I Became the Monster's Bride

The World that You Would Be Living In. (4)

It was because he had a hunch that the full story as well as the purpose of this meeting would be revealed shortly.

“…Heyen Tegort—aren’t you all wondering why this man had come over to Rakain and the reason he came to be like this too?”

The two of them did not reply to Lenoff’s question. However, their eyes glistened in anticipation of what Lenoff would respond with. As he saw this, Lenoff’s lips began to curl widely.

“This person came here in order to learn about the existence of the Wolf Tribe and altogether, study them in depth. As you both have already known, there are no other places where all kinds of knowledge is as advanced as in Rakain itself.”

“Are you from the Wolf Tribe, then?”

“All of a sudden, what kind of nonsense are you spouting about?”

Both of the Dukes asked each other with a quizzical look on their faces. On the other hand, Lenoff simply opened his mouth again with a grin and a relaxed expression all over his face.

“…But that’s not an empty word at all. In fact, that Wolf Tribe is still alive and breathing.”

“Yes?”

“What is that…”

The Duke of Pazolan looked at Lenoff and shifted his gaze straight to Heyen. Then, as if Heyen was about to laugh, his messy face started to distort before he spoke out in a hoarse voice.

“The blood of the Wolf Tribe has long been passed down within the Imperial Family of Seroif itself.”

“…what?”

“The founding ancestor of Seroif had been from the Wolf Tribe. It’s an old story, so it has been forgotten in everyone’s memory.”

Heyen’s eyes eventually glistened through those drooping eyelids. The greed and joy of an old scholar who had been studying wolves all of his life while suffering such terrible things during that process could be felt in his eyes.

Was that the reason why?

Those who were present all focused more on Heyen’s words—even Lenoff himself.

The story of Cainbert, who had founded the Seroif Empire, soon continued. And when he brought up the story of the power that had been sealed, everyone’s eyes flashed brightly for an instant.

That was the purpose of today’s meeting.

The two Dukes instinctively realized, even though no one had ever taught them. Then, they threw their gaze at Lenoff at the same time. Right after Lenoff had confirmed that the two pairs of eyes were focused on him, he slowly raised his hand to interrupt Heyen’s words and opened his mouth.

“Will you continue to allow the beast lineage to pretend to be the owner of the continent?”

“……”

“The Emperor of Seroif, who has been jokingly called a ‘Monster’, is actually a real monster, no, simply has the blood of a lowly beast. How long do we have to live with our heads bowed down to him?”

Lenoff’s blue eyes glistened like those of cold glass beads. Then, at that gaze, the Duke of Kaizen unknowingly flinched and opened his mouth yet again.

“But there is no other way, is there? Seroif still has so much power…”

Due to having existed as a principality with a long relationship with Seroif, the Duke of Kaizen seemed to have felt a little bit of fear beyond discomfort at the story itself.

Of course, apart from that, it appeared that his interest in the story which he had heard right then had not been completely erased just yet.

Lenoff twisted a corner of his mouth as if to ridicule that cowardly appearance before leaning forward  once again and answered in a low, subdued voice.

“If we can bring forward that power, things will be able to change.”

“…What does that mean?”

The Duke of Kaizen involuntarily asked in a trembling voice. At the same time, the Duke of Pazolan also opened his eyes wide while he kept staring at Lenoff. Lenoff just smiled loosely as if he was enjoying that gaze, then opened his mouth slowly.

“There is a way to bring about that sealed power that the Wolf Tribe possessed.”

“……!”

“Is that true—is what you have just said all true?”

The Duke of Kaizen was so shocked that he became utterly speechless with his eyes wide open. And the Duke of Pazolan leaned towards him as if he would grab Lenoff by the collar at any moment as he asked hastily.

“Heyen.”

Lenoff called upon Heyen once again with a relaxed smile. Then, Heyen, who had been silent for quite some time, took a step forward.

The gaze of the two Dukes, who were looking at Lenoff, immediately moved to Heyen. Heyen raised the corner of his mouth slowly while still facing their gaze.

“There is a magic method that could take away that power. That is what I have found out after a very long study.”

“……!”

Their eyes widened altogether. Heyen flashed a satisfied smile at those surprised expressions.

It felt like he was finally being rewarded in his life. It was for this very moment that he had been enduring so much pain before.

He groped for his face with his hand. In return for violating the laws of nature and inventing a filthy thing, the punishment which he had to receive was absolutely terrible indeed.

His face was the sheer proof of that. And how desperate and frustrated he had been because of all that.

‘But it’s different now. I will finally be able to confirm the results of my own research.’

Heyen began to explain his findings. After listening to the explanation, the two Dukes put on a puzzled expression.

“Is that really possible? No, even if it was possible, having to sacrifice so many lives is kind of…”

“It takes only a small sacrifice to achieve a greater goal.”

After Lenoff had cut off the words of the Duke of Kaizen, he opened his mouth. Unlike the two Dukes, his expression was extremely calm.

It was because he had already heard from Heyen himself about the magic method that would take away the Wolf Tribe’s power.

No, even if he were to hear it for the first time as of now, his reaction would not have changed at all.

“Moreover, they already said that they would like to spend their humble lives on something meaningful, so this still wouldn’t even be enough to receive a word of thanks. And it gives you the first and last chance to show allegiance to this King and the whole country.”

Lenoff didn’t waver in the slightest as if he was really thinking so.

He didn’t even seem to feel even the slightest bit of guilt after listening to the fact that thousands of lives would be sacrificed during the process of the technique that Heyen had explained earlier.

Perhaps the two Dukes had been persuaded by his remarks that seemed so natural as well as his obviously confident attitude. And thus, the look of embarrassment eventually disappeared from their faces.

Instead, what was left had only been greed in return.