Chapter 67

EP.67 Senate - 2

The battle continued in the snowfield.

With a whoosh, a punch was thrown. Even though Leo dodged, his body trembled. The wind pressure from the punch, which felt trivial compared to fear, had pushed him back.

[Just make some jokes. Where would you use a joke assassination technique?]

<Even if I wanted to, I can't.>

Aura surrounded Alfred's ears, specifically the eardrums. No matter if Leo made jokes or provoked him, Alfred wouldn't hear them properly.

[Why are you blocking it so seriously?]

That's what I'm saying.

"The shape of your sword has changed. I'm glad to see it has grown with you."

Alfred's gentle tone, which would have been a compliment to smile and respond to, was followed by a low kick.

'...So, there's no choice but to take a gamble...'

Leo extended the length of his sword to the maximum and intentionally made it curve, launching a whip-like attack. At the same time, he fired off high-powered magic spells in rapid succession.

"Quite impressive. Did you learn this at the Magic Tower?"

His attacks were more of a threat to create distance rather than to land a hit. Indeed, Alfred also increased the distance.

"...It's not complete yet..."

There was no choice but to use the grown 'Black Stone's' ability.

The sword, which was the Black Stone, transformed flexibly like a liquid, wrapping around Leo's arm like a tentacle. A glove, a hybrid of leather and metal gauntlets, was worn on Leo's hand.

"Ho, you're going to fight hand-to-hand...!"

Bang!!

The impact of the gauntlet striking the ground felt like a surprise attack, even though it came from the front.

[...Are you using it now?]

<If I want to land a hit, this is the only way.>

The enhanced ability of the Black Stone was its connection and fusion with the body. Thanks to the growth fueled by Leo's mana, it was concluded that part of the Black Stone could safely connect with his body.

This was the new technology he had improved.

《Black Stone - Red Line [5%]》

The Red Line, a high-risk, high-reward technique that connects the Black Stone to the body, had a 5% limit due to the danger.

[Using such a dangerous, incomplete technique...]

The surface of the glove glowed with a bright red line, and Leo's own hand was on the verge of bursting with blood.

This was because the blood pressure in each vein was increased, enhancing both his aura and physical limits to their maximum.

[Is it worth using just for this...]

It was a strategy that was both pitiful and understandable.

[But it's too much for that old man. The levels are different.]

That was true. With martial arts, it was impossible to defeat him. As evidence, even when Leo pressed his attacks, they didn't even graze Alfred.

Alfred would immediately knock him out as soon as he adapted to the enhanced speed.

<You're right.>

A vibration was felt. It couldn't be attributed to the battle, as it felt like an earthquake.

<With martial arts, that's true.>

But in a chaotic battle, Leonardo had the upper hand, whether before the regression or now.

"...This vibration..."

Alfred enhanced his senses with the aura that blocked his ears.

"Mr. Alfred is indeed strong. I knew I would lose in a hand-to-hand fight."

Turning his head in the direction of the sound, he saw a wave of snow coming down from the middle of the mountain.

"But it also means Mr. Alfred knows this."

Thus, Alfred would focus on subduing him. The sound of the avalanche wouldn't be heard through the aura blocking his ears, and the small vibrations would be hidden by the impact of the fight.

"The magic I cast earlier was to prepare for this."

The previous magic was to change the terrain to one suitable for an avalanche, a strategy made possible by knowing the terrain in advance through regression.

"Excellent. I really want to see this through."

Alfred clenched his fist and threw a punch at the avalanche. The effort to dig through the wave with his bare hands reminded him that he had a difficult opponent.

"Now, Leo...!"

But this was also part of the plan. Leo was already throwing a punch at Alfred's face.

Bang!

The punch hit the face. Their arms crossed, and both attacks met each other's faces.

"Ugh...!"

Despite the surprise attack, Leo was knocked down by Alfred's counter. If he hadn't been focused on blocking the snow, his jaw would have been broken, and he would have fainted.

But thanks to his preparation, he could take the hit.

"One hit... taken, huh?"

Alfred rubbed his cheek and smiled. Even though he was hit, there was no bruise, just a slight redness.

"Yes, one hit taken."

Alfred smiled kindly and extended his hand to Leo.

"You win, Leonardo."

Leo grabbed his hand and stood up. His body was trembling from the shock, but it wasn't unbearable.

"This is my fault. Now, as a butler, I sometimes have to test people like this on behalf of the Senate."

"No, it's fine."

Leo brushed the snow off his clothes and smiled.

"A butler is a knight who protects the house, isn't he?"

For the record, this wasn't a joke.

But why did that old man fall over while laughing?

The senators watching through the communication device couldn't understand either.

The legend of the joke assassin (whether he wanted it or not) continued.

***

Alfred used a return scroll to leave first, wishing Leo good luck and promising to keep the secret.

If Leo hadn't quickly stopped his laughter with an electric shock, Alfred would have fainted from lack of breath, but that was a past event, so there was no need to dwell on it.

"Then, let's see..."

Leo focused his vision in the snowstorm. A gray building faintly visible through the snow, undoubtedly his destination.

[The hero family must be crazy. In my time, there was no Senate, let alone such a mansion.]

The sage's words made sense. The current hero family had likely deviated significantly from the first hero, Ruben Reinhardt, in a negative way.

The achievements of the hero had become a tool to maintain authority, and the world the hero saved was decaying even more.

[I don't have kids for this. They know how to make their parents suffer, but they never show filial piety.]

If he had said this while dating, he might have nodded, but thinking about the old man's lonely life, even empty words couldn't come out.

[Shut up, brat.]

<Yes.>

It was no longer surprising that he knew Leo's thoughts.

<I wish I could fly there...>

After walking for hours in the snow, Leo grumbled. Normally, he wouldn't complain, but the fatigue from the battle with Alfred was enough to lower his tough physique.

[Be careful. If you touch the barrier, you'll faint.]

<I know. I've been here often enough.>

The fact that the barrier prohibited flying indicated that going to the Senate was also part of the test.

Walking in the harsh snowstorm without proper shelter consumed his stamina,

"Rrrr...!"

Dealing with hungry beasts in such cold, even before the regression and without the battle with Alfred, was a challenge.

"Kerling...!"

Now, it was Leo's lunch.

[Is the wolf tasty? I can't eat it; it's too lean.]

After skinning the wolf and roughly cutting it, Leo chewed and spoke.

<Compared to the blood and flesh of monsters, it's tastier and more nutritious. If cooked well, it's quite edible.>

During his years of travel after leaving his family, Leo had experienced every hardship.

Complaining about the smell of meat was beyond comprehension.

[You could survive on a deserted island with your bare hands.]

<I lived for three months. Being rescued was disappointing.>

He had even built a house from trees, and the furniture was useful.

[This is real.]

While chatting, the meat cooked by magic was done. Leo ate the roasted wolf and set off again.

Soon, a massive gray castle hidden in the snow fog was revealed.

More of a fortress than a castle, prepared for intense battles.

"We've arrived."

This fortress was the Reinhardt Senate.

***

The senators had no goodwill towards Leonardo from the beginning. To them, he was just a young, unruly child.

Thus, they tried to gain the upper hand with Alfred.

To make him realize his place, gain the upper hand in the hearing, and make him realize he wasn't a standout in Reinhardt.

Though childish, the difficulty of the test couldn't be dismissed as trivial. Sometimes, physical strength was more effective than the wisdom of experience.

"...Is this... Is this even possible?"

And their expectations and thoughts were buried with the avalanche.

"Even if he's old, Alfred was a knight of Reinhardt..."

Now, they were experiencing a cognitive dissonance.

"Sir Marquen...!"

But the recent turn of events was beyond their rigid and outdated imagination.

"Why did you give such a weapon to an outsider?!"

Their judgment had long been corroded by pride. They were mistaking Leonardo's skill for the power of a tool.

"Are you questioning the judgment of the Execution Knight?"

The following killing intent was the shadow of Reinhardt.

"It's not a question of ignoring, but of verifying the facts. Such privileges can't be tolerated, even by direct or collateral descendants."

Perhaps slightly intimidated by Chris's killing intent, the youngest senator lowered his voice.

"Privileges..."

Marquen, who had silently listened, muttered and chuckled. The old memories were a decent topic for the old man.

"Then why don't the direct and collateral descendants choose or even want this weapon?"

Marquen had long distributed weapons to other bloodlines, more precious and meaningful items he had carefully selected.

In essence, the Black Stone was a pearl hidden in the mud.

"...That's..."

"And distributing weapons from my armory is my right, regardless of position or formality. Do you understand the implications of infringing on this right?"

The Senate hall instantly turned cold. The old giant, unlike the retired relics in the fortress, was still a monster actively serving.

The only one who could resist him was,

"Quiet..."

the head of the Reinhardt Senate.

Jeron Reinhardt focused his eyes, silencing the Senate's pointless noise.

The old lion's eyes, having experienced three half-centuries, showed that his claws and teeth were still sharp.

"...Who is this child?"

"His name is Leonardo. He said he has no surname."

They all showed displeasure. A lowborn without a surname coming to the Reinhardt Senate was extremely unpleasant.

"Your complaints will be heard with dignity at the hearing. No one knows what this child will become. More importantly..."

The head of the bloodline turned his gaze to the window. Despite the distance, he could clearly sense the presence of a young knight.

"He seems to have arrived earlier than expected."

"...That's impossible. It should take at least a few hours from there to here..."

"What's the point of impossible in a place of words?"

Reinhardt, in black, put on a white coat and sat by the window.

"What do you mean, Chris...?"

"I'll show you with action, Senators."

With that, Chris jumped from the window to the fortress wall below. No one understood why he jumped from the window instead of the main gate, and they didn't want to understand.

***

[But they invited him and didn't even come to greet him?]

<They will come. Given the current situation, they can't help it.>

Boom...!!

A person fell from the sky. Though not from the sky castle, the fortress walls were so high that the expression came naturally.

"It's been a while, Leonardo."

"Yes, how have you been, Sir Chris?"

She smiled, satisfied that Leo wasn't surprised by her dramatic entrance.

"A knight, especially a Black Knight, can't be well if the swords there are rusted."

Though overly metaphorical, the meaning was clear.

"Despite the name Black Knight, you're wearing white today. Have you changed your style?"

"Heh, good question."

She made her white coat flutter in the wind, a pose from an old novel.

"True darkness blends with the surroundings to hide the body. Like a tiger living as a white tiger in the snow."

[What kind of tiger smokes and gets lung cancer?]

As the sage pointed out, the absurdity of the statement made the urge to comment rise.

"Before I guide you to the Senate, let's see your improved skills. Lightly..."

"Sir Chris."

Unable to resist, Leo spoke.

"What is it? Surely your injuries haven't healed yet?"

"Before showing my skills, can I correct one thing?"

Anxiety flooded Chris's mind. She had a vague memory of a similar situation a few times before.

"...Alright... Go ahead..."

But curiosity got the better of her, and she repeated the situation.

Eventually, Chris realized that the white tiger was a product of forced inbreeding for use in circuses or as a display, a manifestation of unclean greed.

<+--|-|--+>