Chapter 146: Father and Mother
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: Father and Mother
As the dawn cast a pale light from the distant horizon, the tempestuous passion within the room finally subsided.
Behind the pink gauze curtains, An’s small head rested against Muen’s chest. Her exposed skin still bore the faint, lingering flush of their recent intimacy.
Muen gently stroked the girl’s silky long hair, savoring this rare moment of tranquility and tenderness.
"How is the estate?"
"The same as always, not much has changed. It’s just that since the Master and the others left, and with you away at school, Young Master, there are far fewer visitors."
"That’s a good thing. It’s peaceful."
"Mm."
An gave a soft reply, then, as if remembering something, she said, "I’ve already sent your grades to the Master and the Madam. I used the Duke’s private channel, so they should have arrived by now. They’ll be so happy when they see them."
"...So soon?"
Muen was slightly taken-back. He hadn't even had the chance to report the good news himself, and the Duke’s estate already knew?
"The report card was sent by the Academy. At first, I thought it was someone’s prank, but the Academy’s seal is impossible to forge."
"I see..."
"You’re amazing, Young Master."
"It was nothing special."
"You shouldn't be boastful, Young Master. You need to keep working hard."
"Nonsense, I’ve always been a low-key person, alright?"
"A person who goes on dates with two girls at once can hardly be called 'low-key.'"
"...A misunderstanding. Cough, that was a misunderstanding."
Muen gave an awkward laugh, stealing a glance at An’s pretty face.
Seeing that her expression remained unchanged when mentioning the matter, Muen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It seemed An really had changed completely.
The "sick" part of her yandere nature had been thoroughly excised; all that remained was the shy devotion of a young girl.
This realization significantly brightened Muen’s mood.
If given the choice, who wouldn't want a capable, beautiful maid waiting at home for them every day?
"Speaking of which, I wonder how Father and Mother are doing over there."
*
The Imperial Border, the Abyssal Battlefield.
A crimson hue saturated the sky.
The ground was carpeted with corpses.
Amidst the pungent stench of blood and decay, two massive armies, stretching for countless miles, stood in confrontation.
On the side of the human army, the soldiers' armor had long since been stained black with blood. Yet, beneath the banners of the Dragon-Slaying Sword and the Brilliant Crown, they stood tall and resolute.
Hundreds of thousands of men stood in silence.
Then, out of that silence, a deafening roar of laughter suddenly erupted.
A man with a beard as bushy as a lion’s mane leapt out from the central command tent, ignoring the protests of his subordinates.
His cold gaze swept across the dark, swarming masses of the Demon army.
"Old Ghost Demon Mountain! Come out and face me!"
The Demon army stirred slightly, and then a figure as tall as a mountain slowly emerged from the drifting smoke.
"Campbell, have you finally grown tired of living?" The voice of the Grand Duke of Demon Mountain echoed like a war drum.
"Hahaha! So what if you became a Crown Bearer a few decades before me? What the hell are you acting so smug for? Today, I’ll show you the truth: no matter how long a turtle lives, it’s still just a turtle!"
"Bastard! You seek death!"
A violent aura surged toward the heavens, literally tearing through the thick, dark clouds above.
Lorne Campbell laughed heartily, completely undaunted. A Brilliant Crown rose above his head, and the phantom of a crimson lion manifested behind him.
He took a sudden step forward, meeting the physically formidable Demon Mountain with nothing but his bare fists.
Boom!
Heaven and earth shook.
An invisible shockwave rippled outward, sweeping across the entire battlefield like a hurricane.
The collision of their immense power tore a bottomless fissure right through the center of the battlefield.
Amidst the swirling dust, Demon Mountain narrowed his plate-sized eyes.
He hadn't gained the upper hand in that exchange.
What’s going on? This Lorne Campbell only reached the Coronation Level a little over a decade ago. How can he contend with an established powerhouse like me who has held this rank for nearly a century?
No, his realm hasn't changed since our last encounter. What’s grown stronger... is his momentum?
Demon Mountain’s mind raced. What happened? What has made this Lorne Campbell so excited?
Could it be?
Have I walked into his trap?
No wonder this guy, who usually plays the turtle, suddenly came out to fight!
Startled, Demon Mountain quickly swept his senses across the surroundings.
But... he found nothing.
"Oh, it looks like you’re quite confused as to why I suddenly picked a fight with you."
Lorne stretched his limbs, looking as if he hadn't had enough of the previous blow. His expression was ecstatic, and the lion behind him appeared increasingly majestic.
"In that case, I’ll tell you!"
Demon Mountain held his breath, listening intently for the answer.
"My son scored an eighty on his exam!"
Lorne bellowed at the top of his lungs. His lion-like roar echoed across the vast battlefield again and again. At this moment, it was as if he wanted the entire world to hear his words.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Demon Mountain fell silent.
What did he say?
He said his son scored an eighty?
Is that something worth shouting about everywhere?
Or is my knowledge of the human tongue so poor that I misunderstood him?
Maybe he’s actually talking about something monumental.
Like the Emperor of the Leopold Empire’s son being a secret deviant or something?
"Haha! Eighty! That’s a goddamn eighty! And it was in Magic Basic Theory, the subject my Campbell family is worst at! Even I didn't pass that back in the day!"
Lorne leapt forward again, crashing toward the Grand Duke of Demon Mountain like a meteor.
"Do you know how thrilled I am?"
"Do you know how happy I am?"
"Eighty! My son got an eighty!"
"My son got an eighty!"
"My son got an eighty!"
"My son got an eighty!"
Punch.
Punch.
Another punch.
Lorne seemed to have inexhaustible energy, throwing punch after punch.
He pounded the earth until it was riddled with massive, crater-like depressions.
"Enough!"
Facing Lorne’s increasingly torrential assault, Demon Mountain defended himself clumsily. Finally, unable to endure this godforsaken human repeater any longer, he roared:
"I fucking know your son got an eighty! But can't you say something else for once?!"
"Something else?"
Lorne paused for a moment.
He thought about it.
Then he continued throwing punches.
"My son got an 'Excellent' grade!"
"My son got an 'Excellent' grade!"
"Are you mad? My son can get an 'Excellent' too!"
"...Motherfucker!"
Like a minor demon being lectured into a stupor by a holy monk, Demon Mountain made a solemn vow in his heart.
If he ever met this bastard’s son, he would tear him into ten thousand pieces.
To hell with your eighty points!
*
The Campbell Territory.
In a peaceful countryside manor, a graceful woman lay on a reclining chair, reading an urgent letter sent through the Campbell family’s private channel.
This letter was identical to the one Lorne had received.
However, after reading it, Muen’s mother, Noyce Campbell, did not share Lorne’s unbridled joy.
Instead, a hint of worry appeared on her still-beautiful brow.
"From three points to eighty points... and in just over a month. Little Muen, have you been eating properly lately?"
"I still prefer the carefree way you used to be."
Noyce gazed at the clear sky through the dense grape leaves. She stroked her belly, where a slight bulge was already visible, and murmured tenderly:
"Did you hear that? Don't grow up to be like your brother, who suddenly changed his ways.
As long as you don't provoke the Imperial Family or the Church, our Campbell family is more than capable of ensuring you grow up in happiness."