Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Banquet Turmoil - 3
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Right after Princess Rosmel returned to the banquet hall.
As if handing off a baton, Maribel came to the garden.
She gave a concise report on what had happened in the banquet hall while I was away.
"There were no particularly suspicious movements, right?"
"Yes. The only noteworthy thing was that Duke Grimjack called Young Master Cassis aside. When he came out of the room, there was a wound on his forehead, and blood was trickling down."
"Looks like the princess breathed more influence into Duke Grimjack than necessary."
Originally, I should have been groveling before the duke, but now that hierarchy had been completely flipped.
No one dislikes special treatment, but it didn't sit entirely right with me.
After all, my existence had sparked conflict between father and son in House Grimjack.
"Is something bothering you?"
Maribel asked softly, studying my expression.
"...Was it showing on my face?"
"Yes. But don't worry. It was such a subtle change that only I could notice."
Maribel's observational skills were truly top-notch.
Anyone who let their guard down around her for even a moment would have their true face exposed in an instant.
That's why I could fully trust her reports, but this time, an inexplicable unease lingered.
"I've been wondering if the cult might not have gotten involved in this social gathering."
"May I ask why you think that?"
The reason was simple.
The cult's next target after the princess was House Grimjack.
In the intro of Aslon Chronicles, there was a backstory video explaining how chaos befell the empire due to the princess's death.
House Grimjack fell the day before the tutorial.
The tutorial began with the player learning of House Grimjack's annihilation in the capital, so my memory couldn't be wrong.
"As you can see from how Duke Grimjack treats me, he's no less than His Majesty's left arm. Do you think the cult, bent on toppling the empire, would just leave a key figure like that alone?"
"Indeed, to take the head, it's more efficient to carve away the limbs first."
Maribel flashed a chilling smile and nodded in agreement.
"Those bastards even cursed the princess. They must have pulled some scheme on Duke Grimjack too. That's why I thought this social gathering, with all its external visitors, would be the perfect chance for infiltration. But with no movement at all, it feels off."
"I understand exactly what you're worried about, Sir Heinz. Shall I dig into House Grimjack then? They might have already started gnawing from the inside."
"Good. Then, could you keep a close eye on just Cassis? That guy's got the shadiest background."
The mad Young Master Grimjack slaughters everyone, including the family head, at dawn and takes his own life.
That was the full account of House Grimjack's annihilation as depicted in the original story.
The duke had two sons.
The culprit was clearly one of them, and I suspected Cassis the most.
The cult were experts at exploiting twisted human psyches, so they'd dig into the father-son rift.
The conflict between Duke Grimjack and Cassis was perfect fodder for them.
"Got it. I'll move right away."
"But don't push yourself too hard. Even if the duke is favorable to me, if word gets out that we're prying into family matters, relations will sour fast."
"Don't worry. I'll be discreet!"
I left the investigation of Cassis to Maribel and summoned Gerrick Beckman, who had been waiting outside the estate, to serve as temporary bodyguard.
Gerrick, who had been breaking Marquis Donovan's mind, rushed over joyfully at my call, unable to hide his delight.
He was an ideal bodyguard in terms of combat prowess, but his reverent gaze was still hard to get used to.
"I'm warning you ahead of time: don't stand guard inside the banquet hall. Got it? Seriously, don't."
"I'll do my best not to inconvenience you, Young Master!"
"Alright..."
Worries mounted on multiple fronts, but since Lena had acknowledged his skills, I permitted him to accompany me.
I suddenly resented this body of mine, which felt endlessly insecure without a guard.
I'd love to swing a sword around and cast spells too.
"How's Donovan's condition?"
"He's breaking down smoothly. Our knights aren't used to torture, though... I'm a bit worried if we're educating him properly."
"No need to overthink it. Just implant two mindsets: 'Don't fuck around' and 'Just do it.' That's enough."
"I'll keep that in mind!"
We'd beaten him thoroughly but hadn't killed Donovan Adenberg.
Killing a noble just because he was displeasing would shatter the empire's order.
So we kept him alive and had the knights perform "mental education" under the guise of brainwashing.
His position wasn't bad, so turning him into a living puppet for our use was far more profitable.
In that vein, I planned to build ties with Duke Grimjack too.
If I helped them avert annihilation and secured them as staunch allies, no western noble could touch me.
Plus, this would strengthen ties with the imperial family.
Princess Rosmel had personally set the stage and made the connection, so there was no reason to refuse a meeting.
The moment I entered the banquet hall and headed straight for the duke—that was when it happened.
"Viscount Altesia!"
Amid nobles avoiding me, one unusually approached and spoke.
A man with reddish-brown hair proving his Grimjack blood.
If not Cassis, it had to be the duke's second son.
"Did you just call me?"
"Yes! Is there another Altesia here besides Viscount Altesia?"
"What business does Grimjack's second young master have with me? Revenge for your brother's humiliation?"
"As if! I'm nothing like that idiot brother of mine from the ground up!"
Even though it was our first meeting and he was being blunt, he used honorifics and treated me respectfully.
If Gerrick, watching with arms crossed behind me, was nodding, it meant no hostility.
I softened my tone slightly and scanned him again.
"Then, what's your business? Grimjack..."
"It's Hans!"
"Right, Hans Grimjack. Speak."
"It's a bit long for here. If it's not too rude, could we move somewhere else?"
At my nod, Hans eagerly led me to his office.
The chance of a trap was slim.
If they meant harm, they wouldn't have allowed Gerrick—the biggest variable and symbol of force—to tag along so easily.
Still, caution never hurt, so I decided to probe his intentions.
"Hans Grimjack."
"Yes, Viscount?"
"You look younger than me, and I'm just a mere viscount openly talking down to you, the duke's successor. You really okay with that?"
Hans nodded without hesitation at my provocative question.
"No issue. What's the problem with getting close to Viscount Altesia?"
"You have no pride?"
"Has pride ever saved my life? That's for those with leeway. For someone like me, scraping by day to day, it's utterly useless."
I felt an odd kinship with Hans.
Prioritizing immediate survival, willing to bow and compromise in crisis—a man I could reason with.
I wasn't fully reading him yet, but I sensed we could communicate.
"Since you brought it up, I'll be straightforward about my goal. I want your help to make me the next head of House Grimjack."
"Why ask a wastrel like me?"
"Everyone calls you a wastrel and points fingers, but I see it differently. You're just pretending."
"Evidence?"
"You already showed it in the banquet hall."
He meant the dance with Princess Rosmel.
While other nobles shot jealous glares, Hans had pierced the situation from another angle.
He seemed convinced I hid immense power, given the princess and duke's exceptional treatment.
In reality, I'd just racked up a debt to the princess, but it wasn't a bad angle.
"House Altesia started as merchants—we never do losing deals. If you want help, show me a worthy card first."
If Hans brought up my feud with Cassis, I'd leave without hearing more.
No matter the grudge, I couldn't waste Altesia resources on petty family squabbles.
My true enemy was the Nidhogg Cult, not Cassis.
Unlike my fears, Hans didn't mention Cassis at all.
"If I become head, I swear on the Grimjack name to support you with all we have."
"Not enough. You didn't think I'd bite on empty words alone?"
"If you'd taken me on a mere oath, I'd have reneged first."
Hans pulled a particularly worn, thick tome from the bookshelf.
Opening it revealed a slot meticulously cut with a blade, holding a single silver key.
He extracted the key, replaced the book, and shoved the shelf aside with force.
A finger-sized hole hid in the wall behind.
Hans inserted the key.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Clunk-! A heavy locking sound echoed as the wall swung open like a door.
Simultaneously, a hidden space beyond revealed treasures in various colors.
Rare herbs and elixirs unobtainable with money, magic scrolls, magic tools, and even swords.
A treasure vault filled with high-value items.
"This is the collection I've been gathering bit by bit. What do you think?"
"Impressive."
No exaggeration.
I spotted several items I had painstakingly hunted down for my strategy.
Not a huge quantity, but the rarity tempted even me.
My heart began to tilt.
"I figured Viscount Altesia would recognize their value."
"No wonder you were so confident. You had this ace up your sleeve."
"I offer these treasures as a down payment! Still not enough?"
"Plenty. But..."
I picked up a scabbard from the deepest part of the vault.
A jet-black sheath reminiscent of obsidian, housing a single sword.
Just looking at the scabbard pulled you into an abyss-like allure.
"What's this sword? It's new to me."
"I'm not sure about that one either. A northern noble once visited; I served him tea, and he gave it as thanks. It didn't seem ordinary, so I kept it, but I've never drawn it."
"You promised it to me, so mind if I check it now?"
"Of course."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Shing-! The smoothly honed blade slid from the scabbard with a metallic ring.
The moment the obsidian-black sword revealed itself, my face reflected in the cold edge.
Admiration nearly escaped me when a bizarre tinnitus suddenly rang in my head.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Wielder who has drawn the sword. You have been chosen by the demon sword, Tyrfing.] "Urk!"
"Young Master!"
"Viscount! Are you alright?!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Tyrfing will awaken the sword talent within you and reveal the ultimate realm you can reach in the distant future.] A sinister black aura rose like mist from my sword-gripping hand.
A gut feeling screamed something was wrong, but the sword clung to my palm like a magnet, refusing to let go.
Meanwhile, the black energy slithered like venomous serpents into my skin, racing along my veins through my body.
"Young Master! Let me help!"
Gerrick reached to wrest the sword from my hand.
But before he could, a powerful shockwave from the blade blasted both of us far away.
I felt the demon sword's will: no interruptions until the possession was complete.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [But great power comes with a fitting price.] "Gaaahhh─!!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The primordial evil sealed in Tyrfing will devour your flesh and plunge the world into destruction...!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Thwack-! As if someone hit rewind, the rampaging demon sword suddenly sucked back into its scabbard.
Nothing happened after that.
What the hell?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...Looks like Tyrfing gave up.] 'Suddenly?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [For Tyrfing to abandon body possession means your sword talent is utterly hopeless.] 'Don't give up! Use that primordial evil to make me strong somehow!'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [No water comes from wringing a dry rag. Same with your talent—give up.] 'Fuck!'
Denying this shitty reality, I drew the sword again, but unlike before, nothing happened.
Swish, whoosh.
I swung it around, but it was just waving an expensive decorative blade through the air.
Damn Altesia curse—even a demon sword rejects and sends me packing.
As hollow laughter escaped me in despair, a gasp nearby mixed with Hans's shocked voice.
"V-Viscount...! Did you just shake off that demon sword's mental domination on your own?!"
"...What?"
Hans, convinced by my retort, shuddered and stepped back.
"Impossible! No one in imperial history has ever broken free of a demon sword's corruption by their own power! To escape domination and subjugate the demon sword instead...!"
A thick scent of delusion vibrated at the tip of my nose.
In their eyes, I'd overwhelmed the demon sword's ferocious aura with my own might and dominated it.
How to explain this absurd situation to clear the misunderstanding?
"No, I didn't subjugate the demon sword...!"
I hurriedly opened my mouth to correct it.
But before I finished, Gerrick dropped to his knees before me, clasped his hands piously, and began praising me.
"My lord!! My god!! I shall follow you until my last breath!"
Tears of emotion streamed from Gerrick's reddened eyes.
But the bigger issue wasn't his reaction.
His reverence peaking, the sword at his groin was swelling noticeably.
"This mad..."
Was giving Gerrick the elixir the biggest mistake of my life?
Regret flooded me, but calming that fanatic gaze and dispelling the misunderstanding was priority.
"Listen well. I...!"
As I shouted to escape this delusion swamp—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Bang-! The office door burst open violently.
Soon, countless footsteps from the hallway filled the room.
"Demonic energy detected here! Search every corner—leave nothing unchecked!"
"""Yes, my lord!"""
House Grimjack's family head and knights had stormed the office.
The demon sword's black aura must have triggered Duke Grimjack's senses.
I was out of ideas now.