Terminally-Ill Genius Dark Knight-Chapter 213

Either way, I thought she would understand anyway.

After all, am I not her life’s savior?

It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, and I also wished for her not to die, but that’s not the reason why I had to save Penelope.

Nox von Reinhaver could have been a guest at the coronation, and it would have been fine even if he were a wanderer.

The power of the name Reinhaver. And the ability to look after my own safety.

But this, too, was fate.

If I hadn’t saved her, I would have lost more.

Moreover, I was confident that Penelope would not become someone who would cause Nox von Reinhaver pain.

Like this.

After defeating the Anti Reinhaver Allied Forces and securing a fairly large territory, one problem came to me.

The reason was my damn origin. The Reinhaver family.

“This is the first time the young master has been compelled to return to the family. It seems like a difficult matter.”

“Brother, do you have any clues?”

“Hmm. Well… I can’t easily guess Father’s thoughts. But it’s certain that it’s deeply related to your recent actions.”

“Actions…”

Various thoughts flash through my mind.

All I’ve done so far is make the princess an emperor.

“You slew a Sword Emperor, Ms. Ulysses alongside Paracelsus, boldly invested in Chaders to secure commercial rights, replaced all the corrupt high-ranking officials of the state, and ultimately succeeded in establishing a Dutchy.” ＲÀΝỒᛒЕs̩

That’s what Grain said.

Hearing it like this gives me a creepy feeling.

'Could it seem like I did all that for the family?’

Theo von Reinhaver.

Although he’s not more than my biological father, and I am in a position where I must kill him. Also, to me, who has always thought of Inner Lunatic as a game, he is undoubtedly a character framed as a 'villain’ that cannot be removed…

'Anyway, I am his son. As I’ve been saying all along. I heard that the Elder’s council has been convened this time… Could it be?!’

A small spark of premonition grows uncontrollably.

The feeling is not good.

“Let’s go to the family immediately.”

“Yes, young master. Carl.”

Zitri called Carl along with her answer.

Grain also naturally mounted his beloved horse and placed Prim, who was grimacing, on his horse.

Somehow, although he doesn’t listen to me, he seems to communicate well with Grain.

How much they talked…

No, that’s not important now.

“Let’s go!”

Neigh—!

Two horses galloped fiercely.

Hundreds of escort knights followed, each following us in perfect order.

**********

“Here in this place, I will decide the next head of the family to succeed me. Nox von Reinhaver. My youngest son is the next head of the Reinhaver family.”

It was a voice filled with a strong will, as if he would not listen to anyone else’s opinions.

However, no one could respond.

The forces that had been pushing for Garen had already fallen, and the collateral Reinhaver branch in the Chaders region, which had been growing its power recently, had also lost its strength.

In such a situation, who would dare to offer an opinion to the family head, Theo?

Of course, there was none.

Moreover, this was the first time Theo had made a decision so arbitrarily, which added to the shock.

Theo von Reinhaver had always listened to the Elder’s council and judged the situation at hand.

But what about Theo now?

He was making them follow his decision.

The Conqueror (顯者).

It was a fitting action for one who wields the supreme sword, but Theo was different from the previous Black sword wielder Patriarchs.

He was gruff but benevolent, intelligent but reasonable.

He was a man different from the secret collusions and scandals of the dark families as called by the world.

“If that is the Patriarch’s will, how can we object?”

“That’s right.”

“Although young master Nox is young, I heard he has already established a Dutchy recognized by the Imperial Family. You have raised a great son.”

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Even amidst the voices of the vassals, Theo spoke with a slightly subdued tone.

“I wish it were so. If only I had raised that child. If only I had helped him to be able to say he was raised, he would have found his talent sooner.”

“…..”

In Theo’s voice, which seemed to reflect on the past, those who did not know the relationship between Nox and him could not add any comments. It would be troublesome in many ways if any careless remarks led to backlash.

“Patriarch.”

At that moment, Rodwell’s voice pulled him out from the depths of the deep sea.

Theo raised his head. Rodwell bowed his head and spoke.

“Young master Nox has arrived.”

“Is that so? Let him in. It will be a long night.”

Looking up at the already darkened night sky, Theo’s eyes, soaked in faint melancholy, shine. Nox, who has a beautiful face resembling his mother,

The face of his youngest son flickered before his eyes.

It was a longing he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Just like the day he lost his wife.

**********

“The last sword of Reinhaver greets the Patriarch”

The last sword.

It was a title given to the youngest of the Reinhaver family. Not greeting as an unrecognized youngest, but now officially one of the family’s swords.

Since he had already become a knight of the Emperor and received a title, it’s easier to understand that the greeting had changed.

“You look healthy. Sit down.”

The place where I met Theo was the reception room.

The elder’s council seemed to have already ended.

'At least it wasn’t about me. right?’

A sense of relief was about to surge up when suddenly a word interrupted.

It was the moment my inner peace was suddenly broken. Theo called me in a calm voice.

“Nox von Reinhaver. No, my youngest.”

“Yes. Patriarch.”

“You still don’t call me father. Even though I deliberately brought you to the reception room, you prioritize etiquette.”

“Wasn’t that our relationship from the beginning?”

Flatly. Clearly conveying my intention.

Frankly speaking, there’s no good in angering Theo. No matter how much I’ve established a Dutchy in Chaders, compared to Reinhaver here, it’s not even worth a drop in the bucket. Anyway, it will take several days for the Dutchy to function properly.

Even though I know the future to some extent, it means that an absolute amount of time is consumed that I can never control.

But that’s not a reason not to question Theo’s words.

Mother.

If he, Theo von Reinhaver, was at the forefront of the sacrifice of that name I’ve never called, and if I suffered because of it, I will never forgive that man.

If he’s seeking his son now, I will refuse.

Moreover.

'Theo is a villain.’

And an absurdly strong villain at that, so I can’t even do as I please.

It’s difficult to redeem or reform him.

There’s no reason to be kind to Theo von Reinhaver.

“Right.”

Theo sneered at himself and spoke. Was what he heard from me shocking? I’m not sure, but it seems similar.

Anyway, he had just lost his eldest son.

The one who killed him was me.

Nox von Reinhaver.

“Regarding Garen…It’s regrettable. I’m sorry for putting you through that.”

“…What do you mean?”

However, the voice of Theo that reached me, who was barely maintaining my expression, was enough to make one flustered.

'Why is Theo suddenly saying this? Sorry… he says?’

It’s something I’ve never imagined.

What kind of person is Theo von Reinhaver?

The head of the Reinhaver family, the most outstanding among the three Sword Emperors.

He’s the one who created rumors that even the Imperial Family could be toppled with his overwhelming martial prowess.

Such a Theo is apologizing?

Moreover, saying he’s sorry?

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Right. It must be because too much time has passed for my sincerity to reach you. I understand.”

“….”

“Nox. I didn’t want to become the family head.”

It wasn’t a story that should come out of the mouth of the head of the Reinhaver family.

Especially considering the members of the Elder’s council who were glaring at him today, it was a statement that should never have been uttered. But as if such things were meaningless, Theo continued, fixing his gaze on me.

“It was because of fear. Perhaps it was the same fear as yours. A primal desire for life. The urge to escape. It was mixed to the point where I couldn’t even keep my mind straight.”

“Why are you suddenly bringing this up?”

“The Reinhaver family has been cursed. No, to be precise.”

Theo paused for a moment, then met my eyes and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.

For a very brief moment. It was a fleeting smile, but I could realize.

That Theo is sincere now, and I am about to hear a new story that I had never heard in the world of Inner Lunatic, which I had always thought of as a game.

“The three dark families. All of them are cursed by demons. A constraint is given in exchange for great power.”

“A demon's… curse, you say?”

“Yes. I don’t know what kind of contracts each family made. But the problem is that the contracts with demons must be upheld, and we cannot go against them.”

“Why… even if it’s for power, why did the first Patriarch, our ancestor, make such a contract?”

“Do you know about the first human kingdom?”

I recalled the calamitous demon who used alchemy in the past and emerged from the abyss to torment Luna.

Jagan.

When I defeated him, I could obtain information about the first human kingdom, the Kingdom of Catalyu.

“Are you talking about the Catalyu Kingdom?”

Theo nodded. He added.

As if recalling a story from a long time ago, things even he had not experienced.

“In the beginning, there were no demons or angels in the human world. The only things that existed on the continent were humans. And the creator who observed the birth of the world, the creator god Arden.”

Arden.

I know that name too.

The god who is said to have created this world and humans.

But why is her name coming up here?

I don’t quite understand that there were no demons or angels from the beginning, and only humans existed. Such a setting did not appear in the game background I played.

Was the information deliberately hidden?

And why is Theo telling me this?

“The first human kingdom prospered by the grace of the creator god Arden, but for some reason, it fell. 'The Philosopher’s Stone.’ The noble gift given to humans by Arden caused a war among them… and finally, the first war of the human world broke out. That was the 'War of the Revenge Stone.’”

'The Revenge Stone… the first continental war waged by those who coveted the Philosopher’s Stone to seek each other’s interests. The beginning of evil as dealt with in numerous history books.’

**

Note:

I’ll change Chaders Principality to Dutchy. 공국 means Principality or Dutchy. But, I felt Dutchy is more appropriate now. I’m still unsure though, since the title that Nox received can be a Duke or Lord. And I’m not well-versed in these medieval terms.