How the Shadow of the Marquis Lives

Chapter 113

The general’s eyes met. Xian did not avert his eyes.

“Are you Berped’s son?”

He is one of the few beings who calls the family head by his first name, Berped.

“My name is Cyan Agrid. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Cyan and Roderick shook hands. From Roderick’s point of view, he and Xian got along well, so there was nothing wrong with it.

Damian and Julio were already in the line of the 3rd princess, so it was inevitable, but Xian’s Agrid family did not yet have a clear faction.

There was no reason to refuse to be friendly with his son at this point, when the direction of Werfed Agrid would become important later.

Xian shook hands and glanced outside.

I saw a huge fire giant burning in the distance.

“May I ask what happened to that giant?”

If there was one thing that bothered Xian the most, it was this.

The fact that the Empire declared war on both the Fairy Palace and the Beast Man Kingdom was, of course, a shocking event, but if you look closely, there is a giant at the root.

The emperor confidently invaded both countries because he had the firm power of being a giant.

“The details are confidential, so it is difficult to tell. If you roughly think that it was found in ancient ruins, you won’t be so wrong.”

“Are you saying it has nothing to do with the Dark Magic Tower?”

At Xian’s words, Roderick slightly widened his eyes.

Then he nodded his head as if he knew.

“You already knew about the Dark Magic Tower. Well, it wouldn’t be strange if he knew if he was Berped’s son.”

“Is your father also involved in the work of giants?”

Actually, this is the part I’m really curious about.

The family owner, who thought he was busy destroying the Dark Magic Tower, knew that the emperor was preparing a giant with the Dark Magic Tower behind him.

If you knew, what were you thinking?

The latter was known to no one but the householder himself, but even the general would know about the former.

Roderick chuckled at the sight of such a proposal.

“It’s something you have to ask yourself.”

Leaving only those words, Roderick took the knights and left.

Xian looked at his back as he headed toward the main building.

In the end, I couldn’t hear a proper answer about the householder.

but.

‘It seems certain that the emperor had a relationship with the Dark Magic Tower.’

The appearance of the general talking about the Dark Magic Tower was neither particularly negative nor positive.

Looking at it, the connection between the imperial family and the Dark Magic Tower seemed undeniable.

What would the head of the imperial family really think?

‘If you watch it, you’ll know.’

If you check how the household moves in this war, you will know.

Thinking so, Xian headed for the dormitory.

* * *

Roderick took full control of the academy.

The only one here who could resist him was Zerech, but he couldn’t move as long as the students were tied up.

On the condition that he not lay a finger on the students, Zerech locked himself in the president’s office.

Roderic’s knights are always watching him on the pretext of taking care of Zerech.

Roderick’s influence did not stop at the chancellor’s office.

The students of Glacier Baengnyeong and the students of Jakarta were confined to the dormitory.

Roderick didn’t do anything rough because of his promise to Zerech, but he didn’t let him go freely.

On the contrary, the students of the empire were treated completely differently.

Students from all the Empire gathered in the center of the academy at Roderick’s summons.

“Now it is a wartime situation.”

That was the first thing Roderick brought up after gathering the students.

“That means it’s the best time to make the ball.”

There was also Xian among the students. He clicked his tongue inwardly as he listened to Roderick.

‘It’s a good time to build martial arts.’

That was right. Now, it is not because nobles are simply lucky or because they have lands, collect taxes, and hire private soldiers.

It is because their ancestors made meritorious deeds and received lands and titles from the emperor of the time.

However, as the long period of peace passed, opportunities and places to make achievements gradually disappeared.

So maybe this could be seen as an opportunity.

‘Tsk.’

Of course, it wasn’t for Xian.

There was a buzz going on among the students.

Among them, there were not a few students who were embarrassed or had bad expressions.

“What can we do!”

Of course, there were many students who really saw it as an opportunity. They were mainly students belonging to Damian’s Imperial Team.

Looking at those students, Roderick spoke.

“It’s not a matter for me to decide. If you have a will, go back to your family and follow the family’s will.”

Then I talked to the students who had a bad expression.

“If you don’t really want to, you can stay in this city. Personally, though, I recommend going back. You never know what will happen if you stay here.”

It was a call to return to the family either way.

Most of the people here are the descendants of the imperial nobility. Having them with them would not be too much of a concern for Roderick.

That’s why those who are annoying are gathering and talking about it with the intention of getting rid of it altogether.

‘Go back.’

After Roderick left, the students gathered in twos and threes and exchanged opinions with serious expressions.

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to go back at once. There is nothing to do here.”

“The class… … Of course you won’t?”

“You say that!”

Passing by them, Xian thought.

go back

He, too, has the option of returning. To the mansion of the Agrid estate where the head of household is waiting.

‘The fact that the head of household didn’t say anything must mean that I have nothing to do here.’

There is no way that the head of household did not know about the war and the disquieting movements of the imperial family.

Even so, this must have meant that he didn’t have to say anything to himself.

Don’t bother trying to do anything at the academy, return to the estate in good faith.

There was none other than this.

So, this was the time of decision for Xian.

The family has no choice but to participate in the war. Unless you intend to completely abandon your title as a Marquess of the Empire, you will not be able to refuse the Emperor’s request.

And probably.

‘I’ll be dragged away too.’

He himself will be dragged into that battlefield.

Maybe Gajoo and Chesha would just stay in the territory and be sent to the border with the right amount of troops.

After making sure to save face by sending the successor of the estate directly, the actual benefit is seen by all the heads of households.

Isn’t the reason why the head of household kept him alive so that he could use it at a time like this?

‘No war.’

But he can’t be dragged away.

The moment you set foot on the battlefield. That moment is the moment that completely ends for you.

Whether or not they could return alive was a problem, and even if they did, it was a problem.

Even if the ball was returned, it was still a merit as ‘Agrid Youngsik’.

Rather, as the imperial family recognized her existence, she would become more bound to the name Agrid.

‘The more the ball is built, the more dangerous it must be.’

If you think about it in that sense, it is more dangerous when you set the ball in reverse and come back alive.

The more clearly the imperial family recognizes that he is Agrid’s successor, the more likely it is that the head of the house will be pointed at him.

Sian thought for a moment.

If you were in the position of the family head, what would be the most useful way to use the existence of Cyan Agrid?

It was a question that did not require deep thought.

‘To make a lot of credit and get rid of it before the war is over.’

then it’s neat

The achievements made by Xian Agrid on the battlefield will be returned to the family as meritorious, and compensation for the loss of the heir can be demanded from the imperial family. The succession plan can be turned to Chesha without any noise.

No matter where you look at it, isn’t it a plan with only profits?

The problem is that Cyan Agrid, who will be used as the scapegoat, is himself.

So he made a decision.

‘Let’s run away.’

Let’s run away from this academy in advance before being taken to a territory or battlefield where it is difficult to escape.

He was thinking of escaping from the householder someday. It’s just that the time has come a little earlier.

‘… … It seems to have been pulled a little too much.’

Originally, I thought I would have time, at least until I graduated from the academy.

Until then, I was thinking of building up my strength as much as possible and accumulating experience, and then exiting at a more perfect timing.

However, things did not go so easily.

Being taken to the battlefield could end up being tied up for a ridiculously long time from graduating from the academy.

He passed all the other students and made his way to the very back.

There, a student whose face is distorted with a more complex expression than anyone else.

“Allen, let’s talk.”

He tapped Allen on the shoulder and pointed towards the dormitory.

“uh? uh, yes.”

Take him to a place where Xi’an can talk about secrets. headed to his room.

* * *

“What are you going to do?”

“what?”

“What is it? It’s about war.”

Xian, who brought Allen into the room, skipped the introduction and started with the main topic.

He knew what kind of agony Allen was going through.

He is a member of the Cheondo League, founded against the Black Magic Tower. Furthermore, thinking back to Professor Derek’s time, he also seemed to have a deep personal grudge against the warlock.

But to invade another country with a giant in the empire?

‘The imperial family to be loyal to, and the Dark Magic Tower to avenge.’

The two held each other’s hands.

From Allen’s point of view, it must be complicated.

“… … I don’t know. My father wants to see the situation first.”

“Did Count Krueger say that he was also Chun Do-maeng?”

“huh.”

Allen smiled, looking tired. Certainly, Count Kruger would also be in a delicate position.

Even if they don’t know it, the imperial family must be aware of the existence of Cheondo-maeng.

Count Kruger, a member of it, must be quite a thorn in the current situation.

“Allen. If you don’t have to go back to the family right away, why don’t you go with me?”

Xian talked to him.

If I had to go back because I was worried about my family, I would have looked for someone else, but if not, I thought I’d talk about it.

If you think about your destination, there was no comrade as reliable as Allen.

“Where are you going? At the Agrid estate?”

“no. I have no intention of returning to the manor.”

“what?”

Allen’s eyes widened at Xian’s words.

To say that the son of a marquis would leak to another place at this point in time when the empire was at war was a statement that would make you doubt your ears.

“If you stay in the Empire, you will be drawn into the war in one way or another. I intend to leave.”

“Where are you going? There’s no way you can enter Glacier Baengnyeong or Jakarta.”

“I can’t get in. It should be possible if we release the children imprisoned here and go with Yu Seol or Ran.”

There is such a way. If you save them and ask for asylum in return, not many families will refuse.

“Really so… … ?”

“no. This is just what I said.”

I’m thinking about freeing the imprisoned children. If I had a good talk with the president, there was no chance of winning.

But that’s not what I’m talking about right now.

The place where you want to go after leaving the empire.

“There is one more place.”

graves of giants.

the land of the devil.

He intends to hide in the land, which is difficult to invade even by the imperial army.

and even more.

‘The giant king.’

There was something to look for there.