I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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Chapter 165

Lewellin Deckardo was the Emperor of the Social Circle. Even for Kal, who had little interest in high society, he knew well about Lewellin Deckardo.

Kal recalled the time when Lewellin had no Kashmir.

‘I asked for water, so why was I given wine?’

It was at a party one day. Receiving a cup from a servant, Lewellin frowned, causing the startled servant to break out in a cold sweat.

“I-I’m so sorry! I’ll—”

“Tsk. It’s fine.”

Lewellin lightly stopped the servant from taking the cup back and slowly tilted it. Even that small action was breathtakingly noble.

‘It seems the water blushed at me and turned into wine.’

Lewellin smiled gracefully. Gasps erupted around her, with everyone showering her with praise. They all deemed her a noble queen, but…

Kal, who accidentally witnessed the scene, had a different thought.

With hollow, dead eyes and a smile steeped in deception, she was undoubtedly at the pinnacle and fit for it, yet Kal sensed her unease. Her arrogance stemmed not from confidence but from the fear of losing her position.

While everyone praised Lewellin as the Empress of the Social Circle, Kal felt she was wearing clothes that didn’t suit her. It seemed more fitting for her to don light clothing and roam the world rather than standing in a heavy, cumbersome dress like a flower, just smiling.

‘I thought that way, but to think it would actually happen…’

Kal stared intently into her vividly burning green eyes. He had expected her to slowly wither away and ultimately perish in that suffocating high society, but Lewellin shattered his expectations and soared after relinquishing her obsession with it.

Back then, she was truly a dull person, but now, Lewellin sparkled enough to pique even Kal’s interest, who was normally unfazed by anything.

“Your gaze is hot, Prince of Crisis. Do you have something to say?”

Lewellin spoke as if telling him to step aside if he had no business, arranging her skirt again.

Whew.

A warm breeze swept through the alley, fitting for the approaching summer. Lewellin gently closed her eyes to avoid the hair blowing into them. Her red hair danced like flames in the wind, and the hem of her light green dress fluttered in the air.

“Well. I indeed have business with you.”

Swoosh.

Kal reached out and brushed aside the wind-tousled strands from Lewellin’s face. Startled, she opened her eyes slightly to look at him.

Though his expression remained indifferent, his eyes glimmered faintly.

“I happened to be on my way to deliver this magic cannon made at Kashmir’s request. Since we’ve met, I’ll give it to you directly.”

“Oh.”

Kal handed over the box he was holding. Lewellin let out a short gasp.

‘While I put everything on the sword, it’s better for those who can’t rely solely on physical training like Lewellin to have more than one weapon. Two would be perfect—a whip for the current use and a gun seems good too. It’s easy to operate and delivers great power with a single shot. While it may not do much against someone stronger than a Sword Expert, it should hold the advantage against lesser foes.’

Kashmir had said that after their meeting post the swordsmanship tournament’s first round.

He had been waiting for someone to make the magic cannon for him, but to think it would be Kal Crisis.

‘Damn. I wanted to use that as an excuse to meet again.’

Lewellin bit her lip lightly but quickly regained her composure. She smoothly smiled and accepted the box.

“I can’t believe how grateful I am. Thank you for your efforts. I’ll be sure to use it well.”

Kal chuckled softly, easily picking up on her lack of sincerity in her thanks. He gestured for her to open it.

“Check it out.”

“Eh?”

“Since I worked hard to make it, I should at least see it in the hands of its new owner. Try holding the gun.”

Lewellin looked down at the box.

Kal Crisis was a chilling figure enough to split reasoning just by facing him, but even beyond that, she was genuinely curious about the gun. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened the luxurious box.

Lewellin gasped. The handgun was a conveniently sized killing weapon, sleek and black with no decorations as if beauty wasn’t needed for such arms, but its well-crafted body radiated luxury.

Setting the box down, Lewellin turned the gun around in her hands. Her green eyes sparkled.

‘This one features all the good traits the Shu Shu mentioned.’

Lewellin felt so excited about the moment she would learn to use the gun from Kashmir that she might have smiled slightly, and Kal, watching her, noticed the spark in her eyes.

Suddenly, Kal stepped closer, wrapping his body around hers as if to embrace her from behind.

“The magic cannon has the drawback of needing periodic mana recharge, but it’s worth it. As it’s made by me, it should be the best around.”

“What…”

Lewellin was startled by Kal’s sudden proximity but felt no particular discomfort. She could clearly sense there was no ulterior motive behind his gaze.

He was only proud of his creation.

“Usually, it only reinforces the attack power of the bullet by coating it with mana. But what I made is different. As long as there’s mana left in the gun…”

Click.

Kal placed his hand over hers, guiding it to align the gun, then released the safety.

“It can fire even without bullets; the compressed mana becomes the bullet.”

Lewellin realized that Kal’s body temperature was remarkably cool, and his scent was alluring enough to send shivers down her spine.

Kal pivoted slightly, still half-embracing Lewellin. In her surprise, she found herself face to face with the thugs she had created. Kal fitted her finger around the trigger of the gun, aiming it at one of the goons’ arms.

“My magic cannon also possesses numerous functions. For example, if you press this twice, a silence magic gets cast, making the shot inaudible, and if you turn it like this…”

Click.

Kal pressed the button in the middle twice and turned the gear near the handle’s end. A cheerful sound echoed in the air, and his finger met Lewellin’s finger, resting on the trigger.

“The target hit will be silenced.”

Even you wouldn’t want to hear the screams of filthy creatures, would you?

A low voice resonated near Lewellin’s ear. Turning her head slightly, she locked eyes with Kal.

Clack.

Kal smiled.

The bullet that departed noiselessly from the gun buried itself in one of the thug’s arms. The fainted man woke up, screamed, but no sound escaped him. All that could be heard between Kal and Lewellin were their breaths. Her green eyes narrowed, and his red pupils subtly warped.

Lewellin was convinced that being tempted by the devil felt exactly like this.

“…Thank you, Prince.”

Lewellin slowly inhaled and lowered her hand. Kal unobtrusively released her hand.

“I really like it.”

Lewellin smiled brightly.

The fact that she wouldn’t have to hear the screams made her genuinely pleased with the gun.

“Of course you should like it. Who made it?”

Kal had a look that said it was only natural. Kal Crisis didn’t bother with polite phrases like ‘I’m glad you like it.’ He seemed quite arrogant, but Lewellin found this much better than empty compliments from other nobles.

While Kal still appeared sinister, perhaps he wasn’t as bad as she thought.

“If there’s a chance later, let me treat you to tea as a thank you.”

Lewellin put the gun away and gathered the box. As Kal watched her momentarily, he began to walk away without saying goodbye.

“If you need a place to learn how to use a gun, just contact me.”

Lewellin halted her hands, tidying up. She looked at Kal with eyes filled with confusion.

The Kal she knew was not someone who offered such kindness.

As he turned his head, his black hair fluttered in the playful breeze, and his red eyes met hers. Even having seen countless rubies as the daughter of a mercantile family, Lewellin had never seen a red as beautiful as his.

Exchanging glances for a long time, the corners of Kal’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

“Don’t use that excuse to play tricks on my Shu Shu.”

The low voice spoke harshly.

‘He’s not crazy, then.’

Lewellin felt a bit relieved. She had been seriously contemplating whether to report Kal Crisis to the guards for fear he might go mad and commit some act of folly. Now, feeling a bit more at ease, she waved her hand at him.

“Too bad, but Shu Shu already told me she’ll teach me how to use a gun. If you genuinely wish to teach me, you’ll need to take a number and come back later, I think.”

Kal grinned, showing his teeth. Lewellin pretended to think hard, with her index finger on her chin, looking thoughtful.

“And you calling it trickery isn’t something you should say, Prince.”

‘Everyone knows you only act coy in front of Shu Shu.’

With the same artifice, both Kal and Lewellin were playing the fool. In a moment, Kal’s expression sharpened, but he quickly turned his head away with a cool laugh.

“You’d do well not to be too confident that Shu Shu’s affection will last.”

“Well, it seems like it will. I’m her closest friend after all.”

“I’m her only brother. Flesh and blood.”

“I have received a kiss on the back of my hand from Shu Shu.”

“I got a kiss on my cheek from Shu Shu.”

A childish quarrel ensued between Lewellin and Kal. Lewellin knew it was immature, but since she understood that she could never overshadow Kal in terms of Shu Shu’s affection, she didn’t want to back down.

“To beat me, you too should be reborn as Shu Shu’s sibling.”

When Lewellin fell silent, Kal smirked. Frustrated, Lewellin bit her lip, then with a sudden thought, she chuckled coldly and spoke.

“Yet there might be things you can’t do precisely because you share blood.”

Kal’s expression hardened momentarily. Though he soon regained his usual impassiveness, Lewellin couldn’t have missed the fleeting glimmer that crossed his face.

“…There would be far more things you can’t do if you weren’t blood related.”

Kal forcibly swallowed his rising anger and replied through gritted teeth as he strode away. Watching Kal’s back as he moved like an angry empress scorned by the rear palace, Lewellin grinned slyly.

The notion that he might not be as terrible a person as she thought was completely canceled.

Kal Crisis was a spiteful son of a dog.