30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 106

The Pendragon royal family, compared to the royalty of other nations, has an extremely small number of members.

Perhaps it’s due to their dragon bloodline, but they face significant difficulty in producing offspring. While other royal families often have hundreds or even thousands of relatives and branches, the Pendragon family numbers only ten. The difference is stark.

This is also because the criteria for being considered royalty in Pendragon are extraordinarily strict.

Silver hair.

It is the proof of the Pendragon lineage blessed by the Silver Dragon. Without this proof, no one can bear the Pendragon name.

In other words, while other royal families might have illegitimate children, Pendragon cannot. Thus, in the Pendragon family, every descendant is precious. Perhaps that is why.

“...As a knight, I must consider the honor of taking my own life, but as a royal, I also bear the noble mission of preserving the royal bloodline. When weighing the mission of royalty against the honor of knighthood, how could I neglect the former? Therefore, I cannot die!”

“......”

“So, killing me is not the right choice. Don’t kill me, commoner!”

“......”

“And, if you could stop threatening me with your fist, that would be great too....”

“...This guy is downright hilarious.”

Even as he begged for his life, he did so with such confidence.

It was annoying, sure, but his way of speaking also summoned laughter.

Arrogant and rude, yet somehow not entirely unlikable.

And so, Ihan said:

“I’m not such a saint that I’ll forgive the guy who drew his sword first.”

“......”

“You really should’ve fixed that bad habit of yours. Do you know how much you startled my delicate heart?”

“......”

Ihan, looking down at the prince buried up to his neck in the dirt, delivered his verdict in a low tone. A cold sweat ran down Arend’s face, accompanied by the ominous realization that today might be the day of his memorial.

“It doesn’t seem like this is his first time doing something like this, does it?”

“Plenty of people have picked fights with him before. On top of that, he holds grudges, so this kind of thing is routine.”

“...I’m surprised those who’ve suffered haven’t sent assassins after him.”

“They’ve sent plenty. The assassins all died, though. And the ones who sent them? Ended up as vegetables, unable to control their bodily functions.”

“......”

Yord silently resolved to never, under any circumstances, make an enemy out of this senior knight.

...In hindsight, Arend knew his actions might seem like excuses, but he never intended to harm Ihan.

“I just... I thought he was another parasite trying to cling to my sister, no, the Crown Princess as usual....”

“Why would you think that? Ihan was formally invited as a knight.”

“He... he seemed suspicious. How could someone, who was demoted, gain renown at the academy so quickly? Isn’t that suspicious in itself?”

“Just based on that?”

Jake, a far more peaceable man than Ihan and someone who respected the royal family, couldn’t even defend Arend’s logic.

Seeing Jake’s expression shift, Arend hurriedly continued, knowing that failing to persuade this normal man would mean the monster with the shovel would bury him again.

“O-Of course, that’s not the only reason! I’ve heard stories!”

“Stories?”

“I-I heard he’s a brute. He bullies weaker knights, beats them senseless, and tries to curry favor with those in power....”

“......”

Jake was at a loss.

Ihan? Bullying weaker knights? Schmoozing with the powerful?

‘Is he talking about someone else with the same name?’

Such behavior was typical of the countless noble brats in the Silver Lion Knights, but it had absolutely nothing to do with Ihan.

“Who told you these things?”

“I-I can’t say. How could a knight sell out his comrades?”

“...Then I can’t help you.”

Jake’s gaze shifted slightly to the side, where:

“Should I hit him a hundred more times?”

“Please hold back, senior.”

...a predator with a murderous glare loomed.

“Will you still keep your mouth shut—”

“Ahh! Didn’t I say I won’t betray Sir Baker and Sir Riemann? How could I possibly sell out Sir Garmond’s name as well—ah!”

“...Hm.”

Jake found his respect for the royal family dwindling to nearly nothing.

‘Honestly, it would’ve been better if he’d just stayed quiet.’

At least one thing was certain.

‘He’ll probably live a long life.’

Even if Arend lacked awareness, his survival instincts were as sharp as they were pathetic. Jake couldn’t help but think he was destined to live long despite everything.

“What?”

Ihan blinked at his only friend in the knights, unsure if he had misheard.

But Jake’s tone confirmed otherwise.

“It looks like the 1st Division has officially marked you as a political enemy. In other words, you’ve been labeled a rival by the royalist faction. And the prince, or rather, the Commander of the 1st Division, was... well, just used.”

“Royalty? Used?”

“A powerless royal, at that. Plus, he’s a major parachute case. I doubt he has many loyal followers.”

“...He’s got good survival instincts but zero awareness, huh?”

The world, it seemed, was fair.

A royal title, exceptional looks, and even enough talent to become a knight—but politics and perception had evidently bypassed the prince entirely.

No wonder he was so easily manipulated.

‘Or maybe he’s just hot-headed and gullible?’

Whatever the case, Ihan thought, the guy might face crises but still seemed likely to live a long life.

‘He’s such a ridiculous character.’

At this point, Ihan was too dumbfounded to stay angry. Instead, he asked the question that had been nagging at him.

“Why am I their rival?”

Hearing that the knightly order had declared him a political enemy, Ihan felt utterly detached from reality. He had never bothered them, let alone sought their attention.

Jake answered bluntly.

“Because you’ve drawn too much attention. You really should’ve kept a lower profile.”

“...This is ridiculous.”

Unlike the prince, Ihan was perceptive enough to understand Jake’s point immediately.

The knights of the Silver Lion—or rather, the palace’s noble faction—were wary of Ihan.

Why?

Because he was too capable, too outstanding.

Jake elaborated:

“The Crown Princess’s recent summons was probably the final straw, but there were likely factions targeting you long before this. They just took this opportunity to test the waters.”

“What did I even do?”

Ihan was genuinely baffled. He had gone out of his way to avoid standing out, even crediting others for his achievements. He had led his life as a knight quietly.

And now, because of some accomplishments, he was their enemy?

This was absurd.

“You didn’t choose a side.”

“...What?”

“Don’t you get it? As long as you’re part of the Silver Lion Knights, you were expected to decide: the royalist faction or the noble faction. But you stayed neutral. That alone was enough to make you a target. And on top of that, you’re exceptionally skilled. You’re a prominent nail finally meeting the hammer.”

“Dammit....”

“Exactly. But what can you do? This is the palace.”

Jake shrugged lightly, while Ihan frowned deeply.

To be targeted for taking no sides—what kind of nonsense logic was this?