Having heard Ryan’s question, Ian flinched his shoulders. Ian avoided Ryan’s gaze and answered as if he was muttering.
“Well, I am also… like you, Young Master Ryan. Perhaps I should also say that I became a hunting dog who lost his teeth? I have been surpassed by a new servant. I am not saying I could never catch up, but… That new servant happens to be so incredibly skilled, so…”
He was rambling on. In addition to him being surpassed by Nainiae, he was also quietly suffering the incident where he didn’t get past the teleportation portal that she made. Ian asked Ryan,
“Who would she be?”
“Ah, this is…”
Thinking that he was late in introducing her, Ryan was going to quickly introduce Iril to Ian. However, his lips were blocked by her arm.
“Hey, Ryan.”
“…?”
Wondering what this was about, Ryan floated a question mark on his face. Iril whispered quietly to Ryan so Ian would not be able to hear it.
“That man… Is he strong?”
“What did you say?”
“That grandpa. I’m asking if he is strong.”
[Note: In Korea, people often address any elderly man as “grandfather” or “grandpa” even if they are not related.]
Ian waited for Ryan’s response.
“Is he strong? That is…”
It would be odd for anyone who lived in the Iphalleta Mansion to not know how strong this old butler named Ian was.
In the past, the man used to be called the hero mercenary. There were even rumors that, besides Count Stein, the only one who was skilled enough to fight Ian would be Ryan, the first born.
Even though Ian didn’t learn swordsmanship from the Iphalleta House, the old butler had acquired a solid swordsmanship over his life. He was acknowledged as magnificent by not just mercenaries but the people of the mansion as well.
“…”
Ryan replied with silence, so Iril decided on her own. She tilted the tip of her lips and mumbled in sleazy way,
“He must be pretty strong?”
Intrigued, she looked at Ian. Iril took a step back and said to Ryan,
“All right. Actually, this turned out preety well. Let’s do it right away.”
“Right away? Do what right away?”
Looking at Iril’s smile, Ryan had a bad feeling about this. He waited for her next words.
“This is the second test.”
“Second test?”
“…?”
Ian was not able to hear what they were whispering about. Ian furrowed his brows. Iril handed over something that she had been hugging to her chest.
“Here.”
It was long and flat. It was wrapped in bandages. With the object handed to him, Ryan looked at Iril, wondering what this was.
“What’s this?”
“Try fighting with that.”
It was a mysterious object. Ryan stared at it and furrowed his brows as if he still didn’t understand. Watching the man’s reaction, Iril pointed at Ian with her finger and said,
“Against that grandpa.”
Ian flinched his shoulders.
“G… Grandpa?”
Perhaps it was to agitate Ian. Unlike the whispering voices they used earlier, the words could be heard a lot better. Feeling wronged, Ian looked at Iril.
“Excuse me, young lady. I don’t know how you know Young Master Ryan, but… I’m not at the age to be called a grandpa.”
Ian was requesting Iril to correct what he had just heard. However, Iril ignored him and just stared at him. Again, in a barely audible voice, she said to Ryan,
“My grandmother can live only if you pass this test.”
“…”
Having heard her whispers about her grandmother’s life being on the line, Ryan stared at her face from the side. Ryan directed his gaze at the object that was handed to him from Iril.
“Young Master Ryan?”
Ian was looking at Ryan and Iril. Ryan’s eyes were gradually showing animosity and Ian also narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t think I’m old enough to be senile. Young Master Ryan… Your hostility is… directed at me?”
Ryan didn’t answer. He untied the tightly wrapped object and realized what it was. He gasped for air.
‘… A sword?’
It seemed Ian was also surprised. His narrowed eyes suddenly widened.
“That is?”