The Villainous Family is Against Independence - i_

It was in the middle of a mountain range where a biting wind was blowing mercilessly. Winter in the mountains arrived earlier than in the capital, Somnia.

In the cold where skin felt like it might shatter if struck, there was a group of soldiers marching through the mountain range.

The steps of the soldiers carrying their gear had slowed considerably since they first set out. Noticing their fatigue, the commander shouted loudly.

“We’ll rest here for 30 minutes!”

Thud, thud.

“Aaaargh!”

“I’m freezing to death…”

The soldiers sat down on the bare ground or large rocks. In their exhaustion, they didn’t care at all about the mud staining their clothes.

One soldier, gulping down water from his canteen, laughed sharply and said,

“Finally, we can see the end of this damned march.”

“Yeah. The end. The true end…”

Along with cynical responses, sighs erupted here and there.

Some soldiers smiled wryly instead of sighing.

“Haha.”

They had good reason to.

This was a path to die honorably.

They were called the glorious Emperor’s swords, but in reality, they were no different from a suicide squad.

After all, their unit was heading towards the ‘Black Ravine’.

The ravine of death where complete subjugation had always failed since the occurrence of the large rift.

It wasn’t that everyone who went on the subjugation mission perished, but only a handful of strong humans or knights survived.

The soldiers didn’t optimistically think that they would be one of those lucky ones.

However, among the soldiers with their gloomy atmosphere, there was one man who looked unusually calm.

Even at a glance, he didn’t seem like an ordinary soldier.

Jet-black hair that seemed to pull you in, red eyes filled with melancholy.

A man with beauty that could captivate even those of the same gender – it was Raeyan.

Raeyan, who had joined the subjugation force to reclaim the Black Ravine on the Emperor’s orders, participated as a regular soldier.

He didn’t particularly want to reveal his identity. It was obvious that doing so would create an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Even if he achieved merits later, it would be troublesome if there were controversies about him receiving special treatment because he was ‘Mercenary King Ian’.

Instead of a canteen, Raeyan, sitting on a rock a little away from the other soldiers, was holding something else in his hand.

Something very precious to him.

It was the communication magic tool he had received as a gift from Elodie.

Raeyan was using this communication magic tool only to contact Elodie.

Although it was a special communication magic tool that could communicate even from this distance, he hadn’t contacted her since the march began.

He felt that if he heard her voice, he might abandon everything, including the reclamation of the Black Ravine, and return to Somnia.

He couldn’t let a moment of impulse ruin his resolution for redemption.

Besides, didn’t he have a reward waiting for him when he reunited with Elodie?

“When you come back, just hug me without saying anything.”

“Is that enough?”

Of course, Raeyan was convinced that Elodie’s ready agreement to his request was out of sympathy for him.

For Elodie, who always thought of others before herself, a hug would be an inexpensive consolation.

But you would never know in your dreams.

That being embraced in warm arms could be someone’s earnest wish.

I want to be held by you.

Raeyan had indirectly revealed his desire to Elodie.

‘I wonder if she’s received the vassals’ approval.’

The last Raeyan knew was when Elodie was searching for the mana stone mine purchase documents to gain the vassals’ approval.

As the distance from the capital increased, the subjugation force inevitably became more detached from the news of high society.

While Raeyan was lost in thoughts of Elodie, a group of soldiers observed him and whispered among themselves.

“Who’s that guy?”

“I heard he suddenly joined after recruitment had ended. Volunteered, they say.”

“What a waste to die with that face. Of course, we got a hefty sum for our lives.”

“Doesn’t his face look familiar somehow…?”

One soldier narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Raeyan’s face.

It was definitely a face he had seen somewhere before, but when he tried to recall, his mind went blank as if wiped clean.

“Maybe you passed him on the street? It is a face you wouldn’t forget once you’ve seen it.”

“Is that so? Maybe…”

They too were volunteers who had enlisted.

Each had their reasons for needing a large sum of money, which brought them here.

Among them, few optimists thought they would survive.

“Hey, keep it down over there.”

“Y-yes!”

“We’re sorry!”

Warned, the soldiers fell silent again and rested.

The planned 30-minute rest period was coming to an end.

Just as the commander was about to order them to move out-.

“Kyaaaah!”

Monsters appeared from all directions. It was an unexpected attack.

“All troops, engage in combat!”

It was difficult for the soldiers, whose tension had completely dissipated, to immediately switch to combat mode.

“Damn it! What are you doing?! The defense is breaking on that side!”

“Block it! Block it!!”

The cunning monsters surrounded the subjugation force from all directions. They had been encircled by monsters that had approached silently while they were resting.

At this rate, they were in danger of being completely wiped out.

Moreover, the number of monsters was several times greater than the number of soldiers in the subjugation force.

They were barely managing to hold off the monsters’ offensive.

“Aaargh! Help me!”

Just as one soldier was about to be mauled by a humanoid monster-

Slash, thud…

The cleanly severed body of the monster fell to the ground.

Even during battle, the soldiers looked around to find the source of the attack. At the end of their gaze was a black-haired man.

He raised his head. The moment a gleam appeared in his red eyes, the movement of the monster horde that had gathered nearby suddenly stopped.

“I-I’m alive…”

The soldier who had narrowly escaped being devoured by a monster crawled towards safety.

Even as he retreated to a safe place, the monsters remained motionless.

The monsters, frozen in their attacking postures, looked like a vivid painting come to life.

The subjugation force could move, but for some reason, they stood still.

Raeyan walked out among the soldiers who stood like statues.

He swiftly cut down the monsters without hesitation.

The situation was over before other soldiers could intervene.

Thud, thud, thud, thud…!

The monsters fell one after another with heavy sounds.

The ambush that had nearly annihilated the subjugation force was resolved in an instant.

By a single person.

“……”

Overwhelming ability. They knew the source of this power.

It was like the power of one of the Four Great Houses.

But they had never heard of a power that could control movement.

While the soldiers, commanders, and knights were all gaping, one soldier who had earlier felt he’d seen Raeyan somewhere before muttered as if in a trance.

“I… I know that man…”

“What?”

“It’s, it’s him.”

“Who?”

“That man!”

“No, I mean, who is that man?”

“The Mercenary King Ian!”

Even those who had been listening disinterestedly widened their eyes.

Mercenary King Ian. That name was known to almost everyone.

Amidst everyone’s shock, one soldier approached Raeyan as he was cleaning his sword.

“Um… Are you Mercenary Ian?”

Raeyan slowly turned his head at the soldier’s question. His red eyes gazed down at him coldly.

Soon, his lips parted.

“Raeyan.”

His real name was uttered aloud after a long time.

“Pardon?”

Raeyan repeated his name to the man who asked again.

“Raeyan Vietan. That’s my name.”

Hoping it would be firmly etched in their minds.

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***

Since the banquet, I’ve noticeably felt people’s gazes on me change.

Whether it’s the servants glancing at me as I walk through the mansion, or the occasional encounters with family retainers.

‘The public announcement seems to have had a big effect.’

From what I heard from Martha, Somnia is now abuzz with the secret story of my origins.

Being the center of attention wasn’t new to me, so I was indifferent about it.

After waking up and finishing my morning preparations, I sent the Emperor’s antidote to the First Prince.

It was one of my routines that happened every few days. After finishing that, the butler of the Severes mansion came looking for me.

“Young miss. The head of the family has summoned you.”

What could it be?

As it was the first time being called so early in the morning, I quickly went down to Dad’s office.

As soon as I entered, Dad took off his glasses and smiled warmly. I greeted Dad with a morning greeting.

“Good morning, Dad. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Good morning, Elodie.”

Judging by his good expression, it didn’t seem like he called me for bad news.

Relieving my unnecessary tension, I sat on the sofa, and Dad organized some documents before sitting across from me.

“The reason I called Elodie today is because I have something to tell you.”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

“At the last family meeting, the matter of Elodie’s heir education was brought up.”

Heir education, huh.

Naturally, to become the heir of a family, especially one of the Four Great Houses like Severes, there were countless things one needed to know.

Usually, heir education starts from a very young age, so I was quite behind.

“There were opinions from the retainers that we should start the heir lessons, so I called you to ask for your opinion.”

“If I’m to be the heir, I should certainly receive the education…”

Even as I said that I honestly wasn’t confident.

I wondered if I, who had never received heir education before, could become the next head of Severes.

But soon after, I shook off these unnecessary worries that were eating at me.

‘No, there’s nothing I can’t do.’

As Elodie, I might have only indulged in luxury without studying in the past, but in my previous life, I was quite a good student.

The education might not be easy, but I wasn’t an easy opponent either.

The retainers suggested my heir education, right? Just then, a plan flashed through my mind.

“Um, Dad. Can I choose my teacher?”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

I nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

“I do.”

“Who is it?”

There was one person who came to mind first. I called out his name without hesitation.

“Baron Dorus!”

“…I must have heard wrong.”

“You heard correctly. Baron Dorus, that’s right.”

Baron Dorus was the father of Pavo Dorus, who had a dispute with me when I hadn’t been at the Severes mansion for long, and a retainer of the family.

Naturally, Dad didn’t seem to like the idea of me being associated with Baron Dorus.

“I think you should reconsider, Elodie.”

“Even after thinking it over, I want to learn from Baron Dorus.”

At my firm answer, Dad, who seemed to be pondering something deeply, carefully opened his mouth.

“How about I teach you instead-.”

I cut off Dad’s suggestion immediately.

“No way. I told you I’m not learning anything from family.”

“……”

Why is he looking at me as if he’s hurt? Did he want to teach me?

But I absolutely refused to be taught by him. It’s one of the causes of family breakdown!

Seeing my determined expression, Dad seemed to give up and asked a different question.

“Is there a reason why it has to be Baron Dorus?”

“When I saw him at the meeting last time, Baron Dorus’s position seemed quite high. Among the retainers, he’s one of the top.”

“That’s correct.”

“That’s why I chose Baron Dorus.”

Dad sighed and stroked my head.

“…I’m sure Elodie has her reasons.”

“Of course.”

Though I didn’t say they were benevolent reasons.

After all, to end a hunt most efficiently, one must strike the head first.

“Heh.”

It might be underhanded, but it’s the quickest and surest method.