Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Parallel Lines of Emotion 4
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“They won’t know the location of the Emperor’s treasure vault. Even if they do, it’s not something they can open so easily. It exists in the forgotten ancient kingdom of the dwarves.”
“You’ve come to your senses, Professor.”
“Yes. Congratulations. Sir Guymbaltt. Now that Young Master Adler has lost both arms, you are the rightful heir to the Count of Lantarik.”
Brand said as much, but his face showed no sign of a smile.
Bloody resentment seeped from him.
*Of course. He’s served my father loyally his whole life... but Father...*
Guymbaltt knew that Brand had been driven mad by the horrific things the Count of Lantarik had done to him. He couldn’t take the congratulations at face value. Still, he wanted to make it up to him somehow....
“D-Don’t make me laugh! How could this worthless fool be count?!”
Adler, collapsed on the floor, screamed.
“Young Master Adler, you’re finished. The retainers supported you because the count named you heir, but in this situation? Who would back a cripple who’s lost both arms? And with the traces of necromancy so blatantly visible underground? It’s clear evidence—you’d have no defense even if they burned you at the stake right now. Let me say it again: you’re done!”
Brand mocked Adler. But Adler wasn’t in his right mind, perhaps from the pain.
“How dare you! Don’t make me laugh! I’m the success! You, Guymbaltt, and those corpses slumbering in the shadows! I’m different from you failed rejects! But you ruined me! Ugh. M-My arms! I can still reattach them with necromancy! My arms!”
Adler crawled toward his severed arms on the floor. But Brand strode over and slammed his axe-spear down on one of them with a thud.
“Y-You bastard?!”
-Thud!
Brand raised the axe-spear and brought it down again, chopping Adler’s arm into pieces. Watching his arm get sliced like meat at a butcher’s block, Adler stared in horror.
“S-Stop it!”
“Hahaha. Why should I stop? When I told them to stop, the bandits and the count’s loyal retainers didn’t hesitate for a second!”
Brand, tears streaming down his face, laughed as he gripped the axe-spear.
“They didn’t stop at all!”
It was a grotesque sight. Laughing and crying, Brand minced Adler’s arm into bits with the axe-spear. It wasn’t attached to his body anymore, so it didn’t cause Adler pain... but the gruesome scene chilled the blood of all who watched.
“Professor Brand.”
Guymbaltt called out to stop him. But that was it.
He couldn’t bring himself to intervene. With madness gleaming in his eyes, who knew what Brand might do if stopped?
Then Brand’s head snapped around toward Guymbaltt. The motion was so predatory, it sent shivers down their spines.
“Are you saying I’ve gone too far? Of course you would. This Adler isn’t the count, after all. He wouldn’t know what happened to our family. But what about my daughter and son-in-law? My grandchild? What crime did they commit to deserve such horrible deaths?”
“I’m sorry, Professor Brand! But...”
“Yes, I know. Collective punishment is just the barbaric venting of primitives. However... it’s absurd that when you inherit power, wealth, and even will, guilt alone isn’t passed down! Those who inherit should bear the guilt as well! And I, as the parent of my daughter, son-in-law, and children, have every right to...”
“Oh no. Don’t!”
Azadin tried to intervene, but it was too late. Enraged, Brand whirled and swung the axe-spear at Guymbaltt.
Azadin hurled a candelabra to blunt the axe-spear’s force, but it wasn’t enough to stop Brand’s superhuman strength.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Guymbaltt blocked Brand’s attack with his sword. He had anticipated that Brand’s rage might turn on him.
“Urk!”
Terrifying power crumpled Guymbaltt’s body and shoved him back.
-Thump!
He blocked the axe-spear, but the force sent Guymbaltt tumbling across the floor.
“Stop!”
Azadin halted Brand. In response, Brand broke down sobbing and tossed aside the axe-spear.
“Ugh... hngh! I can’t... I can’t hold back... Just kill me.”
“Leaving Adler alive will be more painful for him.”
“......”
“And Guymbaltt... are you all right?”
“M-My arm’s broken.”
“You’re really weak.”
A knight getting his arm broken by a scribe. Azadin gave a wry smile as he asked Guymbaltt.
“Do you want revenge on Brand? A mere scribe harmed the future lord—surely you can’t just let it slide.”
“N-No. What are you... haha.”
Guymbaltt shook his head.
“He has every right to be angry. I didn’t know he’d suffered like that. I had no idea my father and brother would do such things.”
“I see.”
Azadin gave a wry smile.
“Sir Brand, Adler’s life is yours. But can’t you let Guymbaltt off with this?”
“My head knows, but I can’t hold back.”
“But look at him. Look at that face. He doesn’t resemble his father at all, does he?”
“......”
Guymbaltt already had a complex about his looks—those words seemed too harsh.
“Beating a discarded son for his father’s sins is going too far. Let Guymbaltt inherit Lantarik. That’s revenge against the Count of Lantarik. It’s what he’d hate most, right?”
Azadin persuaded Brand.
“Indeed... Sir Guymbaltt doesn’t take after the count.”
Convinced by Azadin, Brand dropped to his knees on the ground.
“I’m sorry, Sir Guymbaltt. I lost my mind for a moment...”
Brand convinced just like that!
Guymbaltt felt uneasy for some reason. Still, the joy of persuading Brand outweighed any discomfort about comments on his appearance.
“It’s fine, Professor Brand. In fact, if you can tolerate my existence, I should be the grateful one. A broken arm is nothing.”
Guymbaltt accepted Brand’s apology and showed magnanimity by asking for forgiveness himself.
“I’m ashamed. I feel like I’ve lost my mind.”
Brand said that, and Azadin turned serious.
“Don’t go losing it again just yet. I like you as the Knight of Bronze, but now that you’re sane, finish telling us about the Emperor’s treasure vault.”
“Hahaha.”
Brand gave a wry smile and beckoned Azadin.
“Let’s go to the count’s study. We can search for his memorandum there.”
But before the group could head to the study, the retainers arrived late. What they found was Young Master Adler, captured with both arms severed, and Guymbaltt, injured but still upright.
“Wh-What is this?!”
“Sir Guymbaltt?!”
The retainers were shocked. The scene before them was unmistakable.
“By the sacred law of the eight royal thrones established by Yaegas, as the eldest son, I act as regent for my father, the Count of Lantarik, to restore order to this land. If any deny my birthright, step forward now.”
Guymbaltt boldly confronted the retainers.
Though it was the herald clan from the Arael tribe who severed Adler’s arms, this made it look like Guymbaltt had done it himself.
The retainers glanced at one another. But only for a moment—soon, they all knelt before Guymbaltt.
“Sir Guymbaltt! You are the true master of Lantarik!”
“Please lead Lantarik!”
“Y-You bastards!”
Adler raged at the retainers’ betrayal, but the match was decided the moment he lost his arms.
With Adler already captured, none of these retainers would challenge Guymbaltt’s birthright.
No one had been truly loyal to Adler to begin with. The count had designated him heir, and until then, Guymbaltt hadn’t shown any promise, so they’d backed Adler.
Now that Guymbaltt had proven his skill, there was no reason to defy kingdom law for the youngest son.
“Thank you. Your devoted support made Lantarik’s prosperity possible. I’ve never forgotten your efforts.”
Guymbaltt praised the retainers who had flipped sides so quickly.
The retainers blushed, unable to hide their shame before Guymbaltt, but he harbored no real resentment. His father had already chosen Adler as heir and informed the retainers. Their support for Adler was loyalty to his father.
“I know Father entrusted Adler to you, so I understand your loyalty in standing by him. And now Sarasma suffers drought, refugees swarm, reckless war has killed our people, and Lantarik’s coffers are empty. If I become count, I’ll restore ties with Sarasma and provide relief to our starving citizens! I desperately need your help! Will you aid me?”
“Th-Thank you.”
The retainers sighed in relief that Guymbaltt wouldn’t purge them but would instead put them to good use. Being spared out of mere mercy was worlds apart from being kept alive because they were needed.
Moreover, Guymbaltt’s words were bold yet merciful, inspiring admiration.
“Now then... I’ll handle Lantarik’s affairs with the retainers. Professor Brand, fulfill the promise I made to those who helped me.”
“Understood.”
With Guymbaltt’s permission, Brand headed to the study.
“Shati!”
Before going to the study, Azadin ordered Shati.
“Heal Sir Guymbaltt’s arm with regeneration magic.”
“Do you really think of me as some kind of first-aid kit?”
“Don’t want to?”
When Azadin asked, Midiam and Ismail subtly reached for their weapons.
They’d already extracted all the information from the naga Shati. What remained was her green magic—especially her regenerative powers, which were invaluable. If she refused to cooperate further, they’d have to kill her.
“N-No!”
Shati cowered before the veiled threats from Midiam and Ismail.
*For a naga agent, she’s awfully timid.*
*So fragile...*
Then Azadin stepped between Midiam, Ismail, and Shati.
“This looks like a subtle threat, but setting that aside, my expectations for you are high. You’ve been incredibly useful and powerful. Honestly, you’ve exceeded them—I’m grateful every time.”
“......”
“Please.”
“Ugh, fine. Can’t help it with you warm-bloods. Got it.”
Shati agreed to treat Guymbaltt’s wound.
“Thanks.”
Azadin grinned and followed Brand to the study.