Chapter 16

Ｒｅａｄ ｏ​ｎ​ ＫａｔＲｅ​ａｄｉｎ​ｇＣａｆ​ｅ

Ed’s bodyguard, Hoff.

He was a knight who had served the Leyton family since his youth.

With exceptional swordsmanship and great ambition, he believed that serving the Leyton family for a long time would earn him a respectable position.

For example, a position like the captain of the knights.

But as time passed, his status remained unchanged.

He was still just a bodyguard.

In his youth, he served as the bodyguard of Lord Leyton, and now in his middle age, he served as the bodyguard of Lord Leyton’s son, Ed.

Of course, it wasn’t that his skills weren’t recognized.

In fact, it was because his skills were recognized that he was entrusted with the important task of being the personal bodyguard of Ed, the heir to the Leyton family.

Yet, Hoff couldn’t be satisfied.

He wanted a position where he could wield real influence and hold greater power within the family.

It was then that someone approached him.

Michela, the second wife of Lord Leyton.

Michela was a young and beautiful woman who had entered the family after the death of Lord Leyton’s first wife.

She secretly sought out Hoff and said,

“It’s a shame to see your talents wasted like this. If you work with me, you can achieve the position you desire…”

Hoff listened closely to Michela’s words.

Michela wanted to make her son, Ron, the heir to the Leyton family, and for that, Ed had to disappear.

“If Ed were to meet with an unfortunate accident… you would have to take responsibility for failing to protect him. Well, given your years of service to the Leyton family, you wouldn’t lose your head. You’d probably just be expelled from the family. But…”

Michela smiled and added,

“My son, Ron, likes you very much. He wants you to become the captain of the Leyton family’s knights.”

“…Is that what Young Master Ron said?”

“Yes. If Ed were to disappear and my son Ron became the heir…”

Michela’s smile deepened.

“You could become the captain of the Leyton family’s knights.”

Hoff looked at Michela with a stunned expression.

She was making a dangerously bold proposal.

“You’re suggesting that I kill Young Master Ed. With my own hands.”

At Hoff’s words, Michela raised the corner of her lips.

“You’ve heard about Sir Baldric and the soldiers who went to subdue the bandits, haven’t you?”

“I have. I heard they met a gruesome end at the hands of monsters.”

“Tomorrow, Lord Leyton will personally go to inspect the bodies. Of course, he’ll take Ed with him.”

Michela stopped there.

Even so, Hoff understood her intentions perfectly.

If Ed went, Hoff, as his bodyguard, would naturally accompany him.

The location was the forest, a place where monsters roamed.

If he seized the opportunity to kill Ed and made it look like the work of monsters…

“No, even so, this is a bit…”

Hoff shook his head vigorously.

Even for the sake of advancement, the thought of killing Ed, whom he was supposed to protect, made Hoff hesitate.

Michela took a step closer to him.

“…What you can gain isn’t just the position of captain of the knights.”

Her voice was soft and seductive.

She stared into Hoff’s eyes with an alluring smile.

“If my son Ron becomes the heir and you become the captain of the knights… the real power of the Leyton family will effectively be in our hands.”

Gulp.

Hoff swallowed hard without realizing it.

Michela’s breath brushed against his neck.

A sweet yet intense fragrance emanated from her.

“Hoff… I know you’ve been eavesdropping at night.”

At Michela’s words, Hoff’s eyes widened.

“W-What are you talking about…”

Hoff couldn’t hide his panic.

Michela smiled as if enjoying his reaction.

“You linger outside the door when I’m in Lord Leyton’s bedroom, don’t you? And when I wear a dress, you look at me with those heated eyes. Did you think I didn’t notice?”

“…”

Hoff’s face turned red.

He had indeed eavesdropped every time Lord Leyton and Michela were in the bedroom.

Moreover, when Michela wore dresses that accentuated her figure, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He couldn’t control his desire for her.

Michela whispered into Hoff’s ear.

“I know you want me… and I can give myself to you.”

Hoff’s heart began to race.

“But for that, Ed must disappear… for our happiness.”

Michela’s hand slowly caressed Hoff’s chest.

“What do you say? Let’s take control of the Leyton family together.”

“…”

Hoff looked at Michela.

The flames of desire burned fiercely in his eyes.

“This is amazing! I caught fish!”

Watching Ed exclaim in excitement by the riverside, Hoff drew his sword.

Swoosh—

Everything was going smoothly.

That morning, Lord Leyton had come to investigate the bodies of the soldiers killed by monsters.

He had brought along his first son and heir to the family, Ed.

It seemed he wanted to show Ed firsthand how to govern the territory, but the situation was too severe.

The soldiers’ bodies were all headless, and some were even decomposing, making it inappropriate for young Ed to see.

Lord Leyton told Ed to play in the forest for a while.

Even though it was an area where monsters had appeared, Lord Leyton didn’t seem too worried since Hoff, the bodyguard, was with him.

It showed how much Lord Leyton trusted Hoff.

Ed wandered through the forest, thoroughly enjoying himself.

He listened intently to the sound of the clear stream and the rustling leaves in the wind, and he observed the colorful flowers and small animals with great interest.

“Hoff, that tree is huge! How long must it have lived to grow so big?”

But the boy’s innocent demeanor didn’t move Hoff.

Hoff simply waited for the right moment as he watched Ed.

Eventually, they encountered three children walking ahead—Lucy, Peter, and Sam—and ended up going to the riverside to catch fish together.

Hoff, who had drawn his sword, began to walk toward Ed.

Thud. Thud.

Step by step, the distance between him and Ed grew shorter.

Ed was still too engrossed in the fish to notice his surroundings.

“Hoo…”

Hoff took a deep breath.

He had to sever Ed’s neck in a single strike. That way, Ed would die without suffering.

After that, he could bury the head and make it look like the work of monsters.

‘…Forgive me, Young Master Ed.’

Just as Hoff raised his sword high,

“Stop.”

A cold voice came from behind.

“?”

Hoff turned to look.

Lucy was staring intently at Hoff from the riverside.

Hoff decided to ignore her. There was no need to pay attention. She was just a little girl.

After all, he would have to kill Peter, Sam, and Lucy too once he killed Ed.

He couldn’t leave any witnesses.

“H-Hoff…?”

This time, a voice came from the front.

“W-What are you doing?”

Ed was looking at Hoff.

His face was filled with fear.

It was only natural for him to be scared, seeing Hoff raising his sword toward him.

“…”

For a moment, Hoff’s resolve wavered as he met Ed’s gaze.

But he couldn’t turn back now.

He had to kill Ed.

Only then could he become the captain of the knights and have Michela.

“Haa!”

Hoff let out a shout and swung his sword with all his might.

Aiming precisely for Ed’s neck.

Clang—!

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

“?”

Hoff’s eyes widened.

He had clearly aimed for Ed’s neck, but what stood before him now was something entirely different.

“Kekeke…”

A laugh echoed in his ears.

It was a chilling laugh, as if resonating from the depths of darkness.

A massive, pitch-black figure stood in front of Hoff, and Hoff’s sword had struck its torso.

Yet, the figure showed no sign of injury.

It was as if its entire body was made of steel.

“W-What…”

Hoff stared at the figure in disbelief.

The figure had a humanoid shape, but its entire body was jet black and had a slimy, writhing appearance.

Where its face should have been was just darkness, with only glowing red eyes visible.

Those red eyes were fixed directly on Hoff.

“Keke, what a delicious-looking head.”

Then, the figure’s mouth stretched wide open.

As if it was about to swallow Hoff’s head in one bite.

“A-Ahh!!”

Hoff screamed and turned to run.

Turning his back to an enemy was a disgrace for a knight, but such things no longer mattered to Hoff.

He was consumed by terror, desperately moving his legs to escape.

Thud—

But before he could take more than a few steps, Hoff felt his vision flip upside down.

The black figure had grabbed his ankle and lifted him into the air.

“A-Ahh! Let me go!”

Hoff thrashed violently, but it was no use.

The figure slowly began to lower Hoff’s head into its gaping mouth.

“N-No! No!!”

Crunch—

Hoff’s struggling body went limp.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
That sort of intelligence is why he never got a promotion.

I mean, thinking about it… would the wife really still keep the murderer around after he outlives his use? Smh.

Well, at the end of the day, it’s natural selection.