Chapter 36: Honorary Count Deon Hart

The unfolding events suggested a hypothesis akin to a more detailed account of high society gossip, aimed at naturally conveying information.

It proposed that Deon Hart, for some reason harboring a deep resentment towards his family, desired the Hart family’s downfall above all other gains. The Emperor, eager to reward a newly emerged talent, reluctantly bestowed upon him the title of Honorary Baron and the accompanying wealth, which he half-heartedly accepted.

Of course, such a significant decision couldn’t be based on just that. The condition set was his participation in the Hero’s quest to defeat the Demon King.

‘They even delayed officially recognizing him as a hero,’ Deon mused.

Though the gesture held little actual weight.

Deon Hart had already earned the title of hero during the eight years of war. Whether the Emperor acknowledged it or not, he was a hero.

The delay was likely because he was the only war hero who didn’t possess a fragment of the Hero’s power.

‘It wasn’t discrimination, but probably an attempt to silence any potential objections by those who might bring up that reason. They likely wanted him to accumulate more merits before granting the recognition,’ he thought.

Whether the Hero succeeded or failed, Deon Hart would be recognized for his contributions as long as he returned alive.

Seemingly understanding the Emperor’s intentions, Deon Hart accepted even this condition. No sooner had he received the title than he set off once more as the Hero’s companion.

It was the result of the Emperor weighing the Hart family, who had faithfully served Deserte for generations, against Deon Hart, who had risen like a comet and established a strong reputation in a relatively short time.

‘Normally, the former would be the obvious choice, but the current Emperor ascended the throne through a coup, so he couldn’t fully trust their loyalty. That leveled the playing field to some extent,’ Deon considered.

Accordingly, the outcome of the journey would likely influence the Emperor’s final decision.

Even if he had merely returned alive, the Emperor would have valued him highly. However, Deon Hart exceeded expectations by recovering the Hero’s body, leading the Emperor to willingly agree to his demands—

—This was the hypothesis he had pieced together, using Cruel to gather all sorts of rumors and information.

Cruel Hart was the one who observed the entire process of him forming this hypothesis.

‘What was his expression like back then?’ Deon wondered.

Starbe glanced over at Deon Hart sitting on one side and Cruel Hart approaching him, then turned back, offering a faint smile to those who were silently watching him.

“Still, I would appreciate it if you would be mindful of your words here. The protagonist of this banquet is none other than a member of the Hart family.”

“Yes, yes! My apologies!”

***

Life was said to be a solitary journey.

Since I came alone and would leave alone, was there really a need to build connections?

…Yeah, actually, that’s all nonsense.

‘I want to talk to someone! But no one’s coming to me!’

They even ran away when I approached them, damn it….

Anyone with a shred of awareness would realize it. I was clearly being ostracized by everyone.

Ah, not exactly ostracized. The moment I entered the banquet hall, all eyes were on me. They just wouldn’t approach, and if I approached them, they’d flee.

‘Might as well check out the food. There’s a lot that looks delicious….’

Casually settling onto a nearby chair, I rested my chin on my hand and scanned the desserts laid out nearby.

From basic cookies to macarons, cakes, puddings… Oh, that pudding looks good. Is it strawberry pudding?

The vibrant and translucent red color makes you want to try it.

‘…Is it okay to eat it?’

It must have been put there for that purpose.

I slowly stood up to head over when I heard someone calling me.

It sounded like ‘Baron Hart,’ but… Nah, it must be my imagination. The familiar voice must be a trick of the ears too.

After all, no one here would approach me.

“Baron Hart!”

“…Huh?”

It wasn’t my imagination! Someone was calling me!

Overjoyed, I turned my head while holding the pudding and made eye contact with a knight striding towards me.

With large steps, she quickly stood before me, placing a fist over her chest and giving a formal knight’s salute.

“Lien Riner greets the Baron.”

“Sir Lien!”

I couldn’t be happier!

Sir Lien is the commander of my knight order.

I have one knight order under my command, but in truth, it’s hardly a knight order. It’s more like a gathering of mad dogs.

‘The conclusion is weird?’

…My thoughts were drifting to strange places, but anyway, I have a knight order under my command called the Lofty Knights, a name that’s pathetic in itself.

It’s called a knight order, but it was originally just the vanguard that fought alongside me during the eight-year war and was promoted in recognition of their merits. It’s best not to imagine it as a typical, well-disciplined knight order.

Would it make sense if I said they were called the ‘Killer Squad’ before?

In fact, they are still called the ‘Killer Knights’ instead of ‘Lofty Knights,’ which says it all.

Anyway, why am I so happy to see Sir Lien?

‘Because she’s a parachute hire!’

In other words, she’s a completely normal person, unlike those guys who tore enemies apart while laughing maniacally during the eight-year war.

My enthusiastic greeting seemed to surprise her. Sir Lien tilted her head, her tone becoming even more cautious as she began to speak.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell, perhaps?”

“…No.”

What did my expression look like?

“Don’t push yourself and please sit here. It would be troubling if you were to collapse.”

She even kindly pulled out a chair, leaving me no way to refuse.

I discreetly placed the spoon and strawberry pudding on the table and sat down.

Intending to change the subject, I addressed Sir Lien, who was still studying my complexion.

“By the way, what’s with the sudden banquet?”

“Excuse me? Are you pretending not to know…?”

“…?”

“Surely you jest? Hahaha, that was an excellent display of denial.”

Sir Lien, who had been laughing and clapping, graduallyExpression became serious as she saw the confusion on my face.

“Don’t tell me, you really… didn’t know?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She hesitated, watching my reaction, then finally sighed as if she had no choice and slowly spoke.

“It’s to celebrate the birth of a new hero and their debut….”

“Deon.”

A chilling voice cut off Sir Lien’s words.

Unfamiliar yet disgustingly familiar.

My mood soured instantly, and I turned my head to meet a pair of hard, cold green eyes.

……Ah.

I understood the situation. I didn’t need to hear the rest of Sir Lien’s explanation to grasp it.

The knight, usually so confident, was openly watching my reaction, and the unpleasant man before me was so blatantly flaunting his status as the banquet’s protagonist.

—How could I not know?

“……If it isn’t you.”

The green eyes didn’t waver despite the obvious animosity in my words.

That irritated me even more, and I frowned, running a hand through my hair to hide my expression and suppress the rapidly rising anger.

Murderous intent was probably swirling in my eyes right now.

Not wanting to reveal the dangerous glint in my eyes here, I deliberately crinkled my eyes into a bright smile.

“Long time no see, brother.”

Green eyes, like mine, and black hair.

The symbol of the Hart family, someone I thought I’d never see again.

The face I hadn’t seen in so long hadn’t changed a bit from my memories.

Cruel, seemingly taken aback by my unexpected bright smile, paused before slowly nodding.

“Indeed. It has been a while.”

“I hear you’ve become a hero.”

“I was fortunate. I obtained a fragment of the Hero’s power.”

“I recall you being skilled with the sword even before. You would have become a hero someday, even without the Hero’s fragment. Congratulations.”

“……I faced the Commander of the 0th Legion on the battlefield.”

I flinched for a moment, but a smile returned to my lips.

That wasn’t a genuine reaction, just a way to change the subject.

My artificial praise and smile must have disgusted him. Or perhaps the compliment about his swordsmanship struck a nerve.

“And?”

“More than the battle itself, the drop in morale among the soldiers was the real struggle.”

“Oh dear. But it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here, and this banquet wouldn’t be taking place in the first place.

“I heard you’re quite adept at handling morale. If you had been there….”

“Hahahaha, brother!”

Cruel fell silent.

I didn’t need to hear what he was going to say.

He was undoubtedly going to say something about how they wouldn’t have struggled so much if I had been there.

Bullshit.

“There’s no need for such hypotheticals. It’s not like I would ever fight alongside you, brother.”

Unless it was to pretend to fight together before trying to kill him.

Besides, the Emperor, well aware of our relationship, would never have put us together on the same front.

“…….”

Even now, those hard green eyes showed no signs of breaking.

They didn’t even waver. I inwardly clicked my tongue and began poking at the pudding on the table with my spoon before scooping up a large spoonful.

He should leave on his own now.

We both feel unpleasant when we see each other’s faces, so I’d rather he just disappeared.

Actually, my mood had already soured beyond repair, but I couldn’t cause a scene here. I had no choice but to eat the pudding and let it settle my stomach.

“……I heard you went on a monster subjugation.”

I don’t know what he hopes to gain by continuing to talk.

I tilted my spoon, letting the pudding on it plop onto the plate, and nodded with an annoyed expression.

Cruel scanned me from head to toe before slowly parting his lips.

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“……Pfft—”

Oh, dear. It was so absurd that I couldn’t help it.

He was the one who pushed me onto the battlefield, and now he’s pretending to be concerned? Is he having some kind of belated remorse?

It’s utterly ridiculous.

Who was it that pushed me, a mere 14-year-old, onto the battlefield? Who were they that sent the weaker me to the war while having a healthy and skilled older brother who was three years my senior?

And who was it that simply stood by and watched them do it?

Cruel Hart.

My own brother, whom I once loved dearly.

It was you.

“Why the sudden concern? I know how to take care of myself. There’s no need to pretend to care now. At least, I’ll be perfectly fine in front of you, brother.”

I won’t show any signs of injury in front of you.

I can’t afford to be so foolish as to reveal my weaknesses to the enemy.

Cruel’s expression subtly hardened, likely understanding the gist of my words.

That was quite amusing, so I grinned and added.

“So, brother, please just watch, as you always have. I’d appreciate it.”

Just like you stood by and watched when I was dragged to the battlefield. Just like that.

“…….”

“…….”

There was no response.

In the uncomfortable silence, Cruel stared at me with an unreadable expression, and I met his gaze without backing down.

Those nearby who had sensed the unusual atmosphere had long since moved away.

Sir Lien, who had unintentionally witnessed her superiors’ family feud, was the only one who couldn’t bring herself to leave, yet couldn’t intervene, her gaze shifting between me and Cruel.

……What are you doing, Sir Lien? Hurry up and stop this.

‘My eyes are killing me.’

My pride wouldn’t let me look away, but my eyes were already stinging, nearing their limit.

Just as I mentally called out to Sir Lien again, Cruel’s gaze shifted past my shoulder.

His expression returned to its usual blankness as if he had seen something.

Sir Lien also focused her gaze on something, her expression stiffening considerably. Come to think of it, everyone else’s gaze was also fixed on the same spot.

‘……What is it?’

My curiosity was quickly extinguished.

Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t related to me.

If it were about me, they would be looking at me, not staring elsewhere.

I shrugged it off and took advantage of the lull in attention to shove a large spoonful of pudding into my mouth.

‘Ah, it’s cherry, not strawberry. No wonder the color was so intensely red.’

The tart taste and aroma spreading in my mouth weren’t bad at all.

Just as I moved my mouth to crush and swallow the pudding, I heard an unfamiliar voice coming from… yes, from the direction everyone was looking.

“Such touching brotherly affection.”

“……?”

The first thing I saw was a strand of purple hair loosely tied to one side.

An unusual hair color. Which family’s symbol was purple again?

Ah, the Illuster Dukedom.

……Huh? Dukedom?

“……?!”

It’s really a duke! Duke Starbe Illuster!

I jumped up from my seat in shock.

I awkwardly pushed the pudding far away and tried to offer a hasty greeting, but….

‘I haven’t swallowed the pudding yet!’

I couldn’t speak.

Being right in front of the Duke, I couldn’t very well make it obvious that I was eating something while mumbling. But swallowing it whole was a bit too much. Cold sweat trickled down my back.

‘What should I do…?’