Ch.272272. Predator

“…Are you really going to go?”

“Yes, my lord.”

At Leonid’s words, spoken with a hardened expression, Baron Armin replied in an even voice.

It had been several months since he’d brought this man into the Tristan Dukedom, yet he couldn’t help feeling regret upon hearing that he was now leaving.

In truth, the reason he had kept the baron here wasn’t anything special.

The purpose was to send a warning to that good-for-nothing Darwood Campbell who had toyed with his precious granddaughter, while simultaneously “disciplining” the baron to know his place.

Since Elnore’s will was so strong, marriage talks would eventually come up anyway, and he believed this man would be the best person to persuade Darwood Campbell from committing such theft again.

But during the months this man had stayed here, that intention had completely backfired.

Rather, there had been quite a few instances where Leonid found himself admiring the man’s character.

‘…Looking at the man himself, he’s truly exceptional.’

Leonid thought to himself, smacking his lips.

He was truly someone worth keeping around.

It was incomprehensible how such a despicable, bottomless pit of a scoundrel could have come from under such a man.

And it was clear from what followed that he wasn’t the only one thinking this way.

“You’re leaving?!”

“…”

Both Leonid and Armin’s expressions hardened simultaneously as they saw the person who burst through the door.

Bella Myers, Elnore’s personal maid.

“…Bella. How about knocking before entering?”

For a maid to barge into the family head’s room without even knocking—there could be no greater breach of etiquette.

But Bella, ignoring Leonid’s rebuke completely, covered her mouth in shock.

“How could you not tell me anything…!”

“…Miss Bella.”

Armin opened his mouth with a forced smile.

Considering the stalking he had endured from her over the past few months, his self-restraint was admirable.

“You needn’t be so distressed. I’m sure we’ll meet again in the future—”

“But you haven’t even answered my feelings yet…!”

“…”

Leonid looked at Armin with eyes full of admiration.

Could this really be the same Bella Myers who had been so fiercely protective of Elnore that you couldn’t get a drop of blood from her even if you stabbed her? His heart swelled with amazement.

To evoke such a reaction from a much younger woman—it was an achievement worthy of respect from one man to another…

“…I see now that womanizing might be hereditary for that good-for-nothing.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing at all.”

Armin, who had tilted his head as if he’d heard something strange, cleared his throat and returned to the original topic.

“…I must go to the Imperial Palace.”

At those words, both Leonid and Bella’s expressions grew serious.

“The times are troubling, Baron.”

The gravity in his voice made it clear why they were concerned.

“From the information flowing in, it’s likely to be a maelstrom of chaos where no one will be able to protect you. You’ll be dropped right into the middle of a battlefield that will sweep everyone up.”

When the Emperor, the Chancellor, and the head of the Council of Elders all gather in one place, it’s safe to say that no one has the power to protect anyone else there.

What could Campbell Baron, who possessed neither combat skills nor advanced magical abilities, possibly do in such a place?

That was the intent behind his words, but…

“I understand, my lord.”

The answer came all too readily.

“But doesn’t that mean I need to go even more?”

“…Why?”

“Isn’t my son in that dangerous place?”

“…”

“If I didn’t know at all, that would be one thing, but now that I know, I have no choice.”

Leonid sighed and spoke.

“What do you intend to do there, Baron?”

“I’m a parent.”

Only those words fell with a slight smile.

“I need to protect that child.”

“…”

Still.

Despite appearing so ordinary, he had a talent for inspiring admiration.

Especially in moments like this, when his resolve became unshakably firm.

From the moment he heard that Darwood Campbell was in such a place, he immediately said he needed to go there too. I expected this.

It was immediately clear how such an unremarkable-looking man could have married a professor from the Demonic Spire.

“Well, it’s not like anything too serious will happen.”

“…”

“Somehow things will work out, don’t you think?”

Well.

Perhaps this slightly loose-lipped aspect was also something his son hadn’t inherited from him.

●

A heavy silence had fallen inside the conference room.

It would be fair to say that the entire leadership of the Empire had gathered.

The Empire’s Emperor, Cecilia XI. Her guard, the Sword Saint, Rad Barfon.

The Chancellor Sullivan, immediately counted as second-in-command.

And the head of the Council of Elders, Marquis Bogart.

A lineup that could be called an all-star team or dream team without exaggeration.

“…”

The incomprehensible point was…

Why a good-for-nothing like me was sitting among such illustrious figures.

[Actually, if we’re talking about influence, aren’t you the strongest?]

‘Isn’t that just self-importance?’

[Not when everyone is clearly focused only on you.]

‘…’

That was true.

In fact, Marquis Bogart smiled as soon as he confirmed I had taken my seat.

“Well, now that our main character has arrived. Shall we begin?”

Just hearing him say this made it clear.

It was as if I were the most important person in this meeting, and they had been waiting only for my arrival.

“…I must admit your audacity, Marquis.”

The Emperor exhaled deeply as she spoke.

It was as bizarre as someone with all avenues blocked walking straight into enemy territory.

“Let me get straight to the point. What do you want?”

“Hmm.”

Scratching his cheek, Marquis Bogart shrugged nonchalantly and spoke.

“…How about we call it a draw?”

“…”

“…”

“Well, let’s just forget about the Council’s attempt to start a civil war. Let’s punish a few people as examples and move on. No need to purge and grind up innocent people.”

As soon as Marquis Bogart said this, both the Emperor and the Chancellor lost their words.

“…One madman like Darwood is enough.”

“…”

As I pretended not to hear what Chancellor Sullivan muttered, the Emperor spoke with a hardened expression.

“…Marquis Bogart. Surely you can’t be serious.”

Indeed, for someone backed into a corner, his demands seemed too confident.

“And why not?”

“…I’ve always known you weren’t normal, but I didn’t take you for someone so obtuse that you couldn’t discern the situation.”

The Emperor sighed as she responded.

“Negotiations proceed when you can offer something we don’t have.”

“That’s right?”

“…Are you playing games, Marquis Bogart? If this is all just wordplay, I’ll have you arrested immediately.”

“No, I think you’re both misunderstanding. What I’m saying isn’t a negotiation, just a suggestion. Whether you listen or not is up to you.”

His answer came with a yawn and an indifferent tone.

“We didn’t gather here to have a bustling conversation in the first place.”

“…What did you say?”

The Marquis smiled faintly as he replied to the Emperor, who let out a hollow laugh.

“As I said earlier, the most important person here is neither you nor that half-baked returnee sitting there.”

“…!”

As the Chancellor’s expression hardened at Marquis Bogart’s words pointing at Sullivan, the Marquis’s gaze slowly turned toward me.

“Darwood Campbell.”

“…”

“I’ve brought a gift. No need to thank me.”

I glared at the Marquis as he winked after saying that.

Come to think of it, he had strongly requested that I be brought to this meeting.

It seems he wants to talk about something related to me, but I don’t see anything visible.

“…I don’t understand what you mean, Marquis.”

Just as I gave that answer, someone flung open the door to the conference room.

“Mr. Darwood!”

“…Victoria?”

I blankly uttered those words upon seeing the face of the person who rushed into the conference room.

She was panting heavily with a flushed face. Her usually neat appearance was in disarray, suggesting she had faced considerable resistance on her way here.

I could see the clearly flustered guards following her from across the doorway.

She must have pushed past all of them to get here.

But more than that.

The ‘anxiety’ hanging in her eyes was extraordinary.

The sentence she shouted next, as if spitting blood, was in that context.

“Run away—!”

There was no time to ask what she meant.

Someone nearby was already rising with a start.

As if detecting a ‘threat’ that others hadn’t yet noticed.

“Your Majesty, get down!”

The Sword Saint shouted those words, and the next moment.

< System Message >

[ You encounter ‘Mid-Boss: Predator’! ]

[ Chapter Boss battle will commence immediately! ]

As those message windows descended.

-…

-…

-…!!!!

The ceiling of the conference room completely burst open.

And through the center…

Something in the form of ‘flesh’ fell down.

“…”

A horrific appearance.

Having lost human form, with skin that seemed melted and stretched as if dissolved in toxic substances, wrapping the entire body—such a disgusting form.

Anyone could see it wasn’t human. No, even before being human, no definition for such a creature could be found in any zoological dictionary.

But even so.

I know who this is.

I recognize it instinctively.

“…Count Nicholas?”

The traces of ‘fanaticism’ contained within those eyeballs attached to chunks of flesh…

Were unmistakable.

●