Game Master 008: Szczecin County (6)
Whether Gramvine had anticipated this exact outcome and acted accordingly was impossible to know.
But now that things had come to this, there was no backing down gracefully.
Calix deliberately reminded himself once more that he had nearly died.
This wasn't Earth—it was the Eren Continent. Gramvine had already undergone his coming-of-age ceremony.
Here, he was legally an adult, old enough to bear responsibility for his words and actions.
Hardening his resolve, Calix opened his mouth.
"Fine. If your feelings run this deep, I have no choice."
"Then...!"
"It's customary to lighten the sentence for those who confess their crimes voluntarily. If you admit your guilt, I'll ask the regent to spare you the death penalty at least. But keep this in mind—words spoken here can't be taken back lightly. Choose wisely."
While Gramvine was momentarily speechless, Stera Countess shrieked and thrashed about.
"I won't accept it! Gramvine, what the hell are you doing? Just do as your mother says! Why are you stepping forward? And you, Calix—what gives you the right to order your brother around?"
Her shrewish outburst made even the vassals who had been looking at Gramvine with pity avert their gazes.
In truth, the age difference between the two held no meaning.
The only reason Calix was called the first heir was that his late mother had outranked Stera Countess in status.
Their hierarchy was utterly meaningless.
Yet she, plagued by an inferiority complex, had always forced Calix to treat Gramvine as the elder brother.
But in this situation, her behavior was more than enough to furrow brows—it defied the customs and traditions of the Lock Kingdom.
In the end, the knights stepped in to subdue her, gagging her mouth before the commotion finally died down.
Calix asked Gramvine once more.
"Do you admit your guilt?"
"I... I admit it."
He had no choice.
Refusing to admit guilt would mean rejecting Calix's offer of mercy.
And that would erase even the faint traces of pitying glances.
Of course, I doubt he's calculating that far ahead...
The moment he heard Gramvine's answer, Calix advised Russell.
"Since the criminal has confessed of his own accord, it would be best to keep the Earth's Memory spell private to avoid tarnishing the Szczecin family's honor."
"If the heir—a member of the count's family—thinks so, then very well."
"Furthermore, since Gramvine confessed before decisive evidence was revealed, please lighten his sentence."
It was a stretch, but not entirely wrong.
Of course, there was a condition.
"Provided the criminal seals his own mana hole, proving he has no intention of contesting this further."
"Hm."
Russell nodded and turned to Gramvine.
"The criminal will choose for himself."
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
The question was for Gramvine, but the response came from Stera Countess.
Bound tightly and gagged, she was already out of her mind.
Ignoring her, Russell fixed his gaze on Gramvine and asked dryly,
"Does that mean you refuse?"
"P-Please wait just a moment."
Gramvine's eyes shook violently.
His mother, who always provided answers, was gagged.
The choice was his alone.
And there was only one option.
Rejecting the offer would expose all their dirty secrets—and end with a noose around his neck.
"Mmmph! Mmmph!"
Realizing Gramvine's predicament, the countess writhed and tried to lunge forward in desperation.
But she couldn't shake off the sturdy knights.
"Please keep your promise."
"Of course."
Gramvine climbed onto the table and knelt.
One of the waiting knights approached and handed him a scroll.
Gramvine calmly took the magic scroll and put it in his mouth.
His eyes caught sight of his own mother, held by the knights and thrashing wildly.
Blinded by power though she was, she was still his mother.
He couldn't let her hang from the gallows.
He placed one hand on his mana hole below his navel and tore the scroll in his mouth with the other.
Flash!
The light bursting from the scroll was sucked into Gramvine's mana hole.
Over the next three weeks or so, his mana hole would gradually harden.
Once the magic fully settled, not even a legendary grand master could reverse it.
Even as his future plummeted into ruin, Gramvine didn't fully grasp its meaning.
He was still too young and inexperienced.
Instead, with an innocent expression, he tried to comfort his mother.
"Mother, don't be too upset. Truth be told, I always wanted to be an artist."
Her eyes rolled back, and she finally tore through the gag, spewing curses with bloodied lips.
"Argh! Calix! I curse you! I'll tear you apart someday!"
But Calix didn't so much as blink.
The Lock Kingdom, land of knights, was a strict class society divided into nobles, knights, commoners, and slaves. The only path to becoming a ruling-class knight was ascending to class 4 by using mana to strengthen the body.
Receiving the mana hole sealing spell meant that path was forever blocked.
Hence, it was also called "social execution."
No amount of backing from the Kosalin Viscountcy could change that.
On the contrary, they were a family disgrace, and expelling them as quickly as possible was the only way to preserve any honor.
Of course, it would leave deep resentment.
Well, our families are destined to clash anyway.
Having allied with Russell, Calix couldn't laugh and chat with the Kosalin family, suspected of assassinating Collin Count.
One of the two houses would vanish someday.
Yet a lingering unease gnawed at Calix's modern sensibilities.
It wasn't because of the countess's curses.
By modern standards, he had uprooted what might have been a bright future for Gramvine, still a minor.
It made him want to vomit.
Dizzy, Calix closed his eyes and repeated to himself endlessly.
This isn't Earth. A tiny mistake or a moment of pity could lead to death at any time. Mercy is a luxury only the strong can afford. I can't let my guard down!
Calix forcibly shook off the swirling complex thoughts.
This wasn't the time.
Russell was watching his hesitation with strange eyes.
There was no getting off the tiger's back now.
With resolute eyes, he spoke.
"Please finalize the dispositions, Viscount Russell."
"...Understood. Stera Countess and Heir Gramvine will be confined to the annex until the investigation into those involved in the assassination is complete. Thereafter, contact with outsiders is strictly forbidden for both."
Russell didn't forget to punish Gidrus, who had kept interfering.
"Additionally, Chief Treasurer Gidrus is suspected of leaking confidential documents. I strip him of his position and order his detention and interrogation. Drag the criminal out!"
"Yes!"
Gidrus, who had tried to sneak out of the grand hall, was caught by the knights and thrashed wildly.
"I'm innocent! Innocent! Argh! Gahk!"
One impatient knight punched him in the solar plexus, knocking him out.
They dragged his limp body away like a corpse.
The man who had lived high on the countess's backing was now a criminal, thrown into the underground dungeon overnight.
The vassals from the same faction gulped nervously. They knew they were next.
Meanwhile, those who supported Calix or had stayed neutral focused elsewhere.
On the peculiar relationship between Russell and Calix.
Russell was the regent and a viscount.
Calix, without an official title or power base, had no business giving orders.
Yet Russell had sought Calix's confirmation at every step.
It wasn't an ideal sight.
Even if Calix was the frontrunner for heir, a heavyweight like Russell deferring to him looked servile.
The vassals whispered among themselves.
Hm, showing us even scenes that didn't need to be shown... This must be a warning aimed at us.
Indeed! Swearing formal fealty to the first heir, who can't even control his own body, let alone reach class 4? He must be senile in his old age.
Regardless, if Russell follows, the rest of the knights have no choice. He's eliminated the rival with justification and secured the territory's military might... The succession struggle is over.
Though the vassals gossiped about Russell's oath of fealty, he silently continued the dispositions.
"Security Captain. You're suspended and confined to quarters. Also, avoid contact with others for the time being to prevent unnecessary suspicion."
"...Understood."
The security captain realized his secret was out and his last-minute connection was rotten.
If only I'd decided one day later...
Regret was pointless now.
He bowed his head silently.
Next was the chief administrator, the eldest among the vassals.
Strictly speaking, he was innocent.
Choosing a successor was purely political, and he hadn't interfered with his subordinates' decisions.
In Szczecin County, if Russell symbolized martial might, the chief administrator symbolized civil authority.
He wasn't someone to handle lightly.
Russell spoke.
"Chief Administrator."
"Yes, Regent."
"I'll provide a list of administrators suspected of involvement. Suspend them and order them confined."
"My apologies. I failed to manage my subordinates properly, allowing this to happen. Please accept my resignation."
Russell shook his head.
It was already agreed with Calix.
With the chief administrator gone too, quelling the chaos would take far longer.
"I reject your resignation. Cleanup is urgent—ensure no gaps in duties. Serve the county as your penance."
"...My apologies, sir."
At that moment, Calix stepped forward.
"Heir Calix, do you have something to say?"
"Regent. Aside from four grade 3 and below treasurers, all treasury officials are subjects of investigation. We'll need to dispatch civil officials from other departments to the treasury."
Shocked at the implication of gutting the treasury staff, the chief administrator tried to dissuade him.
"If no high-ranking officials remain, operations will grind to a halt. For those with lesser offenses, wouldn't showing the heir's mercy be wiser?"
They had merely backed the wrong horse—not incompetent or corrupt.
But Calix shook his head at the chief administrator's persuasion.
At least when it came to money, he intended to fill the positions solely with his own people.
"If fears of operational disruption let the investigations fizzle out, will they thank my mercy—or grow arrogant?"
"But their fault was only choosing poorly. In times like these..."
"Enough. I've made up my mind."
"Haha..."
The chief administrator was at a loss for words at Calix's firmness.
He was confused by the sudden change in the heir's personality and demeanor.
The first heir he knew was an indecisive boy with a soft heart.
Now, he seemed like a tyrannical sovereign.
Too rigid, and he'll break. He's still young—opposing him outright might just fuel rebellion. Better to guide him slowly over time.
Collecting his thoughts, he bowed respectfully.
"My apologies. This old man's thinking was shortsighted. Do as you will."