The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 24: The Blackthorns Sinner (2)

There wasn’t much that was known about Vassalization.

Not much research has been done on it, and their knowledge of it was extremely limited.

They knew it could happen to ordinary humans, and that was it.

Isaac too, didn’t know much.

Only at the end of his previous life, during the final battle, did he learn more.

The memory was still vivid in his mind.

Flames and smoke rose from all directions. ‘Everholt’, the castle that the Grandmaster and her disciples were protecting, was crumbling.

‘Silverna...is defending the castle walls, no? What happened to her?’

‘The other disciples...how are they doing?’

‘Is the Grandmaster alright?’

With these various questions occupying his mind, Isaac looked up at the sky with a heavy heart.

The Transcendent Race’s momentum was too tremendous for him to escape—especially considering that he had to rely on a cane just to walk.

Hence, he could only stand there, silently accepting death.

At that moment, an old nemesis appeared.

[Brother-in-law! Kuhuhu! It’s been a while!]

There were only a few people who’d call him ‘brother-in-law’.

But, even so, none of them would call him in such a frivolous tone.

‘Alois?’

[Wow, I’ve never expected you to stay alive for this long, Brother-in-law!]

His once glossy red hair had lost its luster, and the whites in his eyes were dyed black, showing glimpses of madness.

The two horns protruding from his head signified the loss of humanity.

[Huhaha! What a nostalgic face to see!]

‘How did you...?’

[After being expelled from Helmont, I was picked up by ‘their side!’ Hahaha! So how have you been, Brother-in-law? Is the leg I messed up still the same?]

‘...!’

Alois, who had lusted after his own sister, couldn’t hide his ugly heart and eventually was banished from Helmont.

[Ah, I’m so... Sooo glad that I can kill you this way, Brother-in-law! You’ve taken my sister once, my heart could never forgive you, you see?]

‘You... You’ve become their vassal...?’

[Yes! Fortunately, I’m a child of the great Helmont. Even after my banishment, I can still use the Helmont’s name and go on a rampage like this!]

It wasn’t hard to think that the Transcendent Race would rather vassalize strong humans than ordinary ones.

So, a descendant of Helmont would’ve been the optimal vessel for them.

[Vassalization suits me unexpectedly well! Ah, Helmont! Great Helmont!]

The greatsword in Alois’ hand wriggled. Soon, that same greatsword would cut his head off, and Isaac knew it.

What a funny twist of fate...

The one who ruined my life...

Is also going to be the one ending it.

Such thoughts crossed Isaac’s mind.

[Where is my sister’s corpse?]

Alois asked, licking his protruding teeth with his tongue.

Seeing the guy in front of him who still hadn’t given up his lust for Rianna, Isaac was about to let out a sigh.

But then, a red line was drawn across the disgusting guy’s neck.

Splat!

He hadn’t even realized that he was dead. His body fell to the ground, gurgling black blood.

Behind him...

Stood the Grandmaster, holding her tachi in her hands.

[What a disgusting smell.]

As her wolf ears twitched, she let out a bitter smile at Isaac.

*   *   *“Keeuuk!”

Meladik’s scream echoed, and stopped when his back hit a nearby tree.

Judging by the noisy fluttering sound echoing from the forest’s direction, some wild animals must’ve been standing around nearby.

The snow piled on the branches poured down, covering Meladik’s body. Although, it was thanks to the snow that Pollu’s follow-up attack failed to land.

“Kuhahahahaha!”

Pollu laughed, as if he was feeling good.

Immediately, he turned his head to find the next target.

“Ah, I hated you.”

Pollu pointed at Isaac, wiggling his fingers. Then, he came rushing towards him in a bizarre posture, as if pushed by something. Only for Sharen to block his path.

Clang!

“Kuheup!”

Crimson Essence poured out from her entire body. Helmont’s unique aura could also be used as armor.

That was exactly the thing that blocked Pollu’s advance.

“Helmont lost earlier! You lost earlier! Why are you charging again?!”

“Be quiet!”

Their swords clashed, and they continued to struggle, trying to gain an upper hand.

Sharen slightly bent her knees and dug her toes into the ground.

The way her veins became visible, and the way the greatsword visibly trembled showed that she was exerting all her strength.

“Move! I said move! Move!”

Snow scattered.

The black aura spreading in all directions gradually swallowed up Sharen’s deep red light.

Being reminded of the time she was almost swallowed by the black liquid earlier, fear almost gripped her very being, but...

“Push him back!”

Isaac shouted from behind, snapping her out of it. She gritted her teeth, and strength returned to her eyes.

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Then, her Crimson Essence poured out as if gushing forward.

Inferno Surge.

Helmont’s unique technique.

As the steel-like aura blazed with a fierce momentum like flames, Pollu staggered and was pushed back.

At that moment.

Isaac, who had passed by Sharen, thrust his falchion forward with both hands.

Thud!

He aimed for Pollu’s chest.

Near where the ‘bone’ was stuck.

“KUAAAAAAAAAH!”

For the first time, Pollue experienced extreme pain.

He twisted his body to deflect the sword, then backed down dramatically.

“Ahuk! Kuhuuk! It hurts! It hurts! It HUUUUUURRTSS!”

“Haa! Haa! T-That seems to be effective, Isaac...”

“...”

Sharen panted heavily.

Perhaps due to the aftermath of using Inferno Surge, her Crimson Essence had considerably weakened in intensity.

“Anna, how’s Meladik?”

“He’s fine. You don’t need to worry.”

“Nng.”

While they were fighting, Anna had rescued Meladik who had been buried in the snow pile.

Meladik’s expression wasn’t good. It seemed like a bone or two was broken when he hit that tree.

But, without giving them time to regroup...

“Youuu! I hate youuu!”

Pollu pointed at Isaac with an accusing finger.

“You hate me?”

Isaac raised his sword to his chest again, gripping it in both hands.

He was ready to counterattack at any moment.

“You! You’re just like me! You were abandoned by your family too! You were clearly tossed aside like trash!”

“A-Ahem!”

Sharen awkwardly cleared her throat.

“Why are you working so hard every day?! Y-You made me become insignificant! Because you didn’t neglect your efforts even though you’re a commoner!”

Pollu’s voice was filled with self-loathe and resentment.

The raw, unadulterated emotions that were like filth.

Reminded Isaac of the time when he saw Alois back in his previous life.

Reason built through life values.

Common sense filled through education.

With those gone, only Pollu’s blatant jealousy and desires were revealed.

“Me too! If I had been with Silverna, I could have done it too! If I had Helmont’s support, I could have done it too! I know! I know too! Actually, I couldn’t do it! That’s right! I’m nothing! I hate holding a sword! I’m just being jealous! It’s ugly! I knooooww!!”

It was as if a hole had been pierced in his tongue.

That was the perfect metaphor to describe him.

He kept saying the words that he should’ve never said.

Regardless of his own will.

His tongue kept on spitting out everything that came into his mind. It was so bad that he even replied to his own words.

“Mother, I’m sorry! Father, I’m sorry! I...! I am a sinner! Aaaaaah! I’m a sinner!”

“Somehow...”

Seeing him beating his chest wildly like that, Sharen’s eyes furrowed.

“He looks pitiful.”

Isaac slowly raised his sword.

“A sinner, you say?”

“Yes, I’m a sinner!”

Isaac asked and he answered.

This was a method Isaac had devised to exploit the state of mind of a Vassalization’s victim.

“But why? Why are you a sinner?”

“Because I’m ignorant! Stupid! Lazy! Unqualified! No! I shouldn’t answer!”

Since they’d immediately think of an answer whenever they heard a question.

And they’d only realize that they shouldn’t answer it after they already did.

“The Transcendent Race your family colluded with had cast a spell on you.”

“Transcendent Race? Spell? What’s that? I don’t know! Aak! Don’t answer!”

“It’s a spell called Vassalization. Do you really not know when it happened?”

“Vassalization? I don’t know! I said I don’t know! Ah, was it then?”

“Then?”

“Then! When, when I pretended to be asleep! Mother came and did something to me! There was someone I’d never seen before next to her!”

Pollu seemed to recall that time and shouted, pulling at his hair.

“It hurt! It hurt so much! They engraved something on my chest! That person knew I wasn’t asleep! They knew I was awake! But I endured it! I endured it! Because! Because that’s what Mother wanted! Because she hoped to use me in that way! Mother! Ah! Mother! No! Don’t say it! That’s a secret!”

Thud thud thud thud!

Pollu knelt down and banged his forehead on the ground, telling himself to stop saying anything, but words continued to pour out.

“Because I’m a sinner! Because I’m a sinner! I wanted to atone for my sin in that way! Mother! Father! Aak! I am the Blackthorn’s Sinner!”

Shiiing!

At that moment, Isaac slowly approached him.

Pollu flinched and coughed.

“If you come closer, I’ll kill you! The yeti! The yeti will soon-!”

Thud!

The snow rose up.

The yeti had fallen into its knees as Silverna’s spear managed to pierce its heart.

“Aaak! Yeti! No! Silverna is beautiful! Aak! Isaaac! Am I! Am I going to die?!”

“...I suppose so.”

Isaac stood before him with a bitter gaze.

Pollu stood up, as if deciding that he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

“Yes, kill me! Kill me! Because I’m a sinner! I couldn’t even fulfill Mother and Father’s wishes! I couldn’t even do this! Aak! I’m a sinner! I must die to pay for my sins!”

At that moment.

“I’m going to surprise attack!”

Pollu’s sword flashed.

Black energy scattered desperately, adding power to Pollu’s final strike, but...

“Kuh, eok?!”

It only sliced through the air.

Isaac had already ducked and thrusted his falchion into Pollu’s chest again.

The falchion dug into the wound along with the bone.

“KUAAAAAAH!”

The moment Pollu tried to run away again, Isaac let go of the falchion and grabbed the bone with both hands.

Squelch!

As Pollu pulled his body back to escape, the bone stuck in his heart was pulled out. Then, his body lost all its strength.

“Kuheok! Hueok?!”

Pollu gasped for breath.

The black energy began to disappear as if purified by the northern snow.

Left alone there, he looked up with surprised eyes.

“H-H-How?”

‘How did you know about the final strike?’

To that question, Isaac answered in a bitter tone.

“Because you clung to the Blackthorn’s sword until the very end.”

The boy just...

Wanted to be acknowledged by his parents.

To be praised by them.

To be loved by them.

It wasn’t just his mouth that was honest about his desires.

“If you just swung in blindly while relying on your strength, I wouldn’t have been able to react.”

But his wish to use the Blackthorn Family’s swordsmanship, even if poorly...

Became the sword that pierced his own heart.

“Ha...haha...hahahaha.”

Pollu looked up at the white sky, his tears flowing.

Perhaps some aftereffects lingered.

Because he was still pouring out the words in his heart.

“Things like swords... I...never wanted to swing them...”

“...”

“I’m scared... I’m scared to be courageous...”

“...”

“Cooking...was fun... When I first learned how to pack a lunchbox from the cook... I...I was...so...excited...”

“...”

“I know I shouldn’t have found joy in cooking! I should’ve swung a sword! So I curse! I curse myself!”

“...”

“I’m sorry, Mother, Father. I...shouldn’t have been born as a Blackthorn.”

“...”

“It’s all my fault. I..have sinned...”

Isaac approached Pollu.

He knelt on one knee in front of him.

“It also took me a long time to accept that I’m different.”

“I...am...a sinner...”

“Then, I am too.”

“You...too?”

Pollu’s voice became intermittent.

Just before life left his body...

“I want...to live.”

Tears started to shed.

“I’m sorry.”

“I...want...to live.”

“If I can offer you consolation...”

“I...want...to live...please.”

“I will definitely find the one who made you like this and make them pay for their sins.”

At those words...

Pollu’s eyes opened wide.

The one who made him like this.

The Blackthorn family.

If it were the original Pollu, he would have shouted that he’d protect his parents.

He’d have shown his will to stay on his family’s side somehow.

However...

The one who answered...

“Thank you.”

Was the Vassalized Pollu, someone who’d pour out their inner feelings unrestrained.

With a smile...

Pollu departed, facing the pure white northern sky in his eyes.

A memory flashed in his mind.

[Are you serious? You can’t even do this? Do you plan to live as the family’s disgrace?!]

The boy’s sin was...

He had no interest in swords.

[How could you be so weak-hearted?! Are you planning to tarnish the family’s name? How on earth do you expect to receive them like this-!]

His other sin was...

He couldn’t muster courage in the face of dangers.

[You? Cooking? Praise? How could such a madman like you exist?! Bring me the cane! Right now!]

His love for cooking, and his wish to show that off...

Was also the boy’s sin.

[Just how could a child like you—! Haa... A child who should’ve been born in some slum—! Came out of my womb—]

But, perhaps, his greatest sin was...

The fact that he was born here, as a Blackthorn, without knowing his place.

Which meant...

The boy had no sins. At all.