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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 13
“I have been ordered, Count.”
Since she had already been acknowledged as the successor of the Count’s family, it was only natural to respect her position.
* * *
“Please, help yourself! I prepared this in a hurry upon hearing of your visit, so I’m a bit worried it might not suit your taste…”
“It’s fine.”
Tyvel Cascadia.
He was the uncle of Leon and Melissa and a man driven by an ambition to devour the entire Cascadia County.
He now looked nervously at the elderly man before him.
“Hmm… The aroma is quite pleasant.”
“I’m relieved that the tea I prepared to welcome you suits your taste.”
The old man in front of him wasn’t exactly his superior.
But what did that matter?
Even though Tyvel was a citizen of the kingdom and the old man hailed from another country, there wasn’t a single person on the continent who could treat this man lightly.
Osberg Mielephon.
He was the head of the Mielephon family, a renowned lineage of swordsmen, two generations ago.
He was also a sword saint who had been bestowed the title of a star by the Emperor.
“I enjoyed the tea.”
“Haha, I’m glad to hear that. But… what brings you to such a remote place…?”
Tyvel Cascadia was a man who sought to monopolize Cascadia County by forging connections and lobbying everywhere he could.
As a result, he already had the support of many high-ranking nobles within the kingdom.
However, even for someone like him, forming a connection with the greatest noble of the Empire—a man hailed as one of the most powerful individuals on the continent—was beyond his reach.
Yet, the old man had come to meet him personally.
According to the introduction he received, the old man seemed to have business with the demonic realm under surveillance by the Cascadia County.
Fine, if helping him with this matter could establish a connection, it would surely be of great benefit to his ambitions.
“If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. Though it may not be a grand or luxurious place, I’ll do my utmost to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible.”
“That won’t be necessary. However, I hear that you are the one managing this county.”
“Y-Yes, that’s correct. After the unfortunate accident that claimed the life of Count Cascadia, who was a relative of mine, I took over the responsibilities.”
“I see. Well, the affairs of the estate are not something for an outsider like me to meddle in. Still, since you’re granting me access to the demonic realm, I ought to repay you.”
He fixed his gaze directly on Tyvel.
Under the weight of those indifferent eyes that seemed to pierce through his entire being,
Tyvel felt an eerie chill.
‘Pull yourself together, Tyvel. This is a rare opportunity—a chance to leave a deep impression on the sword saint.’
Tyvel quickly ordered his attendant to prepare a document.
It was a document bearing the seal granting access to the demonic realm.
“Surely, you wouldn’t want unnecessary complications. Here it is. With this document, you can enter the demonic realm immediately.”
Of course, this document was half-ineffective.
But what did it matter?
Once his son, Vishiri Cascadia, returned with the signed transfer agreement from pressuring Melissa, even this fake document would become valid.
Tyvel had no doubt that his plan would succeed.
“I appreciate the document. However, when you receive something, it’s only right to offer something in return.”
Osberg Mielephon looked at the obsequious Tyvel with a detached expression, his smile faintly mischievous.
“Since I’m the one making an unannounced visit and imposing upon you, I should provide compensation befitting the situation.”
“Haha, not at all. How could I dare demand anything from the sword saint?”
“Haha, no need for empty pleasantries. I dislike owing debts, so feel free to speak your mind.”
The suggestion Osberg Mielephon made carried immense value.
His influence spanned not just a single kingdom but the entire continent.
For Tyvel Cascadia, who was entangled in a struggle for the title of a mere border count in a minor kingdom, Osberg was an unreachable figure.
Tyvel cautiously gestured.
The door to the reception room opened, and a young boy walked in slowly.
“You called for me, Father.”
The boy, with red hair inherited from his mother, was Tyvel Cascadia’s youngest son.
“This is my son, though still inexperienced.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, the greatest swordsman on the continent. My name is Bivel Cascadia.”
“Haha, the greatest swordsman, you say? I’m nothing more than an old man past his prime. But you seem to possess a fair amount of talent for your age. Do you practice swordsmanship?”
“Yes, Sword Saint.”
“I see. Deputy Count, do you have a reason for introducing this child to me?”
“I heard that you’re searching for a disciple.”
“Hah, so that rumor has traveled this far.”
Indeed, Osberg Mielephon was famously known for not taking on a disciple despite his advanced age.
Naturally, countless nobles from kingdoms and empires alike hoped to recommend their sons to be his disciple.
“What do you think? Though I don’t mean to boast, I firmly believe that my son is the most talented individual I’ve ever encountered.”
Tyvel Cascadia made no attempt to hide his ambitions.
After all, Osberg was the one who had mentioned repaying his debt, and he was the one who needed help.
That made Tyvel’s actions plausible.
Osberg looked calmly into the boy’s eyes.
Then, he stood up.
“I’m afraid I cannot grant that request.”
“May I ask why?”
Tyvel hadn’t expected much from the start.
He figured he could simply request something else as compensation.
But he couldn’t help but feel annoyed at the implication that his son wasn’t good enough.
“The boy resembles his father greatly.”
“Pardon? Haha, of course he does. He’s my child, after all.”
Tyvel tilted his head in confusion at the sudden remark.
But Osberg didn’t say anything more.
“I’ll prepare adequate compensation for granting access to the demonic realm. If there’s anything else you desire, don’t hesitate to let me know. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday.”
It was a clear refusal.
A faint trace of disappointment lingered in Osberg’s voice.
* * *
“Master.”
“You’re here.”
A middle-aged man bowed as he appeared before Osberg, who was leaving Tyvel’s residence.
“Yes, sir. Did everything go well?”
“Yes, acquiring access rights was not difficult. But it’s a shame.”
“What do you mean?”
“For a long time, the Cascadia family has been a noble house that guarded the demonic realm with honor. Both the late Count Cascadia and his predecessors were extraordinary individuals, as far as I’ve heard.”
The Cascadia County was one of the few houses that protected humanity’s domain from monsters.
Osberg shook his head and walked away quickly.
After all, his visit to this territory had been solely to gain access to the demonic realm.
Beyond that, there was no other interest.
“But the current acting lord is different, isn’t he?”
“Was he a man of greed?”
“You can hide your words, but the ambition that seeps into your gaze cannot be concealed. Moreover, can you not sense it? The atmosphere of this land.”
It was a bleak and lifeless territory.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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“The glory of Cascadia will soon fade. I once regarded it as one of the few noble families in this small kingdom…”
Osberg clicked his tongue in disapproval.
The son that Tyvel showed as a potential disciple was just like his father.
Though still a child, the ambition and cruelty contained in his gaze fell far short of impressing Osberg, the Sword Saint.
His talent was considerable, worthy of acknowledgment to some degree.
But that was all.
Talent like his could be found if one searched enough.
Desire is an indispensable aspect of humanity.
However, Tyvel’s second son, Bivel Cascadia, did not meet the conditions Osberg had in mind.
Most of all, there was something personally displeasing about his gaze, and to evaluate him objectively, his talent was far from extraordinary.
It was fair to say he was skilled, but children with such talent were not uncommon across the continent.
“Is this about finding a disciple?”
“Yes. I can’t keep putting it off forever. Do you resent me for not taking a disciple from within the family?”
“No, sir. No one would dare question the decisions you make. And even if the boy had some talent, it’s no excuse for…”
“Tsk, tsk. Why are you so stiff…”
Clicking his tongue, Osberg turned to leave the territory.
Then—
He froze!
As he walked along, his eyes widened, and he turned his head sharply.
“Sir?”
The man accompanying him looked puzzled by Osberg’s sudden behavior.
“Did I just see that wrong?”
With a startled expression, Osberg swept back the hood covering his head.
Then, lightly pressing off the ground, he suddenly sprinted somewhere with urgency.
Had he ever seen Osberg move with such haste before?
The man was bewildered by Osberg’s actions but quickly followed him, moving just as fast.
“Sir!”
“My, oh my…”
After running for quite some time, Osberg’s eyes fell upon a young boy.
The boy held a sword with faint traces of bloodstains on it.
“How is it possible… for such a child to exist in this world?”
The man was astonished at Osberg’s words and then shocked again by the look in his eyes.
The Sword Saint, Osberg, was filled with intense excitement and anticipation.
He had never seen Osberg wear such an expression before.
“You there.”
“Yes, sir.”
“There is something I must check before entering the Demonic Realm!”
“Yes, but… what do you mean, sir? Sir! Sir!”
* * *
Vishiri Cascadia swiftly headed to a deserted alleyway as soon as he left the family estate.
Things had gotten a little complicated, but most of it was within his calculations.
He had left Expert-level knights and other capable individuals behind at the estate, so Leon and Melissa should be subdued soon enough.
Even if the knights failed to defeat them, the pair would inevitably be exhausted.
The only remaining issue was the stubborn remnants of the past who still pledged loyalty to Melissa—the knights of the count’s household.
Even among Experts, skills varied depending on experience and cunning.
Although their numbers had diminished, Melissa still had some foolishly stubborn individuals who refused to align themselves with the current power dynamics.
Of course, no matter how much they resisted, they would all be dealt with today.
“Listen carefully. There will be no changes to the plan. Effective immediately, proceed to the count’s territory and subdue them thoroughly. Additionally, execute the individuals marked in advance without exception.”
At his command, the troops emitted an ominous, bloodthirsty aura.
They were traitors to their own families for the sake of wealth and glory or mercenaries hired from external territories.
Such people wouldn’t hesitate to ensure their success.
Although Melissa still had some strong individuals by her side, the forces lent by the kingdom’s high-ranking nobles had already surpassed the count’s strength.
Seven low-tier Experts.
Two mid-tier Experts.
And numerous Aura Users.
There were also ordinary soldiers.
It hadn’t been easy to gather such a force without Melissa noticing, but in the end, they were fully prepared.
‘Once my father inherits the title, I will become the next head of the family. There’s no way I’m letting that go to Bivel.’
As he mulled this over, ready to give the order for the coup against the territory—
Boom!!
A loud noise came from behind him as someone landed with great force.
“You weren’t running away; you were blatantly starting a rebellion in the territory.”
To his shock, it was Leon.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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