Yes, if it wasn’t obvious enough by now, Ignotus had talked loudly back then on purpose.
He wanted the one tailing him to co out so that he’d trap them here.
Eat and deal with the rat behind the scenes in one go.
Efficient, no?
Even if the anger he showed was mostly an act, the emotion that stirred in him wasn’t.
The mont he saw them fall, sothing old inside him burned awake.
A mory that, even now, after accepting it before Death, still made his chest tighten.
It was a bit surprising to know that House Death had employed Zelus, or perhaps it was he who went to be employed by Nex, begging them for a collar; either way, the bastard was too weak.
Now there were only two proper ones left.
Two real villains, but that was for later.
For now—
"Haaaa..."
Ignotus leaned back, closed his eyes, and let out a slow, satisfied breath.
The banquet wasn’t ending after all.
It was high ti he had so fun!
...
Light leaked through a luxurious set of curtains the next morning.
Ignotus blinked awake to find himself lying in a ridiculously soft bed with white sheets and embroidered pillows, making him feel like he’d just committed a financial cri by sleeping in it.
"This thing’s so soft it’s disrespectful."
He rubbed his eyes while groaning.
’Good morning, Ignotus.’
Eris’s voice humd faintly beside his thoughts.
"Morning, Eris."
He sat up and stretched until his back popped.
"We’re going out."
There was a brief pause.
’Out...?’
He grinned.
"Yep. I’m taking you on a date."
Sothing of a static pop hit through their link.
Ignotus would’ve mistaken it for his back if not for—
’A-A DATE?!’
She stamred so hard he swore he could feel Her blush.
"Sorry to surprise you, but I want to go buy sothing."
Ignotus barely stopped himself from laughing at Her.
"So yeah, I might as well call it a date while I abuse the market a little with all this coin I now have."
Having cald down a little, She nodded.
’I understand, but abuse how?’
He just smiled to himself and started getting ready.
"Wait, and you’ll see it. You’ll enjoy it. I promise."
After a few deep breaths, Eris’s voice steadied further.
’Fine... what are you even going to buy?’
"A ring."
Ignotus quickly put on his usual clothes.
"For the one I’m going to propose to."
That froze Her solid.
’...a ring?’
He nodded and walked over to the window.
"Yes. For Gaia."
’...’
Slowly, Her voice returned, quieter this ti:
’I see.’
"But that’s secondary."
Ignotus added with a shrug.
"My main goal is to break the market."
’Is that what you ant by abuse earlier?’
"Yup."
His tone was far too casual for that statent.
"It’s one of my many new ideas on how to abuse my abilities~."
...
Breakfast was a lavish affair, though Ignotus treated the high-quality steak like it was just another piece of his very special all-purpose, never-rotting travel jerky.
He chewed quickly, ignoring the elegant atmosphere of the manor’s dining hall.
Across from him, Lykos and Ulv were significantly less relaxed.
"We’re leaving for the first manor today..."
Lykos lowered his head a little.
"My older siblings, Rollo and Tala..."
His usual banter-inviting tone was gone.
"They are there. I need to confront them for the assassins they sent."
Lykos looked back up, eting Ignotus’s eyes.
"If you want vengeance for what happened at the forest and the Trial, co with us."
Ignotus stopped chewing, and for a heartbeat, the room went still.
He didn’t crack a joke or shrug like he usually would’ve.
Instead, he asked a simple question:
"Are you sure?"
Lykos nodded, and Ulv looked confident.
"Alright then, I’m in."
That was enough.
’Bastards who send assassins to their own family deserve a heart-to-heart... talk.’
"What about r?"
Ignotus glanced towards the door.
"Is she joining the party?"
Lykos shook his head.
"No. rlin can’t involve herself in House Death’s internal affairs. If she showed up to confront my siblings, it wouldn’t be a family squabble anymore. It would look like her House was declaring war on mine. A total disaster."
Ignotus let out a short, amused chuckle and leaned back, crossing his arms.
"Oh? So it’s a ’big noble problem’ if she goes, but I’m fine? You’re cool with being at war with House Death?"
He gave Lykos a teasing grin, expecting the wolf-boy to stutter or get flustered.
"You officially have no House now, Ignotus. I know that much."
Instead, Lykos just stared back, his gaze steady.
"You’re a free agent. If you... push my siblings, it’d just be a private grudge. You’ll be fine."
Ignotus raised his eyebrows.
’Wow, the puppy grew so fangs.’
"Color impressed."
He grunted, standing up and grabbing one last piece of at.
"Let’s get moving then. I hate keeping people waiting."
This was putting a direct pause on his plans to go shopping, but he didn’t seem to mind. And judging by Eris’s silence, She didn’t seem to mind either... they were to go wolf hunting.
...
The road was long, dusty, and mostly boring.
Ignotus walked with his hands behind his back, trailing slightly behind Ulv and Lykos. The two were in the carriage with seven horse-riding guards surrounding them.
He could’ve joined the two in the carriage, but he knew better than to do so. They were about to confront people who had lorded over them likely all of their lives; he didn’t want to ruin their mont of vengeance.
And Ignotus wasn’t riding a horse because, well, once again, he knew better than to...
Alba, though they had only t for a few seconds in this life, was the only creature he would mount. Rather, it was sothing of a prerequisite when it ca to that little thing.
Anyhow, the lands of House Death had truly lived up to their na, being truly and undeniably dead, with none of the usual flora to be seen, despite the river they were traveling beside.
Ignotus was too busy thinking about market prices to care though. Yet out of nowhere, he was interrupted, as suddenly, a cloud of dust appeared on the horizon behind them, taking him out of his thoughts.
"Contacts approaching!"
One of the guards shouted, reaching for his sword while Ignotus squinted and let out a sigh.
"Relax. I recognize that specific, panicked running style."
"YOUNG LORRRRRRRRD!"
Felix ca barreling down the road like a runaway carriage, followed closely by Gorm and the three rcenaries.
"IT’S , FELIX!"
The butler looked like he hadn’t slept in three days, but his energy was at an all-ti high.
"I KNEW IT!"
Felix, without slowing down at all, perford a flying tackle-hug that nearly sent Ignotus into the dirt... though only because he didn’t use any of his strength to resist the ramming bull.
"I knew that poison banquet rumor was bullshit! You’re alive! And I knew you’d be out here doing dangerous things without ! My heart couldn’t take the suspense!"
"Get off , Spoon. You’re getting dirt on my ’date’ clothes."
Though Ignotus said that, he didn’t push Felix away.
"Young Lord... we are happy to see you strong."
Once the group had settled and the rcenaries, following Gorm’s lead, gave Ignotus a respectful bow, they all started walking together.
"Listen, listen!"
Felix was practically vibrating with excitent.
"I have changed, Young Lord!"
He puffed out his chest and acted strangely sage-like.
"In the ti we were apart, I have cultivated my mind and delved into the arts. I am a man of culture now."
Ignotus raised a skeptical brow.
"Oh, really? Cultivated, huh? Did you learn to fight?"
"Better..."
Felix answered solemnly.
"I learned poetry. While I was relaxing at the inn, I studied the classics."
"Go on then..."
Ignotus challenged, a smirk playing on his lips, while the Gorm and the rest walked before them, discussing a few important things with Ulv and Lykos.
"Give us a masterpiece, oh great poet."
However, those words had the entire cohort slow down; even the guards looked curious.
Kuhm!
Felix cleared his throat, placed a hand over his heart, and gazed dramatically at the sky.
"Her waist was slender with a big behind."
Grom tripped over a rock.
"It oppresses us both..."
A guard’s ears twitched.
"And it pains ."
Lykos could be heard face-palming.
"It pains when I think of it..."
Ulv barely suppressed his laugh.
"As it tires her when she walks."
Felix finished with a heavy sigh, looking quite proud of himself.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The silence that followed was incredible.
The rcenaries looked down at their boots, too embarrassed to be associated with him. If Ignotus bothered to check, he’d see Lykos and his guard reveal faces that made it seem they wanted to jump off a cliff.
Nearly everyone there was stunned; even the wind seed to have stopped blowing out of embarrassnt for what it was forced to carry.
"What?!"
Felix snapped, his newfound confidence flaring up. He actually glared at the guards.
"It’s good! It’s a comntary on... physics! And beauty! It’s art!"
"Hm..."
Ignotus stared at Felix for a long second.
"Ahahahahahaha!"
Then, he burst into a loud, genuine laugh.
"I like it!"
He reached out and slapped a hand on Felix’s shoulder, pulling him forward.
"You’ve finally gained so balls, Felix. That was the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re perfect for what’s coming."
That made Felix beam, enough that he didn’t even notice Ignotus saying his na.
"Really? So we’re going back to the Plant House to show them my art?"
"Plant House?"
Ignotus’s voice turned cold, but his smile remained.
"No, we’re done with that. I told you, I’m establishing my own House, so be ready. We are no longer of House Plant..."
He leaned in, his eyes gleaming.
"House Calamity is all but established already."
Felix froze, his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and his jaw hit his chest.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
Ignotus just kept walking, whistling a cheerful tune at a new feeling of déjà vu.
’Yup... exactly the reaction I wanted.’
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