Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Homecoming (1)
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The feast continued all through the night.
The soldiers, thoroughly drunk, lay scattered across the plains. Fortunately, the warm weather prevented any major issues.
As dawn broke, both families began preparations to depart.
"Brother, please visit our family sometime."
Michael Ryanbloom, reluctant to part ways, grabbed Demian Haksen's hand and pleaded repeatedly.
"You must come. You understand, right? You absolutely must."
"I get it, so let go already……."
Demian could only free himself after giving a firm promise to visit.
The procession returning to the Duke's family set off.
* * *
Upon arriving back at the Duke's estate, Demian immediately informed the Duke of his intent to leave.
"You're leaving already?"
The Duke's eyes widened in surprise. Demian bowed his head and replied.
"To leave so suddenly…… We're in the midst of preparing a festival. Couldn't you stay until then?"
The Duke had no intention of ending the celebration with just the plains feast.
He planned a grand festival to announce it to the entire world—that the Goldpixie Duke Family had triumphed over the marquisate.
"I've been away too long. My family must be worried, so I wish to return quickly."
The Duke gazed at Demian with evident regret.
"If that's truly your wish, there's no helping it. But stay just one more day. We need to select knights to escort you."
"Escort?"
Demian asked with a look that questioned why such unnecessary measures were being taken.
"I know full well how exceptional your skills are. But the situation has grown complicated. Sir Ernst Horwitz has vanished."
The Duke clicked his tongue briefly.
"Is that true?"
"Indeed. We don't know why he disappeared…… But as you know, Sir Ernst Horwitz was particularly close to Chelsea Goldpixie."
As the Duke said, Ernst Horwitz had been aligned with Chelsea Goldpixie.
He had escaped punishment simply because he was unaware of her collusion with black mages, but many within the family distrusted him.
"He might even attack the family. I'm safe with Sir Gaol Heinrich guarding me, but others aren't so fortunate."
A Mid-class was a being powerful enough to be classified as a strategic weapon.
For such an entity to target the family? It was nothing short of an emergency.
"He might even ambush you. After all, Chelsea Goldpixie's downfall began with you."
"So you're assigning me an escort for that reason?"
"Precisely. I know it may not be welcome, but accept protection until you reach your home."
In truth, Demian needed no escort. He could handle someone like Ernst Horwitz alone.
But outwardly, Demian was known as a Low-class. He needed to conceal his true abilities.
"I am grateful for Your Grace's consideration."
Demian decided to accept the Duke's goodwill.
* * *
The next day, Demian exited the inner castle gates.
"Oh, you've arrived."
At the inner gates, the Duke waited alongside Gaol Heinrich to see Demian off.
"Allow me to introduce them. These are the ones who will escort you."
The Duke gestured toward those standing ready.
Three knights and ten armed soldiers awaited.
Demian carefully examined the knights' faces. Among them was a familiar one.
"Hm? Who might this be? Isn't this Sir Sebastian Vincenzo?"
Sebastian Vincenzo's face twisted upon being recognized by Demian.
The two were far from amicable.
On the day of the duel, Sebastian had sent his own son to check Demian, only to suffer utter humiliation.
"The other Mid-class knights are all on missions. Sir Sebastian was the only one available."
The Duke was surely aware of the bad blood between them.
But with the situation turning dire, he had assigned Sebastian Vincenzo regardless.
"Sir Sebastian, I entrust Sir Demian to you."
"Yes, Your Grace. I shall protect him even at the cost of my life."
Sebastian Vincenzo placed a fist over his chest and declared.
"I leave the journey in your hands."
Demian extended his hand.
"……I'll do my utmost."
Sebastian Vincenzo shook Demian's hand with a face that screamed reluctance but necessity.
* * *
The Duke saw Demian Haksen off all the way to the outer castle gates.
"Your Grace, why send Sir Demian away?"
Gaol Heinrich, standing beside him, inquired.
"A knight like Sir Demian is one in a million. Wouldn't it be better to bind him to the family……."
"I've considered it. Ways to make Sir Demian one of our family's knights."
In the duel against the marquisate, the Duke had realized an unwelcome truth.
His family's knights were far inferior to those of the marquisate.
They had won the duel only because of Demian Haksen.
In such circumstances, he desperately needed a talent like Demian Haksen.
"Sir Demian must have some inkling of my intentions. If he wished to serve under me, he would have stayed."
Yet Demian had expressed his desire to return home.
It meant he harbored no attachment whatsoever to the Duke's family.
"Above all, Demian Haksen is not a man meant to serve under another."
Unlike the Duke's family knights, Demian had never once looked at the Duke with eyes of respect.
He merely used formal speech and observed proper etiquette.
"There's only one time I saw eyes like Sir Demian Haksen's."
Swordmaster.
An absolute being who had cast off the shackles of mortality and stepped into the realm of immortals.
They were similar.
"Can a man like that be caught and held? That's why I let him go."
The Duke spoke with regret.
"Let's head back. There's much to do."
* * *
The journey back to Viscount Haksen's estate was peaceful.
With three knights and ten armed soldiers, no bandits dared approach.
Moreover, traveling entirely on horseback, their pace was swift.
"We'll camp here for the night."
The sun began to set.
Sebastian Vincenzo halted the group in a forest.
While the soldiers prepared the camp, the knights lit a bonfire some distance away and rested.
Demian Haksen sat on a stump near the fire.
"Sir Demian."
Suddenly, Sebastian Vincenzo called out to him.
"Thank you for winning the duel."
The abrupt statement left Demian puzzled.
"You see…… My son lost in that duel."
Sebastian Vincenzo continued awkwardly.
"If we'd lost outright, I couldn't have faced His Grace. But thanks to the knight you trained and your efforts, we secured victory."
Sebastian's misguided judgment had nearly handed the Duke's family its first defeat.
A total loss would have brought him endless scorn.
"No need for apologies. I had no intention of helping you, Sir Sebastian."
"……You certainly have a way with words."
Sebastian Vincenzo trembled with anger.
It was then.
Sebastian Vincenzo abruptly sprang to his feet.
The Duke's knights stared at him in alarm.
"Hiding won't help. Show yourself!"
Sebastian bellowed. Moments later, someone emerged from the darkness.
A man of average build, cloaked in black.
Upon seeing the intruder's face, Sebastian Vincenzo's expression went slack.
"……Ernst Horwitz."
Ernst Horwitz smirked.
"Long time no see, Sir Sebastian."
* * *
"……Why are you here?"
The knight who had vanished after Chelsea Goldpixie's death now appeared here.
Sebastian Vincenzo spoke with a face full of wariness.
"No particular reason. Just here to tear apart someone who needs tearing."
With that, Ernst Horwitz glanced at Demian Haksen.
"That damned bastard Demian Haksen."
"……Sir Demian is His Grace's guest."
"And the one who provided the cause for Grand Duchess Chelsea's death."
Murderous intent gleamed in Ernst Horwitz's eyes.
"Sir Sebastian, I intend to leave no one connected to Grand Duchess Chelsea's death alive."
"Chelsea Goldpixie took her own life. It's not Sir Demian's fault……."
"Don't spew nonsense!"
Ernst Horwitz roared.
"How steadfast the Grand Duchess was! She would endure any hardship! She would never commit suicide!"
Ernst Horwitz panted heavily.
"……Grand Duchess Chelsea was surely killed by the Duke. She must have died under brutal interrogation."
Ernst Horwitz spoke with killing intent dripping from his face.
"I won't let her death slide. I'll kill Demian Haksen, then those who interrogated her, and finally the Duke himself."
Sebastian Vincenzo stared at him incredulously.
"You'll assassinate His Grace? You're truly mad."
"Yes, I'm not in my right mind. Not since the day Grand Duchess Chelsea was cruelly murdered."
Ernst Horwitz let out a low chuckle.
"Sir Sebastian, no more words. Let me have Demian Haksen, and I'll spare you."
"Insolent fool. Who are you to grant mercy?"
Sebastian Vincenzo gathered his mana.
An immense aura radiated outward. The cries of beasts and insects in the forest ceased instantly.
"Insolent, you say…… You're right. You were always stronger than me, Sir Sebastian. So I prepared."
Ernst Horwitz shed his cloak, revealing a grotesque sight.
Black magic circles were etched across his entire body, embedded with pitch-black mana stones at key points.
That wasn't all. Hidden beneath the tattoos were surgical scars covering his body.
Seeing this, Sebastian Vincenzo exclaimed in horror.
"You've dabbled in black magic?"
"Yes. I couldn't face the Duke's family alone, so I sought help."
Ernst Horwitz's lips twisted.
"Guillaume Blackwing. I underwent the same procedure he did. At the cost of my life force, I gained vast mana and physical prowess."
Ernst Horwitz unleashed his mana.
Black mana erupted skyward like a geyser.
The sheer volume shook the surrounding trees violently.
"Watch closely with open eyes. See the power I've obtained!"
Ernst Horwitz kicked off the ground and thrust his spear.
Sebastian Vincenzo swiftly raised his sword to block.
The moment spear met sword, Sebastian's body was pushed back.
"Urgh?"
Sebastian Vincenzo braced his legs. His recoil finally halted.
He stared at his hand in disbelief.
A single clash had torn his palm.
It was horrifying speed and power.
"Surprised? Something seem off?"
Ernst Horwitz shouted with a face full of ecstasy.
"You should have heeded my warning! I said I'd spare you if you handed over Demian Haksen!"
Ernst Horwitz thrust his spear again, bellowing.
Crimson aura, like fresh blood, poured from the spearhead. It became a storm engulfing Sebastian Vincenzo.
Sebastian Vincenzo dodged hastily. Trees and rocks behind him were shredded.
He glanced at the path the aura had carved.
A section of the forest had been leveled into a plain.
Sebastian Vincenzo's face hardened at the sight.
"What are you staring at? Everyone, run!"
At his command, the Duke's knights hesitated, torn between orders and aiding him.
"You idiots! You won't help even if you stay! Go to the Duke's family and fetch reinforcements!"
Sebastian Vincenzo bellowed. Still, the knights wavered.
"Understood! We'll bring help, so hold on just a bit!"
Then, Demian Haksen shouted.
Demian Haksen turned and fled. Only then did the other knights follow suit.
As Demian Haksen and the knights distanced themselves, Ernst Horwitz sneered.
"Do you really think you can stop me?"
Sebastian Vincenzo smirked.
"Who said anything about stopping you? I plan to kill you right here."
"Oh, such confidence. Whether you can is another matter…… But surely you don't think I came here alone?"
Sebastian Vincenzo's eyes widened.
"You bastard…… Don't tell me……."
"Black mages are waiting nearby. Demian Haksen won't get far."
Rage flared on Sebastian Vincenzo's face.
"You scum!"
Sebastian Vincenzo charged at Ernst Horwitz.
In the darkening forest, the two Mid-class clashed.