Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 304 : Side Story 4 - Fateful Encounters at the Border

Side Story 4 - Fateful Encounters at the Border

Conrad bowed his head repeatedly, expressing his gratitude to Priest Orlan. His splendid clothes were stained with dirt and dust, but a smile of relief spread across his face.

"My name is Conrad Azra. I lead the Golden Compass Guild of the Briman Federation."

"I am called Orlan, a priest. I am leading the envoy from the Holy Kingdom of Fernand."

Replying to Conrad, Orlan glanced around. The guards of the merchant group were not strong. If needed, they could be taken care of.

The reason for checking this was simple. If these people happened to realize the purpose of the magic tools being transported, wouldn't it be necessary to silence them?

It seemed there would be no issues.

As he thought this, Orlan's expression suddenly changed. At first, it was a slight bewilderment, but soon it turned into wariness.

The silver-haired man who stepped out slowly beside the carriage. That slit-eyed impression—he had seen it before in the Holy Kingdom.

Yulian.

Yulian Cryphart Frason.

A disciple of the Sword Saint Hayden Reich, and a man who tarnished the reputation of the Holy Kingdom.

'Why is he here...?'

He didn't know. There was no way to know.

But perhaps, this wasn't a coincidence.

The envoy from the Holy Kingdom, having set out to hasten the downfall of the Empire.

And before that envoy appeared the Empire's executioner.

How could this be a coincidence?

Through a brief conversation, Orlan learned that the merchant group was also headed to the Empire. He returned to his carriage and summoned Lyrik.

Soon after, Lyrik entered the carriage.

"You called for me, priest."

When Lyrik appeared, Orlan let out a deep sigh and placed his smoking pipe between his lips.

"What was the state of the merchant group when you killed the demon?"

"What do you mean by their state...?"

"I mean the silver-haired man. Was that man by any chance dealing with the demon?"

At Orlan's question, Lyrik shook his head. Orlan's face darkened further at that response.

The 'Smiling Executioner' did nothing?

At that remark, a cold sweat ran down Orlan's back.

There's no way a man of Yulian's caliber would have trouble killing a lesser demon.

And yet, he stood by.

'Was he trying to involve us?'

Perhaps to ensure they traveled together to the Empire?

It might be an overreaction. But it was too great a risk to simply ignore.

He needed to know Yulian's true intentions.

What was he thinking behind those slit eyes that revealed no emotion?

* * *

The envoy from the Holy Kingdom, huh.

Yulian muttered to himself as he watched the Holy Kingdom's carriage that had rescued the merchant group.

'They're quite strong.'

Even Yulian himself found the guards of the envoy formidable.

Especially the man at the vanguard, who swung his sword. The escort, who looked as if he had just shed his boyish looks, seemed to wield aura at will.

'This just got bothersome.'

Yulian didn't welcome getting involved with people from the Holy Kingdom.

If they were ordinary people, it'd be one thing. But given the rank of an envoy, there was a high chance he'd be recognized.

And after all, hadn't there been some trouble in the past with the Holy Kingdom? Because of that, Yulian still felt uneasy about them.

But contrary to Yulian's preferences, Orlan and Lyrik approached from afar.

"So it was you—wasn't it, the Smiling Executioner of the Adratan Empire?"

Why call him by that name? Yulian chuckled privately, but outwardly pretended not to care.

"That was a name I once went by. Now, I'm just a traveler."

Yulian smiled placidly.

His usual demeanor. However, at the mention of 'Smiling Executioner', the eyes around him shifted.

Conrad's expression was the first to harden.

"You're that Yulian who was called the Blade of Adratan?"

"The one who suppressed the Fourth Prince's rebellion..."

Leaving behind the murmuring merchants, Orlan stepped forward. Wariness was clearly etched in his eyes.

"This is interesting indeed."

Orlan spoke.

"That the Empire's hero would be guarding mere merchants here."

Yulian's smile didn't falter.

"The world is always changing, priest. Just as I have changed, so too has the Empire."

"Changed, you say?"

A cold smile formed on Orlan's lips.

"There are things that never change, no matter how much the world does. The snake, for example."

There was mockery in his eyes.

"A snake sheds its skin, but its nature doesn't change."

Orlan eyed Yulian up and down.

"Who knows? Perhaps the Empire's chaos is because of people like you. Those who do not stay loyal in one place but change direction with the blowing wind."

Even as Orlan's words grew sharper, Yulian merely smiled composedly.

That composure only provoked Orlan further.

"Solarun taught us to be wary of those who shed their skin like a snake, and to bless only those with unwavering faith."

Conrad looked nervously between the two. Meanwhile, Yulian finally spoke. His voice was calm as ever.

"You seem to have a habit of judging others too easily without knowing them, priest. It's not a good habit."

Orlan's face flushed at that remark. Yulian nodded lightly, almost as if showing respect, and added,

"But don't worry. I don't judge others so easily, unlike you, priest. That is one of the ways in which I have changed."

* * *

Leaving the furious Orlan striding back to his carriage, Lyrik stayed behind and approached Yulian.

"Pardon me, sir Yulian."

Lyrik closed the distance, matching his steps against Yulian's, but the "five steps" between them remained unchanged.

"I am called Lyrik. I am in charge of protecting Priest Orlan of the Holy Kingdom's envoy."

"Nice to meet you, Lyrik."

Yulian smiled as he greeted him.

— "Hide your smile. If you seem frivolous, many people will take you lightly."

His master, Reinor's advice.

A strong person should always hide their smile and be earnest; that was his philosophy.

Lyrik agreed with that idea. It was always difficult to measure 'strength'. That was why society's gaze and evaluations usually determined it.

That's why it was best to avoid smiling. Others might think you're frivolous, or worse, weak.

'He isn't light at all.'

Yet, Yulian's smile didn't feel frivolous at all.

Rather, there was a sense of composure that only true strength could possess.

"I've heard the rumors about you, sir Yulian. You are said to be the pride of the Empire, a swordsman of great repute."

Yulian's lips curved again in a faint smile at Lyrik's words.

Even then, the distance—the "pace"—between them did not close.

"Your swordsmanship is said to be comparable to, if not greater than, that of the Sword Saint Hayden Reich."

Sword Saint.

At that title, Yulian's gaze shifted slightly.

"I met the Sword Saint briefly when he was in exile in the Holy Kingdom."

Is this his weakness?

Mentioning the Sword Saint seemed to close the distance by a step each time.

It wasn't just his imagination.

The "steps" had clearly narrowed. Now the "four steps" between them made Lyrik certain that if he pursued this subject, he could close the gap until his sword reached the man.

"He was a remarkable person. Though I never spoke with him, the energy radiating from him was extraordinary."

But defeating an opponent in this way wasn't what Lyrik wanted. He stopped measuring the "steps".

He withdrew his gaze from Yulian's sword and simply began asking questions out of sheer curiosity about the man named 'Yulian'.

"A wise choice."

As if noticing Lyrik's intentions, Yulian smiled and spoke.

"No need to look for a reason to cross swords."

Yulian had already realized. He was aware of the distance where swords could reach, and that Lyrik was measuring the "steps".

* * *

The envoy from the Holy Kingdom and the Federation's merchant group made preparations to depart together.

With the same destination, it was a logical choice to join forces in case of any unforeseen dangers.

With increased numbers, the merchants' journey became even safer. However, unlike when they set out, Conrad's face was now gloomier than ever.

'... So he was the Smiling Executioner?'

The distance between the Adratan Empire and the Briman Federation was not short. With mountains and vast plains between them, it was not easy to learn news about another country.

Even so, Conrad knew of the rumors about the 'Smiling Executioner'.

'Heuuuu...!'

Conrad let out a sigh. He was both flustered to realize that his lifesaver was the 'Smiling Executioner', and terrified because he had uttered "The Empire is doomed" right in front of a killing machine infamous for slaying even children for the sake of the Empire.

'What am I supposed to do now?'

Am I about to die? Wouldn't it be normal for him to start a sword dance right now?

Trembling in fear, Conrad glanced up. Yulian's expression was unchanged from before departure.

He couldn't tell if Yulian was trying to test him or simply feigning calm, but either way, the fear would not leave him.

Should he bring up the topic? The thought crossed his mind, but Conrad couldn't easily open his mouth.

"We're almost at the border."

Yulian spoke up first, gazing outside at the passing scenery. Conrad responded with an awkward laugh.

"H-haha... Yes, we're almost at the border."

As Conrad forced a laugh, Yulian turned his gaze to him.

"Don't be so tense. I have no intention of dwelling on insults to the Empire."

Yulian seemed to have noticed Conrad's odd behavior.

It sounded as if Yulian was saying not to worry, but as a merchant, Conrad knew better.

If you really take 'you can treat me comfortably' at face value, people will think you're crazy.

So Conrad merely nodded as politely as possible.

"Guildmaster Conrad!"

A voice called from outside once again. Though Conrad was filled with annoyance, the awkwardness inside the carriage was so suffocating he wanted to escape outside.

"What now!"

"There are people at the entrance to the Adratan Empire's border!"

What kind of nonsense is this?

"Well, of course there'd be people at the border! What's your point—are you just spouting nonsense now?"

"It's just...they look extremely suspicious."

"What?"

Conrad poked his head out the window to survey the Empire's border.

Three suspicious figures.

All of them wore black hoods and were staring at them.

Each had a curved blade at their waist with a scimitar-like shape. Conrad had heard that the Rahman tribe of the Suranun Desert used such scimitars.

"They are acquaintances of mine."

Acquaintances? Those people?

A question mark floated in Conrad's mind, but hearing Yulian's words, he made no move to stop the approaching figures.

"Azim ul Azim."

Upon seeing Yulian's face, they bowed deeply and greeted him with incomprehensible words.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Yulian's fanatics!!!

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】