Chapter 17: Seeds of Rebellion

Over the past three days, I’ve hunted down the Baron’s tax officials as if combing through lice.

‘By now, there’s no way they don’t know.’

Baron Helmut.

I was honestly looking forward to how that bastard would react.

The more he squirmed, the better.

The more fiercely he resisted, the greater the satisfaction when I finally dragged him down to rock bottom.

‘It’ll also serve as a warning to the others.’

Even if ours was the weakest among the ten branch families, we were still members of the Elder Council all the same.

The more thoroughly I crushed that bastard, the more the other branches would start to feel the chill.

Ethan grinned broadly.

Just then, a knock echoed through his room.

“Hyung, you called for me?”

“Come in.”

Myers opened the door and strode in. Hans trailed after him.

“So, why did you call me and Hans?”

“There’s something I need you to do.”

“What is it?”

“Go visit the other branch families.”

“Huh? Hyung, what’s with you all of a sudden! I’m not going! You promised! You said you’d protect me!”

“No one’s abandoning you. That’s not it, so relax your face a bit.”

Only then did Myers let out a sigh of relief.

“Then why are you trying to send me?”

“You know roughly what’s going on with the family, right?”

“To some extent. I heard from the chief steward.”

After Ethan collapsed,

There were only two heirs left in the family: the third son, Teron, and the youngest, Myers.

Among them, the one who had been considered the most promising successor was Myers.

That was because the third son, Teron, had pledged allegiance to one of the Kingdom’s Seven Houses nine years ago.

In short, he was considered as good as gone. Naturally, Myers, who had remained in the Ducal Territory, had the advantage.

Besides, since the branch families had always favored him as the next head, it was widely believed he’d become the family head unless something unexpected happened.

Looking at Myers, I spoke.

“I’m going to crush all those branch bastards.”

“Yeah. I figured you would, hyung.”

“If I go wild like this, how do you think they’ll act?”

“Umm, let’s see. How would they act… Maybe they’ll send an assassin?”

Ethan smirked.

What a naïve kid.

“They might send one, but that’s not a fundamental solution.”

“Why not?”

“Let’s say I get killed by an assassin. Would the branch families be able to escape responsibility?”

Right now, just because I’m young, they’ve set up the Elder Council to rule in my stead.

If the heir dies such a pitiful death in this situation, the ten branch families can’t avoid blame.

Hans nodded.

The young master’s words were flawless.

‘The moment the young master is assassinated, the question of responsibility will rise.’

And that responsibility would likely fall on all ten branch families.

Ethan looked at Hans.

He nodded and took over the explanation.

“The more the young master distinguishes himself, the more the branch families will try to push the youngest master as your replacement. They’re already acting this aggressively; if you become the acting head, they’ll think it’s a real disaster.”

“Ah……”

“If, at that point, the youngest master actively seeks support from the branches, he’ll receive all sorts of resources for training, instead of just liquor and women.”

The one who’d been closest to being the family heir, Myers.

For the past three years, they’d kept him drunk, probably to set him up as a puppet head.

But now, the situation had changed.

Because of the unpredictable variable called Ethan.

He was the legitimate firstborn.

Unless something extraordinary happened, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be chosen as head.

If they wanted to push another heir over the firstborn, they’d at least have to prove that candidate was his equal—or even better.

Only then could they bypass the firstborn without much trouble.

“Ah… So you want me to go to them, pretend to be on their side, and milk them for everything they’ve got, right?”

“Exactly, young master! Let me explain the plan. First, you’ll visit the head of the ten branch families, the Count of Phernes, and…”

At Hans’s advice, Myers nodded feverishly.

So did Ethan.

For a plan made on the spot, it was quite brilliant.

“Got it. So I just need to act that way, right?”

“Yes. The more you act like that, the easier it’ll be for the young master to move as well.”

Hearing it would help Ethan, Myers snorted energetically.

“Alright. Then should I leave today?”

That was fine, too.

He had already passed the stage of Resonance and entered the Sowing stage.

Ever since receiving the Blessing of Fire, his rate of mana accumulation and his affinity for fire had both increased dramatically.

Without the blessing, he would’ve had to train for several more months before he could plant the Essence of Fire.

“Leave by tomorrow. See your sister before you go, too. Once you’re there, you’ll probably have to stay for quite a while.”

“How long do I have to stay?”

“Over half a year, at least.”

“That long?”

“Yeah. Stay as long as you can.”

The longer he stayed, the more benefits he’d reap from the branch families.

‘If things go well, he might even get some elixirs.’

Once Myers finished the Resonance stage, Ethan had taught him everything about the following stages—Sowing, Circulation, and Blooming.

So even over there, he wouldn’t have trouble training in the family’s style.

“Oh, right. Myers, like I said before, when you’re able to manifest Black Flame, don’t reveal it too soon. Hans will let you know when it’s time.”

“Huh? The chief steward is coming with me too?”

“That’s the plan.”

Sending him alone wouldn’t do; sending sharp-witted Hans with him would open up more opportunities.

So it was best to send them together. At Ethan’s words, Hans nodded vigorously.

“As the young master wishes, I’ll do my utmost to serve the youngest master.”

“Good.”

The two of them left the room.

Staring at the door, Ethan thought of the third son, Teron.

After Ethan collapsed and watched the family slowly crumble, Teron had pledged himself to the Leician Ducal House, the second most prosperous after the Ardane Ducal House among the Kingdom’s Seven Houses.

He’d said he couldn’t restore the family’s secret techniques, so he’d go learn something else there or whatever.

That’s what he said before leaving.

To Ethan, it was all just pointless nonsense.

‘Their techniques are absolute trash. Tsk.’

If you listed the top families in the Kingdom of Heidern, the Ardane Ducal House was first, followed by the Leician Ducal House.

First and second place.

But the actual difference in level wasn’t just a single step.

Heaven and earth.

Even that phrase wasn’t enough to describe the gap. The Ardane Ducal House wasn’t a family that could be contained by the constraints of a mere kingdom.

There were seven kingdoms on the Western Continent. And the Xenon Empire, whose territory was as large as all those kingdoms combined.

Among these eight nations, even compared to all the famed sword families…

‘Our family is several levels above them.’

That fact was already proven by the continental swordsmanship tournament held every twenty years.

For the past hundred years, the Ardane Ducal House had taken first place five times.

The Leician Ducal House?

Even if the family head personally went out and gave it his all, it was lucky to make the top sixteen.

‘Even if our secret arts disappeared, is it worth leaving the family to learn some cheap tricks?’

It was pathetic that a blood relative would leave to steal the skills of a family that was only second best in the kingdom.

The family had truly fallen far.

If it were up to him, he’d barge into the Ducal House right now and drag the third son back…

‘But that’s impossible for now!’

The distance was too great, and the Leician Ducal House was unlikely to just hand him over.

It was obvious there’d be friction.

For now, dealing with the ten branch families was the priority.

Only then could he handle any conflict with the Kingdom’s Seven Houses if it arose.

‘I’ll bring him back later, if I have to.’

Ethan let out a sigh.

The third son of the Cargas Barony, Luyn Cargas.

His carriage was now climbing a rough mountain road.

Luyn spat as he looked at the annex built atop the hill.

“They really built this place disgustingly high up.”

“That’s exactly right, young master. Why do those bastards make you suffer like this… My heart aches just thinking about it.”

Shuron, one of Luyn’s personal attendants, rubbed his hands together.

Luyn’s mood improved a little at the flattery, and he let out a sigh.

“How much are we handing over this month?”

“100 gold.”

“100 gold?!”

Luyn’s eyes gleamed.

He was sure it had only been 1 gold two months ago.

He was the one who’d delivered the money every two months, so there was no way his memory was wrong.

He recalled what the Baron had told him last night.

“There’s a rumor that bastard even toyed with a full-fledged knight, so don’t cause any trouble and bring him back politely. And while you’re at it, deliver the support funds.”

‘Did he really beat up a real knight?’

Otherwise, there was no reason for the support funds to suddenly jump a hundredfold.

He felt a surge of betrayal.

‘He doesn’t give me a single coin, but he’s handing a hundred gold to that idiot?’

Lately, the Baron had completely cut off Luyn’s allowance.

Because he’d “just barely” squandered some money at the gambling house.

He was so stingy with his own son, yet so generous to some stranger.

It made his insides churn.

With 100 gold, he could play at the gambling house for ten days straight and still have some left over.

Luyn swallowed hard.

“Hey, Shuron.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Give me that pouch for a second.”

“…Sorry?”

“Hurry up, you idiot.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Shuron handed over the pouch full of gold coins. Luyn rummaged through the carriage and pulled out a shabby pouch.

“Put just 10 gold in here.”

Shuron, startled by the order, was relieved.

‘At least the young master is thinking a little.’

Skimming 10 gold off the top was something they could easily cover up.

Just as they finished dividing the coins—

Luyn slipped the pouch containing 90 gold into his coat.

“Young master?”

“What.”

“Are you really only going to give him 10 gold?”

“Yeah.”

This crazy bastard!

Shuron barely held back his curses and asked carefully,

“What if the young master kicks up a fuss…?”

“Why would he?”

“Pardon?”

“Last time we only gave him 1 gold. We were even planning to cut it down further. But now it’s 10 gold—that’s ten times more than before, isn’t it?”

“And if they don’t sit quietly, what are they going to do? Why should we bow our heads and treat that punk like royalty? Do they still think they’re the Ducal House of old?”

Luyn snorted.

The foolish commoners still believed the Ardane Ducal House was the best, but cultured nobles like himself knew better.

The Ducal House only looked fine on the outside; inside, it had been rotten for ages.

‘Well, thanks to that, our Barony’s done pretty well.’

Fifteen years ago,

After most of the Ducal House’s direct line passed away, the branch families took seats as elders and served as acting heads.

The Cargas Barony was one of those branch families.

Once his father became one of the Ducal House’s elders, they’d been able to pick up all sorts of scraps.

Getting connected to the famous Seven Houses of the kingdom was just a bonus.

The Ducal House’s children?

They hadn’t even officially inherited the family yet, and to Luyn, they were just idiots who couldn’t even speak up for themselves.

Even though the support funds had been steadily cut for the past decade, they hadn’t even complained.

‘What could they possibly do?’

This time would be no different.

Luyn grinned as he weighed the gold.

“With this, I can eat and play for ten days. Let’s finish this quickly and go. I’ve got a good feeling today, I’ll win big.”

“Yes, young master.”

Like that, the carriage arrived in front of the log cabin. The two of them got out and looked toward the yard.

Someone was swinging a sword.

“That’s the young master, right?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Luyn jingled the pouch.

The Hunting Annex.

Compared to the Baron’s main house, it was a pitiful place.

‘What a beggar.’

A guy living in a place like this would go crazy at the sight of gold.

Just as Luyn started walking over, Ethan spun around.

Their eyes met naturally.

“Who are you?”

“Doesn’t matter. Just take this.”

Luyn sneered and tossed the pouch at him.

Clink!

A few gold coins rolled out of the pouch and stopped at Ethan’s feet.

What a ridiculous situation.

It made him laugh in disbelief.

‘ōt.’

What the hell is with this guy?