I’m Looking for the Male Lead for the Ending - Chapter 24

Chapter 13.1

“What are you doing over there, Captain?”

Half leaning against the wall, Ban asked his superior, who was gazing down at the courtyard of the stadium. His superior, also the sole Grand Duke of the Empire Arbonis, Estieren, narrowed his eyes and replied.

“It seems like I’ve found the brooch thief.”

“A brooch thief?”

Upon hearing that, he quickly moved beside him and stuck his head out. Despite the fact that there was a person standing under the large oak tree at the back of the stadium, they didn’t appear to be a brooch thief.

Ban, looking puzzled, glanced around and asked.

“Where is the thief? I can’t see it.”

Estieren sighed deeply in Ban’s direction.

“Even someone standing still is hard to see, and you expect me to believe you saw a black crow with those eyes of yours?”

“You can’t even see a person standing still. Can you even see the sword flying through those eyes?”

As he spoke teasingly, Ban’s face became sullen.

“…I’ve said this many times, but if it weren’t for Captain’s impressive swordsmanship, I’m sure you would’ve died with a scream.”

“As I always say, challenges are always welcome, Ban.”

In response to that remark, Ban cleared his throat loudly and pursed his lips as if he didn’t hear his superior’s words.

“Anyway, I’m not kidding. I truly don’t see any thief, so where on earth could they be?”

When he asked again, it was then that Estieren pointed to the woman standing in the courtyard with his eyes. Ban, who followed his gaze and turned his head once more, let out an incredulous chuckle.

“Her? Are you talking about that person?”

“Do you know her?”

“Is there anyone in Arbonis who doesn’t know her?”

As Estieren’s head tilted as if he found the question incredulous with an expression that seemed to ask as if there was someone in front of him in Arbonis who didn’t know, Ban cleared his throat and added his words in response to the piercing gaze.

“I knew that the Captain wasn’t interested in women, but I never thought you wouldn’t even know about her.”

“….”

“Seeing this, it makes me think that Randolph was so worried about the Captain’s marriage…”

“I think I said it a few days ago, Ban.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your tongue seems quite long. If you want, I can cut it off for you.”

Seeing Estieren, who smiled while placing his hand on the sword at his waist, Ban quickly stepped back a few paces. In truth, distancing himself this much wouldn’t make him safe from his superior’s skilled swordplay, but at least it eased his mental state.

Then, he hurriedly spoke before the sword could come flying towards him.

“Anyway, I don’t know why you’re making such a misunderstanding, but that woman isn’t the brooch thief. The Captain must have misunderstood something.”

“Why?”

Looking at Estieren, who seemed genuinely curious, he answered as if it were obvious.

“Baltic Mountain is near the border and rough, making it impossible for an ordinary noblewoman to climb. Moreover, during our training, the wizard belonging to the order of knights, Rev, was standing guard nearby. Yet, there’s no magical presence, so it’s unlikely that she infiltrated using magic stones or scrolls.”

“….”

“Moreover, if she wishes, she’s someone who can have jewelry much finer than Captain’s brooch, like a mountain of treasures. So why would she bother coming all the way to the Baltic Mountain to steal Commander’s brooch?”

“The story is going in circles, Ban. So, who is this woman?”

“She’s the daughter of the Marquis Aidelis, known as the flower of Arbonis.”

Estieren, who was narrowing his eyes as if the answer was unexpected, smiled and raised the corners of his mouth.

“I haven’t heard any rumors about the Marquis’s daughter being a witch.”

“W, witch? Did you just say she’s a witch?”

“Don’t people usually call a woman who achieves seemingly impossible things a witch?”

“She’s a nymph, a nymph! She’s not some witch, but she’s called a nymph because of her beautiful appearance!”

Despite Ban’s exclamation, delivered with a forceful shout, Estieren whirled around.

“Well, it doesn’t matter whether you are a witch or a nymph. The important thing is that now that I know where it is, I need to get it back.”

“So, how many times do I have to tell you… It can’t possibly be the Captains…”

Ban, as if tired of repeating the same words, fell silent after a dry sigh. He decided that from now on, he would no longer care about whatever the man in front of him said. After all, there was no way for him to reach a closed-off superior who had already closed his ears.

“Think whatever you please. Well, I’m not even the Marquis’s person…”

“Then, now that I know where the brooch is, I have to go get it back.”

“Yes?”

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