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“……Do we really have to go this far?”

Both of them wore masks that completely covered their faces, with only holes for their eyes.

They were dressed like common thieves.

“It was you, Your Grace, who insisted on coming along.”

“I can be worried too, you know.”

“Heheheh. Well, a father-in-law always dotes on his son-in-law. Make sure to bring something nice; he’ll probably devour it happily.”

“Cut the nonsense. I mean, won’t he figure out what we’re up to, even with this?”

At that, Marquis Foltaine rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Hmm…… Now that you mention it, that cunning brat might not be fooled by this at all.”

“……Good grief.”

Duke Herman was, of course, referring to Duke Serin. On the other hand, Marquis Foltaine naturally assumed he was talking about Ancelot, focusing entirely in that direction.

‘How did someone who never paid his own grandson any mind end up like this?’

As Duke Herman pondered this, Marquis Foltaine suddenly yanked off his mask with a huff.

“Phew! I was getting sick of it anyway. This is better.”

Duke Herman, pulled out of his thoughts, voiced his concern.

“Aren’t you underestimating Duke Serin?”

“Your Grace, do you honestly believe I’d lose to that guy?”

“Still, he’s one of the three official dukes in the entire country.”

“Heheheh. Such titles mean very little in a weak nation. With enough money, you can buy as many as you like. If I packed all my wealth and went to the Rune Principality, who’d care about a mere duke?”

“Fair point…… if anyone, the Rune Principality might agree. Their economy is in shambles, and now even the Meeke Principality is surpassing them. They’re the only ones with just two Masters currently……”

Suddenly, Duke Herman’s lips curled into a strange smile.

“……By the way, have you always seen me that way too?”

Of course, Duke Herman’s question was meant to be lighthearted. But the reply was unexpectedly sincere.

“As you know, I measure people by numbers but there are two exceptions.”

Duke Herman froze momentarily, unable to hide his reaction.

“Am I one of them? I’m touched.”

He wasn’t joking—he was genuinely moved.

“I’d rather say no, but……”

“Haha, your tone gives you away.”

“Anyway, how many years do I have left? When I’m gone, there’ll be no one to pour a drink on my grave. With the things I’ve done, even my children won’t.”

“I didn’t know you had such a sentimental side.”

“I’m just practical.”

“It seems more emotional to me.”

“It’s the same thing. As men grow older, they appeal to emotions. Even brutes who once beat their wives lose their strength with old age and cling to them, pretending nothing had ever happened.”

The crude analogy made Duke Herman understand Marquis Foltaine’s logic even more.

“Tch…… You always derail good conversations.”

“Heheh, that’s life, isn’t it?”

“You old rascal.”

“Better than being a bum.”

Their banter was interrupted by a voice.

“It seems you two gentlemen are out for a midnight stroll.”

“……”

Both men had already sensed it—someone was blocking their path ahead.

Underneath the moonlight filtering through the trees, a strikingly beautiful man looked down on them with quiet arrogance.

“……Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“Personally, I’d rather be a bum than a politician.”

“I agree. I’d also rather be an old rascal than be a fox.”

Duke Serin, who had been listening quietly, clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“You two are unbelievable. Talking trash about a comrade right to his face?”

“Better than doing it behind your back, isn’t it?”

Duke Herman quipped.

“Still, we’re family. However, this seems like more than just light teasing.”

“Heheheh. Family ties are trivial. They shift with circumstances. Besides, I’m the kind of old man who’d behead his own son without hesitation.”

“And you expect us to work together?”

“I could say the same to you.”

As the tension mounted between the two, Herman sighed.

“It seems like the relationship between our family members are worse than strangers.”

“Family tends to be worse than strangers. You can ignore strangers, but you can’t do that with family.”

“That’s a bitter truth coming from you.”

At that moment, Marquis Foltaine unleashed his full aura without reservation. At the same time, Duke Serin’s eyes darkened.

“……So you were hiding your strength. I thought you were merely an upper-level Expert, maybe a little higher. But this…… This is the realm of a seasoned Master.”

“Is there a problem? It’s common to have emergency funds hidden even from your closest family members, no?”

“You live life far too comfortably.”

Step, step, step. Marquis Foltaine started climbing the mountain trail, undeterred.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Where is the boy?”

“Who knows.”

“You’re wise, but picking a fight is a poor choice. Do you think you can take both of us?”

Duke Serin chuckled quietly.

“Do you really think I’d come alone?”

“……?”

Marquis Foltaine’s expression shifted to confusion.

And then—

Rustle!

“……”

Multiple presences emerged from all directions.

‘We didn’t sense them at all until now?’

That could only mean one thing.

‘They’re at least on par with us.’

Marquis Foltaine’s face hardened. Three figures had revealed themselves.

“……Your Grace, it seems the Empire is quite serious. With this level of force, they could storm a royal palace.”

“I’d rather avoid bloodshed. Why don’t you go back and wait quietly?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Boom!

The clash of auras shook the surrounding trees violently.

“Heheheh.”

Yet Marquis Foltaine’s face remained composed, relaxed even. Duke Herman, watching from the side, was the same.

“You overlooked one important fact also, Your Grace.”

“……?”

“You didn’t think we’d come alone, did you?”

“……!”

Duke Serin’s eyes widened. At that moment, countless presences surged up from below the mountain trail.

Meanwhile, at the mountain’s summit.

“Your Highness. If it were me, I would’ve gone after him immediately and stabbed him in the back.”

“……”

“The world is merciless. Show weakness, and you’re left behind. No one spares a glance at stragglers.”

I shifted my gaze away from the mountain trail and looked toward the direction of the voice.

“So, you’ve decided to drop the pretense of politeness?”

“Haha.”

“……Count Kaiman. You once said something, didn’t you? Of the three Knights—Blazes, Undefeated, and Full Moon—you still haven’t chosen your lord.”

“Ah, yes. I did.”

Count Kaiman gave a firm nod.

“I can assure you, you’ll have a hard time deciding on that lord anytime soon.”

“Maybe my mind is dull, but I’m not following, Your Highness.”

“It’s simple. You aren’t someone who can live pretending to be normal under someone else’s command.”

That’s right.

This latest incident made me sure.

A lunatic who sets fire to the palace housing a foreign nation’s former king without a second thought……

A person like that can’t possibly be sane.

“Isn’t it exhausting? Living a life where you constantly pretend to be polite and normal.”

“Oh, dear. This is troublesome. Duke Serin once said that I resemble him quite a bit. Are you perhaps insulting both of us……”

I shook my head before he could finish.

“No, you’re different.”

“……?”

“While Duke Serin suppresses his emotions and manipulates circumstances to his advantage as a politician, you…… well.”

I locked eyes with Count Kaiman, who looked utterly entertained.

“……You’re a lunatic psycho who enjoys killing for the sake of killing.”

“……!”

“That’s right. A lunatic like you can’t live a normal life under someone else’s authority. So, let me ask; do you have any family?”

Count Kaiman tilted his head.

“Why do you ask?”

“I had a hunch you wouldn’t have any left.”

“……”

Silence fell between us, heavy and profound.

“That scar on your cheek—did it happen back then?”

I pointed to the distinct sword mark etched across his face.

Swish.

Soon after, Count Kaiman began stripping off his clothes—down to his pants, leaving only his underwear.

Under the moonlight, his muscular physique came into view.

However, his entire body, from his upper torso to his legs, was covered in gruesome scars.

“These scars, you mean?”

“……”

I studied them closely. One scar in particular stood out……

‘……His wrist.’

On his left wrist, the scars bore the clear signs of hesitation wounds—slashed in a deliberate, patterned sequence.

The rest of the scars seemed ordinary. It was clear that most of them had been inflicted by others.

But still……

‘A body covered in scars like a canvas of scribbles. Scars like those mean you’d need to recklessly throw yourself into the heart of a battlefield, without caring if you live or die.’

In other words, he had no qualms about killing—or being killed. In conclusion……

“……I imagine this is your biggest struggle when choosing a lord? Of who will bring you the greatest thrill.”

“……”

“Who, when you finally plunge a knife into their back at the very last moment, will give you the most euphoric satisfaction?”

“……”

“That must be a tough decision. After all, you only get one shot at choosing your lord in your lifetime. You won’t have many chances to topple the heavens again.”

At that moment, Count Kaiman broke the long silence.

“……Heh. Hehehehe.”

His handsome face began to twist grotesquely.

“Ahahaha. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He let out a bone-chilling laugh, baring his white teeth.

“Ah…… I’m going insane.”

Shiiing.

The eerie sound of a blade being drawn followed his words.

“What should I do, Your Highness? I can’t hold back anymore.”

Of course.

Someone with his temperament couldn’t have restrained himself for long.

“I wanted to nurture you before devouring you……”

Unable to listen any longer, I let out a small chuckle.

“Put your clothes back on and shut your mouth before I rip it apart.”

***