Sword Emperor, Becoming the Young Lady of a Viscount House

Chapter 27: Ambush (2)

“Who’s there!”

Argos shouted at the sound of movement.

“Geez, you scared me. What’s with you, Argos? Why are you standing there?”

The one who appeared was Gareth.

It was someone Beatrice was seeing for the first time, leaving her puzzled.

‘Judging by the lack of memory, he must be one of the losers.’

The two seemed to know each other already.

Argos clearly recognized him.

“Gareth?”

“This is perfect timing. I came up here because I had something to tell you.”

“…Something to tell me?”

“Yeah. But why are you standing here? Are you on a date or something?”

“A d-date? What are you talking about?”

“Haha! You’ve grown up, Argos. I can’t believe the clueless guy I knew is wooing such a beautiful lady.”

Beatrice frowned and crossed her arms.

She was thoroughly displeased.

“It’s a misunderstanding. Beatrice and I were just keeping watch.”

Gareth’s smiling face shifted into a frown as soon as he heard that.

“What? Keeping watch?”

“…Yeah. It’s not a date.”

“Keeping watch? Don’t tell me you’re standing guard because…”

Gareth stepped closer, raising his voice.

“Don’t tell me you’re worried about an ambush from us?”

“…….”

Argos scratched his head awkwardly.

“Look, don’t misunderstand. This is just in case…”

“Well, that’s disappointing.”

Gareth looked genuinely let down.

“As if today’s mess with that damned Reiser wasn’t enough, now even my fellow noble allies are treating me like this.”

“Treating you poorly? That wasn’t the intent.”

“Standing guard against us because you think we might ambush you? The intent is pretty clear. Let me ask you one thing—do you really think we’d stoop to such a dirty trick?”

Gareth’s tone was harsh.

But his reaction was also understandable.

From his perspective, this level of suspicion might seem unfair.

It would be especially frustrating if he truly had no intention of launching an ambush.

That is, if he truly had no such intention.

‘Who does he think he’s fooling?’

Beatrice thought to herself.

That man was acting.

To her eyes, it was obvious—the exaggerated reaction, the agitated tone, the lack of conviction in his anger.

It was classic behavior for someone lying.

People like him were often described as “a thief caught red-handed.”

If she could bet on it, Beatrice would have wagered her entire fortune.

-Step.

Gareth slowly moved closer.

To Beatrice, he looked just like someone preparing for an ambush.

‘Hands behind his back, huh.’

Once suspicion arose, everything became suspicious.

Gareth had one arm hidden behind his back.

Only he would know what he was holding there.

She prepared herself for a fight, just in case.

“How hurtful, Argos. Is that the kind of relationship we have?”

Argos looked deeply troubled.

If Gareth had come to fight, it would have been easier to handle.

But using ‘principles’ and ‘respect’ as weapons left no room for argument.

“…Gareth, calm down first.”

Argos felt cornered.

After all, he and Gareth had been close friends for a long time.

He didn’t want something like this to ruin their friendship.

Meanwhile, Gareth had already come quite close, still with one hand behind his back.

“That’s far enough.”

Beatrice pointed her sword at him.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“…What are you doing? Put that sword away immediately.”

“Step back first. Gareth, was it? Getting hit by this wooden sword can be quite painful.”

“Argos! Tell her to lower that sword right now!”

“B-Beatrice, you don’t need to be so wary of him. He’s my friend…”

‘Not a chance.’

Beatrice declared confidently.

“What are you holding in your right hand?”

She gestured with her chin toward his back.

Only then did Argos notice Gareth’s awkwardly hidden hand, his expression growing serious.

“What?”

“Gareth, show us what you’re hiding behind your back.”

“…Argos, are you doubting me too?”

“…This is just a game. You know I’m not the type to go easy on anyone, even a friend.”

“A game. Hah, a game, you say.”

“Yeah, don’t take it too personally. Now, show us what you’re hiding behind your back.”

Argos maintained a safe distance.

He knew how lethal Gareth could be at close range.

Gareth’s ability involved channeling energy through an object.

Its strength lay in its destructive power, but it was simple in nature.

Before activation, radiant light would gather, making it obvious and giving others time to react.

But at this range, if Gareth only gathered a little energy, there would be no time to dodge.

The speed of the projectile was too fast.

‘If it weren’t for Beatrice, we’d be in serious trouble.’

Argos couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

He remembered Gareth’s strict distinction between personal and professional matters.

But Gareth’s behavior now seemed off.

Gareth was more logical than emotional.

“This is quite upsetting. To be doubted by my only friend and the world’s greatest lady—it feels like I’ve lived my life wrong.”

Beatrice tightened her grip on her sword as if she might strike him down at any moment.

At that instant, Gareth raised his hand for them to see.

In his hand—

“See? Satisfied now? There was nothing in the first place.”

He wasn’t holding anything.

‘…Damn it.’

Beatrice and Argos exchanged embarrassed glances.

Gareth shrugged his shoulders.

“Did you really think I was some kind of villain out of a storybook?”

“S-Sorry, Gareth.”

Gareth looked hurt.

“I admit I play pranks now and then, but do you really think I’d pull something so filthy on a friend?”

“…I have nothing to say. This was clearly my mistake.”

‘This is awkward.’

Beatrice, feeling foolish for her suspicions, cleared her throat and stepped back.

Still, his behavior had been suspicious.

‘…Could it have been a trap?’

The thought crossed her mind.

Perhaps he had hidden his hands on purpose, creating a trap to provoke suspicion.

When called out, he would dramatically reveal his empty hand to defuse the situation.

‘Hmm, no matter how you look at it, his intentions don’t seem pure.’

She wasn’t convinced.

So while she lowered her sword, her suspicions remained.

“Fine. Anyway, I have something to tell you.”

“Right… I almost forgot. So, what is it you wanted to tell me?”

“…It’s not something I can say here.”

Gareth glanced at Beatrice.

“Let’s talk somewhere more private.”

His words hinted it wasn’t for others to hear.

Gareth gestured with his chin for Argos to follow.

Argos hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating his next move.

Standing guard was currently his duty.

Normally, he would have refused, but the fact that he had inadvertently offended Gareth’s honor by misunderstanding him lingered in his mind.

In other words, he had no justification to refuse.

The same went for Beatrice.

She wasn’t Argos’s parent, and she couldn’t justify controlling him in this situation.

“Go ahead.”

She responded reluctantly.

“Thanks. I’ll be back soon.”

Argos seemed much more at ease and followed Gareth.

And at that moment—

In a very brief instant, Gareth made eye contact with Beatrice and gave her a subtle smile.

‘This is troubling.’

Beatrice narrowed her eyes and lightly touched her abdomen.

The mana within her was minimal.

‘Just once, perhaps.’

She had just enough mana for one strike.

At this rate, if an attack came now, she’d be utterly defenseless.

“Tsk. Ambushes always seem to come at times like this.”

It was a piece of wisdom she had gained from her previous life.

Ambushes always happen when one is most vulnerable.

Always, precisely when you think, “I hope it doesn’t happen today.”

Because the enemy knows that as well.

Especially—

‘There must be a meaning behind that mocking smile.’

Gareth’s last subtle smile.

It was almost like a sneer.

It had been too fleeting and too dark at night to be sure, but it left an impression.

Still, there was nothing Beatrice could do for now.

She simply pointed her sword at the empty air and began to restore her mana.

She closed her eyes and focused her mind.

From a distance, the rhythmic sound of insects chirping reached her ears.

It was the usual sound of the night.

Maintaining her inner calm, she concentrated on recovering her mana.

And then—

-Crack.

The sound stopped.

“…….”

That was strange.

The world is full of sounds.

The sound of the wind.

The sound of the air.

The sound of insects.

The rustling of leaves in the wind.

At night, these sounds are especially amplified.

But—

At that moment, Beatrice couldn’t hear any sound at all.

Noticing the unnatural silence, she slowly opened her eyes.

-Heh.

“As expected… Ambushes always come at the least opportune time.”

“Don’t bother screaming. I’ve already cast a silence spell.”

A group that hadn’t been there before now stood at the bottom of the central hallway stairs.

They were arranged calmly in two lines and were as numerous as a pack of wolves.

‘All the losers are here.’

She was sure of it.

Every single one of the losers had gathered here.

If not all of them, then certainly the majority.

Beatrice gripped her sword vertically, assessing her mana.

She could still only manage one swing.

The enemies, on the other hand, were too many.

And so, Beatrice thought to herself—

“Well, shit.”

Shit indeed.

**

Argos followed Gareth.

After walking for quite some time, Gareth finally came to a stop.

“What kind of conversation needs us to come this far?”

“Haha. It’s not that serious.”

‘This feels a bit off.’

Argos found the situation peculiar.

It was more intuition than anything else.

‘Beatrice isn’t the type to act rashly… Her pointed remark makes sense, too.’

They say you can tell a lot from just one sentence.

In Argos’s view, Beatrice wasn’t reckless.

She wouldn’t have doubted Gareth without good reason.

“Alright. What’s this about?”

Gareth let out a faint chuckle.

“First, let me ask you one thing. Do you like this training?”

“Whether I like it or not doesn’t matter. It’s the Crown Prince’s order, so I have to follow it.”

“I like it.”

“…Do you?”

“Well, I did end up as one of the damn losers, but you know my skills. I just had bad luck. That guy was strong.”

Gareth wasn’t exceptionally skilled, but he wasn’t weak either.

Argos, knowing this, nodded.

“With your skills, you’ll climb back up quickly.”

“And you? Putting aside the fact that it’s the Crown Prince’s command, do you like this method?”

The training method where only the winners survive.

It wasn’t Argos’s style.

He shook his head.

“I don’t like it. But I understand it’s necessary. We’re in wartime, and the Crown Prince must have his reasons. He’s a remarkable person.”

Argos wasn’t foolish enough to believe his opinion was always right.

Especially now, with war looming, extreme training was inevitable.

“I see.”

“So, what’s this about? Let’s get to the point. I can’t be away for too long.”

Argos spoke quickly, mindful of his promise to Beatrice to return soon.

“Let’s take this place for ourselves.”

“…What?”

Gareth crossed his arms and spoke arrogantly.

“If you and I join forces, we can rule this place.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“You’ve guessed correctly. Winners and losers. And the only rule here is not to kill. In other words, there are no rules.”

“Ruling, you say…?”

“Let’s create the rules and take control.”

Gareth stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“The effects will extend into the war and even beyond, when the war is over.”

“I don’t understand your intentions.”

Argos frowned.

“Argos, your goal is to become the Family Head, isn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

As close friends, they knew each other’s ambitions.

“I’m not satisfied with just that.”

Gareth made a dangerous statement.

“I want to go beyond being a Family Head and become the true power behind Krapos. With my brilliant mind and your strength, it’s not impossible.”

‘Was Gareth always this ambitious?’

Argos’s eyes darkened.

“This seems too premature to discuss now.”

“It’s not. The Aristocratic Faction is currently scattered. There’s no central figure. And here, the scions of the Aristocratic Faction are gathered—those who may become Family Heads someday.”

“…Don’t tell me.”

The leader of the Aristocratic Faction, Duke Claes, had been executed for treason, stripped of his title and position.

As Gareth said, the Aristocratic Faction was without a central figure.

He was suggesting that Argos become that central figure.

“Yes, the leader here could very well become the leader of the Aristocratic Faction. Of course, we’d need everyone to become Family Heads, but it’s possible. If we become leaders, and then Family Heads, raising others to Family Head status would be easy.”

Currently, the position of Duke was vacant.

These two were the only Marquises left in Krapos’s Aristocratic Faction.

If they became Family Heads, they would wield undeniable power.

“Of course, there will be many obstacles.”

Becoming a Family Head was a major hurdle.

It wasn’t an easy task.

“I’ve devised a strategy. It’s something I thought of after coming here. If my plan succeeds, we’ll undoubtedly become Family Heads.”

-Twitch.

It was an enticing proposition.

A Family Head.

Wasn’t that what Argos had been striving for all his life?

In truth, he had been optimistic but unsure.

Even achieving great war merit didn’t guarantee becoming a Family Head.

Anything could serve as an excuse to deny him.

In that sense, Gareth’s proposal was tempting.

“So, what do you think? Will you join me? Argos, my dear friend.”

Gareth smirked and held out his hand.

Argos swallowed dryly.

At that moment—

-BOOM!

A loud explosion erupted from above.