NOVEL NEXT Chapter 82.2
“Grandfather. If I had asked to change the mission, the Blue’s honor would have fallen. I didn’t like that.”
There you go. How’s that? Pretty, right? Pretty enough to die for.
However, instead of it, the family head looked rather dumbfounded.
“…Is it not someone else, but you, talking about the Blue’s honor?”
Not only dumbfounded but also with an expression of disbelief, Isaac was perplexed.
Why! I said something nice! Just because I couldn’t catch the Skeleton King, I’m being mocked and my honor has become worthless!
[No… because it’s the Master who talks about honor…]
Won’t you shut up?!
But the head of the Blue family seemed disappointed, looking at Isaac.
“Do you find the lives of your vassals insignificant? To the extent that you would exploit them at your own discretion for such trivial pride?”
“!”
Isaac narrowed his eyes as he sensed the increasingly cold gaze of the family head.
Hmm, this isn’t good.
If I tell the truth and make a mistake, I might lose my position in the family.
With a deep breath, Isaac spoke.
“Grandfather. It’s not about that pride.”
“!”
“Don’t you understand? If I had abandoned this mission, my life might have been spared, but the Blue would die. Don’t you know better than anyone that they want to destroy the Blue Faith? The Blue Faith is to protect the weak. Even the Blue’s reputation, which is about to fall to the ground, falls under that category.”
What do you think, you old man?
Is it the right answer, punk?
Although he found his response quite satisfactory even to himself, the family head only chuckled for some reason.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
What, you bastard?
“What nonsense as ‘a person who uses magic’ is lying while discussing the Blue’s honor?”
“!”
“Why that expression? Did you think I wouldn’t know that you were using magic and coveting it?”
[M-Master!]
Isaac was inwardly embarrassed.
Well, the head of the Blue family, after all.
He didn’t know about the magic core, but did he know that Isaac was using the Skeleton King’s magic power directly?
“I kept an eye on you because you were my sore finger, feeling responsible for your parents’ loss. But it seems it’s hard to trust you anymore.”
Damn, again… stubborn Saintly family. It’s annoying to argue with them.
Well, then. There’s no other way but to go through the proper method.
[What method? Are you really going to reveal the truth…?!]
“Grandfather. I’ve kept it a secret until now, but ever since I was born I’ve hated the Skeleton King to the point where I want him dead!”
[…Even if you’re lying, won’t you receive divine punishment?! Lying is prohibited in the Blue Faith!]
Shut up! Blue God! I can’t even feel his presence?!
Although Whisper caused an earthquake in his head, Isaac looked at his grandfather more seriously.
“Because of the damn Skeleton King, I lost my parents, and I received a curse. Because I couldn’t catch the damn Skeleton King, the Blue is being ignored, and it’s shameful. I can’t sleep well!”
[…Then why don’t you just defeat him for once in the past.]
“And the reason I wanted to use the Skeleton King’s magic power was to investigate the Skeleton King. I want to get rid of him.”
[…Just cut off your own head and it will be over.]
However, the family head actually looked quite surprised.
‘His look in the eyes, it’s not a lie.’
He truly hated the Skeleton King so much. So much so that he thought they were enemies.
“Grandfather. The Blue doctrine says you have to know your enemy first, even if it is dangerous.”
“So that’s why you are interested in magic power?”
“Yes. And while I understand the importance of doctrine, if Eshua disappears, the Shiksol will die, and the Skeleton King will become unstoppable. That official suppression mission will either go to the Gold family or to other believers. The position of the Saint is the same. So, I’m not giving in, especially not now. It’s up to me to kill the Skeleton King.”
“So, you’re saying you must protect Esua?”
Yes! Am I crazy to let someone else take my bread?
That impostor bastard!
“If you abandon your honor, your life may be spared, but your grandfather’s fingers will die. Please don’t neglect your family. Your grandfather’s fingers are also meant to embrace the weak.”
“Huh.”
At the cold gaze of the family head, Isaac continued.
“Of course, it doesn’t mean I’ll go without any hope. That’s why I chose those knights.”
At that, the family head seemed somewhat surprised.
Did this guy, by any chance, figure out the identity of the Reverse Knights?
Eventually, the family head sighed as if he had been thinking about something.
“I originally wanted to tell you that, for the sake of the Blue’s honor, you don’t need to sacrifice your life.”
At those words, Isaac’s eyes widened.
Uh… What’s going on, this idiot? Did he get mad because I said I’d go die?
‘No way, right?’
But for some reason, the family head looked at Isaac with a thoughtful expression.
“You are, after all, the Blue’s person.”
What does that mean?
The family head looked at Isaac as if to say that he couldn’t help it. Well, he didn’t expect the mission to eliminate the demons 14 years ago to succeed.
“Even if the mission fails, just come back alive with your team. If you manage to return from the Gold Pentagon alive…”
Isaac’s eyes opened wide.
…What if I come back?
“Then, I’ll officially recognize you as the heir. I’ll give you successor training.”
Isaac’s mouth curled up as he bowed his head.
That’s right! Exactly that! Just that!
Phew!
* * *
Isaac immediately packed his things and left the capital.
Well, the team members were already shedding tears with wills in their hands.
“We agreed to join the knights in the village ahead.”
“Damn it, since it turned out like this, I’ll come back alive no matter what!”
“Ohhhh!”
As the team members went ahead, just when Isaac was about to follow them, Whisper opened his mouth.
[Do you really intend to proceed with the mission?]
‘Yes. That way, I can save my subordinates and take Eshua’s wealth for myself!’
[By the way, as you instructed, I investigated that demon 14 years ago.]
‘Oh? Who is that guy?’
[He was violent. Ate up young priests. Especially enjoyed feasting on brains.]
Isaac’s eyebrows twitched.
Consuming humans is the highest taboo forbidden by the Skeleton King. And this is still a valid clause.
‘So who is it?’
[Uh… that…]
‘Well, if it’s a demon born after the disappearance of the Skeleton King, it could be someone I don’t know?’
[No. Maybe it could be a demon Master knows. Affiliated with the Western Legion Commander, they say. Not the Fourteen Demons, but…]
Isaac chuckled.
Ah. So it’s not a chick?
‘But how dare that bastard violate the rules I created?’
Let’s watch and see.
And then, as Isaac headed towards the village, there was a woman watching him. It was the demon from 14 years ago.
“I found you. The kid from Eshua who has eaten the body of the great Skeleton King, with these delicious kids.”
Ash followed Isaac as if she had been waiting for this moment.