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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 60
-Could it be… that the target is…?
As I suppressed the chilling sensation creeping over me and responded telepathically to Catsey Mielephon, she let out a short scoff.
-The child may have been born from me, but I have no idea what goes on inside her head. I pray that you forge a good connection.
Could there really exist a mother-in-law who would willingly welcome a son-in-law prone to causing such trouble?
I pondered that thought, but recalling Lady Isna Mielephon’s eccentric behavior and her shocking entrance, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had unwittingly walked into a trap.
Melissa once told me that I would suffer a great setback someday…
"Count Reden, whether intentional or not, the fact remains that Lord Leon was insulted. As a noble, he acted to uphold both his own and his family’s honor. Do you dispute this?"
"That… that is…"
Even if he were to argue otherwise, nothing would change.
His son's Aura Heart had already been shattered, and healing it through ordinary means would be difficult.
Not to mention, they had fallen out of favor with the Mielephon family—making matters even worse.
At this point, he had no choice but to be involved in the situation.
His only priority was to avoid further repercussions from the Mielephon family.
"Mercy…"
"I shall grant you a chance for recovery. If you win the duel, the Mielephon family will not interfere further."
The unspoken implication was clear: If you win, I will at least let you live.
The Mielephon family had always valued strength above all else, so this was hardly surprising.
However, everyone present understood one undeniable fact:
The Mielephon family was one of the most prestigious sword-wielding clans on the continent.
For the Reden family, facing their power was an impossible ordeal.
But what could Count Reden possibly do?
There was nothing.
"Go… Go forth and protect our family."
As Count Reden finally spoke, his knight stepped forward with a solemn expression.
Judging by his aura, he was an Expert-level knight of mid-rank.
A knight of considerable skill.
The situation was already beyond repair, so this was likely a last-ditch effort to maintain some level of dignity and prevent further disaster.
After all, retreating here would only invite the Mielephon family’s next wave of retaliation.
Many expected Catsey to summon one of Mielephon’s elite knights.
But instead, her gaze was locked onto me.
"Lord."
"Yes, Duke."
"Would you handle this personally?"
"Are you saying… that I should do it myself?"
The murmurs around us grew louder.
She had chosen a boy who had yet to reach twenty to face an Expert-level knight.
Though I had utterly crushed Siger Reden earlier, few had actually analyzed the process or gauged my true strength.
"Of course, if you lack the confidence—"
With a wave of her hand, a well-dressed maid stepped forward, bowing her head slightly.
See?
The Mielephon family’s maids were not just mere servants.
"I can appoint a substitute for you."
"…No, I will do it myself."
Though she offered me a proxy, she clearly had no doubt that I would refuse.
A chance for recovery?
Who was she trying to fool?
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"My, my… It seems that Lord Leon of Cascadia is more merciful than expected."
"By taking the duel himself, he is at least providing Reden with a justification to avoid Mielephon’s wrath."
"So that’s why they’ve been discussing marriage prospects with the Mielephon family…"
Some mistakenly believed that I was showing mercy to the Reden family by stepping forward personally.
From a common perspective, it seemed impossible for a boy in his late teens, with barely any detectable aura, to defeat a seasoned knight of Expert rank or higher.
It was common sense that a young noble would not be ridiculed for losing a duel against a fully trained knight.
"Lord Leon, as a knight serving my lord, I will fulfill my duty. I thank you for your generosity."
"Generosity? I'm sorry, but you’re mistaken."
"Mistaken?"
This knight, too, assumed that I was showing mercy by taking the duel personally.
But they were all gravely mistaken.
Did they truly believe I would save the Reden family after everything they had done?
My anger had not yet been satisfied.
I loosened my tie and stepped forward with measured strides.
The knight chosen by Count Reden took up a wooden sword brought by a Mielephon attendant, demonstrating precise aura control indicative of a skilled mid-tier Expert.
A formidable knight, even among his rank.
As he took his stance, I casually lowered my sword, taking him into my field of vision.
Seeing that I hadn’t properly positioned myself, the knight grew more confident in his assumption.
He did not even consider the possibility of losing.
"I will restrain myself to avoid injuring you too severely."
Following a brief exchange of glances, the knight made the first move.
He did not unleash his aura but relied on his enhanced physical capabilities to thrust forward with impeccable form.
His technique was sharp, direct—no wasted movement.
A knight of remarkable skill.
Just before his sword reached me—
My right foot moved a beat later.
Despite the delay, my body had already slipped out of his anticipated range.
His eyes widened in shock.
Realizing something was wrong, he immediately attempted to pull back and widen the distance.
But by the time he exhaled once, I had already closed in on his opening.
Boom!!!
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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The sound that erupted was far too loud for mere wood striking flesh.
His body seized up from the impact.
I didn’t stop there.
With controlled precision, I struck key points across his body as if sealing his acupressure points with my sword.
Each strike caused violent reactions in unrelated body parts, making it seem as if he had been struck by a dozen arrows at once.
"Ugh… Guh… W-What is…"
Though he had only been struck once in his eyes, he felt six or more blows landing simultaneously.
Using only aura, without magic, such a technique should have been unthinkable.
His expression twisted into sheer disbelief.
His blood flow was thrown into complete disarray, rendering him unable to move.
To finish it off, I lightly pressed my sword against his solar plexus.
Without ever getting the chance to counterattack, the knight lost consciousness and collapsed.
Of course, had he coated himself in aura, the outcome might have been different.
"S-Seven hells!"
"What just happened?"
"An Expert-ranked knight… was defeated in an instant…!"
The knight was at the expert level.
An expert was considered a valuable asset in any kingdom or empire.
And yet, he had been defeated without even putting up a fight.
Of course, from my perspective—someone who had fought against master-level opponents before—he wasn’t much of a threat.
But others wouldn’t see it that way.
Having subdued the knight with my usual instantaneous acceleration, I leisurely loosened my tie with one hand.
Then, with a flick, I discarded the broken wooden sword onto the ground.
A suffocating silence followed.
The nobles’ faces were filled with shock, clearly astonished by the swift outcome.
Even Catsey Mielephon, who had remained composed thus far, had widened her eyes slightly in surprise.
“So this is why my father spoke so highly of you. Take the fallen one away. And as for you, Young Lord Leon.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“As the host, I must handle the aftermath here. You may go in and rest.”
His demeanor was different from before when he seemed to be testing me.
Still, I had already seen everything I needed to see, and staying any longer held no benefit for me.
So, I simply nodded.
“Given the situation, I suppose I have no choice. I’ll take my leave first.”
“A wise decision. Count Reden, you should also return. I will send someone to discuss the details later.”
It was practically a death sentence.
The House of Reden was like a vassal to the Mielephon family.
Falling out of favor would shake the very foundation of their house.
“……”
Count Reden stood up with a vacant expression, looking around in a daze.
Even though my confrontation with him had ended, it was clear that the Mielephon family intended to make him pay for what had happened.
No wonder he was so shaken.
“P-please! Have mercy!”
He hastily dropped to his knees, bowing his head, but she turned away without hesitation.
Slumping to the floor in despair, he was eventually helped up by his attendants and escorted out of the banquet hall in disgrace.
In Labyrinthos, there was no room for hesitation, mercy, or second thoughts.
If you didn’t act first, you would be the one to fall.
Maybe that’s why.
I suddenly realized that ever since leaving Labyrinthos, I had been acting with more aggression than I expected.
Yet, I didn’t find it strange.
Would Melissa be angry when she heard about this?
Or would she react differently?
That was a difficult question to answer.
* * *
Outside the banquet hall, the night sky was so densely packed with stars that it almost felt bright.
I had noticed before, but unlike my previous life, the night sky in this world never felt truly dark.
Misha had returned at some point, quietly approaching as I left the hall.
“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve certainly caused quite a stir.”
“Haven’t I?”
I chuckled, and she let out an exasperated sigh, as if she couldn’t believe me.
“But you were splendid. I heard everything that Lord Siger Reden said.”
She walked alongside me with practiced ease.
“And just to ease your mind… may I say one thing?”
“What is it?”
“I apologize in advance for Lady Isna’s antics.”
A sense of unease welled up inside me.
And I quickly realized why she had said that.
“Wow! Why do you hide such a beautiful face?! Come here! Let me dress you up!”
“You… you crazy woman!”
I saw Luna running away while Isna Mielephon chased after her with enthusiasm.
It had taken me less than thirty minutes to leave the banquet hall and return here.
And in that short time, she had already met Luna—the infamous troublemaker—and managed to startle her.
I turned around, pretending I hadn’t seen anything.
My time in the annex was over.
I needed to find a suitable residence within the territory and settle down—
“Where do you think you’re running off to? Take this lunatic away from me, now.”
Luna clung to me like a cicada on an old tree, refusing to let go.
* * *
In the end, my worries were unfounded, and the worst-case scenario did not come to pass.
Thinking about it, the result was only natural.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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