Chapter 84

"Father! Why do you come to a place like this!"

Byron immediately pointed at me with a grand gesture and said as much.

"Byron, why are you here... no, what did you come for? What you are doing—"

Father frowned and looked at Byron.

"Father! Why do you secretly meet with Theodor? Are you planning to call him back home because of his achievements!?"

...He’s not going to answer the question, is he? As for how he found my house... well, there are countless possibilities, but he probably won’t tell the truth. He must have found it by threatening or bribing a servant to follow Father’s carriage. Or—

"First, calm down. I came here simply because Theo is my son. More importantly—"

Father tried to speak as calmly as possible to persuade Byron, but Byron wasn’t listening.

"Father is being deceived by him! He says he’s independent from the earl’s family, but he’s definitely planning to take revenge on us later! He’s the kind of person who turns around and kicks the dirt after being helped by the earl’s family! Cut ties with him immediately!"

...Ah. So that’s what you think.

Probably because he’s aware of all the things he’s done to me. He seems to have decided that I will take revenge once I gain power.

So when he found out that Father and I—what they see as a secret meeting—were together, he must have thought that his position as the next head of the family was in danger, and that I was trying to win Father’s favor to overthrow him. That’s why he rushed out without thinking.

Father probably came to Termwillis after a long time because I’m here. So he offered to come along, and when he realized Father had gone to my house, he barged in, saying, "I knew it."

...It’s like he’s seeing his own reflection in a mirror and trembling in fear. Usually, he’s more composed, but now he doesn’t even have that. Or maybe Father has already seen through him and he’s just giving up?

I understand why he came and what he’s thinking. But that’s a separate issue.

"Get out of the house first."

"You—"

He started to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance. I created a water ball with water magic and trapped Byron inside. Byron struggled to get out, but it was pointless since the magic was designed to keep him inside.

I lightly flicked the water ball with the back of my hand, and it flew from the doorway to the courtyard. When it hit the wall, it burst, and Byron, now drenched, started coughing.

"Damn! Magic again! Again!"

Byron, who was lying in the courtyard, was cursing. He looked up at me with a glare.

"How dare a bastard like you be so disrespectful to me, the legitimate son!"

Since I’m from a bastard family, he thinks it’s fine for him to barge in, right?

Catherine was the same. She’s so fixated on the class difference, but she hasn’t even researched my position. Given the information gap between the provinces and the capital, it’s understandable. It seems only Father has been properly gathering information.

"I’m sorry, but I’m already independent from the family."

"Even so, you’re still not a noble!"

"I have the title of Ambassador to the Otherworld. It’s a full authority, equivalent to the King, but only within the Labyrinth."

Byron frowned, clearly not understanding what I was saying.

...What should I do? In this situation, I could just hand Byron over to the authorities and be done with it...

But I don’t do that because he’s my half-brother. Not because of family affection, but because the scandal of the earl’s family would affect me too. I don’t want to be put on trial by the nobles over something like this.

But if I don’t, I need to find a way to resolve this. I can’t just let it go because he’s family. This is also Grace and Ashley’s home.

I glanced at Father, who frowned and nodded slightly.

That’s—his work face. It seems he’s decided on a course of action. Then I should decide mine too.

"This is the earl’s family’s problem! You called Father for a secret meeting!"

"That’s a misinterpretation."

"...Byron. I came to Theo’s house of my own accord."

"Why, Father? You could just call Theodor to the secondary residence!"

It’s because you came to Termwillis with them, but it’s pointless to say that.

Father didn’t tell anyone he was meeting me, and he didn’t want me to meet Byron and the others. He was trying to end the conversation peacefully. But you interpreted it that way.

"...If you were going to invite him, you could have. Theodor is not in a position where I can summon him. He’s a direct vassal of King Melvin."

"Wh-What nonsense! How did you—!"

Ah. You didn’t know, did you? Byron’s face visibly darkened.

"Probably because you’re a demon slayer. More importantly, you need to apologize to the people here."

"Who would apologize to Theodor! Just because he can use magic! There’s no way Theodor could do that!"

Byron, still flustered, shouted. He’s quite confused.

I can understand why he can’t believe I’m a demon slayer because of his old image of me. But it’s problematic to bring that mindset here.

"Right! He must have used Grace to defeat the demon and trick everyone! I’ll expose him!"

Byron grabbed his glove. Hey. I don’t think he would, but is he planning to challenge me to a duel by throwing his glove at me? If he throws it, it won’t just be a "fight." You’re my relative and Father’s child. Think about what it would mean to do that in front of Father.

"—Come, Uroboros."

I called, and the dragon staff flew from the back of the house into my hand, and Uroboros purred happily. Magic circles unfolded, scattering blue-white sparks around. Byron froze, still looking at me.

"From now on—think carefully before you act. Who, what, and how?"

"Ah, e, oh?"

Byron was frozen for a moment, but then, for some reason, he threw his sword and sheath and clenched his fists, staring at me.

Does this mean he wants to fight without magic, using only his bare hands? Does he think he has a physical advantage? If so—

"You’re cunning."

"Ugh!"

A moment later, my knee struck Byron’s sternum.

I approached the staggering Byron casually, grabbed his arm, and spun him around, slamming him to the ground.

"Ugh, h...!"

He shouldn’t be seriously injured because it’s just dirt, but he’s gasping for breath and his eyes are rolling.

"Without magic, you say?"

Uroboros, held above my head, glowed blue-white.

"Wait, Theodor—"

"Don’t make me laugh."

Silently. Uroboros swept just above Byron’s head, leaving a deep crack in the ground. ...Well, he’s unharmed. But his hair will be a mess for a while.

"O, a, ah..."

He had imagined things and interrupted Father’s conversation, and said something about Grace. I was a bit irritated, but... this is probably the resolution I can give. The rest is up to Father’s judgment.

"Unfortunately, Byron."

Father said quietly. Byron, still in pain and fear, looked at Father.

"Even if I take into account that you didn’t know, your behavior is still unacceptable, and your disrespectful words to the other families present are inexcusable. Even if the head of the family shows leniency, I cannot overlook it as the head of the family. You will not inherit the family. You will be stripped of your inheritance and sent back to the earl’s territory. You are not allowed to stay in Termwillis."

"What—"

"Daryl will be taken away from Catherine and re-educated thoroughly."

That... Yes. There’s no need to say it to me, but using Grace and deceiving everyone... Grace is directly insulted, and Ashley is indirectly insulted.

If the head of the family shows leniency and handles it internally, a resolution that satisfies everyone present is needed.

Grace and Ashley are nodding. They are satisfied with this. The rest is to create a plausible reason and strip him of his inheritance in the earl’s territory.

"Light Bind"

I restrained Byron’s body with light magic and silenced him with a Silence spell. He would only say things that are not worth hearing.

"Get something to tie him up."

I further physically restrained him and used Levitation to lift him and put him in the carriage.

"Really sorry, Theo. Let’s—reschedule. If you allow it, of course."

"Understood."

I nodded slightly, and Father bowed and got into the carriage, heading back to the secondary residence.

I’ll give instructions to Caduceus and have him keep watch.

Well, that’s fine.

"Um, did we interrupt?"

Alfred and Marian, looking confused, were there.

I knew their carriage had arrived just as I was putting Byron in the carriage. Is this good timing or bad timing?

If Byron had done something to them... he would have been on his way to the gallows, so let’s consider this good timing.