath from the depths of his throat.

[You...Ha...]

“...”

[Thoughts...Ha...]

It was half words, half sighs. What was even more humiliating was that this attitude seemed so natural.

“Excuse me, Sir Sage...”

[Back off. Do you want to kill me with that mouth of yours too?]

I didn't kill anyone! I didn't even kill anyone!

Leo was suddenly accused of being a murderer.

Butler Alfred was not dead. He had just fainted and was rushed away.

Everyone was so stunned by the absurd scene that they froze.

No one would believe such a scene that seemed to evaporate in the air.

The problem was the person who came afterward.

The butler had collapsed, and in front of him was a mercenary they had never seen before.

If someone was in their right mind, they would have arrested him first.

[Do you get arrested for a joke? How can a joke be a reason for arrest?!]

<No! I didn't expect to be arrested like this!>

It was just a couple of jokes, simple wordplay, not even insulting remarks.

He explained this several times, but the knights couldn't and wouldn't believe him.

Even Leo, who had made the joke, couldn't believe it.

‘Alfred must have had no immunity to jokes.’

The first joke wasn't this extreme. It was weak because it wasn't intended to be funny.

But now it was different.

<Maybe now, because I really tried to be funny, the intensity of the laughter crossed the threshold.>

Moreover, Alfred probably had no immunity to Leo's wordplay.

[It would be more believable if he choked on a fish bone and died.]

Leo had to agree with that.

[So what are you going to do? Rot in jail?]

<Not jail. More accurately, an interrogation room.>

The room Leo was in was the interrogation room in the basement of the Reinhardt family's mansion.

The circumstances were still unclear, but thanks to Ariasfil and Chris's earnest defense, he avoided being thrown in a cell.

[So what happens now?]

<If it's an interrogation room... it's obvious.>

If you're in an interrogation room...

Bang

The tightly locked iron door opened.

"Get up."

They would have to interrogate, or worse, torture...

"You're released."

What?

***

The circumstances of the incident were as follows.

First, everyone left Leo in the basement and went to check on Butler Alfred.

And

‘There's nothing wrong with him.’

The treatment revealed that there was nothing wrong with Alfred.

They even called a priest, a doctor, and even a magician, but found nothing wrong with Butler Alfred.

And the decisive factor was Alfred's statement.

‘It wasn't painful. I just laughed a lot...’

That's how Leonardo was released without charge.

[From now on, let's be good. Okay? If you live like this, your mother at home will be very sad...]

<But I don't have a home, parents, or money.>

Why would someone who knows this say such a thing?

[...But you have a girlfriend, don't you?]

<What nonsense...>

Leo had always refused and rejected dating. There was no way he could have a girlfriend.

"Leonardo!!"

Just as he was thinking this, a girl ran up to Leonardo.

"A, Ariasfil."

"I'm so relieved...! You're released!"

But everyone's expressions were a bit...

“Huh, I believed in you. I knew you would easily overcome such a trivial matter.”

Why did he end up being treated like a criminal who had served his time?

[You almost killed him.]

<No, I didn't.>

[You can't deny a crime. The important thing is what you learn and reflect on from your mistake.]

<Then I'll learn and reflect on it after I get rid of the sage.>

While they were bickering, Chris spoke up.

"But I'm sorry, Leonardo, you have something else to apologize for."

"Apologize?"

"The kingdom's knights caused a commotion trying to arrest you. The news seems to have reached the ears of the reporters nearby."

Hearing this, cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"...Surely I'm not going to be called a murderer..."

"Don't worry. We explained it well."

Chris answered confidently.

Instead of feeling relieved, he felt even more anxious.

"...By the way... who explained it?"

"I did."

Ah, my life is over.

By the way, the next day,

The headlines of various newspapers were decorated with this sentence.

【13-Year-Old Boy Becomes Joke Murderer】

「The Secret of Joke Murder, Butler's Fainting」

《Joke Assassination Technique Beyond Words》

It was still

the first day.

***

"Use this room for now."

"...Thank you."

After the misunderstanding was cleared, Leo was allowed to live in the mansion as a retainer. It was a small building in a corner, not the main house, but having a personal room as a retainer was luxurious.

"I'll tell you the details tomorrow. You have a lot to do today, so rest."

"I will rest gratefully."

Bowing deeply, Leo expressed his gratitude to Chris's generosity. Chris left after receiving the bow.

"...Ha... So tired..."

Today was particularly exhausting.

Fighting and collapsing with Balrog would have been several times more comfortable.

[So what are you going to do from now on?]

<First, I need to be recognized as a retainer in the family.>

The plan was a bit derailed by the butler's fainting, but ultimately nothing changed.

Show my skills and secure my position through them.

It was the way he had always done things.

[If that's the case, why didn't you accept the position Ariasfil offered?]

<The position of a bodyguard? Who would accept that? >

As a retainer, he was far below a bodyguard in terms of rank.

But a mere mercenary with no city, family, or position would not be well-received if he became a bodyguard.

[Yeah, it would look like a parachutist.]

<It is a parachutist. Most retainers in Reinhardt are from noble families. I'm sure...>

At that moment, the sound of footsteps, not one but several people running.

"They're coming."

He didn't expect the butler to faint, but he had definitely anticipated this.

Bang

The sound of the door being kicked open, and in front of him were children in fine clothes.

"Are you the one?"

The boy at the front said.

"Maybe."

"What do you mean, maybe?!"

"Because you didn't even ask my name."

"...Ah..."

The boy was momentarily stunned. He was a bit scary when he was younger, but not anymore.

"Are you the commoner who entered as a retainer?"

This time, another child spoke.

"Yes, but is there a problem with that?"

"Problem? Ha, you bet there is."

Leo stood in front of them and met their eyes.

"You're a commoner, and you don't even greet your senior retainers!?"

"Hello."

He bowed in response. As an adult, he could at least show this much courtesy.

"...What are you doing?"

"I greeted you."

"...Are you joking? Are you making fun of your seniors?!"

"Not really. If I was, I wouldn't have used polite language."

The children's faces turned red. They wanted to scold him but couldn't find a reason, so they just fidgeted.

"So? What brings you here on this late night?"

"...No need to explain. Come outside."

"I can't."

Bang

Leo closed the door.

[Is this okay?]

<We'll have to open it again anyway.>

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was knocked on again. Leo opened it as if he had been waiting for it.

"What is it?"

"You...! Why did you suddenly...!!"

"I can't go out. Sir Chris ordered me to rest."

The sage and the retainers looked at Leo with disbelief. Unaware that this was exactly what Leo wanted,

"...Ha... What a crazy kid."

"He's the one Sir Chris brought in. It's natural that he's crazy."

The skill of insulting both his superior and himself at the same time was truly remarkable. So remarkable that he wanted to applaud.

"...So what do you want?"

"Come out. Let's have a fight."

"...I have no choice."

Pretending to give in, Leo followed them out of the annex. Outside the annex, they walked to a wide training ground.

The training ground was quiet and peaceful at night.

"...So what is it? This is the third time I've asked."

"You must not know much about Reinhardt. Here, we revere our seniors like the sky. Got it?!"

"Ah, yes. Even though they're low, I'll try to treat them like the sky."

"...Ah...this kid..."

Losing his composure, he laughed and drew a knife from his waist. Leo easily caught the knife.

"...What is this?"

"I'll teach you a lesson. Come at me."

Leo threw the sword on the ground.

"...What are you...?"

Smack!!

With a punch, the male retainer in front of him fell.

"Kyaah!! My bones...!! My bones...!!"

"Stop exaggerating. A senior like the sky wouldn't have their bones broken."

"...You coward...!"

The other retainers started to attack.

To catch a 13-year-old boy who fought unfairly with his bare hands, the average 16-year-olds swung their swords properly.

Squish!! Thud!! Crack!!

Three types of impact sounds, and the retainers fell.

"Kyaah!!"

"My face...! My face...!!"

"Y-You...! You...!! Coward...!!"

The fallen retainers spat out their grievances with angry and resentful expressions.

"Coward?"

At the word "coward," Leonardo's eyes narrowed.

"Wow, I'm a coward. I didn't know. Fighting one against four, I'm a coward."

This time, he handed them their swords.

"Fighting a guy with an expensive sword with my bare hands, how could I be so cowardly."

Then he picked up the sword he had received and drew the blade from the scabbard.

"And this sword..."

Leo lightly swung the sword. It broke when it hit the ground.

"It was already cracked, and I didn't use it. The cowardice that makes the world angry~ right?"

"...You bastard...!! Do you think you'll be fine after this?!"

A threat, so typical, it's hard to even laugh now.

"Ariasfil!! Just because you got close to the head's daughter!! You must be something, huh! You're just a commoner..."

In one sentence, the atmosphere changed. Leo, who had maintained a smile through all the insults,

"...Hey, Vector, Herald, Jay, Kasyun."

It was only when the insults were directed at him.

The expressions of all the retainers present changed. They were all their names.

"...How do you know our names..."

The smile disappeared, and their faces were filled with murderous intent. Leo started to crush the hand of Vector, who was in front.

"Kyaah!!"

"I don't care if you gossip about me being a parachutist or spread rumors. It's none of my business."

His tone was completely different from before, and fear crept in.

"But listen."

It wasn't the eyes of a child.

"...Let's keep it in line? If you say anything about Ariasfil, anywhere, anytime..."

Bang!!

Leo's fist hit the ground. It only grazed his face, but it cut like a blade, and the ground was gouged by the impact.

"I'll kill you."

But the retainers could feel their bodies go cold at Leo's warning.

After confirming their fear, Leo returned to his room.

[...Leonardo.]

<Yeah, I know. It was a bit much for kids. But they insulted the head's daughter, so I had to teach them a lesson...>

[Are you really heartless? Or do you not even understand the concept of a heart?]

What are you talking about? There's no subject, so I don't understand what you mean.

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