[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
Chapter 350: After Everything Was Over
The Dark King was annihilated.
Ragerian was dead, Amilcar had taken his own life, and Gulbark was dead.
Most of the Black Society mbers who had gone berserk either died or were left crippled.
The monsters and undead crumbled on their own and did not rise again.
“……”
Allenvert, rising with a weary face, gazed at the scene.
“……Gulp.”
Soone swallowed nervously.
If Allenvert were to display his power now, to stomp his foot and demand their submission, there was no one here who could resist.
Just as everyone in the Black Society was anticipating another mont of subjugation.
“Ivan, you co out and get this sorted out.”
Allenvert brought out Ivan, whom he had trapped in another dinsion.
“L-Lord Ivan?!”
“You were alive?”
Ivan looked at his subordinates, whose faces showed a mixture of shock and relief, with complicated eyes.
“Sort this out? What am in charge of?”
To Ivan's whisper, Allenvert replied with annoyance.
“I’m telling you to paint a good picture. Those guys have no one else to look to but you now, right? If you recomnd a peaceful and clean surrender, there will be no need to shed any more blood.”
At least, not on this battlefield.
“……Alright.”
Ivan raised his internal mana, letting his voice carry far.
“I was defeated by Allenvert Grunewald. But this man showed rcy even to his enemy and did not take my life.”
“……”
Ivan approached a black-clothed man who possessed the caliber of the 7th-tier.
“So of you, like , were the Dark King’s slaves from birth. Others joined after the insurgency. And many of you were just serving the royal family of Flanders, only to find yourselves on a leash as the Dark King’s subordinates.”
In that case, under the great banner of the Black Society, several different factions had coexisted.
“But the Dark King is dead, and you were lucky enough to survive. I will now formally surrender to Allenvert. You, too, should kneel and save your lives.”
At that, the black-clothed man, who had been listening to Ivan in silence, opened his mouth.
“Lord Ivan, what were we fighting for?”
“……You and I, in the end, we were just fighting to survive in that hell.”
Allenvert, who had been watching the two, spoke in their stead.
“Those who have sinned will be punished. Those who knew even a minimum of sha in that hell will one day earn their freedom. Rember how I dealt with the Angantyr clan, the sworn enemies of my mother’s family.”
At that, the black-clothed man knelt.
“We know well that you are showing rcy even to those like us. We will humbly accept any disposition.”
Then, as if by agreent, everyone dropped to their knees.
Thud! Thud-thud-thud!
Allenvert stared at the scene, then joked to Ivan.
“Your reputation mustn't have been so bad. They’re surrendering obediently.”
“……I suppose so.”
Ivan bowed his head.
“Karzan, I must thank you.”
Allenvert snorted.
“I just got my revenge, why are you thanking ?”
“Because thanks to you, many people were saved.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Allenvert chuckled and nodded.
“It was not my revenge alone.”
It was Grunewald’s revenge as well.
“Ivan, get the Black Society in order, and work with Zamuel to clean up Flanders's underworld.”
At that command, Ivan and Zamuel looked at each other.
“……This is a bit awkward.”
Zamuel smirked.
“It’s not like we’re strangers. Let's just have a drink and get over it.”
Then, Venion spoke.
“Young Lord, please leave the post-war cleanup to .”
“If the Intelligence Director is handling it, I have no worries.”
At that, Ghir suddenly interjected.
“There’s one thing I'm curious about.”
“What?”
“Was the King of Flanders’s mind destroyed?”
It was an important question. Ivan answered.
“It was, for all intents and purposes. Even if he recovers well, he will not be at a level where he can perform his duties as king.”
“……That’s vicious.”
Allenvert clicked his tongue.
“An asshole is an asshole, after all.”
It was a life he had been forced to live.
But that didn't an his sins were erased.
‘That's why he died.’
“By the way, Allen.”
Verdzig approached and asked.
“What will you do about Flanders? Will you take it?”
“……I don't know.”
Co to think of it, it wouldn't be difficult to take Flanders now.
Allenvert had beco a transcendent, and Flanders had been devastated in the aftermath of its rule by the Black Society.
“I’ve never really thought about being a king or anything.”
Allenvert scratched his head.
“Ruling and reigning aren’t really my style, either.”
“Absurd. Are you planning to just retire and live as a commoner?”
“That might be a bit difficult, wouldn't it?”
The blood of Grunewald would not allow such a life.
…Of course, if he truly wanted it, there was nothing he couldn't do now.
“There are many things that must be done, but one thing is clear.”
Siena, who had approached at so point, took Allenvert’s hand.
“From now on, you just have to live happily.”
“Heh heh, a wise answer to a foolish question.”
At last, peace had found the two of them.
“Well, anyone with energy to spare is welco to volunteer.”
“For what, sir?”
“For what! It’s obvious.”
Geninghen cackled.
“There are bound to be remnants, so don't we have to beat them up and accept their surrender too?”
At that, Georg raised his hand.
“I must go and et the King of Flanders. Even in an era like this, I am eting a king, so I must show proper respect.”
“Oh, if the Clan Head steps in, that’s reassuring.”
Georg smiled faintly and looked back at his son.
“Allen, you have truly worked hard.”
“Father.”
“……When the post-war cleanup is finished, I will step down.”
Allenvert bowed his head.
“For many long years, you have truly worked hard.”
…And.
Several months passed.
* * *
“Uncle, you’re retiring?”
“It is about ti.”
Head Butler Aiden laughed heartily.
“Now that the Young Lord has been inaugurated as the new Duke, it is right for the vassals who served the previous Clan Head to retire. From now on, you must beco the next Head Butler and serve the Young Lord well.”
Olivier said, dismayed.
“But I am still too young and inexperienced.”
“Do not worry.”
The Head Butler lightly patted his nephew's hand.
“I plan to work with you for a few years in an advisory position.”
“Ah, then I am relieved.”
Olivier's expression finally brightened a little.
“Educate Peter well, too. He must rise to the position of Head Chamberlain in the future.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Peter, the Head Chamberlain of the Grunewald Duchy? If Allenvert heard that, he would have laughed his head off.
“……It’s already been several months since that day.”
Count Aiden smiled as he savored the aroma of his tea.
“My only regret is that I could not be there.”
Although Olivier possessed the martial prowess of the 5th-tier, neither his strength nor his position was suitable for him to participate in that battle.
“To think he defeated the Dark King, who was as strong as a Demon God. I can’t even begin to guess how strong he has beco.”
Count Aiden agreed.
He had witnessed the Dark King’s terrifying strength and presence firsthand.
Tricking him by guiding him to the annex had truly been a precarious and dizzying walk on thin ice.
“……By the way, is that story true?”
The Count lowered his voice.
“That the Young Lord is the reincarnation of that man, Karzan.”
“Yes.”
Olivier nodded.
“He told himself, so it must be true. Lord Ivan and Lord Zamuel also vouched for it.”
* * *
I t my father in Grunewald’s wine cellar.
“Welco, Karzan.”
I sighed at my father's joke.
“This is why I didn't want to tell you.”
“Hahaha!”
My father laughed heartily.
Since that day, having set aside the burden of being the Clan Head, his laughter had beco much more frequent.
‘He must have originally been a magnanimous and emotional man.’
If so, then my father had finally regained his true self.
‘In any case.’
I had revealed the truth of my past life to those close to .
“……No wonder you got strong so quickly.”
Verdzig had shaken his head, looking dumbfounded.
“You had an unusually strange mindset. You were too proficient at everything.”
But Verdzig was not so petty as to rescind his concession now.
“If it weren't for you, we could not have defeated the Dark King. We won, in the end, because of a great inevitability, or perhaps a great miracle.”
Also, my father's reaction upon hearing this truth was this:
“Doesn't that an there isn't actually much of an age difference between us?”
“Ah, I suppose so.”
“How awkward. Should we perhaps drop the formalities?”
“……That’s a bit…”
Since that day, my father would often call Ivan and Zamuel to listen to Karzan’s tales of heroism.
“Hearing about it, it seems his antics were the sa then as they are now.”
“It’s true, Your Grace.”
“Zamuel, you must have had a hard ti.”
“Ahem.”
In any case, this too was one of life's pleasures, one we could enjoy because we had won the battle against the Dark King.
“How are things in the underworld?”
“Zamuel has decided to take Zizek with him for a while to build up his experience. Nagan will eventually inherit the position of the Godfather of the Red Mist Alliance and manage the underworld of Grunewald and the southern part of the kingdom.”
“And Flanders?”
“There are still many risk factors over there.”
“I'm sure. There will be those who aim for the power vacuum left by the Dark King, seeking to beco a new king.”
Even while preparing to retire, my father was keeping up with the general situation.
“What will you do?”
“First, I'll recomnd they surrender, and if they don't listen, I'll go over and beat them up a few tis.”
My father nodded.
“I was planning to go on a journey soon anyway. I will take care of it while I'm at it.”
“Oh, if you could do that, it would make things much easier.”
We exchanged wine and chatted about this and that.
“……Looking back, it wasn't so long ago that I called you, who had broken your seclusion, to this place.”
My father smiled faintly.
“Thank you, Allen. I am glad that you are my son.”
“I am also just grateful that I was reborn as your son. Thanks to you, I feel that the wounds of Karzan, who had to live as an orphan, have finally been healed.”
“Haha.”
My father laughed lightly and looked at .
“By the way, is Lady Siena doing well?”
“Yes. She is receiving lessons on succession to inherit her title.”
“I must visit Valkenhain with you and your mother soon.”
My father nodded.
“If we're going to have the formal eting of the clans, it would look better if I still hold the title, wouldn't it?”
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat.
“……Marriage. It still doesn't feel real.”
My father laughed heartily.
“By the ti you snap out of it, you’ll be at the wedding hall.”
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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