It's May 23rd, 2027.

Over two weeks have passed since my entire family was slaughtered by an unknown figure.

I still haven't found a single decent clue to help me.

My teammates came to find me during that time, and even with Ruthina's Divination and everyone's help in digging up clues, we haven't gotten close to finding the culprit.

It's almost like this whole thing was caused by a ghost.

Or… a deity.

It seems I'll never know.

The more time passes, the colder the trail will get, but I have no way to really make any change.

I'm stuck.

I don't know what to do.

Two weeks ago, I swore in my heart that I would avenge my family… now it seems my bold promise was nothing but a joke.

"What should I do now?" Right as I ask myself this question, I am visited once more by the Minor Families—specifically Uncle Jerome's family, with the others trailing behind him as though they are his entourage.

My expression immediately turns dark the moment I see this, but I don't say anything.

Instead, I let them talk.

"We understand that you're grieving, Javier, so I'll be brief." Uncle Jerome sighs, his expression showing a rather pained, awkward, but also resolute stance.

"…."

"The Aditi Household has suffered an incredible loss. But, we need to look ahead into the future… and rebuild." He sighs, staring at me with a sad smile. "We all recognize this, so as a united Household, we've come to inform you of this. I'm sure your parents would also agree that, for the sake of the Aditi Household, we must continue their legacy."

"Just say what is truly on your mind, Uncle." I let out a sigh, glaring at him with a plain expression. All of these flowery words mean nothing to me.

I'm an experienced old man.

I know the difference between condolences and manipulation.

It's obvious to me what my Uncle's intentions are.

But I want him to spell it out.

"Javier, I'm not saying this selfishly or for my self-interests. But someone has to take on the role of the Main Family. My Household has two Knights, and I'm also closely related to your father, so under my guidance I believe we should be the Main Family and rejuvenate the Aditi Household."

See?

I was correct.

In the end, these Minor Families all gathered together under Uncle Jerome, coming all the way here, to the ruins of my family, to declare their political interests.

Disgusting!

Absolutely repulsive.

Yet… I can somewhat understand, being someone who was Head of Household, and who also studied politics extensively in the Academy. Adding my past life experiences and my recent political escapades in this one, I already knew this was inevitable.

But, it doesn't mean I have to accept it.

"You took inventory of everything in the ruins, right?" Uncle Jerome asks as he greedily licks his lips, his eyes flashing with expectations. "Did you find the Household heirlooms? The Household Records, the Land Deed, the Grade 3 Potion? Ah, most importantly… the C Grade Armament?"

I sigh.

"Javier, this is serious. With the accumulation of the Household, which our ancestors worked so hard to acquire, we can better revive the Aditi name. I promise to find whoever was responsible for this, Javier… but we also need to consider our Household… your parents' legacy!"

"If you mention my parents again… your head will be sent flying."

My words are calm.

But my eyes stare coldly at Uncle Jerome to tell him that I am not bluffing.

"A-ahem… Javier, listen—"

"You want to use the situation to finally claim the position of Main Family, which you've been eyeing for so long. How unsightly. You didn't even take your time, yet you're showing your true colors already. It makes me wonder if you envisioned this happening…"

"Javier! Are you accusing me of this heinous act? I would never—"

"Of course you wouldn't. Perhaps if you weren't so miserable, I would have suspected you of this act, but none of you here could have done it. How I wish that were the case. That way, I would have something to vent my anger on…"

I'm angry.

However, it's a silent rage… a wrathful calmness that has turned my blood cold.

Right now, I feel nothing but pure vitriol.

Yet, I can think clearly.

So clearly.

It's almost like I see everything with razor-sharp precision, not missing a single detail.

My brain processes the information with no obstruction, and everything reveals itself to me with little difficulty.

In a sense, it feels liberating.

But… also frightening.

"Do you want me to scram too? Since I currently sleep in the ruins of your beloved Main Estate?"

I almost chuckle aloud.

"Be honest. You wish for me to leave the Armament, since it belongs to the Aditi Household, and let you have free rein over the entire family, or am I wrong?"

"Javier, it's not like that…" Uncle Jerome groans softly, a hint of concern flashing inside his aged, cold eyes. "My family is simply the most qualified. You are a Scholar, not a Knight, and my family has the largest number of Knights among the rest. Because of this fact, I have even received the recognition of the Minor Families. We just seek your understanding…"

Should I be upset?

Everything he says makes sense.

Logically speaking, he isn't wrong in any way. Sure, he is trying to take over the Aditi Household, but it's not like he slaughtered my family.

He is simply taking advantage of the situation.

And isn't that natural?

Isn't it human nature to try to obtain excesses while reducing deficits? He also has his family to cater for, and he is a man with great ambitions.

This is the path he has chosen to walk on, and he has ample justification for his actions.

What right do I have to judge or refuse?

"Hehe… hehehehe…" I slowly rise to my feet, my hands slowly reaching for the hilt of my blade.

"J-Javier…!!"

"If you don't scram right now, I'll kill all of you."

"Javier, you don't mean—"

SWOOSH!

My blade slices through the hair, easily severing my uncle's hair from the rest of his head.

In an instant, I make him bald.

"There won't be a second warning." I glare at them hatefully. "Scram!"

The Minor Families shrink back, with Uncle Jerome nearly stumbling in his retreat.

However, the resolve in his eyes doesn't vanish.

"We only came here to do things the easy way. In accordance with the Kingdom's laws, I am in the right. If we simply appeal, then—"

PARAN PARAN!!!

Before Uncle Jerome can finish speaking, all of us hear the sound of a trumpet.

Its loud melodies cause all of us to look in the direction of the sound's origin, where we see a grand carriage with an entourage of about a dozen armed soldiers and even one Royal Knight.

The carriage has the crest of the Royal Family, and the raised flag contains the same emblem.

"To be continued…" I whisper to my uncle, keeping my focus on our visitors.

Based on the small size of the entourage, the person within the carriage can't be a Royal. Rather, they're likely an envoy of some kind.

Just as I suspected, it is indeed a Royal Envoy!

To be honest, I was expecting something from the Royal Family at some point, considering how far the news of my family's annihilation should have traveled by now. I predict that many letters and visitations will reach me in the coming days.

There's also the fact that I sort of bailed on the Royal Banquet without proper protocol.

I doubt the Royal Family would be so insensitive as to stand on protocol after realizing what happened to my family, but one can never tell.

Regardless…

"Greetings be given to the Royal Family's envoy…" I give my greetings to the nobly dressed gentleman who comes out of the carriage in an exaggeratedly dignified fashion.

The Minor Families also present do the same.

"Ahem… right as you were…" The man speaks with a polished accent, his head proudly held up high as he is handed a scroll by the Royal Knight and begins to utter all the ceremonial greetings and introductions.

I nearly roll my eyes at the formality, deeply anticipating what the letter says.

I have a few guesses.

However, the moment he concludes the letter reading, all my thoughts rapidly dissolve, and an expression of shock imprints itself on my features.

All of my guesses were off the mark—not even close to the actual message.

"What do you mean the Aditi Knight Household has been officially disbanded?" I nearly blurt out, gasping in stupefaction.

The Minor Family members are also bamboozled, but they don't dare say anything.

"This is a direct order from the Royal Family." The envoy raises a brow and stares at me with an observant gaze. "Are you contesting it, Mr Javier?"

"N-no, but I would like a reason!"

It makes no sense.

After such a deep tragedy, I was expecting some kind of consideration from the Royal Family.

Not anything genuine or groundbreaking, but at least a shallow performance of some kind to bolster their image and show their support for the Kingdom's Hero.

… Not this.

"There is no explanation given. The Royal Family gave you all this title, and they reserve the right to revoke it at any time. Every person here is hereby stripped of the authority of a Mid-Rank Knight Household, and is ordered to evacuate these premises effective immediately."

I'm stunned.

So fast… so easily… everything is being taken away.

I subtly glance at the Minor Families, witnessing how ugly and ashen their expressions have become. I can't even laugh at their despondence.

Not too long ago, we were fighting over the rights to the Aditi Household.

Now, there isn't one any longer.

"That is all. Do know that you are meant to leave at a reasonable date from now. Delaying further will be contempt of the Royal Family and the authority of its decree."

After saying this, the envoy enters the carriage and departs, not uttering a single word after.

Such coldness is what I expect from a messenger.

But…

'They would dare do this to me? Even after everything I've done for them?!' Despite the temptation to think like this, I calm myself and let the deep rage within me flow like unrestrained water.

My eyes burn hot, but I let out silent breaths to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

'It's probably useless… but I'll try to appeal.'

As for the Minor Families, they are on their own now… and they know it. Without the protection of the Aditi Household, they are nothing but regular families now, no better than commoners.

The Knights among them are more fortunate, but the lives of everyone else are pretty much ruined.

They also have to leave their free residence and live somewhere else.

Refusal will mean being faced with criminal charges.

I watch them take their leave one after another, with ashen faces and downtrodden expressions, but I don't feel the slightest bit for them.

We don't even exchange any words before they finally depart, leaving me by myself again.

In the ruins of my fallen family's Estate.

I have no idea how long I stand there, simply dazed, but evening eventually creeps in, with Uncle Damon and Leon finally arriving. Both of them were far away, on a business trip, so they were the last to hear the news.

Leon kneels at the center of the charred estate and cries with passion, while Uncle Damon has a more mature response.

We speak for a while, with him offering the best consolation that he can.

He's awkward, and he fumbles on his words, but I can sense the genuineness that comes from his condolences.

With a smile, I receive them with appreciation.

I honestly prefer this to emotional or exaggerated displays of support.

Uncle Damon is also grieving in his own way, but he doesn't shed a single tear. Instead, he covers it all with a sad smile, with a sullen demeanor akin to the moments after his entire research results were stripped away by Professor Alaric Duskryn.

In a sense, he's probably the only one who can truly understand how I feel.

After all, we both lost everything we cherished most.

"Can you… tell me everything you've learned thus far?" Much to my surprise, Uncle Damon shows an interest in the case, but something about his gaze shows me he already has a sneaking suspicion about the culprit.

Oh well…

I don't have the heart to tell him that my information is worthless, and it will do no good in finding the one responsible, so I tell him everything I know.

From the letter… to the series of investigations… to the illogical conclusion.

I also inform him of the Royal Family's decision to strip away our Knight Household's Title.

Once I'm finished, his expression turns grim.

His gaze grows colder.

Then, he stares me dead in the eyes and tells me his true thoughts. "Javier, to be honest, this reminds me of what happened during my time as a student in the Royal Academy. It is also reminiscent of all the strange cases I have investigated over the years."

"W-what…?"

"Mysterious fires. A terrible slaughter. A one-man army. No Trace Elements. And… the Royal Family stepping in to isolate the incidents and quarantine the locations."

My body trembles.

Something like this has happened before?

Where?

When? How?

Throughout both lifetimes, I haven't seen anything like this before.

If Uncle Damon is right, then it makes sense that I haven't heard of anything like it, since it is all covered up by the higher authorities.

But… I need to know more.

"I never told you the truth behind how I lost my Scholarship, did I? It involved an incident that happened many years ago… where many students were slaughtered in a burning building. There were only two survivors—Alaric and me."

"T-that…" My eyes widen even more, stretching to their limits. "Does that mean this is—?"

Uncle Damon nods, his visage turning frighteningly dark.

"Yes. This was done by a Leviathan."

[A/N: We are gradually reaching the climax of this Volume. I hope you're all enjoying yourselves thus far, as I'm quite excited for you to see what everything has been building up to.]

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