Chapter 242 Arthan Library
Boom!
Two different types of Energy overwhelmed the surrounding air inside the hidden Viscountcy as the unaffiliated Mages and Knights intimidated the man in front of them.
All of them were either enraged at the man's audacity to show himself in front of them or anticipating what the man would do from now on. In response to the people's reaction however, the man merely smiled faintly in amusement.
"It seems the story people tell about me is rooted deep inside all of you, for you to be that mad at me."
"Charles, why are you here?"
One of the Mages in the group, who had been a good acquaintance with the late head of Blois Family, looked at Charles, his acquaintance's son coldly. Much to his utter rage however, Charles tilted his head and smiled mockingly.
"I wonder, how can I be here?"
"Stop playing games!"
"Ku-ku-ku ... Don't get so riled up that quick, old man Averill." Charles faintly laughed in amusement, making Averill grit his teeth in anger. "Every happening has an explanation to it—what has happened does to."
"Are you going to justify what you have done?!"
"Which is why I am here." Charles smirked then spread his hands.
"Madness!"
Averill immediately materialized his Grimoire and Magic Circles as he couldn't bear his rage towards Charles any longer.
He had thought he might be able to talk about why Charles had done the atrocity, but he immediately found out that Charles was an absolute lost cause. He wouldn't get anything out of Charles, as he was sure Charles had done the atrocity just because.
With six Magic Circles flaring brightly behind him, Averill cast a sure kill Spell he had thought he would never use on someone he knew. Charles merely stood there doing nothing, as if he was sure he wouldn't get hurt.
"Burn in hell for what you have done, Charles!"
Just as Averill was about to send his Spell at Charles however, another person showed up that made him cancel his Spell. He immediately turned silent at the person's appearance, and the rest of the people were no different.
The surrounding turned quiet, and the previously violent assault of Mana and Qi immediately disappeared like a lie. All of the people's eyes widened in shock as they looked at the person who was now standing right beside Charles.
The person was an elderly man in his sixties. He had a white hair that was neatly combed to the side, a bright skin tone, a slightly wrinkled but still attractive face, and a kind smile on his face.
"It seems my son has messed with you quite a bit."
"Earl Redford!"
The family head of the fallen Blois family, Earl Redford Blois, who was supposed to be already dead 10 years ago, had showed himself once again in front of the people who actually knew him personally.
The people were so shocked, they couldn't help widening their eyes. They wanted to erupt in joy, but disbelief and confusion still overwhelmed them.
"You seem to be confused with the situation." Redford smiled at the people, and the people nodded in response. "I have to apologise to all of you, but what happened to my family was all the King's plan to send me here."
Many of them still couldn't properly digest the fact that Redford had just reappeared in front of them, so Redford's word confused them even further. Redford noticed the look on their face, and he faintly laughed at that.
"In other words, my son here, the cursed eldest son of Redford Blois, is nothing but a scapegoat of the bigger picture the King has drawn."
"Can you explain it in more detail, my friend?" Avrill asked Redford.
"Of course, I can." Redford smiled lightheartedly. "I also want to clean my beloved son's name in the mind of the people I know after all." He laughed as he patted Charles' shoulder.
"Father, stop it. I am no longer a teenager—stop embarrassing me in front of your colleagues!"
Charles looked a little bit flustered, contrary to his previously calm and collected demeanor. Redford couldn't help laughing even louder at that, and Charles' face turned red from the embarrassment his father had caused.
The scene was similar to the very scene the people who personally knew Charles had witnessed 10 years ago—it was heartwarming. At that moment, Charles looked exactly like the same kid they had pictured him to be 10 years ago.
"Kuhum! I am sorry for letting all of you stand here—how unsightly of me! Let us go to my manor, and talk on our way there."
Redford looked at the people with a smile, and the people merely nodded their head in confirmation. Redford was about to turn his body around so he could lead the people when Averill suddenly stepped forward and hugged him.
"I'm glad to see you still alive, mate."
"I'm glad that we can finally meet again."
The two elderly men let go of their hug afterwards, then chuckled at how absurd their reunion was. Redford then told Charles to lead everyone as he joined the group to explain what had actually happened 10 years ago.
"The Three Sacred Grounds have existed since the age of the First King of Braxtein, which is roughly 1800 years ago. 10 years ago, the original Viscount of Southevile, who at that time suffered from an unknown disease, made a plea to the King."
Redford was recounting the truth behind the atrocity Charles had done while the people were closely listening to whatever he said.
"He said that he wouldn't be able to live for long, and he wanted the King to assign someone else to own Southevile. You might wonder why he asked that, and the answer is, because he didn't have any descendant."
The people hummed in acknowledgement, and some had even realized where the story was going.
"The King agreed to his request, and pointed a new family to be given the honor of being the new owner of Southevile—that happens to be my family. Since the existence of the Three Sacred Grounds is highly confidential, the King decided to 'end' our family lineage."
At this point, everyone finally sighed in realization. They finally understood the reason of Blois family's fall was Redford's new responsibility of guarding one of the Three Sacred Grounds.
Like he said, the existence of the Three Sacred Grounds was highly confidential, so he and his family had to forever stay inside Southevile Viscountcy to avoid people's suspicion.
Of course, the family couldn't just disappear one day, so their King had decided a smart way to make Blois family disappear from Braxtein Kingdom. The King had decided to make Blois family a "betrayer," but Charles Blois had a different idea.
Putting one of the forbidden Spells he had learnt into practice, Charles made a scenario where he killed his family in cold blood. The genius succeed splendidly, but his reputation suffered for his success.
Thanks to him however, Blois family remained a respectable family until its fall, and Redford could finally own Southevile.
"I was also quite surprised at how similar the bodies looked compared to us—Charles even managed to replicate our Mana signature ... It's no wonder the people accept what happened did happen."
Redford smiled sadly as he looked at the back of Charles, his son. The other people who had heard his story also couldn't help shaking their head bitterly as they found the whole situation ironic.
The kid they had thought an absolute disgrace to his family had actually sacrificed many things for his family. Charles had regained their respect, but they still couldn't help feeling guilty over what they had thought of him for all this time.
"We are here!"
"Oh, we have arrived at my manor, everyone."
Charles sighed as he turned his body; he had been listening to his father's dramatical way of telling the story, and he couldn't help cringing at that. He now found facing the old people embarrassing due to what his father had done.
"Hoh? How come I didn't notice there is a young man here?"
At least, until his eyes landed on Chester, who was right beside Blake. Like the others, Blake was interacting with Redford, but Chester was intently looking at him as if wanting to figure him out.
"This is troublesome ... I need to think of a way to get rid of him."
Charles faintly smiled at Chester as he mused to himself, but his eyes conveyed anything but pleasant feelings. Once again, the people had fallen into Charles Blois' scheme.
...
Just a few meters outside of Raneil Barony, the students of Randalvine Magic Institute were standing right behind Darius, their Students Council's President. They were facing the Barony and the couple standing in front of it.
They had just gotten out of the Barony under Basil's lead, and they could finally see the magnitude of Basil's [Bloody Mist]. They still couldn't figure out what kind of a Spell Basil had used, but their admiration for Basil was amplified because of it.
"It is time for us to part ways ... Temporarily. I hope it won't be long until all of us meet once again." Darius extended his hand.
Basil merely glanced at Darius' hand without taking it. "May the unexpected not occur, shall we meet sooner."
Darius smiled wrily at Basil, then retracted his hand to avoid making the situation awkward. Turning his head to Iliana, he told her with his eyes to take care of Basil.
As Basil turned his back on the people, Iliana said her farewell to Darius, Cray and Whitney before doing the same thing. Deacon had already assumed his 3 meters tall Saberwolf form the moment she turned around, and Basil was already on his back.
As Iliana jumped to Deacon's back, Basil immediately instructed Deacon to take off the moment her butt touched Deacon's back. Deacon immediately took off, and his speed was much faster as he didn't assume his original size.
It didn't take long until the people could no longer see the couple and the Saberwolf, and they heaved a sigh of envy at that. They wished they could also travel that fast.
Still, they knew many of them secretly wished they would never reach Woster County. They could already see in their mind how chaotic the current situation must be there.