After the Seventh Elder vanished into the depths, I bound the surviving knights and made my way to the supply wagon. The n who had fallen into the canyon were beyond salvation, but these survivors would serve my purpose well enough.
I wasn’t sparing them out of rcy—I needed evidence. Living, breathing testimony that could speak against the Elder Council when the ti ca.
My previous punishnt for killing knights had stemd from one crucial factor: they hadn’t been attempting to murder . The Council had labeled my response “excessive force.” But this situation was entirely different.
A knight had dared attempt to murder a noble—or at minimum, orchestrated a kidnapping. Not just any noble, but a direct heir of House Berg.
If anyone challenged my actions now, it would trigger imdiate war between the Houses. And with an Elder of the Council as the ringleader? House Praha couldn’t escape paying damages, a debt that would fall squarely upon the Elder Council’s shoulders.
I nodded to myself as I loaded the knights into the wagon.
“Everyone aboard?”
“Y-yes, sir!” The knights, perhaps still influenced by the lingering effects of Crushing Presence, proved surprisingly docile and obedient.
Fortune smiled upon . I’d half-expected to waste ti by needing to give another educational demonstration.
The wagon creaked as I climbed aboard and addressed the knight at the driver’s bench. “Move out.”
The wheels began to roll, carrying us away from the demonic landscape.
I leaned against the wagon’s side, watching the cursed terrain fade behind us. The Seventh Elder’s kidnapping farce had reached its conclusion.
* * *
When I returned to the ducal estate, the manor erupted into chaos. The heir of House Berg returning covered in blood from head to toe was nothing short of catastrophe from the servants’ perspective.
“Summon a healer imdiately! Fetch the Head Butler!”
“Should we inform Lady Lin?”
“What are you waiting for? Tell her at once!”
I pushed through their frantic efforts to help , seeking Lin Praha.
As Acting Head—the one who stood in the Grand Duke’s stead during his absence—she possessed both the authority and capability to handle what ca next. An Aura Master and the eldest daughter of House Praha, none were better suited for leadership.
Well, that would hold true for only a few more years. By then, Lea would be ready.
In any case…
My reason for seeking the Acting Head was simple: to pressure the Elder Council.
Show her the evidence, squeeze the Council, and her standing within the House would rise accordingly. After all, weren’t they twin pillars? If one pillar crumbled, the benefits would naturally flow to the other.
More importantly, this would elevate Lea’s position as well. Lin Praha would beco Lea’s ally, making her future ascension to House head inevitable.
“What in the world—!” Lin Praha’s voice rang out as she appeared at the top of the stairs.
“It’s been a while,” I replied calmly.
“A while, my foot! What happened?!” Her horrified expression demanded explanation, and I recounted the day’s events with complete honesty.
As I spoke, Lin Praha’s expression grew progressively darker. When I ntioned the Seventh Elder’s role, she roared like a dragon unleashing its fury.
“Seventh Elder! That deranged old geezer!”
What followed was entirely predictable. Lin Praha ard herself and marched to the Elder Council, systematically intimidating any Elder who seed even slightly suspicious. Nothing could block her path once she wielded the sword of righteous cause.
Initially, the Elders attempted resistance.
“Haha… Who could have known such scum existed among the Elders?” ca a familiar voice. “Allow to lend a hand.”
The High Elder’s sudden appearance and support crushed their will entirely. The Elders began surrendering without further struggle.
Through the combined efforts of the High Elder and Acting Head, the Elder Council’s rebellion was thoroughly crushed. Countless Elders lost their lives—it wouldn’t be exaggerating to say half the Council had vanished overnight.
Lin Praha seed disappointed she couldn’t include the High Elder in her purge as well. But without proper justification, she had to be satisfied with this much.
Still, she’d severed the High Elder’s hands and feet, so the harvest wasn’t entirely barren.
“Throw them all in the dungeons imdiately,” she declared, centing her victory in the war against the Elder Council.
From that day forward, Lin Praha solidified her position as Acting Head.
As for ?
I had to endure the not-quite-solicitations of the surviving Elders.
“Nothing troubling you, I trust?” they would ask with forced smiles.
“Young Lord Berg. Couldn’t you perhaps put in a good word with the Acting Head?”
They weren’t among the ten senior Elders, but they were Elders nonetheless. Even as fringe players, their deference represented remarkable progress compared to when I’d first entered the ducal house.
These sa people who had once looked at like so wild beast now scrambled desperately to curry my favor.
It was less amusing than utterly astounding. They certainly knew how to read the room.
I dismissed all their entreaties with promises to “consider their requests.” While I could have rejected them outright, that risked creating unnecessary enemies. Before eliminating the High Elder, multiplying my foes would be inefficient.
I’d deal with them later.
With that forbearing mindset, I was passing the Elders when Lin Praha called to .
“Young Lord Berg. Might you spare a mont?”
* * *
Summoned by Lin Praha, I made my way to the office. Opening the door, I was greeted by an atmosphere entirely different from the Grand Duke’s usual domain—a warmth absent from the rest of House Praha.
“Quite different from Father, isn’t it?” Lin Praha chuckled softly as she stepped inside.
“Honestly, yes.”
“Roxha hates the cold. Father loves her dearly, but frankly, he’s never been one for such detailed considerations.”
Ah. Roxha Praha, the third daughter, was uniquely susceptible to cold—a consequence of never mastering the Praha Aura cultivation technique. She lived her days wrapped in thick coats, and Lin had heated the room for her sister’s comfort.
It made realize anew that she was fundantally different from the Grand Duke.
“You seem quite fond of Lady Roxha,” I remarked.
“She’s my sister.” Lin gestured toward the head’s chair. “Sit down. I’ve been talking too long.”
I took my seat as she approached with a teacup.
“Herbal tea,” she offered. “We’ve been so busy these past few days, I haven’t had ti for proper conversation.”
“Not at all. It’s fine.”
“I’m glad you say so.” She smiled faintly and sat across from —the complete opposite of her initial impression, entirely different even from her image during the Elder Council massacre days before.
“First, I should thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve gained control of the House. We could pressure the Elder Council as well.”
Thank you, not sorry. That single sentence revealed her true thoughts about this entire affair. She wasn’t enraged by my kidnapping—she had simply used it to seize House control.
Of course, she’d been angry too. Sothing about “How dare they perpetrate such acts in the North!” and so forth. But her motivations mattered little to . I was using this House for revenge; why shouldn’t she use it as well? Mutual benefit made everything agreeable.
“I doubt we can rope in the High Elder. The old jackals are determined to protect their master at all costs.”
Naturally. Otherwise, their own fate would be the headsman’s block. They likely hoped the High Elder would step forward to resolve this situation.
Though the High Elder had no such intentions. His siding with Lin Praha had been purely to preserve what power remained. Better to keep the torso intact even if hands and feet were severed—that way, future sches remained possible. Such a man wouldn’t fret over severed limbs.
I clicked my tongue softly and sipped the tea, feeling gentle warmth spread through my body.
“At any rate, I don’t think there’s anything more I can do. If we could sohow deal with the High Elder... but there’s no thod for that.” Lin Praha sighed softly, muttering to herself.
Watching her, I spoke with complete nonchalance. “There is a thod.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“I said there’s a way to catch the High Elder.”
Honestly, while orchestrating this affair, I’d never expected to bag the High Elder as well. That ancient fox wouldn’t be caught so easily. Rather than indulge in wishful thinking, it was better to plan for the worst-case scenario.
And within such plans lay a surefire thod to eliminate the High Elder.
“Though it’ll be sowhat noisy. The House might beco the Empire’s latest gossip.”
“But we can definitely catch the High Elder?”
“Yes.” I spoke with firm conviction, nodding emphatically.
Lin Praha pondered briefly, then nodded as well. “Fine. What’s the thod?”
“Before that, I have one request.”
“What is it?”
“When this matter is resolved, I’d like so benefit to co my way.”
Frankly, everything I’d done thus far had been pure volunteer work. Shouldn’t I at least receive proper compensation?
“…What do you want?” Lin Praha asked, her smile vanishing entirely.
A lioness protecting her pride—that was the image that sprang to mind upon seeing her transformation.
Facing such a lioness, I continued slowly. “Authority to lead the Elder Council. That’s what I need.”
“…Even I don’t have that.”
“No. You do. To be exact, you hold the key to that authority.”
“A key? There’s no such... ah, surely not?” Lin Praha’s eyes widened in realization.
Then, abruptly, she burst into maniacal laughter that showed no signs of stopping. Several minutes passed before she finally composed herself.
“It’s been ages since I laughed like that. Fine. Do it. An Elder’s position? I can grant you that much easily enough.”
I nodded in response. Securing an Elder’s seat in House Praha would be the first step in tightening the noose around the High Elder.
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