Chapter 106: Hunting Competition

Dan intended to follow a disaster.

Presumably, Deon Hart was that disaster.

Therefore, Dan followed Deon Hart.

‘What if Deon Hart isn’t a disaster?’

What should I do then?

While Deon Hart was away on a mission, Dan put in a lot of effort for him.

He changed his address from Master to Count. He obediently followed the butler’s instructions to call him ‘Count,’ even though he was following the ‘disaster’ and not the ‘Honorary Count Hart’.

He learned swordsmanship to stay by his side without restraint. He was now skilled enough to escort someone.

He started a trading company to secure funds separate from the Count’s estate. It was only natural.

‘If he starts acting as a disaster, it will be difficult to use the funds accumulated in the Count’s estate.’

Dan knew that almost all the staff in the Count’s estate were the Emperor’s people.

I’ve done all this. But what about you?

‘I’ve gone this far, but what have you done? Are you really a disaster?’

The ramblings of a senile sorcerer calling you that are no longer enough. It’s time for you to prove it once more.

So, he insulted him.

Did he really think I didn’t know he was escorting me when I got out of the carriage? Dan wanted to see his anger.

‘Anger befitting a disaster.’

…Instead, he received his kind consideration.

A reasonable doubt arose.

‘You, no, you are…’

Are you really a disaster?

And now, that doubt vanished.

What human could control monsters? This is impossible unless you’re a disaster.

In a desperate situation, the plant-type monster moved. It pierced the attacker, drank blood to increase its size, and used its roots to walk and its freely moving vines to deal with the remaining attackers.

It was a little disappointing that someone unknown intervened to save Deon Hart from the arrows, rather than him handling it himself…

‘Is he… trembling?’

The fingertips of the person holding Deon Hart like a beast who had almost lost its cub were trembling slightly.

Was there someone who cherished Deon Hart this much? As far as I know, his relationships were extremely narrow and dry.

‘…Well, it’s none of my business.’

Dan indifferently glanced between the unidentified person and Deon Hart before turning his gaze to confirm the bizarre creature, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

He felt a little sorry for deliberately ignoring his danger to witness this scene, but he saw the proof, so it was enough.

‘Once all this is settled and we return…’

I will follow him faithfully.

Dan would never doubt Deon Hart again.

‘But first, let’s watch this unfold.’

He watched the intriguing situation unfold.

Reinforcements arrived, and the unidentified robed figure hid. The self-proclaimed ‘real’ Count Hart, his spirits lifted, aimed at Deon Hart, and the plant moved.

It wrapped around his ankle to immobilize him, grabbed his hand to prevent him from attacking, coiled around his neck as if to kill him, and finally—Deon Hart killed it when blood gushed from his mouth.

Dan was impressed.

‘To escape suspicion in this way!’

Making it seem like it was attacking him and then killing it. A clean cut-off.

“No way! That monster is being controlled by Deon Hart!”

“The monster you mentioned attacked Honorary Count Hart.”

“It’s a staged act!”

“He even coughed up blood.”

The suspicion was cleared.

Deon Hart, with a smooth motion, neatly put away his dagger and leisurely walked towards Dan. Their eyes met, and Dan froze.

Crimson eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. His gaze, looking down as if from a high place, asked with hidden mercy.

“Satisfied?”

…

He knew. Haha. Dan laughed.

Satisfied? Of course.

“Naturally, Master.”

***

Deon turned his head to look at the foolish and annoying distant relative.

There was no murderous intent. No madness soaked in blood. However, the look in his eyes was clearly different from usual, instinctively making the distant relative step back, and he clicked his tongue and strode over, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The man shuddered as if bitten by a beast.

“If you are the head of the Hart family, you must be residing at the Hart Count Estate.”

Formal language.

Surprised by the polite honorifics that suddenly appeared in an atmosphere where he expected informal speech, the distant relative raised his head for a moment before nodding.

Naturally, the head of the family should reside in the Count’s estate, which had a long history. After all, Cruel Hart and Deon Hart didn’t even go near the place.

Was he trying to take it away now? A wary look turned towards Deon.

Deon met his eyes and smiled brightly. It was a smile beautiful enough to steal one’s soul.

“Looks like you’ve cleaned it up properly.”

“Huh… what?”

“You’ve cleaned up all the blood I splattered all over the place.”

…!

“Do many resentful spirits wander the hallways at night?”

So the rumors were true! The face of the distant family head turned pale.

Deon Hart really had killed all the Hart family members! And it was in the very mansion where he was currently staying!

Deon smiled with satisfaction at the sight of the man, pale and lost.

The pleasant laughter subsided for a moment, and then silence fell. Deon was looking at him expressionlessly, as if he had never smiled.

“You’d better not cause too much trouble.”

If you don’t want to die.

***

[I… I want to live in another mansion. Isn’t there another villa nearby?]

[Pardon? No, Count, what are you saying… The Hart Count Estate is practically a symbol of the head of the family. Even though we are in an unstable state without the ‘Hart territory,’ the core of the Hart family, you want to live in another mansion?]

[I don’t know… I’m scared and creeped out, so what does that matter now…?]

[Pardon? What did you say? I couldn’t hear you very well.]

[It’s nothing! Anyway, I’m going to live in another mansion, so take care of it! If there isn’t one, make one or something so I can live somewhere else!]

[Count, Count?!]

Deon chuckled, half-listening to the conversation between the distant relative and his retainers.

Seeing him terrified made him feel much better. He was a little unsure why the man was so scared when he didn’t say much.

“Honorary Count Hart controlled a plant-type monster.”

Ah, this was not welcome at all. That damn distant relative.

If he was scared, he should have kept his mouth shut. But his lips were so loose; he twisted what he saw and spread it as if it were the truth.

Frankly, it was pathetic. Even the demons couldn’t handle magical beasts, which are monsters. Of course, it wasn’t a plant-type monster but just a plant, but anyway, other people knew it as a ‘monster,’ so who would believe—

“If it’s Honorary Count Hart, it’s believable.”

“The rumor that he’s a vampire must be true.”

They believe it?

“They say he summoned a plant-type monster to win the hunting competition.”

“They also say he used that monster to get rid of those who annoyed him.”

“They say he’s been secretly dealing with plant-type monsters for a long time. Could that be true?”

Seriously, this is absurd.

No, logically, it doesn’t make sense. Why do they believe this? The rumors are even getting ridiculously exaggerated!

Suppressing the urge to laugh, he pretended not to listen but eavesdropped on their voices when a huge presence suddenly washed over him.

“Ah…”

He reflexively flinched.

An intense presence. A heavy and sharp atmosphere. He didn’t even need to look to know who the owner of this presence was.

A glimpse of a red cloak entered his vision. Before his fierce golden eyes could meet his, he hurriedly knelt on one knee and lowered his head. He felt the nobles who belatedly discovered him kneeling one by one.

“Glory to the Empire.”

“Rise.”

The Emperor, whom he hadn’t seen in a while due to his busy schedule, looked quite gaunt. Whether his gauntness made his impression sharper rather than pitiful was a problem or a blessing.

From the Emperor’s perspective, it was a blessing that he didn’t look weak, but for him, it was a problem.

‘He’s become scarier…!’

He was already scary!

His tired and piercing golden eyes scanned the nobles. Everyone who met his gaze flinched like startled snails at the sight of his eyes, which were twice as fierce as before.

After a brief silence, the Emperor broke the stillness.

“…Indeed…”

His voice was like a sigh, filled with deep fatigue.

“Although I was busy and couldn’t participate, it seems the event proceeded smoothly. Crown Prince, it seems you’ve done well.”

“Your Majesty is too kind.”

“I will take over from here.”

The Emperor, smoothly taking the baton from the Crown Prince, raised his gloved hand and pressed against his constantly furrowing brow.

“Let’s announce the results and finish this. Bring the result sheet.”

A paper summarizing the shapes, sizes, and numbers of magical beasts was handed to him.

What rank am I? Thanks to the title of ‘Hero,’ I couldn’t return empty-handed, so I caught about two monsters I saw on the way. I guess that’s about average. The average number of monsters hunted by nobles seemed to be two.

I don’t want to be in the spotlight, so I’m satisfied enough that I didn’t tarnish the reputation of the Hero.

The Emperor seemed to be in a very bad mood. I should quietly stay out of sight and disappear. If I stand out in this situation, my head might not be safe.

“3rd place. Cruel Hart.”

“?”

When did this guy even participate?

The results of his hunt were piled up in front of everyone.

Since it’s messy and there isn’t enough space to put all the hunting results in one place, only the results of the 1st to 3rd places are placed in the center during the hunting competition to prevent suspicion of ranking manipulation. In short, if you haven’t caught this much, don’t complain.

In that sense, Cruel’s rank was annoyingly understandable. Four monsters. Certainly, it’s quite a lot by ordinary standards. Considering he’s a hero with a fragment of the Hero, he just did it casually. How annoying.

The ranking announcement continued.

“2nd place. Elpidius Deserth.”

“…?”

I was surprised in a different way. No, is there a madman who participated when the Crown Prince did and stubbornly took first place without yielding?

Five monsters. Even if you don’t intentionally yield, it would be difficult to catch more than that. The Crown Prince was able to do it because he had four good assistants, but it wouldn’t be easy for an ordinary person without the Hero’s fragment to surpass that.

This person must have really gritted their teeth and done it. I’m really curious who it is….

“1st place. Deon Hart.”

It’s me.

The madman who gritted his teeth and did it was me.

“…?!”

No, why? Why?! I only caught two monsters….

Three monsters were piled up in front of my confused self. Not two, but three. My expression crumbled into an indescribable shape when I found a familiar-looking monster among them.

“You caught a plant-type monster. It must have been quite challenging since it’s a completely new type. Well done.”

“…It wasn’t…”

I barely managed to answer. It wasn’t challenging at all. This guy died for me. I even deliberately left it there out of guilt.

Who the hell picked up this guy?

His softened golden eyes looked at me once before hardening again and turning forward. One step behind him, another pair of golden eyes that resembled his own smiled softly at me.

‘The Crown Prince…’

Why is he smiling? It seems to be a compliment, but.

But I won’t take it at face value! I learned that the social world is a place where smiles are masks and words are exchanged like swords.

So that smile must be a warning. Like, ‘You dare defeat me? Your future will be full of hardship.’

‘Being disliked by the Crown Prince…’

…If I’m really disliked, I’ll have to run away to the Demon Realm for good. The Empire, no, the Human Realm is doomed for me.

“Then, we will conclude the hunting competition here, and I have an announcement to make.”

The Emperor drew attention again.

He frowned as if there were flies buzzing around and waved his hand in the air. He closed his eyes tightly and then opened them with a faint sigh. His eyes, made even sharper by the dark circles under them, were fixed directly on me.

“It seems we will be at war with the Demon Realm.”

“!”