“Put them away?”
Bell stared at Claude.
The Earth Spike pressed against Balte’s crotch didn't budge an inch.
“And if I don't?”
Claude sighed.
He took off his gold-rimmed monocle, pulled a pristine white velvet cloth from his breast pocket, and began to wipe it unhurriedly.
“Young Master Lucas, it is a good thing for young people to have spirit.”
He put the monocle back on.
The eye behind the lens held no trace of a smile.
“But too much spirit makes it easy to bleed.”
The moment the words left his mouth.
There was no incantation.
There was no warning.
Bell felt the air around him suddenly turn viscous.
It was like falling into setting concrete.
Gravity.
A terrifying force of gravity crushed him from all directions.
Crack.
The Earth Spikes, which had been as hard as iron, shattered like fragile crackers, inch by inch.
They dissolved into a pile of loose dirt.
The four dirt puppets didn't even have a chance to struggle before they instantly collapsed.
Bell’s knees buckled.
The immense pressure forced him to bend downward.
He gritted his teeth.
He held on with everything he had.
His bones made a grinding sound that set his teeth on edge.
He couldn't kneel.
He absolutely could not kneel.
Sweat poured down Bell’s forehead, dripping onto the floor.
Claude raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.
“Oh?”
“You can actually hold out.”
He took a step forward.
His leather shoes crunched on the debris.
The pressure surged.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Bell’s mouth.
It was from biting his lip so hard it broke.
But he remained standing.
Even though his legs were shaking violently.
Even though his spine felt like it was about to snap.
He remained standing.
Staring deathly at Claude.
Balte finally snapped out of it.
The lethal threat was gone.
The monster who wanted to kill him had been suppressed.
He scrambled up from the ground.
His previous fear vanished completely.
In its place was a madness born of humiliated rage.
He had actually wet his pants from fear because of a mere boy.
In front of the Royal Guard.
In front of Lord Claude.
This was an utter disgrace.
Balte adjusted his soaking purple robes.
Waddling on his fat legs, he walked up to Bell.
“You little bastard.”
Balte spat.
The glob of spit landed right on Bell’s face.
Bell didn't wipe it off.
He couldn't move.
Balte looked at that young, handsome face, which was filled with killing intent.
The fury in his heart flared up.
“Weren't you acting all high and mighty just now?”
“Wanted to slaughter me, did you?”
“Go ahead!”
“Try and touch me now!”
Balte raised his thick, fleshy hand.
He swung it with all his might.
Slap!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the hall.
Bell’s head was whipped to the side.
Five finger marks instantly appeared on his face.
It burned with a stinging pain.
Theodore covered his mouth in terror.
That was the son of a Duke!
Balte actually dared to hit him!
After delivering the slap, Balte felt a wave of pure satisfaction.
Refreshing.
It felt too good.
Blood Duke this, heir that.
In the face of the First Prince’s power, they were nothing!
“What are you looking at!”
Balte pointed at Bell’s nose.
Spittle flew everywhere.
“Even your old man had to be polite when he saw me back in the day!”
“Who do you think you are!”
“How dare you stick your nose into my business!”
Bell slowly turned his head back.
He used his tongue to push against his swollen cheek.
In those black eyes, there was no anger.
Only a deathly, silent darkness.
Like an abyss.
Balte felt his skin crawl under that gaze.
He instinctively took a step back.
“Lord Claude!”
Balte turned to look at the elegant butler.
“This brat tried to kill me! You saw it!”
“Arrest him! Throw him in prison!”
Claude ignored Balte’s shouting.
He simply looked at Bell.
His gaze held a hint of curiosity.
“A very interesting mana circuit.”
“It doesn't look like something those old fossils from the Academy would teach.”
Claude’s cane tapped lightly against the floor.
The terrifying gravity vanished instantly.
Bell’s body swayed.
He nearly fell over.
But he steadied himself.
“Young Master Lucas.”
Claude’s voice remained elegant.
“Today’s business ends here.”
“This marriage is something the First Prince personally looked into.”
“You are still young.”
“There are some muddy waters you shouldn't wade into.”
He stepped aside.
He made a gesture of “please.”
“I won't see you out.”
It was an order to leave.
And an ultimatum.
Bell wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He gave Balte a long, deep look.
He turned.
He left.
Every step he took was steady.
The doors slammed shut behind him.
...
Seaview City Inn.
The light in the room was dim.
Bell sat on the edge of the bed.
He held a wet towel to his face.
Half of his face was badly swollen.
Lilian stood before him.
In her blood-red eyes, killing intent was boiling.
Her nails dug deep into her palms, and blood trickled through her fingers.
“I’m going to kill him.”
Lilian turned to leave.
“Stay where you are.”
Bell’s voice was hoarse.
Lilian stopped.
She looked back.
Her eyes were red.
“Master was hit.”
“That fat pig hit Master.”
“I’m going to mince him and feed him to the dogs.”
Bell set the towel down.
He looked at Lilian.
“You can't beat Claude.”
Lilian bit her lip.
“Then I’ll take him down with me.”
“Foolish.”
Bell tossed the towel into the water basin.
Water splashed out.
“If you’re dead, it’s all over.”
“Tia is still in that hell.”
“If we die, who will save her?”
Lilian’s shoulders slumped.
Powerlessness.
A deep sense of powerlessness.
Over the past month, they had killed magic beasts and completed missions, thinking they had become strong.
But in the face of true power.
In the face of absolute strength.
They were still as weak as ants.
Bell stood up.
He walked to the window.
He watched the falling snowflakes outside.
It was the snow Tia loved most.
“Pack your things,” Bell said.
Lilian blinked in confusion.
“Are we going back to the Royal Capital?”
“No.”
Bell turned around.
His eyes were icy.
“Since they want to use their status to bully people.”
“Since they want to use the First Prince to suppress me.”
“Then don't blame me for not playing fair.”
“We’re going home.”
“To find my family’s old man.”
...
Seaview City Teleportation Shop.
This was the most expensive place in the entire city.
Only the truly wealthy or those desperate to save a life would come here.
The clerk behind the counter was yawning.
Seeing someone enter, he lazily looked up.
“Where to?”
“The Eternal Fertile Plains.”
The clerk’s hand trembled.
That was the most prosperous territory in the kingdom.
It was also one of the farthest places.
“That is Duke Lucas’s territory...”
The clerk sized Bell up.
His clothes were somewhat worn.
His face was bruised.
He didn't look like a wealthy man.
“Single teleportation is three gold coins.”
“No haggling.”
Three gold coins.
That was the money meant for Mithril.
The hope of becoming stronger.
Bell didn't hesitate for a second.
He pulled a coin purse from his coat.
He counted out three glittering gold coins.
He slapped them onto the counter.
“Immediately.”
The clerk’s eyes went wide.
His attitude did a complete one-eighty.
“Of course, of course! Right this way, Lord!”
The massive teleportation array lit up.
Complex runes rotated in the air.
Space distorted.
White light swallowed everything.
...
A wave of dizziness hit him.
It felt like being stuffed into a washing machine and spun a hundred times.
Bell opened his eyes.
The air was filled with the scent of earth and wheat.
It was the unique atmosphere of the Eternal Fertile Plains.
It was the scent of home.
Outside the waystation.
Several guards in ornate armor were patrolling.
When they saw the person walking out of the teleportation array.
The stationmaster leading them froze.
Then he rubbed his eyes.
“Lord... Lord Bell?!”
The stationmaster came scrambling over.
His helmet nearly fell off as he ran.
“Why are you back?!”
“You didn't give us any notice!”
“I’ll go prepare the best carriage right away!”
Bell waved him off.
“No need.”
“Give me the fastest one you have.”
“Now.”
...
Half a day later.
The Lucas Estate.
Black iron fences stretched for miles.
The castle soared into the clouds.
This was the border of the kingdom.
It was also the center of power.
Before the carriage had even come to a full stop.
Bell jumped down.
A maid sweeping fallen leaves by the gate jumped in fright.
After seeing who it was, she dropped her broom.
She covered her mouth and screamed.
“Heavens!”
“It’s the Young Master!”
“The Young Master is back!”
With that shout.
The entire estate was thrown into an uproar.
The gates swung wide open.
The butler led two rows of servants, standing in perfect formation at the entrance.
They bowed.
“Welcome home, Young Master!”
Bell ignored the display.
He strode into the excessively luxurious hall.
The crystal chandelier was larger than the entire Astane house.
The carpets were made from the pelts of whole magic beasts.
But none of that mattered.
From the stairs.
The sound of rapid high-heeled footsteps approached.
Click, click, click.
Soon.
A beautiful woman in a red dress came rushing down.
She was exceptionally well-preserved.
She looked to be thirty at most.
Her golden curls flew as she ran.
That was Bell’s mother.
Eleanor.
“My baby!”
Eleanor jumped straight from the last three steps.
Like a young girl.
She pulled Bell into a tight embrace.
The familiar scent of rose perfume washed over him.
Tight.
It was too tight.
Bell felt like his ribs were going to break.
“Mom...”
“Let... let go...”
“I won't!”
Not only did Eleanor not let go, she held him even tighter.
She rubbed her face against Bell’s chest.
“You haven't been home for so long!”
“You didn't even write a single letter!”
“Do you know how much Mommy missed you!”
She looked up.
She cupped Bell’s face.
In those black eyes, which were identical to Bell’s, there was nothing but heartache.
“You’ve gotten thinner.”
“You’ve tanned.”
Her hands moved all over Bell’s face.
Suddenly.
She stopped.
Her gaze landed on the red mark on Bell’s left cheek that hadn't yet faded.
Her gaze, which had been as gentle as water.
Instantly.
Became colder than ice.
Sharper than a blade.
The air around them seemed to freeze.
The doting mother from a moment ago was gone.
In her place.
Was the Duchess who made the entire kingdom’s aristocratic circles tremble with fear.
“Who hit you?”
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