Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Kolan's Arrival
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“Show some respect.”
A commanding voice rang out.
Twitch.
The Black Sword members' eyes twitched in response.
It was the Black Sword.
Dante's 1st Combat Unit.
Even if they weren't from the main house, they were elites acknowledged even in Demorus.
“Show.”
No one could speak to the Black Sword like this.
“Respect.”
Finally, Balak stepped forward as they unleashed their aura once more, trying to force the Black Sword to kneel.
“We greet the esteemed guest from the main house.”
Balak bowed his head in the end.
The Black Sword members wore dissatisfied expressions, but there was nothing they could do.
Swoosh.
“We greet the esteemed guest from the main house.”
After all, the difference between the main house and Dante was clear.
“What are you lot doing?”
It should have ended there, but the voice continued.
“I clearly told you to show respect, didn’t I?”
“…….”
“Kneel.”
“……!”
The Black Sword members' eyes, which had only twitched before, now twisted in fury.
Grip.
This crossed the line.
They could accept it from someone from the main house demanding respect.
But not beyond that.
“Kneel….”
“We cannot do that.”
Balak, who had straightened his neck, spoke up.
“The Black Sword does not kneel to just anyone.”
Rumble.
The Black Sword and Balak had been holding back the aura they emitted.
But as Balak released his own aura, the Black Sword began to do the same.
Snap—!
A taut tension stretched like a thread pulled tight on both sides.
The Black Sword was shocked.
‘This much?’
It was astonishing that they were matching the aura from Dante's 1st Combat Unit.
Yet they had no intention of backing down.
“The Black Sword kneels only to those we acknowledge.”
Balak declared.
“To the Master, the Family Head, and our Lord. Only those three.”
Balak's aura grew stronger as he took another step forward.
The thread, which had held taut, now trembled as if about to snap.
“If you wish for us to kneel, earn our acknowledgment or become our lord.”
“How dare you.”
They reached for their swords first.
In response, the Black Sword members also moved their hands to their sword hilts.
“Enough.”
The voice echoing from inside the carriage made their auras vanish in an instant.
“But….”
The one who had been intimidating the Black Sword with his aura now bowed his head beside the carriage, at a loss.
“The Black Sword is Dante’s pride. Respect them.”
With that, the carriage window closed again.
Only then did the Black Sword members' expressions ease.
Unlike those stubborn fools, the presence inside the carriage had shown them respect.
“……Let’s go.”
The carriage, which had stopped, began moving again.
“Whoever’s in that carriage, they seem decent enough.”
The Black Sword members felt a bit better thanks to the courtesy shown by the carriage's occupant.
A sliver of goodwill seeped into their displeasure-filled hearts.
“You think so?”
Then Jane, who had been quietly following behind, spoke up.
“What?”
“If they truly respected the Black Sword…”
With an innocent, unknowing expression, Jane continued.
“They wouldn’t have created this situation from the start.”
“…….”
The Black Sword members' eased faces hardened once more.
Though they had little to do with politics, their vast experience allowed them to grasp Jane's meaning.
That this had all been a play.
“We almost fell for it. Thanks, Jane.”
They had deliberately built tension and displeasure to unsettle them, then shown goodwill to win them over.
Whoever was in the carriage knew how to manipulate people's hearts well.
*
*
*
No one in Dante had seen the carriage's occupant.
The reason for sending the Black Sword to greet them was partly due to their noble status, but also to guide them through a secret entrance known only to the Black Sword.
Not the main gate, but the back one—a way to enter without alerting others to his visit.
The carriage headed straight into Rohan’s estate.
“Jane and Sebu, stay behind.”
At Rohan’s words, only Jane and Sebu remained to guard the estate and wait.
Rohan emerged again after a few hours.
And at last, they could see the guest from the main house.
Sebu couldn’t bring himself to look straight at the face, tense as he was, but Jane was different.
‘Fuck.’
No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn’t get used to it.
‘Could believe he birthed the kid all by himself.’
That face triggered Sein’s PTSD.
No, everyone from the main house would be just like Sein.
“Pay your respects.”
This time, Rohan addressed Jane and Sebu.
“This is Kolan Demorus, heir candidate of the main house.”
Kolan Demorus.
He was the Demorus heir candidate who resembled Tejera the most.
In appearance, aura, and said to have inherited the thickest blood—he was that heir candidate, Kolan.
“……!”
“We greet the heir candidate.”
Sebu froze in shock, but Jane naturally bowed her head in greeting.
“We greet the heir candidate!”
Sebu belatedly bowed as well.
“And these are?”
“The youngest members of the Black Sword.”
“I’m… Sebu.”
“I’m Jane.”
That was it.
“I see.”
Kolan moved on without interest, followed by Rohan.
Jane and Sebu hurriedly trailed behind.
Dante’s interior was under control per Rohan’s orders, so they encountered no one during the move.
They finally reached their destination.
“……?”
While Sebu looked puzzled, Jane’s expression darkened slightly.
“Follow me, Jane.”
Jane moved at Rohan’s words, leaving Sebu behind.
“Wait here.”
Rohan also stopped Kolan’s escorts.
“We cannot leave Kolan’s side.”
“Kolan himself has permitted it.”
Tension crackled between Rohan and them.
“Wait.”
Kolan spoke to his escorts.
“But….”
They added a word, unable to accept it.
“You’re awfully argumentative today.”
With a low, quiet voice and calm eyes, Kolan regarded them.
Thud!
They dropped to their knees like combat unit members who had undergone harsh training under Rohan.
“Please reconsider!”
“Hm.”
Kolan seemed to ponder briefly.
“Shall I cut off your arms?”
Out of nowhere, Kolan turned to Rohan.
“…….”
“They have a duty to protect me and cannot leave my side. But since I’ve ordered you to stand by out of concern, that seems the only way.”
Kolan was saying:
Unauthorized personnel cannot enter.
Because they might pose a threat.
So, would cutting off your arms allow entry?
Sebu and even Rohan fell silent at the bizarre logic.
“One at most.”
Rohan finally relented.
“Cut off their arms….”
“No need to cut them off.”
*
*
*
There was a reason Rohan went that far.
The place Kolan had come to was the most sensitive spot in Dante right now.
“All of you, withdraw.”
Rohan addressed the medical unit members.
Dante’s medical unit.
Here lay Sein Demorus, who had been injured and transported from the main house.
Though the 3rd Combat Unit had been assigned to him, most of the main house unit had left for missions, leaving only Roberta and Dantaru of the 3rd Combat Unit.
“We greet Heir Candidate Kolan.”
Roberta and Dantaru gave small bows to Kolan.
Nod.
“This place…”
“I came to see Sein Demorus.”
Before Roberta could speak, Kolan cut in.
“I came to see my brother. Do I need permission? I’ve already gotten it from Rohan here.”
Roberta and Dantaru fell silent at Kolan’s words.
There was nothing wrong with what he said.
“He’s supposed to be resting and isn’t receiving visitors.”
But Roberta stood firm.
“That applies to escorts. However.”
Kolan’s eyes turned to Roberta.
“Don’t suspect me. I have no intention of harming the injured.”
Roberta quietly glanced at Rohan.
Nod.
But the one who nodded permission was Jane.
In the end, Roberta and Dantaru stepped aside.
“May I enter as well?”
“Do so.”
A pungent herbal scent wafted through the open door.
Inside lay Sein, tubes from countless potions inserted into him.
Kolan slowly approached Sein.
“What does the medical unit say?”
Kolan asked Rohan.
“It’s a vicious poison they can’t even identify. They don’t know when he’ll wake.”
Rohan answered carefully.
His counterpart was Kolan Demorus.
Among heir candidates, he stood out—not only the first to become one, but a veteran who had completed his debut mission at twelve.
“Tch. He should’ve stayed at the main house.”
It sounded like he was dismissing Dante, but Kolan seemed sincere.
“What about the beast?”
“We’ve only determined it’s someone skilled with poisons.”
In the underworld, one could name hundreds skilled with poisons.
Few could handle one this potent, but that very fact made it impossible to accuse without evidence.
“Tampia, that child, no doubt.”
Kolan answered without hesitation.
“She’s up to no good.”
Kolan’s gaze slowly scanned the prone Sein, then he moved his hand.
Flinch.
Everyone jolted in alarm, hands flying to their sword hilts.
But that was all.
Tremble.
Sein’s body was rigid, unmoving.
In that moment, Kolan achieved his goal.
Stab!
He plunged a suddenly drawn dagger into Sein’s heart.