Chapter 43
Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Madness
“Get down!”
“Eek!”
At that moment, as I blankly stared at Mother approaching with a chilling smile, a sudden shout erupted from ahead.
- Zzzzzap…!
The moment Schwarz and I ducked our heads at the sound, a ferocious sword strike from someone charging at incredible speed from the front shook the garden.
“Urk…”
“……”
“Get a grip… on yourself.”
When I finally lifted my head again, the First Knight Order Captain was right in front of Mother, desperately thrusting her sword into her.
“Hmm.”
Even in this horrific scene, the captain was impressive for closing in right beside Mother and landing a blow, but what was truly terrifying was Mother blocking that strike with a mere gesture of her hand.
“Step aside.”
“Gah!”
Mother muttered in a cold voice and swung her hand wide. The armor the First Knight Order Captain wore crumpled in an instant, unleashing a massive shockwave that spread in all directions.
“There are too many pests interrupting my meal.”
With that, the captain spat out a mouthful of blood and tumbled far away. Mother shot her a frigid glare before resuming her approach toward me.
“Young Master, stay behind Schwarz.”
“...Yes!”
“And don't make a sound.”
At the same time, Lilien—gnashing her teeth and breathing raggedly—set her resolute expression and stepped forward.
“Damn it, why do I have to be the one suppressing her at a time like this?”
“……”
“Not that there's anyone else more suited for it…”
Lilien's eyes seemed to more crimson than ever.
“...I'm not invincible either!”
Soon, a massive shockwave of clashing forces erupted between Big Sister and Mother as they both raised their hands, distorting the surrounding air.
“If it's Lady Lilien, suppression might be impossible, but a stalemate is feasible.”
“...R-Really?”
“Lady Lilien's ‘Adaptation’ shines brighter the stronger the opponent.”
That was when I finally understood why Lilien, despite being around my age, was treated as one of Belverk's monsters.
Mother was untouchable by maids, knights, or even the Empire's Greatest Sword, the Knight Order Captain. But once Lilien activated her Unique Ability, they entered a deadlock.
Lilien's Unique Ability, Adaptation, allowed her to copy an opponent's power given enough time. It was a force even Mother couldn't claim certain victory over.
“Don't regret this later. Time to sleep. The young one's watching.”
Moreover, the situation might even favor Lilien.
“You're not yourself right now anyway? Normally it'd be different, but now I can…”
As Lilien said, if Mother was rampaging without reason, she lacked the seasoned cunning that would disadvantage Lilien.
In that case, Lilien—having copied Mother's ‘Telekinesis’—might even have the edge.
“Huh? Wha—?”
But just as I thought that and felt a bit relieved, Lilien's eyes widened, and she staggered.
“Kyaa!?”
Unable to maintain her balance, she toppled sideways. Vibrating roots from the tree underground burst forth, wrapping around her all at once.
“This beautiful garden has plenty of useful tools.”
“Crazy, she still has her wits...? Mmph!?”
Realizing Astridje was individually manipulating the underground roots with her Unique Ability, Lilien muttered in shock before being buried by them.
“This is bad…”
Backing away while watching, I glanced at the entrance blocked by roots and realized fleeing was pointless. I stopped.
“...Schwarz, explain what's happening.”
With no other choice, frontal confrontation was the only option.
“Right now?”
“We have no time but now.”
Charging at Mother without understanding was suicide, so I questioned Schwarz beside me for clarity.
“Well, hiding it now is pointless anyway.”
Glancing warily at Astridje still controlling the roots, Schwarz began explaining swiftly and clearly.
“The Duchess is like that due to the hereditary Frenzy that afflicts every Belverk family head.”
Yeah, I figured as much.
The Monster Ducal House's head periodically succumbing to Frenzy and losing reason was a staple cliché in romance parenting novels.
Naturally, our mother—who embodied the ultimate Monster Duke—couldn't escape it either.
“It's not widely known outside, but it's a long-standing curse within Belverk.”
“Ah…”
“Now you see why not just the knights, but successors and maids must all be combat-trained?”
True. I should've noticed from how the servants were all battle-hardened with scars. Disqualified as a romance parenting novel fan.
“Come to think of it, I heard at the merits council that monster invasions are due soon…”
“...You've already figured that much?”
At this point, Belverk's true nature was starting to take shape in my mind.
“But for now, focus on the situation at hand.”
“……”
“This Frenzy seems unusually severe.”
Still, as Schwarz said, prioritizing the immediate crisis was best.
“...You there.”
Mother had fully entombed Lilien in roots and was heading my way again—now right in front of me.
“Come to me and embrace me now, and I won't touch the others.”
From her words, she seemed intensely fixated on me, the new prey.
“What crazy talk is...? Kyaaak?”
“...Annoying.”
“Urk... Damn it!”
Enraged by her words, Lilien thrashed within the roots, but Mother clenched her fist lightly, drawing pained groans from within.
“...Young Master, you mustn't.”
As I bit my lip watching, Schwarz spoke to me firmly.
“The woman before you isn't Duchess Astridje.”
“……”
“Please, protect your precious body…”
I paused at her words, then shook my head resolutely and stepped forward.
“...I can't do that, Schwarz.”
“Pardon?”
“That's my mother up there.”
Something about this felt off. No system warnings or quests had popped up so far—which made it even more unsettling.
“And I can't just watch her hurt the people I care about.”
Besides, I never planned to rely solely on system advice or quests. Over-dependence leads to hesitation when it matters most.
“So, I'll handle this from here.”
“...Young Master?”
“Sorry, but everyone—stay back!”
This was the moment to step up for those who cherished me.
- Slash…
With one word, I sent Schwarz and Mother's guards aside. Eyes crimson, I raised my nails and raked long gashes down my arm.
“Young Master!”
“Kid, are you insane!?”
Blood dripped from my arm, eliciting shocked cries around me.
“You want this, right?”
“...Indeed.”
“Then come here. Stop tormenting the innocent.”
Ignoring the voices, I fixed my gaze on Mother and stepped forward.
“Haa…”
“……”
“Good child.”
Her uniform torn in places, exposing skin. Disheveled hair unlike her usual neat style. A posture thrilled, contrasting her normal icy demeanor.
Bathed in moonlight, Mother's appearance stood out more starkly—utterly alien compared to her usual calm chill.
“...Haha.”
Not her usual kind smile to me, but a mad grin smeared with blood, mirroring Schwarz's frenzy.
‘She's still beautiful, though.’
If not on the verge of being devoured, that exotic aura might've left me dazed.
But now, stay sharp. They say even if a tiger takes you, a clear mind saves you.
“Haa…”
As I approached with eyes wide, Mother grabbed my arm, lifting it to slowly savor the scent.
“A smell I haven't enjoyed in ages.”
Her eyes flickered softly.
- Slurp…
Then her tongue lapped at the wound on my arm.
“...Hng.”
Each lick sent eerie tingles and shivers through my body.
Suppressing the urge to yank away, I let her drink. After licking meticulously for a while, she lifted her head and opened her mouth.
“Not enough.”
Her eyes burned with intense craving.
Utterly opposite her usual impassive gaze.
“Sorry, child.”
“……”
“May I have a bit more of you?”
Yet I met her gaze unflinchingly and tilted my head, exposing my neck and shoulder.
“Of course. Why not the tender parts?”
She stared silently at my words, her lips slowly curving up.
“Ahahaha!”
Then she burst into mad laughter rivaling Schwarz's.
“I like you.”
Her hand reached out, tickling my chin, as her head slowly descended toward my neck.
“Then…”
“...Mom.”
Seizing the moment, I grabbed her face and delivered my prepared line.
“Don't lose to something like this!”
“……”
“Kairen knows you're not like this.”
Surprisingly, Mother's eyes began to waver as she listened.
“...Even if it's hard, you can take it out on me.”
“……”
“Kairen can do anything for Mother.”
It might seem simplistic, but in romance parenting novels, this is the answer.
The frenzied Monster Duke regaining sanity from the adorable protagonist's heartfelt words is scripted destiny!
“...I love you, Mom.”
Seal it with a hug and that killer line.
Per cliché, Mother would clutch her head in confusion, then revert to normal.
“Kairen…”
And sure enough, murmuring my name dazedly, she squeezed her eyes shut and cradled her head.
“Urk!”
Seeing this, I smiled triumphantly and patted her back, expecting her usual self soon.
“...Child.”
But seconds later, she lifted her head, eyes gleaming, shattering my expectations.
“Shall we continue in the study?”
The study? What for?
> Appealing to maternal instincts (Failed)
> Astridje's Frenzy is stronger than expected!
> Analyzing emergency action proposals...
> Recommending Plan B...!
...Seriously? Even the cute protagonist's charm from a parenting novel can't fix this?
“If you don't like it, we can do it right here.”
“...Huh.”
This is totally foul play, right?