Chapter 158: The City Where Monsters Live (1)

The Nadan Kingdom’s second-strongest knight, Xanthos Bogen.

As the head of the Bogen Sword Family and a count, he was also famous as Ransel Grantz’s swordsmanship teacher.

With Ransel Grantz bearing the nation’s expectations, Xanthos Bogen, his mentor, had earned considerable respect.

It was widely said that without Count Bogen’s dedicated guidance, Viscount Grantz wouldn’t have achieved what he had.

But that wasn’t true.

‘That bastard Ransel Grantz dares to seek another teacher?’

Hearing that he was secretly training with a sparring partner, Xanthos Bogen was furious.

Was it pride?

No.

Was it because his student treated him like he didn’t exist?

That played a part, but it wasn’t the real reason.

‘What if this guy gets even stronger?’

Yes.

The Nadan Kingdom’s top prospect, Ransel Grantz, growing even faster.

That was what Xanthos Bogen feared most.

Not that he disliked Ransel Grantz.

If he were born of his blood, he’d likely be prouder and fonder than anyone.

But he was from another family.

And the same age as his son, Imburus Bogen.

That meant the better Ransel performed, the more his son would be compared.

As a child, now, and even when he entered politics as an adult!

‘That can’t happen. If the gap widens further… my son will live in Ransel’s shadow forever.’

Even now, such gazes were common.

Despite starting on similar footing, Imburus Bogen, who hadn’t met expectations, was called disappointing, lazy, or incompetent, breaking his father’s heart.

So, while Xanthos Bogen was Ransel Grantz’s teacher, he subtly restrained and hindered him.

Avoiding him recently under various excuses was part of that.

When he had to face him, he’d exclaim “Aha!” after a few swings, only to see Ransel grow rapidly—three times already.

Each time, he felt regret that Ransel wasn’t his blood and irritation wondering what his son was doing, creating a complex mood.

‘Damn it! My son’s still stuck at mid-level Expert!’

His expression twisted at the thought.

To quell it, he downed half a bottle of liquor and muttered softly.

“No way. I need to go interfere.”

Xanthos Bogen made his decision.

He had already investigated.

According to his subordinates, Ransel Grantz spent the most time with Philip Portville, a provincial sword family patriarch.

“They say he’s also been with a young swordsman named Harang quite a bit.”

“A young swordsman? How old?”

“Barely in his early twenties…”

“Then he’s not worth worrying about, right?”

“But he’s no ordinary guy. They say he’s a prodigy who received a Special Gold Plate from the Mercenary King Austin…”

“What? A Gold Plate? So he’s a Graduate?”

“That’s what the investigation says.”

“Damn it!”

Crack!

The glass he held shattered.

Thanks to his aura, he wasn’t injured, but the table was a mess.

A trembling servant quickly cleaned it up.

Fortunately, Xanthos Bogen’s wrath didn’t erupt.

But he was furious.

His son, over thirty, unmarried, neglecting swordsmanship for gambling, while other young men lived so diligently!

If no one was watching, he’d have shouted.

Of course, that wouldn’t change anything.

Pouring liquor into a new glass, he spoke to his butler.

“Butler, pack my things.”

“You’re going yourself?”

“Yes. No need for attendants. They’re a hassle. I’ll go alone, settle this quickly, and return.”

“By settle, you mean…”

“Do I have to report every detail to you?”

“N-No, sir.”

The butler retreated with a flustered expression.

But he could already guess what Xanthos Bogen would do.

If Philip Portville and Harang were unimpressive, he’d leave them be—useless to Ransel’s growth.

But if they were skilled enough to stimulate Ransel…

‘He’ll find an excuse to cross swords with them.’

And crush them.

Enough to keep them bedridden for six months to a year.

‘He might even force them into retirement.’

It would be a huge loss for the kingdom.

But that didn’t matter.

To Xanthos, his family’s prosperity and his son’s reputation were more important than the kingdom’s glory.

His selfishness might have made him the kingdom’s second-strongest.

And naturally, the butler had no intention of provoking his wrath.

Bowing deeply, he replied politely.

“I’ll prepare immediately.”

“Good. I plan to leave early tomorrow, so make sure there’s no delay.”

Thus began his journey to disrupt Ransel Grantz’s training!

Unfortunately, it hit a snag from the start.

Traveling alone was far more inconvenient than he expected.

Naturally so.

Born noble, he never had to worry about things that plagued him throughout the trip.

Finding lodging.

Choosing restaurants.

Hiring guides.

Even laundry and personal hygiene.

The stress from these trivial matters left him fuming before even meeting Ransel Grantz.

‘I should’ve brought some attendants, damn my impatience!’

Regret was too late.

He’d come too far to turn back.

So, he grudgingly continued his ill-suited solo journey, and days passed.

“Phew!”

And now.

He looked up ahead.

The panorama of the Commercial City Marzen came into view.

“So this is where Ransel Grantz is so fond of those two swordsmen…”

It was larger than expected.

Though a provincial city, its active trade with neighboring countries had clearly prospered it.

‘Then I can expect decent lodging and meal quality, right?’

Nodding, Xanthos Bogen slapped his horse’s rear.

He didn’t expect a magically temperature-controlled shower.

Nor a lavish meal with fine wine.

Just a bath with warm water and one decent main dish would suffice.

With those thoughts, an hour after entering Marzen—

‘Damn it… Why are all the inns fully booked!’

Xanthos Bogen exhaled hotly, furious.

His luck was rotten.

A snowflake festival had started two days ago, drawing travelers and making lodging scarce.

Of course, with his authority and status, he could strong-arm an innkeeper to get a room, but he hesitated.

Though not as much as Ransel Grantz, he was known for his good character and wanted to avoid tarnishing his reputation.

“Why am I wasting time in the outer district instead of the inner district?”

Fuming, the thought of the inner district struck him.

Haha, he laughed.

No need to toil in the outer district when the inner district had upscale buildings.

His haste to travel through small towns had made him forget.

‘Damn it! I’ll never, ever travel alone again!’

Muttering inwardly, he quickened his pace.

Commoners needed qualifications to enter the inner district, but as a high-ranking noble, that didn’t apply to him.

Perhaps the city council would rush to serve him upon hearing of his arrival.

‘That’d be annoying too, so I’ll use a different identity plaque. Maybe visit a high-class brothel to lift my mood, have a drink…’

Thinking of ways to cool his frustration, he saw a kid running toward him.

In the child’s hand was Marzen’s famous snowflake festival milk ice cream.

The problem was, the boy tripped right in front, spilling the ice cream with a splat.

Xanthos Bogen’s pants got cold.

His head, conversely, boiled like a pot.

Barely containing his anger, he grabbed the kid by the collar and lifted him.

“Want to die, brat?”

“Ah, uh, uh…!”

It wasn’t just a glare.

Too angry to care about appearances, a faint aura emanated from him.

To a grown man, it might cause a shudder or hunched shoulders, but to an undeveloped child, it was different.

The boy froze, unable to speak, choking.

This only fueled Xanthos Bogen’s rage.

Constantly dealing with such vermin was beyond annoying.

“Get lost, filthy thing.”

Thud!

Tossing the boy aside with a curse, Xanthos Bogen didn’t even check on him and strode away.

He wanted to reach the inner district, stay at a luxury inn, and relieve his fatigue.

Meeting Ransel Grantz was tomorrow’s task.

But he couldn’t achieve that immediately.

“Stop.”

“…Did you just speak to me?”

“Yes.”

A man holding the child he’d thrown stood in his way.

A youth, barely in his mid-twenties, blocked his path.

“Apologize to the kid.”

“…Ha?”

Not only blocking him but spouting nonsense.

A savage smile spread across Xanthos Bogen’s face.

Vulgar curses naturally spilled from his mouth.

“Crazy bastard.”

He couldn’t hold back anymore.

Nor did he want to.

Stomping deliberately, he unleashed a powerful aura and swung his fist hard.

Not to kill.

But to make him live on gruel forever.

With that thought, wearing an unnoble, vile smile—

Swish-!

“?”

BOOM!

“Urgh…!”

Thud!

The youth swiftly dodged and countered with a punch.

Hagio kicked the unconscious opponent to the street corner, muttering.

“A Graduate acting like such a delinquent…”

He didn’t want to get involved further.

Shaking his head, he comforted the frightened child and returned to the orphanage.

The onlookers, watching the fight, soon lost interest and dispersed.

No one tended to Xanthos Bogen.

He awoke three hours later, as darkness fell.

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