Chapter 6 : Will You Regret It?
“Who is the one who filed the lawsuit against me?”
A Trial referred to the procedure in which the Family Head became the presiding judge and resolved disputes according to the family’s laws.
According to the laws, the defendant had the duty to participate in the Trial and prove their own legitimacy.
“It is a Trial filed in the name of the Vispon Family. The one who brought me the written complaint was the commander of the Harm Knight Order.”
“If it is the commander of Harm, you mean Sir Belkent.”
I, Hein Reichart, recalled a middle-aged knight with a burly face.
Belkent Vispon.
He was the elder brother of Rishu Reichart, the Family Head’s first wife.
At the same time, he was also the biological father of Alain Vispon, who had been crushed by me.
‘So after I disciplined the child, the father steps in, is that it?’
“Father, I would like to read the written complaint myself.”
Seeing the written complaint filed against oneself was the defendant’s rightful privilege.
Redin handed the written complaint to me without complaint, and I read through it quickly.
“Damaging the value of a blood alliance through frivolous language, and inflicting serious injury upon a member of the main family through private violence…… The crime is extremely grave…….”
As I read, I neither felt fear nor anger.
I simply read it through calmly, roughly folded it and put it into my pocket.
It was certainly surprising, considering the conduct expected of the well-known bastard Hein Reichart.
But the Family Head’s gaze was cold.
“As you know, once the defendant receives the written complaint, they are given forty-eight hours to prepare.”
A frigid tone that carried not even a trace of emotion.
“The Trial will begin forty-eight hours from now. To be exact, two days later, at nine in the evening.”
“I understand.”
My reply was just as emotionless as Redin’s.
“Is there anything you wish to say?”
It was not a question asked because he intended to take my side, nor because he held any special expectation.
It was closer to a sense of obligation—at least this much attention should be shown to a son who had to face the entire Vispon Family alone.
However, my next words caused a small crack to form on Redin’s ice-like face.
“I find it a bit troublesome.”
“Troublesome?”
“Yes. They must have their own position, so I do not think demanding a Trial itself is unreasonable. However, I wonder if there is any need to drag things out for two whole days over something that is not even such a big deal.”
“You said it is not even such a big deal?”
“Yes.”
I had clearly checked the contents of the written complaint and the hostility of the Vispon Family contained within it.
No matter how much of a bastard I was, I would not fail to know how grave this matter was.
Yet I still considered it nothing.
I did not stop there and deliberately pushed further.
“If Father permits it, I would like to meet Sir Belkent now and resolve this matter. Please grant permission.”
For a moment, a peculiar light rose in Redin’s eyes.
“Do you believe this can be resolved through conversation alone?”
“It must be made resolvable. Should there really be discord with Mother’s family over something this small? I intend to settle it amicably, without inconveniencing either side.”
“Amicably?”
“Yes. Amicably.”
At my attitude—utterly devoid of the reckless impulsiveness of the bastard I used to be—Redin closed his eyes and fell silent for a moment.
How much time passed like that?
Eventually, Redin opened his mouth.
“Head servant, tell Sir Belkent to come to my office.”
***
A booming voice echoed through Redin’s office, which had been quiet all along.
“Belkent Vispon greets the Family Head.”
Belkent was a middle-aged knight with a large physique matching his voice.
His angular face and sturdy-looking limbs seemed quite strong, but the splendid armor he wore was identical to Alain’s.
At a glance, I recognized Belkent’s realm.
‘A five-star knight. At least he has some basic skills.’
He might have the Vispon Family’s backing, but he was still the commander of the Harm Knight Order.
It meant he was not completely without ability.
“Sir Belkent. I ask for your understanding for summoning you at such a late hour.”
“Think nothing of it, Family Head. I was planning to visit before the Trial anyway.”
Belkent’s gaze shifted to one side of the office.
There I was, seated with a calm face, tilting a teacup.
‘That bastard…….’
The bastard who used some unknown trick to beat Alain like a dog, leaving him unable to even get up.
With a Trial against the Vispon Family looming, he deliberately acted so carefree?
Even knowing it was bravado, anger surged up.
“……So the second young master is here as well. Have you been well?”
Twitch.
I only rolled my eyes, glanced at him and answered with a silent nod.
It was closer to a chin jerk than a greeting.
‘That, that bastard……’
His eyes reddened at the rude treatment he had never once received, but he had to endure it for now.
He would repay all this humiliation at the Trial.
When the brief greeting ended, Redin spoke.
“Sir Belkent. I called you because there is something I wish to confirm.”
“Please speak, Family Head.”
“I have seen the written complaint you submitted. The plaintiff is the Vispon Family, but the representative is listed as yourself.”
“That is correct.”
Belkent acting as the plaintiff’s representative meant the lawsuit could be withdrawn depending on Belkent’s will.
In other words, as I had said, it meant it could be resolved amicably without going through a troublesome process.
Of course, only if the conversation went well first.
“The defendant, Hein Reichart, has requested a discussion prior to the Trial. Will you accept?”
Belkent glanced at me.
Soon, he answered.
“The Vispon Family’s stance will not change. However, since it is also the Family Head’s mediation and since I have come this far, I will hear him out.”
An answer that could sound arrogant, depending on the situation.
But Redin did not mind.
He merely watched with interested eyes.
Now the initiative had completely passed into my hands.
Just then, having finished my tea, I rose from my seat.
I took out the written complaint I had tucked away earlier and unfolded it toward Belkent.
“Sir Belkent, what is this?”
Belkent’s expression grew even more severe at the sight of the written complaint.
The image of his son, bedridden after suffering blatant humiliation and illegal violence, came to mind.
“What do you mean what is it? It is the written complaint I submitted.”
“Do you think I am asking because I do not know that? What I am asking about is the contents of the written complaint.”
As if provoking him, I crumpled the written complaint right in front of Belkent and tossed it aside.
“……!”
Belkent was flustered by my far more provocative action than expected, but he quickly regained his composure.
“As you can see for yourself, young master. Everything written in the written complaint is a clear fact. Is there any problem?”
“A problem?”
Was the word ‘problem’ coming from his mouth that amusing?
I formed another inexplicable smile and pressed him as I declared.
“Sir Belkent, I will not waste words.”
“No, you may speak at length.”
Did he think my resolute tone was mere bravado?
Belkent brushed it off with a deliberately relaxed answer.
‘Fool. Thinking such bluster would work now is a grave mistake.’
He already had more than enough charges and evidence to prove them.
Even with the Family Head’s protection, he was confident of leading the Trial to victory.
‘Let’s see if you can keep that insolent expression after tasting true hardship.’
Belkent waited for my next words with smug satisfaction.
And then.
“Withdraw this written complaint.”
“Ha!”
At my unexpected words, Belkent let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
It was not so much that he was surprised, but that he was dumbfounded by my baseless confidence.
“Withdrawing it would be beneficial for the Vispon Family in many ways. This is advice.”
For the first time, Redin’s eyes, which had calmly watched the situation, wavered.
Because no matter how one looked at it, my attitude was far from ‘amicable’.
“That is rather excessive language for advice. It sounds like a threat. Second young master?”
“A threat is something the strong make toward the weak. If my words sounded like a threat in this situation, could it be that you have done something worthy of reproach?”
Belkent flinched.
‘Could it be that he knows about ‘that incident’?’
But he soon calmed himself.
Alain said he had handled it cleanly, and Rishu also promised she would ensure there was no aftermath.
“Something worthy of reproach? You go too far!”
“Nothing worthy of reproach? Very well, let us set that aside. Sir Belkent, I will say it again. Withdraw the written complaint. Otherwise.”
“Otherwise what? Do you mean something will happen?”
Belkent retorted, raising his eyes at me as if provoking me.
I spoke to him.
“Sir Belkent, would it not be unbearably tragic for you if your only son were to become one-armed?”
“W-what did you say?”
Alain’s arm being severed?
Having heard something so absurd, Belkent was dumbfounded.
‘Does he have something to rely on? Could it be that the Family Head intends to intervene directly?’
But he soon dismissed the suspicion.
‘No. The Family Head is not that kind of person.’
Unlike himself, who would rush headlong for his son’s revenge, Redin was not someone who would blindly cover up his own child’s wrongdoing out of personal emotion.
Moreover, I was a bastard who had long fallen out of the Family Head’s favor.
The possibility was even slimmer.
‘Hein Reichart has completely lost his mind and is now posturing recklessly.’
Having organized his thoughts, Belkent raised his voice again.
“Second young master. Is this all you asked to see me for? To make such a threat?”
As he finished speaking, he subtly checked Redin’s reaction.
Redin still watched the two of us with his arms crossed, showing no intention of intervening.
Belkent inwardly cheered and drove the final nail.
“Threatening to mutilate the body of a member of the Vispon Family also constitutes a serious crime. I will make it clear that this matter will likewise be addressed at the Trial two days from now.”
To me, who remained expressionless, Belkent added one last remark.
“There will be no withdrawal of the Trial. Never. Young master.”
“Is that so? Very well. Then this becomes simple.”
Even though the negotiation I had requested had collapsed, there was not a trace of disappointment on my face.
“We have each made our choices and now we simply bear the responsibility that comes with them.”
“To hear the word responsibility from your mouth, young master, is truly moving.”
“Then let us meet again in forty-eight hours, Sir Belkent. Father, I have said all I needed to say.”
With that declaration, I returned to the table, filled my empty teacup and acted as if I had already forgotten any conversation with Belkent.
“Sir Belkent. Do you have anything more to say?”
“No, Family Head.”
“Very well. Then you may take your leave.”
“Yes. Family Head, have a peaceful night.”
After watching the negotiation fail from start to finish, Redin quietly closed his eyes, his expression still unreadable.
Thud, thud!
Listening to Belkent’s footsteps fading from the office, I thought.
‘I was going to let those fly-like pests slide because even paying attention to them was annoying. Yet he insists on earning a beating. Fine. I was going to retrieve the Family Sword anyway, so I will deal with it while I am at it.’
Regardless of legitimacy, it was the Family Sword containing the essence of the Reichart Forge.
It was too valuable to simply discard.
Having decided to learn swordsmanship in this life as well, the Family Sword would at least serve as a useful tool for the time being.
‘And while I am at it, it would be good to knock down those parasitic bastards gnawing at Reichart as well.’
I did not consider it a waste of time.
It was merely a small sword family on the frontier, but if I could not even pacify such a place, how could I kill the Emperor?
A journey of a thousand miles began with a single step.
If the starting point for my revenge was the Reichart Family, then the Vispon Family was nothing more than an obstacle.
If I could strike a blow to the Vispon forces while retrieving the Family Sword, that would not be a bad outcome.
‘Once this is over, the way the family looks at me will change. Then I will be able to achieve the next goal faster.’
After finishing my calculations, I rose and approached Redin.
“Father, I have something to tell you.”
“Speak.”
Redin opened his eyes.
A powerful aura, the kind emitted only by a strong martial artist, pressed down.
I met his gaze directly without being overwhelmed.
“I wish to retrieve the Family Sword. Please permit me to go out.”