Chapter 36 - The Sanctuary and the Seeds of Treachery
The Sanctuary and the Seeds of Treachery
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Dusky90
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Sanctuary and the Seeds of Treachery
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day.
“Your Highness. Something feels off.”
Camille approached Otto and spoke the moment he woke up.
“What do you mean?”
“It feels like the number of knights guarding the area around our lodgings has doubled overnight.”
“Did it?”
“The way they look at us is suspicious too. Almost like…”
“Like they’re keeping watch on us?”
“Yes.”
“That’s probably my great-uncle’s doing.”
Otto knew all too well who expected things from him and who was wary of him.
‘Right. There’s no way that old man Javier would leave me alone.’
Otto knew Javier very well.
Otto and Javier were political enemies.
That was because Javier, who wanted to make his son the next family head, had no choice but to keep Otto in check.
“Are you talking about your grandfather’s younger brother from your mother’s side?”
“He’s my maternal grandfather’s half-brother, and he’s obsessed with making his own son the next family head. So naturally, he can’t help but be wary of someone like me who showed up out of nowhere. If legitimacy is what matters, I’m the one who actually has the right to become the next head of the Kuntachi family.”
“Ah.”
“The one we really need to watch out for isn’t my maternal grandfather, but Javier.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“If it’s for putting his son in the next family head’s seat, he’s the kind of man who won’t hesitate to use any means. He’s ready to make any sacrifice, and he wouldn’t bat an eye at creating innocent victims.”
Otto said, recalling what he knew about Javier.
“He probably sees me as a nuisance and is trying to eliminate me?”
“That seems likely. If Your Highness were to open the sanctuary and claim the authority of the Immortal Emperor sealed within…”
“He’d be screwed. His ambition to make his son the next family head would go up in smoke.”
“We’ll need to be extremely cautious.”
“Naturally.”
Otto nodded in agreement.
“In the worst case, he might even try to get rid of my maternal grandfather.”
“A rebellion… is that what you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“Is that really possible? No matter how bold he is, starting a rebellion against Grand Duke Conrad…”
“It’s possible.”
Otto said firmly.
“My maternal grandfather has no direct descendants besides me. In contrast, Javier’s son is already recognized by the family as the next head of the house.”
“So you mean he has strong backing?”
“Yes. That’s why I have to demonstrate my capabilities. Only then can I bring the family under my control. Otherwise, I’ll die, and so will my maternal grandfather.”
Otto knew very well that opening the [Sanctuary] was only the beginning.
The moment it was opened, he would inevitably be pulled into internal factional conflict within the Kuntachi family, and he was fully aware that one wrong move could cost him his life.
“He might attempt to assassinate me as soon as today. If I were to open the [Sanctuary], I’ll be totally screwed, to put it bluntly.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Let’s eat first. You can’t survive on an empty stomach.”
“…Yes.”
“I wonder what’s good to eat here~?”
Despite his life being in serious danger, Otto appeared to be more preoccupied with food.
* * *
While Otto was eating a late breakfast with Camille.
“Yesterday afternoon, Selena’s son paid a visit.”
Conrad convened a court council, one that was closer to a family meeting, and informed the family about Otto’s visit and why he had come.
“N-No way!”
“Good heavens! The authorities of the Immortal Emperor!”
Every member of the Kuntachi family was stunned.
The revelation that the [Sanctuary], hidden behind a veil of mystery for over a thousand years, contained the authority of the Immortal Emperor was impossible to ignore.
“That’s absurd!”
Javier snapped back bluntly, dropping all formality.
“Family Head! Do you honestly believe something that absurd? How can you take seriously the babbling of some nobody with no pedigree….”
“No pedigree?”
".....!"
“Did I hear that right just now?”
“Well, that is…”
“Regardless of being the child of someone cast out of the family, the blood flowing through that boy is still Kuntachi blood. Am I wrong?”
“Th-That is correct.”
“How dare you say that a child who bears my blood lacks lineage.”
*Fwoosh!*
A dark crimson aura surged from the enraged Conrad and pressed down upon Javier.
“G-Guhk!”
Javier groaned in agony.
“Then are you saying that I, too, have no roots?”
“N-No! Aack!”
“That tongue of yours. I cautioned you repeatedly to mind your words.”
“I... I’m sorry… p-please… Head of the family… please… guh… show mercy….”
Even though Conrad’s prime had passed long ago, his strength remained formidable.
Simply releasing his mana was enough to kill someone like his half-brother Javier.
“Watch what you say. This is your final warning.”
“I-I will… take it to heart… I swear….”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Only then did Conrad retract the mana restraining Javier and turn back toward the members of the Kuntachi family.
“It’s hard to say his claims are entirely credible. Still, considering he made such bold promises while staking his own life, it may not be a bad investment to believe him for now. He says he’ll open the [Sanctuary] in two days, so let’s wait and see.”
Faced with the family head’s words, the members of the Kuntachi family could only nod in agreement, unable to voice any objections.
Thus, the meeting came to a close.
“Selena’s son brought the key to open the [Sanctuary]… doesn’t something feel off about this?”
“I don’t buy it! The Immortal Emperor’s authority? Even if it’s a [Sanctuary], that sounds way too implausible!”
“What in the world is going on….”
The moment Conrad exited, the members of the Kuntachi family all began voicing their thoughts at once.
Opinions were sharply divided.
Some were filled with anticipation regarding the [Sanctuary], while others regarded Otto’s claims as nothing more than empty bravado.
‘Conrad… that damn bastard….’
Meanwhile, Javier clenched his teeth as he glared toward where Conrad had gone.
‘To subject me to such humiliation again… just wait… how long do you think you can continue trampling on me!!!’
The moment his son became the next family head, Javier intended to exact revenge on Conrad.
It was payback for the decades of contempt he had suffered for nothing more than being a half-brother.
* * *
“You damn bastard!!!”
The moment Javier returned home, he vented his fury.
“To humiliate me before everyone’s eyes! Conrad! You wretched bastard! I will never forgive you! The instant I take control of the Kuntachi family, I’ll deal with that bastard first!”
“Father! Please calm down!”
Kujo, Javier’s son and the most powerful candidate for the next family head, stepped in to restrain him.
“It will end that way eventually. Please calm yourself. There are many listening ears.”
“Hmph!!!”
“That aside, what do you intend to do about Selena’s son?”
“What else would I do?”
Javier let out a scoff.
“Do you really believe what that bastard said? That some nobody from who knows where can open the [Sanctuary]?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why concern yourself with him at all!”
“There’s always a one-in-ten-thousand chance.”
“A one-in-ten-thousand…?”
“If Selena’s son actually manages to open the [Sanctuary], what then?” asked Kujo.
“Well, that would….”
Javier’s face went rigid.
If Otto were to open the [Sanctuary] and claim the authority of the Immortal Emperor sealed within….
“I can hardly believe it myself, but what if he truly opens the [Sanctuary]? You know better than anyone what would happen then.”
Clever as he was, Javier understood perfectly what fate awaited him if that happened.
If the [Sanctuary] were to open, Conrad would formally acknowledge Otto as a legitimate member of the Kuntachi family, and that would undoubtedly serve as the pretext to change the designated successor.
By gradually tightening the noose around Javier and Kujo, it wouldn’t be impossible to elevate Otto to the position of next family head.
“Father.”
Kujo said to Javier.
“You must make a decision.”
“A decision…?”
“If the [Sanctuary] were to open, even on the slimmest chance, it would spell the end for both of us. You know better than anyone that my uncle would never allow either you or me to live.”
“Th... That’s true.”
“Whether the [Sanctuary] opens or not isn’t what really matters to Father and me.”
“You’re correct. Even if the [Sanctuary] is opened, it must be by our hands, not by those of some unknown interloper. And if that interloper happens to be Selena’s son, then all the more reason.”
“Then we have to get rid of him.”
Kujo’s eyes flashed coldly.
“How many years do you think Father and I have waited? Why do you think my uncle has held on without handing it over all this time? Isn’t it because he never wanted to give it to me? If the [Sanctuary] opens now, all those years of patience will be wasted. That’s why Selena’s son has to be removed.”
“But how are we supposed to get rid of him? If we move carelessly…”
“Isn’t that exactly why we prepared a plan for a situation like this?”
".....!"
“If he’s Selena’s son, he’s someone who’ll need to be dealt with sooner or later anyway. This is our chance to wipe out a potential threat completely. Then the Kuntachi family will belong to you and me.”
“Fine.”
In the end, Javier made up his mind.
“Even if it’s just to guard against the slightest possibility, we’ll get rid of him.”
“When are you planning to make your move?”
“Tonight. If we hesitate and miss the timing, it’ll only cause problems.”
“That’s a wise decision.”
Thus, Javier and his son Kujo set their plan in motion to eliminate Otto.
For them, there was nothing more frightening than the prospect of Otto opening the [Sanctuary].
* * *
That afternoon.
“Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
Otto pulled Camille along as he left the lodgings.
“Where are you headed?”
One of the knights assigned to guard them asked Otto the same thing.
“I’m just going to take a look around.”
“By ‘look around’… You mean sightseeing?”
“I’ve come to my maternal family’s estate. Surely I’m allowed to have a look around.”
“Th-That's..."
Unable to find a counterargument, the knight fell silent.
They had been ordered by Conrad to guard Otto, but they had never been told to restrict his movements.
“Please give me a tour. Being stuck in the room is quite stifling.”
“Understood.”
Guided by the knight, Otto proceeded to look around various parts of the castle.
Midway through their walk.
“You may not proceed beyond this point.”
The knights moved to block Otto’s path.
That was because the [Sanctuary] lay in the direction Otto was heading.
“Why can’t I go in? I’m going to open it in two days anyway.”
“Well, that is….”
“Just think of it as a preliminary inspection. There’s no real reason to stop me, is there?”
“Ah, understood.”
The knights didn’t make any real effort to stop Otto.
In reality, the entrance to the [Sanctuary] was only restricted on paper. Any member of the Kuntachi family was allowed to take a look.
Why?
After all, no one had managed to open it in the last thousand years.
If it couldn’t be opened even when left alone, there was no reason to post heavy security.
It would only be a waste of personnel.
“Wow~ this is amazing~.”
As Otto busied himself inspecting the circular entrance of the [Sanctuary] from every angle.
‘No way.’
A sudden thought crossed Camille’s mind, making him frown.
Recalling Otto’s patterns of behavior so far….
‘Now…?’
At that very moment.
*Flash!*
The entrance to the [Sanctuary] began to shine with a bright light.
Just as Camille had feared, Otto took advantage of the moment and opened the [Sanctuary].