Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Each One's Secrets - 1
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I asked.
“That kid’s descendant?”
“There’s some connection with Patrick’s bloodline.”
“What are you talking about? You’re not even from the Knights of Light. There’s no way you’d be linked to someone from Alcahad... Ah.”
She nodded at my expression, as if I’d realized something.
“When we first met, didn’t you spill all about my past?”
“Mm. You definitely said you met Dame thirty years ago and made a backroom deal...”
And fifty years ago, you fought Alcahad’s vice-captain, Krots Benjamin.
It was a story I’d heard directly from Neril before my regression, but I hadn’t realized it connected like this.
Neril continued.
“Probably his son... No, judging by the age, maybe his grandson. I’m a little curious what he looks like.”
“Want to go see? Adwin wants to check it out too.”
“Got time for that?”
“If it’s Alcahad’s captain inauguration, the emperor and all the capital’s bigwigs will show up. Seems like the perfect spot to gather intel.”
Neril nodded.
We left the carriage with the coachman.
Then headed to the venue on foot.
As we walked, Neril shared some old tales.
“Krots was a guy who knew his place, unlike that fool Dame. After a few clashes, he was the first to throw up his hands and surrender.”
“Hm.”
“For a vice-captain of Alcahad no less. It was amusing how cleanly he groveled. So I let him live.”
It felt strange seeing her open up about her past like this for the first time.
Come to think of it, with all the years she’s lived, Neril must have tons of memories I know nothing about.
Made for an odd feeling.
[Neril could be thinking the same about you.]
‘Huh?’
[You’ve got plenty of memories she doesn’t know about. Same for the other party members.]
‘...’
[They’re precious comrades. Get to know them bit by bit. Don’t wall yourself off like before the regression.]
I was shocked.
‘That’s so mature, I can’t believe it’s you talking.’
[What’s that supposed to mean.]
‘It means it’s so mature, I can’t believe it’s you talking.’
[I just repeated what you said, you punk.]
‘Did you ever have comrades or a party?’
Trail denied it.
[No. I never had any comrades. And I probably never will.]
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
You’re already here, what’re you saying?
The inauguration was a grand affair.
We arrived late and grabbed bad seats, so it looked like a speck from our distance. But with my eyesight, I could see it vividly enough.
“The emperor.”
At my mutter, the group’s eyes turned that way.
“That ant with the crown over there is the emperor?”
“That’s a pretty rude way to talk about the empire’s ruler.”
“Didn’t mean it badly. He just looks like a real ant from here.”
“Still sounds plenty rude.”
That’s when Adwin spoke up.
The short kid was riding on Offense’s shoulders piggyback-style, squinting his eyes narrow.
“My mother said he was quite the fine young man when he ascended the throne. Hard for me to tell.”
Offense replied.
“Your mother was that famous Mariana Ain, right?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Calling Neril ‘big sis’ but me ‘uncle’? That’s not fair, is it?”
“Mm... Sorry, Uncle.”
“Get off my shoulders right now.”
I snickered and turned back to the inauguration.
Even from this far, the Blood Letters were crystal clear.
‘Well now, the emperor’s quite the sinner himself.’
The number of sinners listed in his Blood Letters: a whopping 581.
Excluding freaks like Kaild, he topped everyone I’d seen.
Before my regression, the emperor only met Kaild privately, so this was my first time checking his Blood Letters.
If I’d known back then, I would’ve doubted whether the emperor’s promised reward would actually come through.
‘Anyway, not important right now.’
I shifted my gaze slightly.
Someone was receiving Alcahad’s captain insignia from the emperor.
That must be Patrick Benjamin.
They said he’s handsome, but I couldn’t tell.
[Very subjective judgment.]
‘...’
[What? Why the face?]
Trail asked, seeing my expression turn serious.
I exhaled sharply through my nose and examined Patrick’s Blood Letters.
-Sinned against Dame Side and 231 others.
Dame Side.
Jenia’s father, and captain of the Knights of Light, Alcahad’s rival organization.
He’d sinned against him.
And as the representative name, it was likely his darkest secret.
‘Trail. Tell me the secret between Dame and Patrick.’
[What? Dame?]
‘Story later. Secret first.’
[O-okay.]
A screen soon popped up.
[Used Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 3. Can view up to B-rank secrets.]
[Selection condition: ‘Secret between Patrick Benjamin and Dame Side.’]
[Secret rank is C. Proceed?]
I checked the date in the top right first.
‘Last night?’
It was a secret from less than a full day ago.
In the screen, Patrick faced Dame.
Dame took a sip of tea and spoke.
“First off, congratulations. Vice-Captain Patrick Benjamin.”
“You should call me captain now.”
“The inauguration’s strictly tomorrow.”
“You’re a stickler. Less than a day left.”
Dame frowned at the slippery tone.
Clink.
He deliberately set his teacup down with a clatter before speaking.
“No one else here, so let’s keep it casual. Vice-Captain.”
“...”
“Plenty of people wonder how you rose so fast in a behemoth like Alcahad.”
“Must be my skills.”
“No. Your skills aren’t captain material. Hell, not even vice-captain level.”
Patrick’s face twisted horribly.
Dame kept pouring on the venom, unperturbed.
“This isn’t me talking as the rival organization’s captain. What did you do to the previous Alcahad captain, anyway?”
“What do you mean? He just decided to retire and hand me the position.”
“The previous captain’s still spry, and he publicly said he’d retire the day he’s carried out in a coffin.”
“People change their minds in an instant.”
“You gonna keep dodging?”
Dame barked at him.
“And it’s not just the previous captain. I hear plenty in Alcahad envy or resent your rocket promotion.”
“...”
“Same talk among the nobles. ‘Not nearly worthy of being legendary Vice-Captain Krots’s grandson.’”
“Shut your mouth!”
Bang.
Patrick suddenly slammed the table.
But Dame didn’t flinch.
Maybe because I’d only seen hero-tier party members, but Dame was still the empire’s No. 3 powerhouse.
No way he’d cower from some greenhorn’s rage.
And honestly, Patrick had zero dignity.
Patrick panted as he spat.
“Grandfather, Grandfather! I’m sick to death of being compared to that name!”
“It’s common for those born to great bloodlines. Vice-Captain Krots was a man worthy of respect.”
“That respectable man couldn’t even lay a hand on the Witch of Atrocities before backing off.”
Dame’s eyebrow twitched.
“Are you criticizing me indirectly?”
“Oh right, you went through the same thing, didn’t you, Dame? Man, that Witch of Atrocities really knows how to bedevil our organizations. In every way.”
“...”
“Anyway, whew. Let’s get to the point.”
He calmed his excitement and sat.
Then continued with a sleazy grin.
“You said some pretty rude things just now, citing it’s just us... I get it. I’ll do something rude too, since it’s just us.”
“What’re you—?”
“Like this, old man.”
“Wh-what?”
“Look straight into my eyes from now on.”
Huh?
Suddenly, Patrick’s right eye glowed red.
Even through the screen, goosebumps prickled my skin.
The ominous glow slowly faded, then vanished.
Dame blinked blankly before asking.
“What the hell did you just...?”
“Not bad, holding out as the empire’s No. 3. I was gonna corrupt you more.”
“C-corrupt?”
“Why don’t you roll up your pant leg.”
Despite the jarring tone shift, Dame obeyed, folding up his pant leg.
The fact that he did meant he sensed it too.
Something very wrong happening to his leg.
“...!”
His eyes soon bulged.
‘Whoa.’
[Can’t watch with eyes open.]
Dame’s right leg, fine moments ago, was now crushed mush.
Blackened like long-rotted mud, dripping.
The oozing black flesh looked like demons from hell.
Dame broke into cold sweats and demanded.
“What did you do to me!?”
“You’ve got a guess already, right?”
“...”
“You know the Demon King of Corruption’s authority? I demonized part of your body. Meant to go up to your thigh, but stopped at the knee. Impressive.”
Dame bit his lip hard.
Blood trickled, but he didn’t wipe it, yelling instead.
“How the hell can you use that Demon King’s authority!?”
“Got lucky not long ago. No point asking; I won’t answer. Don’t waste time.”
“You bastard...”
“Calm down and think. If that partial demonization reaches your marrow, what happens?”
Dame shuddered violently, then squeezed out.
“You think you’ll get away with this? This is an anomaly itself. Every Knight of Light will hunt your neck!”
“Heh. My predecessor said the same.”
Oh. So that’s it.
‘He pulled the same stunt on Alcahad’s previous captain.’
[Yeah. Everyone doubted Patrick’s skills earlier. He’s way too young for captain, too.]
‘Right. That’s how he seized Alcahad in the capital.’
Who could endure their own body slowly demonizing...?
“I won’t bend to threats like that! Even if my body fully turns to demon, I’ll see you punished.”
There is?
Dame’s got some spine.
Patrick didn’t panic at the fierce shout.
“Yeah, the predecessor said that too.”
“Wh-what?”
“He tried arresting me, throwing his life away. But after I showed him this, he gave up.”
Swish.
He drew a dagger.
Then lightly slashed his own palm.
Drip.
As blood soaked the table, Dame reacted.
“Urk!”
He clutched his leg in agony.
Looking down in panic, the demonization had crept from knee to thigh.
“Get it now? Harm me, and yours advances automatically.”
“...”
“You can’t arrest me or expose my crimes. Harm isn’t just physical.”
“...”
“Badmouthing my name, framing me... Anything I see as ‘being wronged’ triggers it. From now on, till you die, just focus on boosting my name.”
Grind.
Dame gnashed his teeth.
Patrick smirked and went on.
“And FYI, it’s not just Alcahad.”
“What?”
“Some in the Knights of Light are demonizing too. Noble heirs, guildmasters, guard captains. All of them.”
“...”
“Anyone who opposed or might oppose my captaincy is probably bandaged up somewhere right now. Heh.”
“...”
“How about it? Now everyone’ll cheer my ascension as one, right?”
I could only tut at his viciousness.
That right eye of Patrick’s.
The Jewel of Corruption can morph into trees, rocks, humans, demons—even a black sun.
Eyes included.
In other words...
‘That eye is the black sun that appeared in the capital before my regression—the Jewel of Corruption.’
Hm.
The Withering Jewel I took from the Martial King was proving mighty useful.
This Corruption Jewel seemed endlessly versatile too.
Honestly, when I first hit the capital, I just wanted to deal with that black sun somehow.
Even I hadn’t thought of claiming a sun.
[Wait. You don’t mean...?]
I chuckled.
‘An eyeball? Easy to carry around.’