Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Episode 92. The Successor
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I aimed my sword at Father's heart without the slightest hesitation.
'Give me Strange, Father.'
Father was already dead.
I was merely claiming the Strange legacy left within his body.
The family's secret technique I couldn't obtain in my past life—a weapon that would make me even stronger than before.
'Surtr's Conviction.'
Squelch!
The blade pierced Father's heart. A chilling yet clear sound echoed through the training grounds, freezing everyone present in their tracks.
"B-Berddin, how dare you do this to Roys—"
Veratir muttered in undisguised shock.
Matteo Rich, losing his mind to rage, charged at me.
"Raaargh!"
I casually raised my hand, pointed at him, and whispered,
Lightning
Purple lightning erupts from the palm, striking the target.
Purple light burst from my palm and slammed into him. Unable to withstand the impact, Matteo Rich flew like a scrap of paper and crashed into the wall.
Boom!
They were already too exhausted to face me.
Veratir was no different.
They had moved exactly as I'd planned, and I expressed my gratitude for the outcome they'd created.
Of course, not by conversing with them or offering rewards.
Just a light bow of my head in courtesy.
"This isn't what we agreed on, is it, Berddin? I was supposed to take Roys's head."
Veratir glared at me, exuding a murderous aura.
I ignored him and pointed at the fallen Matteo Rich as I continued,
"I judged that, as things stood, Matteo Rich could beat you."
"What? No, if you'd just waited a little longer, I could've taken him down—"
"Conversely, what if that strike that pierced your shoulder had hit his heart instead?"
"......"
"Matteo Rich there would've killed Father and taken the Strange Guardian Spirit."
Of course, that wouldn't have happened.
No matter the circumstances, they never could've approached Father.
Once the Guardian Spirit activated on Father's body, only those with Strange blood could wield a sword against him. In their fatigued state, they couldn't even have scratched him.
'But.'
I had to show those two.
That I, Berddin—not the past or the future, but right here in the present—held the hegemony of this continent, and that everything was proceeding according to my design.
And to inform the heroes who'd shone in Father's once-unrivaled party that a new era had dawned.
Whoosh—
Vitality began slowly draining from Father's body. It slumped forward, losing its strength, and Rox's larva no longer supported it, bending along with the corpse.
At the same moment, the Guardian Spirit known as the Dark King waved at me before vanishing.
I couldn't hear it directly, but I could guess what it said.
'Well done. You've earned it.'
For guarding Father's side until now.
As the Guardian Spirit faded away bit by bit, golden mist poured from Father's body, swirling around me like a dance.
It was no different from when I'd received Siegfried—this had to be the so-called Guardian Spirit.
With that thought, I spread my arms wide to welcome the new power.
Ssshh—
The golden mist enveloping my body began seeping inside. There was no guilt or lingering attachment over killing Father.
In my past life, killing him had been my goal, after all.
'Though Hysteria got there first that time.'
Anyone hearing this story would probably call me insane.
They didn't know the depth of my rage toward him or what I'd endured in my past life.
'Doesn't matter.'
This life, he'd been favorable to me anyway. What happened then was an incident known only to me.
'Time to erase it from memory.'
I might even feel grateful toward him. Learning my mother was alive and his devoted actions had changed my heart.
'That's why this feels so refreshing.'
Sending him off with my own hands.
Fwosh!
As the golden mist fully entered my body, an intense energy surged like boiling blood, and my mind grew hazy.
My vision narrowing told me my body couldn't handle this new power either.
'Can't collapse now, though?'
Those two wouldn't let me.
I knew it in my head, but my body wouldn't obey. Desperate to escape, I slowly backed away.
Then, gesturing to Rox, I hurled myself through the broken window.
'You get what I mean, right?'
He nodded and whispered something.
'Trust your comrades.'
Siegfried's tiresome mantra from my past life. Because I'd followed it, he was laughing above me now.
'Master, let's do better than last time.'
Vrooom—
Wind whistled past my ears as I fell. Even as consciousness faded, my mind filled with plans for battling those two upon waking.
'I really am crazy.'
Thinking about fighting even now.
Poof!
Suddenly, something soft cushioned my back.
I shouldn't have hit the ground yet. So what was this bed-like sensation?
"This is a freebie, nyang."
Bang!
A familiar yet unidentified woman's voice rang out.
"What are you doing, Din? Get up quick! If you collapse here... this world is done for!"
Who was this woman?
"Bro, you okay?!"
A blond man like me approached and helped me sit up.
'And who's this guy?'
He gazed at me with worried eyes and continued,
"It's... it's my fault... Bro, open your eyes."
What nonsense? My eyes are open—that's why I can see you.
"Cynthia! Q-quick, go get Maria!"
The blond boy yelled at the blue-haired woman. She looked familiar—Cynthia?
'...No.'
Something was subtly different.
Her hair and outfit were similar, but her low voice and gentle eyes felt far calmer than the Cynthia I knew.
Thud!
Someone grabbed Cynthia by the scruff. My blurry vision hid their face.
One thing was clear: it was too massive to call human.
Bigger than an ogre, smaller than a giant.
'What the hell is that?'
"Aaaah!"
Cynthia screamed.
The blond boy unleashed intense mana, chanting a spell.
Blue energy poured from his hands, extending outward and wrapping around the monster holding Cynthia.
"W-when Bro comes back, scum like you—!"
The creature holding Cynthia replied in a voice like an echoing cave.
"Give up, Jin. Your brother Din is dead."
So his name was 'Jin'.
'Dead, huh.'
And who was this Jin guy that he was supposedly my little brother? Nothing but gibberish.
'No choice.'
I'd have to handle it myself. Gripping my sword with that resolve—
'...What?'
My body wouldn't move.
Sensations were there, but I couldn't do anything. Not even move my lips to speak.
'A dream?'
Realizing it was a dream jogged a memory. I'd recently dreamed of Cynthia while asleep.
I turned to look at her. On second thought, she was the same as in that dream.
'Could this be a precognition?'
No way.
No matter how capricious a god was, they wouldn't grant an oracle to someone like me.
Crack!
A gruesome sound came from Cynthia's neck.
"Gahk!"
The boy called Jin charged the enemy.
"Raaargh!"
He lost his reason, screaming without realizing it, firing magic wildly.
'We're done.'
This fight was unwinnable.
My eyes, seasoned by countless battlefields, saw it clearly. This 'little brother' mage of mine was strong, no doubt.
But his foe wielded unimaginable, terrifying power.
Boom!
A body that casually deflected magic without Aura.
"I am God soon enough."
Snap—
Strength to send humans flying with a finger flick.
Splat!
Jin flew straight into a massive pillar.
Kaboom!
Yellow dust rained down.
My vision finally widened, revealing the surroundings and terrain.
'...Where is this?'
Suddenly, my eyes flashed white.
A pale white hand tore through space at the same time, grabbing my collar and yanking me up.
"Get up, Din! Stay down like this, and you're really dead!"
Animal soldiers poured into Strange Castle like a tidal wave, roaring.
-Groooar!
Cynthia, battling them, suddenly clutched her temples with a pained groan.
"Ugh..."
After Alfredo infused his fist with Aura and sent a bull soldier flying,
Boom!
he panted heavily, sticking close to her and shouting,
"Did the enemy get you?!"
"N-no, it's not that—s-sudden... headache."
"Headache? Did they hit your head?"
Cynthia stared at the ground, unable to respond amid the excruciating pain. Her trembling lips betrayed her state.
"What is this..."
"What?"
"Why am I seeing these scenes?"
"Scenes of what?!"
"Din? Jin? Why am I even there?"
Alfredo grabbed her shoulders, forcing her up.
"Forget it. Go rest in the back. I can handle this alone—"
A massive boom erupted from the castle entrance before he finished.
Boom!
At the same instant, an overwhelming Aura laced with murderous intent hit like vertigo.
Thud, thud-thud.
Animal soldiers began collapsing one by one.
Even Alfredo struggled to keep his legs under him from the sudden hostile pressure.
'No way...?'
-Cawww!
Hundreds of crows swarmed into the castle, attacking the animal soldiers.
Clank, clank, clank.
Heavy iron boots echoed down the corridor. Amid the fallen beasts, far off, stood a knight in blood-red armor.
"Guide me to Berddin."
The family's arbiter. Red Filial Bird Valentine de Strange. She fixed Alfredo with a face full of killing intent.