Chapter 134
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: A Family Meeting(?)
After parting with Luke, Liche immediately began to wander through the social hall. She didn't particularly want to see them, but as they say, it's better to rip the band-aid off.
Since she would have to meet them eventually, she figured it was better to seek them out first, so she made her move.
She had accompanied her father here a few times in the past, so she knew what time he would arrive. And… that he wouldn't be alone.
While roaming the hall, Liche found her older sister talking with the children of another family.
"Sister."
"Yes?"
At first, her sister used polite speech, not recognizing who it was. But when she turned and saw Liche, a wrinkle creased her forehead.
As if it had never happened, she fixed her expression and excused herself from the nobles she had been conversing with, dismissing them.
After bidding farewell to the departing nobles, who said they had a fruitful time, she turned back to face Liche once everyone was gone. Unlike the smiling face she had just shown the others, her expression was now endlessly cold, as if a winter storm had blown in.
"So. Why were you looking for me? Before that, how did you even get in here?"
The eldest daughter, Karol Winchester. She was a thorough pragmatist. As a child, she had been as innocent as Liche, but her circumstances had shaped her into what she was now.
There was no way an invitation would have been sent to Liche at the academy. Of course, the news that Liche had dropped out had already been delivered, but it wasn't a matter of interest to her, so she hadn't even heard it.
"I'm with a companion."
"Is that so? I suppose you used that pretty face of yours to snag an A-rank adventurer? Good for you. For finding your dear husband."
*Heh heh,* Karol laughed. A laugh dripping with mockery for anyone to see. The usual Liche would have fired back confidently at such a cheap provocation, but the Liche of today could only lower her head and fidget with her fingers.
Their relationship hadn't always been this strained, but everything changed after their mother passed away.
After their mother died, someone had to become the vessel for Hex. But of course, her older brother, the eldest son, was the next head of the house and would one day lead the family, so it was impossible for him.
That meant either Liche or Karol had to become the vessel for the seal. Hating that idea, Karol proved her own worth.
From a young age, she helped with the family's affairs, actively taking on diplomatic roles and pulling her own weight. So Liche, who was still too young to do anything, naturally became the vessel.
From the moment Liche became the vessel, her sister, just like their father, treated her as if she didn't exist.
"Fine. I can't say anything about what you do. However, I wouldn't recommend going to the head of the house. It would be troublesome for us if you went berserk from the shock."
"…That won't happen."
Hex was gone now. She wanted to say it, but Karol, having said her piece, turned and left as if any more time spent was a waste.
Thinking that it would be impossible to talk any further even if she followed, Liche turned her steps once more.
This time, she sought out Duke Winchester. Along with the butler, Conrad, he was one of her few allies—her older brother.
As befitting the next head of the house, he seemed busy among other nobles, but when his eyes accidentally met Liche's, his expression, unlike Karol's just moments ago, showed a clear sign of delight.
Duke Winchester excused himself from the nobles for a moment and immediately approached Liche.
"Liche…!"
"Brother."
"It's been a long time. Have you been well?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
Her always-kind brother asked with concern.
"I heard you dropped out of the academy. Did something happen?"
It was all thanks to Duke's help that she had been able to enroll in the academy in the first place. Hex was a disgrace the family wanted to hide at all costs, and her father had staunchly refused to let Liche, the one containing it, leave the estate.
It was Duke who had persuaded their father and helped her go to the academy. Though now… she had dropped out on her own.
"No… I found something I want to do."
"…You did?"
How long had it been since he had heard Liche, who had always been blinded by vengeance, say she had something she wanted to do?
Duke's heart ached. The image of a young Liche, smiling brightly as she talked about her dreams, flickered before his eyes.
"……"
"……"
The conversation was short, but silence quickly fell between them. It had been quite a while since they had met face-to-face like this, making it rather awkward.
In the bustling social hall, it felt as if the two of them were in a different place entirely. The one to break the silence first was Duke, with a self-deprecating remark.
"Liche… are you happy now…?"
Duke's voice, which had been tempered by his training as the future head of the house, trembled faintly.
Duke always felt sorry for Liche. Because the burden that he, the eldest son, should have carried had been forced upon a young, unknowing Liche.
At Duke's question, Liche met his eyes and smiled faintly.
"…Yes."
"I see…"
"Well, I'm going to see Father now."
"What? Liche, wait a moment…!"
Before Duke's voice could reach her, Liche had already left. She had met her entire family by chance, but her original purpose was to see her father. Fortunately, her father was not far away.
"…Father."
"What is your business?"
She had finally faced him, but her nervousness made her forget everything she wanted to say. No, did she even have anything to say in the first place? After racking her brain for what to say, she finally remembered.
"Oh, right! I finally killed Hex! I didn't do it myself, but that monster who killed Mother…!"
"And?"
"I… pardon?"
"I asked what difference that makes."
"Well… Mother's revenge…"
Her voice trailed off. She could feel Jerald's icy gaze on her. Due to her trauma, Liche uncharacteristically began to shrink back.
She had thought that killing Hex might change something, but… it didn't at all. Instead, Jerald spoke as if to say that doing so wouldn't bring back the past.
"More importantly, how did you get in here? You shouldn't have an invitation."
"Th-that… the person I came with is an A-rank adventurer…"
"Did you catch a man with that face of yours? If used well, he could be of help to the family."
"Ye-yes…? No, he's…!"
"Where is your companion?"
Luke is dangerous. He seems to think I'm the one who snagged Luke, but the reality is the complete opposite.
He's thinking of trying to use me to get something done, but if he messes around and gets on Luke's bad side, he'll surely die.
Just as Liche was about to stop Jerald.
"Attention!"
***
The pot-bellied noble, who could tolerate his guards being ignored but not himself, ordered them to act.
The guards hesitated, but eventually drew their swords. Whether they drew their swords now or not, they'd be screwed when they went back later, so it was all the same.
Just as I thought, nobles are idiots. That's why he'd be stupid enough to order swords drawn in the imperial palace.
Not only that, but the very idea of trying to kill me with mere guards, knowing I'm an A-rank adventurer, is laughable.
-Thud!
Just as the guards were about to swing their swords, an invisible force, guided by my will, crushed them. As a result, they were forced to kneel before me.
"Attention!"
At that moment, knights entered through the entrance with a clatter, moving in an orderly fashion. From between their ranks, the knight at the very front loudly announced someone's arrival.
"His Majesty the Emperor, the sole light and sun of the Empire, now enters!"
Immediately after, the emperor entered, sporting a long white beard and white hair. He wore a red cape and a magnificent crown, and his expression and movements exuded dignity.
In response, every noble in the hall knelt and bowed their heads. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, I popped the meat in my hand into my mouth and knelt as well.
I already get picked on often enough; no need to create more trouble for myself.
Just as the emperor stroked his beard a few times and took a step forward.
-Swish!
The emperor's head was sliced in two by the sword of the guard behind him.
""…!""
The emperor had been assassinated right in the middle of the imperial palace, surrounded by all his guards. A few nobles gasped in the silent hall. And every guard present drew their swords.
But the strange thing was that the guard who had just beheaded the emperor remained perfectly still. Did he achieve his goal by killing the emperor? Just as I was thinking that.
"Hahaha! What do you think? It's an artifact I recently acquired."
The voice came from the entrance to the hall. The emperor whose neck had just been cut was walking in, laughing heartily. Stepping in front of the knights, the emperor spoke as if nothing had happened.
"It was a simple show to ease the tension."
To stage a show that risked his own life just to ease the tension. My first impression of the emperor was set in that moment.
'He's out of his mind.'
Even the knights right beside the emperor looked dumbfounded, as if they hadn't been told beforehand. You'd need ten hearts to survive that kind of thing.
But then again, perhaps this was the emperor's usual personality, as some nobles didn't even react.
"Now, I shall attend to my duties, so don't mind me and carry on with yours."
With those words, the emperor immediately blended into the crowd of nobles, his guards in tow. Surprisingly, the emperor's entrance was grand, but he made no other particular impact. Was this his normal personality?
'Who knows. I'd rather eat one more thing than waste time thinking about it.'
"Urk… Release me…"
"Ah. Right."
I'd forgotten while I was lost in thought. As soon as I released the skill holding down the pot-bellied noble who was still kneeling, he scrambled to his feet and scurried away.
I guess even he wouldn't dare to cause a scene with swords in front of the emperor. *That's more like it,* I thought, as I continued eating and storing food in my inventory.
"Luke. I'm back."
"Finished already?"
"…Yes. He didn't seem willing to listen, so I just came back."
"I see. Then who's that behind you? Your ex-boyfriend?"
"Huh?"
Liche turned to see who was behind her, and her eyes went wide as saucers.
"F-Father…?"
So that stiff-looking face belongs to Liche's father. I don't believe in judging people by their appearance, but he has the look of a stubborn old man.
"Pardon me. I am the father of Liche, who accompanies you, and the head of the Winchester family, Jerald Winchester."
I thought it was impressive how he could introduce himself as Liche's father without a single change in his expression, despite having just ignored her.
Does he really think a mere adventurer wouldn't know about his own family's internal affairs, which even other nobles are unaware of? That must be why he can approach me with such a straight face.
"I'm Luke, an A-rank adventurer."
"It's about my daughter accompanying you. I would like to offer you my patronage. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
I don't have telepathy, but I know exactly what this man is thinking. If anything, it's almost too obvious.
For reference, this is the same guy who tried to use Liche to manipulate Arthur in the original story, so his current actions are just as predictable.
Guys like him always think they're soaring at the top of the sky. If that's the case, shouldn't I be the one to teach him that beyond the sky lies the universe? I grinned and offered my hand for a shake.
"I accept."