Chapter 661
Chapter 661
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 661
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count Family
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Jerdin pointed his sword at me. His hand trembled violently on the hilt. He put way too much faith in demons.
"You've crossed the line."
I slowly approached him. He held a sword, while I was unarmed. But the thought of losing to him never even crossed my mind. Jerdin was the type who couldn't even sense mana.
"D-don't come any closer!"
"If I were you, I'd drop that sword right now and grovel at my feet."
"B-Baron, sir! You can't kill him!"
Diona spoke up from behind me.
If Jerdin were murdered, Diona would be the prime suspect. Even if she inherited the count's title, she wouldn't get the vassals' support.
"I'm not gonna kill him. Can't let him off that easy."
I raised my fist, and Jerdin swung his blade at me in panic.
"Idiot. You didn't even consider the sword's reach."
I casually leaned aside to dodge. But then flames suddenly erupted from the blade, surging toward me. Startled, I leaped sideways to evade the fire.
"A magic sword?"
"That sword lets you wield fire when you hold it!"
"Fitting heirloom for a noble house."
It was unexpected, but not enough to kill or even take me down.
"Hah... huff! Hah!"
Jerdin was in bad shape. No way a magic sword worked without conditions. From his condition, it seemed to drain his stamina.
"Die! Die! I said die! If only you weren't here...!"
He swung wildly. Fireballs flew at me, but they were so slow and predictable I dodged them without even yawning.
"Kyaaah! Fire! The fire's on the wall!"
"I'll fetch some water, miss!"
Diona and Katia panicked. I sighed and swung my arm. A powerful gust extinguished the flames in an instant.
"Hah! Huff!"
After a few more swings, Jerdin collapsed to the floor. His face was ashen, like he was about to puke. A chuckle escaped me at his pathetic stamina.
"And with stamina like that, you betray me?"
"B-Baron, sir! I've never betrayed you!"
Thwack!
I kicked his torso. He rolled across the floor without even screaming. Diona snatched the fallen magic sword and clutched it to her chest, glaring at him.
"A curse appeared while we were talking. If I hadn't handled it well, I'd have ended up like Count Hisfield."
"No...! Cough! That's not...!"
Jerdin dropped to his knees. Like our first meeting, he grabbed my legs with both hands.
"That's not it, Baron! I was trying to curse Diona! I didn't know you were with her!"
"An unintended accident?"
"Yes! It was an accident!"
"How do you explain contracting with a demon and trying to kill her on your own?"
"Th-that's..."
Jerdin's eyes darted around.
"I-I was going to report it tomorrow since it was late! I wasn't planning to kill her right away. A curse doesn't kill instantly!"
"You'd report a demon contract tomorrow? Something that important? And you dared act without permission? Above all, Diona was promised to me... and you tried to curse her?"
"I was wrong! Just once! Please show mercy, Baron Pruckus!"
"I told you already. You've crossed the line. Can't kill you yet, so I'll crush your legs first."
I kicked his solar plexus, toppling him, then placed my foot on his knee. I planned to shatter both. Knowing my temper, sweat beaded on his face.
"Diona! Don't you want Diona? Take her right now! I'll handle the rest!"
"You mad bastard. Selling out your own family like that?"
Diona crossed her arms, scorning him. Her ample chest strained against the blue dress, briefly drawing my eye. Jerdin seized the moment.
"Baron! I've never betrayed you! Take Diona now and... Graaaah!"
Crunch.
His right knee shattered. His scream echoed. Diona ordered Katia to keep soldiers and knights away. The vassals wouldn't learn until morning.
"I talked with Diona earlier. She communicates better than you. Even with her body."
My foot moved to his left knee.
"Y-you psycho! Mundudu! Come out and kill him! Mundudu!"
Demonic power emanated from his right shoulder. I tore his shirt open forcibly. The magic circle on his shoulder activated.
'The one under Diona's left armpit... The demon ditched her for Jerdin.'
It must not have liked me ravaging Diona. She hadn't summoned it to fight me—summoning came at a cost.
I tensed. Mundudu was a high-rank demon. At that level, even sword aura barely scratched them. You'd need supreme rank or higher. And I wasn't there yet.
"Mundudu!!!"
Jerdin screamed the name desperately. The black light from the circle intensified. But after ten seconds, thirty, nothing—not even a mouse—appeared.
"Wh-what?! Mundudu! Mundudu! Why aren't you coming?! Mundudu!!"
The circle fizzled out.
'Yuria. She caught the demon as ordered.'
I grinned.
"Looks like the demon ditched you."
"Sp-spare... me... Aaaaagh!"
I crushed his left knee too.
???
Jerdin rolled down the stairs half-crippled, lingering in agony. In truth, I'd broken both his legs, and Yuria had cursed and bound him. He'd suffer for a month before dying.
Taking time to kill him convinced the vassals. Too sudden, and they'd suspect.
In a month, Diona would become Countess Hisfield. No other heirs.
"Baron... what's this?"
Diona touched the silver necklace around her neck. It looked like fine jewelry. Katia wore a different design too.
"A collar. Gotta prepare in case you betray me like Jerdin."
"B-Baron! I'm not like Jerdin! I'd never betray you!"
"Sure, for now. But later? You'd betray me if the chance came. Just like him."
Diona's hands shook as she tried yanking it off. It clinked but wouldn't rise over her head. Even pulling hard, it didn't break.
"Just so you know, pull too hard and your neck snaps before the collar does. Need aura blade to cut it. Arc mage to dispel. Oh, force it too much and it explodes. Your body and head in thousands of pieces."
Diona and Katia paled, lowering their hands.
"And I'll trigger it with a signal. Don't believe me? Wanna test?"
"I believe you! I have to!"
Diona eyed Yuria, standing politely beside me. She'd seen her capture Mundudu at dawn. I'd told her of Yuria's power—as a warning.
"Diona. Remember—you're there, breathing, only because I allow it."
I grabbed her hair. She winced reflexively. I allowed it. Her beauty made even the grimace alluring.
"Y-yeah, I know. You're my master, Baron."
"Good. No long lectures then. War will break out between Balt and Rapelli Kingdoms in a few months."
"The continent's tense, but no guarantee of war between them..."
"It will happen."
I stated firmly, staring at her.
"War is inevitable. If not, I'll start it."
"......"
Her lips dried. She'd be Countess Hisfield soon.
Hisfield Pass was the front line. Invading Balt required breaching it. Only then could conquest proceed smoothly.
And Diona would command it.
"Diona. When war comes, obey my orders. If I say abandon Hisfield Pass, do it."
"Th-that's insane...! Betraying the kingdom. Vassals won't stand for it... My hard-won title..."
"I'll guarantee your title. Balt's doomed anyway. Or do you think you can stop me?"
Her gaze flicked to Yuria—an aura master and arc mage. She couldn't last three days, let alone a week.
Plus, the bomb collar. She was my slave already.
"...You'll really guarantee my title?"
"Doubt me? I'll fake your identity and make you noble if needed. Or die with House Hisfield."
"I'll trust and follow Baron Pruckus."
"I'll visit sometimes. No funny thoughts."
"Haa... What do I do till then?"
"First... Tell me where the Hightear Mercenaries are. I know they fled to Balt."
"Hightear Mercenaries...? Why them?"
I just grinned without details. Diona shuddered briefly.
"I don't know exactly. Shall I contact them?"
"Aren't you their sponsor? Don't they come when you call?"
"I sponsored them, but not alone. Other nobles too. The whole group doesn't obey me."
"No guess where the ones who entered Balt are?"
"There is."
"Good. Speak."
"Even so, not sure they're really there."
"Won't blame you if not. Tell me."
"Pyite Viscounty."
"Viscount Pyite? Who is he?"
Yuria spread a map on the table. Pyite Viscounty was nearby.
"Noble from mercenary roots. Founded Hightear under his lead. Sponsored them most."
"Mercenary to knightless noble. Unusual. What feats?"
"Pyite was wyvern-infested. He took royal commission, led mercs to hunt them, stabilized it. King granted viscounty and title for that."
"Just that for nobility? Other nobles must've protested."
"Wyverns aren't all gone. King dumped the tough territory on him. Nobles know, so no complaints."
"Pyite Viscounty... Got it. Other guesses?"
Diona pointed to several spots on the map.
But my eyes kept returning to Pyite. Instinct said they were there.
???
Kieeeek!
A bizarre screech echoed from the sky.
I looked up. A red winged lizard soared above. Tiny compared to dragons, no horns. But no monster to ignore.
Wyvern.
Predators ruling the skies. They saw most life as prey. Humans included.
Kieeeek!
It spotted us and dove, circling.
"Doesn't know to fear the sky."
Lightning struck from the cloudless blue sky toward it.