Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Wastrel's Instinct
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"Old man. I've believed that saying since ancient times."
The theory of innate goodness and the theory of innate evil.
Neither can be definitively declared correct, but personally, I lean toward believing humanity's nature is inherently evil.
After all, isn't it humans who drew the line between good and evil in the first place?
The moment that line is set, humanity's primal, instinctual actions inevitably become evil.
That's why I subscribe to the theory of innate evil.
Honestly, it's not even that I truly believe it.
I just think it makes sense.
"What nonsense are you spouting first thing in the morning?"
Bernard, rubbing his own shoulders as if his whole body ached, rubbed his bleary eyes and shot back.
He blinked sleepily, pried out some eye gunk, and there was Kallias.
"Humans are inherently evil."
"So, what the hell is this all of a sudden… Sigh, forget it."
Bernard let out a deep sigh, pondered for a moment, then gave an answer to Kallias, who was staring intently at his own mouth.
"That could be true. But at least I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"If human nature were inherently evil, life would be pretty damn rough, wouldn't it? Even if it's evil, isn't it easier to live thinking it's good?"
"Hmm… Still, I intend to think it's evil."
Humans are inherently evil.
But through learning society's ways, they recognize the harm of evil deeds and restrain themselves.
Because committing evil within the fenced-in society can rebound on oneself.
Thus, the principle of human behavior becomes avoiding harm to others.
Honestly, it's hard to say what's right or wrong. But at least in my personal opinion, I believe in innate evil.
That raises one question here.
‘Kallias.’
Kallias is the epitome of someone who believes in innate evil—a violent, reckless temperament.
On the surface, his actions scream evil.
I see humans as inherently evil, but they act good because they know society's rules and norms.
So why do some people stray from those societal norms?
I think it's because they're stupid.
That's right.
Kallias is stupid.
That's why he kept up his wastrel ways, knowing full well they were wrong.
Because he couldn't live up to his father's expectations.
Even as a direct heir, he was compared to the branch family kids and painfully realized his own incompetence, turning him into a wastrel.
There's no justification for his actions.
He was simply inept.
And so, the wastrel Kallias was born into this world.
The setting itself was like that from the start.
I made him that way.
"But why bring that up all of a sudden?"
"Because I just can't understand it."
"Understand what?"
"…The mind of a wastrel."
"What the hell is this nonsense…."
With a sigh that seemed to shake the earth, I left Bernard's tent.
The early dawn as day broke.
Ignoring Bernard's curses calling me a madman, I stared blankly at Jaybarshu Castle.
Soldiers were bustling about from morning, standing guard and preparing to greet the rising sun.
‘Damn it.’
Just looking at it filled me with irritation.
In the heat of battle's thrill dominating my body, with Bernard right in front of me.
If not for those circumstances, every moment in Jaybarshu would make the rage inside me explode.
Thud.
"Ah! Sorry!"
A soldier bumped my shoulder as he passed.
He carried a massive stack of supplies.
He probably couldn't see ahead because of the piled-up gear. It was understandable, something that could happen.
It was wartime, after all.
A mere soldier shouldn't dare touch me, but in war, it happens.
However.
Without the slightest hesitation over such a trivial matter, I drew my sword.
"You're not worthy to touch me."
Regardless of my will, the wastrel trait overtook my entire body.
"Eek! S-Sorry! Please forgive me just this once!!"
As the menacing blade loomed over his neck, the soldier flattened himself to the ground, begging for his life. Kallias naturally stepped on the soldier's head. It was so instinctive there was no way to stop it.
"I forgive you."
"Th-Thank you…?"
"The gods above will forgive all your sins."
With those words, Kallias swung down his predator sword.
"U-Uwaaaah!"
The killing intent from three days of rampaging through the battlefield and slaughtering enveloped the soldier.
The soldier collapsed, urine pooling as he stared at the blade hanging over him.
"Tch… Get lost."
"Y-Yes… Yes! I'm gone!!"
Just before taking the soldier's neck.
My left hand blocked my right.
‘Fucking trait.’
My left hand tingled from the force—I'd blocked it instinctively.
The wastrel trait had truly tried to kill the soldier in one stroke.
The wastrel trait combined with Kallias created this vicious situation.
The startled soldier and the knights on their duties widened their eyes in shock.
"That's why I hate coming north."
The trait's compulsion.
The "Count Family Wastrel" trait grabbed my ankle like this, dominating my body.
The deeper into Jaybarshu I went, the stronger this control would grow.
‘My infamy will spread even wider.’
The Jervan wastrel, thought reformed, hadn't changed after all.
It would spread like this.
"Haa…."
Infamy didn't matter how far it spread, but the real issue was elsewhere.
The true problem was that I couldn't control myself.
Whispers.
Wrapping holy power around my ears, the whispers I shouldn't hear were interpreted by Bard's Blessing and reached me.
It wasn't pleasant.
-They call him a wastrel… but that's beyond wastrel; he's a lunatic.
-Shh, quiet, that madman might hear.
-I thought a war hero had appeared….
Maybe I shouldn't have listened.
The moment I did, the wastrel trait triggered, and murderous intent boiled up.
"It's because of the trait right now."
I didn't even know what was what anymore.
That's why I didn't want to be near Jervan.
If it were just that, I could grit my teeth and endure, but fragments of Kallias's memories and emotions kept making my blood surge backward.
Memories of being ignored.
The punishments for his unfilial acts.
They kept surfacing from the depths as bodily memories.
"I need to find a way to suppress the trait."
Or leave this place. One or the other, but regrettably.
[Wheel of Patalite]
-Killed Orcs: 2172
-Killed Magical Beasts: 486
-Saved People: 193
-???
<Reward> [A+] ???
The quest remained unchanged.
No other options.
‘If I come this far and can't even make S-rank, I'll regret it forever.’
Then there's only one way.
Find a way to suppress the trait.
"What if I can't find one?"
I pondered briefly, but no good answer came.
"Then no choice."
I'd have to live as a wastrel.
* * *
"Nohtel. That fool really said that?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Heh…."
The lord of Jaybarshu Castle.
Elberton von Jervan was speechless at Nohtel's report upon his return.
"Has that fool lost his mind?"
"Perhaps. Though I remember he used to show proper respect to you, my lord…."
Not anymore.
No manners or anything—just utter arrogance.
Even if he'd been exiled from the family and joined the Church as a pilgrim, there was no justification for so contemptuously rejecting a request from the North's master.
"Bold, isn't he?"
"But that's not the end of it. Even accounting for that, Young Master's behavior is…."
"No. It's better than acting like a tail-tucked puppy in front of me. Yes, that's how a man should be."
Elberton's cheek twitched.
Better than the dog that always cowered before him— this boldness was twice as good.
And didn't he have the right to be confident?
The brutal three-day battle.
There, Kallias had firmly imprinted himself on the Northerners.
In the War of the Wheel.
He was the talent Jaybarshu needed, the indispensable sword of the North.
"He knows his own worth better than anyone. That's why he acts like that. Otherwise, he couldn't."
In any other place, he'd punish such rudeness as a crime.
But this was his homeland.
And.
"He must have some pent-up resentment. Where does that personality go? Haha."
"This isn't the time to laugh…."
"Who else in the North would dare spout such cheek to me but him? Strangely, it doesn't even anger me."
Elberton smiled wryly.
Nohtel felt both relief and worry seeing his lord's face full of amusement.
"Well, he wouldn't have returned to the North without that kind of magnanimity. Even I underestimated my son a bit."
"What do you plan to do? If you let him be, it could harm your dignity as family head."
"If my son shows such cheek, then as a father, I must fulfill my responsibilities. Don't you think?"
Creak.
Rising from his seat, Elberton left his office and headed toward the temporary barracks in the castle.
"He's voicing complaints to me now, but soon enough, he'll turn elsewhere."
"Where…."
"It'll appear soon. Then I'll just watch."
As the North's master marched, not only the scurrying soldiers but all the knights bowed their heads.
The North's king.
Everyone in Jaybarshu bowed to Elberton, who was that in essence.
Everyone but one.
The black-haired man in the red cloak alone kept his neck stiff.
"Kallias."
A voice like a weight on his shoulders called to Kallias. Though just a voice, it pressed on him heavier than any great beast.
He wanted to answer quickly and bow his head.
But the wastrel trait refused.
Was this the trait's fault?
Or Kallias's will?
He couldn't tell.
"You're still alive, I see."
However.
One thing was certain.
‘This feeling….’
Killing intent.
Kallias harbored such hatred for his father that he bared killing intent toward him.
"You've grown. Enough to keep your head stiff before me."
Kallias didn't bother replying to Elberton's words.
He simply quietly drew his sword.
"Good instincts."
Kallias's eyebrow arched.
Good instincts? What did that mean?
As that question formed.
A man walked out from one side of the castle.
"Are you well, Father?"
It was Killaban.