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Chapter 34

Even those religious folk who praised moderation as a virtue weren’t as disciplined as Rook.

Of course, it wasn’t like he’d been this way from the day he was born, but he wasn’t forcing himself because of the command of another either.

Rook’s moderate personality was a decision he had personally made.

He believed that this was the way to achieve the greatest power he desired.

Also, good self-restraint meant that he was very patient...

That was the reason that he had interfered now even though he’d known of the mess outside the hall since it first began.

“...What do you two think you are doing?” Rook stomped closer and looked at Hector. “Hector Bednicker.”

“Yes.”

“I will ask just in case. Have you been granted permission to draw your sword in the main house?”

“No.”

“Then is your current situation so dire that you needed to break that rule?”

“No.”

“Then why did you reach for your sword?”

“...I’m sorry.”

“I’m not asking for your apology. I am asking for your reasoning. Why did you want to draw your sword and cut down Luan Bednicker?”

Hector’s head lowered as far as it could, but Rook continued to stare at him with his cold eyes.

“Do you believe you have that authority? Have you reached the level that you can just ignore the rules of the house?”

“I never thought such—”

“Keep this in mind,” Rook said with a low voice. “There is only one being that can exist above the laws of the house. Do not equate yourself with the family head.”

Shame appeared on Hector’s face.

Compared to how he was being shamed by Rook, he was much more ashamed that his actions had insulted the Lord of Blood and Iron.

Rook let out a sigh in his heart.

The reason he had spoken so severely was because he didn’t want to make this an even bigger mess.

Things would get tiresome if this incident reached the ears of the Council of Elders, who always examined everything in too much detail.

“I will forget I saw anything. Go back for now.”

“Pardon?”

“...”

“...Understood.”

Hector gave a bow before leaving.

He didn’t forget to glare at Luan before he went, but Luan was spaced out and ignored him.

“...Luan Bednicker.”

“Yes.”

At Luan’s nonchalant reply, Rook paused.

What he had just seen between the two was still fresh in his mind.

The scene of Luan walking up to Hector and smacking him in the back of the head...

“Why did you do that?”

There was a lot Rook wanted to say, but the first thing he said was a question.

Only then did Luan turn to look at Rook.

“I don’t know what you mean by that.”

“Why did you hit Hector?”

“He deserved it.”

Rook’s eyes glinted at the unexpected answer.

“He deserved it?”

“He slapped my subordinate’s cheek in front of me.”

Rook’s gaze turned to the butler beside Luan, to Arzan.

Arzan didn’t show any emotion on her face, but there was a small cut on her lip.

“I thought Hector, elder brother, crossed the line, so I paid him in kind. That’s all.”

“And that was the reason you hit your elder brother on the back of his head and slapped his face?”

When Rook said that, Luan stared directly at him, and Rook felt goosebumps start to appear as he met that blatant gaze.

He didn’t know why.

“Is him being my elder brother so important?”

“What?”

“No matter who it is, if they damage something of mine, I will not let them go.” With a quiet voice, Luan added, “I will pay them back threefold.”

Whether or not that was the right thing to do didn’t matter.

“...You talk well. But do you have the right to say those words?”

Rook looked at Luan with the same cold eyes that had gazed at Hector.

“What would have happened if I hadn’t intervened? Hector was overflowing with killing intent as he reached for his sword. For breaking the rule, Hector would’ve been punished by the house, but you would have become disabled at best. In that case, which of you suffers the bigger loss?”

“...”

“You lacked restraint and nearly died because of it. Thus, your actions cannot be considered ‘brave’. Luan Bednicker, your actions were foolish.”

“That’s not completely wrong.”

“So it’s not completely right either?”

As Luan continued to talk, he seemed to find some confidence in something.

“Would my subordinate here have let Hector just pull out his sword?”

“What?”

“In that situation, Arzan and I could have justified each other’s actions. I retaliated when Hector slapped Arzan, and if he went mad and drew his sword and charged me, then Arzan would have stepped in.”

“...”

“Didn’t you talk about losses? If I’d stayed still, I would’ve lost her.”

“You exaggerate. Even Hector wouldn’t murder someone here. All he did was slap her cheek.”

“I’m not talking about lives. Let me ask you, if you endured great humiliation for a master, but that master only laughed without doing anything... would you truly be able to offer your loyalty to such a person?”

Rook didn’t say anything, but he felt a small ripple stir within his heart.

This was a very rare feeling for him.

“...Ehm, well, I understood your worry, Knight Captain. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Rook nearly let out a dry laugh.

He couldn’t believe Luan’s tone, as if Luan was the one holding back from further humiliating him.

Who is lecturing whom?

As Rook mentally shook his head, Luan spoke up.

“If there’s nothing else, can I go?”

“...Sure. You may go.”

Rook no longer needed to keep him here, so he gave his affirmation with a nod.

Luan bowed his head as well before leaving.

Rook took a moment to observe Luan as he walked away.

...Luan Bednicker.

When the Lord of Blood and Iron had personally called for Luan, Rook had felt that something was up.

But he was even more surprised than he’d expected, now that he’d met Luan face-to-face.

Had Luan’s nature always been like that?

He couldn’t know.

Rook didn’t have any particular memories of Luan.

Of course, he had heard of Luan’s many infamous deeds, but Rook was of the belief that he needed to meet the person before he could make his judgment.

So, with this being the first time Rook had met Luan, to give him a score for his first impression...

On a scale from 1 to 10, Luan was at least a 9.

When the time comes, I wish to hear Elder Brother’s opinion as well.

Rook liked Luan’s boldness and capacity to lead his subordinates well.

Why was he only realizing this now?

Rook had thought that he had already seen everyone’s potential.

Of course, quick judgments weren’t reliable... but Luan was someone Rook wanted to observe closely in the future.

As a page of the Iron Blood Knight Order...

“Hm.”

Rook shook his head.

It was too early for that thought.

He honestly wanted to speak with Luan a little longer, but he held back for now.

It wasn’t difficult. After all, “disciplined” was his middle name.

* * * * *

* * * * *

My back itched.

Evidently Rook was still looking at me.

Only after entering my room did that itchy feeling disappear from my back.

I let out a sigh.

“Why did you do that?” Arzan suddenly asked.

“I already said my reasoning before Sir Rook.”

“You said that you nearly lost a subordinate. That is not an answer. To start with, I am not one of your people.”

“Right. That’s true.”

“...This isn’t something you can brush off so easily,” Arzan said with a serious expression. “You know the position Young Master Hector has in the family. If he harbors ill intent toward you because of this incident and decides to take revenge...”

“Then it won’t just end with his head and cheek being smacked and slapped.”

I looked at Arzan, who looked surprised by my words.

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t do it because of you, I was just in a bad mood and didn’t want to let him go. I know what I did, and I know what you’re worried about. I can also estimate what the consequences will be.”

“...”

“You don’t have to worry so much. I have my plans as well.”

Having been listening the entire time, the Martial God suddenly interjected.

[Inheritor, do you really have a plan?]

No.

How could I?

Still, I couldn’t just tell her that I beat him up because he pissed me off.

[Hooh.]

I don’t regret it. In the long run, this was the right decision.

[What do you mean?]

The most important thing is acting as a Bednicker should in the main house.

One could say that in the main house of Bednicker, there were eyes and ears everywhere.

If it was made evident that I couldn’t protect what was mine, then this would quickly be reported to the Council of Elders, the family head, or one of the higher-ranking members...

And I would be given a failing mark.

“So, how about you?”

“Pardon?”

“When I smacked Hector in the back of his head and slapped his face, how did you feel? Was it good or bad?”

Arzan hesitated.

“You can be honest with me. There is no one here to listen in.”

“...It did feel a little refreshing.”

I grinned. “Then it\'s fine. How about your face? Any wounds?”

“There’s a small cut on the inside of my mouth.”

“Looks like your monocle broke.”

“It’s fine. It wasn’t a real lens.”

I was the one shocked this time as I looked at Arzan with disbelief.

So that monocle was just for fashion?

Arzan hesitated for a moment before lowering her head.

“Thank you, young master.”

“It’s fine. You’re going to make me cringe.”

“Still, please be careful. Young Master Hector will not let this incident slide.”

“Probably.”

I didn’t really have any intention of avoiding all conflict with him.

But, strangely... rather than Hector and the incident, I was more worried about the other person.

The one of Garcia blood that had looked at me with dark eyes.

His name, I think it was...

***

As soon as he returned to his room, Hariba kicked the nearest table.

Bang!

As if it had been made of rotten wood, the table instantly shattered into countless pieces.

That wasn’t enough to quell Hariba’s anger. He proceeded to destroy all the furniture in the room.

All the while, the image of the boy with the light-blond hair never left his mind.

Neither did the face of the silver-haired girl that the brat approached without knowing his place.

“...”

In the middle of the ruined room, Hariba panted with an expressionless face before saying, “Father.”

“...”

“Didn’t I tell you? We need to be certain of everything.”

“Be certain? Then do you truly plan to kill him?” Reagan replied, having arrived at the door at some point. “In any case, today was only the final check, tomorrow is the true Blessing Ceremony. Luan Bednicker just needs to not be in attendance tomorrow.”

Hariba’s eyebrows flinched for a moment.

“What are you saying I should do? You said killing is not allowed.”

“Killing isn’t the only method of solving problems in this world,” Reagan reprimanded him with a stern voice.

“Son, why don’t you understand that murder is the last of the last methods one should use to achieve their goals?”

“...”

“The most important thing we need to ensure is that he does not attend the Blessing Ceremony. We do not have to act ourselves. If he somehow decides with his own will to not attend, there is no difference in outcome.”

“What do you mean?”

Reagan relaxed his eyes.

“You will know soon.”

After saying that, Reagan left the room.

Hariba stared at the door Reagan had left through.

After a short moment of contemplation, he came to a conclusion.

He couldn’t leave his fate up to that man.

After calming his breath, Hariba pulled something from his coat pocket.

It was a glass vial with a red liquid inside.

“...”

A look of hesitation crossed Hariba’s eyes as he looked at the glass vial, but it was only for a moment.

Pong—

Hariba opened the vial.