Chapter 114. Reaffirmation

As Aileen walked through the underground sewer, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

"Has something like this happened before?"

The emotion she experienced was not due to the foul smell lingering throughout the neglected sewer landscape.

Moments ago, words spoken by the 'Black Knight' who had come to her aid sounded familiar, as if she had heard them somewhere before.

"Surely, meeting at the mansion was the first encounter, so there's no reason to feel this déjà vu."

The person wore such a grotesque, eye-catching mask. If she had met him before, his striking appearance would certainly be etched in her memory.

― Is it necessary to know? It's a secret.

So why did it feel like she'd heard those words somewhere?

"It's a secret... It's a secret..."

Pondering over the words spoken by the 'Black Knight', she recalled an earlier experience at the old school building.

A man who always bore a smile with eyes that were hard to read, like slit-eye.

"Come to think of it, wasn't the situation then similar to now...?"

Aileen murmured quietly.

Upon reflection, it seemed that the previous situation was indeed similar.

Yulian had discovered a small demon hiding in the old school building, dismissing the method as a 'secret.'

Reaching that point in her thoughts, Aileen looked up and pursued the 'Black Knight' who was walking ahead.

"The physique is similar."

Besides that, there were quite a few similarities.

For one, he used a sword.

And his swordsmanship was exceptionally outstanding.

"No, but there's nothing besides that...?"

Thinking carefully, she realized no major similarities existed.

Though adept in swordsmanship, even the sword he wielded was different, wasn't it?

The sword was shadowy black, unlike the 'Moonlit Sword', consistently giving off a slick impression.

"Moreover..."

The aura emanating from the 'Black Knight's' body was elegant like a noble's, yet the directionality differed from Yulian's.

Moreover, Yulian's unique way of speaking and behaving.

"Possible with effort, but not likely."

Knowing Yulian's character, he wouldn't compromise.

He would rather smile while walking a razor's edge than lower his head; he'd choose pride over drowning in self-respect.

"If you keep delaying, I'll leave you behind."

With all these considerations, she could definitely reason out that the 'Black Knight' was far from being 'Yulian'.

However, doubts still lingered deep within her heart.

"Could the 'Black Knight' be Yulian?" she wondered.

The one looking at her was indeed suspicious.

"I'm sorry, I'm coming right away."

***

Drip, drop.

A bead of sweat trickled down his cheek, hung at his chin, then fell to the ground.

Observing this, Corund truly realized just how tense and subdued he felt.

"I never expected this."

Who could have predicted that Pintel would be under Yulian, an offshoot of the Cryphart family?

How could anyone foresee that?

Pintel shared a similar 'pureblood ideology' and was among the mages expanding their roots through it.

Yet, none could have anticipated he would forsake that power alignment to choose 'Yulian' as his new allegiance.

"Sir Corund, while you wait for the young lord, shall I bring you something to drink?"

A voice from behind startled Corund.

Though it was just a simple servant speaking to him, his mind was in chaos due to recent happenings with Pintel.

Realizing Bishop Pintel, whom he didn't predict to side with Yulian, indeed supporting him, left everyone pondering 'what if'?

"Yes, please do."

Of course, it was unlikely Yulian had swayed even such servants.

No matter how cunning he might be, turning even commoners into pawns would be a misstep rather than a masterstroke.

"Young Lord Joshua will be with you shortly. We apologize for the wait."

Nodding at the servant's words, Corund took a deep sigh, glancing around.

Corund was currently at the Cryphart family estate.

Despite having undergone kidnapping and confinement not long ago, there was no delaying his personal tutoring sessions.

The Cryphart family, being one of the Empire's four great families, commanded significant prestige.

"If it's the Cryphart family's main house, they utterly detest Yulian..."

The knot of the family.

An aching finger that must disappear rather than simply an aching one.

Among the nobles, no one was unaware of the treatment Yulian received from the Cryphart family.

"If I were to expose Yulian's actions here...?"

Not as a bishop of the Dawn Society, but as one of the many nobles in the Empire.

"Sir Corund, I apologize for being late."

Roused from his musings, Corund smiled inwardly, concealing his irritation as Joshua entered the room.

"It's quite alright, young lord."

"Thank you. But Sir Corund, what happened to your face?"

At Joshua's inquiry, he could feel the ache where his wound was.

And the warning from Yulian echoed again in his mind.

The image of Yulian smiling as he subtly gripped his sword's hilt triggered renewed fear deep within Corund.

The thought of exposing Yulian's conduct soon nestled, buried as unease deep within his heart.

Thinking it over, without revealing anything about the 'Dawn Society', there was very little to talk about.

Moreover, tarnishing Yulian's reputation wouldn't significantly harm him.

Painting over a name already shrouded in darkness was pointless.

"Ha ha, I was conducting an experiment and had a minor accident. It's nothing young lord Joshua should worry about."

Thus, Corund resolved to keep his words at a minimum.

Joshua, observing Corund, held another thought.

'I never imagined elder brother Herand would back Yulian in the family meeting.'

Through the family meeting, Joshua acutely felt his grasp on influence slowly slipping.

Even his father, Oben, head of the Cryphart family, didn't entirely disdain Yulian.

'The position of the next head is becoming precarious.'

Even the most naive could sense the shifting tides.

'Still, I can't blatantly express dissatisfaction...'

Yulian remained tight-lipped about using the fake demon horns, replicas, to stir trouble.

'The leash is in Yulian's hands.'

Moreover, he couldn't openly advocate for disposing of Yulian within the family.

Positive rumblings about him had begun circulating, making it unclear just who sided with Yulian.

'Solutions must be sought elsewhere.'

And Joshua believed one lay right before his eyes.

The mages inherently supported 'pureblood ideology'.

Although an absolute pure bloodline is out of reach, similar stories are fabricated in pursuit of solidifying their stature.

"Sir Corund, you are also one of those mages upholding pureblood ideology."

Those who could support him and muster strength to denounce Yulian.

Drawing external forces into this messy household feud was undesirable, yet with brother Herand's moves strange, securing the family head position was paramount to Joshua.

"In that case, it's a relief. I briefly feared the 'troublemaker' who recently returned to the capital was causing issues."

"Troublemaker... you say?"

Joshua, witnessing a puzzled Corund, inwardly smirked.

"Yes, our family's tumor, Yulian Cryphart Frason. Did he not recently return from the Holy Kingdom?"

"Ha, ha ha... surely not."

"Frankly, I'd like to interrupt his doings for the good of the family."

Joshua subtly revealed his intentions.

"Do you dislike him that much? Sir Yulian would be saddened."

"I don't care if he's saddened. It's the result of his past deeds."

Joshua, though relatively inexperienced in the courteously vibrant world due to his age, was sharp enough to recognize what mages cherish.

Connections with nobility.

And more importantly, considerable wealth.

Magic research demands astronomical funding, enough to shake even an ordinary noble family.

"Grandfather, the chairman of the Elder Council of Nobles and former head of the Cryphart family, seems uninterested in seeing Yulian act out any longer."

Joshua dropped the hint.

The name of Ornn Cryphart.

The true owner of one of the 'four great families', Cryphart, and Chairmain of the 'Elder Council of Nobles'.

"I haven't conveyed my thoughts to grandfather yet."

Joshua knew Ornn vaguely favored him as the next family head.

The eldest brother who joined the monastery.

The second, a man without ambitions fitting of a leader of one of the four great families.

The third, with aspirations unworthy of the title.

And Yulian, serving as the royal lapdog.

None truly satisfied him.

Fortuitously, amidst his concern, Joshua was born.

Ornn provided early education from a young age to Joshua, ensuring he wouldn't defect like other children.

― You will continue the Cryphart family legacy.

These words were ingrained in Joshua so often they naturally felt evident.

But recently, Yulian's footing had been progressively augmenting.

Imagining all scenarios, grandfather too would want to dispose of Yulian.

Such reasoning allowed Joshua to propose this to Corund.

"I'll arrange a meeting with Ornn Cryphart. Support in dealing with Yulian."

For an ordinary mage family, the proposal would seem irresistible.

Ornn Cryphart, chair of the Elder Council of Nobles and a tower of incomparable authority capable of influencing even the Magic Tower.

By founding ties with him, reducing the astronomical expenses of magic research becomes more possible.

"What do you say? Would this not entice any mage?"

Joshua's nose went higher as he assumed Corund couldn't resist.

However.

"This, this brat...is mad."

Corund's reaction couldn't have been more opposite.

"Why propose something like this suddenly?"

Ornn Cryphart's relationship was not trivial, which Corund also acknowledged.

Normally, he would've readily accepted such a proposal and lent aid in cleaning up a fellow like Yulian.

The issue, however, lay elsewhere.

"The timing..."

His whole body ached again, and memories of 'that day' flooded afresh.

Especially the manic gaze and relentless staff-swinging of Pintel.

"Could this be...?"

If not, how else would this proposal emerge now?

Swallowing his saliva nervously, Corund gingerly spoke, defying his fears, "Yo, young Lord Joshua, let us pretend today's happenings didn't happen."

"Yes?"

"Let us defer today's lesson to another time. My condition is unfavorable."

Listening to a slightly baffled Joshua's response, Corund hurriedly organized his coat and bag before standing to leave.

Even as he stood, his staff-induced injuries throbbed, further compelling him to hastily depart the Cryphart estate.

"What on earth..."

In the now quiet room, Joshua murmured to himself.

Could he have misspoken?

No, pondering over it revealed no apparent gaffe.

Then why did Corund seem terrified, almost fleeing the room?

Joshua found no way to fathom it.

Clacky's Corner:The trauma is real.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.