Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Hugo's Resentment
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The captain of the Empire's most formidable military force, the Soaring Heaven Knights—Hugo Prien—had never maintained even a semblance of a cordial relationship with his younger brother.
The sheer depth of the animosity between them was so profound that it required no further explanation for those who knew the family history.
He was the type of man who would unabashedly hurl a vulgar insult like "bastard" in place of using his brother's formal title as the Family Head.
He did so without hesitation in the inner courtyard of Dawn Castle—a place held as sacred ground by the entire Prien lineage.
"That bastard, Glenn."
The crude slur falling from Hugo’s lips caused everyone present to freeze in a state of collective shock.
'What on earth has come over him so suddenly?'
Even Shiron, currently cradled in Hugo’s massive, steel-hard arms, felt a jolt of genuine surprise at the outburst.
In the game, it had been hinted that Hugo harbored a deep-seated hatred for Shiron’s father, but the text had never explicitly shown the raw intensity of that loathing.
Shiron found himself staring directly into Hugo’s bulging eyes, watching the facial muscles twitch as the man’s skin turned a vivid shade of beet red.
It was like staring down a volatile explosive only seconds away from a catastrophic detonation.
Shiron swallowed hard and ventured a quick glance at the surrounding crowd to gauge their reactions.
The knights who had accompanied Hugo wore full-faced helmets, making their expressions impossible to read, yet they stood in a silence so heavy not a single clink of armor was heard.
In stark contrast, the household servants led by Yuma wore their shock plainly upon their faces, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The maids, who had instinctively closed their eyes and bowed their heads at the first shout, were now staring at the Captain with a gaze that radiated clear hostility.
Their collective aura was thick with a bloodthirsty intensity, as if they were collectively itching to lunge at the man for his disrespect.
'This is a precarious situation; things are spiraling out of control very quickly.'
Shiron wondered if he should play the part of the wounded child, perhaps shedding a few strategic tears or demanding to know why his father was being insulted.
As he racked his brain for a way to defuse the tension before blood was spilled, a voice cut through the silence.
"Captain Hugo, please. You are standing directly in front of Glenn’s children, and Lady Siriel is waiting right behind them. I beg you to calm yourself."
One of the senior knights stepped forward, his helmet removed to reveal a weathered face etched with the scars of a thousand battles.
His black hair was streaked with the silver of age, and he possessed the dignified air of a grizzled warrior straight out of a legend.
"...You are right. So I am," Hugo replied, exhaling a long, hot breath as he forced his features back into a mask of composure.
He slowly and carefully set Shiron and Lucia back down onto their feet, the immediate danger of an explosion passing for the moment.
"I apologize for that display, Shiron; your uncle must have frightened you, speaking of your father in such a derogatory manner."
"No, Uncle Hugo. I truly understand where you are coming from," Shiron replied, flashing a bright, innocent smile that masked his internal calculations.
In truth, even Shiron believed that Glenn deserved a thorough cursing for the way he handled his family affairs.
"Kahaha! I thought you had only grown taller since we last met, but it seems you have also developed quite the silver tongue, my boy!"
Hugo reached out and ruffled Shiron’s hair with a hand the size of a heavy pot lid, the gesture both affectionate and terrifying.
Shiron’s head bowed involuntarily under the sheer weight of that hand, and his face stiffened as he imagined his skull cracking like an eggshell.
Only moments ago, the man had seemed like a warm-hearted relative, but now he looked like a slumbering monster that could wake at any second.
'If anyone dares to mention Glenn's name in a positive light right now, my head is going to end up looking like a shattered watermelon.'
Enduring the pettings in a heavy silence, Shiron felt a genuine fear for his life for the second time since his reincarnation.
Hugo continued the gesture until the color finally returned to Shiron’s face, then he withdrew his hand and surveyed the rest of the group.
"I see a new face among the staff. Who might this be?" Hugo asked, his gaze settling on Berta.
"Greetings, Captain. I am Inspector Berta of the Security Special Forces; it is a profound honor to meet one of the continent's most legendary figures."
"Ah, a guest from the Security Headquarters. Please accept my apologies for my earlier outburst; it must have been an unseemly sight for an officer."
Hugo cleared his throat awkwardly and extended a hand that looked capable of crushing boulders into dust.
"You likely know my name already, but for the sake of formality, I am Hugo Prien."
Berta took his hand with both of her own, looking for all the world like a hostage being politely greeted by a mountain giant.
Hugo offered Shiron and Lucia a final, warm smile before turning his attention back to the matters at hand.
"It seems the adults have some serious business to discuss, children; we shall have to catch up on everything else later this evening."
"Of course, Uncle. We look forward to it," Shiron replied with a perfectly practiced, polite smile.
"Yohan, you are in charge of my daughter’s safety and the escorting of our knights. And Yuma?"
"Yes, Captain Hugo?" the Head Maid responded with a crisp nod.
"Let us head inside the mansion where we can speak without prying ears."
"Understood. Please, follow me."
Yuma led the Captain and Berta into the depths of the mansion, leaving the children in the courtyard.
"Wow... he truly is something else entirely, isn't he?" Lucia whispered, staring in genuine awe at Hugo’s retreating figure.
Even five hundred years ago, men of his raw physical presence were a rare sight; she found herself wishing she’d had a warrior like him on her original expedition.
"The Captain isn't always this... intense, I assure you. Haha, sorry for the trouble he caused," the old knight said as he approached them.
"My name is Yohan. I have served as Captain Hugo’s adjutant for twenty years now. It has been five years, Young Master Shiron—do you still remember me?"
"Of course, Yohan. How could I ever forget a knight of your distinction? And this is my sister, Lucia."
"It is an honor to meet you, Sir Yohan," Lucia added, bowing politely as she had been taught.
"Captain Hugo has a daughter about your age, Lady Lucia; she is currently resting in the carriage at the rear of our procession."
"I am certain she will be absolutely thrilled to find a new friend of her own age in this secluded place."
'So we aren't the only children here for the ceremony?' Lucia wondered, looking up at Yohan with renewed interest.
"Is she also participating in the succession ritual?" she asked.
"Likely so, though I have only ever read about the specifics of the Prien succession in old texts. I cannot say for certain."
"What I can say for certain is that the Captain was in a foul mood during the entire journey to Dawn Castle."
"Does he truly despise this place that much?" Lucia inquired, curious about the source of his anger.
"Haha! He only ever comes here when he is absolutely compelled to, much like this current occasion," the knight chuckled.
Yohan raised his hand in a signal, and the armored knights began to march into the castle grounds with a precision that was beautiful to behold.
"Would you like to meet Lady Siriel now? The rear guard is currently dealing with some pests on the road, so they should arrive in about thirty minutes."
Shiron politely declined the offer, feeling the weight of the night’s grime still clinging to his skin.
"There will be plenty of opportunities later this evening. Besides, I am currently a complete mess and not fit for company."
His hair was a bird’s nest of sweat and dirt, and his clothes were stiff with the remnants of his training and the forest trek.
Lucia felt a twinge of disappointment as she followed Shiron back into the mansion, her curiosity about her new "cousin" still burning.
A short time later, inside the opulent drawing room of Dawn Castle, Hugo sank his massive frame into a plush sofa and eyed Yuma.
A lifetime spent on the blood-soaked battlefields of the Empire had forged him into a man who was arrogant in his demeanor, yet utterly without flaw in his execution.
"Now, let us hear exactly where that fool Glenn is holed up this time," Hugo demanded, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
He had already exchanged a few brief, dismissive words with Berta, but he had no interest in discussing Empire politics with a lowly Inspector.
His mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of his younger brother, whom he viewed as wasting his life on incomprehensible nonsense.
Yuma closed her eyes briefly, gathering her thoughts before she spoke the truth.
"...The Family Head is currently beyond the Makal Mountains, deep within the territory of the Demon Realm."
"And what exactly is he doing in such a godforsaken place?" Hugo growled.
Yuma closed her eyes again, as if peering through time and space to see the man she served so faithfully.
"At this very moment... he is gazing at the sky," she replied after a momentary pause.
"Is he now...?" Hugo muttered, his eyes narrowing as he rubbed his fingers together.
A sudden spark of embers erupted from his hand, flames dancing between his knuckles through sheer, raw physical strength alone.
Yet, it was a hollow display; no matter how many times he tried, he could never possess the prophetic gift that came so naturally to his brother.
Hugo let out a deep, weary sigh and looked at the demon woman standing before him with a sense of reluctant respect.
He had known Yuma since he was a scrawny child, just as his father and grandfather had before him; she was an immutable constant in their line.
Yuma could only look back at Hugo with a sense of pity, knowing the heavy burden of living in the shadow of a younger brother’s genius.
"Yuma," Hugo began, his voice dropping to a serious tone.
"I may not have received any grand divine revelations like Glenn, but don't you think he is taking this avoidance a step too far?"
"My father possessed the power of prophecy as well, yet he still found the time to attend his children’s weddings and ceremonies."
"......"
"What I am trying to say is this," Hugo continued, slowly closing his eyes as if making a difficult decision.
"Once this succession ceremony concludes, I intend to take the children back to the capital mansion with me."