Chapter 82 : Bullshit

On the way back to the annex with the knights—

“The Black Prince came?”

“Yes.”

Curtis nodded.

“He’s waiting in the reception hall. Of course, his arrival is being kept highly secret—very few know of it.”

I thought for a moment before asking,

“The Black Prince, that’s the Third Prince, right? The Third Prince is the Black Prince?”

“That’s correct.”

“I heard he’s busy fighting for the throne. What’s he doing here?”

“He came to see you, Lord Devil.”

“…Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

Curtis spoke as if it were obvious.

“You defeated the Frost Knight, did you not?”

“Well… I suppose I did.”

“The Black Prince is always hungry for talent. Naturally, he came to meet the swordsman who drove back the Frost Knight.”

“No way he came just out of pure goodwill.”

“True enough.”

“I already told the Count—I have no intention of getting involved with their camp. At most, I agreed to lend them the cursed blade.”

Curtis shrugged.

“I can’t say for certain, but if he came in person, he must have something else in mind.”

“Hmph.”

“In any case, he’s traveled far. For our lord’s sake, you should at least grant him an audience.”

“…What a pain.”

I suddenly glanced back.

Shushruta was following along, happily munching popcorn from a basket.

“Hey, Shushruta.”

“What is it?”

“Why’s the Third Prince called the Black Prince?”

“He favors black clothes, hence the name.”

“…That’s it?”

I’d expected something grander.

“That’s it. Do you need more information on him?”

“No, I’ll judge for myself once I see him.”

I snatched the popcorn basket from her hands.

“Ah!”

“Stop eating popcorn. How will you eat dinner later?”

Pushing away her attempts to grab it back, I handed the basket to a nearby knight for safekeeping.

When we reached the annex, the Count and several strangers in black armor were waiting outside.

The Starvanger Count spotted me and strode forward to greet me.

“Lord Ashuban.”

I gave him a small nod.

“Count.”

Casting a glance at the line of black-armored knights outside the annex, I asked,

“So the Black Prince is here?”

At my words, several of the black knights twitched their eyebrows.

They clearly didn’t appreciate me not using honorifics when speaking of their prince. Not that I cared.

Why should I bow my head to some foreign prince?

The Count replied, “Yes. His Highness the Black Prince is within.”

I looked steadily at the Count.

“Did you invite him?”

“Well… I did send a letter saying you were with us. I didn’t expect he’d rush here himself.”

“….”

“Please don’t misunderstand. I only meant to inform him of the dagger of Ophosis and the news surrounding it.”

“…Fine. I’ll hear what he has to say.”

“Much obliged.”

“Think nothing of it.”

After exchanging words with the Count, I walked toward the annex.

Step. Step.

Even as I merely walked to the door, I could feel the black knights’ eyes boring into me.

Their killing intent pressed down heavily, their aura swelling.

The Heavenly Demon muttered with disdain,

[Look at them. Such insolence.]

Whoooom—

The air rippled with their oppressive energy, stirring the wind.

Heat-haze shimmered faintly behind them.

They’re strong.

Their power didn’t pale beside the Starvanger knights. Some even surpassed them.

Yes, I understood that much.

Strong was strong. But…

…What the hell? Why are they acting like this?

It was unfair.

I hadn’t done anything.

I was just walking.

And yet they were glaring daggers at me, unleashing killing intent like maniacs.

Joy was inside, too—what if the kid got scared?

The Heavenly Demon gave a low chuckle.

[They’re frightened.]

“Of who?”

[Who else but you?]

“Me? What did I even do?”

[Who else here defeated the Frost Knight?]

“That was you, Master, not me.”

[Perhaps. But it seems they think otherwise.]

“…Great. Just great.”

[Get used to it. The strong will always be revered—and feared.]

I clicked my tongue and called out, “Shushruta.”

“What is it?”

She sounded a little sulky, still smarting from having her popcorn confiscated.

“Go play with Joy.”

“Understood.”

She instantly shot into the air and slipped into the mansion through a window.

The black knights stared in shock.

Some even tried to rush inside, but others held them back.

They must’ve thought she was an assassin targeting their lord.

“Hmph.”

Even without knowing the details, one thing was clear—they didn’t like me.

One of them, in particular, glared as if he wanted to murder me on the spot.

As I walked toward the doors, I leaned close to Sir Curtis and muttered, “Sir Curtis.”

“Yes?”

“That bastard’s glaring at me.”

“I see.”

“Can I slap him?”

“…They are the Black Tiger Knights, sworn to the Black Prince.”

“And?”

“I would advise restraint…”

I caught sight of the Count watching me anxiously from the side, and barely suppressed the urge to go through with it.

“Fine. But can I at least ask him what the hell he’s staring at?”

Curtis hesitated, then nodded.

“Yes, that much is acceptable.”

So I immediately put it into practice.

I called out to the burly, hairy brute who’d been giving me the nastiest glare.

“What are you looking at?”

“…?”

He blinked in surprise.

With his fierce, glaring eyes, he looked more like a hardened warlord than a knight.

“Yeah, you. You ugly furball. Why are you staring like that? Want to die?”

His face flushed crimson.

Just as I thought—he had the look of a hothead.

“You… insolent cur…”

But I stood tall.

He had picked the fight first.

I was just walking.

“What? Got a problem? If you do, let’s settle it with our swords.”

The furball nearly drew his sword, but the knights around him held him back. He growled through clenched teeth, barely suppressing his rage.

“I don’t believe for a second that the likes of you defeated the Frost Knight. That knight could never have fallen to trash like you.”

Oh. Sharp.

[Quicker on the uptake than he looks,] the Heavenly Demon remarked with faint approval.

I was about to answer when the Count stepped forward.

“Lord Ashuban personally struck down the Frost Knight. I and the knights here witnessed it with our own eyes. Sir Wolfgang, do you mean to say you doubt my word?”

The Count’s face was stern, far from the kindly look he usually wore.

The man called Wolfgang lowered his eyes.

“…Of course not.”

“Step aside. Lord Ashuban must meet with the Black Prince.”

Wolfgang bit his lip and backed down a pace.

I gave him one last look, then exchanged a brief glance with the Count before heading inside the mansion.

I wanted to toss out a jab, but the moment wasn’t right.

“This way.”

Curtis guided me down the corridor until we reached the reception room.

A black knight stood guard outside the door. Curtis addressed him.

“The Red-Eyed Devil has come to see His Highness.”

The black knight gave me a look, then nodded.

“His Highness awaits.”

I mimicked his stiff tone.

“So I was told.”

The knight blinked, then continued,

“…Knock three times before entering.”

“Three times?”

“Yes.”

“Three. Got it.”

“Enter with your head bowed, close the door without a sound, and do not show your back. Then walk in with lowered steps, place your left hand on your chest, and bow without meeting his eyes.”

“My left arm’s injured.”

“…Then use your right. And until His Highness speaks, you must not meet his gaze or sit down.”

“Mm.”

“And when you speak—”

I kicked the door wide open and strode in.

I’d agreed to meet him. I never said I’d do it politely.

Behind me came the black knight’s shocked cry and Sir Curtis’s long sigh.

I marched into the room and looked at the man sitting there.

Just as Shushruta had said, he was dressed head to toe in black.

“So you’re the Black Prince?”

The Black Prince sat in black leather armor, a black cloak draped over the back of his chair.

Draped in darkness from head to toe—he really did love black, just as Shushruta had said.

He showed no surprise at my entrance, only staring at me in silence before saying,

“Sit.”

“Don’t order me around. I’ll sit when I feel like it.”

“….”

I didn’t sit immediately. Instead, I looked around the room.

I’d expected a few bodyguards, but there were none.

I turned back to him.

“You’re alone?”

He nodded.

“Alone.”

“I see.”

“Now sit. Don’t just stand there making the air restless.”

I dropped into the chair opposite him and studied him carefully.

He seemed about my age—young, younger than I’d expected.

His black hair had been swept back boldly, though a few strands curled down to his forehead, spoiling the neatness.

Beneath his thick brows, his eyes were deep for his years. There was a weight in his gaze, though I couldn’t name what it was—just that I felt it.

He was overall a blunt-looking man.

Nothing like the royalty I’d imagined. His hair was tousled, his clothes slightly rumpled.

And yet… despite it all, an air of nobility clung to him. A dignity that couldn’t be faked, mixed with raw, untamed strength.

I searched his face, trying to glimpse the heart within.

Why was the Count so determined to make this man king?

As I sized him up, he did the same to me.

At last, he spoke first.

“The Red-Eyed Devil. That is you?”

I replied in kind.

“The Third Prince, called the Black Prince. That’s you?”

“It is.”

“Good.”

He wasn’t one for words, just as I’d thought.

I held his gaze and made my position clear.

“Listen well, Black Prince.”

“What.”

“Don’t expect me to show you respect. I’m not your subject, and I feel no particular admiration for you.”

And it was true.

He was nothing more than the Count’s guest, no one I owed anything to.

The Black Prince nodded.

“I expected none.”

“Oh? Then good.”

I went straight to the point.

“So. What do you want?”

He regarded me silently.

“You came all this way to speak with me, didn’t you? From what I hear, it was no short journey.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Then talk. I hate wasting time.”

“Very well. I’ll be blunt.”

He leaned forward slightly, eyes locking onto mine.

“Red-Eyed Devil.”

“What, bastard.”

“Fight at my side.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? Because I have no reason to. The Count already offered me that deal, and I refused. Wasn’t that in the letter?”

“It was.”

“Then why come all this way? You wasted your trip.”

“Whether wasted or not, I’ll know when I leave.”

“Heh. You’re a funny one. I said no.”

His gaze was steady, as if he’d expected my refusal.

“You show courtesy to the Count.”

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“He saved Uncle Hans and his family.”

“I see.”

He stroked his chin in thought, then pushed his hair back and looked at me.

“Then let me do the same.”

“What?”

“I’ll save their lives as well.”

“…The hell are you saying?”

“Even now, my knights have blades at their throats.”

“…!”

“I’ll have them sheathe their swords. If you come with me.”

Crash!

The table between us toppled across the floor.

My sword was at the Black Prince’s throat as I growled low,

“Bullshit.”

(End of Chapter)

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