Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Heir
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A foggy evening.
Those bearing the name of Strange began gathering at the castle one by one.
Their number was roughly a hundred, most of whom held positions as castle lords or barons in various regions.
Excluding their children and escort knights, twenty individuals called elders took seats around a long, circular table.
"I heard the Family Head has fallen ill with a grave sickness from which he cannot recover. Is this truly the case?"
A knight with a sly, rat-like face twisted his mustache with his index finger, opening the conversation.
"I heard a vicious rumor that the Family Head has passed away. O-Of course, I didn't believe it."
A bald, heavyset man added fuel to the talk.
"Whether true or not, the Family Head, who is presiding over this meeting, will appear here anyway. Today, we must decide clearly. With Gunter and Hysteria absent, how will we stop the eastern wave?"
A lean middle-aged man wearing a white bowler hat chimed in.
The trio's conversation was enough to pique the curiosity of the others gathered in the meeting hall.
Moreover, with the agenda of the "eastern wave" raised, they would have to devise solutions for it.
"You say the eastern wave has begun?"
Guardian Knight Captain Bess asked the man in the bowler hat.
"Indeed. It seems to have started about a week ago. At first, monsters appeared sporadically... but from some point on, hundreds attack villages every night."
"The Glazers won't just sit idly by."
"No, they don't seem to care. They're probably just defending their own territory. Even knowing it's us and the weak commoners who are dying, not them."
As he spoke, the middle-aged man's grip tightened on his cane handle, anger boiling over.
The man conversing with Bess now was a knight renowned even among the collaterals for guarding the eastern and southern borders—a standout figure.
[Kaipa de Strange]
Not as famous as Monestier, but among the Strange family's knights, he was one of the top talents.
Even when Gunter and Hysteria were alive, he was the sole collateral knight pushing his hardline stance, prepared for death.
"So, shouldn't the Family Head act swiftly? If we sit and watch, the eastern wave will engulf the south."
Bess nodded in agreement.
But he did not open his mouth to reply.
How could a knight captain dare voice his opinion in a gathering of the Strange elders?
Of course, no one would fault Bess for speaking his mind, but he never crossed the line he knew he must uphold.
"Hail the Family Head!"
A knight's resounding shout came from outside the door.
It echoed sequentially from afar to nearby.
"Hail the Family Head!"
Guardian Knight Captain Bess, who had arrived first, stood at attention behind the golden chair.
Roys, with his sharp gaze, strode in and took his seat.
Thud.
All bowed their heads.
All but one: Berddin, who followed right behind.
'Rox, don't mess this up. No matter what, you must not let Father's mouth open.'
He prayed.
He prayed that his father, revived by Rox's power, would not be discovered as deceased by the others.
"Father has caught a cold and lost his voice. Open all the windows and ventilate the hall."
Berddin said in a low tone.
Four knights hurriedly opened the meeting hall windows to air it out.
Whoosh—
Damp wind from the forest blew in, refreshing the room.
In truth, it was to mask the faint rotten smell emanating from his decaying body.
"Let us begin the meeting."
The attending elders scratched their pens and paper before them to report issues from their territories.
Of course, they skipped trivial tales like minor skirmishes in their lands.
Only matters concerning all who bore the Strange name became topics of discussion.
Berddin scanned the faces in the room in order, raising his voice.
"The one presiding over today's meeting is none other than I, Berddin de Strange. Thank you all for making time amid your busy schedules."
He gave a short nod, and the elders nodded back in acknowledgment.
Had he been alone, such a reaction would never have come. It was only out of respect for his father beside him.
"I will keep what I have to say brief. For other matters, take your time afterward and speak freely."
Kaipa removed his bowler hat, placing it on the table as he asked.
"Then, does that mean Young Master, not the Family Head, summoned us?"
He showed discomfort.
"Yes."
"Heh heh— So we came here under Young Master's orders, not the Family Head's."
"It was more a proposal than an order."
"The letter said those not arriving by today would die. Was that truly just a proposal?"
"Yes, a proposal. Since you could choose life or death."
"……."
"And let me be clear: those late or absent from today's meeting will meet their end with death."
"……."
"No exceptions, even for shared blood."
"……What is this?! F-Family Head. Even if Young Master Berddin is to succeed the Strange family, how can he act so arrogantly already?!"
He looked at his father with an aggrieved expression.
However, a reply from his father was impossible.
He could only meet those cold eyes and vent his discontent.
"Sit down, Baron Kaipa. Once you hear why I said this, you will understand."
"Why?"
"Yes. The 'death' mentioned in the letters I sent the elders was not to deceive you. It was to protect you from the forces inciting rebellion."
"?!"
The room grew noisy.
At the word "rebellion," the elders began voicing opinions one by one.
-So the rumors were true. Even after Baron Monestier plotted, I heard mercenaries were stirring trouble.
-Indeed. Just recently, the Adventurer's Guild was recruiting knights for a Strange extermination operation.
-I thought it was the Glazers, but rebellion?!
Bam!
His father slammed the table with his fist.
Or rather, Rox, controlling his father, did it on command.
I glared at him, cursing inwardly.
'I told you to stay still.'
Our eyes met, and his father nodded.
'Good thing it worked.'
With Father here, there's some control.
The sole reason for bringing his dead body: to issue the Strange family's final command to its headless masses.
'Once this meeting ends, I'll send him to a peaceful place.'
Kaipa glanced warily at his father before cautiously asking.
"May we continue hearing the story? Who exactly is inciting this rebellion?"
Berddin pulled out a single bug hidden in his father's body and showed it to them.
"Does anyone know what this bug is?"
Only one person here knew this bug.
Kaipa de Strange, who had just spoken.
Berddin pressed on without pause.
"This bug's owner is the one inciting the rebellion. They waited for ages, then slipped it into Father's potion."
Kaipa, knowing the owner, hung his head.
He was Katarina's uncle by marriage—the center of the rebellion.
If she was the culprit, Kaipa couldn't escape death either. By Strange law, it was inevitable.
Gulp—
Kaipa swallowed hard, agonized for a long while, then spoke to Berddin.
"...I know the owner of that bug."
The meeting ended.
Berddin informed those bearing the Strange name of the internal incidents and the ominous movements of the Glazers.
They decided to return to their posts to prepare for war, handling details via vassals for reports and oversight.
As all departed, only Kaipa remained in the castle and asked.
"Why did you ask to see me alone?"
Alone in the meeting hall with him, Berddin gave a small smile.
"Because I want to entrust you with the Strange family's future."
"......Pardon?"
He couldn't comprehend.
To entrust the future to someone who showed displeasure throughout the meeting? Words more fitting from Roys, who had watched him long.
"Exactly as I said: I want to entrust you with the Strange family's future."
"It's so sudden, I don't understand. Could you explain in detail?"
"Father remained silent in the meeting, but he wants to purge all internal traitors."
"......"
"I want to entrust that to you, Baron Kaipa, but lacking justification, I speak to you privately."
The sole reason Berddin questioned Kaipa earlier:
Which side would he choose—Marquis Roys or Duchess Katarina?
The blood of Strange or the imperial family—which ran thicker?
And he did not disappoint Berddin, who presided over this meeting.
'Entrusting me with such an important task?'
Kaipa thought Berddin showed him mercy.
If he wished, he could sever this old man's neck in one stroke.
Yet, to avoid encroaching on his position, he conversed as an equal.
Unlike his attitude in the meeting hall, Kaipa clasped his hands firmly with a resolute expression and replied.
"First, let me apologize to Young Master. Before everyone, I acted rashly, belittling you."
Berddin kindly took his hands and raised him with a benevolent smile.
"How could you not be angry? A kid not yet ten years old summoning the elders."
"Please do not forgive my rudeness."
"Forgiveness? It's just time to get to know each other, since we don't yet."
From this incident, he resolved never to underestimate Berddin again.
At such a young age, to firmly assert himself among so many, and create the momentum to execute it.
This was a flawless candidate for next Family Head of Strange.
"I don't know what task you'll entrust me with, but this old man will pledge his remaining life in loyalty."