/
Chapter 169
A Tasteless Man
Translated by AmaLynne
“What the hell are you doing, Kurandooooooooo!! You’re supposed to be the one to defeat my enemies!”
The loud voice’s owner was Julian Michel.
In his arms, visibly worn compared to two weeks ago, was Kotomi dressed in sleepwear.
A short dagger was pointed at her throat.
“Kotomi!”
Kurando’s eyes widened as he called his daughter’s name.
Sam and the others couldn’t hide their surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
(Never expected that he’d bring Kotomi-chan here at this timing. As stupid as you are, I can’t help but be thankful for this moment!)
In Julian’s arms, Kotomi was trembling, her face pale.
To think a twelve-year-old girl would have a dagger pointed at her; must be terrifying.
Furthermore, the one holding the dagger was an enraged Julian. It was unpredictable when the dagger might strike her.
Even so, it was crucial that Kotomi, who was previously missing, was here.
“Father
 I’m sorry
 It’s my fault
”
It seemed Kotomi was aware that she was being held hostage.
“Kotomi doesn’t need to apologize. Has anything happened to her?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Julian-sama, please. Release my daughter.”
“Don’t mess around! You promised Mother you’d kill that brat! So, hurry up and kill him! Kill him!”
Spitting at Kurando with bloodshot eyes, Julian seemed far from sane.
It was uncertain when his dagger might harm Kotomi.
(While it’s appreciated that he brought Kotomi-chan here, it seems like reasoning won’t work. It would be a big problem if something happened to Kotomi-chan due to a hasty move.)
Even though Kotomi was here, she was still a hostage. They couldn’t afford to be reckless.
Sam clicked his tongue involuntarily.
“Julian! What a despicable thing to do! Release Kotomi-sama!”
“Scum. Let go of Kotomi.”
Though Lise and Hanae condemned Julian, it didn’t get through to him.
Rather, upon seeing Lise, Julian began laughing heartily, as if he had an idea.
“Fu, fuhahahaha! It’s Lise! Isn’t that Lise! Right, I’ve got a brilliant idea! Hey, Lise! If you don’t want Kotomi to be killed, then you have to kill that brat!”
“Huh?”
“Tell me, which life is more important!?”
Julian, surprisingly, proposed to Lise that she should weigh Sam and Kotomi’s lives against each other.
“Kotomi! Let go of my sister, Julian!”
“Please stop, Julian-sama!”
Despite the mad suggestion from Julian, the Amemiya family pleaded for Kotomi’s release, but it was clear that he wouldn’t grant their request.
“And you’re no better, Kurando! Despite being the Sword Saint, you’re utterly useless! Besides, I heard it from Mother! Despite my offer to make Mizuki my wife, you refused! If you’re not careful, I might even defile the sisters right here!”
“Please stop!”
“――Father?”
It seemed that Julian’s rejection by Kurando over wanting his daughter was news to Mizuki.
Sam and the others were just as surprised, and they thought it was a wise decision.
It’s clear what kind of fate they would subject their daughter to if she were handed over to such a man.
“Please, please release Kotomi!”
Seeing Kurando on his knees pleading, Julian spat disdainfully.
“All of you just annoy me! Well, whatever, it’s no surprise that women who wield swords are worthless. Savage women should beg me for mercy! But Stella-sama, the betrothed of that brat, is worthy of me. Just the thought of having my way with a princess excites me!”
Sam felt the urge to punch Julian for his arrogant words. To achieve that, he needed to do something about Kotomi. He scanned the surroundings and made eye contact with GĂŒnter.
GĂŒnter nodded slightly. Sam understood his intention and decided to divert Julian’s attention to himself.
“Now, Lise! Kill Samuel for me! If you do that, I might even be kind enough to spoil you again!”
“Ahahaha! And what are you going to do, even if I’m castrated and not functioning as a man? Who are you going to do anything to?”
Sam burst into exaggerated laughter to draw Julian’s attention.
In response, Julian glared at Sam with bloodshot eyes.
“―You, damn it! Everything I’ve suffered is because of you!”
“You’ve brought it all upon yourself.”
“Don’t mock meeeee!”
Provoked by Sam’s taunts, Julian yelled in anger, his face reddened.
In that instant, a slight gap opened between Julian and Kotomi.
“I agree with Sam, as a fellow man, I find you incredibly unpleasant.”
GĂŒnter didn’t miss that tiny opening.
With a snap of his fingers, a barrier enveloped Kotomi, and Julian’s body was thrown back.
“Huh?”
Julian, not understanding what had happened, let out a foolish cry. At that moment, Sam and Kurando sprang into action.
“Good job, GĂŒnter!”
“I’m looking forward to the reward!”
“Say that to Kurando-sama!”
Although Sam and Kurando were injured, they had no intention of falling behind Julian.
As long as they didn’t have a hostage, Julian posed no real threat.
“I won’t forgive you for laying a hand on my daughter.”
With a swing of the Sword Saint’s blade, Julian’s right arm, holding the dagger, was severed from his shoulder.
“Gyaaaaaaah!”
As Julian screamed, Sam moved closer and struck down with a hand chop.
“Kirisakumono.”
His left arm severed from the shoulder, Julian let out a second scream.
Without any patience for such noise, Sam punched him, sending Julian sprawling to the ground, his armless body collapsing.
“Ah
 ah, why, my arm, my arm is goooOOONEEEEEE!”
Realizing that both his arms were gone, Julian screamed for the third time. Sam, with a sigh, stepped heavily on Julian’s face as he writhed on the ground, his face muddied by tears and snot.
“Enough already, be quiet.”
When Sam finally lifted his foot from the motionless Julian, he let out a deep exhale.
“Father!”
“Kotomi!”
Kotomi, protected by GĂŒnter’s barrier, rushed to her father’s side after escaping from Julian’s clutches. Kurando also ran to Kotomi and hugged her small frame tightly.
While it might have been impolite to disturb their reunion, there was something that needed to be addressed.
“What do we do with this guy? Kurando-sama, I leave it to you whether he lives or dies. I’m done caring about him.”
Sam glanced at the fallen Julian and spat out those words. When Kurando’s gaze met Julian’s, he sadly averted his eyes and shook his head.
“I don’t care either. Right now, I’m just grateful that Kotomi is safe
 Samuel-kun, GĂŒnter-dono, I genuinely thank you for saving Kotomi.”
Kurando gently released Kotomi and handed her over to Mizuki, who was bowing behind him, much like he was.
“Let’s settle my matter. Go ahead, kill me.”
“Father!”
“Father!?”
“Even though my daughter was held hostage, I was genuinely trying to kill Samuel-kun. That’s something that can never be forgiven.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Sam took a step closer to Kurando and clenched his fist.
“Sam! Please, don’t kill my father, Father!”
“Sam-sama! It’s my fault! Please forgive my father!”
Ignoring the daughters’ pleas, Sam forcefully slapped Kurando’s cheek.
“
Why?”
Holding his cheek and blood flowing from his lips, Kurando looked at Sam as if he couldn’t believe it.
Sam grabbed Kurando’s collar and shouted with intense emotion.
“I could never kill you! There’s no way I could take you away from Mizuki-sama and Kotomi-chan as their father! Don’t try to wrap it up with your satisfaction!”
Not satisfied, Sam struck Kurando’s cheek once again.
“I don’t want to kill you and live with the resentment of Mizuki-sama and Kotomi-chan! If you want to make amends, then live and make amends! Isn’t that right, Amamiya Kurando?”
“Yes.”
Tears streamed down Kurando’s face. What he was thinking and why he was crying were things Sam couldn’t comprehend.
However, with this, the duel that had started for such trivial reasons came to an end.
“If you still want to fight, then let’s do it without regrets next time, a fair and square battle. We don’t need reasons, just a simple fight to decide who’s stronger. A duel like that is enough.”
With just those words, Sam let go of Kurando’s collar.
Daughters rushed towards Kurando who had kneeled, embracing each other in tears.
As Sam watched this scene for a while, a figure approached him.
“Sam, I’ll take charge of Michel Julian’s custody.”
“GĂŒnter?”
“My role isn’t just about putting up barriers around this mansion. Amemiya Kurando, I’m taking you to the court, to His Majesty. You don’t have any objections, do you?”
“Of course, I’ll accompany you.”
“You too, GĂŒnter.”
GĂŒnter winked at Sam.
Presumably, he had already been assigned the task of taking Kurando to the palace. Given that the king had gotten wind of the duel, there was no way to avoid it. Kurando would likely receive some form of penalty. Of course, the Michel family as well.
(But I’m done. I’m tired today. I just want to go home and relax with Lise-sama.)
“Well, let’s go back.”
When Sam addressed Lise and the others who had been watching over everything, he was met with an unexpected sight.
“Huh?”
Slowly, Lise’s body tilted in Sam’s field of vision.
With a thud, Lise collapsed, making a loud sound.
“Lise-sama!”
Caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, Sam hurriedly rushed to his beloved.