Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 170
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“Everything’s going mad in every direction.”
Lucian muttered in distaste.
It was almost enough to make his nickname, “Mad Lucian,” seem undeserved.
Why should he be considered the mad one in the face of all this? By any measure, he was the most sensible. He was the only one who seemed sane.
The man who summarily executed a foreign noble by beheading him was clearly mad, but he wasn’t the only one.
Is everyone around Adeline Bertrand completely insane?
There was Edwin, who detained Brubewein’s princess without evidence.
Genevieve, the Saintess, who silenced the church to cooperate.
The Bertrand family, who pressured the Senate alongside Blanchard.
And even Lloyd, who was sulking because they hadn’t told him, resulting in him locking up his own master.
The second son of the Bertrand family had, through the merchant guild Lucian managed, been applying financial pressure on the Kingdom of Brubewein for over a month.
And that wasn’t all. Judging by the Crown Prince’s momentum, it looked like Brubewein would soon vanish from the map, with Shane Blanchard leading the charge.
How long could that weak and small kingdom last?
Even a fight between a child and an adult wouldn’t be as one-sided as this.
And it wasn’t because they’d kidnapped the Saintess—it was because Adeline had gotten entangled.
Maybe it’s time to wash my hands of this and leave.
Initially, it had been out of simple curiosity, a bit of interest, and a reluctant sense of loyalty, as if he wanted to see things through to the end.
Pride played a part too—a feeling of defeat for not having figured out what that small mind was hiding, and a lingering grudge from the betrayal of standing alone in an empty hideout five years ago.
But pride alone wasn’t enough to endure this unfavorable environment. What he was doing couldn’t be exposed to daylight. Just being under Edwin and Shane’s watch was a strain in itself.
He had already made preparations to move his base. He had considered taking Adeline along if she wanted to escape, but judging by the current state of things, it was clear he would not be granted even the leisure of a peaceful death if he were to try the stunt.
Even someone like Lucian had his limits when surrounded by so many who’d lost their minds.
You only live once, and while he would sacrifice his life for excitement, he wasn’t a fool who couldn’t make obvious calculations.
Lucian glanced at Lloyd, who lay unconscious on the bed.
A knight of the imperial guard had abruptly drawn his sword and attacked. Even if Lloyd had been on guard, the difference in skill would have been significant. Lucian had never taught Lloyd how to fight head-on with another person.
The sword that had aimed for his heart narrowly missed and pierced his shoulder instead.
The priest said he’d lost a dangerous amount of blood. The external wounds were healed, but the blood loss was another matter, and he’d need to regain consciousness first if survival was to be discussed.
Lloyd’s usual cocky expression hid it well, but with his face pale and eyes closed, it was clear he was still just a seventeen-year-old boy.
Just days earlier, the boy, who had nearly lost his master for the first time in his life, had burst with frustration, his face ashen.
He had complained that while he had delivered the antidote, he hadn’t thought about what it might be used for. He’d even questioned Lucian, asking if he knew anything else, though if Lucian had known, he’d have long since left Delmuz.
But at the same time, he’d thanked him, saying that the antidote Lucian had provided had saved Adeline’s life.
It seemed Adeline had taught him that apologies and gratitude were essential.
“I can’t understand how we ended up being the most sane ones here.”
Had Lloyd been awake, he would have retorted, “Don’t lump us together. That’s creepy.”
But Lloyd still lay there with his eyes closed.
