Chapter 136 - Damn Reincarnation

Preparing for the Hunt

“Being famous certainly makes you difficult to meet.”

Eugene was on his way back to the keep. The sun was slowly setting, and the sky glowed red with sunset. Beneath the towering Lionheart flag, someone stood in the shadow cast by the castle wall.

When Eugene silently gazed into the shadow, the man standing there stepped out with an easygoing smile.

“Hector Lionheart.”

Hector approached slowly and extended his hand to Eugene.

“I hope I haven’t been rude to a young gentleman of the main family.”

“I don’t consider it rude.”

Eugene did not leave his hand waiting. Hector smiled broadly as they exchanged a brief handshake.

“I would have liked to introduce myself when you arrived earlier.”

At the time, Hector had been sitting on the opposite wall. They had exchanged looks, and Hector had smiled and waved. That had been the extent of their first meeting.

“But I didn’t want to stand there lording it over younger men just because I’m a few years older. Besides, everyone who went to greet you was a peer of your generation, weren’t they? I would have felt terribly awkward there.”

“You seem interested in me?”

“Everyone is.”

Their hands parted. During that brief contact, Eugene had discerned several things about Hector.

‘He’s strong.’

A warrior’s hands held a wealth of information. Their firmness, the calluses on the palms, the thickness of the joints. The weapons someone chiefly used shaped their hands.

“We seem rather alike.”

Hector spoke with a smile, and Eugene agreed. His hand could have belonged to a swordsman or a spearman. More precisely, it resembled Eugene’s own.

‘He seems to use every weapon he can. Looks handy with his fists, too.’

What particularly interested Eugene was his cleanly refined mana. They said he had been the greatest genius among the collateral branches... Apparently, that had been no exaggeration. Had Eugene not appeared, Hector would still have held that distinction.

“Because we’ve both been called geniuses?”

“That, too.”

Hector nodded with a hearty laugh.

“As I just said, everyone must be interested in you. Even people outside Lionheart. And Lionhearts—especially those from collateral branches—would be all the more interested.”

“What sort of interest do you have in me, Sir Hector?”

“Well, there’s a competitive urge... and simple curiosity.”

“Jealousy?”

Eugene tossed out the question. Wondering what Hector might be concealing, he had asked outright, but Hector stared at him with wide eyes.

“Why would I be jealous of you?”

“You were called a genius, too, and you won the Bloodline Succession Ceremony.”

“Ah... true. The paths we’ve taken are rather similar. But I wasn’t adopted into the main family, and you were.”

Belatedly understanding, Hector nodded.

“So you think I’m jealous of you over that... Hmm, I suppose it could look that way.”

“I apologize for asking such a rude question.”

Eugene stepped back and bowed his head. Instead, Hector looked flustered and waved his hands.

“No, don’t apologize. I understand your position perfectly well. Hmm... It’s embarrassing to say so myself, but I used to be on the receiving end of a lot of jealousy, just like you.”

Of course he had. Anyone called a genius inevitably attracted other people’s jealousy in one form or another.

“It’s natural for you to think that way and be wary. But I’m not jealous of you. I am in awe of you, though.”

“In awe?”

“Yes. You’re quite remarkable, aren’t you? I said we were alike, but honestly, there’s no comparing us. The main family didn’t enter the Bloodline Succession Ceremony I competed in. But you? You competed against children from the main family—three of them, no less—and won.”

Hector’s eyes shone.

“I couldn’t have done that. And that’s not even considering what you’ve done since being adopted. That’s why I’m in awe of you.”

“Shall we walk a little?” Hector added with a smile.

“We don’t have enough to discuss to sit down somewhere over drinks or tea. We’re both staying in the keep anyway, so we’re headed the same way, aren’t we?”

“We could talk about anything.”

“Well... I think dredging up topics just to keep a conversation going only makes things more awkward between people. Or is there a lot you’d like to discuss with me?”

“You don’t have anything else to say?”

“No.”

“Even though you were waiting for me?”

“I think that’s enough. Conversation isn’t necessary to convey the ‘extent’ of my interest. In this cold weather, I came all the way out here to wait for you and walk back together... with a little idle chatter along the way, rather than anything forced.”

Hector paused, then burst out laughing.

“Well, now. I said it myself, but that sounds awfully embarrassing. You’re not getting any strange ideas, are you?”

“I’m used to it.”

Eugene thought of the Black Tower Master, Balzac Ludbeth.

“If you’re that interested in me, how about a light spar?”

“No, I’ll decline. I have no desire to go looking for humiliation.”

“Your skills don’t seem to warrant saying that.”

“Haha! Thank you for saying so, but I’m nothing special compared to you.”

“I’ve heard about you, too, Sir Hector. You’re an honorary knight of the White Fangs, aren’t you?”

“That distinction is nothing special either. Do you know how many White Fangs there are in Ruhar? Easily five hundred. But what about your pass to Akron? Are there even ten people who have one?”

Hector shook his head with a hearty laugh.

“An honorary knighthood is, as the name suggests, an honorary position. My name is on the White Fangs’ roster, but that doesn’t make me a true Fang. With your skills, you could become an honorary knight faster than I did.”

Eugene was interested in the kingdom of Ruhar, but not particularly in its royal knightly order, the White Fangs.

‘Then again, would becoming a Fang help me dig into Moron?’

Without Ruhar citizenship, an honorary knighthood was the best he could hope for. As Hector had said, it was merely an honorary position. How long would it take to crawl up from that lowly rung to the royal family?

‘It would be better if Cyan married a princess of Ruhar.’

A princess of Ruhar was indeed among the marriage candidates the main family was considering for Cyan. The problem was that she was only ten this year.

“Sir Hector!”

An upper-story window of the keep flew open. The person who abruptly shouted his name was Genos’s daughter, Genia Lionheart. She leaned out and glared at Eugene and Hector standing together.

“You seem close.”

“We haven’t seen each other in years, but yes, we’re fairly close.”

Genia planted a foot on the railing. Despite jumping from a considerable height, she landed without a sound. Then she strode toward Hector.

“... Why are you two coming back together?”

“We met along the way.”

Genia did not like his answer. Her sharp gaze moved between Eugene and Hector before she clicked her tongue and stroked the sword at her waist.

“... Let’s go.”

“Hmm? Where?”

“You promised to spar with me!”

Genia snapped as she seized Hector’s wrist. He looked displeased, but did not pull free of her grip.

“Would you like to come along?”

As he was dragged away, Hector looked back at Eugene. Before Eugene could answer, Genia’s face crumpled into a scowl and she pulled Hector even harder.

“I don’t want to show him.”

“Show him what?”

“Our spar... I mean, I don’t want to show him my skills...!”

Genia had lowered her voice as far as she could, but Eugene’s keen senses caught their conversation perfectly. Watching them with an uncomfortable expression, he felt torn.

He wanted to follow. He had little interest in their spar, but now that Genia said she didn’t want him watching, he wanted to watch even if he had to force his way in.

‘If only she weren’t Genos’s daughter.’

He could understand her position to a degree. Needlessly earning more of her hatred would also put her father, Genos, in an awkward position. In the end, Eugene stepped back a few paces, feeling as though he were doing her a favor.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I’ll pass. I’ve been summoned all over the place since arriving today, so I’m a little tired.”

“... Summoned?”

Genia’s eyebrow twitched.

“My father didn’t summon you. You went to see him of your own accord.”

After snapping that at him, she tugged Hector’s arm again and left.

‘She must really love her father.’

Eugene turned away from their retreating backs and returned to the keep.

The hunt would begin in two days. Despite being a hastily arranged event with no compulsory participation like the Bloodline Succession Ceremony, quite a few people from collateral branches had joined.

Gargis, Dezra, and Decon.

‘I don’t remember that guy at all.’

At the Bloodline Succession Ceremony seven years earlier, Gargis and Dezra had been the only collateral participants to catch even a little of Eugene’s attention. There had been three or four others, but they were nobodies whose names weren’t worth remembering.

‘The only one I vaguely remember... is that fat pig of a bastard.’

Had his name been Hansen? Something like that.

“Ah...”

Decon had been eleven back then. Though no match for Gargis or Dezra, he had apparently done fairly well at the ceremony. He hadn’t given up, pressing onward even with arrows embedded in his body... until a slime swallowed him and he had to be rescued.

‘Better than the other nobodies, at least.’

Eugene stared blankly at Decon, whom he had run into in the corridor. Even after seven years, he left little impression. He had built up his physique considerably, but his face still retained the youthful look befitting an eighteen-year-old.

“H-hello...”

After offering a hesitant greeting, Decon hurried past Eugene as though fleeing.

Eugene kept walking, but felt Decon’s gaze on his back. A glance revealed that Decon had stopped some distance away and was staring straight at him.

“... Do you have something to say?”

“N-no.”

Startled, Decon shook his head. Then he turned away again and quickly departed.

“He has no spirit.”

Mer poked her head out of the cloak. After glancing at Decon’s distant back, she skipped over to the door of Eugene’s room.

“I think Hector and Genia are the only two worth worrying about. What do you think, Sir Eugene?”

“Why should I worry about them?”

“Those two might attack you on orders from the head of the Council of Elders.”

Mer entered the room and lowered her voice.

“I don’t think someone in his position would act personally. Aren’t those Black Lion Knights the people who take care of Lionheart’s dirty work in the first place? Someone like the Council’s head must have plenty of subordinates willing to dirty their hands for him.”

“Maybe.”

Eugene approached the window as he answered indifferently.

“Like you said, Mer, Hector or Genia might be the Council head’s dagger. Or perhaps Decon will defy our expectations and try to stab me in the back.”

“... Hmm... That spineless kid?”

“An unexpected card would be effective in an assassination.”

It wasn’t just Decon. As Mer had said, if the Council head wanted to act, he would have no shortage of people willing to dirty their hands in his stead. Whether that would be a Black Lion or another Lionheart taking part in the hunt, Eugene didn’t know...

‘... It couldn’t be Gargis.’

Perhaps that trust was premature, but Eugene simply couldn’t imagine Gargis taking up a blade behind his back on the Council head’s orders.

‘It might be Dezra, though.’

Standing at the window, Eugene looked down. Gargis and Dezra were in a corner of the large training ground. Wearing the outfit Eugene had seen earlier, with its embarrassingly low cuts around the chest and armpits, Gargis was engrossed in strength training. A little farther away, Dezra was repeatedly thrusting her spear.

“... They’re working hard. Does Gargis fight with his muscles?”

“No... I remember him using a greatsword...”

“Then why is he only working his muscles instead of swinging his greatsword?”

“Hmm... Who knows...”

Eugene looked away with an uncomfortable expression. Gargis and Dezra were the only people out on the training ground. Decon had returned to his room, and Eward... Eugene hadn’t seen him since their earlier greeting.

“He seems to be holed up in his room.”

Ciel, who had entered without asking, supplied the answer. She continued speaking while shooting sidelong glares at Mer, who was rolling around on the soft bed.

“Apparently, he even eats in there. When he came up to greet you first, I thought he’d become a little more outgoing, but I suppose his personality hasn’t changed much.”

“Still, he seems better than he was in Aroth.”

“I wouldn’t know, but I think Father would be quite pleased to see him.”

Ciel snorted and continued.

“Maybe that’s what Eward came hoping for. No, perhaps that’s Lady Theonis’s aim. It would be awkward to openly say she wants to return to the main family now, so perhaps she’s subtly making her case by showing how Eward has changed.”

“But the family head can’t attend this hunt.”

“Yes, that’s right. Father is at the imperial palace... Can I be honest?”

“When have you ever asked before being honest with me?”

“I’m glad Father isn’t at Black Lion Castle. You probably don’t know, but do you have any idea how many times he’s had to bow his head because of Eward? He attended every regular meeting of the Council of Elders and begged them to forgive him.”

Ciel had lived at Black Lion Castle since she was seventeen. Thus, she knew very well how frequently Gilead had visited the castle over those three years, attending meetings and defending Eward.

“Originally, Eward should have been disowned. He was the main family’s eldest son, yet he tried to take up black magic. Disowning him was only natural. But Father pleaded and pleaded, saying he couldn’t abandon his eldest son, and that’s the only reason he wasn’t disowned.”

That was why Ciel hated Eward.

“After putting Father through so much trouble... Lady Theonis blamed Father instead, didn’t she? It’s ridiculous. What exactly did Father do wrong? Is it his fault Eward grew up to be a fucking idiot?”

“... Hmm... He isn’t entirely blameless.”

At Eugene’s answer, Ciel glared at him with wide eyes.

“Well... It’s true the family head was often away from the main estate when you were children...”

“That’s true, but Cyan and I didn’t grow up to be fucking idiots like Eward. Mother raised us well. Eward turned into an idiot because Lady Theonis raised him badly.”

“Hmm... Honestly, if I hadn’t come to the main family, I doubt you and Cyan would have grown up as mature as you are now...”

“Cyan might not have! But I would!”

“Yes, yes...”

“Anyway, I can’t accept it. If they really want to return to the main family, not just Eward but Lady Theonis, too, should bow their heads and apologize to Father.”

“So they can return if they apologize like that?”

“Why couldn’t they?”

“Lady Anisilla might not like it.”

“Ha!”

Ciel snorted and shook her head.

“Do you think Lady Theonis could rival Mother if she came back now? The household already considers Mother the mistress of Lionheart and is loyal to her. You may not know, but it’s been that way for a long time. Lady Theonis was treated as the superior only because she was the principal wife. Mother may be the second wife, but she’s far better at running the family.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Since you don’t know, I’m right. No matter what Lady Theonis does, she can’t reclaim her old position. That will never change. No matter what Eward does in the hunt the day after tomorrow.”

Ciel’s eyes narrowed.

“He’s still only Eward, after all. Of course, I won’t let my guard down. That’s why Cyan is still training instead of coming back. I’m going to achieve results that completely overshadow Eward’s, too.”

“You’ll have quite an advantage. Living here, you must have hunted demonic beasts a few times, right?”

“... I haven’t ventured deep into the forest yet, but...”

As she murmured, Ciel suddenly drew in her shoulders. Experience. She realized anew just how powerful that advantage was. Aroth, the Nahama Desert, the Great Forest of Samar—none of those places had demonic beasts.

“... Hehe.”

Ciel smiled brightly at Eugene.

“You’ve encountered all sorts of monsters, but you’ve never encountered a demonic beast, have you? Did you know? Monsters and demonic beasts are similar, but completely different. Monsters grow vicious under the influence of demonic energy, but demonic beasts are born from it—”

“Pfft...”

“... Which makes their very existence ominous, and unlike monsters, even lesser demonic beasts have magical abilities—”

“Hehe...”

“... So... it’ll be dangerous to wander around alone. Even if we’re going with the Black Lions, as children of the main family, we have to hunt successfully and achieve results through our own strength. Don’t worry too much. Unlike you, your ‘Big Sis’ has plenty of experience hunting demonic beasts, so if you stick with me—”

“Ahaha... Hahaha!”

“Why do you keep laughing?”

Scowling fiercely, Ciel turned toward Mer. Mer had buried her face in a pillow and was kicking her legs, beating them against the bed.

“It’s... It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”

Mer knew Eugene was Hamel’s reincarnation. That made Ciel’s smug display unbearably funny. Hunting demonic beasts? Across the entire continent, there would be few experts greater than Eugene in that field.

‘... What?’

Knowing nothing of those circumstances, Ciel could not understand Mer’s mocking laughter at all.

Though he wasn’t laughing aloud as blatantly as Mer, Eugene was also desperately holding back his laughter.

“... What’s wrong with you now?!”

Seeing Eugene’s infuriatingly twitching cheeks, Ciel shouted.

“No... Nothing... Hmm... Cute. Very cute. All right, I’ll put my faith in you, Ciel. I don’t know much about demonic beasts, so I’ll trust you, since you know... you know... you know more than I do...”

“What the hell is going on?!”

Ciel couldn’t begin to guess why, but she could tell she was being laughed at.