It is safe to say that there are almost no nobles who are unaware of the prestige held by the Empire’s Four Great Houses. Unlike the Crypart family, which values martial prowess, the Godrich family exerts a dazzling influence in politics and society. There’s even a saying that at a Godrich family social gathering, even a lion can be turned into a rabbit. For this reason, offending that family was the last thing any noble should do. If bad rumors spread, the noble or their family would have to bear the full brunt of the consequences.
However, in the game, the Godrich family never took such a prominent stance. They always operated from the shadows, manipulating events like puppeteers, so I hadn’t paid much attention to them. Meeting them like this now feels surreal. As I continue to navigate this world as if it were real, I have come to realize some hidden settings within the game. For instance, there is the setting where the eldest son of the Godrich family, Arba, admires me—no, admires Julian. Julian’s feelings for his mother are genuinely heartfelt, uncharacteristic for a villain.
I was unknowingly adapting to this world.
“That’s the crest of the Godrich family…” I muttered to myself as I looked at the crest of the family I wished to avoid. Though I had grown accustomed to my habit of speaking to myself in polite speech, this time it felt strangely unfamiliar. It must have sounded like a threat to others.
“Indeed, the one you’re holding is one of the Godrich family’s children.”
An imposing elderly man with a stern expression spoke up from inside the training grounds. Despite his neatly tied white hair, his robust physique suggested that he had wielded a sword in his younger days.
‘That’s Orun Crypart,’ I realized.
Orun Crypart is the actual power behind the Crypart family and was once a renowned general who swept through the northern front. Though his past glory has faded, leaving him a grumpy old man, his intimidating build and swordsmanship remain.
‘I can sense his aura… No ordinary knight could handle him.’
If only he would play Go in the background instead.
‘What an unpleasant fellow,’ I thought.
As you know, Julian despises most members of the Crypart family. This also influenced my view of Orun Crypart.
“Lord Orun, you seem to be in remarkably good health for your age,” I said.
“You…”
At my mocking words, Orun glared at me, his eyes widening. The murderous intent he radiated was palpable, but I hadn’t lived an ordinary life to be cowed by it.
“Let Yern Gore go.”
“Oh, so this is Sir Yern Gore?” I replied, feigning recognition, and looked at the person clutched in my grip, whose life was under threat.
‘Damn, it had to be a member of one of the Four Great Houses.’
There was nothing to be gained from provoking them. Moreover, the Godrich family had some interactions with me through Arba.
‘There was no need to stir up trouble unnecessarily.’
However, because ‘Sombra’ overreacted, I had no choice.
Yern Gore, who had been groaning in pain, started trembling with fear as soon as our eyes met, his initial bravado gone. I understood why. The reflection of ‘Julian’ in his eyes must have seemed utterly sinister.
‘This damned face!’
A face that could terrify a crying child and make a cripple stand on their own two feet. In short, it had an overwhelmingly fearsome presence. But first, I needed to navigate this situation smoothly. Even though adding another negative mark to my reputation wouldn’t make a huge difference, it might hinder future plans.
With that in mind, I began looking for a way to calm Yern Gore down, trying to find some common ground. Building rapport was the best approach.
Let’s see, hmm?
“This sword… I can feel the touch of a master craftsman.”
Fortunately, I found it. I noticed the logo of ‘Dusk Flame’ on the scabbard he was wearing.
“It’s quite a fine item. I use their services as well.”
“Don’t tell me you managed to get a custom order!”
What nonsense is this?
I recalled my previous visit to ‘Dusk Flame.’ When I had sought out Ruger Orland to repair the ‘Moonlight Sword,’ I had encountered a woman who might have been a concubine of the Godrich family.
‘This guy isn’t just a knight of the Godrich family…’
He’s a member of the family? Even with bad ties, this is too much of a coincidence.
Just as I was about to let out a mirthless laugh at the absurdity of it all, Yern Gore sensed my grip loosen and struggled desperately to break free.
[Sombra responds to hostility.]
This guy! Again!
With no other choice, I decided to take the cleanest and simplest approach.
“Ah…!”
I applied strong pressure to his carotid artery. He held on for a moment but soon rolled his eyes back and lost consciousness.
Given his unsightly face, quite unbecoming of a member of the esteemed Godrich family, I instinctively closed his eyes for him. I thought I had maintained some boundaries.
“Y-you madman…”
“You’ve finally crossed the line, haven’t you!”
The knights guarding Orun and those from the Crypart family berated me.
“Heh, heh heh…”
However, I didn’t flinch, instead responding to their scolding with mad laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“Have you finally lost your mind?”
“I just find this situation amusing.”
There’s no turning back now after making Yern Gore Godrich faint. Yet the reason for it doesn’t seem justifiable in the current situation.
Of course.
If I said, “There’s a demon named ‘Sombra’ living in my body, and I had to subdue him before he went on a rampage. How about some gratitude?” who would believe me?
It would be more fitting for Julian to say, “Ah! I should have just killed him.”
So, I needed to think quickly and find a way to justify my actions.
“Sir Herand is the legitimate heir of the Crypart family. In contrast, Sir Yern Gore is the child of a concubine and not quite a legitimate heir.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Isn’t it funny?”
Contrary to my words, this situation was incredibly troublesome for me. I had to rationalize my actions somehow.
“Those of you who hold me to a strict standard of blood purity are worried about a ‘half-blood’ getting hurt while ignoring what happened to the legitimate heir, Sir Herand.”
With that, I started laughing at everyone, chuckling mockingly.
“What nonsense are you spouting…”
Orun’s unpleasant voice pierced through the silence of the training grounds.
“Get out of the Crypart estate immediately. This place is not light enough for someone like you to step foot in.”
“When a mere member conducts the ‘Examination of Advancement,’ disregarding the rules, if that isn’t light, then what is?”
Orun’s eyes sharpened as I boldly stood up to his words.
“Or would you like to proceed with the ‘Examination of Advancement’?”
I can take it instead of Sir Herand.
Orun could surely anticipate what would follow without needing to say more.
As I spoke, I readied my sword. Normally, I would avoid confronting someone like Orun Crypart directly due to his immense power and unpredictable nature.
But it’s already spilt milk.
“Since Brother Herand seems to have difficulty even standing, I’ll entertain you in his stead, former Lord Orun.”
Moreover, my hatred for ‘Orun Crypart’ was as intense as it was the first time I saw ‘Oben.’ To the extent that I hoped he would accept my challenge so we could fight.
‘If it comes to that, it certainly won’t end normally.’
At this moment… I could kill him. The blood boiling inside me was beyond my control.
“Tsk.”
Fortunately, yet disappointingly, Orun seemed to have no intention of continuing. He threw the wooden sword he was holding to a nearby knight and looked at the still fallen Herand.
“We’ll stop here for today. If you don’t change your mind by the next time, it won’t end like this. Be prepared.”
After issuing his warning, Orun straightened his clothes and gave me a fierce glare. The look in his eyes, which went beyond hostility to murderous intent, only made me smile.
‘Try anything.’
Unlike before, Orun Crypart’s actions no longer frightened me. I had enough confidence in my own strength, and if things got tough, I could always rely on the power of the ‘Dawn Society.’
Thinking this made me feel like I was becoming a villain.
“Brother Herand!”
As Orun left, Joshua rushed out to support Herand. Herand, who was in terrible shape, was in no condition to be questioned about the soul stone I entrusted to him.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and take Brother Herand to his room!”
At Joshua’s urgent shout, the servants came running, lifted Herand, and started to carry him out of the training grounds.
“Brother Julian.”
As Joshua was about to leave the training grounds, he called out to me and cautiously looked back.
“Thank you…”
He awkwardly expressed his gratitude before following Herand.
To think I would hear such words. Maybe I’m not such a bad guy after all.
I shrugged and followed them. Joshua gave me a puzzled look, as if wondering why I was following.
Why are you coming along? his eyes seemed to ask.
Well, I have some business with Herand too.
***
“Ugh… Ugh…”
“Brother Herand, are you alright?”
As Herand groaned in pain, slowly regaining his senses, Joshua quickly got up and checked his condition.
“Yes, I’m fine. Phew. I’m still alive.”
At Herand’s assurance, Joshua sighed in relief.
“Where is Julian…?”
Having come to his senses, Herand began looking for Julian. Even while barely conscious, he seemed to have noticed Julian’s presence.
“He mentioned having some business and left the estate for a bit.”
“He must have gone to see Lady Milena’s grave.”
Hearing the unfamiliar name, Joshua looked slightly puzzled.
“Lady Milena… isn’t she Brother Julian’s mother?”
“Yes, that’s right… ugh.” Herand endured the pain as he sat up in bed.
“Come to think of it, Joshua, you’ve never met Lady Milena, have you?”
“No, I’ve only heard… no, I haven’t even properly heard about her.”
Her name was almost taboo, as Orun hated her with a pathological intensity.
“But, as Grandfather said, is it true that Lady Milena was from the North?”
“Yes, it’s true.” Herand’s confirmation made Joshua a bit uneasy.
The northern region of the Rosenda continent. The place where the Demon Lord Barbatos first appeared and where he was finally killed. Consequently, that place was still swarming with demons, and even after the Demon Lord’s death, his lingering thoughts spread like a cancer, turning the land into an uninhabitable wasteland.
The people living in the northern part of that continent were so despised and uncivilized that they hardly fit the category of ‘humanity.’
“The fact that Lady Milena is from the North makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it?”
“Though I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, I’ve heard they sustain themselves by consuming demonic energy.”
Just the thought of eating demons made Joshua feel nauseous from his core. It reminded him of the time he saw a man transformed into a demon by the ‘Replica Horn’ at Julian’s estate, oozing slime.
Eating those things? It was unimaginable.
“I don’t know exactly what the North is like, but I can tell you this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lady Milena was much more noble than someone like me and far from what you’d call a ‘savage.'”
“Brother, what does that have to do with earlier?” Joshua questioned Herand’s earlier words.
“I couldn’t understand what you were saying just now. Wouldn’t it have been better to at least outwardly agree with Grandfather?”
Herand turned his head to look directly into Joshua’s eyes. He knew it too. The stubbornness he displayed in the training ground was foolish enough to be called obstinate. But the guilt that had been growing in his heart swelled up like mold as time passed.
“When Lady Milena passed away, it was Orun, the then head of the family, who forced Julian to place her body in the coffin and bury her in the grave.”
“What? What do you mean…”
To the horrified Joshua, Herand recounted Julian’s childhood.
Julian, much younger than Joshua now, was treated worse than a servant in the family. Despite that, he endured bravely, beyond his years.
—
“My mother was strict with me.”
Julian, who never shed a tear despite the harsh treatment from those around him.
“But the coffin that held my mother… it couldn’t have been so light.”
Though despised, the child who was always cheerful felt sadness for the first time. Tears filled his eyes and streamed down his cheeks, yet he continued to hold them back.
That image deeply moved Herand and etched itself into his memory forever.
Cliche Novel 
.˚‧º·(°இωஇ°)‧º·˚.
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