Chapter 141: Children Who Had to Grow Up (7) (Part 2)

The new baron arrived in the village on a night of torrential rain. Contrary to the season of spring, thick sheets of rain covered the world. The sound of raindrops shattering seemed as though it would reach the distant stars.

A night so dark that a monster could pass through one’s front yard unnoticed.

However, the moment the Baron arrived in the village, everyone knew.

___!! ___!! ___!!

A sound like ripping apart the air pierced through the rain. An eerie sound that chills one to the bone.

One by one, villagers who had gone to sleep awaken. Their frightened eyes press against the windows in quick succession.

At first, all they can see is the torrential rain that seems ready to break the world. But if they look a little closer, they’ll notice figures moving between the rain.

A man in a black raincoat, accompanied by seventeen hunting dogs.

No, calling them hunting dogs might be too tame.

Their frames are bigger than most grown men, and you can see muscles bulging beneath their short fur.

__!! ___!!

More than anything, they were the source of the sound that had awoken the villagers.

Realizing what is making the sound, the terrified villagers slip back into their beds. Even those who stayed by their windows retreat hastily the moment a dog’s head turns in their direction.

Of course, the hunting dogs had no intention of terrifying the villagers. They were merely following orders.

The dogs, after barking and looking around for a while, suddenly stop, their gazes fixed on one spot.

A house that appears warm, even amid the torrential rain.

The place where a boy sometimes watched from afar.

Following the dogs’ line of sight, the man in the raincoat turns his head. Upon spotting the house, he smiles faintly.

“Right, that’s the one.”

***

*Knock, knock, knock.*

At that moment, Amy and Sir Sinclair were locked in their fateful chess match over who would do the next round of dishes.

The Sinclair family’s suspicious eyes shift toward the door.

A knock, on a night like this, with rain coming down so hard?

“It’s probably just a tree branch blown over. Hurry up and make your next move, Dad.”

“…Right, I must have misheard. Then, I’ll…”

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Proving it wasn’t a figment of their imagination, the knocking echoes once more.

“Is anyone there.”

Moreover, a well-spoken voice drifts in through the crack of the door.

Sir Sinclair’s face hardened.

“Dear, stay against the wall with Amy. I’ll go see who it is.”

He grabs the long sword hanging on the wall. Then, carefully opens the door just a crack to look outside.

A man in a black raincoat, and seventeen hunting dogs leashed to his side.

That was the list of suspicious visitors standing beneath the eaves of the porch.

It was only natural that Sir Sinclair’s eyes would narrow.

“Who’s there.”

“Forgive me for calling at such a late hour. I was ordered to report to Sir Sinclair the moment I arrived. You are Sir Sinclair, correct?”

“…I am. And you are?”

The lips visible beneath the raincoat form a faint smile. Then the man removes his hood.

The first thing that catches the eye is his complexion. Even considering that he was holding a blue magic lamp, his complexion was excessively pale. A freshly deceased corpse might have more color.

But ironically, his hair was jet black.

Running a hand through his wet hair, he speaks.

“My name is Ainhardt Marion Gustav von Böller. I have been granted with the rather undeserved honor of managing this village on behalf of the Emperor.”

“House Böller…?”

Though he was now living a simple life in the countryside, Sir Sinclair had once served in the Central Knights. He had a certain degree of knowledge about the empire’s noble houses.

…And the family the man belonged to wasn’t just any ordinary noble family.

House Böller, the most righteous family in the Empire, having held the position of Minister of Justice since the time of Emperor Alain.

Their power was comparable to even that of the Imperial family.

“Though I am half-disowned, that is still my family.”

Only then does Sir Sinclair realize his own discourtesy. He quickly sets the sword aside and throws the door open.

“I apologize, I didn’t realize I was in the presence of such an esteemed guest.”

But at the same time, confusion fills Sir Sinclair’s mind.

Why would such a high-ranking noble from the House Böller come to a backwater place like this? Weren’t they busy waging political battles in the capital?

It would be foolish to offend this man.

“Please come in.”

“I appreciate the sentiment. But I only came to inform you that I have arrived.”

“Still, it might be better for you to at least warm yourself…”

Baron Böller shakes his head, firmly cutting him off. Then he suddenly smiles faintly while looking inside the house.

“More to the point, would you not introduce those lovely ladies to me? It seems we will be seeing each other quite often from now on.”

Suddenly made the subject of conversation, Mrs. Sinclair flinches. Amy’s face also grows a bit pale.

*Grrrrr…*

In truth, it was not his gaze alone that frightened them, but the hunting dogs that made no attempt to hide their hostility.

“Ah… You needn’t worry about these dogs. They will not bite anyone in my presence.”

Only then, as if noticing it, Baron Böller smiles faintly. It wasn’t exactly a reassuring smile.

Ultimately, Sir Sinclair steps in between his family and the dogs. With eyes still full of caution, he answers on their behalf.

“This is my wife, Dolores, and my daughter, Amy.”

“Daughter…?”

Baron Böller’s eyes narrow as they turn to Amy. He looks her up and down, then trails off.

“Seeing as she does not resemble either you or your wife, might she be…”

“Yes, we took in a child who was wandering the streets.”

“Ha…”

A dry laugh trickles out from Baron Böller’s lips.

“So Sir Sinclair has a rather bizarre hobby”

“I’m not sure what you…”

“To adopt a stray, no better than a beast. A worthless scrap, even its own parents discarded…”

In that moment, Amy’s fear turned into anger. She clenches her fist until her knuckles are white and advances toward the baron.

But it wasn’t Amy’s turn to step forward.

“She is the family I chose. Please respect that.”

Sir Sinclair holds Amy back and bows deeply. Amy’s eyes widen in disbelief when she sees this.

Sir Sinclair’s following words were even more shocking.

“If you find her displeasing, I can send her to her room for now.”

“Ah, it’s fine. I didn’t say that with the intention to reprimand.”

Baron Böller gently strokes one of the hunting dogs’ heads.

“It’s just that I, too, have a rather unique hobby, so to speak.”

However, Böller’s touch doesn’t seem to soothe the hunting dogs. Rather, they bare their yellow fangs with even greater hostility.

“These are children I personally bred by importing vicious breeds from beyond the continent and letting them mate with local dogs.”

Baron Böller’s eyes turned to the hunting dogs, dripping with affection.

“Considering the devotion and care I’ve poured into them, you could truly call them my children. Much like Sir Sinclair’s daughter.”

“…I see.”

“And these children are another reason why I came to see Sir Sinclair.”

A question appears in Sir Sinclair’s eyes. The Baron’s face, the smile now gone, turned to Sir Sinclair.

“The reason I chose this village as my place of exile is actually because of these children. As you can see, the city is too cramped for them.”

“…May I ask what you mean by that?”

“I intend to let these children loose in this village. So they can live freely.”

The ever-composed Sir Sinclair finally finds himself at a loss for words. Only after some moments pass does he manage to speak again.

“You mean, without any leashes at all?”

“I said I’m letting them loose, didn’t I?”

“Forgive me, but that would be difficult. If you did that, the villagers…”

“Sir Sinclair.”

His voice is so soft, it’s all the more chilling. In the calmest, most unruffled tone, he continues.

“Why must I concern myself with maggots that leech off the Empire?”

It was the moment Sir Sinclair’s face turned pale.

Unfortunately, the baron’s outrageous plans do not end there.

“Also, before I set them loose, I’d like to establish a simple rule for the sake of my children.”

“…And what would that be?”

“If someone were to harm Sir Sinclair’s daughter, how would you punish that person?”

A sudden question, but Sir Sinclair immediately grasps its meaning. Shaking his head, he answers in a trembling voice.

“That would be unacceptable, Baron… If you were to do such a thing…”

“Sir Sinclair, is it your duty to rule over this village in the Emperor’s stead?”

“Certainly, that privilege is yours, Baron. However…”

“Then you must follow my words.”

Since when had Baron Böller’s voice become as cold as ice.

“Should anyone dare to lay a hand on my children or harm them in any way, I shall have that person’s wrist cut off. Therefore, Sir Sinclair, please inform all the villagers of this by tomorrow night.”

***