Arthas April 07, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The missive, delivered by the butler; it only had two phrase, etched in elegant script—
【Sacred Blood, a counterfeit】
The reason for the Duke's outrage over those two simple words was simple —.
The Sacred Blood that had been kept in the underground vault of House Winfred for centuries - that treasured heirloom of the ancient noble house was revealed to be a counterfeit, a forgery, and not the authentic relic.
Sacred Blood.
Blood imbued with the power of a Deity.
One of only five unique-grade items existing on the continent.
A tale as simple as it could be.
In this world where the entire imperial population believed in deities, the Sacred Blood was a relic of immeasurable value. And blinded by that value, the Winfred family created a counterfeit version centuries ago after the original was lost - a sordid story told time and again.
Of course, a deception of this scale would have been impossible without the assistance of the imperial family.
'A secret that binds the imperial family and the Winfreds.'
I slowly raised my head.
"................"
The Duke glared at me with eyes like daggers.
It was understandable, given the Winfred family’s shameful secret that none should ever know had now been exposed to a mere bastard.
"So you sent that note."
After a pause, his voice laced with fury assaulted my eardrums.
"Claiming the Sacred Blood is a counterfeit."
Crinkle—
The note clutched in his right hand crumpled mercilessly.
"Explain yourself. What led you to think such a conclusion?"
His posture seemed ready to slit my throat with the sword in his grip at any moment. But I had no need to fear.
In this place, I held all the power.
"I found it."
"You found it?"
"Yes, I found it. The genuine Sacred Blood, not the counterfeit stored in the vault."
"....."
I found the Sacred Blood.
And not some trifling counterfeit, but the real thing.
That shocking revelation made the Duke's pupils tremble violently.
"...Nonsense."
But he denied it; no, he doubted me specifically.
Giving me a look that said the words of some worthless bastard could not be believed.
It was understandable he would find it hard to believe.
That I claimed to have found an object of legend that could come straight out of ancient texts - from his perspective, such a reaction was only natural.
But to me, having experienced transmigration and regression, it was simply laughable.
"You don't wish for it to be nonsense, do you?"
Holding the Duke's gaze, I let out a chuckle; his eyes flashed dangerously, clearly revealing his urge to kill me right then and there.
"The reason I'm certain the Sacred Blood in the vault is a counterfeit is simple. I recently discovered the genuine Sacred Blood by chance, and over the course of several months, I verified repeatedly that it is indeed the real thing."
I stared him down as I continued:
"There cannot be two Sacred Bloods under the same sky. Which means, by implication, that the one stored in your mansion is the counterfeit, does it not?"
My words seemed to have struck a nerve, as the Duke grit his teeth; yet he made no further moves, as if realizing I did not come here merely to bluff and bluster.
"Who could have known? That the Winfred would conspire with the imperial family to commit such blasphemous fraud in the deity's name."
What audacity.
I bit back my next words.
"............"
And a heavy silence hung in the study.
After a short sigh, he asked me, ".....Where did you find it?"
"Like I'd tell you just for asking."
"It seems you don't value your life. I could choose to kill you right here and now."
"Would I have come here on my own two feet if I didn't have a countermeasure? Try it, if you wish. But be prepared to face the consequences of blasphemy and the annihilation of family lineage."
Kyle Winfred was a coward.
Utterly foolish, craven, and arrogant in every way.
Normally he would have soiled himself at such threats, throwing away any advantage he held.
Of course, that was all just wishful thinking for now.
Because I intend to squeeze the Duke's family for all they're worth through this deal.
"Ha, this is amusing."
The Duke's voice was calm and devoid of any emotion, but I knew better; He was deeply shaken by the sight of the transformed Kyle Winfred.
"If by any chance, the Sacred Blood you claim to have found is not genuine, Kyle..."
It won't be.
After experiencing the transmigration and regression, do you think I could be mistaken about something so simple?
"...You'd better be prepared. It won't be a simple death."
"So be it."
"You think I'm joking?"
"Enough, we don't have time. Let me hear your answer first. Will you make the deal?" I asked, my eyes flashing.
The Duke tapped his foot on the floor, deep in thought. After a moment, "So then." His tightly closed lips parted, "What do you want?"
Finally, to the main point.
This was not something I needed to ponder.
I've had the price I'll extract in exchange for the Sacred Bllod worked out for a long time.
"Annulment."
"........"
"I want to annul my engagement to Isabel."
First and foremost, without a doubt, I want the annulment of my engagement to Isabel.
"Very well, I accept."
The Duke also nodded readily.
His relaxed voice betrayed his true feelings, thinking that getting rid of me through annulment was a steal in exchange for the Sacred Blood.
Of course, that was ridiculous.
I wasn't stupid enough to be satisfied with just an annulment.
"A blank check."
"What?"
"I want you to issue a blank check in the name of Winfred."
The price I chose was money.
In this wretched world, the only thing you could trust was money.
When I demanded a blank check, the Duke's poker face crumbled.
"I refuse."
"Why?"
"There is no blank check I would issue to a scoundrel like you. Even more so a check with the Winfred guarantee."
"Heh."
This was ridiculous..
Even in this situation, he was still spouting such nonsense. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't help but laugh derisively.
There was no other way but to do this; I had no choice but to revive the villain experience I had accumulated over the years in the previous playthrough.
"Do you want your family line to be wiped out?"
"...What?"
The Duke blinked dumbly, as if he had misheard.
"I said, do you want your family line to be wiped out?"
"You've finally lost your mind."
"No, you're the one who's lost it. Do you think the imperial family will admit to their involvement and show you any mercy if it's revealed that the prestigious Winfred House has been making counterfeit Sacred Blood and deceiving the imperial citizens? It's impossible. They'll choose to wipe out the Winfred House and fill the national coffers instead. What's wrong with you?"
The Duke laughed as if my raving threats were preposterous; but whether he laughed or not, I've driven the stake in.
I told him that if he didn't agree to the deal, I would erase the name of Winfred from the continent right away.
"The blank check."
"........."
"There is no compromise."
Just looking at that bastard Belzer Winfred's face still makes my blood boil.
Well, it was only natural since he was the one who ruined Kyle Winfred's life for simply being a bastard.
‘Thanks to that, I did struggle a bit in my previous playthrough.’
That's probably why my words were so harsh; it wasn't just one or two scenarios that got ruined because of this bastard.
He was utterly calculating and only looked out for himself - a vile human being.
The choice he will make was ultimately predetermined.
It's none other than...
".....Fine."
That's right, this is it.
I nodded and met his gaze once again.
"Let's start with the contract.”
"A contract?"
"Yes, isn't it customary to draw up a contract first for any deal?"
Why on earth would I trust you?
I glared at him with suspicion.
“Let's do it with a Geass.”
"........."
"I ask that you use the highest grade of Geass. That's the only way I can feel secure making a deal with you."
The Geass - a ceremonial contract backed by each party's magical prowess; the more powerful the magic vowed, the harsher the price for violating the contract.
The fact that it was monopolized and issued by the Papal State made it quite expensive to obtain.
In fact, the highest grade Geass even required verification directly from an Archbishop, making it impossible for even moderately high-ranking individuals to acquire.
"................"
The Duke's face flushed red, then drained of color.
I sat calmly, subtly curling the corner of my mouth upward, “Take your time and think about it.”
He could ponder it for ages.
The answer will remain unchanged.
* * * * *
The deal went through smoothly.
I obtained a definitive answer from the Duke regarding the annulment, and even managed to extract a blank check that would serve as my future operating funds.
That very evening, the Duke hastily assembled a small elite team and left the estate; their destination was the location I had indicated, where they would search for the Sacred Blood.
Thanks to that, the estate was quite deserted.
I also stayed holed up in my room, enjoying the respite until the Duke's return.
Yes, everything is perfect now.
Except for one thing.
【Scenario Progress: 3%】
"Why the hell is this going up now?"
The main scenario hasn't even begun progressing yet.
In other words, this damn progress rate shouldn't be going up at this point in time.
The cause was also unclear.
After all, I hadn't stepped outside the mansion even once.
"Could the scenario have gotten derailed?"
It was quite possible the scenario went off the rails because I didn't do the villain cosplay as intended, just going around looking for Sacred Artifact instead.
Or there might be another scenario route I was unaware of.
I need to keep all possibilities open.
With this shitty system, nothing was too outrageous.
"Phew."
I looked at the food spread out before me.
The dishes with their visually appealing presentation were stealing my attention.
However, I mustn't be fooled by their fancy exterior.
Medieval cuisine inevitably lacked something for the modern palate - not enough seasoning, tough textures, some flaw or another.
Still, I have to eat, don't I?
So I resumed my meal.
Until a frantic voice came from beyond the door.
—"M-Master...!"
An unusually raised voice, unlike the butler's usual calm tones.
As I stood up to open the door, a strange sound began to emanate from the other side.
—"No matter how...noble a lady... this impulsive behavior is unbecoming...!"
The butler's flustered voice drifted in snippets.
I walked over and opened the door.
And then.
"...........!"
The figure that appeared through the open door was none other than Isabel.
I glared at the butler standing beside her.
He averted his eyes with an embarrassed look.
I turned my head and looked at Isabel; her hair was disheveled and her eyes were bloodshot.
I didn't know what had happened, but it was quite a contrast to her usual dignified appearance.
She bowed her head deeply and cautiously grasped my sleeve.
"........Kyle."
Her thin, trembling voice was weak yet desperate.
As if regretting something from the past.
Arthas April 07, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The missive, delivered by the butler; it only had two phrase, etched in elegant script—
【Sacred Blood, a counterfeit】
The reason for the Duke's outrage over those two simple words was simple —.
The Sacred Blood that had been kept in the underground vault of House Winfred for centuries - that treasured heirloom of the ancient noble house was revealed to be a counterfeit, a forgery, and not the authentic relic.
Sacred Blood.
Blood imbued with the power of a Deity.
One of only five unique-grade items existing on the continent.
A tale as simple as it could be.
In this world where the entire imperial population believed in deities, the Sacred Blood was a relic of immeasurable value. And blinded by that value, the Winfred family created a counterfeit version centuries ago after the original was lost - a sordid story told time and again.
Of course, a deception of this scale would have been impossible without the assistance of the imperial family.
'A secret that binds the imperial family and the Winfreds.'
I slowly raised my head.
"................"
The Duke glared at me with eyes like daggers.
It was understandable, given the Winfred family’s shameful secret that none should ever know had now been exposed to a mere bastard.
"So you sent that note."
After a pause, his voice laced with fury assaulted my eardrums.
"Claiming the Sacred Blood is a counterfeit."
Crinkle—
The note clutched in his right hand crumpled mercilessly.
"Explain yourself. What led you to think such a conclusion?"
His posture seemed ready to slit my throat with the sword in his grip at any moment. But I had no need to fear.
In this place, I held all the power.
"I found it."
"You found it?"
"Yes, I found it. The genuine Sacred Blood, not the counterfeit stored in the vault."
"....."
I found the Sacred Blood.
And not some trifling counterfeit, but the real thing.
That shocking revelation made the Duke's pupils tremble violently.
"...Nonsense."
But he denied it; no, he doubted me specifically.
Giving me a look that said the words of some worthless bastard could not be believed.
It was understandable he would find it hard to believe.
That I claimed to have found an object of legend that could come straight out of ancient texts - from his perspective, such a reaction was only natural.
But to me, having experienced transmigration and regression, it was simply laughable.
"You don't wish for it to be nonsense, do you?"
Holding the Duke's gaze, I let out a chuckle; his eyes flashed dangerously, clearly revealing his urge to kill me right then and there.
"The reason I'm certain the Sacred Blood in the vault is a counterfeit is simple. I recently discovered the genuine Sacred Blood by chance, and over the course of several months, I verified repeatedly that it is indeed the real thing."
I stared him down as I continued:
"There cannot be two Sacred Bloods under the same sky. Which means, by implication, that the one stored in your mansion is the counterfeit, does it not?"
My words seemed to have struck a nerve, as the Duke grit his teeth; yet he made no further moves, as if realizing I did not come here merely to bluff and bluster.
"Who could have known? That the Winfred would conspire with the imperial family to commit such blasphemous fraud in the deity's name."
What audacity.
I bit back my next words.
"............"
And a heavy silence hung in the study.
After a short sigh, he asked me, ".....Where did you find it?"
"Like I'd tell you just for asking."
"It seems you don't value your life. I could choose to kill you right here and now."
"Would I have come here on my own two feet if I didn't have a countermeasure? Try it, if you wish. But be prepared to face the consequences of blasphemy and the annihilation of family lineage."
Kyle Winfred was a coward.
Utterly foolish, craven, and arrogant in every way.
Normally he would have soiled himself at such threats, throwing away any advantage he held.
Of course, that was all just wishful thinking for now.
Because I intend to squeeze the Duke's family for all they're worth through this deal.
"Ha, this is amusing."
The Duke's voice was calm and devoid of any emotion, but I knew better; He was deeply shaken by the sight of the transformed Kyle Winfred.
"If by any chance, the Sacred Blood you claim to have found is not genuine, Kyle..."
It won't be.
After experiencing the transmigration and regression, do you think I could be mistaken about something so simple?
"...You'd better be prepared. It won't be a simple death."
"So be it."
"You think I'm joking?"
"Enough, we don't have time. Let me hear your answer first. Will you make the deal?" I asked, my eyes flashing.
The Duke tapped his foot on the floor, deep in thought. After a moment, "So then." His tightly closed lips parted, "What do you want?"
Finally, to the main point.
This was not something I needed to ponder.
I've had the price I'll extract in exchange for the Sacred Bllod worked out for a long time.
"Annulment."
"........"
"I want to annul my engagement to Isabel."
First and foremost, without a doubt, I want the annulment of my engagement to Isabel.
"Very well, I accept."
The Duke also nodded readily.
His relaxed voice betrayed his true feelings, thinking that getting rid of me through annulment was a steal in exchange for the Sacred Blood.
Of course, that was ridiculous.
I wasn't stupid enough to be satisfied with just an annulment.
"A blank check."
"What?"
"I want you to issue a blank check in the name of Winfred."
The price I chose was money.
In this wretched world, the only thing you could trust was money.
When I demanded a blank check, the Duke's poker face crumbled.
"I refuse."
"Why?"
"There is no blank check I would issue to a scoundrel like you. Even more so a check with the Winfred guarantee."
"Heh."
This was ridiculous..
Even in this situation, he was still spouting such nonsense. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't help but laugh derisively.
There was no other way but to do this; I had no choice but to revive the villain experience I had accumulated over the years in the previous playthrough.
"Do you want your family line to be wiped out?"
"...What?"
The Duke blinked dumbly, as if he had misheard.
"I said, do you want your family line to be wiped out?"
"You've finally lost your mind."
"No, you're the one who's lost it. Do you think the imperial family will admit to their involvement and show you any mercy if it's revealed that the prestigious Winfred House has been making counterfeit Sacred Blood and deceiving the imperial citizens? It's impossible. They'll choose to wipe out the Winfred House and fill the national coffers instead. What's wrong with you?"
The Duke laughed as if my raving threats were preposterous; but whether he laughed or not, I've driven the stake in.
I told him that if he didn't agree to the deal, I would erase the name of Winfred from the continent right away.
"The blank check."
"........."
"There is no compromise."
Just looking at that bastard Belzer Winfred's face still makes my blood boil.
Well, it was only natural since he was the one who ruined Kyle Winfred's life for simply being a bastard.
‘Thanks to that, I did struggle a bit in my previous playthrough.’
That's probably why my words were so harsh; it wasn't just one or two scenarios that got ruined because of this bastard.
He was utterly calculating and only looked out for himself - a vile human being.
The choice he will make was ultimately predetermined.
It's none other than...
".....Fine."
That's right, this is it.
I nodded and met his gaze once again.
"Let's start with the contract.”
"A contract?"
"Yes, isn't it customary to draw up a contract first for any deal?"
Why on earth would I trust you?
I glared at him with suspicion.
“Let's do it with a Geass.”
"........."
"I ask that you use the highest grade of Geass. That's the only way I can feel secure making a deal with you."
The Geass - a ceremonial contract backed by each party's magical prowess; the more powerful the magic vowed, the harsher the price for violating the contract.
The fact that it was monopolized and issued by the Papal State made it quite expensive to obtain.
In fact, the highest grade Geass even required verification directly from an Archbishop, making it impossible for even moderately high-ranking individuals to acquire.
"................"
The Duke's face flushed red, then drained of color.
I sat calmly, subtly curling the corner of my mouth upward, “Take your time and think about it.”
He could ponder it for ages.
The answer will remain unchanged.
* * * * *
The deal went through smoothly.
I obtained a definitive answer from the Duke regarding the annulment, and even managed to extract a blank check that would serve as my future operating funds.
That very evening, the Duke hastily assembled a small elite team and left the estate; their destination was the location I had indicated, where they would search for the Sacred Blood.
Thanks to that, the estate was quite deserted.
I also stayed holed up in my room, enjoying the respite until the Duke's return.
Yes, everything is perfect now.
Except for one thing.
【Scenario Progress: 3%】
"Why the hell is this going up now?"
The main scenario hasn't even begun progressing yet.
In other words, this damn progress rate shouldn't be going up at this point in time.
The cause was also unclear.
After all, I hadn't stepped outside the mansion even once.
"Could the scenario have gotten derailed?"
It was quite possible the scenario went off the rails because I didn't do the villain cosplay as intended, just going around looking for Sacred Artifact instead.
Or there might be another scenario route I was unaware of.
I need to keep all possibilities open.
With this shitty system, nothing was too outrageous.
"Phew."
I looked at the food spread out before me.
The dishes with their visually appealing presentation were stealing my attention.
However, I mustn't be fooled by their fancy exterior.
Medieval cuisine inevitably lacked something for the modern palate - not enough seasoning, tough textures, some flaw or another.
Still, I have to eat, don't I?
So I resumed my meal.
Until a frantic voice came from beyond the door.
—"M-Master...!"
An unusually raised voice, unlike the butler's usual calm tones.
As I stood up to open the door, a strange sound began to emanate from the other side.
—"No matter how...noble a lady... this impulsive behavior is unbecoming...!"
The butler's flustered voice drifted in snippets.
I walked over and opened the door.
And then.
"...........!"
The figure that appeared through the open door was none other than Isabel.
I glared at the butler standing beside her.
He averted his eyes with an embarrassed look.
I turned my head and looked at Isabel; her hair was disheveled and her eyes were bloodshot.
I didn't know what had happened, but it was quite a contrast to her usual dignified appearance.
She bowed her head deeply and cautiously grasped my sleeve.
"........Kyle."
Her thin, trembling voice was weak yet desperate.
As if regretting something from the past.
