A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles

It was as if a stalactite had been driven into his spine.

As soon as Lucian finished speaking, Hugo was completely frozen.

His entire body was paralyzed, to the point that he couldn’t even breathe properly.

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“….”

“What’s wrong? arrow Laugh. ability Just a moment ago, you were laughing so well, weren’t you?”

Before the unmoving Hugo, Lucian gave a cold smile.

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The breath he was about to exhale got stuck in his throat, as if someone were choking him.

He tried to open his mouth to say something, but not even that would obey him.

“Huup.”

“You’re like this on such a joyful day—it’s almost uncomfortable. athlete You saddled the son of a grand duke with a gambling debt, so you should be thinking fast about how to use it. abstract If it’s you, I’m sure you’ve already picked the perfect moment to blackmail me.”

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Hugo barely resisted his instincts and managed to say a single word.

“Young master.”

That the moment he slipped up with even a single word, he would be dragged straight to the gallows.

His reason screamed at him to come up with an excuse, but his instincts gave the opposite warning.

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“A misunderstanding?”

“I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“What?”

Lucian smirked mockingly and leaned back in his chair.

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“…!”

“Do you think that if you just get through this moment, everything will be fine? arena Of course, you even prepared a secret passage, so you must think you can escape without issue.”

After thinking for a few seconds, his voice came out cold.

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‘W-what the hell—how do you know that?!’

Hugo was so shocked he felt like his heart had dropped.

“To be honest, I was surprised you even installed a mechanism in the armrest of the chair. meadow You did quite the clever job. amateur Where’d you find the technician?”

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How the hell did he find out?

The mechanism that opened the passage when the armrest was turned a certain way was a secret only he knew.

He hadn’t told the others in that room, not even his most trusted men.

Seeing the look of someone possessed by a ghost on Hugo’s face, Lucian held back his laughter.

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The grand duke, enraged, would order his capture, and Lucian would come with other guards.

‘How do I know? apple Because I was the one who discovered it when I came to capture you.’

Two years from now, Hugo would be caught distributing drugs.

Since Hugo had detected the pursuit in advance and escaped in secret, they wouldn’t get any results—but not knowing how he escaped, they thoroughly searched this very casino.

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After that, pressured by the guard captain, Lucian had to follow the passage to the end.

‘You have no idea how much I panicked when the wall suddenly moved sideways.’

Though they searched for three days without finding anything, Lucian, frustrated, ended up hitting a chair, and by that impact, the mechanism activated by accident.

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Of course, he already knew exactly where it led and what was inside.

Just how much did this young master actually know?

With each word from Lucian, Hugo’s mind grew hazier and hazier.

“Near the wall by the north gate, right? agent You chose the location well. acquire You sell horses nearby, and there are lots of branching paths, so even if someone searched for a day or two, they’d lose your trail. legend I admire your thoroughness.”

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A feudal lord can’t help but hate drugs.

If he kept talking, he might even guess what he’d eaten for lunch and the color of his underwear.

‘It’s over.’

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Not only does labor force and tax revenue plummet, but they also stop following orders.

When someone becomes addicted, a healthy person becomes a human wreck.

Not out of concern for the people’s well-being, but because the losses are massive.

Blinded by drugs, instead of obeying the lord, they end up serving the supplier.

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That’s why, when lords catch a dealer, they execute them with the most brutal methods.

In other words, once captured, a drug dealer shouldn’t pray to live—but to die quickly.

It’s said even poor rural lords take out loans to hire expert torturers.

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If he killed the young master right here and buried him, wouldn’t he buy some time?

And yet, he had been caught red-handed by this young master right as he was about to begin selling.

‘Do I kill him?’

For a moment, a murderous glint flashed in Hugo’s eyes—but seconds later, it turned into a hollow laugh.

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For the latter, you might be able to run for ten years and be left alone—but for the former, they’d chase you to the ends of hell.

The crime of killing a grand duke’s son was even worse than selling drugs.

‘Idiot. adopt What the hell were you thinking?’

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But now that he was caught, down to his bones, what was the point of thinking any further?

“Fuu…”

With no way out, his mind strangely calmed.

You only worry when you still don’t know where to run to avoid being caught.

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Thump.

In the end, only one option remained.

“Please, spare my life.”

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As everyone flinched in surprise, Hugo bowed even deeper, slamming his forehead against the floor.

When that massive body collapsed, the room echoed with a thud.

Hugo dropped to his knees.

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Seeing Hugo’s posture, the other subordinates, realizing the situation, also dropped to their knees in unison and slammed their heads to the floor.

“If you order me to be a dog, I’ll be a dog. agent If you order me to bark, I’ll bark. timber If you order me to crawl, I’ll crawl. apple So please, spare my life.”

“F-forgive me!”

“Please, forgive me, young master!”

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At those words, Hugo let out a sigh of relief.

“Well, having a dog isn’t so bad. matrix I was actually short on hands I could use.”

As the four of them continued bowing over and over, Lucian gave a mocking smile.

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Maybe just a few years, or maybe he’d crawl for over a decade.

He didn’t know how long he’d be bound by this leash.

Yes, as long as he lived, he could always find a way forward.

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“Thank you, young master. apron I’ll devote my entire life to you…”

For now, the simple fact of not dying was already a blessing.

But as long as he was alive, there would always be a chance.

“But tell me something. armor Isn’t it a bit pathetic to just be a dog? sphere You don’t seem like someone who’d settle for so little.”

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“Huh?”

Lucian crouched down and whispered in his ear.

“Hey, Hugo.”

“Would you like to become a knight—just once?”

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His heart started pounding wildly.

Become a knight?

Maybe this was what it felt like when the devil whispered to you.

Hugo’s eyes widened.

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‘If I could, I’d sell my soul.’

He’d risen to be called an underworld boss, but that was all.

Having talent or learning sword techniques meant nothing.

That cursed lineage had always blocked his path.

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And now, this young master was digging it back up, right before his eyes.

A dream he once chased desperately, but eventually buried and left behind.

Hugo knew better than anyone that even that career, to the eyes of the common people, was nothing but a source of scorn and ridicule.

“…Could I really achieve that?”

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He feared that after filling him with hope, he’d be mocked and told it was impossible.

Hugo asked, voice trembling.

But Lucian, instead, nodded firmly.

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“First. matrix You’ll swear absolute loyalty to me.”

“Right now, it would be difficult—but with enough effort, it could be possible. altitude Though first, you’ll have to fulfill two conditions.”

“Tell me what they are.”

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Bang!

“As long as you promise me that, I’ll obey any order—except to die.”

Hugo slammed his head into the ground harder than before.

Warm blood began to trickle from his forehead, but he felt no pain.

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After all, if Hugo didn’t fulfill the second condition, Lucian wouldn’t make him a knight—no matter what.

Lucian showed no reaction to the oath of loyalty.

“And second. absorb Actually, this one’s more important.”

“Have you sold drugs to anyone? abandon Not just now, but ever before.”

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“This was the first time. adjust I’d only just finished building the workshop—I haven’t even requested the materials yet.”

Despite the cold voice, Hugo’s mouth curled into a smile.

The second condition was already fulfilled—maybe the gods hadn’t abandoned him after all.

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***

Only then, hearing that answer, did Lucian finally smile.

Luckily, Hugo was still at a stage where he could be repurposed.

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“Starting today, I will serve the young master. apple My name is Hugo. orbit At your service, sir.”

Hans nodded with an awkward expression as he watched Hugo smile.

“….”

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“I convinced them they were useful and got them to work under my command.”

“Young master, what exactly happened up there?”

Seeing someone with a body capable of easily killing two or three people bow like that was something he couldn’t get used to.

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“Why not? action Is there a problem?”

Hans glanced at Hugo and the men behind him.

Five men, all just as fierce-looking, were following Lucian.

“So you’re planning to use these people as servants?”

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And now they were to be used as household staff?

No matter how he looked at them, they didn’t seem like servants, but men who had lived their lives rolling through the underworld.

They each had two or three scars on their faces or arms, and even gave off a faint murderous aura.

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“That’s true. amber But they could never betray me.”

“They always weigh the profits. admire The moment they feel it’s no longer worth it, they turn on you immediately. autumn When they need you, they bow deeply, but once they get what they want, their gaze changes.”

“Why not?”

“I… young master… I may be overstepping, but one should never trust people from the underworld.”

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Why would a knight be willing to give his life for his lord?

“Have you got some leverage on them?”

“That too, but more importantly, because only as long as I exist can they keep what they desire.”

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If even nobles face that, how much more so for commoners—and especially those from the underworld?

No matter how much power one gains, if it lacks justification, it will always be challenged.

Power and status are only acknowledged by others when received from legitimate authority.

Because the fastest way to rise is to serve someone above you.

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Though he repelled them all with his capabilities and retained the title of baron, it didn’t mean his position was accepted.

Without a lord to constantly validate their legitimacy, no one would recognize their position.

‘That’s why, even after declaring himself a baron, Hugo had to endure relentless attacks.’

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They merely left him alone because they lacked the strength to bring him down. attic No one truly saw him as a real baron.

Even if he formed a faction, without knights willing to serve under him, he was doomed to fall eventually.

Which is why he couldn’t pass up the chance to be granted a title and become a true knight.

Whether in his past life or this one, Hugo knew this very well.

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When Lucian arrived with Hugo and his group, the guards tensed up.

In practice, as long as Hugo didn’t give up his dream, betraying Lucian in his lifetime would be impossible.

Without Lucian’s backing, it would take up to the fourth generation—son, grandson, great-grandson—for anyone to be called a noble.

‘Even if he becomes a knight, betrayal is impossible. alien Without me, no one would recognize that status.’

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“The new servants I hired.”

“Servants? adjust With those faces?”

“Young master, those men behind you…”

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The guards looked uneasy, but eventually stepped aside.

No matter how they looked at them, they didn’t seem suited for servant work—but if their superior had hired them himself, there was nothing to be done.

“What’s wrong with their faces? acquire They look fine to me.”

Lucian passed through the open gate and entered the inner castle.

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“Servants.”

“Y-young master. abandon Who are these people?”

Seeing Lucian return so late with such a group, the servants were visibly startled.

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With those faces, servants?

“I said they’re the new servants I hired. aspect Say hello.”

“Huh?”

Looking at the other servants who still hadn’t reacted, Lucian gave a mocking smile and said.

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“What else? absorb She has to greet them too, doesn’t she? altitude Go get her, now.”

“Why are you calling the head maid too?”

“They’ve greeted you now, right? alert Then go bring the head maid.”

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“….”

Once again, the servants only glanced at each other.

Seeing their hesitation, Lucian’s smile deepened.

It was obvious none of them wanted to take the blame if something went wrong.

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“Yes, young master.”

“Young master, please consider our situation too. apple What power do we have to…?”

“Hugo.”

“That’s exactly why I hired new servants. apple There’s no one here who listens to my orders.”

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“Memorize the ones who aren’t following my orders. afford They’re the ones you’ll need to train.”

“Looks like I’ll be busy for a while. artist Beating them without killing them is also a skill, but training them one by one will take time.”

Lucian abruptly cut off the servant and turned to Hugo.

“I’ll give you all the time you need. acquire Take it slow.”

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An ominous feeling, that something was going terribly wrong, ran down their spines.

Hearing the conversation between the two, the servants froze in place.

“Thank you. audit I’ll make sure to engrave the word loyalty into their heads so deeply they won’t forget it, even in their dreams.”