How to Live as a Knight After the Ending

Chapter 154: Tears, Cigarettes, and Strong Alcohol (1)

Adrian remembered his father’s words.

-Adrian, this engagement is nothing more than a takeover disguised as a marriage. If you truly want to lead Blackstone, you’re going to have to be able to swallow those mobsters whole.

Adrian had been trained this way since he was a child, and he knew what he was getting himself into, so he didn’t mind.

If the arranged marriage had gone as planned, he could have easily taken control of the underworld organization known as the North Blinders.

The boss, Islow Bourbork, was an old man, an anachronism, driven only by greed, and his only daughter, Isela Brook, was a young, innocent woman who didn’t know any better.

But Adrian had to revise his assessment at this point.

First of all, Islow was a greedy old man. He didn’t know how the situation was going and just insisted on doing his own thing, which made things go wrong.

But Isela was different.

‘I didn’t realize she had such a strong side, and she’s been deliberately pretending to be weak all this time.’

Or maybe it was a talent that blossomed in a moment of crisis.

But whatever it was, he couldn’t deny that a lot of his plans had gone awry.

Rather than anger or embarrassment, Adrian felt a sense of relief.

Even though he hadn’t gotten his hands on the mafia’s force, it had been a good life lesson in more ways than one.

It wasn’t because of Isela’s bravado or Balud’s rousing speech.

It was because of the knight who dared to hold a sword to his own throat and take him hostage.

It was because of Osian.

“Did you say fixer?”

Adrian asked Osian when he finished talking to Isela.

He wondered if it made sense.

A fixer, if nothing else, who’d blasted his way into the middle of a mafia organization.

“Why don’t you come work for us at Blackstone?”

Osian chuckled beneath his armor at the way his young successor spoke so confidently to him.

“You have a lot of mercy for someone who killed your men and held a blade to your throat.”

“Well, that surprised me a lot, but I’ve learned that being emotional only makes things worse.”

What happened today wasn’t just an epiphany for Isela or Balud.

Adrian, who was watching the scene, almost a third party in a way, also learned a lesson.

Osian stared at Adrian.

His eyes were trembling, even if only slightly, as if it wasn’t easy to say something like this.

Still, he was trying to be brave. He didn’t know how big it would be now, but it was sure to be big later.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any desire to go under anyone yet.”

“You’ve got a lot of pride in your skills, though I’m sure you deserve it.”

“I’m a fixer. If you need something, ask for it. I don’t like dishonorable or dirty work, of course, so keep that in mind.”

Adrian’s entourage sputtered at the cocky remark, but the more enlightened Master stopped them with a wave of his hand.

“I will if the need arises.”

With that, Adrian left.

Although it must have been quite a blow to his pride to be an attendant at such a banquet, he bravely went through with it.

As Osian thought that, Balud approached and said.

“Of course. After seeing such force, what kind of person would openly show hostility to it?”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“You can tell by the atmosphere. When you’re confronted with a force that’s one-dimensional, you feel one-dimensional emotions like humiliation and anger, but when you’re confronted with a force that you can’t comprehend with your head, you don’t even think about fighting back.”

This is why Adrian was so easily overcome, and why the other mafia members were dragged into the situation, unable to act.

Osian’s overwhelming power and Balud had driven the final wedge made the situation possible.

“Even with that in mind, I’d say the future is bright for Blackstone, given how boldly they’ve handled it.”

“You don’t seem too worried. What if they take revenge on the North Blinders for kicking their son out?”

“North Blinders is strong. Blackstone may be a defense company, but a fight isn’t fought with just good weapons. Right now, it was axes and blades that ended this one.”

“You have a point.”

The weapon doesn’t matter. What matters is who’s wielding it.

Osian shook his head, realizing he’d been worrying for nothing.

“So, since you’re back on the board, should I congratulate you?”

“That’s one thing, but let’s get to the important stuff first.”

“Important?”

Balud inclined his head toward Osian.

The approaching members of the Balud family were stunned by the gesture, which the normally proud Balud would never have shown.

But they, too, had seen Osian’s power, and knew that they had only made it this far alive with his help, so they said nothing.

“I was grateful. It was all because of your help that I was able to come back like this.”

“I helped pave the way, but it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t done a good job when it mattered.”

“But it is true that you laid the foundation for this. I heard that you were the one who saved Legor from death. I cannot simply repay this favor.”

“The Fixer was asked to do a job, and he did it. Is there more to it than that?”

“The fee was…….”

A single tear from Legor was the fee that set Osian in motion.

“That was enough, and that’s why I moved.”

With that, Osian removed his full moon cloak.

His bare face was exposed, revealing his newly purchased clothes.

“What’s more important to you is what you’re going to do with this organization.”

The rainy season had just begun, Balud had been falsely accused and nearly purged, the bosses had changed, and one of the directors, Kursha, had died.

No matter how big and tight-knit the North Blinders were, such upheaval would take its toll.

“We have lost too much in today’s fight.”

“But at the same time, it’s brought the rest of us together, and given how much we’ve tried to grow the organization in the past, it’s a measles shot we all need to take at some point.”

That’s when Isela came to Balud’s side.

“Best of all, I’m not alone anymore.”

“I see.”

“What are you two talking about like that?”

Isela casually stepped between them and greeted Osian.

“There we go again. You remember me, don’t you?”

“How could I forget?”

“I can’t believe it was you, the knight, the one I saw that day. I suppose I should thank you first, because it’s thanks to you that I ended up in one piece.”

“Are you safe?”

Osian checked Isela’s condition. She’s trying to act strong, but she killed her father with her own hands and she did it in front of the entire organization.

She couldn’t have done it with a normal mind.

Sensing Osian’s gaze, Isela spoke, her expression a little heavier.

“It was just a reality check, and I knew there was no point in doing nothing and hoping something would happen.”

For Isela, the past two days have been traumatic.

Her father betrayed Balud, dragged him in and mercilessly purged him. He made the man she loved a traitor and tarnished his honor.

Then he forced her into an arranged marriage with a man she didn’t know.

Isela might have met a similar fate, as most maidens do but Balud did not die, and in the end, he came to this place alive.

Even at the risk of his own death, he remained proud.

Watching him drag his scarred body through the rain, soaked to the skin, and still wielding his axe, Isela realized something.

You can’t always wait for someone to come to you.

If you truly value something, you have to fight for it even if it means carrying a burden too heavy to bear.

You shouldn’t be afraid to take action.

“I’m determined enough, and I know I can’t do it alone, but I have someone who can.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be here to protect you.”

Isela smiles at Balud’s reassurance.

To Balud, Isela’s appearance seemed somewhat precarious.

She was a young lady who had never seen blood on her hands before. So how determined must she have been to commit murder against her own father?

Her fingertips trembled slightly, though he could tell she was trying to be strong.

“Thank you, Balud.”

Osian, however, gave the grateful Isela a strange look.

He let out a small sigh, and then glanced at Balud.

Balud was still gazing at Isela with concern.

There was definitely love dripping from them.

‘Well.’

Osian had to fight back a smirk.

‘So it’s true, no matter how intelligent and cold-hearted you are, you can be blinded by love.’

I wonder if Balud realizes that there’s something else behind the emotion in Isela’s eyes as she looks at him.

‘I thought she was just a carefree tomboy, but she had a sinister side.’

Isela was deliberately acting weak now.

Osian could feel it, even if no one else could, in the tremor in her fingertips and her subtle gestures.

It was all part of the ‘act’ of being strong, but unable to hide her fear.

‘Blood can’t be ignored,’ Osian thought to himself, ‘she’s got Northern blood in her veins, and she’s got a tough side to her, plus she’s been the daughter of a mafia boss, so she knows the rules of this civilized world better than anyone.’

At that moment, Osian locked eyes with Isela.

The corner of her eye twitched slightly at Osian.

That alone was enough to convey her intentions.

Isela was scarier than he thought.

The fact that the remark about a drum barrel upon first meeting wasn’t just something said out of ignorance is rather shocking.

I wonder if Balud knows that, or if he knows and is letting it slide.

Whatever the case, the fact remains that what Isela and Balud feel for each other is love.

‘True love is won by being able to bear and accept the stigma of the other.’

Balud has the qualities of a great warrior of the North and Isela, the daughter of a mafia boss, fully awakened to her talents.

They were a fitting pair indeed.

“You must be tired from cleaning up, so I’ll just leave now since I’m an outsider. My presence will only make things more uncomfortable.”

With those words, Osian turned to leave.

Balud started to grab Osian, but was stopped by Isela.

“Balud, just let him go.”

“But…….”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he’ll be paid, but right now I need to take care of some internal business.”

“I see. My thinking was short-sighted.”

With that, the barbarian warrior bade the wandering knight farewell.

“Farewell.”

“Take care of yourself, too. I’ll see you some other time.”

Eyes followed Osian as he left the backyard and headed out of the manor.

The looks on the faces of the mobsters of North Blinders were varied.

Some were in awe of Osian’s strength, while others resented him for killing one of their own.

Although he had accepted the job as a fixer, he had become deeply involved in the mob’s chores.

‘I’ll probably get into a lot of trouble afterward.’

It was definitely a loss and something any other fixer wouldn’t have done in the first place.

But

“Hey, bro. Are you going?”

Legor spoke to Osian, his voice heavy and booming.

“Are your injuries okay?”

“I’m fine, thanks to you, I’m resilient, and with some good meat and rest, I’ll be fine.”

It was a very serious gunshot wound, even for Osian; there was no way it would heal that easily.

Legor was still on the verge of collapse, but he stood in front of Osian, pretending to be fine, and spoke to him as he turned to leave.

Legor bowed to Osian, his eyes clear.

“Thank you. Because of you, my brother is safe.”

A simple smile formed on Legor’s face as he raised his bowed head.

“You should come visit me personally sometime. I will treat you to a very strong drink, brewed in the traditional northern style.”

It was a poor reward for being swept up in danger.

“Tears, cigarettes, and strong alcohol,“

Legor’s expression brightened at Osian’s next words.

“More than enough for a day’s pay.”