Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 101

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 101: Wolfgang von Eisenfeldt

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The drawbridge leading to the city of Beldana was crowded with countless people as usual.

A long line stretched on without end.

They had all come to enter the city.

Ascetics, pilgrims, travelers, adventurers, merchants, migrants, provincial nobles, people from every walk of life filled the queue.

Among them, a group of nobles from the provinces began whispering.

“Isn't that the crest of House Myatro?”

Everyone turned toward the drawbridge on the other side.

That bridge was empty.

There was no line at all.

Only guests invited by the Count could use that drawbridge.

“It is. The crescent moon crest. It represents the Watcher of Narak.”

A single antique carriage rolled across the quiet bridge.

A blue crescent moon was engraved on its side.

It was the symbol of House Myatro.

No noble could fail to recognize that emblem.

House Myatro might have fallen now, but it had once been the greatest noble house on the continent.

“So the rumors were true. They say His Excellency the Count has joined hands with the Young Baron of House Myatro.”

The opposite drawbridge was opened only for honored guests.

The Young Baron of House Myatro was surely inside that carriage.

“What do you mean, Young Baron? It has already been over two months since that bastard became the head of the house.”

Several people looked confused.

“At such a young age, how can he be the head of a house?”

“Exactly. I heard he is still just a little brat.”

One noble clicked his tongue.

“Your information is terribly slow. Do you not know the Council changed the law? The Royal Capital was in an uproar because they wanted to make that bastard the head of the house.”

Every noble on the Council had been summoned for the legal revision.

The meeting continued for days, and the vote ultimately approved the amendment unanimously.

Johan von Myatro, the Baron's illegitimate son, was now officially the Watcher of Narak.

Everyone gasped.

“The story was so absurd that I dismissed it immediately, but the rumor was actually true.”

“I thought the royal family had sent the wrong official notice.”

“The end times are upon us. An illegitimate child as the head of a house, and the Watcher of Narak at that.”

The noble at the front struck his chest in frustration.

“You stifling country mice. The issue is not merely that an illegitimate child inherited a house.”

“What could possibly be more important than that?”

“That illegitimate child is now a member of the Council!”

The Council consisted of ten nobles who governed the Kingdom.

Every one of them was among the Kingdom's most powerful figures.

An illegitimate brat from a remote baronial house could not possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with the Council nobles.

Everyone was profoundly shocked.

“H-How can such an outrageous thing happen?”

“The world has truly gone mad!”

“His Majesty approved this?”

One noble sighed.

“What power does His Majesty have? He is nothing more than His Excellency the Count's puppet.”

“L-Lower your voice. What if someone hears you?”

“Am I wrong? Aren't all of you standing here to curry favor with the Count instead of the King?”

Several people cleared their throats.

They could not deny it.

They had come to Beldana to forge even the slightest connection with the Count.

Several such nobles gathered in the Count's territory every day.

“Ahem. In any case, this decision by the Council was somewhat rash.”

“I agree. Frankly, I cannot accept it.”

“It may be the will of our betters, but I cannot understand it no matter how much I think about it.”

Each of them voiced their objections as they watched the drawbridge across from them.

Jealousy, envy, longing, resignation, and countless other emotions clung to their gazes.

Despite their attention, the carriage continued forward in silence.

The opinions and emotions of ordinary people did not matter.

Johan had no room to concern himself with them.

* * *

Inside the carriage, Ilea pulled the curtain aside slightly and looked out.

“They're all watching us. We're drawing quite a few eyes.”

Johan, seated across from her, set down his teacup.

“Well, that's only natural. My name must be spreading throughout the Kingdom.”

Most nobles would not think kindly of Johan.

In noble society, a capable illegitimate child was the sort of existence that made people frown.

He could not expect favorable looks.

Ilea smiled faintly.

“Such rude stares. Shall I play a little trick on them?”

She could use magic to torment them a little.

Johan answered evenly.

“Don't bother. They aren't worth the effort.”

Johan did not want to waste his strength even on background extras like them.

He needed to conserve as much mental energy as possible to deal with the Council nobles.

Ilea closed the curtain.

“To be honest, I'm a little bored. We've been in this carriage for nearly ten days, so I'm getting restless.”

The two had traveled by carriage from the south to the central region.

They had traveled normally, without using magic or Authority.

They had deliberately shown everyone their journey to the Royal Capital.

It was meant to make House Myatro known throughout the Kingdom.

The plan had worked perfectly.

Over those ten days, Johan had passed through countless territories and villages. Now, rumors about him would spread across the entire Kingdom.

The Watcher of Narak was entering the center.

Under the attention of countless people, Johan's standing would rise depending on what he did.

Of course, one mistake would make him fall just as quickly. Still, Johan was confident he could handle it.

A double-edged sword was a weapon he had grown accustomed to wielding.

Johan said, “You said you liked it because it felt like a trip. Have you grown tired of it already?”

Johan and Ilea had spent ten full days together in this cramped carriage.

They had spoken more than usual as well.

For Ilea, it had been a very satisfying experience.

“Tired of it? I enjoyed it, and I'd like to do it again sometime. But I'm feeling a little down now. We'll have to live apart for a while.”

Ilea would stay with the Count's house for the time being.

Johan would leave her behind and travel to the Royal Capital.

They could not remain together for a while.

“Bear with it a little longer. I'll come for you soon.”

Ilea gazed at Johan, then smiled mischievously with her eyes.

“As a groom?”

Once Johan married her, the Count's adopted daughter, House Myatro would gain absolute power.

Johan had clearly considered a similar development.

He replied calmly.

“I don't know yet, but it's not impossible. Even if we marry, it will be for appearances, so don't worry. Your freedom won't be taken from you.”

Ilea beamed.

“I wouldn't mind, though.”

“What?”

“I could live as Johan's wife.”

“The same applies to me. I don't care about a superficial relationship.”

Every interaction with another person in this world was a struggle for survival.

Marrying someone, pledging loyalty to someone. Most relationships were merely means to an end.

Taking a Witch as his wife would be no different.

Ilea puffed out her cheeks slightly.

“Johan, do you understand what I mean?”

Johan nodded.

“Of course. Whatever relationship binds us, I'll help you achieve Transcendence. In return, you may use my position and power however you wish in the future.”

Ilea stared at Johan.

Then she suddenly sighed.

“Forget it. Let's stop talking about this. I suddenly feel awful.”

Johan looked puzzled.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“Every single thing.”

“Tell me freely. I'll accommodate nearly anything.”

Johan intended to grant most of Ilea's requests.

She had helped him far too much until now.

In truth, he owed her a great debt.

Ilea answered indifferently.

“Think about it yourself, Johan.”

She did not continue.

Johan found himself somewhat troubled.

In the uncomfortable silence, the carriage entered the city.

* * *

In the Count of Staviana's lavish reception room, the Count sat at a table and stared ahead.

A huge, white-haired man sat across from him.

Perhaps because the narrow chair was uncomfortable, the giant kept fidgeting in his seat.

At last, he sprang to his feet and shouted.

“Damn chair! I can't sit in this any longer!”

His roar was immense and resonant, like that of a wild beast.

The giant kicked the chair hard.

It flew through the air and struck the ceiling.

A tremendous crash rang out.

The chair shattered into pieces.

Broken fragments rained down across the room.

Despite the sudden commotion, the Count of Staviana showed no reaction.

He took a sip of tea and spoke calmly.

“Father-in-law, this is not the North. Please show some decorum.”

The giant brushed back his short-cropped white hair.

Even with that small movement, the tendons and muscles in his arms bulged prominently.

For a man nearing one hundred and fifty, he was remarkably robust.

The huge old man shouted.

“Decorum? Cromwell, you are as obsessed with appearances as ever! Not even women in the North use such a word!”

He was the Tiger of the North, the head of House Eisenfeldt. He was the Margrave who defended the Kingdom from magical beasts.

The Count of Staviana answered expressionlessly.

“I will say this again. This is not the North.”

Wolfgang von Eisenfeldt laughed heartily.

“Have you forgotten? I am the North, and the North is me. Wherever I stand is the North. If you've come to the North, follow the laws of the North, Cromwell Staviana.”

The Count of Staviana swallowed a groan.

As expected, Wolfgang was not someone he could reason with.

“Fine. Let's get to the point. Why did you ask to see me privately?”

Wolfgang looked displeased.

“The Kingdom's Chancellor cannot even confront me face-to-face. Cromwell, where has all your old vigor gone? You were too weak to protect even your own woman.”

The Count of Staviana's face darkened for an instant.

He quickly composed himself and replied.

“Father-in-law, Yeriel is your daughter as well.”

Wolfgang was Yeriel's father and Cromwell's father-in-law.

Wolfgang snorted.

“I already have more than twenty daughters. You had only one wife. If Yeriel had been my only child, I would have protected her with my life. But you failed.”

The Count of Staviana stared coldly at Wolfgang.

Just as he was about to respond, a knock sounded.

A knight entered the reception room.

“Excuse me. It's an urgent matter.”

The knight approached the Count and whispered to him.

At that moment, Wolfgang slammed the table.

“Do not dare whisper in front of me!”

The table shattered completely, scattering into fragments.

The knight froze stiff.

Wolfgang's presence had overwhelmed him.

The Count of Staviana spoke calmly.

“Even with age, your temper has not improved...”