SWNOVELXO Chapter 94: Chapter 94
That afternoon, the creature who had caused such an uproar shamelessly stepped into the castle without a single knock. He moved with his uniquely ominous and leisurely gait.
It was better to save the trouble of finding him than to have him hide secretly, but as he strode up the stairs, Shu couldn't help but feel his judgment twisting. As soon as he descended, he saw Knox smiling blankly, a sight that only intensified Shu's irritation.
Kyle, who was following Shu from behind, looked as if he feared Shu might stumble. As soon as Kyle saw Knox, he bristled. The man, as white as a snowy day in the north, seemed to absorb the very light of the sun and radiate it back with his bright smile, creating a starkly contrasting scene.
"I've never invited you, yet you've found your way here well enough," Shu greeted, his tone far from kind.
Knox merely shrugged at the cold reception. "Don't say anything. I had a hard time coming all this way."
"You almost didn't have to come."
"Ahaha. Didn't you leave without saying hello to come to you?"
"Hahahaha! It can't be! And who didn't say hello? I made it clear enough!" Shu retorted. Oh, I made it clear. I gave him a very unlucky expression and said, 'You can never catch me!'
And he had left Shu's arm in this state. A child like a worm, Shu thought, glaring. A sharp spark flew between Knox and Shu, who both burst into laughter.
Shu glared at him as if he wanted to bore holes through him. The man who was smiling around them seemed to read the intention of Shu's gaze, yet he said nothing, as if daring Shu to try something. It was a provocation that, no matter how Shu looked at it, he couldn't understand.
I'm really… As Shu's anger flared internally, the system's urgent message came to mind.
[(((φ(◎ロ◎;)φ)))]
Why are you so restless?
Just in time, Kyle, who had been instructing the soldiers, came to Shu's side and walked across, as if to shield him. "Tell me your purpose," Kyle said coldly.
Knox smiled suspiciously, glancing at the half-hidden Shu, then shifted his gaze to Kyle. He spoke slowly, almost crawling his words. "I want to negotiate with the lord."
Negotiation. It was the first time Shu realized that it could be such a harsh word. Of course, Knox's attitude in the mine had been far from gentlemanly, but Shu hadn't known he would seek something under the pretext of negotiations, making it all feel pretentious and hypocritical.
Kyle seemed to share Shu's thoughts, frowning for a moment and remaining silent. However, perhaps he decided it would be better to listen to Knox's terms rather than dismiss him outright. He said in a low voice, "Come in."
No one welcomed him, yet Knox bowed as if he had been treated with the utmost sincerity, and smiled. "That's right, Your Highness."
Kyle and Shu sat together at one side of a square table, with Knox on the other. The reception room, not heated in advance, was a little cool and chilly. But it wasn't just the room's temperature; Shu suspected it might also be due to the cold aura emanating from the two powerful men.
As soon as he sat down, Shu asked the system, Is there any information to tell me?
The system thought for a moment and answered.
[Knox, the master of the lawless zone, the white wraith, who conquered the Tower of Frost.] [Born at the end of the world, those who break the rules.]
No, not that. I told you that before. You have to give me something new. Why repeat what I already know?
[Knox. Male, □□□ years old, nationality unknown.]
Why is the age compartment like this? You don't mean that you have lived for more than a hundred years, right? Shu thought. …It was strangely convincing. I don't think my age is normal either. Hey, you were so suspicious and weird from head to toe.
"Hmm." After a moment of silence, it was Knox who spoke first. He glanced at Shu with interest before opening his mouth. It seemed he noticed that Shu and the system were having a fierce, silent conversation.
"I did you a favor by disabling your limbs and sparing you. By the way, the kid ran away, so I don't think it makes sense." Knox leaned back comfortably, stretching. His words flowed out so lazily that Shu could almost feel the disdain. "I don't want to make this problem too big. So, if you quietly pay the 'unpaid value,' I won't ask for anything else."
As soon as he heard the expression "unpaid price," a vein throbbed in Kyle's forehead. Shu felt the strength in Kyle's grip on his lap, so he quickly reached out and gently rubbed the back of Kyle's hand. Let's calm down, calm down, Kyle.
Of course, that didn't mean Shu was going to tolerate that damn wizard. "Find faith and reason among us? I guess he lived so long that he lost his mind, what?" Shu scoffed.
"Ahahaha. You are ruthless to laughing adults," Knox chuckled, resting his elbows on the table, bending down slightly, and whispering, "By the way, how did he know that I had lived for a long time?"
"You just told me."
"You've become more adept at puns." Knox's blue eyes flashed dangerously. Shu stiffened instinctively, as if standing in front of a wild beast.
Fortunately, as soon as he realized Shu was nervous, Kyle stepped in. "You have entered our home. The fact that I haven't killed you is favor enough. It means you can see that. I don't want to give in to even ridiculous demands." There was no mercy or room in Kyle's blunt voice, and he sounded arrogant. "I show no mercy twice."
"Well, that's strange." Knox tilted his head as if he truly didn't understand. "Didn't the Grand Duke definitely fall behind me? In a one-on-one duel."
However, Kyle did not respond to his provocation. "Things have changed now. You are one, and we are not one."
"I didn't think he'd be a stupid author, but I'm sorry. Do you think he came in here alone without any defense?" It was a subtle threat. In fact, he hadn't brought any monsters or wizards with him. Even so, it was true that he would cause considerable trouble if he started going on a rampage here.
Of course, Kyle didn't blink an eye. Shu heard an indomitable answer. "The North has always weathered crises. This time is no different."
However, Shu's position was a little different. If this negotiation ended badly, Shu was at a disadvantage the more it escalated. A moment ago, Knox had said that he came this far because Shu ran away. Shu had raised his voice evenly. There was no way that the knights and soldiers guarding the other side of the gate hadn't heard him.
True to Kyle's words, the North had always faced crises, and it had survived them in style. But at the same time, the North did not forget its grudges. If the people of the territory knew that their next crisis was because of Shu, would they not resent him? What was worse was that Shu wouldn't end up being scolded alone. The more Kyle tried to protect him, the less trust the lord would command in an all-out war with Knox.
…It's enough for me to leave, but it's something Kyle can't do.
"What if I follow him?" Shu suggested.
Let's go in. Isn't it a place to talk about? But Kyle slammed the table and stood up.
"Shu!" The burning gaze turned to Shu, not Knox, this time. Kyle's red eyes were rocking like a sailboat in turbulent waters. Shu knew what he was trying to say. If Kyle were kind to him, he would definitely say this: You don't have to do this.
"..."
Kyle wanted Shu to be happy. As much as Shu wished him happiness. No, perhaps even more so. As such, Kyle hoped that his world would not become a shackle to Shu. He just took care of Shu wholeheartedly, hoping that it would be Shu's little haven as he struggled to overturn his death. It was Kyle's love to be a home for someone.
So it wasn't Kyle's job to put Shu in danger to protect this world. Even if it would be a forsaking of the land that Kyle had spent his life building. One day, he had said to Shu, who regretted the past, "You can't do everything." The words he gave Shu when he couldn't help Belial were both indifferent and kind. "People can't be the best at every moment. Besides, you are not of this world, aren't you?"
So even if Shu pretended not to know here, because of him, the Wizard of the Lawless Zone—even if they collided head-on with the North—Kyle would not blame Shu. He would help Shu with all his might.
Of course, that didn't mean Shu had any intention of relying on that favor. No matter how much the 'three' in the novel said yes, Shu was already sincere to this world, to Kyle. He was too deeply invested to use Kyle, take advantage moderately, and then ask for protection. No. It was natural to want to give back as much as he had received.
"Think about it, Knox," Shu said.
Knox was silent. It was an attitude that seemed to tell Shu to continue.
"I can disappear anytime, somehow. You will be angry with the North as it is, even so, it means that there is no income. I'm going to run away again."
"Hmm."
"Things have changed. I don't really like not getting what I want and looking around. I think, then at least I don't need a suitable reason not to run away, right?" Shu returned what Knox had said in the most relaxed tone possible. "You're here to 'negotiate,' right? Wizard nobleman."
"..."
Kyle was looking at Shu with a complicated expression, but as always, he did not reverse his feelings or stop Shu from talking.
"I will cooperate with you over the Grand Duke who only I know, or at least follow me quietly. If you want to stay in your lab, you'll have to pay for it again. Now, with a new value that can satisfy me."
"..."
"Because we are not made up of faith and reason."
"Oh." Knox smiled brightly and dropped his lips. "That's clever."
Was it because of Shu's mood? It sounded like he wanted to kill him.