"...."

After about a minute of silence, Jerome hangs his head low, unable to even move a muscle.

"Not going to pick up the blade? As I thought, you coward!" Dustin yells.

"Dustin, that's enough!" His mother yells out.

"Mother is right. You've gone too far. Apologize to Father right now!" Gregory adds in admonishment.

Despite receiving criticisms left and right, Dustin laughs heartily.

He has never felt this way before.

So… free!

"I will do whatever I like. If you wish to stop me, you can pick up your blade, brother. But be warned, I have gotten much stronger since our last confrontation. I will be the winner, and then it will be you that must yield to my wishes."

Gregory's body stiffens as he hears those words.

One look at Dustin's confident expression tells him that this is no bluff.

The lad means every word he utters.

'Just how strong has he gotten?' Gregory can't help but ask himself.

"I have fulfilled my filial duty to all of you. I am indeed grateful for all your help and nurturing, but I now wish to tread my own path. I do not wish for any of you to stop me now that I have seen what it is I am meant to do with my life."

"Y-you…" Jerome grits his teeth as he hatefully glares at his own son. "You call yourself filial? Grateful? Don't make me laugh!"

"...."

"You unfilial ingrate! After everything we have done for you, is this how you repay us? Do you know how much I invested in you? How much groveling and scheming I had to do so you could become a Knight? I sacrificed so much for you, yet this is how you repay me?"

Dustin's expression turns solemn for a moment as he seriously considers everything his father has told him

However, he quickly shrugs it all aside and discards any form of consideration.

"Don't feel too bad, old man!" He laughs aloud, a carefree expression on his face.

"We were both using each other. I was your chess piece against the Main Family, and once the Household collapsed, I became your insurance."

"Why you—!"

"Everyone knows working in the Royal Academy pays more than Gregory's job. It also had a lot more prospects. Even if the tragedy of the excursion didn't happen, I would still have a brighter path ahead compared to Gregory, am I wrong?"

"And who do you have to thank for that? If we didn't—"

"I am not denouncing your role in my life. But do not pretend it was a selfless move. You raised me so I could achieve the dreams you couldn't. You made me a Knight because you couldn't become one. You wanted me to be Heir and the eventual Head of the Aditi Household because you couldn't achieve it. You also made sure I got that lucrative job because you couldn't, and you wanted someone to work for you so you wouldn't have to lower yourself to the menial jobs of commoners… am I wrong?"

"S-stop acting like this, Dustin!" Once again, his mother interrupts, her face growing more pale. "It's not too late to take back your words. You can still repair things. What do you want, huh? Just go back to your job and let us work things out."

"Pfft! Puehehe… hahaha!!!"

Dustin bursts into laughter, his maniacal chuckle echoing throughout the room.

It seems he has lost all the care in the world.

Nothing matters to him.

Not anymore.

"You people seem to be misunderstanding something!" He smiles broadly. "I no longer have any job to return to. I already quit before coming here!"

"W-WHAT?!" Everyone immediately responds.

Before now, they were all of the opinion that the situation could still be salvaged. They thought that Dustin was informing them of a decision he wanted to make and that they could change his mind.

None of them had any idea…

"It's already too late! My steed is outside right now. Once I leave this place, I will begin my travels throughout the Kingdom. I will go wherever the winds of life take me and live according to my own ideals!"

Dustin raises both hands as he boldly declares his intention.

No shame or fear towards uncertainty.

Just joyful resolve.

"Y-you have gone crazy…" Gregory mutters to Dustin in disbelief.

He is unable to recognize the man before him any longer. Is this really the brother he knew all this time? The one he grew up with?

"Perhaps I am. But if this is what insanity looks like, then I'll gladly be insane." After saying this, he reaches into his breastpocket and brings out a considerably weighty pouch.

"You can have this…" He tosses the pouch to the table, and many coins spill out upon landing.

So much money…

The eyes of his parents light up in greed, and even Gregory is astounded by the volume of currency.

This is far more than his salary.

"That's my severance package. I got a bonus because of my brave deeds. You can consider this the very last favor I will be showing you. For old times sake, I suppose."

"...."

"You can also quit your job and join the Royal Academy. With the death of so many guards, I'm sure they'll be looking to employ more Knights. Since the positions are attractive, I imagine many Knights will be looking to apply. It'll be quite competitive, but I gave you a recommendation. It's not much, but it might give you an edge. Work hard, and who knows… you could become a guard there and continue to support the family."

"R-really…?" Gregory's eyes light up, though tinges of guilt also flicker within them. "You did that for me?"

"Don't look at me like that. It's not like your employment is guaranteed or anything."

"Still…"

"It's also my hope that you also have a fortuitous encounter and come to your own realization." Dustin mutters, turning away from everyone.

He has done it!

He has thrown aside all his money, his family, and has even left behind the blade they gave him to serve as a representation of his Aditi bloodline.

None of those hold any significance in his heart. They would only weigh him down on this journey.

'Where do I even go from here?'

Right now, Dustin doesn't even have the faintest clue. But he knows he will figure it out once he starts moving.

Once he leaves the small house, he walks through the streets and takes his steed with him before eventually riding off before dawn.

He doesn't look back.

Not even once.

He has left that life behind, and a new one calls for him.

A world of the unknown calls for him.

Unmatched glory!

Unrivaled honor!

Peerless chivalry!

Dustin rides off with all of those ambitions blazing in his heart.

Meanwhile, in his old family's house, everyone surrounds the pouch and carefully counts the money he left behind.

An especially greedy expression forms on Jerome Aditi's face.

"With this, we can form a foundation and use our ties with the Dark Guild to advance our plan." He has a crazed smile as avarice contorts his face to form an ugly expression.

"Father, about Dustin…"

"Do not mention the name of that bastard in this house again!" He yells at Gregory.

"But, dear, he is our son—"

WHACK!

Jerome slaps his wife before she can finish her appeal, forcing her to tumble to the floor.

The moment he sees this, Gregory rushes to help her. Jerome sees this and kicks him in the side, a deep frown on his face.

"Useless! So you two are taking his side? Huh? You watched me get humiliated by that brat and none of you could do anything, huh?"

"Father…"

"Dear…"

"Silence!" He shouts, kicking even harder.

Gregory blocks all the strikes, protecting his mother from the wrath of her husband.

"That boy is no longer my son. At least he made himself somewhat useful by leaving behind this amount; what a fool. I will be sure to make good use of these funds to elevate our family. I want to see if he will still have the guts to treat me like this once our Aditi Household is revived!"

It is now Jerome's turn to laugh maniacally.

"I can't wait… I truly cannot wait for the future! Once that stupid boy experiences all the hardships that life has to offer and realizes how difficult living is without my guidance, I'm sure he will come crawling back. But it will be too late. Our Aditi Household would already be established, and you will be the Head of Household, Gregory! When that time comes, you must never show your brother any mercy… no matter what! Is that understood?"

"Yes, Father…" Gregory solemnly mutters, his body covered in bruises.

His father has already grown tired from kicking, so he has finally gained brief respite. But he knows this won't be the last time.

That's just the kind of person Jerome Aditi is.

"You will make good use of this vacancy in the Royal Academy. No matter what… you must get that job! We can use Dustin's achievements there to boost your fame and improve your opportunities. Hehe… if I factor in my connections with the Dark Guild too, it's only a matter of time. Everything is falling into place… hehehe!"

*******

Silence echoes in our midst as I sit in the presence of my closest associates.

Leon and Uncle Damon.

I have just returned from seeing Seraphina off after a brief home visit. It appears she is faring better than I suspect, but I can't be fooled by appearances.

While I was seeing her off, I left these two in the company of Ciel so they could get acquainted.

Although the small observation I have made upon my return tells me these three have hardly said a word to each other, I'm not too surprised.

After all, they know Ciel is a Vey'lithar and well as a Leviathan. They are also aware that Evernight is my alter ego.

Since these two are my closest associates in the world, and are like family to me, I have made it a rule not to keep too many things from them.

I deeply trust them.

They trust me as well, which is why they have been operating the Dark Guild business in my stead.

Now, they have come with some rather good news.

'My Special Resources are ready!'

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