Chapter 83 – Judgment

“Father! Why would you come to such a person’s residence!”

Byron pointed at me with an exaggerated gesture and said those words the moment he opened his mouth.

“Byron, why are you here… No, what have you come here for? Do you realize what you’re—”

Father furrowed his brows as he looked at Byron.

“Father, you’re the one! Why are you secretly meeting with Theodore and the others! Are you planning to call him back to the family just because he’s achieved some accomplishments!?”

…So he’s not going to answer the question. As for how he found my house… well, there are plenty of possibilities, but he probably won’t tell the truth. He’ll definitely claim he found it on his own or stumbled upon it by chance.

It wouldn’t be hard to learn that I live in the Eastern District with a little information gathering… but showing up at such a perfect timing… he probably had a servant threaten or bribe someone to follow Father’s carriage. Or perhaps—

“First, calm down. The only reason I came to visit is because Theo is my son. More importantly—”

Father seemed to be trying to persuade Byron by speaking as calmly as possible, but Byron didn’t appear to be listening.

“Father, you’re being deceived by him! He claims to have become independent from the Count’s family! He’s definitely planning to build up achievements and take revenge on our family later! Despite being indebted to the Count’s family, he’s the type to kick dirt back at them! You should disown him immediately!”

…Ah. So that’s how he sees it.

Probably because he’s aware of all the things he’s done to me. He seems to have decided from the start that if I gained power, I would seek revenge.

So when he sees me and Father—well, from their perspective it must look like a secret meeting—he jumps to conclusions. That his position as the next head might be in danger, or that I’m scheming to win Father over and overthrow him, and he rushed here without thinking.

The reason Father came to Termwills after so long… is probably because I’m here. So he must have requested to accompany him, and when he detected that Father came to my house, he barged in saying “I told you so.”

…It’s like he’s looking at his own reflection in a mirror and getting scared on his own. He usually acts more reserved, but I guess he doesn’t have that composure now. Or has he given up pretending since Father already knows?

I understand what he’s thinking and why he came here. But that aside.

“First, get out of my house.”

“You—”

He started to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance, creating a water sphere with Water Magic to trap him inside. The moment he was plunged into the water, Byron struggled to get out, but no matter how much he tried to swim, it was useless since this magic was designed to contain things inside.

I lightly flicked the water sphere with the back of my hand, sending him flying from the doorway to the courtyard.

The water sphere burst when it hit the wall, and I could see Byron, now soaking wet, coughing violently.

“Damn it! Magic again! Again!”

I approached Byron, who was still lying in the courtyard cursing, and he lifted his head to glare at me.

“How dare an illegitimate child like you be disrespectful to me, the legitimate heir!”

Is it because this is an illegitimate child’s house, so the legitimate heir can barge in as he pleases?

Come to think of it, Kathryn was like that too. Despite being so fixated on status differences like this, they haven’t researched my position or anything.

Well, there’s bound to be information discrepancies between the provinces and the capital. It seems only Father has been properly gathering information.

“Sorry, but I’m already independent from the family.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that you’re not a noble!”

“I have the title of Otherworld Ambassador. With full authority, I’m said to be equivalent to His Majesty the King. Well, only within the Labyrinth though.”

Byron furrowed his brows. He had an expression like he didn’t understand what I was saying.

…Now, what should I do? In this situation, I could just hand Byron over to the authorities and be done with it…

The reason I’m not doing that is because, even someone like him is my half-brother. Not out of familial affection. Since any scandal in the Count’s family would affect me too, I’d rather not have this become a topic of discussion among the nobles.

But then the question becomes where to draw the line. I can’t just let it slide because he’s family. This is also where Grace and Ashley live.

When I glanced at Father, he was frowning and giving a small nod.

That’s—his work face. It seems he understands. Well then, I’ll decide my approach too.

“Th-this is a matter for the Count’s family! You called Father here for a secret meeting!”

“That’s just your suspicion.”

“…Byron. I came to Theo’s house of my own will.”

“Why would Father? You could have just summoned Theodore to the annex!”

It would probably be pointless to say it’s because you accompanied him to Termwills.

Father was trying to be considerate to both sides by meeting me without informing anyone and not making me meet Byron and the others, hoping to end things peacefully. But he’s interpreting it that way, huh.

“…If it were an invitation, that would be one thing. But Theodore isn’t in a position where I can summon him. He’s a direct retainer of His Majesty Melvin.”

“Th-that’s ridiculous! How could…!”

Ah. So he really didn’t know. Byron’s complexion was visibly worsening.

“Probably because he’s a Demon Slayer. More importantly, you need to bow your head to the people here and ask for forgiveness.”

“Who would do that for Theodore! No matter how much magic he can use! There’s no way that Theodore could do such things!”

Byron shouted while still flustered. He’s quite confused.

I can understand why he can’t believe I’m a Demon Slayer since he can’t let go of his old image of me. But I don’t need him bringing that mindset here.

“Th-that’s right! He must have used that Grace over there to defeat the demon and cleverly deceived everyone! I’ll expose his true nature!”

Byron reached for his gloves. Hey. Don’t tell me you’re planning to throw them at me and declare a duel or something?

If you throw those gloves, this won’t just be a “fight”—there’ll be no turning back. You may be family, Father’s child, but put yourself in my position, having to do this in front of Father.

“—Come, Ouroboros”

When I called, the Dragon Staff came flying from deep within the house with tremendous force, settling into my hand as Ouroboros happily purred.

Three, then four Magic Circles deployed, scattering pale sparks around us. Byron remained frozen, staring at me.

“From now on—think carefully before you act. Who, what, and how?”

“Ah, eh, ooh?”

Byron was frozen for a moment, but then, for some reason, he threw away his sheathed sword from his waist, clenched his fists, and stared at me with wide eyes.

Is that—meaning you want to fight bare-handed without magic? Do you think you have the advantage physically? If that’s the case—

“Clever, aren’t you?”

“Guboh!”

A moment later, my Knee Strike was embedded in Byron’s solar plexus.

I casually approached the staggering Byron, grabbed his arm, spun him around once, and slammed him onto the ground.

“Guh, ha…!”

It probably won’t be serious since it’s dirt, but he’s gasping from the impact, his eyes rolling back.

“Without magic, you say?”

Ouroboros, held above my head, became enveloped in a pale light.

“Wai-, Theodo…”

“Don’t make me laugh”

Without a sound. Ouroboros, swung downward, swept just above Byron’s head. A deep crack remained in the ground. …Well, he’s unharmed. Though his hairstyle won’t be presentable in public for a while.

“O, ah, ahh…”

He came here interrupting my conversation with Father based on his inflated imagination, saying things about Grace and whatnot. It was somewhat irritating… but I guess this is about right for my resolution. The rest is up to Father’s judgment.

“Disappointing, Byron”

Father said quietly to Byron. Byron, his face contorted in pain and Fear, looked at Father.

“Even accounting for what you didn’t know, your impropriety is still excessive, your disrespectful words to the members of other families present. Even if the head of the household shows leniency, as the family head, I cannot overlook this. Probably—no. Definitely, you cannot inherit the family. You—will be stripped of your inheritance rights and sent back to the Count’s territory. You won’t be permitted to stay in Termwills either.”

“Wh, what”

“I’ll have to separate Daryl from Kathryn and thoroughly re-educate him.”

That’s… right. There’s no need to say more about what he did to me, but saying things like he used Grace, or that everyone is being deceived. Grace is being directly, and Ashley indirectly, insulted.

If we’re letting it slide because they showed leniency and keeping it internal, then we need a resolution that satisfies everyone present.

Both Grace and Ashley—are nodding. They seem to accept that. The rest will probably be creating an appropriate reason for disinheritance back in the Count’s territory.

“Light Bind”

I restrained Byron’s body with Light Magic, then blocked his words with Silence magic. He’ll probably only say things that are unbearable to listen to anyway.

“Something to bind him with”

I physically restrained him further, then used Levitation to lift him up and stuff him into the carriage.

“I’m truly sorry, Theo. Let me—come another day. If you’ll allow it, that is.”

“Understood”

When I gave a small nod, Father bowed his head, got into the carriage, and returned to the annex.

I’ll just give instructions to Caduceus and have him stay alert.

Well. That much is fine.

“Um, uh. Was this a bad time?”

Alfred and Marian were there with confused expressions.

I knew that the carriage with the two of them had arrived around the time I restrained Byron and stuffed him into the carriage. I’m not sure if this timing is good or bad.

If Byron had done something foolish to those two… he would have ended up on the gallows… so let’s consider it good timing.