Chapter 168


“Mother gave the order. Could you spare some time, brother?”

Naturally, it’s no surprise that attention turns to the appearance of a new character.

I distinctly caught sight of Allen Kalia’s mask starting to crack.

Turning around, I glanced at the one who altered the atmosphere.

“Calling Allen ‘brother’ and mentioning ‘Mother’s order’… It seems that this person is none other than the Marquis’s third son.”

Unlike the second son, who easily dazzles with his charming demeanor, the third son stood out with his tall stature and sharp gaze.

There was no trace of the second son’s fabricated cuteness or artifice in him.

His demeanor seemed more akin to that of his elder sister, Eunice Kalia.

Despite his youthful appearance, he possessed a faint charisma and a cold demeanor that didn’t match his age as a teenage boy.

“So, Mother gave the order? What do you mean? I haven’t heard a thing.”

“She just issued an order for the first time to me.”

“Hmm… Mother gave an order, you say…”

At last, the subtle smile that had been lingering on Allen Kalia’s face began to fade.

“Abel. Is it a rather urgent matter?”

“Urgent? More like… it’s closer to informing you of what Mother has already decided.”

Abel Kalia’s sharp gaze swept over me and Shione.

After a brief nod of acknowledgement, he redirected his attention.

“Would you care to hear about it briefly right here?”

Allen pondered for a moment at Abel’s question.

He ultimately responded by nodding in agreement with his brother’s words.

Abel Kalia, moving closer, lowered his voice just enough.

The two brothers stood at a distance from us, clearly talking among themselves.

Using my mana, I heightened my senses to catch their exchange more distinctly.

Awakening sensations. Amplified hearing allowed their voices to pierce through my mind more clearly.

“From today onward, all of the troops stationed in the west of the territory, including the three thousand you command, are to return here or to the border.”

“What?”

“Exactly what I said. I don’t know very much yet, either—”

Abel’s black eyes gleamed sharply.

“Mother mentioned in passing… that you’ve neglected your duties, leading to a lack of security in the western region.”

“If that’s the case, what brings you here?”

“Mother has commanded that instead of you, I manage the western security.”

With Shione by my side, I could only observe them.

As I watched from this side, Allen was half-hidden, with only his front visible.

He maintained a calm expression throughout, facing Allen Kalia with an even tone.

Meanwhile, the part of Allen Kalia that I could see from behind seemed utterly displeased with what he had heard from his brother.

The charm and flattery he usually displayed vanished entirely as he silently glared at his sibling.

“The western security has been neglected—”

…Indeed.

We had come along the Kalia Marquis’s western road.

On the way, we’d encountered countless mana-infused beasts, and it was evident there were more than just a few.

Additionally, if one looked out the carriage window, they could often see Elisa, painted red by the setting sun, loitering near us.

That there were so many mana-infused hybrids near a popular trade route was a problem.

To have it managed poorly under the second son would have been acceptable, but having the third son take over wouldn’t be so bad.

“…Something feels off.”

Perhaps I was reading too much into it.

Just moments ago, I had sensed a familiar oppressive energy emanating from that dainty courtesan-like figure.

Just as Shione had mentioned yesterday, there was something oddly suspicious about him.

…Perhaps the issue regarding the monsters could somehow relate to Allen Kalia himself.

As I contemplated this, Allen Kalia’s voice suddenly reached my ears.

“It seems it might be best to discuss this matter privately. Abel, would you come to my room for a conversation?”

Without a hint of hesitation, Abel shook his head decisively at his brother’s words.

“Let’s go to my room instead. I have a knight who received Mother’s orders waiting there.”

“Understood, I’ll follow.”

“Then please wait in my room ahead of time.”

“And you, Abel?”

“I’m going to see if there’s anything I need to relay to our guests over there. I’ll join you soon.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Allen swiftly turned around, hands clasped behind his back.

Pretending to be bright and cheerful, he approached Shione.

“Hehe, sorry for the inconvenience… It seems things have gotten a bit out of hand. I won’t be able to guide you to the garden. My apologies, Young Lady.”

“That’s quite alright. The matters at hand take priority. We’ll return later.”

“Yes! The pond in the Marquis’s garden is quite lovely, so do make sure to visit it.”

“Of course, understood.”

After wrapping up their brief conversation, Allen Kalia turned his gaze towards Chloe Anette, who had been standing nearby like a statue.

At his focused attention, the knight began to fidget slightly.

“Then I’ll take my leave, Chloe.”

“I will follow.”

Once again, Allen Kalia spun around and began walking away.

In that moment, only his younger brother, standing directly opposite, could perceive his expression.

Allen’s face was frozen in an emotionless gaze directed straight ahead.

Like a doll.

With a chillingly cold expression devoid of feelings, once he was out of sight…

Finally, Abel Kalia approached Shione and me.

“Greetings to the guests of the Shianella Count’s House. I’ve heard much about you, Friel Arielte.”

It seemed he had some connections with Friel Arielte.

Shione and I exchanged brief and formal introductions with him.

He had heard good things about us from Friel, and his demeanor was notably more amiable than when he addressed his brother.

I initially thought him to be a boy with a perpetually cold impression.

However, catching a slight smile made it clear he wasn’t completely frozen in heart.

As our conversation progressed, toward its conclusion, he spoke coldly.

“Shione, Ray, please be careful of my brother.”

Shione was the first to react to his words.

“Be careful, you say?”

“What do you mean—”

Abel surveyed the surroundings.

Since we found ourselves alone in the hallway, he cautiously opened his mouth.

“You may have already heard about my brother from Friel, but as it stands, no one who has gotten too closely involved with him has come out unscathed. Especially on a personal level.”

His tone carried a heavy sincerity.

“Even family, who should be the closest, like my sister and I, find it difficult to trust him. Please take care, particularly—”

Abel closed his eyes for a moment, as if recalling something.

When he opened them again, his gaze was shadowed by memories of the past.

“Never enter my brother’s room, regardless of being invited. Each person who has gone in and come out has either become his fervent follower… or a fanatic, and it never ended well.”

*

“Then Abel, shall we discuss the matter concerning your management of the western security that Mother ordered? Of course, we also need to include—”

Allen’s eyes rolled to focus on the knight standing beside Abel.

“…Deputy Commander Irina.”

She was the deputy commander of the first legion.

Unlike the commander, she was still an officer who had yet to be swayed by Allen.

Allen’s glare sharpened noticeably as he watched the deputy commander.

Abel then spoke in a plain tone.

“Is there anything to discuss? We the brothers are merely following Mother’s orders.”

“…Indeed. We must follow the head of the family’s orders.”

“In the western territory under your management, over sixty mana-infused monsters have been spotted over the past few days.”

“……”

“They were not ordinary monsters, it seems. According to reports, they’re all corrupted by mana. Furthermore… quite a number were found near a village located midway through the western mountains. Surely that area is where your troops are stationed.”

“……”

“If you have been regularly patrolling and maintaining security, you should have been aware of such occurrences. With so many monsters appearing, you couldn’t possibly not notice. Yet…”

Allen sealed his lips, while Abel took the reins of the conversation.

“Now it appears as though you have neglected security and defense over there. Chloe Anette?”

“Yes, Abel Kalia.”

“Did you know about the situation in the west?”

“……”

“Unlike our deputy commander, I heard you’ve been focusing on maintaining the territory’s security rather than the borders. Especially in the west alongside the commander. Is it truly the case that you have been oblivious to this situation?”

“……”

A heavy silence descended.

The desire to avoid speaking further was palpable from both Chloe Anette and Allen Kalia.

The small ripple of silence they created had now transformed into a roaring wave sweeping through the room.

In the now still atmosphere within the room, it was Abel Kalia who finally broke the silence.

“The mana-corrupted monsters are openly roaming through the mountains. Had the guests from the Count’s House not passed through that trade route and informed Friel… it could have taken a far worse turn.”

“……”

“For that reason, Mother decreed that since you’ve been remiss in your duties, I shall take charge of the western security alongside Irina—”

“……?”

“This opportunity has allowed me to gain partial military authority, previously permitted only to the eldest son and second son. So this western cleanup will be my first achievement.”

“Is that what you mean?”

“Yes, Abel Kalia will finally join the competition concerning who controls the family—perhaps rather late, brother.”

At his words, Allen narrowed his eyes.

“Then… I suppose it won’t be easy to continue smiling, Abel.”

Allen struggled hard to suppress the frown forming on his lips.

Meanwhile, Abel smiled subtly, observing Allen’s struggle.

“Then, I will ask for a transfer of management regarding the western matters, brother.”

Abel Kalia.

His role now was to serve as a check against Allen Kalia’s solo act during Eunice Kalia’s deployment at the Great Forest.

With Friel Arielte and other allies from the Great Forest backing him up…

He would certainly prove to be a considerable obstacle for Allen.

*

In a shadowy room belonging to Allen Kalia.

He sank into his comfortable chair and whispered candidly.

“Abel…”

With that, Allen Kalia began to stare into the void with an eye glinting with madness and eerie fervor.

“For my earthly task bestowed by the divine, the west is absolutely necessary—”

His eyes rolling dramatically.

“What a nuisance this has turned out to be.”

He began to focus intently on something invisible in the air, as if reading and deciphering it with certainty.