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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 225: The Next Move of the Eisenach
I cleared my throat as I observed Zizek, who had fallen into shock and terror.
"Ahem."
Well, if they want to misunderstand on their own, there's no need to correct them.
"Actually, I found myself enjoying the act as I performed it."
I played along with Zizek's misunderstanding.
"I could have told you beforehand, but I wanted to play the joke a little longer. I'm sorry about that."
"...Ah, so that's how it was!"
The light returned to Zizek's eyes.
"Of course."
Let's just go with this for now.
"But my fondness for you wasn't an act. I've always been sincere with you, so please don't misunderstand that part."
"M-Master!"
Seeing Zizek getting so emotional that tears welled up in his eyes sent shivers down my spine.
'He's crying and making a scene, this madman. Is he drunk?'
If my mother and maternal relatives weren't here, I would have smacked him on the head right away. Ugh, this is giving me goosebumps.
"Allenvert, this is surprising and astonishing."
"Brother Knut."
Knut was truly like a beast in every sense. I even suspected that this man might be a werewolf or weretiger.
'What does one eat to develop such imposing muscles?'
Rudgarda's adjutant Turnak was the same. It seemed people from the mountains had physical abilities far superior to city dwellers.
"I've heard many stories about you, and recently my ears have been burning with tales of a man named Karzan. They say you accomplished single-handedly what would be difficult even for two men?"
Knut looked at me with an admiring expression.
"I'm impressed. Who would have thought that you, so intelligent and gentle, would possess such tenacity and resolve?"
Knut stroked my shoulder as if to say, "You've truly grown well."
"Your muscle quality is excellent, and your frame is good too. You have the body of a fine warrior."
"...Blood doesn't lie, I suppose."
My physical abilities benefit from both the Grunewald and Eisenach bloodlines.
'This is rather curious, though.'
Isn't it strange that my cousin Knut treats me more like an older brother than Verdzig or Somerset do?
"Allenvert, how did you become this strong in such a short time?"
"I still don't think I'm a match for you, Brother."
Knut laughed with a ‘huff.’
"If you've caught up to me already, that would be quite embarrassing for me as your elder."
"That's true."
The small girl, Tara, slipped in beside us.
"By the way, brother, standing here like this, you look just like Aunt."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
Tara curiously circled around me.
'She's a bit of an oddball.'
Having never had a younger sister before, her appearance seemed quite adorable.
"!"
I gently stroked Tara's head.
'Oh.'
This is somehow different from Peter. That guy's hair is quite dry and coarse...
"Anyway, everyone, although you must be quite surprised—"
I looked around at the gathering as I spoke.
"In fact, there's one more person I'd like to introduce to you all."
"And who might that be?"
At Balthazar's question, I turned my gaze toward the direction where Rudgarda was hiding.
"The daughter of Grimnar Angantyr and the 6th Commander of the Special Operations Division that will become our ally."
"...!"
I could sense Rudgarda flinching in the darkness where she was hiding.
"It's alright, come out, 6th Commander."
"...Young Master."
Finally, Rudgarda revealed herself with a reluctant expression. She had been hiding far away, in a position no one had noticed.
"I didn't expect you to pinpoint my location so accurately."
Rudgarda's concealment skills were quite impressive, but with my heightened spiritual perception, enhanced by Insight Star and Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique, she could no longer hide from me.
"Wait, aren't you Rudgarda?"
Balthazar asked in surprise.
"...Yes."
Rudgarda responded with an uncharacteristically timid expression.
"It's been a long time. Lord Balthazar, Lady Lusatia, and Lord Knut."
Belatedly, I realized that they had been acquainted with each other from before.
"It truly has been a long time. Yes, we knew that you were sent as a hostage and have been living a difficult life."
Balthazar seemed to understand the situation immediately and approached Rudgarda, gently patting the back of her hand.
"You must have suffered as well."
"...Not as much as you all must have. My father—"
Balthazar raised his hand to stop her words.
"Survival has been arduous for both you and us, so there's no need to compete over who suffered more."
"..."
Rudgarda lowered her head.
"Do you not resent me?"
"What have you done that we should resent you? It's your father we hate, not you. Besides—"
Balthazar pointed at her.
"What benefit did you gain from that usurpation? Rather, you were abandoned as a consequence, forced to live as a dependent while your siblings enjoyed wealth and glory, and had to overcome numerous hardships."
"..."
The old man's smile was warm.
"I heard you've been a great help to Allenvert. Thank you."
"No. I merely..."
"Don't be shy. By the way, you've grown so much too. You still had a youthful appearance back then."
"Grandfather, this person was already an exceptional warrior back then. Even I would find it difficult to take her lightly now."
The reaction of the Eisenach people was so friendly and warm that it made me feel narrow-minded for having harbored hatred toward her as the daughter of our enemy.
'To be honest.'
It was unexpected. I had thought they would show anger. Even so, I was prepared to persuade them somehow, knowing this confrontation was inevitable.
"Today is a truly wonderful day. Allen, Lusatia, Rudgarda."
Balthazar beckoned.
"Come inside now. We've prepared a feast to welcome you."
My mother and I exchanged glances.
"Let's go, Allen."
"I'll escort you, Mother."
I took my mother's hand with a slightly excited heart.
'Excellent.'
A new culinary experience awaited me.
* * *
"Hmm, how interesting."
Siena nodded her head after hearing Allenvert's heroic tales from the village chief.
"If true, Young Master Allenvert is an unusually virtuous man. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course, my lady."
The village chief repeatedly bowed before Siena, who had shown him a ‘token of appreciation.’
"The Young Master truly understands honor."
"Indeed."
Siena stroked her sharp chin.
"He rescued a child taken by a monster, and even provided money to raise the child? Even offering to take the child in himself later if desired."
Siena wondered what Allenvert had been thinking.
"Sister, isn't that just for show to curry favor with the subjects?"
At Jillian's whisper, Siena slightly furrowed her brow.
"There you go again."
"But sister—"
"You still lack respect for others. Disparaging others diminishes your own honor as well, so exercise restraint."
"..."
Jillian pressed his lips together.
"By the way, sister, is defeating Nepherus really such a great feat? Of course, as a 5th tier beast, it's a strong monster, but couldn't you kill it with a single stroke now?"
"I suppose so."
Siena agreed with her brother's assessment.
"But what's strange is indeed the rate of growth. The time between when the Young Master dueled the royal guard with wooden swords and when he defeated Nepherus is too short."
Is it possible to become that strong in such a short time?
'I suspected that Grunewald might have fabricated the story to create buzz.'
But the more she thought about it, the less sense that made. They had Verdzig, the 1st seat of Ete Nistyrnur with perfect background and talent, and Eldest Young Master Karl was no pushover either. Why would they artificially promote the 4th young master whose maternal clan had been exterminated, over them?
'It's clear. Allenvert must be a self-made man.'
The intelligence network of Valkenhain wasn't so shoddy as to misjudge that.
'If that's the case, how much stronger has he become in the time that has passed since then?'
As if to dismiss her sister's concerns, Jillian raised his voice.
"In any case, the higher one's realm, the slower the growth rate becomes."
"Yes, I know that."
But what confidence did Grunewald have to accept this duel?
"Sister, you've already reached the 6th tier and could easily contend for the 3rd or 4th seat at Ete Nistyrnur."
But what if Allenvert had achieved even greater growth?
"...It will be an interesting fight."
Siena Valkenhain had long awaited such a worthy opponent.
"Come to think of it."
Siena looked at the village chief who had deliberately avoided listening to their whispers, keeping his head bowed. He was a man who knew all too well that it would do him no good to overhear the conversations of ‘high personages’ living intensely within his own station.
"Is Young Master Allenvert really that handsome?"
"How could he not be! I've seen the elves when I was young, and in my opinion, he's even more beautiful than..."
"Oho."
Siena's curiosity knew no bounds.
* * *
We sat around and ate our fill of meat cooked in unique ways, spices and seasonings combined in unusual manners, and vegetables and fruits I had never seen before.
"You eat well, Allenvert. Is it to your liking?"
"Though I've lost my memories, it seems my tongue remembers these flavors."
"Hahaha! Is that so?"
Balthazar laughed heartily.
"It's wonderful to have all the remaining clan members gathered like this. I thought I would never see this day."
"But you three waited for this moment, enduring in the criminal underworld of Grunewald. When we learned of your resolve, my mother and I were overwhelmed with emotion."
"No, I should be thanking you. Without you, this joyous day would never have come."
The gleam in people's eyes, their smiles, the warmth of the air, and the atmosphere.
Everything was warm and comforting.
'So this is what it's like.'
Family affection, blood ties.
'Grunewald was too great and noble, creating an environment where such family affection couldn't be shared.'
Even my father had to prioritize his judgments as head of the clan and as a duke over paternal affection.
'Then is nobility a blessing or a curse?'
Looking at Zizek, Rudgarda, and my mother, I found myself pondering.
'Someday, Peter, Olivier, and Jeffrey will also join us here.'
"Now that we've filled our stomachs, let's talk about some weightier matters."
At Balthazar's words, everyone put down their utensils.
"Please speak, Uncle."
My mother said.
"While our reunion is a joyous occasion, we still have a long way to go. To achieve our revenge, we need to build our power much more than we have now."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
He was right. We still had the unavoidable mission of avenging our slain clan.
"To build power, we absolutely need a central focus."
He pointed at me.
"Under your banner, Allenvert Grunewald, we must cultivate our strength."
Knut added to this.
"With this recent event, the Bisakino Brotherhood has come to stand behind Allenvert. Though they've experienced internal strife, they remain one of the five major organizations in Grunewald City. They will surely be a great force."
With the name of the Bisakino Brotherhood coming from Knut's lips, there was no need to delay further.
"So about that."
After exchanging glances with my mother, I presented the plan that we had prepared to the clan.
"There is something I would like to ask of you all here."
"Speak your mind."
"Now is the time for a strategy of linked rings. We need to unite the ships gathered under my name so they won't drift away even in fierce storms."
Therefore.
"I would like you all to join the executive ranks of the Bisakino Brotherhood."
"...!"
Seeing everyone's surprised faces, I spread my five fingers.
"If we add Brother Knut's martial prowess, Lord Balthazar's wisdom, and the wealth of elixirs and spirit medicines that only the Eisenach can produce to the Bisakino Brotherhood's power—"
I folded four fingers, leaving only my index finger pointing toward the ground.
"We will take over the criminal underworld of Grunewald."
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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