The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 59: I Object to This Marriage! (2) (Part 2)

Killing the son of a noble house would be a serious offense.
It could start a war between the County and the Viscounty.

Kai wasn’t suppressing his anger for himself.
He was doing it for Serapia.

Still, I had a feeling…
If anything pushed him over the edge, Altheron wouldn’t leave here alive.

Maybe sensing that, Altheron shouted in panic.

“But the elixir is real!”

“…Elixir?”

“Yes! The elixir that can heal Serapia is real!”

So that’s what he was holding onto.
No wonder he hadn’t been killed yet.

‘I see. That’s why Kai didn’t strike.’

“Don’t need it.”

“…What?”

“I already have an elixir that can heal Serapia.”

“Is… is that true?!”

The question didn’t come from Altheron—but from Kai.
His deadly aura vanished as his blue eyes widened in hope.

“Why do you think I went to Frecce?”

…Wait, did I not mention that?

Anyway—

“We’ll have a cure soon.”

At my answer, Kai trembled.
Then his expression shifted.

Something’s… off.

This guy—if I don’t stop him—

I quickly turned to Altheron.

“Get out of my sight. Now.”

Before Kai loses it and kills you.
Even if you’re a noble, dealing with the aftermath would be a pain.

“Don’t make me laugh!”

But Altheron wasn’t done.
His face was red with rage, fists trembling.

He clearly blamed me for ruining everything.

“You think you can heal Serapia?”

“And what if I can?”

“Do you even understand her condition?!”

“And you do?”

“Of course I—!”

He shut his mouth.
Clearly had more to say, but refused.

Just glared at me and muttered:

“…Don’t come crying to me later.”

He turned and walked away.

And just then—

◆ You have cleared the Sub Quest: [I Object to This Marriage!]
◆ You have earned 486,440 Quest EXP!
◆ Level Up!
◆ Level Up!
◆ Level Up!

It was more EXP than I expected.
The sudden Lycanthrope quest had been worth about 950,000 EXP.
This one wasn’t quite that much—but for the difficulty, it was basically free.

And then—

◆ “That punk thinks he can take my sister? Over my dead body!”
◆ “No way in hell!”
◆ Kai’s Affection has greatly increased due to your brotherly actions!

The one reward I didn’t want appeared.

◆ Kai’s Affection has reached [Friendly] status!
◆ A [Friendly] individual will be open and positive toward you.
◆ They are more likely to assist, support, or cooperate with you, and may help in combat or emergencies.

Kai’s Affection had jumped two full levels from [Conflict] to [Friendly].

But that didn’t matter now.

What mattered was—

Altheron walking away, fuming.

…That bastard.

Something’s wrong with him.

For one, he didn’t recognize me.

I couldn’t recognize him because of my past life.
But him not recognizing me? That was odd.

The Benneron territory bordered the Whitewolf County.
I was infamous. Especially with black hair—rare on the continent.

And then, the way he used Serapia’s seal.
And how he acted like he knew about her condition.

Serapia lost consciousness only recently, after using her Authority.
There’s no way the Benneron household could’ve known that.

Unless—maybe—one of their envoys overheard something before I left for Frecce?

But what bothered me most—

The quest cleared right after he left.

That means the entire quest was triggered by him.

And the failure penalty was the awakening of the Monarch of Frost.

What the hell is he?

I activated [Predatory Instincts (S)] on Altheron’s back.

Instantly, a stream of data appeared before my eyes:

====
Entity: Altheron de Benneron
Classification: Artificial Lifeform / Synth-Phylum / Mimic-Class Homunculus
Gender: Male
Age: 1 Year
Trait: Replication-type Homunculus

Kai was in total disarray.

Altheron, storming out of the County.

Once again—

Adrian had protected Serapia.
Once more, he had done the impossible.

Gratitude—and resentment.

Those two opposing emotions tore at Kai’s heart.

He couldn’t forget the pain Adrian had caused in the past.
The rift that formed between them… that wound still lingered.

But if not for Adrian—
Serapia would’ve been lost.

He couldn’t deny the debt.

These swirling emotions twisted his thoughts—when suddenly:

“Wait.”

Adrian called after the retreating Altheron.
The man froze.

“Hah, changed your mind already?”

Altheron turned with a mocking sneer.

But Adrian said nothing.
He simply gazed at him—calm, unblinking.

Then, softly:

“What did you say your name was?”

“…What? Why are you asking that—”

“I said, what’s your name?”

Adrian’s red eyes flared with malice.
Gulp.
Even I heard Altheron swallow.

“I—I told you! I’m Altheron de Benneron!”

“…Altheron de Benneron.”

Adrian rolled the name on his tongue.
Then, looking off into space, he murmured:

“…Are you sure?”

“What?”

“Not Avarus?”

Altheron’s eyes widened.

“H-how do you know that name…?!”

His face contorted with shock.

‘How does Adrian know that?!’—his expression said it all.

And then—

“Avarus.”

Adrian’s voice sent chills down everyone’s spines.

In that moment—

His entire presence changed.

Kai trembled instinctively.

That aura—it was the same.

The same as when Adrian faced the Lycanthrope in that frozen hell.
That twisted smile as he bit into its heart—madness and hatred combined.

“I didn’t expect to see a worshipper of a Corrupted Soul here.”

Adrian grinned.

His blood-red eyes fixed on Altheron, swirling with emotion:

Hatred.
Ecstasy.
Wrath.
Pleasure.

Joy.

Everything. All at once.

Just like back then.
Exactly like then.

…This is bad.

I don’t know why.
But I have to stop Adrian.

That thought consumed Kai.

But before he could move—

Crack!

Adrian had already torn out Altheron’s heart.

Translatin_Otaku

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