Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Rakehell, Villainess Young Lady, Stepmother (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"So, what did Eugene say? That he's jumping into the fight for next family head too?"
Reika Calliope, perched on the edge of the desk, twirled her impeccably maintained green hair around her finger as she spoke.
"......He said he didn't talk much about it with Father."
"Hah. What an idiot... big brother. You actually believe that?"
"Did you just call me an idiot!!"
"Yeah, I called you an idiot. Look, big brother. You think I'm taking your side just because we popped out of the same womb?"
Reika's sharp retort made Kail stumble back a step.
"......Is there some other reason?"
"Sigh... Big brother, you should thank your lucky stars I wasn't born a boy. If I had been, I'd have devoured you by now."
Kail ground his teeth as he watched Reika shake her head in pity.
"Enough with the bullshit—just spit out the reason already!"
"I'm backing you because being a woman with Calliope blood running through her veins is worlds apart from being the next Calliope family head's little sister."
"......What the hell does that mean?"
"You can't even get that? Fine, plain talk: I'm on your side because it benefits me. Why else would I bother? Face it—in raw talent, you're not just trailing Erden; you're even behind Eugene, aren't you?"
"Reika!"
Stabbed right in the heart, Kail bellowed for the first time, but Reika just waved him off lazily, like he was a buzzing fly.
"Quiet down... So, enlighten me. Even a dimwit like you wouldn't buy Eugene's word without some reason."
"......Ugh... Eugene swore his support."
"Sigh... Exactly. How can you swallow that? If I don't spell every damn thing out..."
"Shut your trap and hear me out! He pledged it at the meeting with Mother—no issues there!"
"Oh? For real? To Mother herself, not just you...? You think he's actually serious?"
Kail let out a low growl at Reika's blatant disdain.
"Do I seriously look like a fucking moron to you?"
"......Don't you?"
Bang!
Unable to contain his rage, Kail smashed the window, shattering it with a deafening crash.
"Oh my, how scary."
"......Sister or not, once I'm family head, you watch your mouth—or it'll be the end of you."
"Yes, yes, got it. I'll be on my way then, oh future family head."
As Reika bowed with exaggerated sarcasm, Kail's fist twitched forward—but he barely held back, knowing Mother's tongue-lashing would follow if he laid a hand on her.
'......Just wait 'til I'm family head...'
Once he claimed the seat, not even Mother would meddle in his affairs. He'd straighten out that insolent little sister's attitude for good.
And that was just the start.
'Emma, that bitch too...'
He knew Emma saw him as utter trash.
But every time he glimpsed her bronze skin and those long, dangling legs, a torrent of lust crashed over him, impossible to ignore.
'......Hold on a bit longer. I'll have you sobbing beneath me soon enough.'
Sure, Emma was Eugene's personal maid.
But to Kail—who never planned to honor any deal with Eugene in the first place—it was irrelevant.
The moment he became family head, he'd purge every last threat to his throne.
'Still... since you're siding with me, Eugene, I'll go easy—sever your tendons and ship you off to exile.'
Licking his lips, Kail lost himself in visions of his triumphant future.
"Young master. Everyone's assembled."
"......Right. Let's head in."
Alfred swung the door open, and dozens of eyes locked onto me, erupting into a thunderous roar of cheers.
"Whoa! Young master!! It's been forever!!!"
"We've missed you, young master. You've grown so much! I even brought flowers!!"
"Hope all's been well with you, young master."
Rowdy as it was, every word and glance brimmed with genuine warmth toward me.
"Yeah, long time no see, Gordon... Oh, thanks for the flowers, Chart. I told you not to bother..."
Before I could finish replying to one, another chimed in.
I spent the next stretch darting around, overwhelmed.
Thud.
Alfred stamped his foot lightly, silencing the room with brute authority.
"......I get it—you're all thrilled to see the young master after so long. But give him a chance to speak, yeah?"
Only then could I catch my breath and shoot Alfred a grateful nod.
"......Thanks, Alfred."
"Just doing my job."
In the hush Alfred commanded, I stepped forward, every eye in the room drilling into me.
Welcoming as the stares were, their sheer weight still pressed down hard.
I let out a steadying breath and spoke slowly.
"......Straight to it: who do you pledge your loyalty to?"
In that instant, the friendly gazes turned icy. Gordon—the loudest moments ago—bared fangs like a lion's and answered.
"......You're asking the obvious. From the moment you took us in—beastkin who ain't human nor demon—our master has been Kiara alone."
"......"
The room fell silent in agreement with Gordon.
......Everyone except the one at his side: Emma.
"......You're my master, young master."
Jeers exploded from the mixed-blood crowd.
"Read the room, Emma!"
"Boo! Trying to suck up all to yourself!"
Blushing furiously amid the catcalls, Emma flashed her cat ears and claws.
"W-What? Mind your own business! I pick my own master! Got beef? Bring it!"
"Oh yeah? Let's settle cat versus dog supremacy!"
As chaos threatened to reignite, Gordon raised a hand to halt the others.
"Cut it out. Save the brawls for later—with me."
"Uh... not with you, old man..."
"Then pipe down."
"......So, Gordon—that all you wanted to say?"
"......Sigh... We were gonna test if you qualify as our master, but..."
Gordon trailed off, glancing at Emma with a sigh.
"......Emma killed the vibe. Fine—Kiara's will stands. Eugene Calliope, rightful heir to her blood. You're our new master."
"......Even compared to Eddard Calliope?"
Asking the Calliope retainers to favor me over the family head was borderline treason.
But Gordon grinned, flashing his lion's molars like it was nothing.
"......Wanna see proof?"
One word, and he'd lead these mixed-bloods in open revolt right then.
Each one's power dwarfed a normal human's; this many turning from within could spark chaos, win or lose.
"No need. Just swear anew—to me, not Mother."
"Hey, young master. Our oaths aren't child's play. You ready for that weight?"
Gordon fixed me with a predator's glare.
No joke there.
Break that vow, and these cheerful faces would tear out my throat in seconds.
But to survive, I needed them.
I met Gordon's eyes and nodded.
"Yeah, that's how it is..."
Thud.
In unison, they dropped to one knee, heads bowed toward me.
"......Eugene Calliope. As long as you never betray us, we shall never betray you. We will be your sword to cleave foes, your shield to guard you. Do you accept our loyalty?"
"......I, Eugene Calliope, so swear. When you weary, rest in my embrace. When hunger gnaws, take my flesh and blood. I shall never doubt your loyalty, nor break my vow."
"....."
The brief rite ended in awkward silence.
I cleared my throat to break it.
"......So, back to normal talk now?"
"......Kuhahaha! Hell yeah—formal speech was cringin' me out anyway. Young master, to celebrate our new boss, let's party hard! Mikey! Grab booze and grub from the kitchen!"
"Why me again! If anyone's goin', take Gordon yourself!"
"Do it! You little rat!"
"Old man, that's species discrimination!"
As the room exploded back into raucous joy, I slipped away—Alfred and Emma trailing behind.
"Congratulations, young master. You're our master in truth now."
"I've been Team Young Master from day one!"
It felt surreal.
Like inheriting Mother's relics—but this was loyalty earned purely on my own merits, untainted by tamer bonds. A whole new sensation.
'......Not bad at all.'
Savoring the odd thrill for a moment, I turned to Alfred and Emma.
"......Got a request for you two."
"Make it an order. We'll obey."
"Anything you say, young master."
I smiled softly at their ready compliance.
"Alright then—I command you. When I meet with Garcia soon, you two..."
Their eyes gleamed like beasts stalking prey as they heard me out.
'......That covers all the prep.'
All that's left: carving the mold from the Calliope family.