The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld-Chapter 257

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 257: Siena's Token

After watching Zizek's martial arts for a while and giving him a few beatings under the guise of sparring, dawn was already approaching.

"I'm leaving now. Get some rest and do plenty of review."

"I thought I was going to die. Fighting those Black Society bastards earlier was actually easier than this."

"You're being overdramatic."

I left the dirt-covered Zizek behind and returned to Grunewald Castle.

'How quiet it is. As if nothing happened at all.'

Could last night's events have been nothing but a dream? The feeling of looking at the peacefully sleeping castle in the early dawn was quite strange.

'No wonder so few people remember a single swordsman from the underworld who died 17 years ago.'

I thought randomly about the faces of Ivan, Adeline, Zamuel, and Grandfather before slipping into my well-arranged bed.

'Now let me really get some sleep.'

After all, no matter how strong a man is, he still needs to sleep. I fell into such a deep slumber that I didn't even know when I had fallen asleep.

* * *

When I woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

I invited Siena, Reinholdt, Rudgarda, Jeffrey, and Peter to the annex for a meal while telling them about last night's events.

"While you were sleeping, Young Master, last night's affairs have been roughly settled."

Olivier said.

"Good. You've worked hard."

Since I had been running around diligently, it was only proper for the head butler and Venion to handle the cleanup.

"But how did things wrap up on the battlefield? I heard Gilbert attempted to self-destruct."

"I shall explain that."

Reinholdt volunteered to speak.

"So when Gilbert, feeling disadvantaged, made his subordinates self-destruct and drew out all the mana from his body to prepare a terrible ultimate technique..."

According to Reinholdt's account, just as everyone was deploying defensive techniques and trying to respond somehow, Venion appeared.

"The reputation of the man called Venion is shrouded in many veils, making his true nature unknowable, but his skill was genuine. He neutralized that technique using mysterious methods we had never seen before."

Reinholdt looked as if he had felt a wall when facing Venion.

To put it roughly, there seemed to be a gap equivalent to the difference between early and late 7th tier.

That was actually a gap that would be difficult to overcome even with a lifetime of training.

"When the exhausted Gilbert lost consciousness, the Black Wind Squadron fled as they were. In the process, all the Black Society's members either self-destructed or died from having their power drained, creating a truly horrific scene."

Siena spoke with pity for their final moments, even though they were enemies.

"No matter how important one's long-cherished wish may be, using and discarding humans like tools is going too far. They abandoned human decency long ago."

"...I agree."

Hadn't I also been abandoned by the Dark King to die? That bastard generally didn't see humans as human.

"More than half of the Black Wind Squadron suffered moderate to severe injuries, and Gilbert's life or death is uncertain due to the aftermath of his magic technique. Moreover, since Schelde was repelled by you, the Black Society's losses are considerable."

Reinholdt said.

"On the other hand, our side's casualties were minimal."

Siena added.

"Above all, the strategy of setting a trap to blunt the enemy's initial assault was highly effective."

That was correct.

The moment Kreutzel lured the Black Society bastards into the trap, the tide of victory had already half-turned in our favor.

"The contributions of the intelligence agents, the cooperation of Rudgarda, and Kreutzel's merit were significant."

I praised Kreutzel.

"This should definitely be considered a meritorious achievement, don't you think?"

Then Reinholdt replied.

"Crime is crime, and merit is merit. Besides, since Kreutzel took risks to extract Zizek and help me, I owe him a debt in that regard."

I grinned.

Indeed, he distinguished between public and private matters like a true soldier.

"Congratulations, Kreutzel. You've repaid some of your sins."

"...Thank you."

I patted the shoulder of Kreutzel, who bowed his head with a distorted expression.

"Young Master, I would like to express my gratitude once more."

Siena said.

"Without you, Young Master, we would not have recovered the Ebony Oath and would have been caught off guard by the Black Society, facing great difficulties."

"Yes. But they're not fools either, so they wouldn't have endangered your identities."

If they had wanted war with Valkenhain, they would have made their move before coming here.

There was no need to cause trouble in a place with so many watching eyes and listening ears.

"Young Master, I have no intention of diminishing the help I received by speculating about things that didn't happen."

Those words were truly reasonable, making me smack my lips.

"That's also true."

"Therefore, I must properly repay you."

Siena smiled slightly and took something from her bosom.

"Oh?"

It was a brooch in the shape of a hawk made of dark iron.

"This is a brooch called Mornfalk. It's something that members of the Valkenhain clan pass only to those they 'absolutely wish to repay.'"

"Ah!"

Olivier exclaimed as if he knew something about it.

"Young Master, this is a treasure that only the clan head and their successor are qualified to handle."

"The butler knows exactly what it is."

Siena nodded.

"As long as you possess this brooch, Young Master, you can enjoy Valkenhain's support and unlimited friendship at any time."

However, it cannot be transferred to others, Siena added.

"But this alone would not be enough to repay all the help I received from you yesterday, Young Master. So I've prepared one more thing."

At Siena's signal, Reinholdt brought out a wooden box.

"This is a spirit medicine that can only be harvested very rarely in the Valkenhain Duchy. It's a supreme item that will definitely increase one's internal mana regardless of what cultivation method one has learned."

"Wow."

Jackpot.

"Would this be sufficient repayment for the debt incurred last night?"

I answered immediately. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"More than sufficient."

* * *

Ivan, who had returned to the 8th Branch, stood before the crystal orb.

[Ivan.]

The face of a man shrouded in shadow appeared in the crystal orb.

"Lord Gulbark."

He was the Dark King's close aide and retainer whom Karzan had called a "toad-like bastard."

[Report.]

Even Ivan, who had reached the supreme realm of 8th tier, was in a position to receive orders unilaterally before this man.

He truly reigned in a position of being second to none and above all others in this Kingdom of Flanders.

"Yes."

Ivan began his report, concealing some of the truth as agreed with Karzan.

[Not Karzan?]

Gulbark asked with displeasure.

"That is my conclusion. I don't know why they went to the trouble of fabricating Karzan's existence..."

[Venion, truly an unpredictable fellow.]

Gulbark muttered.

[If either the Black Serpent Duke or Venion had been absent, Grunewald would have collapsed decades ago.]

However, even their schemes to win over the three clans of Bergen, Agrippa, and Grimnar could not surpass Georg and Venion.

[To give his servant the name of Karzan, what on earth is he thinking?]

Gulbark muttered.

[Did he think we would fear that bastard's name now? Ridiculous.]

His words were correct.

For 17 years, they had grown stronger, and it had been long since they needed to worry about 'a single genius.'

[Defeating Schelde is decent, but if that's 'all there is,' it can hardly be called a major variable.]

"...That's correct."

Ivan agreed.

'But he was someone who ultimately reached the late 6th tier with nothing but foundationless martial arts. If that talent were combined with a prestigious clan's martial arts, support, and a pure body...'

Karzan could surely become stronger than what they had feared in the past.

Yet Ivan remained silent.

[How do you plan to fill Schelde's absence?]

Gulbark asked.

"We must treat him quickly. In the meantime, I'll send someone else to act as Branch Chief."

[Draft a list and get my confirmation.]

"Yes."

[And return quickly. There's urgent business.]

"I'll return as soon as possible."

Gulbark looked at Ivan with an emotionless face and suddenly muttered.

[Venion, and Karzan. They interfere with us at every turn.]

It would have been somewhat unfair to Venion if he had heard this.

His share in this incident wasn't that significant.

Pop!

Ivan silently watched the crystal orb as its light disappeared.

"..."

* * *

"You received Mornfalk from Young Lady Siena?"

"Yes, Father."

"For Valkenhain's Young Lady to give Mornfalk to Grunewald's Young Master... in my memory, this is unprecedented."

Father smiled mysteriously.

"By the way, Allen, today there are two things to celebrate."

Father opened a wine contained in an antique glass bottle.

"The aroma is truly wonderful."

"I specially prepared the finest quality."

Father personally filled my glass with wine.

"It's a congratulatory drink. During the day, you achieved victory in the competition against Valkenhain, and at night, you made great contributions to recovering the Ebony Oath."

I smiled and brought the glass to my nose.

The scent of grapes that had ripened under sea breezes and moonlight was indescribably elegant.

"Recovering the Ebony Oath is truly a great achievement. In fact, this alone has more than fulfilled the task needed for your coming-of-age ceremony."

I grinned.

"That's welcome news, Father."

"Even in a situation with limited information, you made impeccably appropriate judgments."

"...Young Lady Siena seemed to know quite a lot. I was envious."

When I made that pointed remark, Father laughed heartily.

"My lack of explanation is my shortcoming."

Father took a sip of wine.

"Actually, if we had mobilized the intelligence agencies of both Grunewald and Valkenhain, this could have ended more quietly."

I nodded.

"I was also puzzled by that point. Was there a reason to go to the trouble of holding a competition...?"

"First, their theft of the Ebony Oath and the proposal for the competition were separate incidents. It was largely coincidental that the timing aligned so closely."

"Ah, I see."

"When you stare into the abyss for too long, everything can feel like schemes and inevitability, but in reality, much of what happens in the world is just coincidence piling upon coincidence."

"That's true."

No matter how heaven-reaching one's intellect may be, no one can control and predict everything.

"I heard that one reason they didn't mobilize their organization was to give Young Lady Siena successor training."

"Hmm."

However, the incident became too complex and extensive for Siena and Reinholdt to handle alone.

"They probably saw this matter as a question of whether or not to catch Kreutzel. Even for the Black Society, it wouldn't have been easy to brazenly target Siena, who would become the next Duke of Valkenhain."

"But the Black Society targeted the Young Lady and Reinholdt without hesitation."

"Right. This time, Valkenhain was somewhat complacent."

I also agreed with Father's words. We almost faced a major disaster.

'Of course, they probably informed Grunewald about this matter in preparation for such situations.'

So they could receive help in case of emergency.

And since that's exactly what happened, they had set up an appropriate safety net.

"In any case, cooperating with Young Lady Siena to recover the Ebony Oath and deal a major blow to the Black Society is an incomparably greater achievement than winning the competition."

Father refilled my glass.

"If Schelde had been left alone, he would have eventually sunk his fangs into the Red Mist Alliance as well. While Schelde hasn't passed his prime yet, Bazarro is already aging and growing weaker."

"But you and Venion wouldn't have allowed that to happen, would you?"

I asked.

"What were you planning to do, Father?"

Then Father held up two fingers.

"First, if you hadn't been reborn as you are now."

"Yes."

"I probably would have entrusted that matter to Verdzig. Verdzig would have accomplished the great feat of conquering the underworld with his own hands, then ultimately inherited the position of clan head from me."

That would have been the future 'if my reincarnation had not occurred.'

"And second, if an incident involving the Ebony Oath like this one hadn't happened..."

Father folded his index finger and said.

"It would have taken a more roundabout path. But I think the result of you defeating Schelde wouldn't have changed."

I grinned.

"Then I would have won more decisively and overwhelmingly."

"The Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique is undoubtedly a divine martial technique. Even the previous clan head always praised it without reservation."

"It truly is."

The power of the ultimate technique called Profound Radiant Heaven Rend was truly transcendent and overwhelming.

If properly mastered, Schelde would lose all ten matches against me.

"Allen, I've never heard of a genius who became as strong as quickly as you have recently."

Father said.

"Since your combat power has already reached a level where you can compete with the Grand Commanders, the missions you'll have to undertake will become much more dangerous from now on."

"That's exactly what I hope for."

"Good."

Father left a cryptic remark.

"Since the Black Society has now begun to truly cross the line, perhaps another great war is approaching."

It was closer to prophecy than prediction.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr(e)𝒆novelkiss