âAlright, if you were able to sign a personal contract with Noir Giabella, you probably would have gotten pretty strong,â Eugene admitted. âBut what would you do with all that strength? Do you really think that youâd be able to become the Patriarch with the power of black magic?â
âI-I never,â Ewardâs eyes twisted into a glare as he struggled to continue speaking. âI never wanted⊠to become the Lionheart clanâs PatriarchâŠ!â
âThen what were you planning to do?â
âI⊠I wanted to become a bl-black wizard and go to Helmuth. In a place like that, Iâd be freeâŠ, and my worth would be recognizedâŠ!â
âHah, this son of a bitch,â Eugeneâs face twisted into a grimace as he knocked Eward on the head. âWhy would you want to receive the approval of demonfolk? Which do you think is better, being recognized by your family or being recognized by the demonfolk? And do you really think they would respect you? I think youâve got something mixed up, big brother. Without your background as the eldest son of the main family, you really donât have any value to them.â
âThatâs why, even more so, I want to get rid of that title! I never wanted to become the next Patriarch, and I never asked to be born as the eldest son of the direct line! I want to be free, to be able to do what I want to doâ.â
âHow greedy can you get?â
âWhat?â
âWith your current background, arenât you already free to do as you please while receiving support for your goals as well? What more do you want?â
âThatâsâŠ. Thereâs a lot of things I canâtâ.â
âEnough, I donât need to hear anymore. For now, just know this, big brother. I canât understand why you did this, and I donât want to understand. What is there to talk about with a bastard who thinks heâs the only one who's got it unfair and challenging? A bastard who has had so many things granted to him from birth that others can only wish for, who makes up all sorts of excuses while whining about this and that,â Eugene grumbled as he pulled away from Eward. âWhile you were in Aroth, drinking, doing drugs, and getting lost in your dreams, Cyan and Ciel, who stayed at the main estate, were truly giving it their best effort to improve themselves. Not to mention me.â
â...,â Eward had run out of excuses.
âThatâs all there is to it,â Eugene dismissed his excuses.
There was no value in continuing the conversation. Eugene spun around like a whirlwind and kicked the back of the black wizard, who was still quietly kneeling down.
The black wizard grunted, âUgh!â
âJust stay still and donât come up with any nonsense,â Eugene warned him.
The black wizard protested, âI-I wasnât doing anythingâŠ!â
âI know,â said Eugene. âBut you probably were thinking of doing something stupid, right?â
The black wizardâs body shook slightly. Was this monstrous brat even able to read other peopleâs minds?
But of course, Eugene wasnât a mindreader. He had just given the guy a kick to relieve his own mounting irritation.
Eugene didnât miss the fact that the black wizard had flinched, âSo you really were thinking of doing something stupid? Okay then, you were asking for this.â
He kicked the black wizard once more, sending him rolling across the floor with a cry of pain.
* * *
Laws existed even in this chaotic street. While the guards in charge of this street might close their eyes to the usual commotions occurring because of corruption and the unwritten rules, the current uproar had gotten out of hand.
Buildings along the center of the street were shaking, walls were collapsing, and other such chaos ensued. Even the guards killing time while enjoying the pleasures of the street couldnât ignore such an uproar.
âSir⊠Eugene⊠LionheartâŠ,â the red-faced captain of the guards, who had just arrived, mouthed these words.
These three words kept flashing through the captainâs wine-soaked head as he realized that things were fucked. Although it was common for incidents to occur on Bolero Street, this was the first time that such an influential figure had been involved. In the first place, such public figures rarely caused such a huge uproar, even if they did get involved with some incident.
âIt was self-defense,â Eugene said as he spread his arms, gesturing to his surroundings. âMy drunk older brother was half-carried to this location, so I was just following him to check if he was being kidnapped. When I tried to go in after him, I was stopped, so I asked them what kind of place this was. But what was I supposed to do when they started threatening me and trying to steal my wallet?â
â...,â the captain played dumb.
âSo to protect myself and my wallet, I fought with them. As for what happened insideââ
âI-I think weâve got a good idea of what youâre trying to say,â the guard captain interrupted Eugene with a desperate laugh, sweat pouring profusely down his face. âWeâll be sure to handle the clean-up, so if the good Sir Eugene could please leave this scene to usâŠ.â
âThen Iâll just leave and take my big brother with me. Along with that bastard,â Eugene said, pointing to the black wizard.
At this, the black wizard turned to look at the guard captain with a desperate look on his face.
This was an unbearably embarrassing incident for the city. Drugs were supposedly forbidden in Aroth. Although they might only pay lip-service to this rule, turning a blind eye to its distribution and use of drugs, the fact that a drug den had been revealed in the middle of the street wasnât something that could be covered up by the unwritten rules.
Moreover, both the black wizards and the Lionheart clan were caught up in this mess. If he just let them go like this, the guard captainâs own head might be sent flying. The number of prominent figures who had ties to this street was too many to count, so if things went on as they were, even if the guard captain didnât have anything to do with all this, they might just cut off his head as part of a cover-up.
Coming to a decision, the guard captain said, âThatâsâŠ. My apologies, but I donât think we can allow you to do that. Weâll perform our own interrogation on that black wizardââ
âShut up,â a cold voice descended from the sky.
Eugene, who had been looking at the captain of the guards with a pitying gaze, lifted his head to look up into the sky.
Lovellian was standing high up in the air.
âHow am I supposed to trust you to interrogate the suspect when youâve been keeping your eyes shut to the things going on under your jurisdiction?â Lovellian demanded.
âH-head wizard,â the guard captain stammered.
âIâll take care of this incident myself. If you have any complaints, you can call for the commander of the guards. Although I have to say, I donât believe that he will oppose me and be a stickler on this issue.â
Lovellian descended to the ground. The guard captain gave in and speechlessly bowed his head low. Though, he wasnât the only one to do so.
âDamn it, he got here so quickly,â the black wizard thought as his face twisted into a terrible scowl.
But there was no way that the news should have been able to reach the far-off Red Tower of Magic so quickly? He couldnât understand how the Tower Master, who held little interest in anything other than magic, could have arrived here so soon.
âI'm sorry to have called you when youâre already so busy,â Eugene apologized.
âItâs fine,â Lovellian replied as he took a calming breath.
Eugene was the one who had summoned Lovellian. He had ordered the guide to do so through the communication terminal. Although he could have chosen to rely on the Lionheart name to purchase his way out, looking at the broader picture, he thought it would make for a neater ending if he got Lovellianâs assistance rather than relying on his familyâs name.
Eugene began to explain, âIf you would like to know what happenedââ
âI can roughly understand the situation,â Lovellian said as he shook his head. â...Itâs because of my negligence that such an unfortunate incident has occurred.â
Ewardâs body trembled in fear.
Lovellian sighed, â...Playing around with succubi, forgetting the worries of reality through your dreams. Although I thought it was a much-needed method of relaxation⊠it appears that I made the wrong decision. My apologies, Eugene.â
âThereâs no need to apologize to me,â Eugene attempted to wave it off.
âNo, I do need to apologize to you. Of course, I will be apologizing to Sir Gilead and Lady Tanis as well, but Iâm also guilty for allowing you to witness such an ugly scene, Eugene. Furthermore, you performed the duties that I should have taken care of.â
Lovellian was also similar to Eugene in his disdain for black wizards. Just like his revered great master, the Wise Sienna, her disciples also despised black wizards.
Lovellian, in particular, as Gileadâs long-time friend, was well aware of just how absurd it was for a member of the Lionheart clan to get involved with black magic.
âH-head Wizard,â Eward attempted to speak even as his body continued trembling. âThis is⊠I was just⊠I-I didnât do it. I havenât started learning black magic.â
âBut you tried to, didnât you?â Lovellian stared at Eward with cold eyes, âEward. You have⊠tarnished the name of the Lionheart clan. You have insulted Sir Gilead, who trusted you and left you to my care. Also, you have insulted Samuel, who chose to teach you, and you have insulted me, who chose to overlook all your foibles.â
Eward stammered, âN-no, I didnât intend to do any of that. I was justââ
âIf you continue to make any more excuses, I will⊠I will just have to show you the cost of your insults immediately. And I really am tempted to do so,â Lovellian interrupted, unwilling to listen to Ewardâs words. âSo please, donât say another word. If you want to continue making excuses, donât spout them to me. Tell them to Samuel, who taught you, Gilead, who sent you here, and Tanis.â
âUh⊠uwaaahâŠ,â Eward buried his head in his hands and burst into tears.
Lovellian looked down at this sight with a pitying gaze before letting out a long sigh.
â...Let us return,â with these words, Lovellian turned away from Eward, and Eugene also didnât spare him another glance.
Still, at the center of everyone elseâs gazes, Eward bowed his head to hide his face.
As tears continued to wring themselves from his trembling frame, the light in Ewardâs eyes flickered and died.