Chapter 35 - The Necklace of Severed Ties
Translator: Dusky90
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Necklace of Severed Ties
Two hours earlier.
“Your Grace. A young man has come to the city gate, presenting this necklace and requesting an audience.”
Grand Duke Conrad, who had been carrying out his duties as usual, was given the necklace Otto had sent.
“This necklace…”
Grand Duke Conrad’s expression froze.
“The young man wishes to meet me outside the city gate?”
“That is correct.”
“I will go immediately.”
Grand Duke Conrad brought his work to a halt and rose to his feet without delay.
Grand Duke Conrad’s fist was clenched tightly around the necklace Otto had sent.
It was the very necklace he had once given, decades ago, to his only daughter….
* * *
Otto de Scuderia’s mother was actually the only daughter of Grand Duke Conrad, the head of the Kuntachi family.
Long ago, Selena von Kuntachi happened to meet the Lord of Orix, and the two fell deeply in love.
But there was no way their love could come to fruition.
Could a family boasting the most exalted bloodline on the continent ever send their daughter to marry the lord of a mere rural territory?
So Selena was forced to make a drastic choice.
She destroyed her own mana core and cut the tendons in her sword wielding right wrist, choosing to sever all ties with her family.
Without such extreme measures, there was no path that would allow her to be with the Lord of Orix.
“You ungrateful wretch! From this moment on, you are no longer my daughter, nor a member of House Kuntachi! Were it up to me, I would kill you with my own hands, but in consideration of your late mother, I will show mercy. Leave at once! I never wish to lay eyes on you again!”
Consumed by rage, Grand Duke Conrad cast his daughter Selena out of the Kuntachi family, and the forbidden love was finally allowed to bear fruit.
This concealed backstory was documented in [Orix’s Diary], the journal of Otto’s father, a secret known to no one but Kim Dojin.
It was invaluable information discovered only because he had spared no effort or method in order to clear the game as Otto de Scuderia.
“Maternal grandfather…”
A cold smile formed on Grand Duke Conrad’s lips.
“And who are you, to dare call me your maternal grandfather?”
…That was what he said, but in reality, Conrad recognized Otto instantly.
‘He looks just like Selena.’
For a moment, Otto’s face overlapped with the memory of his daughter Selena, whom he had driven out thirty years ago.
“You are my maternal grandfather, Your Grace, so I merely addressed you as such.”
“I regret to say that I have no daughter. As such, there can be no grandchild to call me grandfather.”
“Even if my mother was disowned, that does not change the fact that she is still your daughter.”
“How dare you speak of a traitor expelled from the family in my presence?”
At the instant Conrad’s anger flared.
“I came simply to deliver news of a death.”
Otto said calmly.
“News of a death…?”
“My mother has passed away.”
“……!”
“It’s not something recent. She passed away a long time ago, but circumstances made it impossible to deliver the news.”
Caught completely off guard, Conrad was rendered speechless.
Thirty years had passed without contact, without a single message exchanged.
Even so, the sudden news of his daughter’s death was enough to unsettle Grand Duke Conrad.
“I see… is that so.”
He spoke with a rigid expression.
“Are you telling me that Selena… has left this world…?”
“It happened a long time ago.”
“This isn’t a conversation for this place. Let’s move somewhere else.”
Thus, Otto entered the inner city alongside Grand Duke Conrad.
“See? I told you I’d walk right in.”
Otto whispered into Camille’s ear.
“…….”
Camille was struck dumb, rendered speechless by a turn of events he had never once anticipated.
To think that Otto had inherited the noble blood of the Kuntachi family….
* * *
Otto and Camille were escorted to a garden nestled deep within the castle grounds.
‘I need to keep my guard up.’
Otto felt a tight tension settle in.
Conrad was not inherently malicious, but he was a man who could never be approached carelessly.
As the head of House Kuntachi, one of the continent’s five most exalted families, he was not a man to be treated lightly.
“How did your mother… pass away?”
Conrad asked Otto.
“She died after giving birth to me.”
“For such a reason…”
“To be precise, she died after being afflicted by a curse.”
“What?”
“There was an unfortunate incident.”
Otto recounted the events of the past to Conrad.
“You foolish child… was this the end you chose, betraying your father and the family….”
A restrained yet angry voice came from Conrad.
‘He really has grown old. If this were ten years ago, he wouldn’t have batted an eye.’
Thinking that, Otto kept quiet and waited.
“Very well. You may return. You’ve delivered the news, and your role ends here.”
Conrad made it clear that he had no intention of acknowledging Otto as his maternal grandson.
“My business here isn’t finished.”
“You’ve delivered the news of your mother’s passing. What more could there be? Surely you didn’t expect me to acknowledge you as my grandson.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Otto shook his head.
“Grandfather….”
“I told you not to call me that.”
“I am aware that Your Grace is merciless toward those who lack ability.”
“And?”
“I have come to prove my worth.”
“Your worth, huh….”
A faintly mocking expression crossed Conrad’s face.
“And by what means do you intend to prove it? My standards are high. Some flimsy talent won’t impress me. It will only disappoint me.”
“I’m confident I won’t disappoint you.”
“Then tell me. What is the measure by which you intend to prove your worth?”
“The Sanctuary.”
Otto said with a smile.
“I’ll open the Sanctuary.”
At that moment.
‘What in the world is this boy talking about?’
Conrad wondered if he had heard him correctly.
* * *
In the Kuntachi House, which prided itself on a thousand year history, there was a highly secretive place called the [Sanctuary].
Yet even the members of the Kuntachi family did not know what was actually inside the [Sanctuary].
All that had been handed down were legends saying that immense swordsmanship or powerful magic lay sealed within….
“What did you just say?”
“I said I would open the [Sanctuary].”
“You’re claiming you can open a place that no one has managed to open in the thousand years since our family established itself here?”
“Yes.”
“Hah!”
Conrad’s brow creased deeply.
“And what makes you so confident….”
“If I can’t open the Sanctuary, I’ll give up my life.”
“Is that truly so?”
“There is not even the slightest falsehood in my words.”
Though Conrad was skeptical of Otto’s claim, the resolve to stake his life compelled him to place his trust in him, if only provisionally.
“If you succeed in opening the [Sanctuary], I will acknowledge you. To do so would be a tremendous contribution to our family.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
“One last question, just in case. Do you know what lies within the [Sanctuary]?”
“I do.”
“What’s inside that place?”
“The five authorities of the Invincible Emperor are sealed there.”
“Th.. The Invincible Emperor?!”
Conrad was shocked.
The Invincible Emperor.
He was an ancient supreme ruler from 1,500 years ago, a figure spoken of not just as a legend, but almost as a myth.
“W-What did you just say? The Invincible Emperor?”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
“You mean to tell me that the Invincible Emperor’s authorities… all five of them lie dormant there? Inside the [Sanctuary]?”
“That’s correct.”
“My god….”
The Invincible Emperor was a figure said to have wielded godlike power in a human body, making it self evident that his authorities would be nothing short of terrifying.
If Otto were to open the [Sanctuary] and bring out the Invincible Emperor’s sealed authorities….
‘House Kuntachi becoming the foremost House on the continent would no longer be a dream. Even unifying the continent might be possible.’
The tale of the Invincible Emperor’s authorities was so enticing that it stirred even the usually unflappable Conrad.
No matter how implausible it might seem….
“You’ve already raised my expectations. If you disappoint me now, you will pay dearly.”
Conrad warned Otto in a faintly threatening voice.
“You won’t be disappointed, Grand Duke. I promise you that.”
“Then when do you plan to open the Sanctuary?”
“I’m exhausted from the long trip, so I’d like to rest for about three days before opening it.”
“Three days… Our family has waited close to a thousand years for the Sanctuary to be opened. Compared to that, three days is insignificant. Very well. Remain here and rest at ease.”
“Thank you.”
Thus, Otto was permitted to stay within the inner castle of the Kuntachi family.
* * *
That night.
Otto and Camille were given exceptionally generous hospitality.
At Conrad’s explicit order to spare no effort in their treatment, they were accorded respect befitting even the king of a major power.
Before retiring for the night.
“Will you be okay?”
Camille asked Otto.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s treating us generously right now, but what if Grand Duke Conrad changes his attitude after the Sanctuary is opened…”
“That won’t happen.”
Otto smiled, putting Camille at ease.
“Grand Duke Conrad isn’t that kind of person. He keeps his bottom line.”
“But still…”
“Sure, the rest of the family can’t really be trusted, but Grand Duke Conrad himself can.”
“I see…”
“And I’ve got proper safeguards in place, so there’s no need to worry.”
“You have a safeguard in place?”
“I do.”
“Surely you’re not relying on that mace…”
“Of course not.”
Otto shook his head.
“The mace may be powerful, but it’s not enough to keep me alive here. You know how dangerous Grand Duke Conrad is, right?”
“I’ve heard he was known as the Blood Demon in his younger days.”
Conrad was widely regarded as one of the top ten strongest figures currently known.
Even with age, a tiger was still a tiger.
Even if he drew upon the power of [Kairos’s Punishment], it was doubtful that Otto could endure for even one minute.
“Shall I tell you a secret?”
Otto said with a smile.
“What is it?”
“Only the one who opens the Sanctuary can go in and out.”
“What?!”
Camille jumped in surprise.
“I.. Is that really true?”
“Right. Only the first person to open it gains the right to enter and leave. That means even if the Sanctuary is opened, I alone can go inside. I’m also the only one who can obtain its authorities.”
“Then…”
“It means the Kuntachi family has no reason to betray me. Betraying the sole person who can access the Sanctuary would be madness. If anything, they’d need to treat me even more carefully. Only by staying in my good graces could they hope to obtain and learn even one of the authorities sealed within the Sanctuary.”
".....!"
“I’m not stupid, so don’t worry.”
“Alright.”
Having reassured Camille, Otto promptly fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
“What? Selena’s son showed up?”
“Yes.”
“Does he have any idea where this is!”
Javier, Conrad’s half brother, was far from pleased about Otto’s visit.
The reason was simple.
Because Conrad, the head of the Kuntachi family, had no direct heirs, Javier’s son had long been considered the leading candidate to succeed him.
The sudden appearance of Conrad’s maternal grandson naturally made matters uncomfortable.
Should Conrad choose to name Otto as the next head of the family, there would be no means of opposing the decision.
That was assuming, of course, that Otto truly had the qualifications….
“Station knights near the place where he’s staying and keep him under strict surveillance. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“That bastard. I don’t know what he thinks he can gain by crawling in here, but if he’s entertaining any foolish thoughts, I won’t let him live.”
Ultimately, Otto drew resentment regardless of his true intentions.
As the sole remaining direct-blood descendant of the Kuntachi family, it was only natural that the collateral branches would view him with suspicion.