Chapter 227: 227 is about to get chaotic.
"Back to the capital?"
At that moment, not only did Yuri freeze, but so did Marilyn.
Did they hear that right?
Was Reiger planning to return to the capital?
"Didn’t you just reject Lord Charlero’s summons yesterday, declaring that you wouldn’t go back to the capital?" Yuri furrowed her beautiful brows and said, "Have you changed your mind?"
Could it be that Reiger wanted to accept the kingdom’s title and become a noble?
This... seemed somewhat understandable.
After all, it was about becoming a noble, and ordinarily, one would not expect anyone to refuse such an offer.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that 99.99 percent of the people in this world are extremely eager to become nobles, to be part of the privileged class. Those who truly do not wish to be nobles and prefer to be ordinary people are a minority within a minority.
Reiger, who had come from the countryside to the big city in pursuit of a title, to chase the opportunity to become a noble, would have been unusual to refuse one, right?
Just as Yuri had come to that realization, she heard Reiger say this.
"Indeed, I have changed my mind a bit," Reiger said. "However, it’s not that I wish to become a noble or accept a title from the kingdom, but rather that I see no need to continue skulking and hiding like this."
Previously, because it was his first contact with the world’s elite, Reiger had always had an instinctive rejection.
He did not want to repeat the mistakes of his previous life, did not want to step back into that deceitful circle, and considering that there seemed to be Heretic Assassins watching him with a national power behind them, Reiger decided, after much deliberation, to go with the flow for now, standing pat and just follow Yuri around for the time being.
But as it turned out, even by doing that, when someone with intentions has you in their thoughts, whether willing or not, you still find yourself involuntarily involved in the vortex of conspiracy and trickery.
Even in the Genas Kingdom, while they may not trouble you outright, they might still be scheming in the dark to secure you—a rare talent of a Swordsman and Tactical Level Magician—firmly within the kingdom, and make you loyal to them.
To such a situation, Yuri’s suggestion was to become a Sword Saint.
As long as you become a Sword Saint, possessing the power that would make the royal family hesitate to move against you, weighing whether offending you was worth it, then you could save a lot of trouble.
Reiger agreed with Yuri’s suggestion.
Because he was very clear that strength was the fundamental factor that made all those petty figures retreat.
Just like the Loki Familia, as one of the strongest families in Orario, within the entire Earth Mistake World, there were hardly any who dared to offend it.
Just like Tsukiguni Yoriichi, strong like a demon god, inducing fear in the desperate hearts of many, even Kibutsuji Muzan was terrified, seeing Yoriichi as a lifelong psychological shadow, not even daring to appear before him.
If one had sufficient strength, then not just the Genas Kingdom, but no country on the Akasha continent could afford to take lightly the consequences that Reiger might bring with his calculations.
Now, Reiger felt there was no longer a need to avoid those so-called conspiracies and tricks, to avoid the capital, to avoid the royal family.
He had always been fearless, and while he despised deceit, making him afraid of it was another matter entirely.
In half a year wandering the Demon Slayer World, Reiger found his true self again.
He was here to keep moving forward!
He was here to live a life of freedom!
Even if there were many obstacles ahead, making him stumble and bleed, what of it?
This time, he could no longer drift passively with the flow; he should strive with his own power for the life he wanted!
For this, even if it meant death, he would have no regrets!
That’s why Reiger no longer planned to keep evading.
"If this country were to become the prison that binds me, then I would have no choice but to break it," Reiger stated, gazing at Yuri.
"The capital, since there are so many people hoping for my return, why not go back?"
"Let’s all have a clash,"
"And see who has the last laugh."
Reiger’s declaration was very calm, yet detached, with an indescribable power suffusing it that exuded a subtle sense of oppression.
"You..."
Yuri looked at Reiger like this, and for a moment she was taken aback.
"......"
Marilyn’s eyes trembled as she looked at Reiger, her expression shifting.
Both of them were looking at Reiger, feeling that the Reiger of this moment seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
It couldn’t be helped, for this was the first time Reiger had revealed his true nature before these two.
If it were people from the Loki Familia present here, upon seeing Reiger like this, they would only think—"This is the Reiger we know."
The man who in the underground city dared to charge at a higher-ranked Crocodile Dragon while vomiting blood; the man who faced an unknown female monster and kept standing up again and again, swinging his sword to attack; who seemed both a ferocious warrior and a fearless hero—that was the Reiger Brillhaut they knew in their hearts.
"Tomorrow, I’ll start my journey back to the capital," Reiger said with a smile to Yuri.
"You’ll support my decision, won’t you?"
Upon hearing this, Yuri fell silent.
She was silent for a long while, seemingly lost in thought.
Reiger was not in a hurry, just sitting there quietly, waiting for Yuri’s response.
For a long while, Yuri sighed deeply.
"You’ve already decided, haven’t you?"
It seemed Yuri was seeking one final confirmation.
"Yes."
Reiger’s words were succinct, showing no intention of elaboration.
"Alright." Yuri nodded promptly, smiled faintly, and said, "If that’s the case, then go and do it."
At her words, Reiger smiled once more.
"Thank you."
In the office, the sound of Reiger’s gratitude echoed.
The fragrance and heat of the tea spread, offering a hint of warmth.
......
Before long, Reiger left.
Seemingly not wanting to disturb Yuri’s work, Reiger made only brief small talk before bidding her farewell.
Watching Reiger depart, Yuri found herself unable to focus on the sheets of parchment on her desk, her mind far from her work.
"Is this really okay, Miss?" Marilyn asked in a soft voice, "If Master Reiger returns to the capital, it might not be so easy for him to leave again."
"I know," Yuri replied, her face expressionless, "But since he has made up his mind, naturally, I have no reason to stop him."
"...Aren’t you worried, Miss?" Marilyn paused before adding, "From the look of Master Reiger, it seems he has no plans to accept the kingdom’s grant. And the kingdom will certainly not be pleased to see talent like his being solicited by another country. This could lead to an unresolvable conflict between the two parties."
To Marilyn, this seemed far too dangerous.
Indeed, Marilyn didn’t believe Reiger had the capability to contend with the kingdom.
She was unaware that Reiger was no longer the same man he had been just a day prior.
If Reiger possessed the strength of a Sword Saint, he might be able to face off against the people of the capital with the support of the Fränzel family.
But in Marilyn’s view, Reiger was at best a seasoned Swordsman, a level of skill that, while not common on the streets of the capital, was not particularly rare either.
Even if Reiger was also a Tactical Level Magician, what of it?
Yuri, too, was a Strategist Level Magician, and yet she still had to make compromises before the nation, didn’t she?
Without sufficient power, those in the capital might give some consideration to the Fränzel family backing Reiger, but not to the point of letting him do whatever he wanted.
If Reiger was not careful and caused too much of a stir, the Fränzel family might not even be able to protect him.
Thus, Marilyn felt that their Miss should not have let him leave.
Keeping him here, under the protection of the Fränzel family so he could grow, would have been the most advantageous course of action for him.
Yet, Yuri had indulged Reiger.
"He is not my subordinate," Yuri glanced at Marilyn with a wry smile, "Do you think like everyone else that he belongs to me?"
Marilyn lowered her head, not speaking.
She did indeed think so.
After all, Reiger was not only a seasoned Swordsman but also a Tactical Level Magician.
Such a valuable talent had preemptively formed a good relationship with their Miss. To not pull him into the Fränzel household would be a waste of a golden opportunity.
Marilyn even wondered if Yuri was fostering and nurturing Reiger as her little lover.
Knowing her Miss so well, Marilyn couldn’t possibly imagine Yuri marrying someone of noble birth in the future.
This Miss would likely have to find a man she found agreeable to keep at home, personally cultivating him so she could end her bachelorette life.
With such thoughts in mind, Reiger naturally became Yuri’s man in Marilyn’s eyes.
Even if he wasn’t a subordinate, he was a man she had raised personally – definitely a win on her part.
And yes, Marilyn did find that quite irksome.
Unaware of Marilyn’s thoughts, Yuri simply spoke indifferently.
"I never intended to make him ’my person,’ I regard him as my only friend," Yuri said, "Moreover, with his personality, once he has made a decision, even if I intervened, he wouldn’t compromise."
One could tell just by looking into Reiger’s eyes.
They blazed with an endless fire, as if ready to incinerate any obstacle in his way. No matter how calm and indifferent his expression, the fierce determination within could not be masked.
This seemingly composed man harbored a wild beast in his heart, and Yuri had no intention of standing before it as it sought to break free, lest she be devoured.
"Go prepare the carriage and the ships."
Yuri made her decision.
"Tomorrow, we will set out with him."
Her definitive command silenced all of Marilyn’s forthcoming cautions.
"...Yes."
Marilyn quietly accepted the order, silently murmuring to herself,
"The capital is going to be in chaos."