Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Turned Tide (1)
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Cedric had committed an act of terror and fled.
Worse, the evidence clearly linked him to a spy from the Demon King’s army. Chloe despised him, but he was still her blood relative.
This meant that, at present, she was bound to be suspected as an accomplice. And it wasn't just Chloe. This was a major incident that would shake the entire Venice family.
The Emperor had likely already made his move.
I could picture the head of a great house being summoned.
The evil deeds committed by his son.
From the family head’s perspective, it would be a bolt from the blue. The excuse that he was a child they had already given up on was not even an option.
Cedric was the heir.
His status represented the family just as much as the head’s did.
Would he trust his son, or would he abandon his son to protect the family?
The deliberation would be short. The family’s survival was the top priority.
He would plead innocence, but that wouldn't be an easy problem to solve.
Prove his purity by crying?
That wouldn’t be nearly enough. Far from it.
Following pressure from the Imperial family, the other high nobles would surely condemn the Venice family as well.
In the end, the family head had only one option.
Just as the Crodain family had done in the original story, the only way was to pour out all of the family’s power.
Emptying their coffers to offer a massive war fund.
Sending all of the family’s forces to the front lines to defeat the Demon King’s army.
And going even further, to put a bounty on his own son’s head…
It would depend on the family head’s disposition, but he would most likely take direct responsibility.
I was suddenly struck by a peculiar feeling.
The reversed fates of this body and Cedric… I couldn’t help but feel a sense of novelty.
Could there be such a twisted fate in the world? Well, he was only reaping what he sowed, so pity was a luxury.
A flow set by the heavens, one that could not be defied… When the time came, I would not hesitate to cut Cedric down.
For now, I had to deal with the problem at hand.
The young lady of the Venice family, surrounded by men in black suits.
She wasn’t being threatened, but the situation itself was threatening.
Chloe’s complexion was gradually paling. Her eyes held a desperate plea, as if begging me to help.
Alright, I get it. I’ll save you!
The process wasn't particularly difficult. I approached the men in black suits and put on a serious air.
“From now on, I will be responsible for Chloe’s custody.”
A single sentence was enough.
Who would dare defy the authority of the Hero?
Just as I expected, they all nodded in unison.
They seemed to know it was a pointless task anyway. In fact, they looked relieved, as if they had just passed off a troublesome chore.
“Jace!”
The girl cried out my name like a sharp scream.
Without giving me a chance to stop her, Chloe threw her arms around me.
“…”
Hmm, that looked intentional, didn’t it?
It felt like she’d shown a flash of wit, turning a crisis into an opportunity.
“—!”
Another girl stood aghast at the sight.
The princess stomped her feet, not knowing what to do.
*Gasp, how dare she do something I haven’t even done… That’s so cheap!*
She gave off that kind of vibe, a reaction I found hard to understand.
*Huh? You did something even better, didn’t you?*
You danced with me in front of everyone, so why are you overreacting?
In any case, it was a relief.
If Ceria and Aruru had seen this, they would have been growling.
They would have judged Chloe’s sly move as if catching her red-handed.
However, something about Chloe’s condition seemed off. She trembled in my arms, as if genuinely terrified.
“I was so… so scared…”
“…”
An opportunistic nature. A girl skilled at exploiting others’ openings.
It was clearly a calculated act, but separate from that, she was utterly terrified.
A powerful tremor was transmitted from where we touched. It was a phenomenon that occurred regardless of her intentions.
“Did something happen?”
“Yes. After Cedric caused the terror attack… he tried to take me away by force.”
“…”
A step-brother who had changed his appearance, dripping with darkness…
I tried to put myself in her shoes, and I think I would have been creeped out too.
“It was a good thing the student council president stepped in when he did… If not…”
Her voice was choked with tears.
I sensed her instinctively reaching for her womanly weapons.
*Ah, you can’t do that!*
The only girl allowed to wet my chest with her tears is Ceria.
Needless to say, those tears had to be tears of joy, not sadness.
I quickly soothed Chloe.
I told her it was alright now and gently stroked her head.
At my effort, her trembling quickly subsided.
Meanwhile, the princess’s eyes widened once again.
“—??”
She stared at me intently, as if asking why I was so natural at this.
*Well, that’s because I have a lot of experience stroking my little cutie… Just leave it at that!*
Soon, Chloe’s complexion returned to normal. Nevertheless, a hint of anxiety still lingered.
“What should I do now? I don’t care what happens to Cedric, but the Venice family…”
She was worried that her family was on the verge of being shattered.
That wasn’t an exaggeration; it was the reality. The current situation was tantamount to the family’s heir committing treason.
Things would change depending on how they handled it, but no matter what they did, the great family’s prestige was set to be greatly diminished.
“For now… we’ll have to hope the pursuit team gets results.”
If they managed to capture Cedric, the damage could be minimized.
The Venice family would be granted a pardon by entrusting his fate to the Empire.
But that was unlikely to happen. My intuition was close to a certainty. It was only right to plan for the future assuming he had escaped.
“Chloe, your role from now on is important. Do you know what I mean?”
“Don’t tell me… you’re going to help me?”
“I promised you before that I would protect you if any problems arose. I think it’s time to keep that promise.”
“—!”
Her eyes widened.
As if recalling an old memory, the girl’s expression turned wistful. I didn’t know things would turn out this way back then, but I would keep the words I spoke like a man.
Of course, I had no intention of offering my services for free. A hearing would be held in the Empire soon enough.
A gathering where the Emperor, his ministers, and the great nobles would press the head of the Venice family.
I could picture the family head being treated like a great sinner, pleading his innocence amidst that hostile atmosphere.
What if I were to help out a little then?
What if I affirmed that it was Cedric’s crime alone?
My guess was that the flow of events would change considerably. That was how much weight my words carried.
If it were a problem among humans, it would be one thing, but with the Demon King’s army involved, the Hero’s right to speak became drastically stronger.
Especially with a war on the horizon, the Hero’s presence was more distinct than anyone else’s.
—*Cedric, that guy was always a villain!*
If I said so, who would dare refute it? Since I had watched Cedric at the academy, most would trust me.
Anyway.
If I were to defend them like that, I would become the Venice family’s savior.
Ending it there would get me called a pushover, but that process was, of course, merely part of the build-up.
Making a deal with the head of the Venice family.
That was the picture I was painting.
*It’s truly unfortunate about your son.*
*But what can you do? You have to save the family.*
*As a sign of taking responsibility, please step back.*
*If you put Chloe forward instead, maybe everyone can be happy?*
That was the kind of thing I was thinking of suggesting.
Of course, not all of it would be accepted, but I felt that making Chloe the heir was at least possible.
Since she was on my side, things were bound to get interesting in many ways.
I would be able to borrow a fair amount of the Venice family’s funds and military power.
There were many other areas where I could gain an advantage. In fact, the tide was already turning in a way that was quite amusing.
As the prestige of the Venice family fell, the prestige of the Crodain family would surely soar even higher. As the heir to that house, it would all connect to the Hero’s fame.
While I was inwardly pleased, Chloe burst out, as if sobbing.
“Thank you… Thank you so much. I will definitely repay this kindness!”
*Yes, of course you will.*
I had intended to pursue a business relationship from the start. This deal was a win-win, so everything was perfect…
“If you wish… I will offer you my all.”
“—!”
“—!”
The girl’s sudden declaration burst forth.
I let out a groan, and the princess jumped in shock. In contrast, the surrounding men in black suits chuckled and whistled.
*Heh, youth is youth, I see.*
With that sentiment, they managed to get on my nerves yet again. I’d have to send them to the front lines when the war started.
A moment later, the academy staff came rushing over in a group.
Their faces brightened as soon as they confirmed the Heroes were there. Like the students, they looked relieved.
From what they said, it seemed Cedric had crossed a river of no return.
An unprecedented act of terror.
Not only had he fired magic indiscriminately at the building, but he had also attacked innocent students.
Looking at it piece by piece, the damage was quite severe.
The collapsed building was one thing, but the number of casualties had reached the hundreds. The only silver lining was that there were no fatalities, but it was a major incident nonetheless.
Currently, only one Hero candidate remained at the academy. All except Skadi had been deployed to capture Cedric.
The student council president, Gale, Baken, Crow…
They all had stubborn personalities, so they would likely chase him to the ends of the continent.
I couldn’t just wait around for their return.
I would have to return to the Imperial Palace once reinforcements arrived. As night fell, an update on the pursuit team’s status came in.
—A hole was breached in the encirclement. Groups from the Demon King’s army, hidden in various places, attempted to create a diversion. The fugitives’ destination is confirmed to be the Demon King’s territory.
As expected, they were facing difficulties.
The pursuit team that left the academy consisted of only four people, but at some point, imperial forces from nearby had joined the chase.
An inescapable net…
It seemed they had cast something similar, but the Demon King’s army wasn’t one to stand by and watch.
It was, in short, a total mess.
My intuition had been proven right.
“I suppose it’s time to head back to the Imperial Palace…”
There was no reason to remain at the academy.
I took Chloe with me and left with the princess.
* * *
I had been away for a long time.
I figured my companions would be worried. Well, by now, they might have grasped the situation…
I anticipated some commotion.
Just before entering the detached palace, I stopped in my tracks.
“Esterize.”
“Hmm?”
“Go on ahead and explain the situation. I have something to discuss with Chloe for a moment.”
“Alright. Take your time.”
“I’m only saying this out of caution, but don’t say anything weird.”
“I won’t! I’m not that kind of girl…”
The fact that Chloe had hugged me.
There was nothing to be gained from it being known that I had comforted her.
Well, I could probably trust the princess.
If it had been my little cutie, in front of Ceria…
—*This is terrible! Jace was playing around with another girl!*
There was a very high probability she would have made a fuss just like that.
Soon, only the two of us remained.
Facing the puzzled girl, I spoke bluntly.
“Chloe. I cannot accept your feelings.”
“—!”
“It’s a relief if I’m mistaken, but anything more than this would be problematic.”
I just came right out and said it.
To be honest, I should have done this sooner.
It wasn’t too late even now.
I had hurt the girl’s feelings, but it would probably be fine for now.
Chloe stood motionless, as if in great shock.
I didn’t sense any resentment from her, but I somehow felt like the bad guy.
*Ah, this is so unfair…!*
It would be one thing if I had done something, but nothing happened!
“Just think of me as a simple collaborator. That’s the condition for my help.”
A strong-willed girl who doesn’t know how to give up.
It seemed overly harsh, but it had to be done.
“Do you really… really have to do this?”
“…”
“…Just a little is fine, so please give me some hope.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Perhaps because I had anticipated this kind of situation to some extent.
She seemed to be half-accepting it, yet at the same time, she showed a lingering attachment.
Hope…
True, ending it all at once could risk a backlash.
The saying that blood is thicker than water suddenly came to mind.
Following Cedric, the possibility of Chloe also turning to the dark side wasn’t entirely nonexistent.
*If I can’t have you, I’ll destroy everything!*
An ending where I get secretly poisoned… It seemed wise to avoid that, at least.
“Alright. Then this is my final offer.”
Until I finished my mission as the Hero, she was to behave herself.
I made it crystal clear that if she really wanted to do something, she should do it after that.
“If that is your will… I understand. I will hold it in until then.”
She nodded reluctantly.
She was the type to keep her word, so I felt I could rest easy.
With this, I had bought time. In effect, everything was resolved.
And after defeating the Demon King?
It would literally be my world, so I wouldn’t need to walk on eggshells around anyone.
The arduous journey towards pure love.
I had been dealing with things complacently until now, but I had finally achieved a valuable result.
It was something I wanted to boast to Ceria about. However, if I said it myself, the feeling wouldn’t be the same at all.
Hmm, maybe… Aruru was hiding somewhere nearby?
A scenario where she sensed my return with her beastkin senses, came out to greet her master, and then, ‘Oops, I have to watch this secretly!’ and hastily hid…
It seemed plausible. I really hoped that was the case this time.
*My little cutie.*
*You saw everything, right? You can explain it well later.*
I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but I felt like I could sense the wagging of a tail from somewhere.