NOVEL NEXT chapter 31
31. The Finale (1)
“Your, Your Grace…?”
Jack uttered the title of his master in a low voice, surprised, while the servants stood frozen, not blinking an eye.
At that moment, a gaunt old man yanked Jack’s ear.
“Ouch! What, what is this!”
“Ugh, you rascal. What has become of the mansion? Half of it is gone!”
“Gasp! Sir Coulro.”
Coulro, the commander of the Tenest family’s knights.
As he glared disapprovingly, Jack flinched as if seeing a ghost, then dabbed at his tears and rubbed his hands together pleadingly.
“I’m sorry, Sir Coulro. Ah, my ear will really be torn off. Please, just this once, forgive me, yes?”
“Hmm, should I tear it off completely? Lately, the soldiers have become too lazy. Taking an ear might serve as a lesson.”
“Eek!”
Coulro chuckled as if satisfied and let go of the ear.
“Just joking. I didn’t expect much, really. There’s no way you could handle such a monster. It’s a miracle that you’ve survived this much, and that half the mansion is still standing.”
It was indeed close to a miracle.
As soon as I set foot in the domain, I saw the circular violet barrier that enveloped the mansion, and by the time I hurriedly arrived, it had just crumbled.
‘It would have been a perilous situation if I had been even a bit late. But this is strange. Who could have broken the barrier?’
I was pondering the events when I harbored this doubt.
Then, something fell to the ground with a thud, and dust rose up.
Ssssssh!
Coulro twitched his eyebrows as he watched the grotesque creature Aoal had thrown onto the floor.
‘The fact that this monster has revealed its true form means that the seal has been broken for quite some time…’
A hungry monster wouldn’t have just sat idly by after being released.
Then, someone must have confronted it; there’s no other explanation.
‘Could it be that a powerful guest had stayed at the mansion?’
Considering the barrier was undone, it wasn’t just any ordinary human.
Coulro looked around, searching for anyone who might have faced off against the grotesque creature.
The only one near the creature was Hersel, who had collapsed midway.
‘…It seems he fainted at the mere sight of the grotesque creature.’
Of course, that trashy young master couldn’t have been the one.
There was one person that came to mind, but the little master was far too young.
Then, who could it have been?
“Grandpa, you’re here?”
Mirsel greeted him with a wave, limping along.
“Oh, little master. But what happened to your leg?”
“Just, you know, it hurts after jumping from a high place.”
Coulro sighed deeply, reminded of the lady of the house.
Managing the soldiers was ultimately the responsibility of the Knight Commander.
Though he had been away in the demon realm for a while, with Mirsel injured, she wouldn’t let it slide easily.
“Ah, looks like I’ll have to reprimand the soldiers again. Anyway, good you’re here. Come, take a seat. We’re about to watch something interesting, might as well view it from the best spot.”
The grotesque creature bristled its feathers, shedding tears of blood filled with resentment towards Aoal.
The hatred for the seal was so intense, the magical energy was palpable, sending shivers down one’s skin.
In the meantime, Mirsel, who had plopped down next to Coulro, asked with a puzzled look.
“Grandpa, don’t you need to help?”
“Eh? Help?”
“It wasn’t just Dad who sealed it, right? You and the knights did it together.”
Coulro chuckled at the needless worry.
If he was like an unrefined gemstone during the first subjugation, now he was akin to a finished master sword.
Meanwhile, the grotesque creature’s time had remained frozen in place since that day.
“When I first fought that thing, the duke was about 22 years old, wasn’t he? If someone who has lived more than twice as long since then thinks the past is the same, they’re greatly mistaken.”
Aol lightly fiddled with the sword handle hanging at his waist.
Kowlo narrowed his eyes, focusing on his hand.
“Pay close attention from now on. That’s the sword the young master so dearly wanted to keep.”
“…That stance, it’s the lightning quick draw. I could do that too, you know?”
“Don’t be arrogant, just watch carefully. Real combat is nothing like what you’ve been shown for teaching.”
“……”
It was the moment Mirsel watched Aol’s hand with a sullen face.
Click-
As the metallic sound rang out clearly, the monster’s head slid off at an angle.
It didn’t even realize its neck had been severed, its body still charging towards Aol.
Swoosh-
The monster’s limp body tumbled down, sweeping across the ground.
In light of the situation, Kowlo wore a pleased expression.
Despite the bewildered look on Mirsel’s face, his pupils were dilated.
“How about it? Did the young master see it?”
“I only saw the sword being drawn and sheathed. It was as if there was no middle process…”
Kowlo’s lips curled up at the honest answer given with a bruised ego.
“Yes, but you saw that much at least.”
“No, but the sword wasn’t even within striking distance. How did you cut its neck from there?”
“Well, that’s for you to ponder on your own. You’ll only improve by thinking and struggling with it yourself.”
“Ah, that’s so petty.”
Kowlo pouted his lips, grumbling as he left Mirsel behind and stood up.
Aol was holding the monster’s head, heading towards the basement.
He had the key, so he would seal it away himself.
“Hmm, that should settle things for now.”
Then suddenly, a forgotten question crossed Kowlo’s mind.
“Ah, right. Young master, has there been any elusive guest staying here? Perhaps a renowned swordsman?”
“A guest? A swordsman?”
“There must have been someone who fought that monster. Given the damage to the barrier, it wasn’t just any ordinary person.”
Mirsel pointed at himself with a finger.
“Was it me who broke the barrier?”
Cowulo’s eyes widened in shock.
“What, what do you mean?”
“I just cut the feather because Big Bro said the barrier would disappear. It was Big Bro who fought the monster.”
“Tch! Even if you’re a young master, it’s no good to fool an old man!”
“Ah, whatever.”
With a mix of annoyance, Mirsel turned his back. Cowulo, standing at attention, turned to Jack with one eye rounded in question.
“You answer instead.”
Jack flinched and stuttered.
“Mi, Mirsel Young Master’s words are all true.”
“……”
Cowulo’s expression turned grave.
Only a soldier wishing for death would dare lie in front of the Knight Commander.
Jack, who was crazy about dreams of wealth and glory, certainly didn’t fit the bill.
“Excuse me, Sir Cowulo. But shouldn’t we be taking care of Young Master Hursel right now?”
Jack spoke cautiously.
Following his trailing words, Cowulo doubted his ears.
“He’s in critical condition after taking a direct hit from the Breath…”
He took a Breath… and survived?
Cowulo stared into the distance, far beyond the half-destroyed estate.
Originally, behind the Tenest, a large mountain stood proudly.
But now, it was as if the sun had taken a huge bite out of it, with lava bubbling and the land flattened, the mountain was too devastated to even be called one.
‘That rascal survived that… something even a duke would die from?’
Faced with the absurd, Cowulo gaped in disbelief.
* * *
The smell of disinfectant stung his nose.
His body was covered in a white fabric that allowed for ventilation.
These were the first things he noticed as he opened his eyes in bed.
“Are you awake?”
Selly, who had been sitting in the chair, greeted and closed the book.
“How long have I been asleep?”
“A full day and a half.”
“Really? Well, at least I’m alive.”
I should have been happy for this unexpected fortune, but I felt dazed.
I never imagined that Aol, who was supposed to arrive in two days, would come so soon.
If reality is too disconnected, it seems to numb the mind.
Who would have thought it would come to this?
To think that a scene I’ve only seen in game cutscenes would play out before my eyes…
Putting my sentiments aside, I looked at the clock.
9 o’clock.
It was a late morning.
“I should get up now.”
“Wait, just a moment. Your ankle is still—”
“Ah!”
I collapsed back down as if my ankle had been struck by a hammer.
This was bad; it was dangerous to be like this.
Today was the last day of the festival, the most dangerous time, what should I do?
“Don’t worry and rest well, young master. Uncle Jack and Rodel are keeping watch outside. Besides, the Grand Duke himself is right here in the house, who would dare to do anything foolish?”
“Ah, right. That was the case.”
The festival was supposed to end when Aol returned, not at a set time.
So, is the festival really ending like this?
For the past two and a half months, I have…
“It doesn’t feel real.”
“Actually, I feel the same way. I never thought you would hold out, young master.”
“Selly.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve worked hard too.”
“…”
Selly twirled around.
Was she trying to hide her expression?
Well, this little one must have had her share of hardships where I couldn’t see.
“What is it?”
Just then, the curtain fluttered.
Selly closed the window against the incoming smell of gunpowder.
“More importantly, there’s been a rather surprising event that I feel I must tell you about.”
What could be more surprising here?
I relaxed and nodded my head.
“Well…”
The story Selly was telling would certainly be quite the gossip among the servants.
Last night, the lady of the house returned.
Daysel and Erusel followed a bit later.
But as Daysel was greeting the lady at the front gate, there…
“The lady slapped Master Daysel’s cheek. The sound was so loud, even the maids far away looked over.”
It was a trivial matter compared to the grotesque, but it was no ordinary event.
Daysel has been persistently eyeing the position of the next family head.
And the lady has been supporting such a son.
Yet, she slapped Daysel.
Overtly, in front of the onlookers.
“So, where is he now?”
“Well… He just left with his cheek all red.”
Running away from home, is it?
A belated teenage rebellion?
“Oh, and just a moment.”
Selly, remembering something she had forgotten, made a face and quickly stepped outside.
When she returned, she was laden with baskets hanging from her arms.
Not just once, but several times.
“What’s that?”
“People wanted me to pass these on to you. They said it’s a token of gratitude?”
Inside the basket, there was an assortment from food to books that smelled of newness.
“Surely it’s not poisoned? Or perhaps the book is cursed?”
“Hardly. As I mentioned before, the Grand Duke is also present.”
Is that so? They’re serious about this?
“Those who once struggled to kill are now impressively changing their stance. Trying to look good now that Daycell seems to be losing power? Despicable lot.”
My mood soured as I spoke, and Selly narrowed her eyes in disdain.
“……”
“You think you ended up like this because of your attitude?”
“Not at all. Why would you think that?”
Her feigned ignorance was irritating.
I covered myself with the blanket and shook my hands dismissively.
“Enough. My head is throbbing, so please leave.”
“Get well soon.”
After Selly left, I closed my eyes and sank into thought.
It was time to recall the issues I had pushed aside until now.
Having been desperate just to survive, I now ask myself.
“What should I do from now on?”
“Learn swordsmanship with this body.”
“Ah.”
…That’s right, I was supposed to go to the academy.
Not a bad starting line.
The place was like an incubator for playable characters with narratives about becoming stronger.
The academy existed because there were those like Dellerger who were high-spec from the start, and those who were not.
You know the type.
Heroes who take their first step in learning to become knights or wizards.
“Indeed, there’s no better place than there to turn a sunfish into a person.”
“I was aware of that.”
“Quiet. I’m going to sleep now, so don’t disturb me.”
Of course, my favorite part was this.
The narrative difficulty was relatively easy, so it was safe.
If it were anywhere but that place among the five academies.
* * *
“Ah, no… Ah.”
“Ahem, good evening, Madam. What brings you here at this late hour?”
I was awakened by the noise outside the door.
It was still the middle of the night.
I said to Jack and Rodel as if it was nothing,
“Tell them to come in.”
It was timely.
I had something I wanted to ask the landlady anyway.
And it was about time to sort out that damned bad luck.