NABC Chapter 16
Chapter 16
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 16
It felt too unsettling to attempt anything right now.
And then it happened.
Bang!
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Melissa strode in with a tense expression etched on her face.
She walked over and asked me,
"O... Ooo... Older brother."
Her words came out haltingly, as if she were a broken machine.
Was she worried because I’d collapsed into sleep like a fainting spell?
No way.
I know how short-tempered my sister can be.
At a glance, it wasn’t worry—it was pure tension.
I smiled faintly and answered her nervous face.
"Why are you stuttering? Got a mental illness?"
"You little piece of shit..."
Her tense face twisted into a demonic expression for a moment before she kicked me.
"We’ve got an important guest, you lunatic! How on earth did you get acquainted with someone so extraordinary?"
A guest?
In this remote countryside, a guest worth mentioning?
No, that’s unlikely.
I began to think seriously.
First off, the Cascadia Countship, despite its current decline, is not a family to be underestimated.
Though the family’s prestige has faded, Cascadia’s title as border counts was originally bestowed to oversee the Demon Realm and protect the frontier.
The royal family even acknowledged their contribution, allowing them to maintain a private army larger than most noble families.
In essence, the Cascadia family is the kingdom’s military strength.
Granted, it’s not about size, but quality, since their duty is to face non-human monsters.
In other words, if someone so important that Melissa is making a fuss over them has arrived, they must be either a high-ranking noble or royalty.
'Now, here’s where the problem arises.'
Currently, I have no way of knowing which high-ranking noble is trying to devour the strength of Cascadia.
There’s no guarantee that a royal or noble visitor is an ally.
"I knew I should’ve kept a few of them alive."
[I’ve pondered this in the past as well.]
Even if they were only pawns, interrogating them could’ve yielded a clue.
Was it my overwhelming fatigue and stress that blurred my judgment?
"Who exactly came?"
"I was completely shocked, you know. From the morning, I had to handle preparations for a guest, while you were knocked out cold. It’s been chaos."
Though she spoke as if nervous, there was something else in her tone.
Excitement.
Or perhaps joy.
When she first spoke to me earlier, wasn’t she practically brimming with excitement, even letting out a snort?
Sure, her mannerisms are tomboyish, but at noble gatherings, she still manages to attract plenty of male attention.
Not that I remember clearly.
"Hey."
I fixed my face into a stern expression and asked Melissa.
"Huh?"
Her cheerful response was so out of character that a surge of dissatisfaction welled up inside me.
"Don’t smile. You’re ugly."
"..."
For a moment, her jaw clenched tightly, but then she regained her smile.
This isn’t like her—she’s not someone who calms down so easily.
What’s going on?
She’s acting unsettlingly strange.
"I’m only holding back because of the guest. If you say that one more time, it’s your head or mine. Got it?"
“Although I have much to say, I must admit that coming here without notice is indeed impolite.”
Having apparently overheard our conversation, the voice carried through the closed door of the parlor.
In response, I answered back, standing on the other side of the door.
“My apologies, sir. Cascadia currently has many enemies. Leaving any opening would be problematic. I’d appreciate it if you could leave quietly.”
It was the classic “No, thank you, please leave” tactic.
“Do not worry. Very few know of my visit here.”
“Should I take that to mean someone does know?”
“If it’s a problem, how about we consider this a conversation between a passerby and a resident, not as the Sword Saint? If trouble arises, I promise to use every means available to assist you.”
He had no intention of leaving easily.
And if he came this far, the situation was equally tricky for us.
I let out a sigh and glared at Melissa, my enemy in all but name.
“What? What?! I’m just trying to help you... Opportunities like this aren’t common...”
Realizing her mistake in getting overly excited about the Swordmaster’s presence, Melissa pouted and averted her gaze.
Fine.
She’s a sword enthusiast, so her excitement and nervousness about a visit from the Swordmaster are understandable.
She’s brilliant and talented but still a child.
And to hear that he came all this way to take me on as a disciple?
Of course, she’d be too thrilled to care about the family’s affairs.
The name Sword Saint isn’t something tossed around lightly.
“You and I will have a talk later.”
Melissa, left speechless, turned her head sharply like a sulking child.
Finally, I opened the door to the reception and entered.
Inside were an older man with red hair streaked with white and a younger man sitting next to him, sipping tea.
If only the analysis window from the Librarian worked on others, but unfortunately, it only revealed my status.
“It’s an honor to meet the Empire’s Swordmaster. I am Leon Cascadia, the eldest son of the late Count.”
I bowed with utmost courtesy, leaving no room for reproach.
“I apologize for coming so abruptly. If it’s uncomfortable, I can forgo formalities...”
“It’s fine. Please feel free to address me casually. You’re someone who deserves respect regardless.”
At my words, he chuckled with satisfaction.
“I had something I needed to confirm, so I had no choice but to visit like this.”
“Something to confirm?”
When I questioned him, he nodded and pulled out a document from his coat, handing it to me.
It was a permit granting access to the Demonic Realm.
However, what caught my attention was that the seal wasn’t Melissa’s but that of my uncle, Tyvel Cascadia.
In other words, it was a document with no actual legal effect.
“So you’ve met Tyvel Cascadia.”
“Yes. My original purpose for coming here was to secretly investigate the Demonic Realm.”
I didn’t ask further.
The fact that this matter had already been discussed with the royal family was secondary; this was something Melissa needed to verify, not me.
“The person I was supposed to meet directed me to Tyvel Cascadia. I received this document from him, but upon arriving at the domain, I realized...”
“Yes, you realized this permit holds no validity.”
“Exactly.”
Although Melissa had yet to be officially recognized as the successor, her authority wasn’t entirely nullified.
It was clear what had happened.
Tyvel had likely pressured Melissa into stamping the seal to transfer all authority to him, allowing him to issue such permits freely.
But with Tyvel now dead, the permit was utterly meaningless.
“Well, it’s not my place to comment on the internal affairs of the Countship. Now that I know the truth, may I formally request your assistance, Acting Count?”
Melissa, who had been trying to suppress her excitement, responded with a tense expression.
“Y-Yes!”
At that, I subtly stepped on her foot.
Startled by the sharp pain, she glanced at me before coughing awkwardly, realizing her mistake.
“Ahem. Sir Sword Saint, I apologize, but proper procedures are required. Could you explain why you wish to visit the Demonic Realm?”
Although excited to meet the Swordmaster, Melissa understood her duty as the heir and sought to maintain protocol.
Realizing this belatedly, she struggled to regain her composure.
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