Novel Full Chapter 304 : Chapter 304
Chapter 304. I Can’t Let It End Like This (3)
“Hey, did you hear?”
“Of course, I heard. The Young Master returned yesterday, didn’t he?”
“Ahem, what do you mean, Young Master? You should call him Grand Young Master Schneider.”
“Ah, right. I’m so used to it…”
The people of the Schneider Duchy were all delighted to hear the news of Patrick’s return.
Patrick Schneider.
The pride of the Schneider Duchy.
There probably wasn’t a single person on the entire continent who didn’t know this name.
Starting with his victory at Arcana, wasn’t every step he took a living legend of this era?
And he had caused trouble once again.
Discovering traces of black mages in the Holy Theocracy, he went there himself and freed the Pontiff from brainwashing.
This alone was a great achievement, but afterwards, when the Empire refused to stop the war, he went alone to the 200,000-strong Imperial army to negotiate.
And the duel with the Imperial Sword Saint.
In this duel to determine the strongest on the continent, Patrick defied everyone’s expectations and won splendidly.
The strongest on the continent.
Many people had predicted that Patrick would one day claim this title.
But no one knew it would be this soon.
A young man, not even thirty, had defeated the Imperial Sword Saint and become the strongest swordsman on the continent.
The fact that this Patrick Schneider was the next heir to the duchy planted an infinite sense of pride in the hearts of the people.
“I knew from the time the Young Master was young that he would become a great person. Was he ever an ordinary person?”
He certainly was a person completely detached from the ordinary.
As someone boasted like that, another person, not to be outdone, said.
“My good man. I was there when the Young Master caught the Saber Tiger. I think he was three years old then?”
Ten years old.
Three years old was a bit too much, no matter how you looked at it.
Though ten years old was still a monster…
“Tsk tsk tsk, you know my son is in the Double Dragon’s apprentice knightly order, right? He boasted that he had carried out the Young Master’s order before.”
“Huh? What order was that?”
“He said that one day during training, the Young Master spoke with a majestic voice.”
“So what did he say?”
“He said he was told, ‘Hey, bring me some booze.’”
“……”
That seemed more like an errand than a mission…
Anyway, he puffed out his chest as if extremely proud and said.
“One day, my son will receive the Young Master’s guidance and become a fine knight.”
“Well, since the Young Master will be teaching him. That’s plausible.”
“Hahahaha. Right?”
The residents were genuinely happy and proud of Patrick. And if they, as residents of the fiefdom, were this proud, how much happier would his family be?
That was the thought that came to their minds.
‘His Excellency the Grand Duke is truly blessed with his child.’
‘He suffered so much, so he deserves some peace in his later years.’
Was that really the case?
***
“What… what on earth did I do so wrong to deserve this in my later years because of my child?”
Grand Duke Schneider let out a deep sigh.
“The one child I have, whenever he’s out of sight, he’s causing trouble here, and then more trouble there…”
Seeing his father wilted like a salted vegetable, Patrick felt a tiny bit of guilt…
‘Hmm, nope. I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal.’
No, that was because you have no conscience.
Anyway, Patrick sighed and said.
“I told you, didn’t I? The situation was unavoidable.”
“Just how, how could a situation be so unavoidable that you’d go on a rampage in the Holy Theocracy because the soup was salty?”
“…Father, just between us.”
Patrick continued with a serious expression.
“It really was salty… Woah!”
Grand Duke Schneider picked up a fork from the table and threw it.
“This brat, you’re dodging? You’re dodging?”
“Well, should I have just taken it?”
“Where do you think you’re running, you brat? Get over here!”
“Mom. Dad’s hitting me.”
As expected, in times like these, the only one to rely on was his mother.
Patrick Schneider, the strongest on the continent, was a wise man who knew to tattle to his mom when at a disadvantage. However…
“My son.”
Today, even Ava was not on his side.
“I would like to ask about the absurd rumor that you faced 200,000 Imperial troops alone, called out the Imperial Sword Saint, and then had a duel with him.”
“…Ah. That?”
“It’s a lie, right?”
“……”
“There’s no way my son would do something so stupid, reckless, and foolish as to treat his own life like a fly’s. Right.”
Your words are a bit harsh, Mother.
But you know.
“Well… I think I have a faint memory of doing something like that… Kuk!”
BAAAM!
A fruit platter flew much faster than the one Grand Duke Schneider had thrown.
‘Wow, my mother has gotten really strong.’
He was happy, but he didn’t want to confirm it like this.
“Do you have a mind? Or not?”
“No, Mother, you see?”
“What did you do so well to be talking back?!”
“Father, just listen first.”
“Listen to what?”
It seemed that his parents being too close was also a problem.
But it wasn’t just the two of them.
“Mother-in-law, please step aside.”
“My dear.”
The one stopping Ava was Patrick’s wife, Isabella. She was looking out for her husband, after all…
“I’ll take care of him.”
Shing.
Uh… huh. You said you put down your sword, didn’t you?
You said you were going to be faithful to the family?
“I’ll help today too.”
Elione chimed in from beside her.
Summoning a high-level spirit, she seemed to be serious.
And crucially…
“Young Master. This time, you went too far.”
Seeing April with Aura Blades flashing on her twin swords, Patrick despaired.
“April, you too…”
There was no one on Patrick’s side.
As always…
***
Patrick Schneider, the strongest on the continent.
He ended up getting on his knees in front of his family and begging for forgiveness, barely managing to be pardoned. Only after the family had calmed down a bit could the conversation continue.
“First of all, this matter was only half a success.”
“What do you mean by that?”
To Grand Duke Schneider’s question, Patrick replied.
“The original objective was to confirm the presence of black mages in the Holy Theocracy and catch them there.”
“Hmm…”
“But they weren’t there.”
“……”
“I don’t know why, but they were gone. There were quite a few identified as black mages, but they suddenly disappeared.”
“……”
“Right before I arrived.”
“Could the information have been leaked?”
Grand Duke Schneider’s question was reasonable. But…
“I wonder? Considering the nature of black mages, if they were discovered, wouldn’t they have tried to get rid of me along the way instead of running away? It’s a bit strange for them to run away, giving up a huge advantage like the Pontiff.”
“That is true.”
No matter if they were black mages, it must have taken considerable time and effort to brainwash the Pontiff.
It was strange for them to give that up so readily without even a fight.
Patrick shrugged and said.
“For now, I succeeded in normalizing the Holy Theocracy and stopping the war. But I didn’t even get a glimpse of a single hair of a black mage.”
“So that’s why you say it was half a success?”
“Yes. That’s right. Well, actually…”
When it came to the black mages’ whereabouts, there was one more place he suspected. But…
‘Let’s forget about it for now.’
The issue of the black mages was important, but in fact, he had taken on a more important problem in the Holy Theocracy this time.
Solving that had to come first.
“First, there are some people I need to introduce.”
And from behind Patrick, figures appeared with a soft rustle.
April quickly brought her hand to her sword hilt, ready to draw, and Elione also summoned a spirit again.
Such stealthy concealment that even the two strongest people in this room, besides Patrick, couldn’t feel their presence?
It was natural to be wary.
Elione’s expression, in particular, was quite serious. Because…
“A dark elf?”
One of the figures who had appeared was a dark elf, the complete opposite of her own elven race.
Moreover, the others’ appearances were also unusual.
A vampire, a griffin which was a demonic beast species, and he didn’t even know what species the beastman with the fox tail was.
However, the aura of destruction and chaos felt from them held a clear meaning.
Elione took a step forward to protect the rest of the family and said.
“Honey, why are Kalaron’s retainers here? And even a dark elf?”
Patrick shrugged and replied.
“Why are you acting so surprised? The orcs living in our country are also, strictly speaking, Kalaron’s retainers.”
“But they are…”
Elione tried to retort, but she was at a loss for what to say.
In the case of the orcs, they had already formed a deep relationship with the Schneider Duchy before the elves had even joined.
And they had gotten used to them while living together.
But now that Kalaron’s retainers had suddenly appeared, she couldn’t help but be wary.
Kalaron was not an evil god, but the domain he ruled was destruction and chaos.
They were, strictly speaking, on the opposite side of her people, who were retainers of Yupinel.
And though not as much as Elione, the others were also wary of the suddenly appeared outsiders.
Patrick sighed at them and said.
“First… I’ll tell you everything. Let’s talk calmly after you’ve heard it all.”
And Patrick told his family what had happened.
In truth, Patrick didn’t know the whole story either.
But he knew that some grand plan was currently unfolding with him at the center.
So he intended to share as much information as he knew.
The prophesied human mentioned by the World Tree.
What happened with the White Tiger.
And he explained that those four were retainers sent directly by the Apostles of Kalaron.
Of course, there were some things he couldn’t tell them.
‘It would be nice if I could also explain about the existence of the Outer God that I learned about this time, but…’
The Pontiff had pleaded with him to keep his mouth shut about that, so he kept quiet for now.
After hearing the whole explanation…
“The prophesied human?”
“The World Tree said that?”
“Why only now… No… more importantly, is it true?”
“My son…”
The expressions of the family who had heard Patrick’s explanation showed surprise and unconcealable vexation.
Although it was only fragmented information, it was clear that the major players maintaining the world’s framework were paying close attention to Patrick.
“Ahem, did you say Mr. Pillion?”
Grand Duke Schneider spoke to the vampire, Edward Pillion.
“Speak. Huma… Ack?!”
THWACK!
“Where do you get off speaking so disrespectfully? Is my father your friend?”
The chair Patrick threw smashed into Edward Pillion’s forehead.
Edward staggered for a moment, but soon grabbed his forehead and said with a sense of injustice.
“Kugh… I am not a citizen of this country.”
“So?”
“I am also a proud lord of the vampire clan. Therefore, there is no need to show excessive courtesy.”
“I see…”
Patrick nodded in understanding…
“So those are your last words?”
As if he would?
Seeing Patrick slowly drawing his sword, Edward hastily said.
“On second thought, I believe that the position of being the father of the prophesied human deserves treatment surpassing that of a nation’s emperor. Please forgive my mistake.”
Edward Pillion.
He was a bat-like man who could change his stance at any time.
Grand Duke Schneider, who had witnessed the series of events, said.
“You may speak comfortably.”
“Yes, well…”
Edward showed a hint of ‘should I do that?’ but he couldn’t muster the courage when he saw the demon behind Grand Duke Schneider licking his twin swords threateningly.
“I am comfortable like this. Please speak.”
“If you say so… Then, I must ask, what exactly is this prophesied human that you refer to my son as?”
At that question, Edward thought for a moment and then said.
“I do not know much about it myself. However, the person among us who knows the most accurately is this woman.”
Edward pointed to the fox beastman, Dalg-i.
She had been half-covering her face with a fan, but when pointed out, she revealed a captivating smile and said.
“Well, I suppose I am something of a party involved…”
“Then, can you explain?”
“I cannot explain in detail. However, I can explain to some extent.”
And as she gently lowered her fan, revealing her face, she said.
“The prophesied human is a kind of arrangement.”
“An arrangement?”
“Yes. You could say it’s a safety device to counter a world crisis.”
“……”
“When the time comes, whether one is chosen by the prophesied human or not could determine the rise and fall of a clan. That is why the World Tree entrusted its entire clan to him.”
Dalg-i said so, fanning herself, and continued.
“Even I cannot speak carelessly beyond this. However, if I may add one thing, your Grace’s son is currently a more important figure than all the humans in this world combined.”
“My son is?”
“Yes. Please keep that in mind.”
“My son is?”
“…That’s right.”
“This one?”
Grand Duke Schneider looked at Patrick.
Patrick stood there with his nose in the air and his hands on his hips.
“Ahem!”
Seeing this, Grand Duke Schneider let out a deep sigh and said.
“What is the world coming to…”
***
Patrick had revealed the truth to his family.
But in reality, the fragments of truth revealed were too small to grasp the full picture.
However, if one were to summarize the information given at this stage…
“First, it seems I’ll have to take down one striped cat and three other miscellaneous things.”
The Apostles of Kalaron.
The Four Calamities that heralded the end.
He spoke so easily of taking down those who had led even the Roman Empire, the most powerful nation in the continent’s history, to its downfall.
Whose child was he to have such guts?
‘That… is unfortunately my son.’
Today, too, sighs did not cease from Grand Duke Schneider’s mouth.
As always.
He held his throbbing forehead and said.
“My son. Did you not already fight against Rushing Death and not lose?”
“Ahem. Lose? Strictly speaking, I won that one.”
How on earth could one interpret it that way?
A guy who had to sleep for a whole year as the price for taking three of his moves at full power…
Grand Duke Schneider squeezed his eyes shut.
The memory was still vivid.
The time when his son lay motionless in bed.
For him, it was a period of heart-wrenching pain.
And now he was saying he would fight those Apostles of Kalaron again?
“I cannot permit it.”
“No, Father, I’m telling you this is something that has to be done. It’s not something you can avoid…”
“Did I not say I cannot permit it?!”
“……”
Grand Duke Schneider shot up and shouted. As the usually gentle and calm man raised his voice like this, even Patrick couldn’t respond with his usual glibness.
And he stood up from his seat and said.
“As the ruler of the Schneider Duchy, I command. My son, Patrick Schneider, will now cease all other activities and focus solely on the stability of the country and his studies as the heir.”
“Father…”
“I will not accept any objections. If you disobey this command, then I will mobilize everything I can as the Grand Duke of the Schneider Duchy to stop you.”
“No, Father!”
“If you are prepared to destroy the nation you built with your own hands, then go ahead and act on that wicked nature of yours this time as well.”
“……”
“If not, then follow my instructions this time.”
And Grand Duke Schneider stood up and left as if there was nothing more to hear.
Patrick, left behind, had a dumbfounded expression.
‘Wait, is that really my father?’
Why did a person who could be so resolute, with a ‘you die, I die’ attitude, live like a pushover usually?
Ava approached Patrick and said.
“You don’t understand your father, do you?”
“How could I?”
“But I do.”
“Yes?”
Ava reached out her hand and stroked Patrick’s shoulder.
The touch, as if stroking the most precious thing in the world, somehow made Patrick shrink.
And she said.
“You will understand when you become a parent yourself.”
“……”
“Even if you were to bring the whole world, nothing could be more precious than your child. That is what a parent is.”
“No, Mother…”
Please listen to what I have to say.
He was about to say that, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Because he felt an emotion in his mother’s eyes as she looked at him that he had never seen before in his life.
It was not reprimand, nor was it anger. This was…
‘Resentment? From my mother towards me?’
“Well, this is…”
Patrick, who feared nothing and was wary of nothing in the world, couldn’t open his mouth any further this time.