Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Child Abandoned by God
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Gunter's unit returned to Strange Castle with five carriages in tow.
Guardian Knight Captain Bess and his subordinates stood ready at the gates, opening them to welcome him.
"We greet Lord Gunter!"
Bess's voice boomed through the castle grounds.
"We greet Lord Gunter!"
The knights lined up in rows from the gates to the mansion echoed his salute in unison.
They afforded Gunter the same treatment they gave Family Head Roys.
Not like when second son Hysteria or third daughter Valentine visited—no, this time every soul in the castle, knights and all, had come out to greet him.
"Where's Berddin?"
Bess answered without lowering his salute.
"At the training grounds, sir."
"At this hour?"
"Yes, he's been honing his swordsmanship until late evening these days."
"I heard you've been personally sparring with him."
"That's correct."
"Has Din's skill already reached full-fledged knight level?"
It was a tough question to answer.
Berddin's prowess undoubtedly surpassed that of low-rank knights. Enough to cross swords with him, a 7-star knight.
But he hadn't graduated the academy yet. Far too young to classify with the term "knight," so Bess hesitated to speak.
"Never mind. I'll check for myself."
"...My apologies."
Gunter took a few steps toward the castle interior, then turned back to return Bess's salute.
Only then did Bess lower his hand from his brow and bow his head.
"Apologies? No need. After I meet with Din, I'll head straight to the underground prison, so pass the word to the soldiers ahead of time to avoid any mix-ups."
"Understood."
"I want to come and go quietly, so keep eyes on me to a minimum."
"Yes, Young Master Gunter."
With their talk concluded, Gunter strode into the castle.
As he crossed the garden bursting with vibrant flowers, the knights following him drew their weapons and fanned out in a defensive circle, as if blatantly signaling that someone might target Gunter.
Thud thud thud.
A white-haired butler wearing a monocle came running, beaming brightly.
"Welcome back, Young Master Gunter!"
Gunter's stern expression softened into a smile—he seemed genuinely pleased to see him.
"How have things been?"
"Thanks to you, Young Master, all's well."
"Good to hear."
The butler counted the knights behind Gunter, then scratched the back of his head.
"I heard you were coming a bit late, so I had to rush the meal prep. You might need to wait a little..."
"Take your time. I've got business to handle first."
"Business? Here in the castle?"
"Yes."
"Uh... Is the Family Head coming too?"
"No, just me today. Nothing major, don't worry. Have dinner ready before nightfall. I'll wrap up and head out right after."
"Ah, yes! Got it. I'll hurry it along."
The butler stepped aside after their exchange.
Gunter shot a glance at the other knights, signaling them to stand by.
Creeeak—
The mansion doors swung open.
Gunter entered, his golden cape billowing.
Up to this point, the two knights guarding him—Giselle and Gerno—had no inkling of what was to come.
Nor of the massive ripple a single letter from Strange Family's youngest son would unleash.
"You've been through a lot, I'm sure."
Gunter ruffled my hair with his massive, callus-covered hand.
For this moment, his face looked truly concerned for me. Of course, I knew every bit of it was an act.
I met his gaze blankly and replied.
"Thank you for coming all this way for my sake. I appreciate your concern."
"No trouble at all. How could I not when my little brother's in danger?"
"As expected, Brother never abandons brotherly bonds."
"Brotherly bonds?"
"Yes. Brother Hysteria said it didn't matter if I lived or died—he left an assassin in the castle and walked away. He caught the culprit just for his own reasons, not for me."
Gunter tilted his head.
"Did Hysteria say that?"
"Yes."
"He told me he was bringing the assassin for your sake."
"If that's true, I'd be grateful. But if so, he should've finished the job properly before leaving."
"Is that so? Second Brother's unpredictable."
"Exactly. That guy's... downright bizarre."
"Have some tea. Emma! If you would."
Emma, who'd been tense as a coiled spring, shot her hand up.
"Y-yes, yes!"
But Gunter wagged a finger at her.
"No, skip the tea. I'm leaving soon."
"Already?"
"No time to spare. Finish interrogating the assassin and head straight to the east."
"The Glazers? The papers say they've been up to some foolish antics lately."
"Clashes with those Glazer fools are an issue, sure. But not the main problem lately."
"Something bigger, then?"
Probably no question more transparent than this.
Rumors of the clash in Glazer territory had spread across the continent days ago. Did it make sense I'd be clueless? He'd think I knew and was playing dumb.
"I ended up fighting Hysteria."
"Brother Hysteria?"
"Yeah. Misunderstanding arose while capturing that underground assassin. We clashed briefly. Can't stay away too long."
I scanned Gunter up and down slowly. His full plate armor hid wounds well, but his stance and gait betrayed an issue with his right leg.
'Hysteria came back unscathed.'
Why was Gunter the only one hurt?
Of course, I couldn't just ask.
As I stayed silent, Gunter rose.
"Then I'll start the interrogation."
Gunter headed to the underground prison.
He didn't disappoint my expectations, moving exactly as I'd predicted.
And he'd left Giselle and Gerno waiting outside the castle walls—perfect chance to pit him against Hysteria.
Siegfried, who'd watched everything with me, asked.
"Shouldn't we contact that lunatic? If he heads to the prison now, he might run into the guy."
I smiled faintly, gazing out the window.
"No need. Brother Hysteria's already in the underground prison."
"...Huh? What do you mean?"
"Just what I said. Brother Hysteria's down there right now. Waiting for Brother Gunter."
"Since when?"
"Since he arrived at the castle three days ago."
"Eh?! Didn't that guy leave the castle?"
"Sure looked that way."
With Gunter's men all over, he had to dodge their eyes.
"So he faked leaving?"
"Yes."
"No way—I saw it with my own eyes. Him walking out the gates."
"That was a puppet controlled by Brother Hysteria."
"Puppet?"
"Precisely, an ability of the Guardian Spirit contracted to Brother Hysteria."
"Ah... So the clown's power made a puppet identical to Hysteria? Sent it out to fake his exit?"
Hysteria's current Guardian Spirit was once a Strange Family collateral kin.
A soul reborn as a puppeteer after being exiled to the frontier for lacking sword talent.
In his past life, only Hysteria knew of him, so his abilities were a mystery.
'Not anymore.'
I know everything about him now.
"Yes, exactly."
Siegfried clapped.
Clap!
"Kya! That sly fox knows how to use his head."
"Get ready, Master. We'll be fighting soon too."
"Huh? Us too?"
"Promises must be kept. We'll block anyone from going underground until one of them—Gunter or Hysteria—dies."
"Ah... But in this castle, who could challenge you? Even for the Family Head's sake, no one would defy you."
"To protect Brother Gunter? There are two who would do anything."
"Two? Oh, those 'right-hand' and 'left-hand' men Hysteria mentioned?"
"Correct."
Gunter's right and left hands: Giselle and Gerno.
They valued Gunter over their own lives.
And both skilled enough to draw blades on me—or any other siblings.
"I'll take the so-called right hand."
I glanced at Rox in the room's corner.
"The left hand falls to him. Just to buy time, though."
And at this fight's end...
'Only I will be the victor.'
The circular stairs descending to Strange Castle's depths led along gray walls to a row of rooms thick with eerie aura.
A place where no light would pierce without torches.
Gunter walked the path alone with the jailer, conversing.
"Where's the assassin who targeted Berddin?"
"Last room."
"Last one? Isn't that for A-rank and above? Why put a mere assassin there?"
"...Beats me. Few days back, Lord Hysteria came and ordered it locked there."
"Hysteria?"
"Yes. Said to give it the widest room so you could interrogate comfortably."
"......"
Thud.
Gunter halted.
He scanned the prison depths slowly, hand on his sword hilt.
The jailer smirked at him and tossed his keyring to the floor.
Clunk.
"What? Get in—"
Whoosh!
Gunter swung his massive greatsword.
Crack!
One stroke severed the jailer's torso from legs, both hitting the ground.
At that instant, as he died, every door in the underground prison sprang open.
Clang, clang clang clang!
Then a clown Guardian Spirit appeared, waving its arms—and prisoners poured out.
Thud thud thud thud.
"HYSTERIA!!!"
Gunter roared.
Hysteria emerged amid the inmates, flashing a vile grin.
"What's wrong? Gunter. Kuhahaha!"