Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Successor
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Brunhilt slammed her fist into my forehead.
Pak!
"If you don't wake up right now, you're dead!"
I grabbed her wrist and pulled it, stopping her from swinging any more punches.
"Stop, I'll really die if you hit me more."
"...What are you doing?"
"What?"
Brunhilt smirked, leaning her face right up to mine, her lips twitching.
"Are you trying to flirt with me? If you like me, just say it. I prefer good guys over bad boys anyway."
I grabbed her by the neck and tossed her aside.
Pak!
"Cut the nonsense, you old hag!"
"Kyaaah!"
She had returned to human form, but shifted back into a cat and landed lightly on the ground.
Tak.
"W-Women don't like violent men!"
"Don't like them then."
"What?!"
"Hoo—"
Anyway, did I fall asleep?
I remember the golden light flowing from Father's body.
But I can't recall what happened after that. All I know is that I came to my senses outside the castle.
"Why am I here?"
"You jumped out the window."
"I did?"
"Yeah, you did. You wouldn't wake up after that, so I hurried to wake you before those old geezers came to kill you."
"...How long ago did I jump?"
Brunhilt quickly scampered up onto my shoulder and answered.
Pabat.
"Who knows? I must've smacked you about a hundred times with my cat paws. Then maybe ten more as a human...."
An assassination attempt, huh.
"Got it for now."
"Got what?"
I clenched and unclenched my fists, checking my body's condition.
"That I beat those guys."
"You beat them?"
"Yeah. Let's head back to the training grounds first."
The more complicated things got, the cleaner the wrap-up had to be.
On the way back to the training grounds, I ran into Valentine at the end of the corridor.
'Already here?'
It should take at least a day to travel from the west to the south, and even rushing through Strange territory's Mist Forest takes another day.
'Arriving in just half a day.'
My warning to Veratir and Matteo Rich had come true.
Of course, even if Sister Valentine arrived early, it wouldn't mess up my plans.
"Welcome, Sister."
She let out a sigh of relief upon seeing me.
"Father?"
"He's passed."
Valentine didn't dwell on it and asked the next question.
"What about Surt?"
I was quite surprised by her question. Taking Father's death so calmly.
As if she had known he would die today.
"I brought him."
"Good. Are the ones targeting Father still in the castle?"
"Yes."
She drew her sword.
Sweek—
"You've done well. I'll handle the cleanup from here."
I blocked her path with my wound-covered hands from the fall.
"Sister, could you let me finish this one?"
"...You?"
"Yes. I'm still in the midst of inheriting Strange."
Valentine slowly scanned me from head to toe before asking.
"Weren't you defeated by the enemy?"
"No. Just a miscalculation in battle led to the fall out the window. I won't lose to them."
"Them? Not just one?"
"That's right."
"Then I could join you."
"I want to deal with those who tried to kill Father with my own hands."
I lightly brushed the Strange crest on my armor and continued.
"I feel it repays what Father left me."
Valentine shrugged without changing expression.
"Fine."
Her answer was short and to the point.
"But I'll stay in the castle until you deal with them. That okay?"
"Yes, Sister."
With that, she gently stroked my head. A light kiss on my forehead conveyed her warmth.
"Ignore the ones outside the training grounds. I'll handle them.
Returning to the training grounds, I saw Veratir and Matteo Rich, unmoving.
They'd given up even on escaping, bitterly smiling as they chatted openly.
'Thought they'd fight to the end.'
Quicker to give up than expected.
"You can still laugh in this situation? You were at each other's throats just moments ago."
Veratir shrugged.
"Well, our goal's gone anyway. We caught up on old times while you were out."
"Old times?"
"Way before you were born.... Fifteen years? No, twenty? Maybe even longer. We were reminiscing about back then."
Veratir's smiling face hardened as he sat on the ground and continued.
"Lost track of time; can't even remember how long it's been."
"You want to chat with me now?"
"Why not? Or maybe I do. You wanted to kill Roys too, right?"
He gazed at the collapsed ceiling, deep in thought, then beckoned to the fallen Matteo Rich as if resolved.
"That bastard over there? I brought him as a porter originally. I earned my spot in your father's party through merit in the war against Glazer."
Brought a powerhouse like that as a porter? What was Father thinking?
'Or did Matteo Rich hide his strength?'
"Back then.... When I was a Thousand Commander in the Blue Beard Knights. Everyone trembled at the mention of northern Veratir."
Veratir chuckled, reminiscing fondly.
'Blue Beard Knights.'
Never seen them myself, but I'd heard. They held power in the north that even we Stranges couldn't conquer.
"But Roys dismissed me from the start. Said a mere mercenary Thousand Commander taking vice-captain in his party."
Father probably didn't dismiss him just for skill.
His brutish speech was obvious after a short talk.
'I've experienced it plenty.'
During training under him in my past life.
"I was his vice-captain in the knights back then."
"Vice-captain? So second strongest after Father?"
"Yeah. But he never acknowledged it. Not sure if he denied my skill or just hated me."
His gaze turned to Father.
Knowing he'd left this world, yet acting like he wanted to talk.
"Ha! If he'd treated me even a little better, I wouldn't be here now."
I cautiously asked.
"Mind telling me what happened?"
"Now? After crushing my dream of killing him and becoming the strongest?"
"With your skill, you could've claimed that title without killing Father."
"No way. I already lost to you; what strongest?"
"......"
"Red Filial Bird's here too; no escaping alive. I was prepared to die, but wanted to top Roys once...."
Veratir stared into my eyes.
He'd come ready to die. Seeing Roys dead—his life's goal—left him hollow.
I lowered my gaze and replied.
"No need. Strange won't pursue you."
"...What?"
"As Father's old comrade."
And the master who gave everything to teach me.
I swallowed the rest with saliva.
"Comrade and what?"
"Longtime friend."
"...Talking nonsense. Then that trash over there is a comrade and friend too."
"He's got one more label."
"What's that?"
"Traitor."
Veratir twitched his lips and stroked his long beard.
"So, what now?"
"Nothing."
"Huh? Why?"
"Why what."
Not mercy. Just seemed useful for future plans.
"I killed Father today, and you two only fought each other, not me."
"...Fair point."
"And Count Matteo Rich caused no harm to Strange."
Matteo Rich snorted.
"So you're sparing me?"
"Yes."
"Don't lie. You'll stab us in the back."
"True. If you want to die that bad, I'll do it now."
Veratir had past debts, but killing Matteo Rich was easy.
But the info they held tempted me.
'Wonder if they'll spill easily.'
One must've seen my mother.
'Then.'
I could learn about those sharing her blood, not Father's.
"Spare you in exchange for conditions."
Matteo Rich clutched his abdominal wound and whispered.
"Forget it, kill me. No lingering attachments now."
Thud, thud, thud.
I approached, dagger extended.
"I decide life or death here. So rest for now."
Puk!
For the next three months, Father's death won't be known.
True or false, such rumors would bring unimaginable backlash across the continent.
'No matter what, Strange survives.'
Opposition might shrink our lands, threats from those eyeing us.
'No one dares invade south without Father; home base safe.'
Sister Valentine's presence checks Glazer, so focus on cleaning up remnants.
'Then.'
Katarina, the core conspirator, and her allies must die.
"Return to the academy."
I told Veratir to keep quiet and build forces there.
"You mad? What if I—"
"Do as you like. No one runs the academy like you on this continent now."
"......"
"You guarding it keeps Glazer in check."
He won't refuse.
I know what he wants beyond killing Father.
"Using me?"
"Yes."
"Heh.... Shameless, saying it outright to an enemy."
"We're not allies or enemies. Allies."
"Allies?"
"Yes. An eastern knight once said, 'No eternal allies or enemies on the battlefield.'"
"...Not wrong. I allied with Roys once, but it fell apart."
I handed him a high-grade healing potion.
"Not now, but I'll climb the tower again."
"Tower?"
"Yes. Challenge trials you and Father couldn't. Would like your help then."
One of Veratir's unfulfilled dreams: conquering the tower, every adventurer's goal.
My offer was enough.
"Putting me in your party?"
"No. Climb together. Our parties allied.... Tough now, but higher later?"
He stroked his beard with a meaningful smile.
"I'll think."
He stood, drank the potion, and headed out.
"Your brothers—what to do?"
Tony, Jony, Rony.
My three brothers training at Pablo Louis Academy, unforgivable family traitors, Katarina's sons.
Sighing at their faces, I shook my head.
"Raise them strong."
"Not kill?"
"Yes."
"You know what they did?"
"Their mother plotted this. No need for the brothers to pay."
Veratir laughed incredulously.
"Strange heir saying that? You lot kill plotters and their blood."
"True. But they don't know, and helped me at the academy, so spare them."
Keys to oppose the imperial family later.
"...Your call. Fine. I'll go; wrap up well."
At the entrance, he glanced back, smirked at fallen Matteo Rich.
"Don't just kill that one—burn him. Most painful."
Matteo Rich forced his head up, whispering.
"That trash...."
With that, Veratir left Strange Castle. I proposed to remaining Matteo Rich.
"Like with Veratir, chance to return to your post."
"...Just kill me. No purpose without Roys."
"Really? Fine then."
I pressed dagger to his throat.
"But know this: die here, I won't spare your co-conspirators."
"......"
"Friend says Boni girl and Saint Joanna Ark heading north."
Matteo Rich's pupils shook wildly.
"H-How do you know?"
"Choose. Cooperate and leave quietly, or die with them all.
Dawn broke.
A brighter sun than ever shone on Strange Castle. I took it as a divine sign of a new era.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
The great bell atop Strange Castle rang loudly.
Its reach extended beyond sight; by day's end, all territory bearers of Strange name would gather.
"I'll take Father to Midgardt."
No sorrow on her face. Like sending Gunter and Hysteria, just the method.
"Sister, sorry, but one question before you go?"
I feigned hesitation. She still felt unfamiliar, despite all actions for me—unlike past life.
"What?"
She softened her eyes, knelt to meet mine.
"Did you hate Father?"
"......"
"Honestly, I did. Reasons endless. Thought you walked the same path."
"......"
"I accepted past as fate. But thought you different."
"Why?"
I cupped her cheeks.
"Sister, you... you..."
Throat caught relaying Father's words. Secret untold to any; unsure if she knew.
"Aren't Strange."
She blinked, then smiled brightly.
"Father told you?"
I bowed my head.
"Told me about siblings I never knew. How Strange and Rothschild ended long war... by swapping children."
She hugged me lightly, reassuring.
"Berddin."
"Yes?"
"Never once thought you weren't my brother."
"...Same here."
"Father never not my father."
"......"
"Didn't hate Father. Nor Gunter, Hysteria."
So different from my thoughts. Assumed she hated Father and brothers.
Used by family under pretext of protecting Strange.
"But not emotionless. Human; angry, happy times with them."
"With Brother Gunter too?"
"Yes, Hysteria too. Just didn't hate."
"Why?"
Her answer simple.
"Family."
Didn't hate because family.
Shocking in kill-or-be-killed Strange.
From cold-blooded Valentine, no less.
She placed my hand on her chest.
"Even if not same blood as you, Strange heart beats true."
"......"
"Don't dwell on Father's death, past. Look ahead now."
"......"
"You'll lead Strange."
I nodded vigorously. She scooped me up like a child, walking corridor.
Clack, clack, clack.
"...Sister, knights will see."
"Don't care."
"......"
"Who'd complain about me carrying my brother?"
Embarrassing.
Rox would've fainted seeing this.
"Berddin."
"Yes, Sister."
"Keep Duchess Katarina from other brothers."
"...Spare her?"
She shook head.
"Can't overlook this. I'll judge on fitting day."
A typhoon raged over Legion skies.
Onyuul's dazzling sun vanished, darkness blanketing the city.
-Kawk, kawk, kawrk!
Hundreds, thousands of crows cried endlessly, flying low.
Searching alleys like for someone.
Soon, Strange's judge, Red Filial Bird Valentine, appeared at Legion's gates.
"To the Alchemy Guild."
Diberi from Strange mansion, greeting her, raised cross-emblazoned flag high.
"To the Alchemy Guild!"
His shout echoed by hundred following knights.
"To the Alchemy Guild!"
"To the Alchemy Guild!"
Strange's march began.
Even imperial guards maintaining neutral zone watched. Their knight commander silenced upon hearing of Valentine's arrival.
With Roys's death rumor unspread, showed Strange's strength.
"Open the gate."
Diberi told Alchemy Guild guards.
"Who do you seek?"
He shouldn't have asked.
As guard shut mouth, sharp blade pierced heart.
Puk!
"Open."
Captain dead, subordinate hastily pulled door.
Creeeak—
Diberi and Strange knights ransacked guild relentlessly.
Endless screams; alchemists slain. Survivors guarded Katarina in clock tower.
"Valentine, truly here to judge me?"
Duchess Katarina asked fearfully.
"Die here or face trial. Choose."
Death either way. Knowing, she chose fight.
Shiiik—
Mana swirled from her hands. Not enough for Valentine.
"Die here then."
"Can't say that to your mother."
"Not my mother—Strange traitor. Crimes unforgivable by death—"
Kwang!
Sudden roar.
Gray smoke swirled at Katarina's feet, blocking Valentine.
"Long time, Valentine."
"...Hagen?"
Hagen von Glazer.
Glazer family head, magic house. Continent's sole force rivaling Strange.
"Sorry, but I'll take Duchess Katarina."
"?!"
"Heard Roys died? I'll declare war on you soon. Remember that."