Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Iron-Blooded Duke
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There was no grand reason for my sudden outburst.
The more shocking the statement, the easier it is to break an opponent's rhythm and seize control.
As expected, the atmosphere grew quiet, as if doused with cold water.
It was a silence I didn't find particularly uncomfortable.
As I stood there blankly for a moment, one of the elders spoke.
“Do you even hear yourself—?”
“They were all assassins.”
I cut off the elder as if I had been waiting for the chance.
And before the old men could point out my rudeness, I added.
“Whether they killed the original knights and took their place, entered the Bednicker family with treacherous intent from the start, or turned along the way—I can't say for sure. But they were a particularly nasty breed of assassins.”
“…Do you have proof?”
“Proof.”
I found this question interesting.
If they could truly discern all truths and falsehoods, they wouldn't need something like ‘proof.’
In other words…
- No need to panic just because you're in the Chamber of Judgment! It's not like they can distinguish every truth from every lie.
- There are other restrictions, too.
- It only works on those of Bednicker blood, and they can't use it that often.
This meant that what my blabbermouth brother said in my past life was, for the most part, true.
He was such a braggart that I couldn't trust him completely, so I decided to verify it my own way…
“Of course I do.”
“Do you have it with you now?”
“Yes.”
“Show it.”
What a condescending tone.
I grumbled inwardly but obediently did as I was told.
I took a dagger and a note from my coat and placed them on the table in front of me.
A beam of light descended from the ceiling, illuminating the tabletop.
“That crest… could it be…!”
“The crest of Hadeneihar…”
My words caused a small commotion among the Council of Elders.
“Impossible.”
“A subordinate of the Six Demon Kings infiltrated the Bednicker family?”
“How did a pawn of the cult get this far—?”
Demon King and Calamity God are one and the same.
Yet the cultists call them gods, while the Great Families insist on calling them Demon Kings.
There's no grand reason for it.
It's simply that the more conservative ones consider the title of ‘god’ too good for such dreadful beings.
That's all I knew about it…
In truth, I don't know much about the Calamity Gods either.
I've had no contact with them, and no interest.
I mean, I thought there were Five Demon Kings, not Six. That says it all.
“Did you truly recover that dagger from the Fang Knights?”
“I already said I did.”
“…”
The elders fell silent.
What did this silence mean?
Surprisingly, it seemed they weren't shocked by the betrayal itself.
Not that they weren't flustered at all.
‘In that case…’
They knew there was a traitor, but they didn't know for sure who was behind it—isn't that the most natural interpretation?
“…Is that all?”
“The items you recovered from the assassins.”
“No.”
I expected them to ask.
“There’s also a note and a map. The map contains general information about the ones hiding in the mountains.”
“A map?”
“Let me see it.”
Huh?
‘These bastards…’
There’s a limit to how much you can treat someone like a fool.
“And why should I?”
“What?”
“This is mine. As a scion of a Great Family, it’s a spoil of war I earned with my own hands by killing those Dark Cult bastards. I submitted the dagger as evidence, but I have no obligation to share the map.”
Information about a cult base is priceless. Do they really think I'd hand it over for free?
I bet if I auctioned it off to the heroes of the Great Families, it would fetch an enormous price.
Heroes are generally obsessed with their achievements.
“How dare you.”
“Do you even hear yourself?”
“Do you know where you are?”
“A place for me to explain myself. And I am explaining.”
I said with a sneer.
“My explanation is finished. Is there anything else you wish to say?”
“…”
For a moment, the room fell dead silent.
It was a little surprising.
It wouldn't have been strange for them to fly into a rage at a young pup like me talking back.
‘I guess it’s not that simple.’
The Council of Elders.
Old monsters who effectively lead the Bednicker family in place of the Iron-Blooded Duke, who is busy with external affairs.
I started to think that their seemingly authoritarian demeanor might just be a mask.
“…The explanation is not over.”
“Ruan Bednicker, you have yet to explain the most suspicious part.”
“And what is that?”
“How did you deal with Hadeneihar’s minions?”
“It should have been impossible with your skills.”
The most awkward question had arrived.
Of course, it was also the moment I had been waiting for.
The Chamber of Judgment.
A place where truth and lies can be distinguished.
If that's the case…
“I had a breakthrough during my training. I defeated them based on that progress.”
It wasn't a lie.
Of course, the ‘progress’ from this training naturally referred to what happened on the Spirit Mountain…
Regardless, it was true that I had trained, and it was true that I had killed Osel based on that progress.
“…”
The same silence as before.
But this time, it seemed to me that the elders were strangely flustered.
This was what I wanted.
If this room truly had the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, they would know my words were true.
If I had just spouted such nonsense without this chamber's effect, no amount of decisive evidence would have easily convinced these old coots.
“Interesting.”
At that moment, a voice I hadn't heard before interjected.
It was a relatively young voice.
“Hadeneihar’s assassins are some of the most troublesome scum in the cult. Even an active hero could easily lose their life depending on the place and situation. And yet, you say you killed several of them?”
“Yes.”
A faint scoff could be heard.
“What about the rest? You said all the Fang Knights were dead.”
I frowned slightly and said.
“My companion took care of them.”
“So you did have a companion. Who was it?”
“It was Arjan.”
“Arjan.”
It wouldn't be strange for an elder of the main family to know about Arjan.
They might even know her identity more accurately than I do.
‘Who is this guy?’
This person who suddenly chimed in.
He feels different from the other elders I've dealt with so far.
Annoying would be an understatement.
“I think I see what’s going on. You’re clever, Ruan Bednicker.”
“…”
“No. More than that, you are cunning. Ruan Bednicker.”
“Why is that?”
“Do you know why we summoned you so urgently, the day before the Blessing Ceremony?”
There were probably several reasons, but at this juncture…
“A final test before the Blessing Ceremony?”
“Correct. And that is why you are bluffing right now.”
“Bluffing?”
“That nonsense about killing Hadeneihar’s underlings.”
“…”
The elders continued.
“We understand what happened in the mountains now.”
“You certainly faced many dangers.”
“However, you speak as if you overcame those dangers with your own strength.”
“I didn’t do it all by myself, but I believe I did my part.”
“No. You merely survived.”
“It must have been Arjan who resolved the crisis.”
Unbelievable.
“If you’re so suspicious, why don’t you ask Arjan directly?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“She once worked for the main family, but not anymore.”
“Meaning she would readily lie for you.”
“…”
If the effect of the Chamber of Judgment could be applied to Arjan, it might be a different story…
But this room’s power only works on those of Bednicker blood.
They have no way to definitively determine the truth of Arjan’s words.
“But the most disgusting part is that you yourself truly believe you were helpful.”
“An incompetent Bednicker who hasn’t even received a single Blessing.”
I see.
Now I roughly understand the system behind the Chamber of Judgment.
The room's judgment system isn't absolute.
For example, if the speaker believes a falsehood to be true, perhaps it doesn't trigger?
And the Council of Elders currently sees me as a delusional child.
‘I can understand why.’
The Ruan of this time was a brat who deserved such treatment.
Even I wouldn't believe it.
Yes, I understand, but…
hearing one provoking remark after another was starting to wear my patience thin.
At times like this, strangely, I found myself wanting to laugh.
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Prove it.”
“Prove it?”
“That you truly fought against Hadeneihar’s assassins.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
“You can prove it by fighting.”
“Hmm.”
I scratched my head.
It was expected, and the most certain method, but…
“We will prepare an opponent for you.”
“There’s no need to worry. They won’t be stronger than the cult’s assassins.”
“I don’t mind, but I’m not in the best condition right now.”
“Your condition…”
Somehow, I heard a snicker.
“Then when would you like?”
“…In about three days, to be safe?”
I said that because I figured the backlash from my technique would have completely subsided by then.
Now, clear derision erupted from all around.
I didn't recall telling a joke, so I looked at the elders.
“Clinging to such petty thoughts until the very end.”
“You are gambling out of desperation.”
Gambling?
“Three days later? I think not.”
“You’re aiming for the Blessing Ceremony tomorrow.”
“And you must have thought.”
“That if you receive a new Blessing there, you’ll be able to defeat the opponent we prepare for you.”
“Hah.”
For a moment, I forgot my annoyance and was purely impressed.
Their ability to jump to conclusions was truly top-notch.
“You will not attend the Blessing Ceremony.”
“And you will be punished for insulting the Bednicker name.”
“When did I insult the Bednicker name?”
“Did you not state falsehoods?”
“If you truly carry the blood of Bednicker, you should never have uttered such lies.”
I'm telling you, it's not a lie.
“Mark my words.”
“Subjugating the Dark Cult is not a matter to be spoken of lightly.”
“You’re lucky this is within the Bednicker estate. Had you spouted such nonsense outside, you would have tarnished the Family Head’s honor.”
I let out a short laugh and said.
“Is the Family Head’s honor so fragile that it can be tarnished by a few words from me?”
“Ruan Bednicker, are you now insulting the Family Head…?”
I cut off the snarling elder.
“So, I’m plotting to use the Blessing Ceremony to turn the tables. An interesting theory. Then why not prepare an opponent strong enough to crush that hope?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m saying you should prepare an opponent so difficult that I couldn't win even if I received the best Blessing imaginable.”
I said in a taunting voice.
“For example, one of you elders could face me yourselves.”
“…”
In an instant, the surroundings were engulfed in silence.
Obviously, it wasn't because they were impressed by my suggestion and thought, ‘What a great idea!’
A tingling sensation pricked my skin.
The old men no longer bothered to hide their killing intent.
“…You’ve finally crossed the line.”
“That’s enough. There was no need for proof after all.”
“Here and now, you will pay the price for everything.”
“You’re going to punish me? A direct descendant of the Iron-Blooded Duke, without the Family Head’s permission?”
“Yes. When the Family Head is absent, we act as his proxy—”
“What an interesting lie.”
I said with a grin.
“The Family Head is in the main house right now, isn't he?”
“…”
I could feel that most of the elders, whose faces I couldn't even see, had frozen like statues.
“…What are you talking about?”
“The Family Head is currently away from the main house.”
“Quite the opposite, I’d say.”
I know of the Iron-Blooded Duke's power.
For instance, the end of a certain hallway, an unused guest room, the bustling dining hall, the central hall where banquets were held, the rose garden I saw on my way here,
‘No…’
Finally, my gaze settled beyond the Council of Elders surrounding me.
A thought I'd had from the beginning.
Was it really the Council of Elders who summoned me?
“Family Head.”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
“…”
Silence.
And then.
“Excellent.”
For the first time in a long while, a voice alone sent a shiver down my spine.
The flinching elders parted to the left and right, and the darkness between them shimmered.
It wasn't that he was slowly revealing himself from an invisible line…
It was as if a being cloaked in shadow was gradually shedding its shroud.
And then I saw him.
Black hair and crimson eyes, completely different from my own.
“It’s been a while.”
“…”
The Head of the Bednicker Family and the Iron-Blooded Duke.
And my father.
Delac C. Bednicker.