Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Roar, Hellfire Main Cannon
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Roar, Hellfire main cannon.
Small? Medium? Large? Even if a hell tank rams them, they won't budge.
With the hell tank's massive, imposing cannon, I gave the demonkin a thorough thrashing.
『The hell tank's remaining mana is at 3%. Recharging is required.』
Of course, there were far more demonkin than at the academy, so the hell tank had nearly depleted its mana reserves, but that was fine.
“Ester!”
My big sister was here.
I opened the hatch and climbed out of the hell tank.
I wanted to greet her warmly, but the hell tank came first.
“Are the items you requested all complete?”
“Yeah. Ian.”
Ian arrived pulling a cart.
Inside the cart were special containers filled with contaminated mana extracted from the corpses of the demonkin brought by the Carlson Mercenaries and Johnson Mercenaries.
I connected a hose from the cart's containers to the hell tank and injected the mana.
The hell tank's power source was mana.
All the ammunition needed for firing was also substituted with mana, making it an incredibly precious resource.
Nob AI had proposed using demonkin corpses as a solution, purifying the contaminated mana in the core we had prepared in advance.
Thus, with mithril alloy storing vast amounts of mana, and drawing contaminated mana from corpses after depletion, it was practically infinite power in a war against demonkin.
I finished recharging and was about to discuss the current situation with my sister.
“Young master.”
Dalpi approached me, pressing close and sniffing.
Suddenly switching to pox mode, Dalpi made me a bit embarrassed in front of my sister.
“A woman's scent?”
“!!!”
A chill ran down my spine.
“It's not perfume... The faint body scent suggests high-quality shampoo and bath products. I heard you came from the academy. Did you spend some quality time with a well-off young lady studying there?”
Dalpi was terrifying today.
Her voice was the same as usual, perfectly restrained, but with a subtle difference.
No choice. Nob AI, help me.
『!!!』
Nob AI, why are you silent?
『I'm deriving the best possible response for the current situation. Please wait a moment.』
『…….』
Hurry up and give me the perfect answer that won't upset Dalpi!
『(˘･ᴗ･˘)』
『The braised short rib recipe is as follows.』
『1. Cut the short ribs into 5cm pieces, soak in cold water to remove blood, drain, remove excess fat, and make deep incisions all over for better seasoning...』
This bastard?
“You've been quiet for a while. I'm just curious who the young master spent time with. Please feel free to tell me.”
In the end, I decided not to rely on the AI's power and overcome this situation on my own.
“Dalpi.”
“Yes.”
“I clearly told you to deliver the letter in secret, so how does Erps know I observed a different polar phase?”
Dalpi's body twitched.
“Hm.”
With that, Dalpi and I made up.
“Pffft, cough cough, you two look so close.”
My sister let out a cough mixed with laughter.
I cleared my throat and scratched my cheek.
“Anyway, I thought you'd be at the mansion, so I was surprised to see you on the battlefield. Are you feeling okay?”
Haniel nodded.
“When everyone's fighting with their lives on the line to defend the territory, the heir can't just lie around.”
“But...”
“I'm managing my condition. Don't worry too much.”
Haniel gave a thumbs up.
I couldn't help worrying about my sister, but Ian was with her, and this was in the middle of the family head exam, so I decided to respect her choice.
“Little brother!”
“Young master!”
Finishing my talk with Haniel, Zephyr approached.
At his side were Johnson and Carlson, whom I'd met before in Daebo Village—he must have brought them.
I gave them a light wave.
“What on earth is that incredible invention?”
Zephyr marveled at the hell tank.
“My sister designed it, and I built it from the blueprints. Its name is the hell tank.”
“Haniel designed this?”
Zephyr smirked.
He already seemed to know who the designer was.
“If your relationship with little brother stays bad, you won't pass the family head exam. Well, got it for now.”
“Yeah, well...”
Zephyr patted my shoulder.
It didn't feel bad.
Among those who felt somewhat human besides Haniel, Zephyr was one.
The emotional rift after giving him the necklace had mostly healed.
“Father's calling. Go quickly.”
“Yes.”
I was about to head to Porto with Dalpi.
I had news to relay anyway.
“Ester, be careful around our sister Urel.”
Suddenly, Zephyr advised from behind.
Turning around, his expression was more serious than ever.
“The reason?”
“Just a hunch. She doesn't scruple much about means or methods, so better safe than sorry.”
I glanced at the wanderers by Urel's side.
『They all have criminal records.』
Like in the previous exam, Urel always hung around shady types.
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
I bowed to Zephyr and walked on.
“Young master.”
“Yeah?”
“If anything happens, I'll protect you, so don't worry.”
“Got it.”
This cheeky maid is really reliable.
“Father.”
I faced Porto, who was reading a map.
“You're here. Ester, I have something to tell you...”
“Before that, I have something to say to you first, Father.”
I took a deep breath and spoke.
“After this exam ends, I'll leave the mansion.”
Only then did Porto look away from the map and at me.
Parents are supposed to love their children.
At least in my previous life, that was the case.
Now, with memories of past and present merged, it's hazy.
But in my previous life, my parents tried to give me everything until they left due to an accident.
Of course, I know not all parents love their kids.
Meeting good ones before was just my luck.
Like Porto here, there are trash parents in this world who expect something in return rather than giving love.
-Haniel is excellent, but you... it's baffling.
-Don't tarnish Tristy's name, Ester.
-Incompetent son of mine, get out of my sight.
I wasn't Porto's son.
I was a tool bred from his second wife, Freya, to continue the line.
Among his children, I was the lowest quality reject.
That's what I'd felt living until now.
He doesn't see me as a son.
Though I've never had kids from love, I knew I never wanted to be a father like Porto—he was the worst.
Just as he doesn't see me as a son, I don't see him as a father.
In the past, I lacked power, and until now, I'd stayed in the mansion just to look after my sister.
But he was the type who'd eventually send even the ailing Haniel away to prevent succession fights.
So I went straight for the pitch.
“Is that so?”
Porto stared at me.
“I thought you'd be the next family head. Unexpected. Don't you want the territory?”
“Well, the Tristy family head position isn't that appealing to me.”
If it could be traded for money, maybe, but lording over a hassle-filled territory? No thanks.
“Ester.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why I bothered holding this heir exam for you all?”
I didn't care to know, wasn't curious.
I just gazed at the dark sky.
The sun was obscured, giving an ominous feel, but clouds still drifted lazily.
“To eliminate unnecessary rivals and potential threats.”
Whether I focused or not, Porto continued.
“If only one person can hold a treasure of absolute power, humans will kill anyone to get it.”
Porto claimed to know human nature.
Even if fairly won through competition, the losers lurk in shadows, scheming darkly for the treasure—humans are ugly like that.
“I see the family head position as that treasure. You all qualify to claim it.”
Porto wanted to give the treasure to one of us.
Tristy is a thorough meritocracy.
To Porto, earning the treasure was simple.
Prove you're the most capable among siblings through ability.
“Tristy must prosper eternally. The most capable among qualified children should take it—that's right.”
Age, gender irrelevant—the most rational way for the territory.
“To ensure the safety of whoever rightfully claims the treasure through procedure, measures are needed.”
“.......”
“The reason you take the heir exam isn't just selection. It's to weed out risks.”
Porto feared a child refusing the result would kill siblings to seize the seat.
Thus, the exam makes them feel the ability gap, then sends them to pilgrimage or battlefield—places unable to affect territory or family.
“Ester. Keep taking the heir exams. Then all risks will naturally resolve, and this territory will safely fall into your hands intact.”
Porto promised to pass the title to me after all exams.
I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
The "offer" he proposed was utterly ridiculous.