My Villains Chapter 304
55. The Marquis of Eavon (3)
The knights of the Golden Age escorted Heila and I to the cathedral. As it turned out, Marquis Eavon and his aides were staying in the inner chamber of the cathedral.
It is a little unnatural for non-clerics to stay in the heart of the cathedral. However, outdated rules cannot trump power.
“Your Excellency is more faithful than most of the Sacred Lords.”
One of the two knights wearing a yellow surcoat opened his mouth as if defending the lord of Jeju.
“You are supporting many churches and monastic clergy. Of course, this place, the holy place of Gwangmyeonggyo, is one of them.”
“okay.”
The cathedral facing the stone steps was quite different from usual.
Dozens of elite soldiers guarded the arched gate decorated with a ringed cross and the low wall.
“……Uh”
……*5 The three
Aria family private soldiers had their faces covered with the Aventail attached to their helmets, leaving only their eyes exposed. It is a figure wearing a plate breastplate over high-quality chain mail.
They had long ax spears slung over their shoulders and were vigilant in all directions. In addition, there were heavy crossbows leaning against the nearby fence one by one, but they were even loaded so that they could be fired in case of emergency.
Just by looking at their eyes, I could tell that it wasn’t just armed.
In the meantime, I’ve experienced quite a few battles, and now I can roughly determine whether the opponent is a proper warrior or a serf who was forcibly dragged just by looking at his eyes.
In that context, their eyes, that is, their eyes, which do not feel any color or shaking, seemed to be the result of harsh training and mental education close to brainwashing.
It wasn’t just the soldiers who guarded the cathedral.
Passing through the fence and reaching the main gate of the chapel with the sacred fire engraved on it, two other knights of the golden age were guarding the place.
I don’t know if it’s a close escort, but to entrust the entrance guard to a knight. Would a marquis be able to wield such prestige?
At first glance, this might seem like a big deal, but using a knight as a guard is like setting up a field officer in a guardhouse. It’s a close example, but it means that it’s out of common sense.
Even after entering the chapel, he encountered knights every time he passed through the corridors and corridors.
I met a total of eight knights until I reached the private room where the marquise’s family was waiting, and in the end I decided to put my common sense aside for a while.
“Come on guys.”
Marquis Eabon and two men and women greeted us at the heart of the cathedral, which seemed to have been occupied by a secular army.
“I have heard the story about you. Nice to meet you here.” The Marquis, sitting in a red chair, held out his hand. The gesture of gently turning the hand that was outstretched as if asking for a handshake and showing the back of the hand is very natural.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency, Marquis of Ea Bon.”
When I said that while kissing the gold-silver-colored signet ring, the Marquis replied with a chuckle.
“So do I. You can’t even imagine how much I missed you.”
Then, after Heyla kissed his signet ring, the young woman sitting to the left of the Marquis of Eavon also held out her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Phoenix. I also often heard stories about sutras.”
“Nice to meet you too, ma’am.”
“…yes?”
As I kissed the back of her hand, the woman opened her eyes wide for a moment and burst out laughing.
…Why are you laughing all of a sudden?
The Marquis, reading my bewildered expression, interjected with a smile.
“It looks like you haven’t seen the scarf before because of Panabel’s beauty.”
“……Eh yes?”
I stared blankly at the woman with blush on her cheeks, then I slapped my forehead.
“You are not such a young lady, but a wife. Excuse me.”
“I’m fine sir. I’m just worried about my jealous husband.”
A woman named Fanabel glanced at the marquis with a mischievous expression.
…what could it be?
“Could it be that your wife… When I was speechless, the Marquis shrugged and said.
“She is my wife.”
“Are you saying this is the Marquis?”
“Because it is.”
I looked at the Marquis and the woman alternately with my mouth half-open.
Marquis Eabon looked to be in her late 50s, no matter how small it was, and Panabel looked to be in her mid-20s at most.
But are you a couple? this crazy Wasn’t this old man a worse thief than Baron Mallory?
I was dumbfounded and cursed inwardly, but suddenly came to my senses when Heila tapped my back.
“Well, you have done a great disservice to Your Excellency and your wife.”
“I have nothing to worry about. It’s also because the introduction was delayed.”
Then the Marquis pointed to the handsome boy sitting to his right.
“This is my eldest grandson, ‘Count Oss’. I became an adult before two weeks.”
He was a grandson, not a son. Seeing that he is wearing the title of Earl at a young age, he seems to be the heir to the
Marquis of Eavon. If Arya calls you the Os of the family, say Count No Os.”
Just as I was about to say something in return, the marquis raised his hand and stopped me.
“Do it again. Don’t stutter.”
“Yes, yes.”
The shrugged boy coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and opened his mouth.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Phoenix. I’m going to Aria.”
“You’re calling yourself wrong, Osu.”
“Ah, sorry—”
“Your prestige was hurt, so why are you apologizing to me?”
“…yes. Sorry no, I understand.”
Os, whose face had gone pale, finished the greeting without a mistake after several attempts. The boy count, who sighs in relief after receiving my return, looks very sorry.
…No, what a pitiful bastard. It’s a diamond spoon that goes beyond a gold spoon, but I have to endure this much.
After a longer-than-expected greeting, I sat down on a chair and quickly looked around the room.
In the private room attached to the chapel, white curtains were draped on every wall. It was a veil embroidered with rings or suns.
The windows were lined with wood to keep out the wind, so the only light was from candlesticks in the corners, four or five candles on the center table, and a fireplace burning to one side.
The number of fires was not absolutely small, but since the room was so large, there were places where the light could not reach. The darkness created like that makes it feel very cozy.
Naturally, the Marquis’s escort was also present in the room.
There were several couches at a distance from the central table, and four knights were sitting and watching over them. Everyone is sitting in an uncomfortable posture, as if they would get up at any moment, so the soft couch covered in good leather looks like a waste.
Near the fireplace stood the two knights who had guided us. He pretends to search the fire with his poker, but it is clear that all his senses are focused in this direction.
Also, behind the boy Count Os, stood an old knight who seemed to be the same age as the Marquis of Eabon.
A Nogisa with a menacing atmosphere that oppresses the surrounding air without a handful of magic power. Even at a glance, it seems like an old man who made a name for himself in the past.
However, it was not the seven knights who caught my attention the most, but the figure standing in the corner.
A monstrosity that was about a hand taller than me, who was treated as a half-giant beyond the height of his height, and was slender and skinny like a tree branch.
His body shape is also the same, but he is covered with a black cloak and two towels, so he looks really suspicious.
“Ah, ‘Raf’ seems to be bothering you.”
The Marquis, noticing that my gaze was lingering on the monster, continued with a smile.
“He is my favorite wizard. Despite his appearance, he’s a very gentle guy, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“…okay.”
A wizard with a figure reminiscent of a water strider or spider, dressed as an assassin.
Why did I think of a dog owner who leads a fierce dog and picks up words like ‘our dog doesn’t bite’?
My attention, which had been directed to the knights and monsters for a while, was soon focused on the Marquis of Eabon.
“…so that’s why I think it’s very important to choose a nickname for yourself.”
“Why?”
“What do you think is the reason for all sorts of trivial nicknames attached to you? It’s because I didn’t give myself a nickname when I introduced myself. If I had picked the one I liked the most out of several nicknames right away, wouldn’t the titles of the husa families have been unified?”
“Is it so?”
“then. You can see it by looking at the examples of other articles.”
The Marquis took a sip of the wine made from rowan berries and continued.
“Sir Carliora, who is said to be the best knight of this era, did not choose a nickname for himself like you. So what happened? ‘The King’s First Knight’, ‘Guardian Knight of Zeo Le’, ‘Sword Demon’, ‘The Wall Breaker’, ‘Requiem Sword’, ‘The Most Dangerous Man on Earth’, and all sorts of odd nicknames attached to it.”
“Um, that’s right. Is it the other way around?”
“of course. Baron Geisel is just the opposite.” “If it’s Baron Geisel.”
“Do you know what he does when he introduces himself? You do it like this.”
The Marquis covered the bottom of his nose with his index finger and let out a tight voice.
“His Majesty’s First Horseman and head of the Free Fire family, ‘Thunderbolt Sword’ is Baron Gaisel.”
Madame Panabel burst out laughing again at the ridiculous sound and scolded her husband while wiping her tears.
“dismissal! Don’t do that without a shaved head!”
“You have no hair? Far better than Baron Geisel, who is close to 40 years old, and has nicknames like thunderbolt swords out of his mouth!”
Marquis Eavon looked back at me with a giggle, as Mrs. Panabel had said.
“So, if you’re ashamed of nicknames such as Little Bloody Swordsman and Bloody Beacon, you’ll behave like Baron Geisel. I think a beheader or an undead would be appropriate.”
“They’re both a bit cheesy, too.”
“Instead, the story tangled there is wonderful. A witch, a robber baron, and a knight who cut off the dragon’s head! …No, looking at it like this, it looks like an idiot.”
“But I’ve never cut off a dragon’s head. The fight in South Harbor was more like a snake or a centipede than a dragon.”
“Well then, the Undead would be better. A knight who does not know death – unaffected by swords and arrows, even by lightning!”
Seeing Marquis Eabon making a fuss about it, some knights covered their faces as if they couldn’t stop.
Nogisa, who was stationed behind Osu, also twitched her lips as if she wanted to say something to her lord.
“Looking at the expression on his face, I can understand without saying anything. I don’t think it’s cool to talk about my achievements. Because that’s important to young people.”
Whether his subordinates did or not, the Marquis continued talking.
“Then now I will give you some really practical advice.”
“This is practical advice. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Because this time it’s for real. From now on, call yourself ‘Guardian of the Holy Land’.” “You mean the Guardian of the Holy Land?”
“Isn’t that true? And you need to consider your reputation.”
“…What about my reputation?”
“He had a bloody, warlike, heart-eating savage as his friend, and he was known as the guardian of the Fire Witch. Besides, your master, the 3rd prince, is having a bit of a conflict with the Church of El Ganore… yes.”
The Marquis leaned back on the backrest and continued to give advice.
“To put it simply, it means that your reputation has a lot of non-religious aspects.”
“Uh,
” “Recent events will help to correct this view. Killing vampires and demons, defeating undead forces and defending the Holy Land.”
When I looked lost in thought, Marquis Eavon smiled and added.
“And if you’re feeling embarrassed, there’s a slight detour.”
“If it’s a detour.”
“Since Sir already has a reputation throughout the kingdom, everyone will react the same way if you tell him his name! As a bloody swordsman, you nicknamed him the Red Knight of the Silver Prince.”
The Marquis tapped the table with his index finger.
“That’s when you say it. If you want to call me a nickname, please call me the guardian of the holy land, not the bloody swordsman.”
Woo O ”
“If you say that and use your handsome face to smile with a melancholic smile, it will be very perfect.”
The Marquis, who was showing a thumbs up, made eye contact with Heila and made a sad expression.
“It was not the right time and place. I will give you in-depth advice on this later when we are alone.”
The Marquis of Eabon was quite a pleasant chatterbox, incongruous for his status and age.
Seeing him severely scolding his grandson in front of guests, I thought he was a bit of an old man, but his relationship with his subordinates seemed to be very good. When I saw the respect and affection in the eyes of the knights who turned to the Marquis, I was able to notice it at once.
Mrs. Panabel laughed nonstop at the Marquis’ chatter that continued for a while after that, and Os, who had been scolded, also laughed and chewed on the duck meat that the attendant had cut.
Hayla, who was distracted by the alcohol brought in in the middle, listened to the story of the Marquis with her ears pricked up.
It must have been some time after that, but when it was getting dark, the Marquis sent his wife and grandson back to the house.
When I first saw him, I thought he was a net thief, but when I saw the look in his wife’s eyes toward the marquis as she left, I changed my mind a little. An old man who is noble, wealthy, and even gentlemanly, wouldn’t even a young woman be attracted to him?
“ruler.”
While I was thinking that, the Marquis, who was following the back of my wife and grandson, looked away and started talking to me.
“Now let’s get to the point.”
he was still smiling
However, as soon as the door to the private room closed as his wife and grandson left, his dark brown eyes lit up with a completely different light.
“…the main point?”
“Yes.”
The atmosphere in the room completely changed just by the change in the eyes of the Marquis.
The knights erased their laughter, and the attendants who were clearing the table hurriedly withdrew.
“Tell me. Why are you guys here?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What do you mean? I’m asking why the conceived sons of Zaharkar and Baluin are here.”
I fell silent at the completely unexpected question.