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Chapter 12

“What… reason?”

“The reason that lets me kill all of you freely. I’m going to destroy your family and take everything you have.”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“His Majesty the Emperor won’t stand for this!”

“With evidence of your alliance with the Hatzfeld Kingdom, why would the Emperor give a single fuck about you?”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Rivan tried to act tough, but he was secretly shaken.

He couldn’t believe Kane was still talking about the alliance. But he hoped Kane wouldn’t be able to find any proof.

In reality, there was evidence within the Dyer family of their collusion with an enemy nation.

“This is the reason I’m going to kill you.”

Rivan’s eyes wavered.

Kane’s confidence made his heart pound.

Then, Kane’s voice echoed.

“Even if there isn’t any real evidence, creating proof that you collaborated with another country is a simple task.”

Wasn’t it Ray (Kane in past life) himself who had seduced the Dyer family through Count McCarty of the Hatzfeld Kingdom?

So, creating a piece of evidence was as easy as pie.

“Therefore, you have to die here painfully.”

Kane stood up.

“A-Are you really going to leave me here?”

“Did you think I was joking?”

“Stop!”

Kane left the hidden territory, leaving Rivan behind.

Rivan’s face turned pale.

His hands and feet were tied with ropes.

His mana was also sealed.

If he stayed here, he’d be eaten by monsters before he could even be poisoned.

“W-wait!”

Despite Rivan’s call, Kane didn’t look back.

Only Camilla looked at him with pity, but she quickly followed Kane.

“No! I don’t want to die here. Please save me!”

Rivan’s pleas didn’t reach Kane’s ears.

Left alone, Rivan anxiously looked around.

Not even two minutes had passed since he was left alone when it happened.

“Screeech.”

“Kreee.”

A Young Speeder descended from the tree.

Seeing the monster, Rivan screamed in terror.

“D-Don’t come any closer!”

The Young Speeder pounced on the terrified Rivan.

“Ahhhh!”

Rivan’s scream echoed painfully through the Forest of Deadly Poison.

Meanwhile,

Kane and Camilla emerged from the Forest of Deadly Poison.

“The miasma has lessened.”

After killing the mutated monsters inside, the miasma around the Forest of Deadly Poison had thinned significantly.

“Unless we defeat the main boss monster, the miasma will thicken again. We should schedule a time to clear it.”

After all, to make money, they had to frequently enter this hidden territory.

Clearing the hidden territory would drop much more valuable items, and it was also essential for the advancement of the Rehinar Family.

“Ugh! Young Master, can you help me a little?”

Camilla was dragging two large bundles on the ground.

“Are you asking me, your master, to carry those bundles?”

“Hehe. Just kidding. Of course, I’ll carry them on my own.”

A smile crept onto Kane’s face.

“It was a joke. Give them to me.”

“No, I’ll carry them all.”

“Don’t make me look like a bad master.”

He took one of the bundles from Camilla.

Camilla’s face brightened up.

‘As expected… He has truly become stronger.’

Although she had witnessed his changes many times, it was still hard to believe.

Especially when he said he would go to the hidden territory himself.

She was scared that something terrible might happen to her master.

But when they arrived at the hidden territory, Kane showed his astonishing abilities.

Witnessing his strength again made Camilla’s heart pound.

‘Now… he has truly changed!’

And it wasn’t just that.

Before they came here, her master, who was usually frighteningly cold, had started being kind to her, making her feel happy.

[Camilla Einrich’s favorability has increased by +1.]

[Camilla Einrich’s favorability has increased by +1.]

[Camilla Einrich’s favorability has increased by +1.]

…

Kane saw the floating notification and secretly smiled.

‘As I thought, showing her directly was the right answer. At this rate, I can get rid of her Separation Anxiety trait soon.’

As they dragged the bundles towards the family, they saw troops passing through the western gate.

“They’re finally back.”

The sight of the Duke returning from the battlefield came into view.

* * *

Through the western gate, the Duke’s troops entered.

The enemy nation bordered their estate.

They returned today after facing Count McCarthy of the Hatzfeld Kingdom at the border.

All the citizens of the Rehinar estate came out and bowed their heads.

Clink.

Clink.

Carl Rehinar, the Duke and head of the family, couldn’t hide his fatigue as he waved his hand.

The family’s citizens bowed their heads and whispered among themselves.

“Looks like the damage is significant this time.”

“About five hundred, I guess.”

Following the Duke were the elite knights of Rehinar.

However, their number was barely 200.

The number of soldiers and knights was almost the same.

This is the current state of Rehinar.

In their glorious past, they boasted a force of 20,000 to 30,000.

Now, they had only 500.

“If this keeps up, we’ll be in serious trouble.”

“If McCarthy decides to cross the border, Rehinar will be done for…”

“What should we do? Should we move to another place?”

The citizens began to feel uneasy.

Though Duke Carl was holding the border well, it seemed he was reaching his limit.

Each time they went out to defend the border, the forces dwindled.

Now, they were almost out of troops.

If the enemy attacked with full strength, defending seemed nearly impossible.

Of course, as long as Duke Carl was alive, the enemy wouldn’t easily dare to invade Rehinar.

But the unease was inevitable.

Above all!

There was another reason for the citizens’ anxiety.

It was the Grand Duke’s face.

He looked unwell, as if his illness had worsened.

“Our neighbor McDonald already moved to the Dyer family’s territory.”

“Is it time to abandon the place where we’ve lived for generations?”

“There’s no hope.”

“Though we’re grateful that the Duke has protected us all this time… the longer we stay here, the worse our lives will be.”

A shadow fell over their faces.

They were truly thankful that the Duke hadn’t crumbled and had protected the citizens from the enemy nation.

However, because of this, other issues became more prominent.

Because the Duke lived on the battlefield to protect the citizens.

There was no one left to manage the family.

Even Rehinar’s retainers couldn’t bear it and left one by one.

The eldest daughter, Sara Rehinar, tried her best to manage the family.

But she was only 18 years old.

She hadn’t even graduated from the Royal Military Academy yet.

“The time has come to decide our fate.”

“Should we abandon Rehinar or stay and fight together?”

In the meantime, Duke Carl had arrived at the family.

Sara was waiting for him at the mansion’s main gate.

“I’m so relieved you’ve returned safely.”

As Sara’s expression brightened, Duke Carl clutched his chest.

“Ugh.”

At that moment, his body lurched forward, and he fell from his horse.

Thud.

“Father!”

As the Duke collapsed, the Rehinar family descended into chaos.

* * *

In Duke Carl’s room, Sara held his unconscious hand.

Despite her father collapsing, she didn’t cry.

Instead, she seemed to steel herself.

She turned to the bronze-skinned middle-aged man standing behind her.

“Uncle, will my father wake up?”

“His Excellency will recover soon.”

The middle-aged man was Cedric Harca, the Commander of the Guardian Knights.

A renowned 7th-class knight, even famous within the Empire.

He was one of the reasons the crumbling Rehinar family hadn’t completely fallen apart.

“What if… Father doesn’t wake up?”

“His Excellency is a strong man. He hasn’t slept a single night during the war, and fatigue has caught up with him.”

“You don’t need to lie to me. What illness does he have?”

Sara turned to look at Commander Cedric.

Her eyes demanded the truth.

Cedric reluctantly opened his mouth.

“He has been poisoned.”

“An 8th-class knight like my father? What kind of poison is it?”

“We haven’t identified the specifics, but it’s an extremely lethal poison.”

“Is it incurable?”

“As of now, we have no cure.”

Hearing about her father’s illness, Sara could have cried.

Instead, her eyes became more resolute.

“It’s poison from McCarthy, isn’t it?”

“That is certain. His Excellency hasn’t interacted with any internal nobles.”

“What are the chances of a traitor?”

“I’m quietly investigating that possibility as well.”

“Check the Guardian Knights too.”

“I’ve already completed that investigation.”

“So, the GuardianKnights are ruled out as suspects.”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Sara sighed in relief.

If there were a traitor among the Guardian Knights, it would have been a severe crisis for the Rehinar family.

“But I don’t see the Young Master.”

“…That boy.”

Just as Sara was about to speak,

“Sir Cedric. It’s been a while.”

Kane, dressed in tattered clothes, opened the door and appeared.

‘I’ve only seen him on the battlefield… seeing him here feels strange.’

In his eyes, Cedric’s status screen was visible.

[Cedric Harca (Lv. 80)(MAX)]

Grade: ★★★★☆

Age: 40

Occupation: Commander of the Guardian Knights

Mana Affinity: Water Bond (S+)(3 Runes)

Favorability: 29 (Neutral)

– Basic Stats –

[Stamina: S+]

[Mana: S]

[Physical: S+]

[Strength: S]

[Agility: S-]

Traits: Blue Flash (S), Undefeated (S+), Loyalty (S+)

Skills: Guardian Spear Technique (S+)

‘His monstrous abilities haven’t changed. Cedric Harca was the first man I couldn’t sway despite all my efforts.’

His status screen was filled with S-rank stats.

His abilities were extraordinary, but his traits stood out.

[Undefeated]

Type: Trait

Grade: S+ (Evolving)

Description: Only bestowed upon those who have never been defeated in battle.

Effect: Nullifies status effects for allies, including the bearer; increases all abilities in times of crisis.

It was an overwhelming trait.

Moreover, it was an evolving type.

That meant this wasn’t the final form of its effects.

‘Having someone like him on our side is reassuring.’

As Kane was intently observing him, Cedric spoke.

“You seem to have changed a lot since we last met.”

“I’ve been trying. Considering I fooled you, I’d say I’m halfway successful.”

Despite Kane’s changed appearance, Cedric remained unshaken.

Instead, he turned his head to look at Sara.

“I don’t understand ‘this boy’ any more than you do, Uncle.”

“Oh dear. Calling your brother ‘this boy’ now?”

Kane replied with a smirk.

Sara, having somewhat adapted to his antics, wasn’t too surprised.

“But what about Rivan?”

“It was just as we discussed. More importantly, Camilla, show her.”

“Yes, Young Master!”

Camilla took out a gemstone-like stone from a large bundle. It was the size of a fist.

“A Water Mana Stone? Did you go into the hidden territory?”

“Even after seeing the Mana Stone, you don’t believe it?”

“Camilla, is what he’s saying true?”

“It’s true, Lady Sara. This type of Mana Stone can only be found in the hidden territory.”

Only then did Sara closely examine the water Mana Stone.

Mana Stones are valued not by size but by the amount of mana they contain.

“This much mana…”

“Isn’t it a lot?”

“To gather this much, you’d have to go deep into the hidden territory…”

“We made it to the middle section.”

“What!?”

Sara’s eyes widened.

The middle section was known to be guarded by a powerful monster.

Having returned alive meant they had defeated that monster.

“Which hidden territory was it?”

“The Forest of Deadly Poison. The poison was so thick, I would’ve died if not for Young Master.”

Camilla became quite the chatterbox, excitedly boasting about her master.

“The Young Master moved through that deadly place effortlessly. It was like the poison didn’t affect him at all. Oh, and this is the trophy from defeating the King Speeder.”

Camilla took out a 2-star Water Mana Stone.

Inside the stone, Water Mana flowed abundantly.

“Is this a 2-star Mana Stone?”

“Hehe, yes it is.”

Sara’s eyes sparkled. Selling the Mana Stone could help pay off a significant portion of the family’s debts.

At that moment, Cedric interjected.

“What is the meaning of this? Why did the Young Master go to the hidden territory?”

Kane responded to his question.

“It’s nothing serious. I just went to earn some money and gather a few things we needed.”

Cedric examined Kane’s body, ensuring that it wasn’t someone else disguised as the Young Master.

He confirmed it.

“A Beginner 3rd Class Knight. You’ve grown a lot.”

Cedric didn’t show his surprise outwardly. Though Kane was known to be a late bloomer, he was still of noble blood. This growth, while astonishing, wasn’t entirely unexpected.

However, internally, Cedric was quite taken aback.

‘He’s grown unbelievably fast.’

No one on the entire continent had ever shown such rapid progress.

His only curiosity was what kind of magic or method had allowed Kane to reach the Beginner rank of 3rd Class Knight in such a short time.

Kane, sensing Cedric’s thoughts, changed the subject.

“We need to treat Father first.”

“You, Young Master?”

“Father is currently suffering from mana hemorrhage, isn’t he?”

“How do you know this secret that only His Excellency and I are aware of?”

“Despite giving him life-restoring herbs and potions taken from enemies, his condition has only worsened, am I correct?”

“That’s correct! His Excellency also said that the elixirs were the cause of his deterioration.”

Despite Cedric’s usual stoic expression, his concern for his master was evident.

Kane continued.

“I believe I can help stabilize his condition. But we’ll need to act quickly and precisely. Gather what we need and follow my instructions closely. Father’s life depends on it.”