Chapter 2 (2/2)
「Yes, it is impolite, but inadvertently the person pleaded very desperately…」
The knight presented the letter.
「I don’t mind. I needed a change of pace.」
Eagle received the letter and read, with a pale face, he began to tremble.
「……Call that slave merchant at once!」
Just as Eagle instructed, the slave merchant is summoned, and the events in Rozwell are told.
Eagle, after listening, is dumbfounded for a while.
「From what I heard…… then, why didn’t you bring the boy!」
「It’s because, the child is being treated as a criminal, he is being held in a prison and can’t leave……」
When the slave merchant looked sorry, Eagle’s face looked hurt.
「What a foolish thing…… Do you feel inferior to your parents? Eei~, get him out at once…… No, I will go and receive him. Prepare for departure!」
As Eagle ordered, he hurriedly left before the day ends.
After three days.
In Roswell village, the Knight’s group arrives wearing brilliant armor.
It is said that the lord suddenly came to the rural area, all the villagers knelt down to the ground to receive him.
「Your lords.h.i.+p, go-good day to you……」
It’s no wonder that the village chief’s voice is trembling – even if it were the magistrates, to the lord’s eyes, they are nothing more than an underling. To those that haven’t met the lord, his existence is like that of being above the clouds.
「……」
Eagle, whom had gotten off the luxurious carriage glances him coldly.
「E-ehh… What business do you have, Eagle Shylock-sama, to come to such a far-away village?」
「A slave who has the 「Darkness」 magic, he is likely to be of the same family as I. I would like to verify it. Apart from that, I want to have the corpse of the woman who was beheaded on the reports shown to me.」
Seeing the cold face of The Golden Duke Shylock, the Village chief makes a panicking excuse.
「B-b-because the person was bitten by a Ghoul, U-uhm we threw it out in the wilderness outside the village. About this time, the demon should’ve been eaten…」
「What did you say!」
Golden Shylock face became that of a demon. Because they may get killed if they are impolite, the Knights aid fl.u.s.tered entered in between.
「Milord, we have confirmed this.」
「……Ah, mercy. there must be some misunderstanding……」
Though Golden Shylock prayed to the heaven, it soon changed to despair.
The corpse was take home with the village chief’s aid, though there were marks where she was bitten by monsters, the beauty still remained in her face. Seeing her face, The Golden Duke’s tears flowed.
「What an unsightly appearance… You fool. That time if you had just listened to what I said… No, if only I had acknowledged it… Such a thing.」
「Golden Duke-sama, do you know this woman?」
When seeing The Golden Duke become like this, the village driven by uneasiness reflexively hears it.
「This woman! Fool! Josephine is my daughter!」
「Hiii!」
The Village chief pales and kneels on the ground.
The village-brats who were bullying Ritone, and the adults who had treated him coldly paled in color. There was a desire to seize and slaughter them right now, but somehow he managed to control himself.
「And, my daughter’s child, where is he! 」
「Hi~, hii~ I will lead you to him at once…」
「Take me there!」
The anger of The Golden Duke exploded. The Village chief, whilst having a ghastly face, guided him to the underground prison.
Underground prison
Ritone heard the noise of many people walking on the ground and guessed that his grandfather had come.
「After this, there will be a serious matter. I have to create a great first impression.」
Though weakened because he wasn’t given meals nor water, he still managed to sit straight and wait.
A short moment later, a proud elderly person entered.
「Are you my grandchild?……」
The elderly person looked straightly at Ritone.
「Yes, this is my first time meeting you. I am called Ritone, Grandfather.」
Ritone looked back at the eyes of The Golden Duke Shylock straightly, and bowed deeply.
After watching each other for a while, suddenly The Golden Duke grinned widely.
「Hmm, even though you possess the hateful blood of a commoner man who enticed my daughter. You certainly are a mage of darkness, darkness that runs in my family…… It seems you’ve had it hard.」
「Nah, this much is nothing.」
Despite clearly being overworked, having lost a lot of body weight and being wounded and dirty, he still smiled.
Still having the appearance of a straightened back and facing him, The Golden Duke has a good impression of him.
「HAHAHA, to have that kind att.i.tude in front of me. As expected of my grandchild.」
The Golden Duke smiled delightfully, as the Village chief trembled in the back.
「What are you doing, take out my grandchild out of the prison!」
The panicking Village chief, unlocks the jail with the key. As Ritone stood up, his stomach made a gurgling sound.
「I-I’m sorry. I’m a little bit hungry……」
Thus, Ritone feeling a bit embarra.s.sed as he scratches his head , The Golden Duke spouted.
「Hahaha, what a funny little chap. I like you. You are my grandchild, and thus a rightful successor of the Shylock family. As of today, you will
be introduced as Ritone Shylock!」
「Yes!」
Ritone answered vigorously.
After getting out of the jail and into the bath. Fixing his hair and clothes, Ritone’s appearance was very handsome.
Considering the young master’s appearance.
The villagers who sees him would tremble in fear, as they bow down and beg for mercy.
Though The Golden Duke looked fondly at Ritone, with a serious face, he gives a long glare to the villagers.
「You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, for what you have done to my grandchild, he had to live a rough life. Honestly, I’m extremely furious. Zouk, who’s a mere commoner, came to this village having enticed and whilst carrying my daughter.」
「……」
「…… I can overlook the matter by 100 steps. However, deserting my daughter’s corpse in the wilderness, having jailed my grandchild, and having the gall to sell him as a slave is another matter!」
「Th-that’s, I didn’t know!」
「This Village chief dog is selfis.h.!.+」
「Is that so, up until now Village chief, Ritone was overworked and abused, he was treated bad entirely!」
The large chorus of criticism from the villagers to the Village chief was heated.
「Y-you……」
Even as he tried to answer back, the sword from the knight was pointed at him, having resigned, it became quiet.
As for The Golden Duke who observed the situation, he questioned Ritone.
「So, how do you want to deal with these people. Having enslaved one of the blood from the Shylock family, in a commoner’s position, it isn’t possible to let this pa.s.s.」
Hearing that, Ritone pondered. He certainly has a grudge against the Village chief. Being overworked until now, and almost unlawfully sold as a slave.
But he’s still Rin’s father.
Looking around the villagers, Ritone troubled, his eyes met Rin who was praying desperately.
(Onii-chan……Father……please let him go.)
Looking at the child who prayed while shedding tears, Ritone realized.
(Now, fate has branched. When thinking properly, the young childhood friend Rin, hated Ritone, such a funny story. It was because, Ritone originally took revenge against the Village chief and its people, that made Rin hate him. If that’s the case, what should I do here?)
Suppressing his vengeful heart frantically, his answer is decided.
Ignoring the Village chief, Ritone smiles at Rin.
「……Rin, I will follow my Grandfather. However, it will surely be lonely. Would you come with me?」
「……Is it alright?」
「Aah, Grandfather. She is the Village chief’s daughter, her name is Rin. For me, she is the only one who saved me from this living h.e.l.l, an equal existence to a younger sister. There are children who will become unhappy due to the crimes from their parents in this world. If so, I would excuse the parent for the success of the child. If Rin comes, then I would excuse the village chief.」
「Is that alright?」
「……Moreover, the tax drops, for each person killed. We would only lose.」
Ritone explained while smiling wryly.
「……Onii-chan……Thank you……」
Rin being saved and full of tears, embraces him.
「I see…… My grandchild, to be so merciful. I’m pleased more and more…… As you heard, all of you, your lives have been saved by my grandchild. Work until you die, pay your taxes, and return this favor. This year taxes will be more than usual.」
「Y-yes.」
The Village chief raised his voice as he knelt on the ground.
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