Chapter 83
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Omen
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Trickle, trickle.
As the bottle was tilted.
What flowed from the tip of the streamlined bottle was a liquid as red as blood.
A wine so exquisite, its gentle aroma filled the air the moment it touched the glass.
And slowly, he reached out a hand.
Took the wine glass.
And gave it a light swirl.
The young man took a sip and, after a moment of silence, spoke.
“As befits a Vlad wine, it’s magnificent.”
“A fine day calls for a fine wine.”
“Yes, it's certainly worthy of a toast.”
The young man with red hair mixed with black spoke haughtily, as if granting her permission to be moved by his praise.
The woman in uniform sitting across from him bowed her head slightly.
In truth, the young man's acknowledgment was a rare thing.
Even an ordinary wine's value would skyrocket a hundredfold with his approval.
His judgment, honed by consuming only the rarest delicacies, held that much weight.
Enough for her, a direct descendant of the Blood Night Demonic Family—one of the Baekdaesega—to show him respect.
But, as was only natural.
The young man hadn't offered his praise for nothing.
“When do you plan to execute the plan against the Five Star Alliance?”
“I believe I already said this year at the earliest, next year at the latest.”
“But that is a schedule that could change at any time, should you so decide.”
“Don't worry yourself over nothing. I have no intention of being whimsical with a matter this important.”
“I am relieved to hear that.”
One of the Paljongyungma.
The fifth son of the Unlight family.
To the words of Ren Unlight, the Iron-Blooded Mad Demon, the woman with translucent, ice-blue hair…
Christina Vlad, calmly nodded before cutting her steak and taking a bite.
As if she had heard nothing more than the answer she expected.
Haughty.
Supremely aloof.
And thus, bordering on arrogant.
Ren's brow twitched slightly at her reaction, but he didn't comment on her attitude.
No matter that he was one of the Paljongyungma and a direct descendant of the renowned demonic house of Unlight.
She was from a fellow Baekdaesega family.
Moreover, he couldn't treat the Cold-Blooded Princess, said to be the closest to becoming the next heir of the Blood Night Demonic Family, carelessly.
Especially since they had formed a limited alliance, one for which he had even offered a precious holy relic.
Therefore, Ren brought up a topic they could at least communicate on.
“We both suffer because of our pathetic younger siblings.”
“Pathetic younger siblings… How interesting.”
Christina, who had nearly been pushed out of her position as heir due to the birth of her genius sister, Elise.
And himself, inconvenienced by his pathetic brother's belated departure from home.
They were in the same boat.
It was a topic befitting nobles of a great house, meant to stimulate mutual sympathy and solidify their alliance.
However…
“However, Young Master, Elise is by no means a pathetic younger sister.”
“...”
“Had luck been on her side, even slightly, Elise would have been the one to claim the position of the next heir.”
“What a ridiculous thing to say.”
At Christina's remark.
Ren said with a sneer.
“Don't you understand, Cold-Blood?”
“...”
“The very fact that they failed to seize that luck is the inadequacy of our siblings.”
Whether they were born late.
Had a humble birth.
Lacked talent.
Or were simply unlucky.
The next family head is one who must overcome all such disadvantages and prove their worth.
For whatever reason.
Once they lose that right.
Elise and Dion are nothing but dropouts. After staring intently at Ren, who spoke so coldly,
Christina spoke again.
“That is why I said it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Fifth Young Master, you…”
Whether out of curiosity.
Or anger.
Just as Christina was about to answer Ren, whose eyes had widened for some unknown reason.
*Creak.*
A girl burst through the grand doors of the dining hall.
“M-M-Master!!!”
“…I believe I told you not to disturb me.”
“But, but! There's an urgent matter I must report immediately…!”
The maid, with dark circles starkly visible under her eyes.
As Ren's eyes narrowed chillingly at the impolite behavior of his personal maid, Laira,
Christina, on the other hand, spoke calmly.
“Please, don't mind me. Receive your report.”
“…The vulgar maid has committed an impertinence.”
“There is no need to be concerned. If your personal maid has sought you out in such a hurry, there must be a good reason.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Suggesting that if an Unlight personal maid would act in such a manner, forsaking all etiquette, there must be a sufficient reason.
It sounded gentle at first glance.
But for a noble, it was like a blade.
Hearing this, Ren's expression grew even colder.
And he spoke coldly to the hastily approaching Laira.
“Report.”
“Yes? B-But, Master. In this place…”
“—I said, report.”
“...”
Allowing no room for rebuttal.
For a moment, she froze at the command, one befitting the Iron-Blooded Mad Demon, notorious even in Odobaekryeong.
Her pupils trembling, Laira finally squeezed her eyes shut and spoke.
“I-It's... the Soma Knight Order sent to capture the Seventh Young Master has been annihilated.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
“I-I thought it was nonsense too, but a message came from Soma Castle confirming it was true through a demonic contract.”
“...”
“Furthermore, i-it seems rumors are spreading that the Soma Knight Order was defeated by the Seventh Young Master.”
Laira trembled.
Every single Awakened One is a precious existence.
Most minor domains lacked even low-rank Awakened Ones, so recruiting high-rank ones usually required intense competition.
Of course, for Ren, a direct descendant of the Unlight family, even they were replaceable assets, but…
That had its limits.
Dozens of high-rank Awakened Ones.
Even if they weren't his direct subordinates, losing an entire knight order was a significant blow to him.
Especially at a time like this, with an important plan ahead.
*Thwack!*
“Ack!”
That was why, unable to contain his fury, he kicked Laira.
He kicked her so hard.
*Craash!* The maid slammed into the wall, half-shattering it.
The amount of blood gushing from her mouth alone indicated her injuries were severe.
But unfortunately, Ren's punishment didn't stop there.
“You can't even handle a simple task like this properly, you bitch?”
*Thwack, thwack!*
“I'm sorry. I'm sorry, p-please, just one more chance, ugh, ack!”
*Crack!*
“Aaargh!”
Her arm bent at an unnatural angle.
Screams and blood splattered.
Bone jutted out through flesh.
The tragedy ended only when Ren's foot rested on her neck.
Perhaps sensing what was to come.
The girl, who had been enduring the violence while curled up, pleaded with a pale face, but…
“M-Master. Save…!”
*Snap!*
“...!”
Her desperate plea.
Was never finished.
A chilling crack of bone.
And the lifeless pupils of the girl, sprawled with a broken neck, showed that it was all over.
As if his anger had finally subsided.
Ren stopped his rampage and looked back.
“…I've shown you an unsightly display.”
“There is no need to be concerned.”
Until the moment he snapped his personal maid's neck.
Even while watching the entire violent spectacle.
Christina, who had been cutting the steak on her plate, calmly put a piece in her mouth.
And tilting her wine glass, she added softly.
“However, I would prefer if this issue did not cause any delays in our schedule.”
“Do not worry. That won't happen.”
And so…
The meal, and the meeting, came to an end.
The Iron-Blooded Mad Demon, Ren, left.
All that remained was an untouched steak, a half-empty wine glass, and a bloodstain on the carpet.
But Christina herself did not stop.
She elegantly cut her steak.
Aloofly tilted her wine glass.
After finishing her meal, even alone.
She merely dabbed her lips with a napkin and spoke softly.
“Mobilize all our intelligence assets and gather information on the seventh son of Unlight.”
“…All our intelligence assets, you say?”
“That is what I said.”
“But, my lady, that could cause delays in other matters.”
“It does not matter.”
The servant who had been attending the meal wore a bewildered expression.
If they were to pull all their intelligence assets as she commanded, it could create setbacks, starting with the matter they were preparing with Ren.
But Christina did not change her mind.
In the end, the servant bowed respectfully and withdrew to carry out her orders.
Beneath the napkin covering her lips.
Unaware of what expression she wore, her blood-red eyes sunk particularly deep.
***
Waryong Manor.
The manor that, since becoming the territory of the White-Masked Young Master, had been embroiled in turmoil almost daily.
At least after the Treant clan joined, they had focused solely on restoring the territory alongside the Hara clan.
For the residents, it was a rare period of peace.
But among the residents.
Few were enjoying the peace.
Because the fact that this peace stemmed from their lord's absence actually made them anxious.
In Odobaekryeong, a lord was both a ruler and a protector.
While they held absolute authority over their people, they were also the ones who defended them from outside threats.
So, the longer their lord was away, the more worried they naturally became.
This was especially true for the dark elves, who had never had a proper protector, and for Waryong Manor, which was populated only by slaves.
That was why.
At this very moment.
The reason the once-quiet Waryong Manor was once again bustling with vibrant energy was...
“Hey, Lucky. Have you been well?”
*Wag, wag!*
The dark elves and slaves, kneeling respectfully.
And the beastkin girl who ran out from among them, wagging her tail vigorously and rubbing her cheek against his.
The boy in the white half-mask looked at the residents welcoming him.
Dion smiled warmly.
After finding the Vault Keeper.
And striking down Ren's forces.
He had been traveling all over for about a month.
It was a swift return compared to his busy journey through the Underground City, the Cloud Mist City, and the Flower Garden City, but…
Dion was just as happy to be back in Waryong Manor after a long time.
This was his territory.
From top to bottom.
A place filled with things that were entirely his.
“I am relieved that you have returned safely.”
“It's all thanks to you worrying about me, Arsha.”
And so, Dion gladly accepted the greeting from his most precious possession of all, the chief of the dark elves.
Wrapping an arm around her slender waist.
He pulled her tightly into his embrace.
And kissed her ear.
For elves, it was a sight so scandalous it was embarrassing, but…
Arsha's ears turned bright red, yet she obediently yielded to Dion.
The dark elves naturally averted their eyes.
They were more than accustomed to the public displays of affection between their lord and their chief; in fact, the sight was even reassuring.
Only the Vault Keeper, seeing it for the first time, was horrified.
“Wh-Wh-What is this? Kissing an elf's ear in front of everyone? What scandalous behavior is this?!”
“Now that you mention it, that was pretty shameless…”
“Of course it is! And not just the Master, but what about that elf who is accepting it?”
“…Do not speak so carelessly when you know nothing.”
“Am I the strange one here?!”
Perhaps because she remembered the aloof elves of the old kingdom era.
The Vault Keeper, covering her blushing face with both hands, stammered as she peeked at the scene through her fingers.
Dion asked Arsha.
“Anything happen in the territory?”
“Yes, there were no problems in the territory, but…”
As Dion showed an interested expression at her strangely nuanced reply.
Arsha, her face hardening, took a letter from her robes.
“—The Lord of Nakrang Castle sent a letter.”
“Hmm?”
Dion's eyes sparkled.
After unfolding the letter he received from Arsha, a strange smile graced his lips.
“Looks like the time has finally come.”
“When you say the time, you mean…”
“Yes.”
Perhaps because she had already anticipated the letter's contents.
As if to reassure Arsha, whose face was shadowed with worry, he pulled her closer.
Dion smiled warmly.
“Because I think the orc mister is about to make his move.”