94.
Jinhyeon learned various skills from those living on the fringes while frequenting back alleys. Among these was the art of beating people effectively, which proved quite useful.
Although he wanted to kill Hector, this was a class-based society. He knew that doing so would lead to troublesome consequences one way or another. So the method Jinhyeon chose was to beat Hector soundly in a legitimate way. Though the words “beating soundly” and “legitimate” might not seem to go together, at least he left Hector’s limbs intact.
Every time the sword grazed Hector’s body as he charged forward screaming, a suppressed cry burst out. The fact that he was crying out even when hit with the flat of the blade, not the edge, made the crowd’s gaze peculiar.
“Is it really that painful?”
“He must be crying out because it hurts.”
“But isn’t he supposed to have received knight training?”
And yet he’s so weak to pain? Everyone’s opinion of Hector began to plummet. It didn’t take long for Hector to fall from being the excellent eldest son of the Mellock Marquis family to a whiny brat. Some knights seemed to notice that Jinhyeon was infusing qi to beat Hector, but they said nothing. Speaking up for Hector in this situation would only lower their own reputation.
For these reasons, Hector was thoroughly thrashed on this rainy day.
“Ugh, ah! Eek! F-fight properly!”
His voice, loud at first, gradually diminished. Finally, Hector raised both hands and called for surrender. Only then did Jinhyeon stop beating him with the sword as a club. The Duke, who had been watching the duel with an interested expression, applauded. The people around followed suit, and the sound grew louder. At this point, Phantom, the referee, shouted:
“The winner of the duel is Yu Jin of Lucid!”
Technically, it was Jinhyeon who won, but he was Yu Jin’s proxy.
“Congratulations on your victory.”
“I knew Lord Yu Jin would win, of course.”
Congratulatory words poured in for Yu Jin, who stood still. A few knights also approached Jinhyeon, the actual victor, to speak with him.
“Who is your master?”
“How many years have you studied swordsmanship?”
Meanwhile, Lyunne brought a champagne glass from a nearby table. She walked towards Jinhyeon with it. As she approached, the knights surrounding Jinhyeon stepped back one by one.
“I thought you would win, of course.”
Jinhyeon nodded with a stoic face at Lyunne’s words.
“You should have been able to read that much, given how I taught you.”
“Indeed. Having been taught by such an excellent master, one should be able to read that much. So, about that.”
Lyunne held out the champagne glass she was holding to Jinhyeon.
“This is the victory glass from disciple to master.”
Drink it. The next words weren’t spoken aloud, but they weren’t difficult to infer. It wasn’t strange for the daughter of the party host to offer a drink to the victor. But because it was Lyunne, Jinhyeon couldn’t readily reach out his hand. He knew she was planning something.
‘But I can’t refuse either.’
There were too many watching eyes around. If he refused what Lyunne offered, it was obvious what kind of rumors would spread. And that would make Yu Jin’s path even more difficult. Jinhyeon reached out and took the champagne glass. What could she have put in the drink? Probably a drug or poison. The problem was that there were too many suspicious drugs to consider.
Lyunne was smiling brightly as she looked at Jinhyeon. It was clear that even if he dropped and broke the glass, she would try to make him drink it somehow. Jinhyeon downed the champagne in one go. After emptying the glass cleanly, he said to her:
“Thank you.”
Applause erupted again, and the atmosphere of the party heightened.
“Now that we have determined the victor of the duel, let’s continue with the party.”
The dueling area was quickly cleared away, and Hector left to treat his injuries. Then, the many people surrounded Jinhyeon and Yu Jin.
“Remarkable!”
Count Venden, a middle-aged man with a protruding belly, exclaimed in admiration while shaking his body.
“How did you build such skill in such a short time?”
“Did you have a separate master?”
“Did you recognize his talent when he was in the Colosseum?”
Questions poured in like a storm. Yu Jin answered what he could and deflected what he couldn’t appropriately. Those who had rushed in excitedly at first seemed to regain their composure midway through and became more composed. But that didn’t mean they let Yu Jin go. Those who perceived Jinhyeon as Yu Jin’s possession still seemed to have many questions.
‘Give me a break!’
Although he maintained a calm exterior, Yu Jin was burning up inside. He had seen Jinhyeon accept and drink the champagne glass Lyunne had offered earlier. The reason Lyunne had invited Yu Jin to the party was to make a move, but that hadn’t worked. However, Lyunne wasn’t the type to back down just because one thing didn’t work, so she would surely try something else.
‘The champagne could be part of that too.’
It was strange. He knew Lyunne had a great desire for power, but was she originally the type to go this far? She seemed more suited to stepping forward boldly rather than making moves behind the scenes. The sense of discomfort that had initially felt small was gradually swelling.
‘What is it, what’s different?’
As Yu Jin was racking his brain, he raised his head, feeling a gaze from somewhere. A man was standing at the railing of the second-floor stairs where the balcony was located, looking down at Yu Jin. His hair color and eye color were not unusual. His face was also ordinary enough that you could see one or two like it anywhere you went. But strangely, when their eyes met, a chill ran down Yu Jin’s spine.
Leviathan.
That name suddenly came to mind. The future had changed when Jinhyeon came to Yu Jin. Then what had happened to Leviathan? Were they moving according to the original story?
‘No, that’s not it.’
Yu Jin turned his gaze away from him and looked at Lyunne. The youngest daughter of the Duke’s family who desired power. If Leviathan had reached out to her…
Yu Jin took a deep breath as he thought that far. Perhaps what was in the champagne was that. The thing Leviathan used to manipulate powerless rulers. Due to the rarity of the ingredients needed to make it, they couldn’t produce much, but at this time, they should have a few.
If Jinhyeon had drunk that, it would be dangerous.
“Excuse me, may I step away for a moment? I suddenly have a headache.”
Pretending to be sick wasn’t difficult.
“If you’re not feeling well, you should rest. Go to the resting room. I’ll tell a servant to call for a physician.”
“No, it’s alright. The aide who came with me will take care of it.”
Before Yu Jin finished speaking, Keith, who had been standing by, came over to support him.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Consideration? It’s only natural. I hope we can talk again next time.”
“I’d like that too.”
Escorted by the farewells of the people he had been talking to, Yu Jin left the place and immediately grabbed Keith’s sleeve tightly.
“Hyung, we need to get to Jinhyeon.”
“What happened?”
“The champagne.”
Keith raised his head to look at Jinhyeon. To him, Jinhyeon seemed perfectly fine. But there were poisons that took effect later, so they had to be cautious.
“Quickly.”
As much as he wanted to let Jinhyeon die, Keith couldn’t refuse Yu Jin’s words.
“It would be strange if we moved together while you’re claiming to be sick, so wait over there for a moment. I’ll bring him.”
“Okay.”
After placing Yu Jin in a secluded spot, Keith immediately headed towards Jinhyeon. He was dealing with Lyunne, who was persistently talking to him. The knights who had initially waited for their conversation to end had dispersed in the meantime.
“Today isn’t the only opportunity.”
“Yes, but what’s this about being a master?”
“Didn’t you know? Lady Lyunne has been receiving sword lessons from that person recently.”
“No wonder his skills were so good.”
Keith listened to the knights’ conversation with one ear and let it go out the other as he stood next to Jinhyeon.
“Jinhyeon.”
Even when called by name, Jinhyeon didn’t turn around. It wasn’t the first time this guy had acted like this, but something felt off.
“Jinhyeon!”
When called more forcefully, Jinhyeon finally looked at Keith. But his gaze was a bit different from usual. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong, but it felt unfamiliar.
“Lord Yu Jin is looking for you.”
As he spoke the words he had been thinking, Jinhyeon tilted his head.
“Yu Jin?”
“Yes. He says he suddenly has a headache. It seems we’ll have to leave early today.”
“He has a headache.”
Usually, he would be sensitive about Yu Jin being sick, but today his attitude was strange. It felt as if he had no interest in Yu Jin at all. Lyunne approached such a Jinhyeon and linked arms with him. Normally, he would have avoided it before she could even do so, but Jinhyeon didn’t.
“Go ahead. You need to tie up loose ends.”
For a moment, Keith couldn’t understand the meaning of those words.
“Jinhyeon has decided to stay with the Duke’s family now. He’s a commoner now, so he can move as he pleases, right?”
It wasn’t wrong. Now that he’s no longer a slave, he could go to whoever offers him more. But Jinhyeon wasn’t originally that kind of person. If he were, he would have left Yu Jin long ago.
