21 – Retribution

Kenneth was ill at ease.

The reason he couldn’t dispel his thoughts even while wielding his sword

Was due to a conversation he’d had some time ago with Oscar Leonhardt, who had visited his residence.

Kenneth had always admired the Steel Lion Knights.

After all, the greatest honor a martial artist could achieve was to become a knight of the Steel Lion Knights.

They were unique, achieving heroism solely through the art of slaying demons and men.

Before he was the heir of Tristi, Kennes was a warrior.

He couldn’t help but idolize Oscar, one of the greatest martial artists alive.

Kennes, brimming with excitement, approached Oscar.

His swordsmanship was renowned throughout the Tristi dominion.

As the eldest son of Tristi, he wielded aura, and was even said to surpass Uriel in technical skill.

In ten years, he would rival even Lord Porto himself – so praised his teachers and fellow students.

His reputation preceded him even in the kingdom’s high society.

Perhaps Oscar knew his name already, perhaps he had come to see him.

He harbored such hopes in his heart.

“Ah, I’ve come to see Lord Esther Tristi. Where might I find him?”

But the reply he received from Oscar was deeply disappointing.

Not his father, but Esther Tristi of all people?

“Esther is currently away. It will be some time before he returns.”

“I see. I shall wait here until he does.”

“Perhaps…in the meantime, would you be willing to spar with me?”

Oscar agreed to Kennes’ proposal.

Although Kennes didn’t appreciate that Oscar didn’t know his name, and only addressed Esther with deference.

The thought of demonstrating his skill to Oscar, one of the kingdom’s finest warriors, set his heart aflame.

The result of the duel was, predictably, Oscar’s victory.

Even so, Kennes was satisfied.

He had shown Oscar everything he had cultivated thus far.

Kennes was confident.

He believed his ability to wield aura, despite his youth, was remarkable.

Surely Oscar would be impressed.

But Kennes’ confidence and pride were shattered by Oscar’s next question.

“Does Lord Esther also wield a sword?”

“Excuse me…?”

No matter how much he tried to impress, Oscar’s interest remained solely with Esther.

‘What’s so special about a half-wit who couldn’t even beat a novice after a lifetime of training…’

Kenneth’s face twisted.

Ester was nothing more than a discarded son, festering in the corner of a room.

A being even more inept than that Felix – that was Ester.

Swordsmanship, magic, etiquette, knowledge – he possessed nothing of worth, merely a feeble younger brother.

-Did you see the latest Justina Monthly?

-It seems Lord Ester Tristi has stirred things up again?

-The Azure Magister himself has expressed a desire to meet Lord Ester recently, I hear.

-They say the Tristi house is holding a succession trial. Surely, Lord Ester will be the next head?

Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester, Ester…

Everyone praised him to the heavens.

His name was invoked everywhere one went.

Even those who were on friendly terms with him had the audacity to ask if he could introduce them to Ester Tristi.

Kenneth bit his lip until it stung.

Even the knight he so admired only had eyes for Ester, not Kenneth.

All the attention he had received as the presumed heir of Tristi had been snatched away, wholesale, by his youngest brother.

The image of the knight gazing at the sky marked the end of Kenneth’s reverie.

“Damn it all…”

Kenneth set his sword down to rest for a moment.

Gazing at the clear sky, he felt the ghastly memories recede from his mind.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, a clamor rose from outside the estate.

“Hm?”

Kenneth rose and strode toward the main gate.

Beyond it, a multitude of wagons were making their way toward the Tristi manor.

‘What is this?’

The wagons were pulled by burly men, all armed to the teeth.

Piled atop the wagons were the corpses of demons, a variety of breeds.

Among them were the remains of large, uncommon demons.

Kenneth recognized them as the Carlson Mercenary Company and the Johnson Mercenary Company, the most renowned within the Tristi dominion.

“Lord Ester! Is this the place?!”

The two mercenaries who appeared to be the leaders spoke in thunderous voices.

“Yes. Please transport it all to the warehouse behind the main house.”

Ester’s voice drifted from within the carriage behind the wagon.

“…….”

Kenneth blinked.

Just what were all these demon corpses, and why had Ester dragged them all the way here?

He couldn’t begin to fathom the thoughts of the genius who had solved the Millennium Problem.

-Tell me about the miracle you performed.

Suddenly, he pictured Ester being praised by his father.

A stark contrast to the disappointing remarks he himself always received.

Kenneth hurried towards the mansion.

This was no time to dawdle.

He needed to utilize his connections, all those he’d cultivated over the years, and find a solution, by any means necessary.

Dalpi watched Kenneth depart through the main gate.

“Hmm.”

“What is it?”

Ester asked, and Dalpi shook his head.

“No, nothing. Just pondering what to prepare for Master Kenneth’s supper. I shall go ahead and prepare his bath.”

“I fancy a sizzle-on-the-iron kind of meal this evening…”

“Shall I prepare a demon meat steak?”

Ester’s fingers twitched.

Dalpi swallowed hard, peering at Ester.

“Come hither!!!”

“Please refrain from such advances in such a public… Kyaaa!!”

Dalpi barely escaped Ester’s clutches and fled with haste.

The mercenaries thought.

‘It seems Master Ester possesses an unexpectedly childish side.’

“Is there a problem, gentlemen?”

“Ah, no, not at all.”

“Then I suggest you hurry and get moving.”

Of course, none of them dared voice their thoughts aloud.

“What in the world is all this…?”

“Spoils taken in exchange for saving the mercenaries’ hides. Of course, the valuable bits were claimed by the mercs, so what remains is practically refuse.”

Haniel gazed at the warehouse brimming with demon flesh, astonished.

“What on earth are you going to use this for?”

“I plan to use it in the upcoming Successor Trials.”

“Successor Trials, you say…”

Haniel blinked.

“Esther.”

“Yes.”

“Even so, wouldn’t the durability be far too weak?”

Our brilliant second eldest sister seemed to have grasped my intent.

“It’s fine. There won’t be any direct confrontation with demons.”

“If that’s what you think, I’ll trust your judgment implicitly. Alright, I think I have a rough idea of what needs doing?”

“We need to make about a hundred of them. Is that doable?”

I finalized contracts with the Carlson Mercenary Company and the Johnson Mercenary Company.

It wasn’t for their assistance in the recent Insane Curse incident, but for the delivery of that same quantity of flesh, about three times over.

“Yes, making them isn’t difficult. Leave it to me. I’ll have the servants prepare the materials.”

“The money needed…”

“Ahem, your sister has that much, no worries.”

It was clearly a bluff.

She likely hadn’t received much of an allowance from Porto since her illness.

The Tristy family was ruthlessly meritocratic, after all.

There was no way Haniel, who still scrounged to give me pocket money each month, had money to spare.

I presented her with the million credits I had received from the royal family.

“Use this.”

“Sister, I’m really alright…”

“You were planning on selling your jewelry, weren’t you? Don’t sell it, use this instead. Think of it as your little brother’s first allowance to his sister, and please, just accept it. Keep what’s left over.”

My resolve unyielding, Haniel finally had no choice but to open her sleeve.

“Alright. Ian, nothing happened to you, did it?”

“There was none.”

“From now on, stay by Esther’s side whenever he goes out. Protect him well, make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”

Ian chuckled softly at Haniel’s overprotectiveness.

“Milady. I don’t think that will be necessary. Esther-gongja, no, Esther-gyeong is a far stronger man than you imagine.”

Haniel tilted her head, a look of bewilderment on her face.

“What do you mean by that?”

Ian readily cleared away her confusion.

“Esther-gongja defeated me.”

This was the truth.

Before I came here, I had engaged in sparring with Ian.

Of course, Ian was unarmed, and we didn’t fight with the savagery of a real battle, but I still emerged victorious.

And that was without using magic.

“Perhaps only a very few in this kingdom could defeat gongja in a one-on-one fight. You can rest assured.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes.”

“If Ian says so… alright then.”

Haniel looked quite surprised.

Not that it was unreasonable.

Honestly, even I hadn’t expected to win.

I thought a draw would be the best I could hope for, and even as the one who’d done it, I still felt a bit awkward.

Before leaving, I spoke to Haniel.

“Nuna, all you need to do is continue to help me as you have been. There’s no particular need to prepare anything more, so spend the remaining time resting comfortably in bed. If there’s anything I need, I’ll visit you in the annex.”

“Okay, I understand.”

I asked Ian to look after Haniel and turned to leave.

I had overcome one great mountain, but there were still countless tasks piled up like mountain ranges ahead.

First, I needed to have a good bath and then think.

I was hungry and incredibly tired.

I was sure if I collapsed onto the bed right now, I would fall asleep instantly.

It was the moment I stepped into the entrance hall.

A commotion could be heard from the main hall.

“So, you think you can look down on *me* now, too!? Ever since Esther Tristi started doing well, you think you’re untouchable!? Just a mere servant girl…!!”

“Hic, waaah…”

May, the youngest maid in the manor, was crying.

On the floor lay a tray and shattered dishes, scattered about.

Had she made a mistake?

Dahlpi stood before the huddled May.

Dahlpi’s right cheek was swollen, as if she’d been struck.

Just what in the world was going on?

I stared ahead, dumbfounded.

“It was a mistake by the child. Please, young master, be understanding.”

Kenneth was seething right in Dahlpi’s face.

He roared, his expression filled with fury.

“How dare a maid speak back so clearly in front of me… Fine, I’ll educate you thoroughly in Esther Tristi’s stead!!”

May clung to Kenneth’s leg.

“Young master, I’m sorry, hic, it was my fault, hic, please just forgive me once… Don’t hit Dahlpi *unni*…”

Kenneth shoved May away roughly.

“Get out of my way!!”

“Kyaa!!”

And as Kenneth raised his hand menacingly…

I strode forward.

After that, my memory grows hazy.

Perhaps, it was because this was the most enraged I had ever been in my life.