Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Bad Blood (3)
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At noon, Athena was dragged outside, her arms gripped tightly by the mercenaries.
The mercenaries hauled her to the entrance of the mercenary group's camp and threw her down unceremoniously.
She landed face-down on the dirt ground and lifted her head to look straight ahead.
There stood Clea, gazing at her with a deeply satisfied expression. Surrounding her were the other holy bloods.
“Athena, I’ve thought long and hard about how to deal with you. There’s only one punishment fitting for someone like you.”
Athena could only scoff. Punishment? From the woman who’d imprisoned her without cause?
“Exile. From this day forward, you are never to utter the name of the Fafnir Mercenary Group again.”
She’d already heard it from Clea the day before, so the shock wasn’t great.
…Or so she’d thought.
The Fafnir Mercenary Group wandered the continent. Athena had no real hometown to call her own.
Which made the Fafnir Mercenary Group her de facto home.
She was being cast out from her home.
From this place filled with traces of her father and mother, never to return.
Athena glanced at the other holy bloods, harboring a faint hope.
They were half-siblings, after all. Surely one of them would speak up for her.
But the holy bloods all averted their eyes. Some even looked on with smug satisfaction.
“……”
Emotions welled up unbidden. But Athena suppressed them all.
She couldn’t let herself cry in front of Clea, of all people.
“All the armor, weapons, and everything else issued to you will be confiscated.”
Clea pointed into the distance as she added,
“Leave this place with nothing.”
Athena gritted her teeth and tried to stand.
But with her ankle tendons severed, she couldn’t manage it.
In the end, she had no choice but to crawl. She braced her arms against the ground and dragged her body along.
“That suits you perfectly.”
Clea’s mocking laughter echoed from behind her, mingled with sporadic chuckles from the others.
That was when it happened.
A massive shadow fell over Athena. She looked up to see a familiar face.
Ulric Hopper, the Executioner.
Clea’s son—and the half-brother now acting as interim proxy.
“…What do you want?”
Athena’s voice bristled with thorns. Given what she was enduring, no kinder tone was possible.
“Let me see your foot for a moment.”
Ulric Hopper lifted one of Athena’s feet. He poured antiseptic on the wound and applied ointment.
“Ulric! What the hell do you think you’re doing!”
Clea bellowed at the sight. But Ulric didn’t so much as flinch at his mother’s rage.
“Mother, surely you can spare her this much mercy.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Stop it right now!”
Despite Clea’s outburst, Ulric continued treating Athena in silence.
The medicine was potent; the pain ebbed away in moments. Her ankle even became movable.
“I’d like to treat the other one too, but I don’t know how you’d react. Forgive me for stopping here.”
With that, Ulric handed Athena a pair of crutches.
“…You think this makes me forgive you all?”
“No. I know you won’t.”
Athena couldn’t fathom Ulric’s actions.
Her stepmother hated her, as did the other siblings. So why was Ulric different?
But now wasn’t the time to puzzle it out.
Athena stood using the crutches. With only one ankle healed, her steps were unsteady.
She limped across the field, leaving her home behind.
Only once she had turned her back on them all—once no one could see her face—
Did Athena finally release the emotions she’d bottled up. She wept.
Athena had always believed she could do anything. That she had the talent for it.
But it had all been an illusion.
Without her father, she was nothing. Just another nobody.
Athena wiped her tears with her sleeve. When she lowered it, she was done crying.
“…I’ll come back someday.”
She murmured softly.
“I’ll come back…and make you all pay.”
She’d repay today’s humiliation tenfold. Especially Clea Fowler—she’d deal with her personally.
The young dragon vowed revenge in that moment…
“Athena!”
…only for a familiar voice to call from afar.
Athena looked up ahead. Her eyes widened.
Her father was running toward her. And beside him was Demian Haksen.
“What happened! Why are you here?!”
Her father pulled her into a fierce embrace. He quickly inspected her condition.
“You! What is this?! What happened to your foot?!”
Athena stared blankly at the two men in turn.
Was this real? Or was she hallucinating?
Soon, she collapsed to the ground and burst into sobs.
“It’s okay. It’s okay. Daddy’s here now.”
Her father patted her back repeatedly, comforting her.
“Demian, look after Athena.”
After consoling her for a long while, the Mercenary King rose to his feet.
And strode toward the mercenary group.
* * *
“M-Mother, no way!”
Clea shrieked hysterically at the approaching Mercenary King.
“H-How are you back…? N-No… that can’t be real… What are you all doing?! Kill him now! That’s a fake! A monster in disguise, obviously!”
She screamed at the holy bloods.
Confusion spread across their faces. That presence, that mana—it was unmistakably the real Mercenary King.
But how could the Mercenary King, who’d been unconscious in the tent, be here?
The holy bloods hesitated, frozen in indecision.
The Mercenary King’s expression darkened at the sight.
Suddenly, his figure vanished. At the same instant, every holy blood present was struck and sent flying.
“Guhk!”
“Krgh!”
They hit the ground and spat blood. These weren’t light injuries.
“You worthless idiots! Can’t even tell the real me from a fake?!”
The Mercenary King reappeared in his original spot, snarling in fury.
“Clea Fowler! How dare you pull this crap in my mercenary group!”
He advanced on Clea, roaring. Her face drained of color as she faced his wrath head-on.
Then, someone stepped in front of her. Ulric Hopper, her son.
“Out of my way! Or you’re next!”
The Mercenary King growled. Ulric simply stared at his father in silence.
“Think being my son lets you protect your mother? Fine, you’ll pay alongside her!”
The Mercenary King gathered his mana. Suddenly, Ulric dropped to his knees before him.
“Father, forgive me. It’s my fault for failing to stop Mother.”
Ulric’s apology only fueled the Mercenary King’s rage.
He kicked Ulric in the gut with the tip of his foot and bellowed,
“Yes! It’s your fault! Your fault for not stopping her! Do you see the result of letting your mother run wild?! Do you see what that child Athena suffered?!”
The Mercenary King began beating Ulric. It wasn’t mere venting—he meant to kill him.
Ulric endured the violence silently, even as blood poured from his mouth.
“Stop… Stop it!”
Clea finally interposed herself. The Mercenary King halted his fists and glared at her.
“What right do you have to take it out on Ulric?!”
“What nonsense is this? Have you lost your mind?”
“You’re the one who favored your kids first! Always coddling that bitch Athena!”
“Favored? Fine, I admit I doted on Athena. Let’s ask the others, then.”
The Mercenary King turned to the other holy bloods and shouted,
“You lot, speak up! Was my favoritism toward Athena that unbearable? Out with it!”
The holy bloods fell silent as the grave.
The Mercenary King was biased. But his biases had clear standards.
Show results.
He scorned incompetent children but never neglected those who performed.
“Looks like they disagree with you. Isn’t that right?”
He growled at Clea. Confusion flickered across her face.
“T-Think that’s all? Y-You only ever s-sought out Athena’s mother… that woman…”
“You insolent wench. You tormented Athena over something that petty?”
The Mercenary King glared at her with contempt.
“I told you from the start, when we first met. I only wanted your body, and I’d pay well if you satisfied me.”
Humiliation twisted Clea’s features. But the Mercenary King had no intention of sparing her feelings.
“Living in luxury off my generosity, and you harbor grudges like that? This won’t end quietly!”
“S-Sword…!”
Clea clutched at him desperately. But he shook off her hand.
“Listen up, you morons!”
The Mercenary King bellowed at the holy bloods.
“I was a fool to ever think of leaving the group to trash like you! Now I’m certain!”
He turned to Athena and declared,
“From today, Athena is my successor!”
The long-vacant successor position was finally filled, sending the holy bloods into turmoil.
“F-Father! Even so, a mere high-class child…”
One holy blood blurted out thoughtlessly. The Mercenary King kicked a nearby stone.
Infused with mana, it embedded in the holy blood’s solar plexus. He flew back, vomiting blood.
“Anyone else unhappy with my decision?”
The Mercenary King scanned the surroundings. The holy bloods clamped their mouths shut.
“Ulric.”
“…Yes, Father.”
Ulric forced himself upright.
“How do you plan to atone for this?”
“…Take my head.”
“That’s too easy to substitute for your punishment. From today, you serve Athena. Protect her with your life.”
“I obey.”
Ulric bowed his head at once.
With the matter settled, the Mercenary King roared at the crowd,
“What are you staring at, idiots?! Get out of my sight!”
.