How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 113

Leaving the noisy banquet hall, I went to the upper floor and stepped onto the terrace, where the dark silhouette of the blue mountain range was visible.

Dane followed, carrying glasses and a bottle of wine in both hands.

“I told you not to drown yourself in alcohol.”

“The reason for drinking is different now than it was then.”

Dane smoothly brushed off my comment and handed me a glass. As I took it, he filled it with wine and asked, “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“What else could it be? It’s about the report to the Count after my return.”

Dane nodded.

“Ah, right, that’s true.”

Then, he shrugged, filling his own glass. “You should definitely write that report.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Anyone can see that your contribution is greater than mine. So, you should give the inspection report of the Sky Fortress directly to Father.”

“I’m planning not only to write down all the facts as they are but also to present them in a way that benefits me.”

“Of course, you should. Writing it to your advantage might be a bit…unseemly, but it’s also the right of the victor.”

“Are you really sure you’re okay with this?”

Dane chuckled at my repeated questioning.

“Why? Did you think I would ask you to conceal the fact that I abused my authority and injured the Griffin?”

“To be honest, yes.”

“Forget it. I don’t want to deceive myself to that extent.”

Leaning against the terrace railing, Dane took a large gulp of wine and looked out at the dark blue mountain range.

“The Count’s favor might shift towards you because of this.”

“Probably. Maybe you’ll lose your chance at becoming the Young Lord because of this. I’m saying this with full awareness of the possibility.”

“Didn’t you want to become the head of the family?”

“Of course. That was the goal I’ve been wielding my sword for until now.”

“But you’re giving up faster than I thought.”

“Give up?”

Dane chuckled and turned to me.

“Do you remember when you received the title of Knight Banneret [a knight who can lead troops under his own banner] from Father?”

“Are you talking about when I subjugated the Blade Song Tribe?”

“Yes. I stepped forward and argued then, saying that a reckless guy like you didn’t deserve it.”

“I remember your expression being very fierce.”

“Because I couldn’t accept it.”

Pour, pour…

Dane refilled his glass and nodded.

“That’s because I didn’t recognize you back then. I thought you were an ominous seed that would bring trouble to the Lindaier family. I thought that if I didn’t cut off the seed now, you would cause a very big problem later.”

“So, what about now?”

“You’re right, you’re the kind of guy who will cause big trouble. It’s just that the trouble isn’t what I expected.”

After a moment of silence, Dane spoke again.

“You said I gave up faster than you thought.”

“…….”

“But I haven’t given up on the position of head of the family. I just judged that whether you become the head of the family or I become the head of the family, the Lindaier family will not weaken.”

“That means…….”

“It means I have no complaints even if you take the position of head of the family. You have also proven that you have the ability to revive the family.”

Under the silent night sky, Dane’s inner thoughts were revealed, one by one.

Perhaps because he had relieved some of the burden on his mind, Dane’s face looked much lighter.

“By the way.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“Why did you suddenly drop the formalities that night, after being so stiff until then?”

“You’re not going to say you’re upset about it now, are you?”

“Upset? Not at all. It’s just that I’m reminded of the days when you couldn’t even control your bladder. I can still see you crying because you were afraid of getting scolded by Father.”

Whether it’s the Count or Dane, why do they all say they remember Cain’s old self whenever they share even a little bit of their inner thoughts?

But it wasn’t like I felt bad about it. I was the same age as Cain back on Earth, and I actually had a cousin who was as old as Dane.

‘A cousin.’

I felt a little more comfortable with Dane when I thought of him as someone who only had strength, but whose dreams were so grand that he recklessly charged forward and made mistakes.

Whether he knew my inner thoughts or not, Dane quietly opened his mouth.

“Maybe I’ve been caught up in a strange sense of duty all this time.”

“Sense of duty?”

“Now that I think about it, wielding a sword has changed from being for myself to being for the position of head of the family. Originally, I was content with being a knight in 멋들어진 [meotdeureojin – stylish] armor and a shiny sword.”

Dane smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that was enough, but why did I suddenly feel a sense of duty to become the head of the family? After learning about the vile nature of Sein? After you indulged in pleasure and lived like a reckless fool?”

“…….”

“But what does it matter? It doesn’t matter what it is. I’m just not feeling too bad because I feel like I can hold a sword with a different mindset now.”

“Are you serious?”

“For now. If you start showing a twisted side again, that sense of duty might come back.”

Seeing Dane’s face, which was even mixing in half-jokes, I was finally able to make a decision.

“I’ll take the position of Young Lord.”

“Yeah, I don’t have any complaints about what you’re doing.”

“And I’m thinking of asking Father to give me the position of Lord of the Sky Fortress.”

“……What? The position of Lord of the Sky Fortress?”

Dane’s expression changed strangely at my assertion.

“Do you know that you can’t become the head of the family if you have the position of Lord? The head of the family must protect Wind Nest, where the Lord’s Castle is located. And it’s not like the title of Lord of the Sky Fortress is just something you can have like a medal.”

“I know.”

“Knowing that, you’re going to become the Lord of the Sky Fortress?”

“That’s right. I’m going to concede the position of head of the family to you anyway.”

“I have no idea what you’re thinking…… What did you say?”

Dane, who had been shaking his head, turned to look at me as if he had been electrocuted.

“I’m conceding it. It seems like you’re more suited to be the head of the Lindaier family than I am.”

“What does that mean…….”

“I don’t think I made it difficult to understand. I don’t have as much of a sense of duty as you do, so you should be the head of the family. Do I need to explain it any easier than this?”

Dane’s face was filled with bewilderment.

Well, I had my own reasonable reasons.

Revive the Lindaier family? Not at all. I don’t have such a sense of duty. I just want to finish this flimsy novel and return to reality as soon as possible.

From that point of view, it’s right for Dane to take the position of head of the family, not me.

The reason I tried to seize the Lindaier family was simple: just in case Dane or Sein would rise to a position comparable to the Young Lord and interfere with me.

But looking at it from the current point of view, I no longer have a reason to become the head of the family, nor do I need to.

‘Now that I’m almost certain to be the Young Lord, I can achieve everything I want to do in the future. Besides, in the first place, I can only become the head of the family if the Lindaier Count retires or dies.’

The war will break out within 10 years anyway, and the fate of the continent will be decided in that war.

Will the Lindaier Count retire, get sick from old age, or die in an accident within that time?

It’s an extremely slim chance.

From that point of view, even if Dane becomes the next head of the family, I won’t lose anything anyway. That damn head of the family position, anyone can have it.

Instead, if I give up that position, I can smoothly receive the authority of the Young Lord right away. The infinite gratitude and trust of Dane, who is the target of the deal, is a bonus.

‘No matter how roughly I weigh it, it’s obvious which side is more advantageous.’

The name of the Young Lord and the authority to control the Sky Fortress, which has tremendous potential, and on the other side, the position of head of the family that I may never have.

I wonder if the scales are leaning too much to one side.

But Dane, who can’t see that scale, still had a face that said he couldn’t understand my intentions.

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”

“You’re making me repeat the same thing over and over again. To put it another way, I’m not interested in the position of head of the family. The only reason I was so desperate for the position of Young Lord was because I was worried that my other brothers might interfere with me.”

“……So, the reason you’ve been so busy all this time is just because you were afraid that Dane or Sein would oppress you?”

“That’s just one of the countless reasons for becoming the Young Lord.”

“Then what are the other reasons?”

Should I reveal this or not?

After all, most of the people who need to know already know it.

“Because I have a mission to save this continent?”

“…….”

The face of Dane, who was looking at me, was gradually changing strangely. Well, even if it were me, I would have the same reaction if I heard those words without knowing anything.

“Cain, did you eat something wrong…….”

Whoosh!

Dane’s words couldn’t continue, probably because the golden energy that soared from Aphen enveloped my body.

“You, you, you now…….”

Dane, who saw me like that, couldn’t bring himself to speak and stammered.

My appearance, dyed in gold under the dark night where even the moon had hidden its face, must have been quite shocking. It resembled that of the Great Emperor in fairy tales.

“Again, I have a bigger goal, and I don’t have enough time to achieve that goal. That means I don’t have time to devote to seizing the Lindaier family.”

“…….”

“I don’t want to explain it any longer. I don’t want to convince you, and I don’t have a reason to. However, it’s true that I’m giving up the position of head of the family.”

After finishing speaking, I gathered my energy, and the golden energy disappeared in an instant as if it had never existed in the first place.

After that, silence flowed.

The reactions that immediately came to mind were dozens of kinds, but the words that came out of his mouth were beyond my expectations.

“Indeed.”

“…….”

In Dane’s eyes, there was not disbelief or suspicion, but just an unknown conviction.

“I know there’s something. And that it’s completely changed your life.”

“Do you believe it?”

“I have no choice but to believe it. Should I call it a 기연 [giyeon – a lucky encounter or opportunity]……? Or should I call it an awakening? Anyway, if something like that happened, then all of your transformations can be explained. So, what other reason do I have not to believe it?”

Dane was a little excited.

“There’s a bigger goal, so much so that you don’t even have the 余裕 [yeoyu – leeway or time] to care about the position of head of the Lindaier family. The only reason you desperately aimed for the position of Young Lord was because Dane or Sein might interfere…….”

Dane, who kept repeating what I had said, nodded.

“Okay, I’ll believe it.”

“That easily?”

“Easily? Rather, I was convinced because it was that kind of answer. If you had explained your changed appearance by simply changing your mindset, I would have suspected you even more. Besides, you even showed that kind of energy, so what other reason do I need?”

“Do you know what kind of energy it is?”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know? It’s exactly like that of the legendary Great Emperor.”

Dane smiled and let out a hollow laugh.

“The reckless Cain Lindaier has the energy that can only produce heroes? This is something to see after living in the world for so long.”

After continuing to let out hollow laughs, Dane finally nodded.

“You can’t explain how you got that power?”

“Not now. But I might be able to tell you in the distant future.”

“Okay, then I won’t ask any further. I’m glad it turned out this way. I can completely erase the sense of defeat that I felt from losing to you in the corner of my heart. I understand. You have something to do, so you’re going to hand over the position of head of the family to me? I’ll accept it.”

“…….”

“So, what do I need to do for you in return for receiving that?”

“In return?”

“It’s not going to be free, is it? Your appearance after changing was extremely расчетливый [raschetlivyy – calculating].”

“You may lack skill, but you have an eye for people.”

“Is that a compliment? No, it’s an insult.”

“That’s right.”

Dane chuckled, and I also slightly raised the corners of my lips.

“That mindset to revive the family, that’s enough. Don’t add or subtract from it. Now that there’s no one to pressure you, don’t be impatient and ruin things. If you feel that you lack ability, instead of showing off unnecessary bravado, practice your sword or study.”

“……That’s all?”

“That’s all. If you work hard to revive the family, you’ll inevitably end up helping me.”

I turned my body and looked at the blue mountain range.

It was dark, and I couldn’t see anything, but today, the memory of flying on the Griffin came to mind, and it felt like I could vividly see the blue mountain range.

“Yeah, that’s enough.”

Anyway, when the war breaks out, whether you’re the head of the family or a 잡병 [japbyeong – a low-ranking soldier], everyone will have to risk their lives in the same position.

I struggled to suppress the words that had risen to my throat.