Chapter 89
Chapter 89
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Sorting the Hierarchy (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The key retainers of the Bittenfeld family had all gathered in the mansion's conference room.
What was peculiar was that the expressions of those seated on the right differed starkly from those on the left.
The people on the right all exuded confidence, while anxiety was plainly etched on the faces of those on the left.
In the heavy silence that hung over the room, a young man with short silver hair and green eyes approached Adel Bittenfeld.
His name was Ernst Bittenfeld.
"Are you still opposing Father's will, Sister?"
"Of course. A rebellion without justification can only end in ruin."
"Without justification? That's hard to understand. Didn't the war break out because of the young lord's greed? Besides, independence is a fervent wish our ancestors have cherished."
"Do you think independence gained by clinging to enemies eyeing the North has any meaning?"
"What matters is the result. As long as the end is good, people won't care about the process."
Ernst brimmed with self-assurance.
Watching her younger brother, Adel sighed inwardly.
It was absurd that her position as heir was jeopardized because of such a fool.
That was when it happened.
"I've told you over and over, yet you never change, Adel Bittenfeld."
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the conference room.
At that moment, everyone—including Adel and Ernst—rose from their seats.
But Oliver von Bittenfeld glared only at his daughter.
Even so, Adel did not avert her gaze.
Grit.
Oliver ground his teeth at his daughter's insolent eyes but turned his head to look at the others.
"You've all heard the news. It's true that we've allied with the Royce Marquisate alongside the Gustin family. After exterminating the Adalbert family, our house will declare independence."
"What about the dungeon shares, my lord?"
Bastian Friedrich, captain of the Azure Dragon Knight Order, asked with a stiff expression.
"If Wilhelm joins us, the Royce Marquisate gets four shares, and we split the rest two each. If he refuses to the end, it'll rise to three."
"...I understand the situation. Still, it's regrettable. In terms of legitimacy alone, we and the Gustin family come first, yet we have to give more shares to the Royce Marquisate."
"I understand your feelings fully, Captain Friedrich. But we can't have everything we want. We can reclaim the dungeon shares after securing complete independence."
At those words, Bastian Friedrich bowed his head and said no more.
But Oliver did not miss it.
The displeased look on his face.
Nor was Bastian the only one.
Starting with Vice-Captain Ottomar Briegel, those seated on the left clearly harbored reservations.
This was more than enough to stoke Oliver's anger.
Finally, his long-pent-up rage erupted.
"Three hundred years! For three hundred years since the Bittenfeld family was founded, we've been scorned by other nobles simply for being a branch house. You all know that well! Even those with smaller territories and weaker forces than us strut around as independent lords!"
Oliver's shouts continued.
"And what about us? No matter how prosperous our lands become or how strong our forces grow, we're forever stuck as viscounts, forever bowing our heads to the main house! Now that a chance to fulfill our family's long-cherished wish has come, you're telling me to ignore it!"
His furious cries shook the conference room, and everyone fell silent.
They could somewhat understand the family head's sense of inferiority.
But understanding didn't mean they would condone his actions.
"If the Adalbert young lord hadn't awakened his unique ability, pursuing independence would be fine. But he mastered spatial dominion, earning the right to become the formal family head at that moment. What justification do we have for seeking independence? Even if we succeed, will other nobles recognize an independence won with the Royce Marquisate's help?"
"Power can crush everything!"
"Conversely, we could be crushed by an even greater power. To be frank, Father—or rather, my lord—you're driving the Bittenfeld family to the brink of destruction. As the family heir, I can't just stand by and watch."
"...You dare betray me?"
"It's not betrayal. It's correcting a mistake. I don't know how the young lord will fight the Royce Marquisate. But one thing is clear: under the pretext of securing his rear, he'll try to exterminate us and the Gustin family."
"I won't listen to any more nonsense. Do you think that brat has the capability?"
"The Rustal family already thought that and ended up defeated and wiped out. Jerome Metzger, the market lord, and the Crimson Messenger, elder of the Adventurers' Guild, couldn't stand against the young lord either. Considering his strengthened position in the North, we absolutely can't win."
"We share the same view."
"Forgive us, my lord. Please retire peacefully."
Vice-Captain Ottomar Briegel and Captain Bastian Friedrich of the Azure Dragon Knight Order spoke up.
Not everyone agreed, however.
"What are these traitors saying?!"
"Betraying the family head just to save their own skins! I'll kill them all!"
"No need to hesitate, my lord! Sweep away the traitors right now!"
Ernst and the Bittenfeld elders spat their fury.
Oliver nodded as if concurring with them.
As he glared at Adel and the others on the left, his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
"Don't think I'll spare you just because you're my daughter, Adel Bittenfeld. From this moment, I strip you of your position as young lord. For betraying the family and defying the family head's will, I declare your execution."
Hum.
A blue aura blade coated Oliver's sword, aimed straight at Adel.
Her mother was of lowly birth, but she had successfully manifested the family's unique ability, phantomization.
Moreover, she displayed outstanding talent in swordsmanship and various other fields, leading him to name her heir.
Her status as eldest daughter played a big role too.
He had bestowed such great favor, yet it returned as betrayal.
Blood kin or not, he had no intention of forgiving her.
"Die."
Oliver instantly teleported, appearing right before Adel.
"My lord!"
"No!"
Bastian and Ottomar tried to intervene, but failed.
The elders and others blocked their path.
Slash!
Without hesitation, Oliver swung down. The blade sought to cleave Adel's head in one stroke.
'Even if she deploys phantomization, it's useless.'
With spatial severing added, phantomization meant nothing.
Boom!
An explosion rang out.
At the same time, Oliver furrowed his brow.
Just before striking Adel, someone had teleported in and blocked his sword.
'No way?'
Smoke obscured the figure, but the emanating presence was familiar.
"Gasp!"
"Why is that man here?!"
As the smoke cleared, everyone in the conference room couldn't hide their shock.
The one blocking Oliver's sword was none other than Martin.
"No matter how angry you are, is it right for a parent to kill their own daughter?"
Martin's face beamed with a playful smile as he spoke.
* * *
Oliver scowled and said,
"Why are you here, Martin Adalbert? I heard you entered the Overlord's Chamber."
"Stripping me of young lord status just because I betrayed you? Isn't that a bit too quick a turnaround?"
"Answer the question."
The spy planted in the main house had reported three days ago that Martin had entered the Overlord's Chamber.
To focus on training ahead of the war.
For him to suddenly appear here was absurd, considering the distance from the main house to Rachek City.
"I don't see why I should explain to you. And right now, the important thing is punishing the traitors."
"Traitors? Don't make me laugh! It was your main house that forced the chains of branch status on us and treated us like slaves!"
"Ancestors blessed you with a strong unique ability and easy gains of territory, and you call that slavery? Ridiculous. Taking responsibility for one's bloodline is one of a noble's duties."
"No point listening to more."
"Probably because you have nothing to rebut."
Oliver moved to retort at Martin's words.
But Martin's shout came first.
"Oliver von Bittenfeld! I declare you a rebel against the main house! From this moment, you are no longer the Bittenfeld family head, and all your authority is revoked!"
"You dare..."
Oliver's face twisted.
He had parroted back the exact words Oliver had used on Adel.
It was blatant mockery.
"I'll kill you and fulfill our ancestors' wish!"
"Who knows? I bet the first Bittenfeld family head was grateful to our main house ancestors. Wouldn't it be right to say incompetent descendants are twisting their will as they please?"
With every word from Martin, Oliver felt like he was the only one getting angry.
Continuing the conversation was a loss.
Resolved to kill his opponent, Oliver surged with power.
Martin unleashed his own in response.
Boom!
The two 7th Circle powerhouses finally clashed.
* * *
"You filthy traitor! Father made you young lord despite your lowly blood, and you dare sell out the family?"
Ernst glared at Adel and bellowed.
Even as the child of the principal wife, how absurd it had been to have the young lord position taken.
He hadn't rebelled because the talent gap was too vast.
"I'll never, ever forgive you!"
Unable to contain his rage, Ernst drew his sword and charged.
But he barely took a few steps before instinctively shielding his body with both arms.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Ernst let out an involuntary groan.
'My arm bones are broken?'
Even with mana at full output.
Dumbfounded, he looked up and called the opponent's name in a venomous tone.
"Sien Igret. The young lord's dog..."
"Hey. Didn't you educate your brother properly? The kid's young, but what kind of manners is this?"
"I've never once meddled in his education. If you want to complain, tell Father or my stepmother."
Sien and Adel conversed casually.
Completely ignored, Ernst burned with genuine fury.
"You first!"
"What're you on about."
Slap!
Sien's palm struck Ernst's cheek.
He flew and crashed to the floor, rolling several times.
Then he convulsed briefly before going limp.
"I didn't kill him. Still, he won't escape judgment."
"That's enough. And thank you for stepping in for me."
"It wasn't really for you. Even half-siblings are siblings—watching you fight didn't sit right, so I intervened."
Sien turned his head away, suddenly embarrassed.
Adel smiled at the sight.
But it wasn't time to relax yet, and the two dove back into the fray.