[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
Chapter 281: In the Manner of the Family
Skella and I faced each other at the highest place where no one's gaze could reach, the forr dwelling of Haglandere.
"Young Master, you grow stronger every ti I see you."
A light of surprise appeared on Skella's calm face.
"Living a busy life tends to do that."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"What do you think? From your perspective, am I now capable of competing with Brother Verdzig?"
Skella nodded.
"You are certainly worthy of being called a rival."
"As you know, I have many other talents. If we were to compete with all of them combined?"
I thought of the special power called dark mana, the martial arts of the Karzan style, stealth techniques, and other skills.
Among them, especially my stealth technique had reached the pinnacle of mastery.
'With the Dark Star and Whispering Snow in the Night, plus the power of dark mana and the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique.'
Perhaps I had already approached being the continent's greatest assassin.
'If I had lived as an assassin instead of a swordsman, things would have been easier, wouldn't they?'
Or maybe not.
"Though the Young Master possesses various talents, the sa goes for the Second Young Master."
I nodded at Skella's assertion.
"So we're both hiding our strength equally?"
That would be right. That man isn't ordinary in his sches either.
"If they were to compete one-on-one, I'd say Second Young Master Verdzig has about a 70% chance of winning."
"Even that alone is quite remarkable."
He's a man with such extraordinary talent that even Ulbhild and Siena would consider him superior.
Add to that ti, family support, an adequate environnt, and his efforts.
He was a man lacking in almost nothing.
'Except for his personality.'
But take pride, Allenvert. Before you knew it, you beca another giant serpent entangled with the serpent of apocalypse, trying to devour each other.
'Whichever side devours the other will soar high and beco a dragon.'
Of course, we won't actually take each other's lives.
"Well then, let share the information first as promised."
The prisoners from the execution squad captured by Karl didn't open their mouths despite harsh interrogation.
However, when they inhaled the hallucinogen that Geninghen had slipped into their belongings, they each confessed exactly one thing.
"The Black Society has extended its reach even to the royal family of Litvaleur."
"...!"
Skella asked in surprise.
"Is that true? Even with the Second Young Master's information network, I haven't heard such talk."
"It's true."
"Taking control of Flanders was an open secret, but surely not even the King of Litvaleur..."
"It was hard for to believe as well."
"Hmm, that's information of considerable value."
If even the King of Litvaleur sided with the Black Society...
Grunewald would have to face external and internal enemies simultaneously.
'Even without raising an army, if they could make us enemies of the kingdom.'
From then on, we'd be like rats trapped in a jar.
The wild dogs coveting Grunewald's gold, silver, treasures, and position would swarm to get even a bite.
"Does His Grace the Black Serpent Duke know this fact?"
"Probably."
I nodded.
"Even if he didn't know, Brother Karl would report it."
"That's true."
Skella's expression beca serious.
"The Black Society's sches are truly frightening. They've literally planted conspiracies everywhere, surrounding Grunewald. To think even the royal family..."
I snorted at those words.
"They're just thugs who go around causing trouble wherever they go."
When I dismissed the Black Society's status with a single sentence, Skella chuckled.
"That's one way to look at it."
"I think the royal family is probably resisting quite fiercely right now."
"...I understand."
Skella sighed.
"It's not my place to comnt, but the more I see, the more certain I am that this is a crisis where Grunewald's power must not be divided."
I had a similar expression to Skella's.
"I agree."
"It was definitely valuable information."
Skella looked at .
"I will report this to the Second Young Master."
"I'd appreciate that."
"So what information do you want?"
At Skella's question, I answered.
"It's simple. I'm curious why my brother attacked the Black Society."
"...The Second Young Master recently learned a secret about Bergen related to the fall of Eisenach."
Skella said.
"Bergen was a vassal that once stood against His Grace the Black Serpent Duke and opposed him, then raised the white flag after defeat and was absorbed into the clan... We thought that was the only sin of the clan, but there was actually one more."
I nodded heavily.
"Even after being forgiven once and becoming father-in-law and son-in-law, they plotted once more to bring down Eisenach, the Fourth Lady's clan."
"And they did so secretly with the cooperation of the Black Society."
That was a cri and justification that wouldn't be strange even if it ant destroying the clan.
"Even knowing this fact, His Grace the Black Serpent Duke didn't destroy Bergen. Instead, he used it to place even greater shackles on them."
So swords are more powerful when not drawn from their sheaths. Bergen's cri is exactly like that.
"Because it would be better for maintaining the balance of power."
"That's not all. ...It would also negatively affect the futures of Young Master Verdzig, Young Master Barclava, and Young Master Sorset, who have destroyed maternal clans."
"!"
Even I felt like I'd been hit on the head by those words.
"Originally, the Second Young Master harbored great love and hate toward His Grace the Black Serpent Duke. But he finally learned the truth."
Skella looked straight at .
"That he strove to be thoroughly fair as a clan head and tried to guarantee equal opportunities to all his children."
"..."
I nodded.
If he realized that his long-held resentnt was actually based on a misunderstanding, it wouldn't be strange for Verdzig's heart to change.
"So that's why he attacked the Black Society?"
"It would be. If he were to be played by the Black Society once more, Bergen would be betraying His Grace the Black Serpent Duke for the third ti."
"..."
"Therefore, the Second Young Master said he would settle things not through sches but 'in the manner of the family.' Attacking the Black Society was an action that clearly declared such a stance."
"I see."
Father would have known that he couldn't resolve everything during his reign.
Grudges, complex interests... all would need to be passed on to the next generation through inheritance and reorganized anew.
Therefore, properly organizing the succession structure is also one of the most important virtues of a ruler.
'Since Father's vessel is this great and the stage is so well prepared...'
All I need to do is compete fairly.
I was convinced that no more sches or anything else would be necessary.
'Because only that way can we prevent Grunewald's crisis.'
This wasn't just a matter of simple revenge, but also a matter of survival.
"Thank you. My doubts are cleared."
"Is this all you wanted to ask?"
"Yes. There are things that are difficult to ask directly."
"..."
Skella looked at quietly.
"If we're comparing the value of information, it seems you're at a slight disadvantage."
"I don't think we need to calculate interests so precisely every ti."
I smiled slightly.
"If you're really bothered by it, shall I ask one more thing?"
"By all ans."
I brought up a sowhat sensitive question.
"If you were to cast off the shackles binding you to the Recrusa clan in the future, would you have no intention of remaining loyal to my brother?"
"...Well. I've never thought about such a thing."
Skella tilted her head.
"But my brother is obsessed with you."
"That's not particularly welco to . I never wanted it."
"What if my brother changes like he has now and becos a better person?"
Instead of answering, Skella asked back.
"I don't understand why you keep asking such things."
"If you want it, when I achieve victory..."
I answered.
"I'm thinking of casting off your shackles and setting you free."
"!"
Skella's eyes wavered.
"Young Master, why are you showing such kindness to a vampire like ?"
The fate of the Recrusa clan and Skella's fate reminded of parts of my previous life, but since I couldn't say that, I gave a vague answer.
"Who knows? It's just my feelings."
"Do you need ?"
Seeing that Skella seed to misunderstand sothing, I corrected her.
"As long as my brother treasures you, I have no such intention. Rather, unless you leave Grunewald and beco free, bringing you under my command would only enrage my brother."
Not just enrage him, but his reford nature might revert to its original state and he might try to poison .
If soone cos at night with a knife, I'll know it's Verdzig.
"The important thing is that even if you remain my brother's retainer..."
I said.
"It should be a result chosen entirely by your own will. You don't need to be a shackled dog."
"Is that what you call freedom?"
"Yes. Have you developed any work you want to do or places you want to go?"
Skella seed to be pondering over our previous conversation.
"...Soday I'd like to travel. Across that sea."
"Haha."
I smiled slightly.
"If you want, you'll be able to board a ship anyti."
"...Even so, I won't do anything underhanded to favor you."
"There's no need for that."
I shook my head.
"We'll settle this in the manner of the family. That's enough."
* * *
Several days passed. Verdzig and I received Father's summons and boarded a carriage heading to the vineyard.
"His Grace will have an 'important discussion' today. Please dress in formal attire."
The head butler's request clearly indicated that this would be an occasion for important talk about the succession structure.
"This reminds of old tis."
I muttered while looking outside the carriage.
Back then, I had traveled this road with the head butler in quite a tense state. But now I felt a mixture of small excitent and curiosity.
"Does the scenery look different now?"
Olivier asked with a slight laugh.
"Well. Scenery is scenery."
I crossed my arms and looked toward the window.
"Only the heart of the person viewing it changes."
Using the sea spread out in the distance as a canvas, mories from my previous life flashed by.
'An orphan from the back alleys who lived and died as a blade of the underworld.'
Now I'm just one step away from ascending to the most noble position.
'For Allenvert's long-cherished wish and Karzan's revenge.'
But what would happen if I lose this confrontation?
Of course, the current Verdzig is no longer the frightening and ruthless man he once was.
'Even so.'
The fact remains that the mont of defeat would cause everything I've built to crumble like a sandcastle.
'Those who fall from high places get hurt more severely.'
Up ahead, the carriage carrying Verdzig was traveling slightly ahead of mine.
I thought that was quite a symbolic scene.
'Though the vast distance between us has narrowed to this extent.'
Even combining all the various fortunes and trials I've experienced since my reincarnation, along with my previous life's experiences and talents, I still haven't surpassed Verdzig, which was truly remarkable.
Even the Black Society's executioner couldn't kill .
"But how exactly is His Grace the Duke planning to decide on a successor?"
Peter asked cautiously.
"There are several thods."
Olivier explained.
"Other clans usually eliminate opponents underwater through struggles involving sches, or obtain concessions through various ans. Sotis the head of the clan directly chooses a successor from the beginning to prevent relatives and retainers from having other ideas."
"The forr case was Svaltalfar, the latter was Valkenhain."
When I added to the explanation, Peter opened his mouth wide in admiration.
"I see. What other thods are there?"
"In clans with strong martial traditions like ours, they sotis decide through duels. But it's a bit strange for the person who's best with a sword to beco the clan head, isn't it? We're not barbarians."
"That's true."
"He'll probably give us trials. To judge all aspects: capability as a clan head, martial prowess, wisdom, political power, problem-solving ability..."
Yes. The fact that our brothers didn't cross the line with each other was tantamount to announcing to the clan that 'we will decide the succession this way.'
If not, Verdzig and I would have waged war mobilizing our respective forces, with the victor ascending the throne with bloodied hands and na.
"Um, will it be alright? The Second Young Master is certainly..."
Jeffrey answered Peter's question instead.
"It'll be fine. I've never seen a man as remarkable as our Young Master."
"..."
After pondering those words, I said to Jeffrey.
"What about our father then?"
"Huh? No, that's..."
"Impudent fellow."
Jeffrey, who had instantly beco an irreverent retainer, blinked his eyes.
"I'm joking. Everyone relax a bit."
Sohow the three of them were more nervous than I was.
"Young Master, we'll arrive soon."
The coachman said.
...In the distance, Father's presence revealed itself with the heavy weight of a great mountain.
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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