Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Patricide Revealed
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Eugene, who had taken Calburn out, told the rest of the group everything about the heinous patricide he had committed.
However, he did not mention that Luke was the hidden son of the late Count Crolmarin.
He still didn't know why Lucas wanted to kill his father, the previous Count Crolmarin, and the grander the finale of a play, the longer it lingered in memory.
"To even utter the word 'dishonor' feels shameful for such an act of patricide."
"That guy's completely insane."
Everyone was shocked, but the impact on Luke was several times greater than on the others.
Luke glared at his half-brother with trembling eyes and suddenly drew his dagger like lightning.
"I'll kill him!"
Luke's attempt ended in failure.
With three knights like Yongho present, there was no chance of success.
"Hold it together, Squire No. 2."
"Sir! Let me go! A filthy cur like that needs to be killed! I'll grind his flesh and blood and scatter it across the fields, and feed his bones to the pigs!"
Luke, restrained by Galpredic's grip, bellowed furiously and whipped his bloodshot eyes toward Calburn.
"Every god and spirit will curse you! You, your children, and your children's children! All of you will suffer the curse of sons stabbing their fathers!"
Luke was no mage. He was merely a squire aspiring to knighthood.
Yet words infused with raw human emotion can sometimes wield power greater than true magic or curses. Calburn's reaction—pale as a ghost, tears streaming down—proved it.
"Hngh! Hnghngh...."
"You vile scum! Don't think you can cover up your wicked deeds with those pathetic tears! Master! Let me kill that filthy bastard! I beg you!"
Luke, screaming in righteous fury, was weeping profusely himself.
But Eugene responded with icy calm.
"Killing just him ends it?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, is slaughtering a worm like him true revenge? Could you really be satisfied with that?"
"......!"
As Luke flinched, Galpredic stepped forward.
"Master. Do you have a plan?"
"I do."
Eugene gave a cold reply and approached Calburn, who was sniffling and blubbering like a lost soul.
"Sir Calburn Bosch."
"Hic! I-I'm sorry! Forgive me! It was all my fault! I'll even hand over the manor to Luke! So please, just spare my life...."
Everyone shook their heads at his begging for his life even now.
He was trash of the lowest order—no trace of a knight's honor or a noble's pride.
"This measly manor? You think that makes it right?"
Eugene shoved his face right up to Calburn's and spoke chillingly.
"There's only one way to preserve that filthy life of yours."
* * *
"The Count's procession! All subjects of Crolmarin, show your respects!"
At the shout of the knight bearing the Crolmarin banner, the townsfolk on the street hurriedly doffed their hats and bowed their heads.
A satisfied smile played on Lucas's lips as he looked down at them from his saddle.
'Heh heh. Perfect. Now all that's left is to soar.'
The secret would be kept forever, and perhaps the rare vampire noble knight might even request his aid.
A man with deep ties to the port cities of Kaylor Kingdom and ownership of lands would surely spend generously.
'No matter who claims the throne, they'll need the Crolmarins' cooperation. Ha ha ha ha!'
Lucas chuckled aloud despite intending to laugh inwardly, then quickly schooled his expression.
He was to become a great count restoring past glories; from now on, he had to mind his dignity.
"The Count has returned! Lower the drawbridge!"
The bridge came down, and Lucas rode into his castle with shoulders squared.
But then.
"Hm?"
Lucas frowned, sensing something off in the atmosphere.
The servants rushing to attend him all wore rigidly tense expressions.
"What is it? Has something happened?"
"W-Well, that is...."
"These fools right now...."
As the servants hesitated and avoided his eyes, Lucas scowled, about to snap.
Then, the steward came running late.
"Count! Couuunt!"
"What now with you? What's going on?"
Temper flaring, though he suppressed it to maintain dignity, Lucas gritted his teeth.
"Sir Eugene Yan has arrived. He's been waiting for you to return."
"What!?"
Eyes widening, Lucas soon composed a look of profound sympathy.
"Oh no...! Did he suffer greatly at the hands of the lykanthropes in Marin Forest? Is Sir Eugene all right? What of the others with him? Ah! Surely Sir Eugene didn't return alone?"
"T-That's...."
As the steward hemmed and hawed, Lucas grew convinced.
"Heavens! Such misfortune! Sir Eugene is young and valiant, but evidently no match for Marin Forest's beasts. Come. It's a lord's duty to honor a knight who fought nobly. For my knight...."
"N-No, that's not it, my lord."
"......What?"
Lucas halted mid-stride, his sympathetic act in full display.
"Sir Eugene slew the monster king of Marin Forest. He nearly annihilated the lykanthropes who followed it, along with the forest's other roamers."
"What!?"
"A-And...."
The steward fidgeted, at a loss, as Lucas gaped in disbelief.
"The late count wasn't taken by natural causes—he was murdered. He brought proof."
Thud!
A massive boulder crashed into Lucas's chest.
"W-What do you mean? M-Murdered? My father? Are you mad? Father consumed unpurified mana crystals by mistake...."
"Sir Bosch came with Sir Eugene. He says he has proof that the previous count was murdered."
"......!"
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A shock pierced from his spine to his crown, and Lucas's heart pounded wildly.
Why was the man who had sworn to keep the secret eternal just two days ago doing this?
More importantly, how had he reached the castle before Lucas, alongside Sir Eugene?
'Something's wrong.'
"My lord? Aren't you going in?"
"Huh!?"
Startled from his statue-like freeze, Lucas jumped. His gaze had unconsciously drifted toward the lord's manor.
Beyond those wide-open doors, a cunning vampire high noble—whose intellect and guile had no equal—awaited him.
A being who had slain the Marin Forest monster that tore through knights and mercenaries alike.
For such a one to bring Calburn Bosch and mention his father's death while waiting....
Lucas decided swiftly.
"C-Come to think of it, I haven't properly patrolled the village."
"Pardon?"
"Ah! And to celebrate the monster of Marin Forest's demise, perhaps distribute some wealth to the people and hold a feast. You! Go to my chambers at once and fetch the gold from the safe."
Lucas pulled out the key necklace—permitted only to the head of House Crolmarin, always around his neck—and urged the steward.
"B-But my lord...."
"Hey! Hurry up!"
"Y-Yes, my lord."
The startled steward snatched the key and vanished.
Watching anxiously, Lucas whipped his head around.
"Knights. I must patrol the village now—prepare to head out again!"
"......?"
The knights, dismounting to unarm, were baffled.
"Let's make it quick. Come on!"
"Y-Yes, my lord."
Though the order made little sense, Lucas was a decent employer, so they readied themselves anew.
Especially rare for mercenaries like them—mere pretenders to knighthood—to be called "sir," provided with horses, lodging, and food by a noble.
Moments later, the steward and servants returned with leather pouches and chests brimming with wealth.
Lucas and the knights loaded them onto their horses and swiftly exited the gates once more.
"A guest has arrived—why is he acting like this? Such rudeness."
"Who knows...."
The castle folk, including the steward, watched Lucas depart and tilted their heads.
"Dunno 'bout that. Kee hee hee. Our master's just scared of the boss and runnin' off. As expected, our master always got a plan! Keh keh keh!"
A tattletale spirit, perched on the battlements with sparkling excited eyes, zipped past them.
* * *
"No, my lord? Where are you headed? Didn't you say you were patrolling the village?"
Knights caught up to Lucas, who galloped straight from the drawbridge toward the lower village gate, raising their voices.
But their words fell on deaf ears as Lucas's mind raced ceaselessly.
'W-What do I do? Where to go? Right! The Liward Barony! Head there. My maternal family will welcome me warmly for Mother's sake.'
His face brightened slightly, reminiscent of his mother and doted on by her kin since childhood.
Tell them a vile continental knight invaded Crolmarin lands and stole the castle—they'd gladly help.
Truth? Irrelevant.
His greedy uncle would affirm his every word for a slice of the territory.
'As long as it doesn't come out in my presence. Everyone knows the clan of darkness is sly. He bewitched the castle folk. The situation can be spun once I reclaim the castle later. The lake spirits will protect me!'
Lost to successive self-justifications, normal thought impossible, Lucas still dreamed rosy futures amid crisis.
Worse, he was utterly unaware of his own abnormality.
This wasn't because Lucas was a fool.
Brantia lagged far behind the continent in technology and learning overall.
Even nobles were largely ignorant and superstitious—not for lack of other reasons.
'Lake spirits! Protect me! Grant me the strength to repel that filthy clan of darkness and their ilk....'
"Hm?"
Mid-prayer, Lucas narrowed his eyes.
No guards in sight; instead, one knight and over ten men and women barred the gate in a line.
'Gah!?'
Spotting the helmetless knight's face, Lucas's eyes bulged.
One of the vampire high noble's retinue, fluent in Brantian, young and handsome.
Hiiihiihing!
The galloping horses halted abruptly.
"Where are you off to in such haste, Count Crolmarin?"
"Uh... I-I remembered urgent business. Anyway, what are you doing here? Sir Eugene's at the castle, isn't he?"
"I'm waiting for someone."
"Ah, I see. Ahem! I don't know the details, but I'm swamped, so kindly step aside."
This was his domain, his village—no matter what, Lucas trusted the knight would yield.
"That's tricky. The one I've been waiting for is you, my lord."
"W-What?"
Lucas's spine chilled at the knight's charming smile.
Yet he blustered with feigned authority.
"I have nothing to discuss with you! Move aside! Daring to order me on Crolmarin soil! You! Which house are you from? I'll lodge a formal protest with your family!"
Common knights bowed to authority.
Even under Sir Eugene, invoking his house would ensure obedience. So Lucas believed.
"My house, you say?"
"Yes! You look Brantian-born—I'll make this official today! You! Name your house and lineage!"
As the knight's expression shifted oddly, Lucas pressed on, convinced of success, with greater pomp.
"Durak. I'm Ranslo Durak."
"Hmph! I'll head straight to House Durak and...."
Mid-spittle-flecked rant, Lucas trailed off.
He'd unwittingly declared, as if obvious, that he'd visit the knight's house.
"Durak!? That Durak?"
"Never heard of another Durak in Brantia. So, you really plan to go?"
"......!"
House Durak was infamous in Brantia—'obviously' known to Lucas.
One of the knights of the Aiden Dynasty that first unified Brantia, descendants of the legendary 'Knight of the Lake,' an elven noble house.
(To be continued in the next installment)