[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 327: Inheriting Everything

We decided to have our last dinner together near the royal castle.

After briefly returning to the castle, we borrowed formal attire with the help of the 8th Prince.

“You two both look truly magnificent.”

At the 8th Prince’s words, we looked at each other and sized each other up.

“Hm. If you are referring to me, I’ll acknowledge it, but as for my brother…”

“I am only grateful that you speak so highly of my lacking younger brother.”

“…”

The 8th Prince shut his mouth as if he didn’t want to get involved in our conversation.

“By the way, are you getting any sleep? You look terribly tired.”

The 8th Prince rubbed his eyelids as if to show he was already bothered by it.

“It is quite tiring. If I had trained more deeply in the martial arts, would I have been less exhausted at times like these?”

I shook my head.

“While innate energy and stamina are important, sleep is something no one can defeat. You should get some rest today.”

“If you say so, I will return and try to sleep.”

“Yes. Please do not worry about us.”

“I understand.”

After the 8th Prince left, we glared at each other and spoke.

“So, brother?”

“What is it?”

“You clean up nicely.”

Verdzig nodded and replied.

“You too, not bad.”

It was nothing new, but both Verdzig and I were handsome enough that it was hard to find our equals in the kingdom.

In the past, his gaze was incredibly sharp and he had a bit of a snake like feel to him, but these days his impression had softened.

“If we brothers had competed for the position of the next clan head based on our faces, it would have been quite the fierce battle.”

“We might have fought for the title of the most handsome on the continent.”

I was wondering why Verdzig was playing along with my nonsense for so long when he lowered his voice.

“Anyway, this is unexpected. Have you made up your mind?”

“You too, brother?”

Verdzig nodded.

“If I am not going to sit on the seat of the clan head anyway, shouldn't I be able to do as I please even more?”

Still, I never imagined this.

.

.

.

Verdzig and I entered the dining hall with Siena and Skella, respectively.

“Hmm?”

My father blinked at the strange situation.

“What is this? Are you trying to introduce your future wives ahead of time?”

Genninhen asked, as blunt as ever.

“Ahem.”

Following behind them were Rudgarda, Ulbhild, Zamuel, Knut, and Ghir.

It was an arrangement that, to anyone watching, clearly highlighted the partners we two brothers had brought along.

“Princess Siena is one thing.”

My father asked.

“Skella of Recrusa. Is she not your longtime vassal and a child born wearing the shackles of Clan Bergen?”

“That is correct.”

Verdzig answered with a confident gaze.

“I intend to set Skella free.”

My father nodded.

“You are now the head of Clan Bergen, so do as you wish. It is not my place to interfere.”

That’s right. Verdzig was now the elder brother of Duke Grunewald and the man who would hold the title of Count Bergen.

“Thank you, Father.”

Verdzig bowed his head lightly.

“When I asked the clan elders, they said the seal of the Count of Bergen was required to release the shackles of the Recrusa clan. With that, it was not difficult.”

“Mm. Since it is a contract related to bloodline, it is not easy to undo from the outside.”

My father stroked his chin.

“In any case, I too felt sorry for the Recrusa clan. It was just difficult to interfere as it was an internal matter of Clan Bergen.”

Until the recent series of events, the political situation of the Duchy was such that one had to turn a blind eye, even knowing that Clan Bergen was involved with the Black Society or had a hand in the fall of Eisenach.

“Actually, there is one thing I wish to ask of you, Father.”

“What is it? Go on, speak.”

Verdzig declared with a serious face.

“I wish to marry her.”

“…!”

We all stared at the two of them with shocked faces.

‘Wow, for real?’

At this point, you had to see it as real love.

The relationship between the two, which had been filled with love and hate, seemed to have changed a bit from what I saw this time.

“It seems like the person in question is hearing this for the first time too?”

At Genninhen’s words, Verdzig nodded.

“That is why I intend to declare it in advance.”

“What? Hahaha!”

Genninhen burst out laughing.

“You bastard, it’s obvious you’ve never dated in your life. What are you going to do if you just declare it as you please when she hasn't even agreed?”

Just then, Leszek, quiet as always, spoke up.

“Genninhen.”

“What is it, you old geezer?”

“You don’t have anyone either.”

“…!”

“Hmph.”

At those words, everyone sucked in a breath and bowed their heads.

“Lift your heads, you bastards. I can tell you’re laughing your asses off just by looking at the back of your heads.”

“Ahem.”

My father also cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“The elder’s words are correct. This is not a political marriage between families, so shouldn't you listen to the other person's intentions?”

“Of course.”

“Skella, what are your thoughts?”

Receiving our father’s question, Skella answered with a faint sigh.

“…I don't know.”

Then Genninhen spoke as if to say.

‘See?’

“Look, you punk. She says she doesn't know.”

Verdzig replied without a care.

“She did not say she dislikes the idea, either.”

“Hahahaha! How can you be so confident?”

That’s what I was thinking. Should I say he has a strangely pure side to him? This guy.

“Verdzig, my son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“When I entered into marriage, I had no choice but to consider political judgment.”

That was true.

I know how my father had to walk a tightrope to stitch the divided Grunewald back together under difficult circumstances.

“…But you children do not need to do the same. Do as you wish. You do not need to go out of your way to seek my permission.”

Verdzig immediately replied.

“No, I must ask for your permission, Father.”

“Why is that?”

Verdzig then asked back as if it were the most obvious thing.

“As a son's duty, is there ever a case of marrying without a parent's permission?”

“…Haha.”

Georg laughed.

“They say you get more tearful when you grow old, and it seems it’s true.”

I couldn't fully comprehend my father's heart, but it was easy to guess that these words had moved him deeply.

‘…He’s really become human. Don’t you think?’

I exchanged glances with Barclava.

‘I thought I heard wrong.’

As someone who had suffered under Verdzig more than anyone, this change must have been all the more surprising to him.

“Father.”

Ulbhild asked.

“How much damage did our side sustain from this war?”

“Roughly 30 percent has been destroyed.”

My father answered.

“But such damage can be rebuilt, no matter how much. Just as Webern Castle was.”

“That's right. Buildings like these are not the entirety of Grunewald.”

I said.

“The people who carry on Grunewald. They are Grunewald.”

“Well said.”

My father, smiling with satisfaction, turned his head.

“Princess Siena.”

“Yes, Your Grace the Duke.”

Siena answered, her face somehow tense.

“I have checked again. Your father is safe.”

“…That is a relief.”

“Your grief must be great. But Valkenhain is our blood ally, so do not worry. We will help Valkenhain with the same unwavering friendship as our ancestors did long ago.”

“Those are truly grateful words. But…”

Siena tilted her head slightly.

“A blood alliance?”

“Hm?”

My father looked at me.

“Allen, have you not made the marriage engagement yet?”

“…!”

Siena’s face turned bright red. Feeling a little embarrassed, I said.

“Well, um, not yet.”

“You are late. Is there a reason?”

“Yes. A great battle still remains, so I thought it best to postpone personal matters.”

At this point, I silently exchanged a look with Zamuel.

***

…Before coming here, I had a separate talk with Zamuel.

“Boss, you have to explain properly to Adeline later.”

“I have to.”

Adeline was a great debt and a source of guilt in my heart.

“Zamuel, tell me honestly. Do I seem like a piece of shit?”

“…Well. That’s a difficult question.”

Zamuel sighed and said this.

“Strictly speaking, Karzan is dead. All that remains now is the life of the reincarnated Allenvert.”

“Yes, I suppose so. But I don’t think I can confirm my relationship with the Princess until I meet Adeline and tell her everything.”

Zamuel shrugged.

“Well, you’re quite a sinful man yourself, Boss.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I thought women were not in my destiny.”

“…Boss. In any case.”

The advice Zamuel left me was this.

“In truth, more than 20 years have passed since those days. It just wasn't meant to be.”

“Not meant to be.”

“To be more precise, it was fate, but not the kind of fate that was meant to be tied as lovers and a married couple.”

“Because I had no power, and I was a coward.”

That was the truth.

“If I had ended up with Adeline back then, she would have waited for me as a widow. Perhaps I might have met my child who was older than me.”

“Wow, that would make the family tree really complicated.”

Zamuel clicked his tongue.

“I don't know what kind of fate this is.”

Every time I thought of her, I felt like crying.

“Will I get slapped, I wonder?”

“She might react with surprising composure. She might say she did it because she wanted to, so don’t worry about it.”

“No way.”

“In any case, only she would know her own heart.”

“Right.”

We were pathetic men who couldn’t know the answer.

***

We spent some time forgetting the heavy conversation.

After a few glasses of alcohol, a few laughs, and a few moments of mourning flowed by in a daze.

“Allen.”

My father brought up the main topic.

“If you defeated Casimir one on one, your combat power is now not much different from my own.”

It was a surprising declaration to hear again.

“However, when you have inherited everything, you must surpass not only me but Lord Leszek as well.”

That’s right.

With the supreme martial art passed down only to the clan head, Leszek's martial studies, and the Dragon Heart on top of it all, I must become strong enough to transcend everything.

This was a fortuitous opportunity that no one had ever received before.

“Without a shred of exaggeration, everything of Grunewald is gathering in me.”

I spoke as if making a vow in front of everyone.

“Inheriting all of your hearts, I will surely defeat the Dark King.”

“Allen.”

My father commanded.

“Surpass it. The wall that no one has ever surpassed.”

***

Below, in a dark cave.

Five superhumans, Amilcar, Sercadis, Ivan, Ragerian, and Gulbark, stood at each point of a pentagram.

And in the center, the Dark King sat in meditation with his eyes closed.

As Ragerian chanted a spell, the 200 year old prohibition was lifted, and the Ebony Oath began to unfold on its own.

Fwaaaah!

As light enveloped the buried letters, Gulbark read the incantation written in an ancient language.

“This is a forbidden demonic art, created to honor the souls of those who died at the hands of the old emperor. O descendant, willingly walk the path of the inhuman….”

The Dark King accepted the incantation with his eyes closed.

He would completely master the incantation of this Ebony Oath, then consume the Dragon Heart and use its power to reconstruct his body.

In other words, consuming the Dragon Heart would come after he had mastered all the dark arts of the Ebony Oath.

As it happened…….

It would still be some time before he learned the truth of the Dragon Heart.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]