Chapter 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Counterattack Begins
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Of course, since there’s no way to tell from the outside, we can’t officially charge him with a crime.”
Eshid said to Marquis Langham.
“I believe Christian should also be interrogated.”
“Yes, that’s right. I hear Young Lord Christian’s younger brother, TERN, has also made great achievements recently. Both of them are suspicious.”
Count Riberi chimed in, and Marquis Langham nodded.
“Understood. Have Christian detained. As for the fight between the County of Brusen and the House of Cazar…”
Marquis Langham considered for a moment.
Since the crime hadn't been confirmed, it was an ambiguous issue.
However.
‘This might be a good opportunity to annihilate the House of Cazar.’
For some time now.
Marquis Langham had been trying to weaken the power of the branch families.
For his own purposes.
In other words, this was a conspiracy where Eshid's and Marquis Langham's interests aligned.
“Until the situation is clear, the main house will not intervene.”
It was a decision tantamount to sentencing the House of Cazar to annihilation.
* * *
The situation progressed rapidly.
The House of Cazar and the County of Brusen were pushed to the brink of war, and an order was issued for Christian's detention.
“This is absurd!”
“Th-that’s right. Th-that bastard Christian—no, the Young Lord might be a jerk, but there’s no way he’d perform a human sacrifice!”
[Ohoho. How dare they spout such nonsense about our Young Master. I'm getting *so* angry. Should I… just go and wreck them all?]
Melin, Allos, and Mari each exclaimed in anger.
But Chris calmly soothed them.
“It’s fine. Calm down.”
“This is no time to be calm—?!”
Just then, an unexpected voice was heard.
“That’s right, the situation isn’t to be taken lightly. This is no time to be complacent.”
It was Merian!
She entered Christian’s quarters, dressed in the uniform of the Black Shadow Knights.
“Aunt, are you here to arrest me?”
“Yes, dealing with criminals within the family is my role as the head of Inspection. But as for whether *you’re* the criminal… I’m not so sure.”
A statement in Christian’s defense.
In reality, Merian had no intention of detaining Christian.
On the contrary.
‘That damn bastard. How dare he pull a stunt like this?’
Merian ground her teeth.
She was furious with Eshid.
Using dirty tricks during a succession battle wasn’t necessarily condemnable. Political maneuvering was also a virtue required of a family head.
But there was a line.
This crossed it.
“The Lord is also enraged. He’s considering breaking his ‘taboo’.”
Chris looked surprised.
It meant the vow not to interfere in the family’s affairs.
“But that’s…”
“It would overturn the principle the Lord has upheld until now. That’s how furious he is about what that bastard Eshid has done. No, perhaps…”
Merian swallowed the rest of her words.
‘Perhaps he’s angry because it concerns you, Christian.’
In truth, it wasn't as if things more heinous than this hadn't happened in the Dark Magic House.
No, there had been many.
But even then, Nordian had remained silent.
The reason he was especially furious this time was…
‘It must be because the Lord cherishes that boy.’
Perhaps Nordian himself wasn't even aware of it.
Nordian already regarded Christian as special, different from his other blood relatives.
But Christian gave an unexpected answer.
“I don’t need the Lord’s help. No, let me rephrase that. The Lord must not get involved.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll lose the chance to crush that bastard Eshid myself.”
“!!”
For a moment, Merian flinched.
Christian was smiling chillingly.
His eyes gleamed coldly.
Only then did Merian realize.
Christian hadn't been calm.
He was furious.
It was only natural.
They had touched his family.
Of course, they weren't Chris's ‘real’ family.
But Chris cherished them.
Them, who had treated him more like family than his own ‘real’ family from his past life.
“And this incident isn’t entirely a bad thing. In fact, I’m grateful to that bastard Eshid.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Because he overreached and crossed the line, he's given me an opportunity to deal him a massive blow. I’m going to inflict a fatal wound on him with this.”
If this had been just some ordinary conspiracy,
even if he turned the tables, he wouldn't have been able to inflict a fatal blow.
But this was a human sacrifice.
A taboo even among Majin.
Did Eshid even know?
What kind of pretext he'd just given Chris?
“…Do you think it’s possible? The House of Riberi is likely behind Eshid. Finding evidence won’t be easy.”
Merian said worriedly.
“Count Riberi has probably already concealed all evidence of their involvement. He’s meticulously thorough in these matters.”
Chris knew that too.
Count Riberi was more of a strategist than a warrior.
An investigation wouldn't turn up any evidence.
‘Same goes for shaking down Eshid. Even if he gained achievements through human sacrifice, there’s no way to tell from the outside.’
It was the same as how it was difficult to identify demon contractors by sight.
However.
“It’s alright. I have a way.”
“!!”
A firm voice.
Merian looked confused.
‘How on earth?’
Not a hint of worry could be seen on Christian’s face.
He was confident he could do it.
The problem was that his confidence didn't seem baseless.
Because this was Christian.
The one who had performed countless impossible miracles with unbelievable talent and skill.
‘This boy is really…’
Merian shook her head.
“Are you sure you can do it?”
“Yes.”
Merian thought for a moment, then did something surprising.
She attached a black, moon-shaped amulet from her collar onto Chris.
“I grant you the temporary status of a Black Shadow Knight. This amulet symbolizes my authority. Until this case is over, you will have the same authority as I do.”
Chris's eyes widened in surprise.
“But Aunt, this is…?”
This would be a political burden for Merian.
Originally, Chris had planned to escape on his own and resolve the matter using only his own abilities.
“This much is fine.”
“Why?”
Merian frowned.
As if asking why he would even ask such a thing.
“Aren’t you my nephew? The audacious one who’s the only one to call me Aunt.”
“!!”
“So, accept your aunt’s gift.”
Chris's heart wavered slightly.
In truth, he had approached Merian and called her Aunt for his own benefit.
Merian must have known that.
And yet, she was treating him like true family.
“…Thank you. I’ll be sure to bake you some delicious cookies in return.”
“Hmph, all talk. I wonder when you’ll ever bring those damn cookies.”
Chris looked sheepish.
“Hurry and go before the others start causing trouble.”
“Yes, I will. Ah, could you help me with one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“Please relay a message to the Lord for me.”
Chris said heavily.
“Tell him I’m going to cause a huge incident over this, and to please forgive me.”
Incident.
Meaning blood.
* * *
Chris moved quickly.
He wasn't heading for the County of Cazar where the incident occurred.
To resolve this, he had to go somewhere else entirely.
‘The problem is protecting the House of Cazar.’
Chris pondered.
‘The power of the County of Brusen surpasses that of the House of Cazar.’
More than anything, the problem was Sir Fres, the strongest knight belonging to the County of Brusen.
A Master Knight of a whopping 6-Star Upper rank.
Of course, Count Cazar was also at the 6-Star Upper level, but the consensus was that Sir Fres was slightly ahead.
If a fight broke out, Count Cazar’s life could not be guaranteed.
‘I plan to resolve this as quickly as possible before a full-scale conflict erupts, but it’s best to have a safety measure in place.’
Chris called for Mari.
[Ohoho… What is it, Young Master? Oh my. Perhaps your heart is burning *so* brightly for me before this big ordeal?]
“I have a favor to ask you.”
Chris said seriously.
Mari tilted her head.
“I need your power. Protect my father and TERN.”
[!!]
Was it his imagination?
Mari's transparent, ghostly face hardened.
Mari’s usual frivolous atmosphere vanished.
Chris felt a chill run down his spine.
He was instinctively feeling tense at Mari’s hidden true nature.
‘Just what is the extent of Mari’s power?’
Chris still hadn’t grasped the extent of Mari’s power.
What was certain was that she was still at a level far beyond his comprehension.
[Ohoho… I may have devoted my body and soul to you, Young Master… but I’m terribly sorry… manifesting my power… is beyond the scope of our contract.]
The contract Mari had made was simply to act as a maid.
“I know. I’ll give you something in return.”
[Ohoho… Something in return, you say.]
Mari let out a low laugh.
[A gift from the Young Master. My heart flutters with anticipation, but it’s still impossible. You, Young Master, are still… unqualified… to make an additional contract with me.]
“!!”
It was an unexpected answer.
Unqualified, she said.
Just what was Mari’s true standing?
‘So it’s a no-go.’
As Chris fell silent, Mari gave a faint smile.
[However… I suppose I can grant this particular request.]
“Why is that?”
[Ohoho… Because it’s a matter of protecting my father-in-law. That’s something I can certainly do as a daughter-in-law, even without a special contract.]
Chris looked uncomfortable.
“Father-in-law, daughter-in-law, what are you talking about?”
[You look so adorable when you’re embarrassed. I know all about your true and *very* deep feelings for me, Young Master.]
“That’s not it. Just hurry up and go.”
[Yes, I’ll go protect my father-in-law right away.]
Mari vanished with a giggle.
This time, Melin and Allos approached Chris.
“Young Lord, what should we do?”
“I-I should just go back to the House of Tiramin—?! *Gasp*. P-please give me an order too!”
Allos tried to slip away but, after receiving a sharp glare from Melin, gasped and shouted.
He seemed completely tamed from his training under Melin.
One peculiar thing was that the sullen-faced girl, Jupien, had also come with them.
Jupien looked at Chris with a defiant gaze.
As if to say, ‘So, need some help?’
‘…Jupien, why is she here? I don’t really need her help.’
Chris scratched his head.
“Jupien, you… um. By any chance, why are you here?”
“…You’re so rude.”
“No, I’m just genuinely curious. It’s not like you don’t know that helping me means making an enemy of Eshid’s side.”
Jupien replied sullenly.
“I don’t care about that stuff.”
“……”
“I just act according to what I believe is right. So I don’t tarnish the name of my father, who met an honorable death for the sake of the Dark Magic House.”