Episode 41: Diverging Dreams (2)
While Jackson Carter was steeling himself for what lay ahead, the knight was plotting his revenge.
“Damn it… Once I get out of here, I won’t let this slide.”
It was infuriating, but the knight knew he couldn’t defeat Jackson Carter with his current skills. Though they were both low-class, Jackson was far stronger than he could ever hope to be. But that didn’t mean there was no way to get back at him.
The Dolphin Viscount family had strong ties with neighboring knightly houses.
“If I leverage the family’s connections… I can bring in two more low-class knights.”
No matter how strong Jackson Carter was, he couldn’t possibly handle three low-class knights at once. Just as the knight was entertaining these thoughts, the tavern door swung open.
A middle-aged man walked in, his expression so rigid it seemed like he might be wearing a mask.
“Ah, Master! G-good evening!”
“Hello, sir!”
At the man’s entrance, Jackson Carter and Sophia Russell quickly bowed, a stark contrast to how they had treated the knights earlier.
“Jackson, were you venting your frustrations on these lowlifes again?”
The middle-aged man asked in a flat, emotionless voice.
“They started it, sir.”
“You probably provoked them. Haven’t I told you countless times not to cause trouble?”
“But I couldn’t just let them off…”
The man stepped closer, his steely gray eyes boring into Jackson Carter. Under the invisible pressure, Jackson began to sweat.
”…I’m sorry.”
“If this happens again, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”
With that, the man approached the knight sprawled on the floor and kicked him in the jaw. The knight groaned, clutching his mouth as his teeth clattered together.
“My name is Jacques Noir.”
The moment the knight heard that name, he forgot his pain, staring at Jacques Noir in shock.
Jacques Noir. A mid-class knight who had suddenly appeared in the Apple Kingdom. His origins were unknown, and he was unaffiliated, working as a free knight, but his skills were undeniable. He was most famous for his duel with the elite knight of the Bluegreen Marquis family.
The Bluegreen Marquis family was a prestigious knightly house representing the Apple Kingdom. The current marquis was one of only three high-class knights in the kingdom. The elite knights trained under such influence were renowned even among mid-class knights.
Jacques Noir had achieved an overwhelming victory against such an elite knight, earning him a reputation as a top-tier mid-class knight.
“If you want revenge, come find me. But I suggest you give up.”
“I-I never had any such impure thoughts!”
No matter how many low-class knights there were, they couldn’t defeat a mid-class knight. Especially not one as exceptional as Jacques Noir.
“Very wise. Now take your trash and get out.”
The knight hurriedly roused his companions and fled the tavern.
Once the situation was resolved, Jacques Noir turned to Jackson Carter.
“I heard some interesting news while wandering the city. The Copperhead Count is hosting a jousting tournament.”
“Yes, Master. I heard about it too.”
“Good. Then you know what to do. Enter the tournament and win.”
The sudden command left Jackson Carter flustered.
“Uh… Just like that?”
“What? Are you not confident?”
“N-no! I am!”
Jackson quickly replied. He knew from experience that his master disliked being questioned.
“What if I don’t win…?”
“You’ve learned swordsmanship directly from me. There’s no way you won’t win such a small tournament.”
The upcoming jousting tournament was hosted by the Copperhead Count, a great noble of the west. Knights from all over the west were gathering to participate. It wasn’t a small event to be dismissed, but Jackson Carter didn’t point that out. He didn’t want to risk his master’s wrath.
“But there’s always a chance… If I don’t win and upset you, Master… Ugh!”
Jacques Noir kicked Jackson Carter in the chest.
“Ugh! Gah!”
Jackson Carter rolled on the floor, unable to breathe properly from the intense pain.
“You’ve become quite talkative since reaching the low-class level. Do you dislike my orders that much?”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
“What did I tell you when I took you as my disciple?”
“To obey your words without question…”
“Good, you remember.”
Jacques Noir looked down at Jackson Carter and continued.
“Remember this. You must win. If you fail, I’ll take back what I’ve taught you.”
Jackson Carter swallowed hard. Taking back his teachings meant something dire. It meant cutting off his limbs or destroying his pressure points so he could never wield a sword again. But more terrifying than that was the thought of being disowned by Jacques Noir.
Jackson Carter had been the first disciple Jacques Noir took in when he appeared in the Apple Kingdom. Jackson had been nothing more than a street thug before. Reaching the low-class level was all thanks to Jacques Noir’s teachings, so defying him was unthinkable.
“I-I’ll definitely win.”
“Of course you will. Now, I’ll go find a carriage for our journey.”
With that, Jacques Noir left the tavern.
“Jackson!”
Sophia Russell rushed to support Jackson Carter. He waved her off, trying to stand on his own.
“I’m fine. I’m okay.”
Jackson staggered to his feet, and Sophia looked at him with concern.
“Even so, kicking you like that out of nowhere! Your master is really too much!”
“You’re the only one who worries about me, Sophia.”
“Jackson…”
The two lovers exchanged a tender look.
“Well, this works out. I was planning to enter the tournament anyway.”
Jackson Carter smirked.
“I’ll follow the master’s orders and take care of Damian Haxen while I’m at it.”
“Yes, that’s a great plan.”
In the tavern, the two lovers found common cause.
A few days later, Damian set off for the Copperhead Count’s estate with Abel.
“Take care, both of you.”
Their father, mother, and sister weren’t accompanying them. The tournament was an event for young nobles, and older nobles felt out of place attending.
“I’m staying at the estate. My fiancé is visiting.”
Louise couldn’t leave because her fiancé was due to visit soon.
“So that guy’s coming.”
Even in his past life, Damian hadn’t liked Louise’s fiancé. He was a typical bookworm, with glasses and a shabby appearance. Louise seemed too good for him.
For this reason, Damian and Abel set off for the Copperhead Count’s estate alone.
“Young master! It’s an honor to serve you again!”
Victor was in charge of driving the carriage. Damian checked on Victor’s condition.
“Are your injuries healed?”
“Yes! I’m perfectly fine now!”
Victor had been seriously injured when he foolishly confronted the knights from the Lionbloom Marquis family. Fortunately, he had recovered quickly thanks to the priests’ healing.
“You seem even more handsome since I last saw you, young master!”
“Stop with the flattery.”
“Ha ha ha, did it show?”
Victor laughed, and Damian chuckled softly. It was good to see him well.
“Let’s get going.”
The carriage set off for the Copperhead Count’s estate.
Inside the carriage, silence reigned. Though they were brothers, Damian and Abel hadn’t spent much time together, so there wasn’t much to talk about.
“Master Abel, may I ask you something?”
Victor, sitting in the driver’s seat, broke the silence. The windows were open, so they could converse easily.
“What do you want to know?”
“How did you come to fall for Lady Copperhead?”
At Victor’s question, Abel’s face turned bright red. He looked like he might jump out of the carriage at any moment.
“Wh-why do you want to know that?”
“It’s a long journey, and we need something to pass the time.”
Just as Abel was about to protest, Damian chimed in.
“Yeah, I’m curious too. Let’s hear it.”
“B-brother!”
“Come on, I’m helping you out with gifts and everything. You can’t tell me?”
“Well, you were the one who…!”
Abel started to argue but stopped, sighing as he continued.
”…It was four years ago.”
Damian listened intently, his curiosity piqued.
“I attended a social gathering with Father, where the western nobles were present.”
Abel had just come of age, so four years ago, he was quite young.
“Lady Olivia was there too. She was a bit older than me, and she seemed so mature.”
Abel’s eyes grew distant, as if he were looking into the past rather than the present.
“She had her chestnut hair braided up, with a sapphire hairpin tucked in. She was wearing an Alizé-style dress, a vibrant shade of scarlet that perfectly complemented her chestnut locks.”
Abel spoke with a dreamy expression.
“She was… truly beautiful.”
Watching Abel’s face, Damian thought to himself, ‘In other words, he’s smitten by her looks.’
He couldn’t believe his brother was such an easy target for love. Damian clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘How am I supposed to help Abel and the young lady get together?’
Damian sifted through his past life’s memories.
During his time as a mercenary, he had gone out of his way to gather information about his family.
‘It’s certain they were lovers. But the count rejected Abel’s proposal.’
It wasn’t just a simple rejection.
“A baronet from the Haxen family? I’ve never even heard of such a lowly house daring to covet my daughter!”
“Who are you? Abel Haxen? Never heard of you!”
“I can’t stand someone who doesn’t know their place! Get out of my sight!”
In the end, Abel had no choice but to part ways with the young lady.
Afterward, she married into another family.
Meanwhile, Abel lived alone for the rest of his life, until he lost his life to Damian.
‘I don’t know how they became lovers in the first place.’
There was a chance they might naturally become a couple again, just like in the past life.
But Damian always prepared for the worst-case scenario.
There was no guarantee everything would unfold exactly as it had before.
After all, many events in this world were the result of coincidental circumstances.
And now, the biggest variable was Damian himself.
‘One thing’s for sure, I need to persuade the count.’
Unfortunately, Damian didn’t know much about Count Copperhead.
However, judging by his brother’s story, he seemed to be a very authoritative figure.
‘I’ll make it happen somehow.’
Damian promised himself as he looked at his brother.