Lord of Rot

"I am Kunber Aix," the young nobleman smiled. "I’ve heard your story, Divine Favored."

Kunber Aix, the only son and heir of Red Heart Castle.

"I never thought my reputation would reach Red Heart Castle," Leech said with a nod, by way of greeting.

His voice sounded familiar. Leech suddenly remembered—this was the black-robed man who had sold him the Poisonous Touch curio. ’To think he’s so unremarkable under that mask.’

"I’m interested in any story, any legend."

Kunber didn’t seem to notice Leech’s lack of interest. He stood beside Leech, a glass of wine in hand, and watched Stacy, who was surrounded by admirers, from afar. "My father and mother ordered me to pursue Miss Stacy."

’Just as I expected,’ Leech thought.

The motto of the Soft Rice Clan was quite famous, as they were related by blood and marriage to the vast majority of the old noble families on the continent.

Family motto: Walk with a cane.

’Looks like the heir of the new generation has started looking for his own cane.’

"But I’m more interested in you," Kunber said, looking at Leech.

Leech immediately shied away. "Apologies, Sir Aix. I respect your preferences, but I don’t have that kind of hobby."

"You’ve misunderstood," Kunber Aix quickly explained. "I’m just very interested in your experiences. According to my investigations, many magical things have been happening on the Lu Leiyi Continent, and many strange creatures have appeared throughout the kingdom. For example, Fishmen have appeared in Linta Bay. Perhaps you could tell me about the strange events in Porcupine Territory? Oh, and that business about you dying and coming back to life—the blessing of the Four Gods! How astonishing."

’Strange events in Porcupine Territory?’

’The Necromancer in the crypt? The Red-haired Giant Bear? The earth-dwellers? The Griffin? The fact that I reanimate corpses and control them? That there’s a huge underground city in the crypt on the cape, with a hairy monster inside whose head can touch the ceiling?’

If Leech didn’t want to be branded a heretic, tied to a stake, and burned alive, then it was best not to say a word.

"My apologies," Leech said. "This is a ball. You should be speaking with some of the beautiful young ladies."

Unlike Leech, some of the noble ladies recognized Kunber Aix and were gazing over eagerly, hoping to share a dance with him, capture his heart, and become the future Baroness of Red Heart Castle.

But they were doomed to be disappointed. The men of Red Heart Castle were the ones who married into wealth, not the other way around.

"You’re right," Kunber Aix said resignedly, seeing that Leech was unwilling to talk. "I should go try and ask Miss Stacy for a dance. But if we have the chance in the future, we can chat again."

"I wish you success," Leech said calmly.

Leech was alone again. He was quite relaxed. A ball should be this leisurely. Besides, no one would pay any mind to a country baron.

While others were singing and dancing, Leech calmly studied the food, searching for any culinary merits Green Forest Castle might have.

Just as he was debating whether honey lemonade should become his designated summer drink, a clear voice sounded from beside him.

"I’m very sorry about last time. I disturbed your reading, which was very rude of me."

Leech turned, and his eyes lit up.

The young woman wore a yellow, puffy formal gown, with a string of precious jewels around her snow-white neck.

Her beauty wasn’t spirited like his cousin Stacy’s; she was the kind of beauty that fit a more conventional mold. She reminded Leech of the Snow White from the movie *Mirror Mirror* he had seen in his past life—the moment the princess took off her yellow hood was just like seeing this person before him.

What was even more striking were her eyes, which seemed to hold the ocean.

So far, the only beauties Leech had seen who could compare to her were the ’Red Rose’ of House Leopold, and perhaps Becky the ’Charming’. But for personal reasons, he didn’t want to include ’Charming’ in that list.

As Leech looked at her, her ocean-like eyes looked back at him. "But I still believe that a Knight who dares to challenge a Giant Dragon is admirable."

Leech snapped back to reality. ’Ah, so it’s the little princess from the ivory tower.’

’No wonder she looked a little familiar.’

’She’s really persistent, cornering me at a ball to argue her point.’

"Of course," Leech said, resisting the urge to purse his lips. He warned himself not to cause any trouble at the ball. "You’re absolutely right. A Knight who dares to challenge a Giant Dragon—their courage is admirable."

Although, in his heart, he still thought that knight was an idiot. The book never said the guy brought catapults or heavy crossbows, which meant a group of people just foolishly charged forward with swords raised.

’Isn’t a group of infantrymen trying to take down a bomber plane in the sky just a bunch of complete morons?’

She seemed to have prepared a whole arsenal of arguments to defeat Leech from every angle, but she hadn’t expected him to actually agree!

"Are you being serious?" she asked, blinking her big eyes and leaning closer to Leech.

"Of course. Any knight’s heroic sacrifice is worthy of admiration," Leech said. "However, I still stand by some of my own opinions."

’I stand by all my opinions, except for the part about the "sacrifice"!’

She nodded. "I know. Some of what you said made a lot of sense. I talked to Stacy, and she said that Furnace does have some merits as a lord. A Human Lord can’t protect everyone in their territory by themselves, but Furnace can."

The noble girl’s straightforwardness surprised Leech. She wasn’t the type to pester someone unreasonably.

The melodious music changed to a new tune. On the dance floor, many ladies now had partners, and the men were doing their best to display their gentlemanly grace.

The ivory tower miss before him also raised her hand and looked at Leech.

But Leech was still holding his wine glass, with no intention of accepting her gesture.

She had no choice but to ask aloud, "Sir Clarence, would you care to ask me for a dance?"

"I’m not a good dancer," Leech lied. He was simply too lazy to dance and hoped she would get the hint.

"I forgot to tell you, my greatest skill is teaching."

She still held her hand out.

"If that’s the case..." Leech knew he couldn’t get out of it. He raised his hand and gently took the small hand she offered. "May I have this dance, my fair lady?"

She smiled. "It would be my honor!"

Ballroom dancing wasn’t complicated. The men and women swayed gently to the music, taking the opportunity to exchange whispers.

For example, across the floor, Leech saw Stacy and Kunber. Stacy had a frosty expression, while Kunber looked as if his mother had just died, his face a mask of misery. Being so close to the ’female general,’ feeling the oppressive aura of an Extraordinary Knight, was like a rabbit holding up a lion’s paw. Dancing? No, it felt more like he was about to die.

"I’ve lived in Linta Bay my entire life, but I’ve never been to the seaside," the ivory tower miss said suddenly.

She had mentioned Stacy before. It seemed she had really investigated him. A young lady’s curiosity about a gentleman was never a simple matter.

Leech said, "Then you must go see it. The sight of the ocean broadens one’s horizons and lifts the spirits."

"The sea in Porcupine Territory?" she asked, blinking.

Leech nodded. "Porcupine Castle always welcomes beautiful young ladies."

’It would be even more welcoming if you could bring a few craftsmen and merchants.’

’Of course, that was just a pleasantry. No need to take it seriously.’

The protected ivory tower miss wasn’t like other noble girls. Those girls liked to ask about castles, territories, the milk yield of cows, and the number of pigs. She, however, preferred to ask about the sky and the sea, and was fixated on the idea of writing words in the sand with her bare feet, then watching the waves wash them away.

Leech paused for a moment. He had a good idea of who she was now.

’The artsy pen pal.’

’The first pen pal meetup on the Lu Leiyi Continent. This ought to go down in history.’

The song ended, and Leech "reluctantly" let go of the ivory tower miss’s hand. Although chatting with her hadn’t been unpleasant, he just wasn’t comfortable in this kind of environment.

He would much rather be back with Corpse Ghost Aina, developing his abilities and experimenting with Extraordinary powers.