Episode 315
Aerts felt dizzy. How could he describe this sensation? The flow of the world was changing drastically, and he alone seemed unable to keep pace, left behind by the change.
Still, he wasn't alone in his confusion. Some of the siblings around him also voiced their doubts.
"Did I hear correctly? Luan is the future family head...?"
"That's impossible. It isn't the eldest son or the second son. It's the youngest..."
"The family head is unconscious. Only he knows for certain who was appointed as the future family head. Could Luan have taken advantage of that?" muttered the seemingly cold-hearted Aquata, proposing a new possibility.
Benga immediately interjected, "Young Lady Aquata, that is incorrect."
It was highly improper for a servant to interrupt a family member, but Benga's expression was grim. He knew the truth.
Benga continued, "Young Lady Aquata, it isn't that easy to distort the family head's will. As you said, the appointment hasn't been officially announced, and there is still work to be done on paper. However, the fact that Young Master Luan is the successor has already been conveyed to the Council of Elders, as well as some of the employees."
"Um... I'm sorry. I made a mistake."
Aquata accepted his explanation. She had spoken in the heat of the moment, but the more she considered it, the less plausible her suspicion became. This was the Badnikers' main house. Impersonating the future family head was impossible. Accepting that meant accepting an unbelievable truth.
So... In fact, Luan has really become the future family head. Then again, the two who should be protesting most loudly are quiet. Aquata looked at Heero and Hector.
Heero had been the most likely candidate. His overwhelming skill and achievements surpassed those of all the Iron-Blooded Lord's children.
Hector lagged behind Heero in terms of talent and performance, but his maternal background was stronger than anyone's. He had been steadily consolidating his position by building his own faction among the nobility.
These two had competed fiercely for the future family head position, yet they remained silent with calm expressions.
Heero... Like Luan, he is from the Hero Society. Hector attended the Badnikers' training camp and the academy with him.
This meant that, before this gathering, both of them had opportunities to meet Luan. Aside from that, Nero also stood silently with her arms crossed, while Raizen smirked with an interested expression.
He is hard to read. This was her assessment of Raizen Badniker.
Aquata had already entered the ranks of the capital's nobility and observed others as though studying them, probing for their inner nature. Even those of her own blood were viewed through a political lens.
Among them, Raizen was particularly inscrutable.
Aquata felt a familiar sensation. It was the same futility she experienced when dealing with the sly old foxes of the Raspon family. She had no idea what kind of turmoil he had endured to give off a presence so similar to those old monsters.
Of course, he wasn't as surprising as Luan, the subject of the current discussion.
What the hell happened? She remembered the last time she saw that child. He hadn't received any blessings and had been judged to be incompetent, so he had sat there in a daze. She had seen that and dismissed him.
Luan will never recover, and I will never run into him again, she had thought.
As expected, only bad rumors about Luan followed. It was said that he had been kicked out of the main house and spent his days in the countryside. Even there, he verbally abused others and raised his hand against the servants. Thus, she had assumed he had gone mad when she heard he had stolen a precious sword. Then, in less than a year, he became the future family head.
People can change, but isn't this too drastic? What will happen to the Badnikers now?
Aquata silently started to calculate. She wasn't dissatisfied with her current position. Her treatment within the Raspon family was also more than satisfactory.
However, she knew that such treatment stemmed from her paternal family's influence. If the Iron-Blooded Lord were to die and the Badnikers suffered as a result, her treatment would inevitably change as well.
Even an idiot knew that this change wouldn't be favorable. She needed a connection. She had to form a close relationship with whoever became the new family head. This was why Aquata had maintained decent relations with Heero and Hector. The same applied to Nero.
Then what about the youngest? How did I treat Luan? If only I had offered him some words of comfort back, then... Aquata's mind was spinning at full speed.
At that moment, Luan Badniker made an even more shocking declaration. "Hey, everyone. I may be the future family head right now, but I have no intention of becoming the family head."
What's this guy saying now? Aquata stared intently at Luan's face, but she couldn't begin to guess what thoughts were lurking below that carefree expression.
So how should I interpret those words? At face value? Should I believe he has truly no no intention of becoming the family head? Only a fool would do that. Aquata relied on the political instincts she had honed over years in the capital.
There must be a hidden meaning. He has no intention of becoming the family head... He won't accept the succession... Ah! I see... I get it, Luan Badniker. Aquata's eyes lit up. He is certain that the family head won't die here.
The collectors would report everything they saw and heard to the Council of Elders and to the Iron-Blooded Lord, who would eventually awaken. Luan wanted to demonstrate trust and support for the family head even in such a desperate situation. Such an attitude was bound to appeal to the elders.
Aquata stared at Luan with burning intensity. Heh, he got ahead of me. How could I make such a mistake?
One thing was clear. Due to the carefree youngest member of the family, a storm would soon sweep through the Badnikers.
Luan tilted his head as their eyes met. Why was she staring at him?
***
Along with Benga, the collectors were ready to leave. It was late at night, and the gathering had come to an end.
Aquata said, "Next time you come to the capital, I hope you'll visit my house. You've heard of the Raspon family, right?"
"No," I replied.
"It is a family that has produced ministers for the imperial family for generations. There is no harm in you getting acquainted with them. My husband grew up as an only son, so he always wanted a younger brother. He would probably get along with—"
"Ah, yes." I gave a half-hearted response to Aquata's unusual warmth while watching the departing collectors.
Are they really going to leave like this? Has no one noticed?
As the thought crossed my mind, Heero spoke. "You over there."
He pointed to one of the collectors. "Yes. You, with the unpleasant grin. Stay for a while."
Oh? I looked at Heero with a trace of expectation in my gaze. If my guess was correct, Heero was the only one among the Iron-Blooded Lord's children here who had noticed.
As expected of my eldest brother. I watched, my anticipation rising.
All the collectors, including Benga, had left. Only the one who had been called remained.
The friendly-looking collector tilted his head. "Did you need to see me for something?"
"I have a question for you," Heero said.
"Please, go ahead."
"You are a servant of the Badnikers. Why are you wearing a mask?" Heero demanded.
The surroundings fell silent. Everyone was surprised: the dazed Aerts, Hector speaking to him, and Aquata, who was staring at me.
Of course, the collector's face wasn't covered by an obvious mask.
"Young Master, I don't know what you are say—"
Heero smiled faintly and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Are you playing innocent? It doesn't matter. I don't really like talking nonsense either."
The collector looked at me with a troubled expression, as if asking for help.
Hmm... I glanced at Ludwig, the fifth son of the Badnikers, disguised as a collector.
Ludwig had a connection to me. I had briefly encountered him when dealing with the rat who dared to infiltrate the main house during the Badnikers' blessing ceremony. At that time, he had even sat beside the Iron-Blooded Lord and exchanged a few words with me.
To me, Ludwig was a pretty impressive person. His position in the family was merely that of a fifth son, yet he was a genius who had devoted himself to taking down the church and carrying out dangerous missions since he was even younger than I was now.
My assessment of Ludwig Badniker was clear. In practical combat experience and mission execution, he surpassed even Heero. At the very least, his strength exceeded Heero's, and his acting ability and political resourcefulness weren't inferior to Raizen.
From the start, Ludwig was the only sibling who didn't hesitate when interacting with the Iron-Blooded Lord. In turn, the latter showed no displeasure toward that attitude.
Yet now, Ludwig looked very awkward. That was natural. The value of Ludwig, who was considered missing, would only be realized if he were dead. He was carrying out a very dangerous undercover mission within the Dark Church to gather information. It wouldn't be strange if he was discovered at any time, and he had to live each day walking on edge. Even if he were caught elsewhere, he would have completely erased his own identity to sever any connection to the Badnikers.
Therefore, the fact that Ludwig was alive was top secret. Only a small number of family members knew. He probably didn't want it revealed to his siblings.
Even Ludwig was forced to return now that the Iron-Blooded Lord is like this.
Originally, this fight had to be prevented. Ludwig probably wanted that too.
So why did I have a different idea?
Heero declared, "I will draw my sword if you don't answer in three seconds. Three, two—"
"Wait, Brother Heero."
Heero looked ready to draw at any moment, but he paused when he heard me. "Why?"
"You seem a bit worked up. Calm down. I've been thinking about it. Maybe there is a reason this collector is hiding his identity," I reasoned.
"What do you mean?"
"That's how collectors operate. Their faces become known, so they rely on disguises, and many of their missions require infiltration. I'm sure he is no different." I pointed to the door they had left through. "Besides, Sir Organ didn't say anything. The strongest collector would have noticed anything you did, wouldn't he?"
Heero fell silent. My tone likely slightly hurt his pride, but it was fine since Benga's standing wasn't low.
I didn't stop there. "Of course, this is the Badnikers, a family where strength can settle certain matters."
Ludwig was caught off guard.
I smiled wickedly. "The collector wants to keep his identity hidden, while Heero wants to take off his mask. You have a conflict of opinion, so we have to come up with a solution. How about this? Fight each other, and we'll follow the opinion of whoever wins."
Ludwig glared at me, but I shamelessly ignored him. I couldn't help asking what anyone in my position would.
One was the eldest son, long regarded as the actual successor of the Iron-Blooded Lord and an A-class hero in the Hero Society. The other worked in the shadows, quietly assisting the Iron-Blooded Lord's covert operations. He was a unique talent who had spent years carrying out the crazy mission of infiltrating the church.
Wasn't it truly a confrontation between light and darkness?
"Okay." Heero nodded with a belligerent smile, while Ludwig sighed with a troubled expression.
Ludwig said, "If that is your wish, I suppose I have no choice."
I replied, "Good. Then let's go."
"You are going too?"
"Of course. If I'm not there, who will referee?"
"You could summon a collector," Heero said.
"Aish. They just went to rest. How can I call them again? I can't do such a shameless thing," I claimed.
"You just want to watch the fight."
I ignored Ludwig's scolding and told Hector, "Brother Hector, do you want to come too?"
"Sure. This isn't something I get to see every day," Hector remarked.
I replied, "Good. By the way, what did you talk about with Brother Aerts?"
Hector glanced at Aerts.
Aerts trembled slightly under his gaze.
"I gave him a short mental lesson. At the same time, I told him the full story of what happened at the academy. I explained it slowly and clearly enough that even a fool could understand. He shouldn't do anything stupid now," Hector answered.
"I see." That explained Aerts' dazed expression.
After the Iron-Blooded Lord, Hector was the person Aerts respected the most. He sincerely admired Hector, who had built a faction among the nobility at such a young age.
Considering that he had been scolded for dozens of minutes by the man he admired, his stunned state was hardly surprising.
At that moment, Aerts approached me, his expression somewhat blank. "Luan Badniker."
"Yes."
"I heard about your past deeds from Brother Hector. To be honest, I still find it hard to believe. If not for your actions during the disaster at the academy, at least hundreds of people would've died..."
"That might have happened if things had become more chaotic," I interjected.
"I see..." Aerts stared at me with wistful eyes. "Hector, Heero, and even Raizen seem to acknowledge you. It is said that you made great contributions in the north. If that is true, your appointment as the future family head isn't arbitrary. It reflects the family head's foresight. What I'm trying to say is..."
What could it be?
I stared at him, and Aerts finally spoke. "Can I call you Brother?"
"You are crazy." I stared at Hector. "What did you say to make him look like this?"
"I suppose my lesson went a bit too far," Hector replied, avoiding my gaze.
As expected, I am the only sane one in this family.