The Fallen Noble’s Perspective
I will never forget the day I watched as the Greenlock Household burned to the ground. The flames, the laughter of the assassins, and the strange Arachne that followed closely behind them were still vivid in my mind. Even when I spoke about this in a carefree attitude in front of Simon, I made sure to hide the venomous hatred I had for those scoundrels...!
Cerberus has reared its four ugly heads once again, hasn't it? Was burning down our family's Noble Household not enough for them? To think they would target my nephew and niece...! I'll destroy all of them!
After bidding farewell to Simon so he and Merilin could have a proper chat with with Fredrick, a cold radiance appeared in my eyes as I made my way to our House Master.
"Which of Cerberus' Heads acted towards my family this time...?" I asked in tranquil fury. The Duke didn't mind my discourteous demeanour and instead smiled upon hearing my low but arctic voice.
"Aaaah~ If it isn't the great avenger of the Greenlock Family! What happened to how you never wanted to have anything to do with Cerberus anymore?" The Duke teased.
"My family... They went after my family again...! You know of this, so stop wasting my time." I didn't falter at his words as my seething rage could only be calmed through the act of slaughter! I'll cut them to shreds!
"Calm yourself. What would you do even if I told you which Head was involved in this little assassination plot? Are you going to run around and try looking for their hideout like last time? You wouldn't be able to find them even with your speed." The Duke's rational words allowed me to regain some of my clarity of mind...
Wealth, Power, Desire, and Death were the 'Four Heads' of the Underworld's most notorious faction known as Cerberus. Although the mythical creature called Cerberus was actually a Mythological Beast and only had three heads in total, the Cerberus of the Underworld instead had four different 'Heads'.
Wealth was a group of black marketers who would even kill their own parents for money, Power was a group of warmongers who craved nothing but absolute supremacy. They even had a network of corrupted figures who had the power to affect the populace. The third one named Desire was a branch that specialised in the worst of crimes while Death focused more on acquiring wealth through assassination requests.
It's said that anyone could be killed as long as they went to the 'Fourth Head' and paid an appropriate price. The only times they would move was when someone paid them to kill.
I can't just rely on my Intrinsic Art to search for them without any clues...
"My apologies." I finally calmed down enough to realise I couldn't just offend the man I now work for. I wouldn't be able to survive if the Duke was to become infuriated by my actions...!
"No need. Your anger is justified. I was just about to fire all the Guards of our household before dealing with the moronic fool that was responsible for this incident. I'm not confident that insignificant pig would be important enough to know any information regarding Cerberus but killing a mere Count should help to release some stress." The Duke shook his head and spoke as if the first task he was about to do was a minor matter. The Guards of the Swordwick Household couldn't have their jobs taken without reason...
Due to the contract they signed with the Duke, our household would experience some loss in reputation and power after breaking their trust.
It was only now did I hear the commotion that was made outside by many frightened individuals. Why have the Guards gathered together?
"Follow me." The Duke ignored my confusion and led me to where all the Guards of the household had all concentrated. The sounds of steel armour clanking could be heard as they lined up upon our entry.
"Greetings, House Master!" The men spoke with courtesy. However, the air around us was heavy as the corpse of who I suspect to be our former Head Guard sprawled out onto the floor.
Looks like this will get complicated...
"We want an explanation for this. Why had Knight Ron been executed without a trial? What crime did he commit to be killed and thrown onto the streets without a grave?" The man who seemed to be leading the Guards who had gathered stepped forward.
"Have anyone of you ever visited the western district of the capital?" The Duke ignored the Guard's enquiry and asked the men who were present.
A great deal of them shook their head while others nodded in confusion.
"Since that's the case, the people who want an explanation can stay while those who are happy with returning to the Mercenary Guild can pick up their last payment and leave. You're services towards my Noble Household are no longer needed." The Duke didn't even give them any respect as he leisurely dismissed the services of all mercenaries that were present.
As soon as the Duke finished his speech, multiple Guards who weren't that close with Knight Ron separated from the line and walked off. These were the regular actions taken by most Mercenaries since there wasn't a need for them to stick their neck out for those who they weren't related to.
Many countries like the Drakeyol Kingdom had a strict legal system that focused more on rewarding those considered to be 'competent' compared to enthusiastic weaklings.
Nobles could sometimes get away with killing commoners in broad daylight if they were to make up a good enough reason for it, that's not to mention a Noble with the title of a Duke. Just second to even the King!
There wasn't one citizen of the Drakeyol Kingdom who wasn't aware of the Swordwick Household's hidden yet overwhelming might. The fact that the Swordwick Lineage was almost as ancient as the Royal Family was proof that it was more than it seemed...
It's strange.., Although those who can qualify to be Mercenaries had special privileges compared to ordinary commoners, where in the world did they find the courage to seek justice against our House Master? The Duke also personally earned the title of Army Breaker using his own contributions in battle, a fact that should inspire fear in everyone...
It may be considered 'unfair', but this was just how the most people did business. Unless a Noble was to harm a person's family or friend, there wouldn't be a need for someone to go out of their way to uphold 'justice'. It's just a suicidal action without benefits.
Once the Mercenaries who had a more professional outlook on the situation had left, there was only about twenty Guards left to seek 'justice' for the traitor that almost killed my adorable little niece...!
"You all think I should undergo a trial for killing this man?" The Duke seemed to have already guessed the number of people who would be left as he asked. Was that why he asked that out of place question a moment ago? I can't comprehend his actions...
"Killing a man who earned the title of a Knight without a trial is against the kingdom's laws. Even if you ARE a Duke, I will definitely take you in to custody so you can be punished for your crimes!" The man's face twisted in anger as the men behind him nodded. Did they all go crazy...?
Are they cattle begging to be slaughtered? Why in the world would these fools think they are a match for the Duke? The anti-army type Intrinsic Art the Swordwick Family excels at shouldn't be a secret from those who know the Duke's name.
"Well well~ How chivalrous!" The Duke clapped his hands in 'admiration' after hearing the Guard speak about the kingdom's laws.
"You talk about 'bringing me into custody'. However, isn't that something only the Knights who serve directly under the King can do? I remember the personal information forms you used to apply for the position of my household's Guard speak about how you are merely a 'former' Knight. How are you supposed to 'arrest' me~?" The Duke mocked with an air of arrogance.
As usual, he didn't even put these mere Guards in his eyes. The only people worthy to be considered 'useful' to him are the people who became servants of his household.
I myself should know of the difficulties of how difficult it is to become someone worthy of the Duke to actually care about. After all, earning the position of a servant for such an arrogant Duke was a lot harder than learning Magic...
"Even if I'm a former Knight, I have the responsibility towar-"
"No, you don't. If you're going to try and kill me after infiltrating the ranks of my household's Guards. You might as well start now. There's no need to speak so much nonsense." A sapphire light appeared in the Duke's eyes as he interrupted his 'righteous' speech.
Hah... The Swordwick Duke has never been the kind to talk things out...
Although he has always tried to act gentlemanly when dealing with fellow Humans, I don't think he realises how naturally he enforces his own will... I'm not even surprised that he managed to uncover the identities of these intruders right now since it's to be expected from our Duke.
Why did I even choose to follow such an arrogant Duke...? I mean... I could have easily become a great Mercenary with my talents. There was no specific reason I needed to align myself with a Noble of the Drakeyol Kingdom on the outside, but things tend to change once some particular facts about the Swordswick Household is put into the equation...
What was my reason for becoming a servant under the Swordwick Duke?
Oh right...! I remember now! The Duke's ambition is something VERY interesting. Especially the 'Blood Annihilation' project we've been preparing... There's no need to even elaborate on how proud I feel to be a servant of his Noble Household.
This is probably true with nearly everyone of this great Household.
As the Guards who were left bickered pointlessly with the Duke in a war of words, I couldn't help but turn my head to look at the dozens of eyes that were secretly watching over us.
It's actually a little sad how the Guards of the Swordwick Household thought they were important pieces of the household. The only reason they were even hired was to lessen our burden in having to keep watch on the manor. All in order to calm our House Master's paranoid nature.
The 'Blood Annihilation' project had multiple stages that could very well fail if we were not to be careful. The special Mana Gems the Swordwick Duke createa were easy to use up in casting techniques and there was also multiple other resources hidden within our household that shouldn't ever be seen by the light of day.
Well... not right now at least.
I hope Fredrick doesn't notice this commotion considering how the Duke looks like he is already ready to slaughter these blind fools. There probably won't even be a need for me to step forward on this occasion.
It was then my body shivered as the twenty Guards released their Aura.
"Exceptionally talented individuals seem to be like cabbages these days." I couldn't help but sigh after feeling the shocking density of their Aura Clads.
I could tell from here that these men were no pushovers. How I never noticed such powerful Mercenaries hiding among our household's Guards is something I'm not sure about...
"Sir, we have no choice but to detain you if you resist arrest." The man who was leading them, an Earth Specialist who was using the armour he wore to increase his bodily defence spoke with a feigned tone of courtesy.
They're strong individuals that's for sure, but do they think this is enough?
The Swordwick Household has been personally turned into a minefield by the Mages among us servants through engraving Magic Circles into the magic resistant floors and walls of the manor. A very monotonous task that takes a lot of energy, mind you...
Although Mages are the worst fighters when it comes to close-combat, but walking into the territory of a Mage is like walking into a plethora of traps...
Huh?!
A creaking could be heard as the Magic Circles within the magic resistant bricks around us started to shatter. It looks like they weren't complete novices and had chosen this location to gather since they had already sabotaged our defences through mysterious means. I wonder how they broke our Spell Circles...!
As a Sword Mage, I knew enough about the materials we used to strengthen the defences of the Swordwick Household to know that ordinary magic couldn't dispel the traps we had all set up.
The world was made up of different forms of naturally formed Ether that made up the sky, mountains, seas and even volcanoes. As long as it was an inanimate object naturally formed by the world itself, it would also contain a certain amount of Ether within it.
Although Humans could practically change the world around them at a whim using their power to control Ether, there was actually many factors that affected Ether Control.
The most common factor was the sturdiness of the Ether within a naturally formed object or maybe the special qualities of the environment.
What we call 'magic resistant' materials were actually stones which seemed to not easily comply to the will of Earth Specialists. That's why Fire Mages were needed to carve Flame Attributed Spell Circles inside them. The only way to disarm such traps was by making Mages dissipate the Mana used to create them...
"You traitors seem well prepared." I spoke calmly while using Wind Clad only on my sword. I only had Rank E Magical Talent so it was only natural I'd focus my Mana into attack power.
"But you forgot one thing."
[Intrinsic Art- Terminal Velocity!]
My body disappeared before reappearing behind one of the Guards who seemed to have some level of understanding about magic considering his strange movements before our traps collapsed. A ferocious expression appeared on my face as I decapitated the man with one swing of my Mana infused sword.
"The Swordwick Household isn't called the Monster House for no reason!" I spoke as the man's headless body bled profusely before hitting the ground. The Duke was right: This really does relieve me of some stress!
I hope the others won't fall so- Why did one of them just fall over?
My eyes focused on a guy in front of me who was such a wimp that he fell unconscious upon seeing a corpse. I don't even know what to say...