Volume 2 Chapter 43: Goodbye, Dad【The Aristocratic Council Arc】

“I’ve won again…”

This time, having been invited to a safe, proper inn, I sank deeply into my chair, utterly pleased.

I double-checked just in case—there were proper staff, and although there were only a few guests, a handful were present.

Well, since it’s a high-class inn with one enormously spacious room, it’s only natural that the guest list is sparse.

Besides, staging two traps in a row would have tarnished the reputation of the Noble Council, so they arranged a proper venue.

…I mean, of course.

It’s odd that one would even have to worry about whether the inn itself was a trap.

“You’re in high spirits, Master.”

“Naturally.”

I had triumphed in a battle where, had things gone wrong, I might have been crushed.

There’s no way I could be feeling any worse.

Before leaving the Noble Council, I caught a glimpse of Kelphine’s dejected expression. That sight warmed my heart—he disrespected me, and this is what he got. Reflect on it in prison.

“But the four great nobles did come in handy. I’ll give them credit.”

“Master, not even a simple thank you—truly impressive as always.”

I wasn’t about to thank them. After all, thanks to them, I ended up in this royal capital—if anything, they should be thanking me.

Had they not called, I wouldn’t have come to the royal capital. I even planned to seek out capable people, but I didn’t have the time.

Honestly, it was all a waste of effort.

“But why did those guys suddenly decide to help?”

The question arose from Resk and Silthia’s backup. After that meeting, they inexplicably offered their cooperation.

If they were even hostile enough to oppose the four great nobles, did they really have any reason to side with me? Perhaps they figured they couldn’t risk killing someone as invaluable as I am.

“There’s nothing scarier than something free, right?”

“…Huh? Could it be that they’re about to make a demand?”

Nanashi’s words sent a shiver down my spine. Don’t mess with me!

No way, absolutely not! That kind of thing should have been mentioned right away!

“Well, no choice then. I guess I’ll have to manage by offering up Nanashi, as pitiful as she may be.”

“But she’s plump, isn’t she?”

“You… look at yourself…”

More than anger or exasperation, I felt a pang of sadness. With that tiny frame, what’s so plump about you? You’re so clueless.

“Even so, to take down one of the four great nobles…”

“Hmph. You have to admit, that’s impressive.”

When I really thought about it, I might have pulled off something truly remarkable. Not many can do that.

It almost felt as if the events unfolded on their own and then collapsed on their own accord, but whatever. I’m incredible.

“Master, you can no longer spend the rest of your days merely as a local noble.”

“…Huh?”

I listened intently to those ominous words. What exactly does that mean?

“After all, these are the four great nobles, aren’t they? All sorts of attention—good and bad—will be drawn, after all…”

Nanashi explained as if instructing me. The four great nobles, who essentially run this country—

If one of them were to be taken down, the consequences would be enormous. Others might scramble for power, and all eyes would turn to the culprit.

…………Yeah.

Nanashi gave a slight smirk. Was that a provocation?

“Leave the Apophis Domain to me.”

To that ridiculous remark, I grinned broadly.

“We’re in this together, after all.”

“Don’t suddenly grovel at me, Master.”

Her relentless dismissal left me with my head in my hands.

“Uooooo! I have to figure out a way to shift it all onto Nanashi!”

“Master, you always try to offload your troubles on others—and I don’t really dislike that about you.”

Besides, none of this is my fault! I was summoned by the Noble Council because some idiot instigated a rebellion.

I caught Kelphine’s attention because Izun was involved. And the reason I took down that Kelphine was that, for some inexplicable reason, the four great nobles offered their cooperation and then went too far.

…I’m not at fault!

“By the way, what happened to Izun? Now that I think about it, she was the one who spoke with the four great nobles. It’s all her fault, isn’t it?”

I was about to direct my anger at Izun when I realized that she was nowhere to be seen. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her for hours…

“…Well. I don’t know where Izun is either…”

Nanashi turned away. It wasn’t because she dislikes me or doesn’t want me in her sight—it was more like an atmosphere that makes you want to avert your eyes from something pitiful… I wonder why.

“She’s always acting on your behalf, Master. Whether it goes the way you want or not, leave that aside.”

“Don’t leave that aside.”

◆

“Kill… I’ll kill you…! Hi, hihihihihi!”

A man staggers dangerously along a dark road.
The setting: a dirty, narrow alley.

Right beside him stands a tall building, its wall pressed against his body as he walks.
He doesn’t care if some unknown, filthy substance clings to his clothes.

No, it’s more accurate to say his mental state wouldn’t allow him to care.
People break down so easily.

Everyone has something they won’t compromise, something they never want tarnished.
For Kelphine, that is his status and pride as one of the four great nobles.

For years, the Kelphine family ruled the kingdom.
However, having been found guilty by the Noble Council for dispatching assassins against Balor Apophis, he was declared exiled from the council.

Normally, such a severe punishment would be unthinkable—after all, he is one of the four great nobles.
It would have been easy to cover up his crime, influencing the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Yet this time, that was not possible.

Because the other great nobles—those wielding power comparable to his—set out to take Kelphine down.

“Resk, Silthia, Yoldak, those traitors from the faction that betrayed me… and Balor!”

He mutters the names of those who set him up, their faces vividly forming in his mind.
Black flames blaze… reaching their peak whenever he remembers Balor.

“Balor, Balor, Balor, Balor, Balor, Balor, Balor, Balor—uuuuuu!!”

He slams his head repeatedly against the wall, time and again, over and over.
It matters not if his skin tears or blood splatters—he feels no pain.

Only hatred remains.
He can think of nothing but revenge, a blind, unyielding desire to reduce them all—if not to his level, then even lower.

“No good. You must not go to Lord Balor’s place.”
A voice, which shouldn’t have been audible, reaches him.
Even if other voices had come through, Kelphine’s mind would have rejected them—he couldn’t process them.
But that voice—its faltering ending—he could never ignore.

Standing in the middle of the alley, blocking his path, was Izun, Balor’s maid.

“You… youeeeeeee!!”

A blood-curdling scream, imbued with unimaginable hatred, froze anyone who might have approached.
In fact, no one dared come near.
Yet Izun, without changing her expression, simply fixed her gaze on him.
In the darkness, her white hair, pale skin, and red eyes stood out.

“It’s all, all, all your fault! Because you were born—because of you, my life is a mess! Ever since that moment, something went completely wrong!”

Because 【Cursed Child】 Izun was born, everything went awry.
The illustrious Kelphine family was disgraced, and he was exiled from the Noble Council… nothing remained for him.

Izun, who should have been shunned and killed, stands above him clad in a pristine apron dress with a healthy figure, looking down at him.
Meanwhile, he wears filthy clothes, his body having withered away in just a few days, as he looks up at her.

It’s reversed. The roles should be the other way around.
How did this happen?

“Isn’t that right? Izun, what did you say at a time like this…”

In exasperation, Izun furrowed her brow.
Her carefree gesture was absurdly out of place.

“Ah! Nanashi told me! Uh…”
Her eyes lit up as if struck by a brilliant idea.
With a beaming smile, Izun declared:

“Serves you right!”
“Dieeeeeee!!”

Immediately, Kelphine’s body surged forward explosively, closing in on Izun.
Clutched in his hand was a battered sword—
the very weapon he had never let go, intended for taking revenge on Balor and the others.
Izun, however, had no grasp of close combat.
She could not contend with Kelphine’s approach, a warrior through and through.

“I should have known about your curse, Izun…”
Yes, if only she weren’t the 【Cursed Child】.
The curse emanating from Izun’s body was consuming Kelphine.

“Ah, ah, ahhh…”

Before his eyes, he withered away.
His already frail body decayed at an accelerated pace, as if time itself were speeding up just for him.

Even the sword he had clutched so tightly slipped from his hand with a clanging sound.
He reached out toward Izun as if clinging to her, but she did not take it.

“Goodbye, Dad.”
Her red eyes, as she looked down upon Kelphine’s silent, lifeless corpse, were colder than ice.

“May you properly descend into hell.”