Chapter 121. Prick of Conscience (1)

It would not be an exaggeration to say that there are virtually no nobles who are unaware of the prestige held by the Empire's four great families.

Unlike the Cryphart family, which values martial prowess, the "Godricht family" exerts dazzling influence in politics and social affairs.

So much so that there's a rumor saying, "At the Godricht family's gathering, even a lion can be made into a rabbit."

Touching on such a family is something nobles should most definitely avoid.

If any bad rumors were to circulate, the consequences would fall squarely back on themselves or their family.

However, in the game, that family never stepped out into the frontlines so prominently.

They always operated behind the scenes, manipulating and orchestrating events like a shadowy force, which is why they didn't catch much attention then.

Yet here he was, encountering them face to face.

Living in this place as if it were reality, he began to realize some of the hidden settings within the game.

For instance, the setting that the eldest son of the Godricht family, Alba, looked up to him, Yulian.

Or that Yulian's feelings toward his mother were genuinely heartfelt, something uncharacteristic of a villain.

And so, unknowingly and knowingly, he was adapting to this world.

"The emblem of the Godricht family, is it...."

Looking at the emblem of a family he would prefer not to encounter, he muttered to himself.

While he was getting used to his solitary remarks transforming into formal speech, this time it felt oddly out-of-place.

Because that "formal speech" would feel like a form of intimidation to others.

"Yes, the one you're holding now is one of the children of the Godricht family."

An elderly man with a robust stature and a grave expression spoke from inside the training ground.

His neatly tied white hair contrasted with his rough appearance, suggesting that he once wielded a sword with some skill.

'That person... he's 'Ornn Cryphart', is he not?'

He was the real power of the Cryphart family, once one of the famed generals who swept through the Northern Front.

Though his past glory had faded and he had become an old curmudgeon, his brutal stature and sword skills remained unchanged.

'Judging by the energy he's emitting... no ordinary knight could stand against him.'

Rather than playing games in the backroom.

'An unpleasant fellow.'

As one might know, "Yulian" harbored disdain for most members of the Cryphart family.

Because of this, the look he gave "Ornn Cryphart" wasn't a kind one either.

"Sir Ornn, it seems you've maintained your vigor quite well for your age."

"You...."

At his seemingly mocking words, Ornn lifted his eyes and glared at him.

An overwhelming sense of malice pricked his skin, but he hadn't lived an ordinary life that would allow him to shrink from it.

"Release Yern-gor."

"Oh ho, so this is Sir Yern-gor, is it?"

Responding to Ornn's words, he purposefully affected familiarity, looking at the one nestled in his embrace, whose life was at risk.

'Tsk, he just had to be a member of one of the four great families.'

There's no advantage in provoking them.

Moreover, isn't the "Godricht family" the very house that through Alba maintained some exchange with him?

'There was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble.'

However, due to "Sombra's" overreaction, he had no choice in the matter.

Upon locking eyes with him, Yern-gor, who was groaning in pain, felt any bravado he initially had dissolve into quivering fear.

It was understandable. For in Yern-gor's two pupils, the image of "Yulian" appeared nothing short of sinister.

'This wretched face!'

A face so astounding that it made crying children turn their eyes.

And those with hurting legs get up and move on their own.

In short, a presence so alarming.

First, he had to navigate this situation smoothly.

Though his notoriety wouldn't change much with a +1 addition, it might hinder future matters.

For that reason, he began seeking a common interest with Yern-gor, trying to calm him somehow.

For forming bonds, that's the best approach.

Let's see, hmm?

"This sword... Its craftsmanship feels remarkable."

Fortunately, he found it.

Because he noticed the logo of "Twilight Flame" on the scabbard Yern-gor was wearing.

"It's quite a fine item. I, too, am a regular there."

"...... You dare say such a thing when you even blocked custom orders?"

What was he talking about?

As he pondered, he recalled his previous visit to 'Twilight Flame'.

When he had visited Luger Orlando to repair the 'Moonstone Sword', he had run into some lady associated with the Godricht family, possibly a concubine.

'This guy, he's not just a knight of the Godricht family.'

He's part of the family itself?

Despite past grievances, the coincidence was baffling enough to elicit a hollow laugh from him.

Sensing that his grip had loosened slightly, Yern-gor, taking advantage of this, desperately tried to break free.

===

⇒ 〈Sombra〉 reacts to hostility.

===

This guy! He's doing it again!

Unable to let it sit as it was, he had to make a decision, and he chose the cleanest and simplest method.

"Wha, what's happening......."

Pressing ruthlessly on the carotid artery, Yern-gor resisted for a brief moment before his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Though Yern-gor was part of the 'Godricht' of the four great families, his face crumpled in such a disgraceful manner that instinctively he closed his eyes.

He felt he had kept things within bounds.

"Crazy bastard......."

"Are you really crossing the line now!"

Ornn's escort knights and some Cryphart family knights began to berate him for his actions.

"Heh, heh heh heh......!"

However, not budging an inch, I responded to their reproach by laughing wildly.

"What, what's so funny!"

"Have you finally lost your mind?"

"I merely laugh because this situation is amusing."

Rendering Yern-gor Godricht unconscious was something that could not be undone.

Yet the reason for it was hardly acceptable now.

Of course, it wasn't.

'Because 'Sombra', the 'demon', lives in my body, I protected Yern-gor before Sombra went on a rampage. Shouldn't you be thankful for that?'

Who would believe that if he said it?

It would resonate more with who "Yulian" is if he simply said, "Ah! Should I have just killed him then?"

So I maneuvered my thoughts, trying to find some legitimacy for my actions.

"Elder brother Herand is the direct heir of the Cryphart family. On the other hand, Sir Yern-gor is a child of a concubine, hardly befitting the term 'heir'."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Isn't it amusing?"

Despite saying so, he felt utterly uncomfortable with the situation. Somehow he had to rationalize what he had done.

"You've always enforced a strict standard based on the purity of blood, letting Elder brother Herand be attacked without response, yet you're worried about a 'half-blood' getting injured."

With that, he chuckled, ridiculing them all.

"Listening to you, I wonder......."

Ornn's unpleasant voice pierced through the quiet atmosphere of the training ground, hitting his ears.

"Get out of the Cryphart estate immediately. This is not a place light enough for someone like you to set foot."

"When a family member, not the head, conducts the 'Advancement Test', it's a breach of discipline. If this isn't trivial, what is?"

Seeing him confront his words directly, Ornn's eyes sharpened.

"Or would you like to... continue the 'Advancement Test'?"

With Elder brother Herand incapacitated, shall I take his place?

Even without words, Ornn could predict the outcome. If anything, it amused me to prepare my weapon.

Under normal circumstances, I would have avoided going against an individual like 'Ornn Cryphart'.

An individual who once stood at the pinnacle of power, capable of doing anything.

But the deed was already done.

"Elder brother Herand appears too weak to even stand, so I'll engage in his stead. Former head Ornn."

Moreover, the animosity felt towards "Ornn Cryphart" was just as intense as when I first saw 'Oben'.

It was so much so that I would have been almost jubilant if Ornn accepted my challenge.

'If it happens, it certainly won't end in the usual manner.'

Right now... I might even be able to kill him.

The blood coursed violently within me, refusing to be contained.

"Click."

Fortunately yet regrettably, Ornn showed no intent to continue.

Tossing the wooden sword to a nearby knight, he turned his gaze to the still-fallen Herand.

"For today, it ends here. If by next time you haven't reconsidered, it won't end like this. Consider yourself warned."

Having threatened this, Ornn adjusted his clothes and then cast a vehement glare my way.

His eyes radiated hostility beyond intent, but at this, I simply responded with a knowing smile.

'Do whatever you wish.'

Unlike before, "Ornn Cryphart's" actions no longer frightened him.

I had grown confident in my strength while holding the 'Dawn Society' as a fallback.

Considering this, it felt like I truly had turned into some sort of villain.

"Elder brother Herand!"

Once Ornn left, Joshua rushed forward to support Herand.

Herand's condition was pitiful.

In his state, there was no way I could ask him for the whereabouts of the Soul Stone I had entrusted.

"What are you waiting for! Take Elder brother Herand to his room at once!"

Following Joshua's urgent command, servants rushed to help carry Herand out of the training area.

"Yu, Yulian."

As Joshua was about to leave the training ground, he cautiously looked back at me.

"Thank you......."

Joshua awkwardly thanked me before chasing after Herand.

Who would have thought he'd hear such words? Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all.

Shrugging, I followed them, Joshua shooting me a bewildered look.

The kind of look that asks why I was following along.

No, I too had matters to discuss with Herand.

***

"Ugh, ugh......."

"Elder brother Herand, are you alright?"

Groaning at the pain that grasped his entire body, Herand struggled as he regained consciousness. Upon waking, Joshua quickly set to check his condition thoroughly.

"Yes, yes. Phew. I'm still alive."

At Herand's reassurance, Joshua let out a sigh of relief.

"Yulian... where is he?"

Awake now, Herand began to look for Yulian. It seemed he had noticed his visit between moments of his fading consciousness.

"He said he had a matter to attend to and left the residence."

"He must have gone to visit Lady Milena's grave."

The mention of an unfamiliar name made Joshua show a hint of curiosity.

"Lady Milena, you mean Yulian's mother, right?"

"Yes...."

Struggling against pain, Herand sat up in bed support.

"Come to think of it, Joshua, you never had a chance to meet Lady Milena, did you?"

"No, I've only heard... or rather, I haven't even really heard much."

Her name was nearly taboo. Ornn abhorred her fanatically.

"So, you feel uneasy at the notion that Lady Milena is from the north."

"...... I've never seen it with my own eyes, but I heard they survive by consuming demons."

The very act of consuming demons.

Even the mere thought made Joshua feel a nauseating sensation rising from his core.

He recalled the man who transformed into a demon due to the "Fake Horn" at Yulian's estate, dripping with mucus.

Do they eat such things?

It was an idea that couldn't be grasped.

"The real state of the north, I too, am not entirely sure about. But this much I can say."

"What...... is it?"

"Lady Milena was... far more noble than someone like me, and she was nothing like a 'savage'."

"...... What does that have to do with the earlier affair, elder?"

Listening to Herand's words, Joshua was puzzled.

"I couldn't wrap my head around your words either earlier. Couldn't you have simply agreed to the head's decision, even if just outwardly?"

Herand, enduring his painful body, turned his head to look into Joshua's eyes.

He knew as well. That the stubbornness he showed in the training ground earlier was stupid enough to be deemed obstinate.

But as time passed, the guilt that had formed in his heart as an unwanted companion grew like mold.

"When Lady Milena passed away, it was the former head, Lord Ornn, who demanded Yulian to bury her in a grave and place her body in a coffin."

"What do you mean by that......?"

To the astonished Joshua, Herand recounted the childhood image of Yulian.

Back then, Yulian, much younger than Joshua now, had been treated worse than a servant in the family yet still endured with composure beyond his age.

- 'Mother was stern just with me.'

Despite the cold treatment by those around, Yulian didn't shed a tear.

- 'Yet, the coffin that held Mother... was impossibly light.'

The once bright child, despite his mistreatment, cried at his mother's passing for the first time.

Pain filled his eyes, overflowing and trailing down his cheeks, as he tried his best to endure it.

That image had burrowed into Herand's heart, leaving an imprint that still resonated deeply within him.

Clacky's Corner:This shows that villains are made.There are just a few cases where a person is born evil, most of the time, they are a product of their environment.Could you imagine burying your mother, and then has to live in a house where all the people genuinely despise you? And you're treated worse than a servant?

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