122. The Bascon Family Head's Mansion, Eldest Among the Seven Siblings
Bascon family head's mansion. There, Moden and the various Bascon family elders had gathered. With all eyes focused on Moden, he opened his mouth to speak.
"Then, shall we send Bin Bascon—who violated the law—to another family?"
"……."
A sharp voice. In an instant, the elders frowned. Unable to respond, they merely glanced at one another warily. It was the gaze of those flustered because this wasn't the answer they wanted.
The elders began to speak with lukewarm expressions.
"Family head, if you say something like that so suddenly……."
"That's right, it's just……."
The elders hesitated, unable to continue. Sending Bin to another family meant kicking away the fortune that had come to the Bascon family with their own feet. It was tantamount to bolstering another house's power. And with the most promising talent among the seven siblings, no less.
Moden continued, his piercing gaze fixed on the flustered elders. "Or should we just cut off his arm?"
"……."
The elders' faces hardened at Moden's bold words.
"No……. That's a bit……."
This wasn't the answer they wanted either. The elders' true feelings were as follows. There was fear of magi and the notion that the law must be upheld. But there was an even greater purpose. With Bin's position now elevated, they needed to seize the initiative so he couldn't ignore them, to solidify their own standing. It was all to pull up the power of the elders who were being weeded out.
Moden, who knew their schemes full well, had seen through them and pressed even harder.
"……."
The elders fell silent, gauging each other's reactions. They wore troubled expressions, unsure how to respond to Moden's unexpected attitude.
Moden looked at them and continued. "The law forbidding magi. Of course, upholding it is important. But shouldn't we first consider whether all this is truly for the family's sake?"
"……."
The elders listened quietly to Moden's words. They weren't unaware of what he meant. It was simply that their own interests came first.
Soon, Moden posed a hypothesis. "What if Bin Bascon hadn't been there during the Grander family's surprise attack this time?"
"Well……."
The elders couldn't continue. The situation was all too obvious. Without Bin, the Bascon family might have been utterly destroyed by now. They themselves would likely be lying dead, throats slit.
As thoughts of the Bascon family's ruin surfaced, the elders' views on Bin began to shift. Not as a lawbreaker…… but perhaps as a hero who had saved the family from crisis.
Moden addressed the elders, now aware of their misguided thinking. "Bin Bascon is a boy with stronger will than anyone. If any problem arises, I will take responsibility."
"F-Family head……."
The elders' eyes widened in shock, but Moden pressed on.
"If he ever falls to the magi and harms a family member…… then you may have my head."
"……!"
The elders were stunned by Moden's resolute attitude. His eyes conveyed a message: that the one needed for the future of the Bascon family was not himself, but Bin.
"……."
The elders gaped in astonishment, at a loss for words. Moden watched them and spoke meaningfully. "And through this incident, I've made one decision."
One elder asked at Moden's words. "A decision?"
"I intend to name Bin Bascon as the Bascon family's vice family head."
As Moden finished speaking, the eyes of countless elders widened in shock.
"……!"
* * *
Meanwhile, inside Plentel Castle. In the mansion of Moden's first wife, Elle.
Screeech—thud thud thud.
A maid burst in through the open door, crying out urgently.
"M-Madam!"
An excited voice. It was clearly important news.
Elle, who had been sitting at the table enjoying cake and coffee, looked at the maid. "Running around like a headless chicken. Anyone would think another raid had happened. What's got you in such a tizzy?"
Though Elle scolded the maid—her voluptuous figure shifting—the maid's excited expression didn't change.
"M-Madam. Bin Bascon……."
"……."
At the