Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Ouriel's Ultimatum
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Before the fire spread through the mansion, Zephyr set off at Ouriel's summons.
He had trailed her once before, so he tensed, wondering if she'd caught on, but he tried his best to keep a calm expression.
Ouriel was seated at the table.
"I'm sorry for calling you so suddenly. I have a favor to ask."
"Please, speak freely. We're family, after all."
Ouriel gave a gentle smile.
"Is that so? In that case, would you help me kidnap Haniel?"
In an instant, Zephyr's face stiffened.
The abrupt words choked the breath from him.
"Haniel is currently in Daebo Village with two escorts. She's helping the doctors treat patients, so I sent some of my aides there. But the two guards with her are quite formidable, so with your help, it should be easier."
How long had it been since Kenneth's death, and here she was spouting such nonsense.
'Has she caught on to something?'
Zephyr swallowed a sigh inwardly.
As expected, nothing resolved itself easily.
Kenneth had been strong but simple.
His emotions showed plainly on his face, his likes and dislikes clear as day, making him easy to read.
But Ouriel, with her equal talent, was somehow always elusive.
Just like now.
"May I ask why?"
"I need a weakness to hold over Esther."
"And why is that?"
Ouriel tapped her chin with her index finger as she spoke.
"Right now, she's the biggest obstacle in my way."
Zephyr thought to himself.
Ever since confirming her contact with the terrorists, he'd realized Ouriel could no longer be seen as a successor vying for the Family Head position.
Whatever her goal, whatever her reasons, as of this moment, Ouriel was a criminal who deserved the ultimate punishment.
He needed to keep his wits about him.
"Was it you who killed Brother Kenneth?"
"I didn't intend to kill him. If Esther hadn't destroyed the egg and Dargishkal had awakened safely, he might still be alive."
Ouriel looked at the rigid Zephyr and burst into loud laughter, as if she were immensely enjoying herself.
"Puhuhu, staring at my clever second little brother always puts me in such a good mood."
"......."
"If you won't do as I ask, I'll have to kill you right here. Oh, and by the way, I've left Father in a coma. He'll be dead soon."
Of course, Ouriel didn't speak only in such grim tones.
She promised that if this all went smoothly, she would place Zephyr in the Family Head seat.
This meant he could possess Tristy without playing the childish game of the successor trials.
"I'm a criminal anyway, so sitting in the Family Head seat means nothing to me. Esther has no interest in it either. Well, the moment we grab Haniel, she'll be dancing in the palm of my hand completely."
Ouriel didn't know what trick Esther had used to gain such genius-level abilities, but she was only fifteen years old.
She couldn't coldly abandon the sister who had showered her with love and affection in place of their mother since childhood.
"Capturing that maid Dalphy as well would double the effect. Anyway, for those reasons, cooperate with me from now on, and the territory naturally becomes yours. How about it? Doesn't it sound tempting?"
"A truly enticing offer. I'll cooperate."
Zephyr answered immediately, just as Ouriel wanted.
But.
Ouriel only wore a scornful expression.
If you're going to lie, at least put some effort into it, she advised her brother as she drew her sword.
"Among my siblings, if anyone asked who I liked best, I'd say you without hesitation. It's a shame—I really didn't want to kill you."
Ouriel must have known it too.
There was no way to recruit Zephyr here and now.
Her words were closer to an ultimatum.
The only way for him to survive was to join her, like it or not, and aid in her crimes.
Zephyr had no intention of accepting.
"I'm only saddened that you've become a criminal despised by gods and men, sister."
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
'Alright... what now?'
His opponent wasn't human.
She was a murderer who could ruthlessly kill the family she'd lived with for twenty long years, all for her goals.
No matter how materialistic and calculating he was, he couldn't join hands with a devil like that.
There was no gain in it to begin with.
'Turning against big sis would turn life into hell anyway—what an idiot I am.'
Deals were made with trustworthy people.
She had no credit.
She'd just shattered it with her own words.
For Ouriel, probably only herself mattered.
She was prepared to sacrifice anything for it—the most venomous and dangerous mindset.
'I'll escape somehow.'
He'd already contacted Esther.
She'd come to capture Ouriel soon enough.
Her opponent was one of the kingdom's top aura users, but if he could just hold out this moment, a path to survival would open.
Besides, Zephyr wasn't alone.
"Leo, Hilde."
"Yes."
The way for one who couldn't fight to protect himself was to keep those who could by his side.
His escort knights, who had been hiding nearby waiting for the moment, stepped between Zephyr and Ouriel.
One regret was that, fearing Ouriel might sense something and flee, he hadn't prepared any schemes for a crisis like this.
If he'd known, he would have set something up in advance.
"Ah, uh... excuse me?"
A servant holding a mop and bucket stared at them in bewilderment from the doorway.
She must have come at the sound of the commotion.
Not knowing the full situation, did she just want to calm the tense atmosphere?
She stood there, repeatedly urging everyone to calm down.
Zephyr grimaced and shouted.
"Do your eyes still see her as Tristy's eldest daughter? She's a criminal! If you don't want to die, run now! Tell the others to run too!"
Zephyr's words were incoherent.
The servant couldn't possibly understand.
But as the knights clashed with Ouriel, their real swords ringing out.
The servant finally grasped the gravity and fled, shouting.
"E-everyone, run!! Young Master Zephyr says to run!!"
Ouriel casually parried the knights' swords as she spoke.
"Do you really think you can escape my grasp?"
For a moment, a acrid smell stung Zephyr's nose sharply.
The fire was spreading through the mansion.
That wasn't all.
A massive double barrier enveloping the entire mansion suddenly appeared.
"My subordinates are waiting outside. Better give up hope—it's good for your mental health."
'She's prepared thoroughly.'
Zephyr's expression darkened.
The barrier incorporated the "Reeking" spell Esther had used against Kenneth before.
Of course, no mage in the Yustina Kingdom could wield Reeking better than Esther.
And since it was a large-scale ritual, its effect was laughably minor compared to Esther's.
But it was enough to momentarily stagger Zephyr's escorts.
Ouriel didn't miss the opening, like a demon.
There were two against her one.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, she leisurely turned the fight in her favor.
She'd also perfectly blocked Zephyr's escape, making it impossible not to feel anxious.
'I hope the escort knights pull through somehow...'
Ouriel was a natural-born fighter.
Her skill had risen at an eerie, steep pace in a short time.
Just months ago, she'd been on par with Kenneth, but now she seemed two levels above.
Ouriel's blade flashed.
"Krk!?"
Leo had no choice but to release his sword, his wrist tendons severed in an instant.
The hunter's blade, seizing the chance, plunged deep into his unguarded abdomen.
"Kuhk!"
Leo vomited blood and collapsed.
With one comrade unable to fight properly, the momentum shifted to Ouriel in a flash.
"Y-Young master... escape...!!"
Hilde quickly assessed the situation.
Realizing it was a fight they couldn't win, she tried to secure at least a path and time for Zephyr to flee.
But.
Slash—
She fell powerlessly to Ouriel's strike, now far swifter than before.
"...."
It was a matchup unimaginable for aura users.
Hilde and Leo were among the finest warriors Zephyr had ever met, yet they were overwhelmed unilaterally.
'Leo and Hilde going down so pointlessly...?'
Seeing them fall so helplessly, Zephyr felt something inside him crumble.
An eerie, baleful aura poured from Ouriel's body.
It was a color utterly unlike standard aura.
Ouriel shook the blood from her blade.
"You can't escape. I told you—if you refuse, I'll kill you here."
Ouriel smiled chillingly.
She slowly closed the distance to Zephyr.
"I'll at least hear your last words. Speak."
He swallowed dryly.
And steeled himself.
He couldn't die here so meaninglessly.
He'd lived desperately for the dream of becoming Family Head—if he died without achieving it, his life would be too pathetic.
Zephyr intended to resist to the very end, even if he died.
However.
Crash—!!
"Kuhk."
Ouriel's body staggered.
She slumped to the spot, blood dripping from her right leg.
'What?'
Zephyr hadn't done anything just now.
His gaze naturally turned beyond the broken window behind him.
'The barrier's gone?'
On the annex rooftop, a familiar face came into view.
Zephyr unwittingly let out a sigh of relief.
Esther Tristy.
He glared at Ouriel with a piercing gaze.
In his right hand was something suspicious that looked like a weapon.
Zephyr intuited its identity.
It was probably another new invention, like the Hell Tank.