Battle of Crepin (6)
The previous head of the family, Brahms Rothtaylor, was poisoned during the usurpation of the second in command of the imperial family.
His uncle, Baine Rosstaylor, was killed by the demi-humans as an abandonment in a battle that he was destined to lose, and his mistress, Marie Rosstaylor, was assassinated by a rival family.
In addition, many others died while playing in the hands of power. The matriarch’s throne where Crepin was sitting was stained with blood.
Nevertheless, he never resented anyone, became angry, or went crazy… He quietly sat on his throne and observed the world.
He clearly rose to the position of second-in-command in the imperial family, condemned scoundrels who tried to take advantage of the family, and exterminated rival families who were secretly plotting against him.
Gradually, he had no qualms about killing people and took advantage of others for granted. Although he hid his real appearance and walked around the estate as if he were a benevolent duke, the fishy smell of blood was always present along the path he walked.
From the time he was born until now, he has become a villain to survive and has not justified that fact or tried to be understood by anyone.
The words his ancestor Brahms Rothtaylor whispered to him when he inherited the position of head of the family still remain in his mind.
In this world full of scheming and secret tactics, only one of the two can survive for long.
Either a hero or a villain.
If you can’t be a hero, become a complete villain.
Don’t rationalize or feel remorse, just rule as a villain.
Rooftop of the annex of Ross Taylor Mansion.
Craffin, who is sitting on the railing overlooking the estate, has hundreds of heavy bags on his shoulders.
Nothing is light.
If the sacrificial ritual is completed, more than half of the gathered guests will die. In this way, Mebula will feast on the soul of the noble man and bestow Crepin with the power to wield that power for the rest of his life.
“….”
He had many excuses left.
There are many ways to justify yourself as a villain and give reasons why you had no choice but to twist.
For example, it is the expectation and trust toward Crepin.
The faith of Arwen and her vassals who trusted him until the end when he decided to roll in the mud. In the end, Crepin’s path will be right… that unconditional, infinite trust.
It could also be said that the weight made it difficult for him to take a step back any longer, pushing him further down the path of darkness.
――That is the situation of Act 1 boss Yenika, who is currently running towards Ed’s room.
Or it could be regret for something lost.
His mentor Brahms, who had no choice but to die in the process of usurping power, and his mistress Marie, who had to die in a secret struggle. If the people he had to lose remain in his heart, whispering in his ear not to compromise and to become a thorough villain… it is quite plausible.
――This is the situation of Act 2 boss Glast, who eventually dies out of remorse for his lost daughter.
Otherwise, it may be nothingness itself.
He rose to the end of his power by killing many people, but in the end, all that remained was a large mansion and a large estate.
All of her family members died or were scattered, and Arwen, who had followed her until the end, created a half-mutilation with her own hands.
In the end, the only thing left in his life is great strength and authority, so if he has no choice but to run to the end of the path even if it means borrowing the power of an evil spirit… it’s not that bad.
――That is… This is the situation of Lucy, the boss of Act 3, who lived her whole life as a strong person, but after losing Glokt, her reason for living also disappeared.
Whichever direction you take, it won’t be too bad.
Although Crepin thinks so, he does not compromise in any way.
The half-ruined railing looks like a king’s throne.
Sitting firmly on top of it, he bows his head and waits.
He was born as a wicked person and will die as a wicked person until the moment he dies.
The world is discussed as pure evil that is not tainted until the end.
That was the attitude he took throughout his life to survive.
As long as that purity is fully established, no storm can shake it.
〈The Failed Sword Saint of Sylvania〉 Act 4 final boss.
The head of the family, Crepin Ross Taylor, was quietly contemplating the world.
* * *
The dagger split the tentacle.
The spirit consciousness appeared, rose up into flames, and completely tore the tentacle in two. The moment Ed leaps back again with his sword in hand, the flames from the mug burn down the entire hallway.
It seemed like the conquered workers had been swept away and the road had been cleared, but soon the gremlins broke in and broke in.
―Kyaaaaaaa!
Demons making vicious sounds jumped towards Ed’s body with blades, but the wind rose and pinned all the gremlins to the wall.
A white-haired girl appeared behind him as if blooming and waved her hand once more. The gremlins are crushed by the pressure of the wind and are all burned by the mug’s flames.
Just like that, Ed ran across the hallway on the first floor.
Jenica and Clarisse were the same running down the hallway. After crossing the hallway of the central mansion and arriving at Ed’s room, the two simply broke down the locked door and went inside.
I was thinking about quickly grabbing Ed’s wand and leaving, but the room was bigger than I thought, so I was confused about where to start looking.
Ed’s wand is quite bulky. Searching under the bed and behind the dresser, I eventually found Ed’s cane under the large work desk.
Just like that, Yenica picked up the wand and handed it to Clarice.
Yenika had to remain in the central mansion and escort the VIPs. It would take too long to send all the VIPs away and then go directly to Ed.
Saint Clarice has the protection of holy laws that can protect her body from almost all types of attacks. It was relatively safe, so he was the right person to deliver the cane.
Clarisse nodded and quickly turned around, holding her wand tightly. At that moment, Yenika called Clarice over.
When Clarisse turned her head to look at Yenika, as if in confusion, Yenika looked at the letters spread out on Ed’s personal desk.
Because of the sheer volume, it was impossible to read everything. However, a feather that fell between the letters caught Jenica’s eye.
He picked up the feather, held the end, swung it around, and then handed it over to Clarisse.
When Clarisse looked puzzled, Yenica added that she should tell it to her.
On the first floor of the central hallway, Selaha was leaving the central mansion with Dest.
The garden in front of the central mansion had already been torn apart by all kinds of monsters. It was a sign of Ed running wild as he headed toward the annex.
Princess Selaha narrowed her brows and looked around. The ruined grounds of Ross Taylor’s mansion are still full of monsters.
Dest dissuaded Princess Selaha, saying that it could be dangerous if she went any further. Selaha thought for a moment, shook his head, and walked out along the garden.
Meanwhile, Senir Bloomriver, who was leading a group of VIPs, was breathing a sigh of relief.
Thanks to the group of spirits that Yenika dragged along, the lives of the remaining VIPs were able to be protected. In addition, thanks to Yenika opening the hallway of the central mansion, a route out of the mansion was also secured.
Senir quickly walked out into the hallway, leading the group of VIPs. Carefully and calmly, holding my breath, I crossed the hallway and headed toward the exit.
The sky outside the window was still full of spirits fighting with gremlins. The VIPs swallowed their dry saliva and suppressed the urge to run out.
Everyone is heading to their own destination. Time was passing steadily while everyone was running towards their own goals.
Among them, the person who was most in trouble was probably Tanya Rosstaylor.
-bang! bang!
“….”
The workers were kicking down the door of the food storage room. Tanya hugged her shoulders and trembled.
A spire rising in the center of the mansion grounds.
In the storage room on the middle level of the spire, Tanya was holding out, the door barricaded with furniture.
―Waaaaaah!
―Paddeuk!
The wooden door was pierced by the gremlin’s dagger, and a creepy eye was visible through the hole.
“Ugh…”
Tanya quickly strengthened the door and ran inside the storage room.
* * *
―Kwakwang! bang!
Clearing the road was a breeze.
By utilizing the power of Mug and Lacia, I conserved consumable magic engineering supplies as much as possible.
Since it was necessary to conserve some magical power, Merilda’s power was only partially manifested and used.
Just by adding basic elemental magic, the path cleared and before I knew it, I was running up to the second floor of the mansion annex.
The second floor of the annex was full of even more hideous monsters. Even the smooth tentacles had all kinds of strange flesh stuck to them, pressing them with even stronger force, and the gremlins with red skin threw blades with berserk magic applied.
―Kaaaaaaaaa! Kyaaaaaaa!
The humans who make strange noises barely resemble humans anymore. It feels like limbs are attached to a lump of flesh.
It was a sight that made me feel sick just looking at it, but I gritted my teeth and used my magic to subdue them all.
[ Master Ed! Now that we’ve secured space on the stairs, let’s go straight up! This fire candle mug will keep your rear in check! ]
“If you don’t clean up the hallway, you could get stabbed in the back!”
[ Then… wouldn’t it be better to go up to the rooftop first and then destroy the entrance to the rooftop? ]
“…Yes, that makes sense!”
While answering Mug’s words, I quickly ran up the stairs.
[Oh! My direct words were valid! I’ve become such a dignified lieutenant spirit, but I’m also able to play the role of a strategist… I’m so proud of myself…! ]
Actually, if you think about it a little calmly, it’s not that difficult to come up with a plan, but I didn’t go in and kill Mug’s excitement by pointing it out.
[Master Ed. More gremlins will appear above. ]
A calm Lacia reported the situation above. I gathered more magical power and flew the wind blade.
―Crispy! Kasasasak!
As I watched the group of gremlins being wiped out helplessly, I realized that my basic magic firepower had improved considerably.
No matter how many gremlins win, it is not easy to produce enough firepower to wipe out a group with a single blow.
I climbed the stairs again and again, stepping on the bodies of gremlins that were pouring down. His body was already covered with the blood of his enemies.
As I walked up the stairs of the mansion, avoiding the strangely bulging flesh everywhere, I finally came to an open hall.
The stairs end here. This is because the third floor of the mansion annex consists of one large hall.
To get to the rooftop, you have to cross the hall and run up the final stairs.
The hall boasts the largest size of the annex. The space, which was named ‘Ross Taylor Hall’ after the family name… had already almost completely blown off the exterior walls.
Cool and well ventilated. You can also see the starry sky at a glance.
The sight of Lucy in the midst of a fierce battle with Mebula can be seen in the distance, and the sight of the spirit legions fighting the gremlins decorating the night sky is also impressive.
It was the moment when I was about to pass through Ross Taylor Hall.
―Kkeukkeukkeukkeukkeuk.
In the center of the hall, a figure was seen standing up, twisting its body strangely. More than half of his body was already covered in grotesque flesh, and it seemed like he had no sense of reason left.
I checked that face and frowned. It wasn’t a very good relationship, but it was an old story anyway.
One of the two knights who came to Aken Island to kill me under the orders of Crepin Rosstaylor.
The eagle knight Kadec glared at me with his white eyes.
At that moment, huge tentacles broke the floor and rose up from all sides of the hall.
* * *
― ‘You look good on it, Tanya.’
― ‘What is this feather, Sister Arwen?’
― ‘It’s a wild bird feather from the Felvelo region.’
Now it is a faded memory.
On a warm day, Tanya was sitting on the terrace in Arwen’s arms… smiling brightly as she stroked the feather decoration she had neatly placed in her hair.
― ‘It’s really pretty…’
― ‘You can decorate it on your head like that or hang it on your collar. Men also put it in the front pocket of their tuxedo.’
– ‘Now that I think about it, you also decorated your blouse for dance. It suits you so well.’
– ‘huh.’
Arwen suddenly looked sad as she gently brushed Tanya’s face.
― ‘The wild birds of the Felvelo region are so colorful. If you pick the feathers of one bird, the color of the feathers of another bird will almost never overlap. So, it is said that there is a custom of sharing feathers of the same color among family members and decorating them individually.’
― ‘Wow… really…?’
― ‘I sent one to Ed and my father… but I’m not sure if they will decorate their bodies.’
When Ed’s name was mentioned, Tanya’s expression became even darker.
It had been a week since Ed and Arwen separated on the terrace.
After that, Ed stayed alone in his room without talking to anyone and seemed to be in deep trouble.
Tanya, who was young and unaware of the situation, was so scared of Ed that she only stuck to Arwen.
― ‘I hope your sister and brother reconcile quickly…’
― ‘Tanya. ‘Maybe Ed and I will never be able to reconcile again.’
Tanya was in tears when she heard that.
Arwen had a hunch. By the time Crepin was confirmed, Edwa had already crossed the river of no return.
Having lived her life as Crepin’s successor, Arwen had a deeper understanding of the human being Krapin Rothtaylor than anyone else. Arwen sympathized with Crepin to her core.
Perhaps Crepin Rothtaylor will exploit even Arwen herself to the limit. He is a man who uses all the means at his disposal.
Even if Crepin viewed Arwen as nothing more than an outcast, Arwen was ready to affirm him as his daughter and family member. Arwen is that kind of person.
Crepin’s life is full of blood.
It is a life in which he has established himself as a villain in order to hold on to that throne.
He is a person who will live as a lonely evildoer until the day he dies without a single person who understands him.
The only people who can support such a self-centered man are his family.
If she is the only one who can understand his bloody path, she is willing to go to the end of darkness for him.
However, Arwen could not force her own decision on her younger siblings.
Ed, who separates, is also Arwen’s beloved younger brother. We can’t force him to make a sacrifice.
Crepin is a poisonous species among poisonous species.
If Arwen dies or is no longer useful… its magical power will spread to Ed and Tanya.
So no matter what happens, grit your teeth and endure.
In order to carry out her own choice and protect her younger siblings who follow a different path, Arwen herself must never die.
– ‘Tanya… listen to me carefully.’
Arwen hugged Tanya tightly and spoke.
– ‘My father always looks noble, but he is actually a lonely and pitiful person. ‘I probably won’t be understood by anyone in the world.’
― ‘Sister…’
― ‘And Ed and Tanya… You are my younger sisters whom I love so much. ‘Because I’m greedy… I want to embrace everyone…’
Tanya could clearly feel the strength coming into the arms that were hugging her tightly.
– Woe!
Tanya suddenly came to her senses and raised her head.
I was so out of it that I was resting against a shelf in the storage room.
―Boom boom!
The gremlin was still knocking on the storage door. Tanya went deeper into the storage room and opened the window.
It was quite tall as it was on the central level of the spire. There is no guarantee of safety if you jump, and there is no guarantee that you will be safe from monsters if you use wind magic to land in the garden.
Tanya, who was looking out the window and feeling the wind blowing in the sky, swallowed dry saliva. Then suddenly I turned my gaze towards the annex.
Ross Taylor Hall, where the exterior wall collapsed and the interior was exposed.
The man standing there looked familiar. Tanya swallowed dry saliva, gathered her magic power, and stood on the window sill.
My legs started shaking.
* * *
―Aaaaak! Kaaaaagh!
―Kwaang shuiik!
A human shape emerged from between the rising tentacles. The girl who came up from underground under the protection of tentacles… looks familiar.
One arm that shouldn’t have been there is sticking out. The same goes for one leg.
However, compared to the slender opposite limbs, it is quite bizarre. Rather than being flesh, it was closer to the shape of flesh being patched together. This was also Mebula’s power.
The flowing blonde hair is similar to Tanya and Ed’s hair color. I’ve already seen it once from underground and came up.
The girl who bloomed like a flower among the tentacles was holding a great sword with one hand. It is the great sword ‘Daybreak of Dawn’ that was piercing the girl’s body just moments ago.
And on the back of his waist, he wears a sword about half the size horizontally. This is ‘Condemn’, one of the swords used by the first swordsman Luden.
The girl jumped down from the tentacle and landed in the center of Ross Taylor Hall. And… he cut off the head of the Eagle Knight Kadek horizontally.
―Crispy!
Kadek’s neck rolled on the floor a few times and then disappeared into ash. It was the same with the body.
It happened in an instant.
“Mebula’s power comes at the cost of mental pain. To the point where it would be better to die quickly.”
A slender girl standing in the moonlight in the center of Ross Taylor Hall stuck her great sword into the floor.
Then he knelt down towards Kadek, who was disappearing into ashes, and quietly put his hands together and prayed in the moonlight.
“Kadek has devoted himself as a vassal of the Rosstaylor family for a long time. Since this is all I can do for him, I will probably be severely punished in the afterlife.”
“Sister Arwen.”
“I have already let go of everything, Ed. I walked in the opposite direction from you. Even if I had to embrace all the sins of the world, I decided to affirm my lonely father until the end. Even if the end of the road leads to darkness.”
The girl kneeling and praying next to the great sword is strangely sacred, even though one of her limbs looks terrible.
“That’s the conclusion I came to while living as Ross Taylor’s successor, watching my father, and being with you all. My father probably doesn’t care. I’m just a throwaway horse and a scapegoat to be exploited.”
“….”
“Still, I decided to affirm my father until the end. Otherwise… my father would die in loneliness until the end.”
Arwen stood up again.
“That’s why I can’t pass from now on. For your father’s sake and for yours.”
Magical energy enveloped her body, and strength came into her body. Wearing various auxiliary magic… I slowly raise my upper body.
With one hand, he picks up the huge greatsword ‘Daybreak of Dawn’ and with the other hand he pulls out Luden’s holy sword, ‘Condemn.’
These are two swords that symbolize the time when he lived as the glorious successor to Rosstaylor.
“Go back.”
“….”
“The Rosstaylor family is over. Now live your life. I will be here to share the end.”
〈The Failed Swordsman of Sylvania〉 He is a person whose existence was not even known in the official history.
It cannot be seen anywhere, either as a boss or as a hidden boss.
Finally, as Ed Rothtaylor, I feel like I have faced my destiny as a member of this damn world.
A girl standing blocking the road.
The forgotten heir, Arwen Rothtaylor.
She was bathed in moonlight in the center of the hall, with her bright eyes straight open.
