Chapter 143

Fishing Was Never Ihan’s Thing

Ihan had almost no experience with fishing, whether in his past life or his current one.

‘It was always an expensive hobby.’

Fishing was surprisingly costly. Not just the rod and equipment but renting a boat and covering fuel costs all added up. To Ihan, it was a luxury hobby, and his opinion hadn’t changed in this world.

If anything, fishing in this world seemed even more extravagant.

“…So, this is a private fishing area… no, an exclusive fish farm?”

“Yes! You see, fishing in regular rivers or lakes often leads to encounters with monsterized fish, which can attack or even eat you. That’s why nobles build their own fish farms. But only the truly wealthy can afford something like this—the maintenance, the upkeep, and the initial construction costs are astronomical.”

“……”

“Is fishing really that fun? I don’t understand why anyone would go to such lengths just to fish.”

“…Neither do I.”

Even as he answered, Ihan was left speechless.

This has to be the pinnacle of extravagance.

‘This is seawater, right?’

The unmistakable scent of the ocean, something even an average person could recognize, wafted through the air. And then…

“…Is that a sea bream?”

He spotted fish species that belonged in the ocean: red sea bream, black sea bream, squid, octopus, and even…

Splash!

“Wow, a shark!”

“……”

…Yes, even sharks.

Ihan quickly realized that this enormous lake was an artificial “ocean,” and the revelation left him utterly dumbfounded.

‘I’d bet anything this is the only artificial sea in existence.’

No matter how extravagant other nobles’ fish farms were, nothing could compare to this.

Not just the artificial sea itself but the sheer variety of marine life—it was clear that many had been directly transported from the ocean.

‘Gold coins must be melting by the second….’

The thought of how much money it would take to maintain this artificial sea, with its extraordinary features, already made Ihan feel drained.

But as if to prove there was more to overwhelm him…

“Welcome, milady.”

“Oh, it’s Elza!”

The fish farm—or rather, the fishing site—was bustling with servants.

There were at least a hundred maids and butlers present, along with knights and soldiers scattered about.

It was reminiscent of the staff aboard a high-end luxury cruise from his previous life, except every single one of them was here for the sake of one person.

“Hm, the number of servants seems a bit low today.”

“His Highness dislikes having too many people moving around unnecessarily.”

“Well, yeah, it does feel excessive to have two or three hundred people every time.”

“Still, considering His Highness’s status, I believe twice that number would be more appropriate.”

“Eh, that’s a bit much.”

“Hoho, is that so?”

“…What is this insane conversation?”

Ihan found this side of Irene unfamiliar.

It was like seeing your next-door neighbor suddenly summon a private jet, claiming it was their personal vehicle.

‘Once again, I’m reminded….’

That life truly wasn’t fair, Ihan thought, shaking his head in resignation.

A Familiar Face

After passing dozens of servants, Ihan was greeted by a familiar face.

“…You’re here.”

“……”

A man whose youthful, handsome appearance made it hard to believe he was in his fifties. Yet behind that facade was a cunning politician and one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom.

That man greeted him warmly.

“It’s been half a year, Sir Ihan.”

“…Why go to the trouble of greeting me personally?”

“Well, as the host, it’s only proper to show some courtesy, don’t you think?”

“…Your ‘courtesy’ has all your men glaring daggers at me.”

“They’re simply overly loyal. Try to understand.”

“……”

The duke’s polite reception caused Ihan to break into a rare cold sweat.

‘Even if I try to understand, I can feel their glares piercing my entire body….’

From the moment the duke greeted him, Ihan was met with the overpowering presence of a hundred knights and soldiers, their sharp gazes fixed on him.

For a fleeting moment, a thought crossed Ihan’s mind:

‘Wouldn’t it be wise to escape now while I still can?’

+++++

Blake Vivian de Galahad, Duke of Galahad

The sole duke of the kingdom. The kingdom’s finest swordsman. The greatest heir of the cursed sword. The most illustrious Galahad in history.

The list of grandiose titles attached to his name was nothing short of dazzling.

He was the noble among nobles—a man so influential that rumors claimed a single conversation with him could change one’s life.

“Some fools go bankrupt just for the chance to speak with this man, don’t they?”

Recalling a rumor he’d learned unintentionally, Ihan scratched his cheek.

True or not, being face-to-face with such a monumental figure felt nothing short of suffocating.

For others, it might be a moment of envy, but for Ihan…

“Hah, I’d rather just go home, eat, and sleep.”

…It was nothing but a tedious waste of time.

The Duke’s Observant Nature

“You seem to be entertaining some irreverent thoughts.”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Don’t lie. Your expressions are as transparent as glass.”

“……”

“You’re thinking strange thoughts again, aren’t you? Rest assured, I’m not reading your mind.”

“…Did you learn mind-reading, by chance?”

“Haha! If only such a skill existed. Sadly, no—I’m simply telling you that your face is exceptionally easy to read.”

“…I see.”

It seemed like everyone Ihan met had the same comment for him.

That his face was easy to read.

‘Should I start wearing a mask?’

Before his mind could wander too far, the duke personally guided him forward.

“Come, have a seat.”

“…?”

Before Ihan could even question why the duke himself was acting as his host, his attention was stolen by the opulent sight in front of him.

Splash!

Divers—no, pearl divers—were hauling up seafood. Spiny lobsters, clams, shrimp, and other crustaceans filled their baskets, while…

“That’s a big one.”

…a solid gold fishing rod reeled in an enormous tuna, creating a surreal spectacle.

‘If the old man from The Old Man and the Sea saw this, he’d feel utterly cheated.’

Having been moved by the old man’s desperate struggle with a marlin in that book, Ihan found this scene utterly ridiculous.

Tuna, casually fished out of a private lake? In what world did rivers house tuna?

“Tuna, is it? Have you had it before?”

“Well, maybe once?”

“Hoho, it must have been hard to come by in the inland regions. Good to hear you’ve tried it. Then you won’t hesitate to eat it. Steward.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Prepare it for serving.”

“As you command.”

The steward, an elderly man, took the 300-kilogram tuna handed to him by the duke as if it weighed nothing.

‘Not your average butler, huh?’

Clearly, this man had mastered aura techniques. Then again, considering where they were…

‘Does everyone here know aura techniques?’

It wasn’t just the steward. Every maid, servant, and attendant in the Galahad household exuded an imposing presence.

‘At minimum, they’re equivalent to junior knights.’

As for the soldiers stationed here, they were easily capable of holding their own against a hundred men each. They could likely receive knighthood in any province without much effort.

And the knights themselves?

‘They rival the upper echelon of the Crimson Eagles.’

These were individuals who could stand toe-to-toe with the elite of Tristan’s order, meaning the Galahad household had an overwhelming surplus of talent capable of becoming vice-captains or even captains of knight orders.

‘The so-called White Lions of the royal family look like fluffy white kittens compared to this.’

The difference in level was staggering.

To put it in Taechang’s terms: while the royal family’s forces barely scraped by at Level 4, Galahad’s were comfortably at Level 6.

And if Taechang’s analogy about levels held true—that the difference between one level was like the gap between a sparrow and an eagle…

‘If not for Baltar, the royal family would’ve been overthrown by now.’

It wouldn’t be surprising if the kingdom’s name changed from Pendragon to Galahad someday.

Ihan now fully understood why a certain woman harbored such intense wariness toward Galahad.

With such power concentrated in one family, it was only natural for the royal family to feel uneasy.

A Feast Fit for Nobles

“The food is ready. Please, help yourself.”

“……”

“Tuna and other seafood delicacies like carpaccio and ceviche are rare in the inland regions. You should try them while you have the chance.”

“…It looks delicious, but this setting is… a bit overwhelming.”

Despite the tantalizing spread of freshly prepared tuna and seafood, Ihan couldn’t bring himself to feel hungry.

For good reason.

“Understandable. It’s their excessive loyalty.”

The more the duke showed him kindness, the more the Galahad servants glared daggers at Ihan.

Eating under such circumstances seemed impossible.

“…Eating in this kind of environment is ridiculous… Oh, wait, the food’s going down just fine.”

“…Ever the nonchalant one.”

To Ihan’s surprise, the food was incredibly delicious, and he devoured the sashimi without hesitation, ignoring the glares around him.

‘So this is what tuna is supposed to taste like!’

For the record, the only tuna Ihan had ever eaten before was from all-you-can-eat buffets. This was his first time experiencing fresh tuna, and he couldn’t stop himself from eating.

Some might have found his behavior embarrassing in front of the duke, but…

“Our instructor eats so heartily, doesn’t he?”

[Men shouldn’t pick at their food. They should eat like that—like real men!]

…To the besotted mage chick and the cheerful ghost girl watching from the sidelines, Ihan’s appetite was nothing short of endearing.

+++++

"It's Tea. It’ll Help with Digestion."

“My digestion’s fine, actually. I’d rather have more cake. It was delicious.”

“…Would you like me to pack some for you to take home?”

“Even better. Thank you, Steward.”

“Haha….”

Despite Ihan’s brazen request, the steward only hesitated briefly before nodding, seemingly caught off guard yet oddly charmed. Perhaps it was Ihan’s blend of audacity and courtesy that prevented him from coming across as rude.

“…You must be quite popular with adults,” remarked Duke Blake Galahad.

The duke had hardly touched his food, yet here was Ihan, who had devoured enough seafood for twenty people and still had room for cake and fruit. It was a sight both baffling and impressive.

“I have a picky palate and usually avoid food made by others, but your household’s cooking suits me perfectly. The chef is incredibly skilled.”

“…The head chef will be delighted to hear that.”

Ihan lied through his teeth without so much as a blink. He wasn’t picky in the slightest. Having lived as a slave, mercenary, and soldier, he’d long since learned to eat whatever was available.

But his praise for the food was genuine.

‘The best meal of my life.’

That included his past life as well.

‘Money and power really do let you eat well, no matter the era.’

It was a meal so luxurious that Ihan doubted he’d ever experience it again on his budget.

Having been treated so generously, Ihan decided it was time to cut to the chase.

The Favor

“So, what is it you want from me, Duke? You wouldn’t go to such lengths without a reason.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Come on, Duke. There’s no way you’d offer me such an extravagant meal without expecting something in return. I can’t help but wonder why you’re being so generous.”

“Hm, could it not simply be that I enjoy your company and wanted to share a meal with you?”

“Yeah, no. That’s not it. There’s absolutely no way you’d summon me just for that.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Well, you remind me of the power players I’ve dealt with before.”

“…Are you presuming to evaluate me?”

“Not at all, just an observation.”

Ihan shrugged nonchalantly.

He wasn’t so ill-mannered as to outright offend someone who had treated him to a fine meal, but he also saw no harm in pushing a bit.

“Powerful people are always polite when they want something. From what I can tell, you want something from me, Duke.”

“……”

“If I’m wrong, feel free to correct me.”

After all, today, Ihan felt less like the subordinate and more like the one in control.

“…You’re surprisingly perceptive for someone who doesn’t look the part.”

“…What exactly about me doesn’t look the part?”

“Haha.”

“I’m being serious.”

“Well, I must admit, I’ve been in a bit of a rush.”

The duke seemed to reflect on his own behavior, acknowledging that he’d been less composed than usual.

Then, he spoke.

The Duke’s Request

“You’re right. I have three requests. Two of them are optional, but the third… I’d really like you to agree to it.”

“…?”

“…That young Heretic Inquisitor girl you’ve been keeping. Pierre, was it?”

“……”

“I’d like you to hand her over to me.”

“……”

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Duke, please take a moment to reflect on your own words.”

“Hmm? What’s so strange about them?”

“……”

Did he not realize how criminal his request sounded?

Ihan was momentarily speechless but locked eyes with the duke, and in that instant, he understood.

‘Ah… this guy’s a little unhinged too.’

Between Loen’s intensity and the duke’s composed demeanor, Ihan couldn’t help but wonder:

‘Why does everyone talk about killing her in such sweet terms?’

Sigh…

‘Poor Red, what a cursed life.’

Perhaps, in some twisted way, this could be considered popularity.

A Deadly Love Triangle

It was, without a doubt, shaping up to be the kind of love triangle where murder wasn’t out of the question.