Chapter 49 ─ Trophy Unlocked

Dear readers, the day I had told you so much about has arrived.

The big surprise, I don't want to say any more.

Just that you enjoy it and that we are entering the final stretch of the volume.

____________

The next morning something unexpected happened.

Rei took Ange-chan for a walk.

After she got up, they went to have a bunch of pancakes for breakfast.

After that they went horseback riding.

Then they went beetle catching.

It wasn't just today, this went on for quite a while.

About a week.

I kept asking Rei why he was doing this, but he wouldn't answer me.

Now the two of them were eating ice cream again.

Ange-chan was looking at her ice cream with a lost look.

Rei asked her.

"Is something wrong?"

She was quiet and then asked him something disturbing.

"Rei onii-chan. why are you being so nice to me for a while now?"

"...Is it necessary for me to answer?"

"Yes."

Rei was thoughtful before answering.

"I'm going to kill your dad tomorrow."

"...!"

Both Ange-chan and I were shocked.

Her little hands were shaking as she heard how her father would be killed.

Opening her little mouth in a sad state she asked.

"...Is it necessary to do so?"

"That's why I've been taking you for walks all week."

"I was thinking about whether or not to forgive your father. Every day we spent together was to think about it and decide."

"It was really the hardest question I've ever asked myself in my life."

"That's why..."

Rei placed his hand on Ange-chan's head.

"I'm going to kill him as a noble."

"...?"

She didn't understand what he meant. I didn't understand either.

Rei explained.

"I won't actually kill your father. But I will kill him as a noble, that is, I will destroy his lineage."

"You may lose your family name."

"That guy thinks he can get away with it. He's not afraid of anything."

"He's the kind of idiot who must be destroyed so there won't be any more like him."

She looked a little calm.

"That means he'll live on, doesn't it?"

"That's right... he'll live, but he'll be imprisoned for life."

"For that matter, if anything goes wrong. I'll make sure you and your mother are okay financially."

She looked at him and began to cry.

"That's still horrible, what will happen to my brothers and sisters?"

"Your family has gotten into bad things. Including treason against the royal family."

"They should be thankful they won't be executed, but I'll make sure they're imprisoned."

"I see."

She accepted her family's fate.

"I understand. Even if they are bad people they are still my family."

She lifted her face and looked at Rei with determination.

"Please, let's save my family even if they must be behind bars for life."

Rei missed the comment I was going to say.

"For a brat you are very mature for your age."

"Or so I would think but for the ice cream on your nose."

He wiped her nose and she laughed at that.

I imagine she must be happy to know her family will still be alive.

Well, let's stop Klyde without killing him.

◇◇◇

On the outskirts of the capital, in a large forest were two men gathered.

One of them was Klyde who was handing a bag full of money to someone.

The individual who received the bag was a large, stocky man, tanned skin, sharp red eyes, spiky red hair that was tied in a ponytail at the end of his nape.

This man who wore animal skins on his shoulder pads, torso and knees was one of the exclusive antagonists of the third year.

Regnas Arkin, or also called Berserk.

Regnas was part of the cult, but his position was the strongest Code of all.

This man until months ago was the second strongest in the barbarian kingdom, but after his king mysteriously disappeared, he became number one.

But he wasn't happy with that.

He wanted to be the strongest.

One day, he was contacted by the cult, managing to catch his interest when they told him about an opportunity to surpass the previous king of the barbarians.

That's how he ended up there.

But what does Klyde do with them?

After receiving a cloth bag, Klyde said.

"According to what you discussed with your boss you know what to do, don't you?"

Regnas was a barbarian, his country was more like a community of nomads, they were always going back and forth stealing other people's land and making it their own.

That's why he would respond uneducated.

"You are a very annoying piece of shit."

"The boss said to help you for payment and I did."

"Besides, does that thing work?"

"I always see old guys in hoodies use it."

Klyde knew what he was talking about, he just answered her.

"For them maybe it helps them think they get younger, but for me it has another meaning."

"Anyway. Remember the plan from jury day."

"I know that you piece of shit."

Klyde left showing his displeasure with Regnas.

But Regnas smiled.

"Idiot. This was my chance to be able to steal those things."

Regnas showed a red pill in his fingers.

"With this power. I will become the strongest, hahahaha."

◇◇◇

The morning of the sworn day.

Klyde and Max were walking in the garden of the mansion.

"What is the reason for your sudden call Klyde-dono?"

"You see Max-kun, very soon a party will start."

"It will be a big celebration for all of us."

"Is that so? I'm glad then that you called me."

"Believe me, you have no idea what's coming."

After saying that, a great commotion occurred at the door.

A servant came running and informed him.

"M-My lord, run away quickly!"

"The royal guard has come to arrest you!"

"...!"

Both Klyde and Max were confused, but for some reason Klyde's face that showed confusion at first was reduced to a faint smile.

At that moment a group of knights were surrounding the garden.

Among them three figures came out among the knights.

The first was a bespectacled, long-haired man, Isaac's father, Nigel Ashton.

Behind him was Rei and Ange.

When they saw Rei, their expressions were different.

For Klyde it was an unexpected surprise.

But for Max it was one of horror.

"Reidel... what are you doing here?"

Rei looked at his cousin, looked at him with a disgusted look on his face.

Nigel pulled out a scroll and began to read the charges.

"Baron Klyde Bartolt. And Maximillian Redblade."

"You are both under arrest on charges of treason and attempted murder against the Duke."

Max defended himself.

"What nonsense are you talking, where's the evidence!"

Nigel held up a sheet of paper.

"On this paper is what two witnesses heard. We even have more evidence that we got from the baron personally."

"Personally?"

Max was puzzled, he heard that Klyde had given himself away.

"I'm sorry Max-kun, but my conscience couldn't let me sleep in peace."

"Just like me, you must atone for your sins."

Klyde ducked his head in shame, but for some reason he flashed a faint smile.

"Arrest them."

The royal guard went straight to imprison them both.

Max was crying, he tried to escape.

"Noooo, this didn't have to end like this!"

He jumped into the pool, but was still arrested.

He was crying like a little boy.

Klyde was being led outside to be put into the carriage.

He walked past Ange and Rei.

To his daughter he said.

"Unlike your siblings, you were useful. For that alone you deserve for me to remember your name, what was it?"

She heard from her own father that he did not know her name.

He was never interested in her as a daughter.

For Ange the only memory she has of her father is only seeing him from afar.

She hardly interacts with the family and even forgets the names of his children and wives.

She wept as she realized that it was only she who had a bond with him.

Klyde's eyes went straight to Rei.

A sinister smile showed on his face.

"I thank you, brat."

"...?"

He said that before being lifted into the carriage.

Rei didn't understand what that strange conversation was about.

But with that the matter pertaining to Klyde was over, but not with his children.

"Give the alert that the baron's sons, Heinrich and Ulrich must be found at all costs today."

"The trial will not begin unless all the culprits are together."

The alert was fired to the entire capital.

◇◇◇

On the outskirts of the capital there is a training camp that can be used after making a reservation.

As it was the weekend, Isaac and Oliver came to train.

Until a few minutes ago they were fighting arduously, they took a rest to continue in a while later.

"Hey Isaac, do you think we've improved?"

"Why do you ask?"

Isaac replied to Oliver who was looking at his hand.

"We've been practicing for months."

"I remember the tournament last year, I could feel the difference between me and Fionn."

"Unlike the first time we fought, he defeated me without a problem, but last year I was able to give him a fight which was the important thing."

"I understand you."

Isaac added to the conversation.

"I thought Rei was only my biggest obstacle to becoming a court mage."

"But I understood that there are people who are even more talented than me."

"But I don't just mean Alfred. I mean those guys too."

The two of them remembered when they were held captive by the Frazier principality.

"For that reason Isaac, I want to test my strength against someone real."

Clenching his fist, Oliver wanted to gauge his skills if they have improved.

"Fighting against someone strong other than Rei I'm going to find it very difficult─"

"Oh, so here you guys have been."

Without warning, the boys were met by a familiar voice, it was Heinrich walking towards them.

"I was looking for you two, isn't Eisenberg's son missing?"

"Hey, is that the guy from last time."

"Yeah."

The boys were angry at Heinrich for what he did to them.

"What do you want from us?"

Isaac asked angrily.

Heinrich answered after looking around the place.

"Is there no one but you guys? Disappointing."

"Well, whatever. I was looking for you guys, the other guy the same but I don't see him anywhere, but the academy told me you guys would be here."

"You see, I heard that you were the ones who made it to the finals of the tournament along with other people."

"The truth is that I also participated a few years ago... and I was defeated by an idiot."

"Well, the idiot is dead now, never mind."

He said laughing at having committed murder.

"I like fighting strong people, it makes me feel alive."

"For that reason, all the participants who make it to the finals I look for them and then..."

Heinrich pulled a cloth bag out of his pocket, a red pill was the only thing in there.

"I make sure they suffer for making it further than me."

◇◇◇

"Will you still go through with this Sig?"

Alfred and Sigurd were walking straight into a remote area of the capital, hardly any signs of it being developed.

"Sig, I understand that you received a letter with suspicious content."

"But to heed it and come without help is ridiculous."

In the morning, Sig received a letter that said he knew a secret about the Bartolt family that could help him, if he wanted to imprison Klyde he had to get together with the person who sent the letter.

Sig came along with Al, when they arrived they saw no one.

"There's no one here."

"You're an hour late. They've kept me waiting a long time."

Rising from sheets made into beds was Ulrich who was dusting off his clothes.

"You really have no manners."

The two were surprised to see him.

"Hey, what reason did you send that letter for?"

Ulrich sighed.

"I needed to get your attention, I did it in the simplest method that didn't require much use of my brain."

"That's too bad. Your brain should have done more thinking."

Al raised his hand and a group of elite soldiers came out surrounding Ulrich.

"I wasn't going to allow the crown prince to come to a suspicious meeting with someone unknown."

"If you really want to rat out your father, we'll make sure your family doesn't suffer the consequences."

Anyone would think that would be the end of Ulrich.

"Unlike the ape of my brother, I am a man who prefers dialogue."

Ulrich was calm despite being surrounded and being pointed at with swords.

"For that reason I hate violence very much. Intelligent men are essential to the world."

"But... you are also annoying."

His calm gaze turned dark.

"I deeply hate that there are other intelligent beings like me."

"I'm supposed to be special, why is there anyone who also has a great intellect like mine?"

"That's why I thought..."

From his pocket he took out the same cloth bag that his brother took out, even the same red pill.

"Everyone who is smart like me should disappear."

◇◇◇

The story of Klyde's first sons is not a rare one.

The second son trying to kill the first son.

It was a normal story for some nobles.

Blood ties are nothing more than an excuse for them to take control.

But these brothers were different.

Urs in the past tried to poison his brother, but Heinrich developed a resistance to poison thanks to that teaching.

When Urs was trapped in a pit trap or in a cave where his brother threw him, he used his brain to make his escape.

This happened all the time.

Both brothers complemented each other.

Urs developed his strategic skills thanks to the unstoppable strength of his brother.

While Heinrich produced a greater strength either physical or willpower due to the failed attempts to be assassinated.

When they were older, they understood that their weakness became their new strength.

Both brothers unknowingly helped each other.

They were an invincible team of monsters.

After telling them their story, each respective group of boy could not understand what they were talking about.

But at that moment...

"Father said it. It's time for the Brune dynasty to end and the Bartolt dynasty to begin."

"Only then can one of us take a different rein in life."

"To be the new head of the house... or to be the new crown prince?"

"This time there will be a winner."

The unexpected began.

◇◇◇

After being taken to the royal palace jail.

Max and Klyde were placed in separate rooms for questioning.

An official sat down to ask them a few questions.

Klyde ignored all those questions until he answered something that was not part of them.

"Do you want to know why I look happy?"

"Well, let me tell you a funny story."

◇

After leaving the Bartolt mansion.

Rei asked Ange-chan.

"We have to wait until the palace starts the trial."

"With the information we gave them they will certainly send your father to jail, they won't execute him since I will ask them not to."

(Rei, that's not how it works to prevent them from executing someone.)

Ange-chan looked depressed.

She found out that her trashy father was trashier, he didn't love her.

Because of that, I also came up with an idea.

"Rei, do you remember that thing you put away days ago?"

"That? ... Ah, that."

"Sure. Is it time already?"

"Yes."

I was waiting for this, the moment where I can realize what I thought that day.

I was just terrified it wouldn't work.

But now I have an even bigger reason to do it.

Let's get to it!

Was what I said as Rei transported us with her ability to a nearby forest.

The reason for the forest is to prevent in case something goes wrong.

"Ange. Look at this."

Rei manifested a small hole, and out of it came the chimera we had obtained during our stay in Norden.

"It's really ugly. And scary."

"It certainly is."

"...Kuro, what do I do with this?"

"Hold it like this."

I said that.

But... will this really work?

Will it really not fail like last time?

I always wished for this.

It will finally happen.

No, Ichiru don't be afraid.

It must work.

Since you saw them move!

"It's time. Let's do it!"

I activated my own skill, there are few skills I can use by myself.

This was one of them.

"Transfer."

At that moment, a white light covered everything.

◇

"Where am I?"

I was in a white room.

It reminds me a lot of when I died.

But this time, in the distance there is a boy.

He was looking at me.

"It's really impressive what you've done without a body."

"The danger is still out there, but you deserve this chance for it, enjoy it."

"Huh?"

Said that the boy and again everything went white.

"...Kuro?"

A voice called out to me.

It was dark all around.

My face felt heavy.

Also the body.

...Wait, body?

It's true that I can feel something touching me.

I can feel something similar to fingers moving.

This is...

Yes, this must be it.

My eyes started to open slowly.

The light was hitting my face, but it was different from that light just now.

This light burns, it doesn't let me see and most of all... I can start to smell.

I raised my arms and used all my strength to stand up.

It hurt like hell.

I couldn't do it in years, but now that under me there are legs.

I can feel the ground.

The light slowly goes away and my vision gets better.

After a while of staggering and falling.

I could see it.

An ordinary tree was in front of me.

From the green leaves to the brown bark.

I reached out my hand to touch it.

A pink skinned hand with gray was caressing the tree.

I could feel how hard and scratchy it was.

I turned around, and could see Rei and Ange-chan.

They both had an expression of horror and surprise.

Because it seems that in order to get used to this body, I must get better.

Let's cheat for now.

"Skill: Speech Enhancement."

I felt a slight prickling sensation.

I opened my mouth.

"Why are the two of you with a long face?"

Nearby was a nearby lake.

I headed there, I could hear my footsteps, they were just like a bear.

As I peeked over the edge of the lake, I could see my face.

"It worked!"

Instead of being a beautiful face, an ugly face similar to a skeleton with flesh and horns I saw.

It was very repulsive, but at least it had a body.

It worked my plan indeed.

Now I have a body!

I started dancing, jumping, running, swimming.

I did everything I wanted to do with my body.

Rei came up to me, his look I couldn't believe.

"Kuro?"

I turned to tell him.

"I am."

He couldn't believe it, well I couldn't either.

But now he did.

I grabbed his shoulders and said.

"Rei. I finally have a body!"

"I feel happy! I want to cry, no. I must cry!"

I could again feel the caresses of the wind on my face.

"The wind touching it with your face is pleasant! Rei, you should do it."

"Emm, Kuro. How did you do that?"

"It's the power of a god!"

It was certainly a miracle, but more miraculous was knowing that this thing had a name.

Ixaba it was.

What a weird name.

No matter, I'm happy.

"I'll see you later Rei!"

"I'll go try my new legs, yoohoo!"

I left leaving Rei and Ange-chan in the forest, they'll be fine.

____________

To celebrate that Kurono finally has a body, I leave fan art of what he looks like. Remember that it will soon have anime and you will be able to see many more arts like this one.

https://chan.sankakucomplex.com/es/post/show/31460342