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Book 14: Chapter 6: Heretical Path

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A planet located near the Banfield Family’s territory—

The Viscount in charge of ruling the planet had a hostile relationship with the Banfields.

Ever since the subjugation army suffered a crushing defeat, the household was thrown into chaos.

“We shouldn’t have opposed Duke Banfield!”

“What’s the point of saying that now? We unanimously agreed to cooperate with the subjugation army.”

“Who could’ve known that a massive army of six million would be defeated?”

The Viscount, listening to the argument between his knights, military officers, and officials, wore a desolate look on his face.

As one of the Empire’s aristocrats, cooperating with the Banfield Family was out of the question.

However, he had no intention of actively siding with Cleo either.

He simply wished to ride out the storm in a quiet place.

“After all the supplies we provided, this was the result. How pathetic. Is this all His Highness Cleo amounts to without Liam’s support?”

The people around him fell silent, sensing the tension in the air.

“My Lord, please be careful of what you say lest you offend His Highness the Crown Prince.”

One of his knights warned him, but the Viscount snorted.

“After such a miserable performance, there won’t be a place left for Cleo. I bet the Capital’s searching for a suitable replacement as we speak.”

Although he had no information about the Capital, he was confident that his prediction was accurate.

“A chaotic era is about to befall the Empire. The Banfield Family might seize this opportunity to make a move on our planet.”

His fears were well-warranted as Christina, now holding the title of Knight Number 5, was energetically sweeping up hostile feudal lords in the surrounding area in a brilliant display of bravery.

It wouldn’t be surprising if their home planet was targeted next.

The Viscount let out a small sigh.

“We’ll submit to the Banfield Family for the time being. Once the Empire regains its former power, we’ll offer up valuable intelligence about the Banfields as a show of allegiance.”

The people at the meeting were stunned by his idea, and one of his knights even spoke up against it.

“My Lord, a betrayal at the very last moment would irreparably damage your reputation and credibility.”

“The fate of our household is on the line here. It’s more important that we survive. Liam shouldn’t have much force to spare right now. We’re still a Viscount-level household. If we show him that we’re willing to submit, he’ll have to accept us into his ranks.”

After all, the Banfield Family had just undergone a fierce battle with the subjugation army.

Even if Liam had some beef with them, he’d have no choice but to swallow his grudge.

Thus the Viscount issued his orders.

“Send a messenger right away, along with whatever supplies the Banfield Family might want. If we do so, they’ll at least listen to our story. We’ll first establish―”

He was planning on ingratiating himself with Liam one step at a time, but before he could lay everything out, the large double doors of the conference room were slashed to pieces, and their fragments scattered throughout the room.

The knights jumped out in front of the Viscount, their weapons at the ready.

“Who goes there!?” one of them bellowed.

The Viscount frowned when he saw the devastation in the conference room.

His government officials had suffered varying degrees of wounds from the shrapnel, and his military officers weren’t unscathed either.

Both his knights and the Viscount were safe, but when they realized the identity of the intruder, they were horrified.

“Y-you… School of One Flash!”

As they were located close to the Banfield Family’s territory, the Viscount had some superficial information about their household.

Among them was information related to the School of One Flash.

Wrapped in a sinister aura, Rinho emerged from the dust, her sword drawn.

Upon seeing the faint smile on her face, the knights began to tremble.

“M-monster…”

Some of them dropped their weapons, instantly understanding that they weren’t her match.

The knight standing beside the Viscount revealed a grim expression at his subordinates’ cowardly behavior.

“Fools.”

In the next instance, he was sprayed with the blood of his subordinates, and right after, he was blown away by a slash.

“!?”

The eyes of everyone present shot open as Rinho approached the Viscount, a grin plastered on her face.

“―Are you my enemy?”

‘…? What kind of question is that?’ the Viscount wondered.

He had initially believed that Liam had sent his junior disciple to assassinate him; however, it appeared that wasn’t the case.

The Viscount was of the belief that enemies could turn into allies depending on the circumstances. In other words, he was a flexible character.

“It’s true that we were once enemies, but we were preparing to join the side of the Banfield Family. Put simply, we’re not your enemy.”

His answer seemed to work for a moment as Rinho fell into deep thought, but soon after, she grinned once more and dispatched everyone in the room except the Viscount with her One Flash, staining the room with blood.

The Viscount had failed to detect any signs of Rinho swinging her sword, and he was horrified when he realized that he was covered in the blood of his knights.

“B-but why!? I told you we weren’t your enemy!!”

Rinho hummed as she kicked the ground, covering more than a dozen meters and closing the distance between herself and the Viscount.

Then, she pressed the blade of her sword against the Viscount’s neck.

“So?”

Treating it like a trivial matter, Rinho proceeded to cut off the Viscount’s head.

◇

Rinho left the Viscount’s planet in a small spaceship.

Aboard the ship, she removed her clothes, keeping her beloved sword close to her.

She appeared to have bandages wrapped all over her body.

“It was boring this time as well.”

Since she left Hydra, she’d traveled from one planet to another, beheading hostile nobles.

Along the way, she had cut down countless soldiers and knights, leaving her feeling more fulfilled than ever before.

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I can be myself now.”

All this time, she’d turned a blind eye to her true self.

“It’s not like I don’t feel guilty towards Master and the others, but it seems this is my way of life.”

While Liam and the others belonged under the Sun, Rinho had come to understand that she was a resident of the shadows.

When Chengshi first mentioned this to her, she had refused to accept it.

However, once she did, she was quick to adapt.

Rinho stared at her left hand, which was now covered in a purplish aura.

It was nothing like the bright particles that surrounded Liam and the others.

What she excelled at was controlling negative energy, and she could feel her power grow day by day.

“This is my way of life. It’s a pity that I can’t be like Master and the others, but at least I’m growing stronger. I can feel it. I can become much stronger, much, much stronger.”

A smile shaped like a crescent moon hung on her face as she enveloped herself in a sinister aura.

“It may be a heretical path, but it’s my path. ―If it means growing stronger, I’m willing to go to any lengths and fall to any depths.”

And just like that, Rinho began walking down a separate path.

◇

Near the Banfield Family’s mansion situated on Hydra, a building was being demolished, and the building’s new owner was there to inspect the progress.

For some reason, the worker holding the blueprints had a stiff expression on his face.

“A-are you sure about this, Young Master? As far as I’m aware, this type of facility isn’t allowed to be built in this region.”

The new owner was a young child, and he was licking a piece of candy in a flashy manner.

Taking off his sunglasses, the child addressed the on-site supervisor.

“You have my permission. I’m sure Father would let it slide.”

As one might’ve expected, the new owner was Edward.

The on-site supervisor’s gaze wandered.

“Please let me confirm with the government office.”

Hearing this, Edward sent a signal to the strong-looking guards around him, telling them with his chin to seize the supervisor.

His guards, clad in black, immediately took action and carried the supervisor away.

“Wait!! Where are you taking me!?”

Edward explained as the supervisor was taken away.

“You shall be punished for spoiling my mood. I’ll give you a taste of my custom-made torture apparatus. It’s a special device that can recreate Mother’s noogies.”

The supervisor was taken to a truck where he was strapped to its seat. Thereafter, a device shaped like human fists was pressed against both sides of his head.

Soon enough, the fists began rotating. As a result―

“GYAAA!! MAKE IT STOP!!”

The heartbreaking wails of the supervisor echoed throughout the demolition site.

The workers present stared at Edward with weird looks on their faces.

“If you disobey me, you’ll be sentenced to double noogies. Now hurry up and complete the amusement park that I’ve designed.”

Indeed, he was about to set up an amusement park near the mansion.

The children around him, who were meant to be his attendants, seemed to be having a blast.

“Constructing an amusement park right outside the mansion. What a brilliant idea, Lord Edward!”

Edward felt encouraged hearing the flattery.

“We’ll also set up a game center equipped with all the latest games.”

“Three cheers for Lord Edward!”

While the children around him were busy lifting him up, Nata, who was standing a bit further back, expressed skepticism about his plan.

“Lord Edward, there’s already an amusement park inside the mansion. Wouldn’t it be better to play there?”

She made a fair point, but Edward sighed and shook his head.

“You don’t understand anything, do you?”

“How so?”

“You see, by building an amusement park outside the mansion, I’d be able to interact with ordinary citizens.”

Interacting with the citizens―he would need to do it one day, but now wasn’t the time. That was the conclusion Nata reached.

“It’s too dangerous.”

“It’ll be fine. I’ll be hiding my identity when I’m out and about. ‘Cause you know, it would be more fun to pick up girls that way.”

While it was a good thing that Edward was interested in women, Nata worried for his future.

◇

At the Banfield Family mansion, there’s an unwritten agreement that the family would eat breakfast together.

Since we often have other arrangements throughout the day, breakfast is one of the few occasions where we family members could meet face-to-face.

This was something Rosetta wished for and one which I’ve agreed to.

Staying true to my promise, I enter the dining hall in the morning.

However, for some reason, only Rosetta is present.

Remaining seated, she pats her stomach, looking sad and lonely.

“―Darling, I got a call saying Ed would be eating breakfast outside.”

Judging from the way she says it, one of his guards must have contacted her.

I take a seat as well.

I’ve just finished my morning training, which has left me sweating and hungry, so I prioritize eating the food in front of me.

“So he’s finally at an age where he stays out overnight. Time sure flies, doesn’t it?”

One could only remain carefree for so long. ―Though in this world, that time period is significantly longer than on Earth.

Brian, who’s waiting on us, becomes exasperated at my lack of interest.

“The problem here is that it’s already morning, but he hasn’t returned. Lord Liam, I believe you should be a little more strict with Lord Edward.”

See, the thing is, Edward’s like a high school student right now.

He’s at an age where he wants to do all sorts of crazy things, but he has his guards with him, so what’s there to worry about?

“I was also like that when I was his age.”

Rosetta expresses surprise at my words.

“Is that so? I didn’t know you were so adventurous as a child, Darling.”

Rosetta seems happy for some reason.

“What’s with that smile? Anyway, let Ed do as he wants. Soon, he won’t be able to horse around even if he wants to.”

I manage to convince Rosetta one way or another, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for Amagi and Brian, who whisper back and forth.

“There’s no record of Master returning home in the morning when he was Lord Edward’s age.”

“On the contrary, Lord Liam has always lived a life of perfect morals. So much so, that I was afraid he didn’t know how to enjoy himself!”

―That’s because I didn’t have the time to fool around!

However, Edward’s different. Since he can afford to play around, he should enjoy it while he can.

I deliberately ignore their conversation and start eating, only for Amagi to approach me after receiving Rosetta’s signal asking for help.

“Master.”

“What is it? If it’s about Ed, I’ve already said many times to just leave him alone―”

“Lord Edward has broken the law and set up an illegal facility. He’s prepared an amusement park where the citizens could freely enjoy themselves, and he’s been partying from morning to midnight.”

“―What?”

Edward broke the law that I set up? This might actually call for some punishment.

Brian strikes while the iron is hot.

“What’s more, Lord Edward has built himself a harem, an endeavor that Lord Liam has failed to accomplish for so many years.”

He’s even built himself a harem? The very same harem that I’ve failed to acquire? In other words, he’s surrounded by beautiful women every day?

But he’s still a child, isn’t he?

Hmm, I guess he’s an adult on the inside, regardless of his young outward appearance.

Still, a harem? Even I only have Amagi and Rosetta, yet Edward has a harem!?

I stop eating and get up at once.

“EDWAAAAAARD!!”

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Brian ∑(゜ω゜ノ)ノ: “Lord Liam has become serious!”

Brian (´・ω・｀): “But it’s over the issue of a harem… It’s painful.”