Chapter 3 : Scoundrel VS Scoundrel (2)
“Alain, it has been a while.”
Memories of Alain Vispon slowly surfaced.
‘A child the first wife of my father brought over from her main family.’
The first wife’s main family was the Vispon family.
They currently held quite a solid position within the Reichart household.
In other words, the Alain Vispon standing before me was also someone at the center of power within the family.
‘So that’s why he’s acting so arrogantly. He has something he firmly believes in, does he?’
That a collateral relative dared to act insolently toward Hein, a direct bloodline, was a problem that absolutely needed to be corrected.
“Hein hyung. What brings you here today?”
Alain’s eyes were lifted high, as if he were looking at a vagrant who had stepped into a place he had no business entering.
I answered indifferently.
“I came to get a sword.”
“A sword?”
His eyes widened even further, as if genuinely surprised.
“If it’s a sword, didn’t Father already bestow a Family Sword upon you?”
Alain casually tossed out the words, as if unaware of ‘that incident.’
Even ordinary maids all knew about it.
There was no way this scoundrel, who took more interest in gossip than anyone else in the family, didn’t know.
This was blatant mockery.
‘A second son being openly mocked by a collateral bloodline. So this is the kind of life he lived.’
This kind of relationship had formed because the original owner of this body had been so weak.
Of course, I had more or less expected it, so I didn’t make a big deal of it.
I felt no humiliation, no sense of shame.
I was simply annoyed and wanted him to stop interfering and get lost as quickly as possible.
“…….”
When I gave no response and kept a bored expression, Alain seemed to think I felt ashamed, and his face filled with a sense of victory.
“Ah, right. You said you lost the Family Sword while engaging in a bloody battle with goblins, didn’t you? Please forgive my indifference and rudeness, brother.”
“That’s enough. Move aside. I still have business here. Haineph, I’ll borrow that sword for a moment.”
Thinking I was merely pretending to ignore him, Alain sneered inwardly.
‘Figures. A worthless scoundrel who isn’t even treated as direct blood by the Family Head—how dare he try to put on airs?’
Haineph, who had been watching the situation carefully, answered cautiously.
“W-well, Hein young master. Actually, the Family Head said……”
“I’ll go speak with Father myself, so don’t worry about it.”
I was just about to grab the sword when Alain suddenly stepped in.
“I’m sorry, brother, but I don’t think that will be possible.”
My movement stopped.
“What did you say?”
Up until now, it had been fine.
It was a bit annoying, but considering that this had always been the life of a scoundrel, this level of rudeness could be overlooked.
But drunk on his sense of victory, Alain ended up crossing a line he never should have.
“Alain, what did you just say?”
“I said you cannot take that sword.”
Alain’s lip twitched upward.
He looked as if he were greatly enjoying this situation, wearing the expression of someone who mistakenly believed they held the initiative.
“By what authority are you saying that?”
“Do I really need to answer that? If you insist, I don’t particularly mind. Of course, it’s under the authority of Helkane Reichart brother.”
‘As expected, it’s that bastard.’
Helkane Reichart.
The one who had ordered my maid to keep watch over me.
The eldest son of the Reichart family, born of my father’s first wife, Rishu Reichart, with a solid backing within the family.
With half the blood of Reichart and half that of Vispon, there was nothing for him to fear within the territory.
Knowing all this, Alain wore a greasy smile as he watched my reaction.
‘Just like I thought. So it’s true that you piss yourself even in your sleep at Helkane hyung’s name. You’ll probably just turn red and slink away again this time. Weak and stupid bastard.’
But I didn’t back down as easily as he expected.
Instead, I simply stared at him with eyes so calm and cold they were almost frightening.
‘What? This reaction?’
Alain was flustered.
This had never happened before.
Then, my mouth slowly opened.
“Alain. You dare speak of authority in front of me? How insolent.”
“Insolent? Your words go too far. No matter that you are the second young master, such rude speech……”
“A rootless, insignificant mongrel like you dares to discuss authority in front of me, a direct bloodline of Reichart?”
My words were razor-sharp.
It was a completely different attitude from the former Hein Reichart, who had always behaved meekly and humiliatingly in front of Alain.
Alain’s face twisted violently.
“W-what did you just say?”
“Am I wrong?”
“I am of the Vispon bloodline, the main family of Lady Rishu! If the main family learns of your rude speech, they will not stay silent!”
Alain snapped.
The phrase ‘rootless mongrel’ had provoked him.
It was harsh language, but in truth, it was one of Alain’s complexes, so the reaction was understandable.
Rishu, the first wife of Redin Reichart.
And the backing of her main family, the Vispon family.
Thanks to that, Alain could strut around arrogantly, but strictly speaking, he was merely a collateral relative with no Reichart blood flowing in his veins.
“Oh? So your main family was the Vispon family?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. The moment I leave here, I will formally appeal to the main family regarding your impious words.”
Alain trembled with rage.
He must have firmly believed that the Vispon family would protect him.
But that trick only worked on the former Hein.
“The Vispon family, huh. You mean that family that crawled in, groveling to secure a position within Reichart, sold their bodies to Father, and now sucks blood like parasites?”
“W-what did you just say……!”
“Alain. You insignificant brat who inherited that dregs-like bloodline—do you dare threaten me, a direct bloodline, with such pathetic words?”
Words that shocked everyone.
No one could imagine such words coming from the mouth of the formerly weak and craven scoundrel Hein.
“W-what in the world is that…….”
“Has the second young master finally gone mad?”
“How is he going to deal with the aftermath…….”
“What will happen if Lady Rishu finds out…….”
Worried whispers spread through the area.
That the Vispon family held real power within the Reichart household was something even the lowest soldiers knew.
To humiliate Alain, a member of the Vispon family even if only collateral, was enough to shock everyone.
And even more shocking was the change in Hein Reichart himself.
“Is that really the Hein Reichart we knew?”
“No matter how much of a scoundrel he was, he wasn’t the type to lash out at just anyone like that.”
The Hein everyone knew was someone who was cruelly strong toward the weak and utterly weak toward the strong—a petty coward through and through.
This kind of upright appearance was something they were seeing for the first time.
But I had no intention of stopping there.
“Alain, this is Reichart. That kind of threat might work in Vispon territory, but not here.”
“…….”
“Here in Reichart, Reichart is the law. The only reason I’m not cutting out your tongue and throwing it to the dogs right now is because I believe Father would not want that—not because I fear the Vispon family. Make sure you understand that. Do you?”
Silence filled the forge.
Alain Vispon stood frozen stiff, like a rock.
“If you understand, then get out of my sight.”
The harshness of my words could be an issue, but not a single word of it was wrong.
Moreover, my completely transformed personality overnight was more than enough to rob Alain of speech.
On the other hand, I remained calm throughout, as if nothing had happened.
“Haineph, thank you for this sword. I’ll remember it.”
“N-no, second young master.”
I picked up the sword and was just about to leave when Alain blocked my path.
This humiliation must have been a first in his life.
His crimson face and trembling body proved it.
“What is it? Do you still have something to say?”
I asked calmly.
Clenching his teeth, Alain barely forced out his words.
“……Just you wait. I will never forget this humiliation, and I will definitely appeal to the main family.”
“Whether you forget it, write it in your diary, or run crying to your mother to tattle—that’s your freedom, so I’d rather you not bother telling me. But humiliation? What do you mean by that?”
“……Everyone here heard it. You can’t deny that you insulted me and my family.”
“Deny it? I wonder. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I merely stated facts. And if we’re talking about humiliation, I believe I’m the one who was humiliated. What do you think?”
“……W-what kind of sophistry are you trying to spout now?”
I deliberately raised my voice as I looked around.
“Alain, don’t you remember? During the monster subjugation operation, you lured me—while I was unarmed—into a goblin nest.”
The area stirred.
“Huh? That can’t be.”
“Then it wasn’t desertion?”
I continued.
“And that’s not all. You hid my Family Sword and even fabricated the circumstances to make it look like I abandoned it and fled. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“What are you talking about……?”
“Because of your actions, not only I but also the Family Head who bestowed the Family Sword upon me suffered grave humiliation. What do you have to say about that?”
Everyone watching began to murmur at once.
This was completely different from the rumors circulating in the territory.
“Is what he said true?”
“A non–direct bloodline hiding a Reichart Family Sword…… even touching it is a grave crime bordering on execution.”
If it had been the usual Hein Reichart, it would have been dismissed as the ravings of a scoundrel.
But the upright attitude I had just shown made everything feel real.
As public opinion shifted, Alain’s complexion stiffened.
“W-what are you saying right now? Do you have proof? Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“Proof?”
At my question, Alain grew even more self-righteous and shouted.
“You dare spread such lies without any evidence! You should know that in itself is a grave crime!”
“Do I look like a swindler who spouts nonsense without proof?”
“Then go on, show us the proof!”
Looking at Alain, who was now nearly in tears, I let out a small chuckle.
‘Stubbornly clinging on like that—you really are just a child.’
Even backed by the power of the Vispon family, he was still just a kid not yet twenty.
In my previous life, when I unified the continent, I dealt with thousands of flashy but shallow brats like him.
‘Pathetic. But I have no intention of letting it slide.’
I pointed my finger at one of the apprentice knights accompanying Alain.
“You there. Come here for a moment.”
“……Yes?”
“Your glove. Hand it over.”
“Ah, y-yes. Understood.”
Perhaps because of how confident my demeanor was,
the apprentice knight, not even knowing why, hurriedly removed his glove and handed it to me.
Taking the glove, I turned my gaze back to Alain.
“Alain, why do you think I need to show proof to you?”
“Th-that’s……”
“The proof will be submitted directly to the Family Head today. The Family Head will examine all circumstances and judge correctly. And.”
Slap.
The damp glove I threw struck Alain squarely in the face.
Alain’s face crumpled as he was suddenly hit.
“That’s all I have to give you right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re still foolish, Alain. Didn’t you just say with your own mouth that you were humiliated by me? Haven’t you learned at the academy what options a humiliated knight has?”
“W-what you’re saying now is…….”
“You know exactly what I mean, yet you keep circling around it. If you’re too afraid to say it with your own mouth, I’ll say it for you. I too have suffered great humiliation from your vicious scheming.”
Alain and the crowd fell silent.
As everyone wore puzzled expressions, my next words were enough to plunge the area into shock.
“I challenge you to a duel, Alain.”