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For a thousand years, the barony of Nerus had been a viscount, then a count.

In some cases, the family had been made marquis, but in others, the family had fallen due to the aftermath of suffering treason to bring down a hero. However, that period was not very long.

Some of the ancestors tried to break the bondage of the family.

“It doesn’t make sense to hang your head on the heroic epics of hundreds of years ago,” they said, arguing that the good intentions of the present deserved more respect. You can be the hero of this age. They said that.

It was ridiculous.

The reputation of House Nerus had improved, but that was all. Goodness alone was not enough to earn the praise of a hero.

Only the worst relief in a desperate situation was worth it. That honorable position belonged to only seven heroes.

No one knew what the Nerus family had against them. So there was no way they could have guessed what they were doing.

Like that, the Nerus family was working in the shadows of the empire, but they couldn’t do anything about the imperial power and the Grand Duchy of Knox.

The prestige of the warrior could not be dared to be hurt, and Grand Duke Knox, who was called the shield of the warrior, was strong and inevitably gave them no chance to intervene.

However, if they also waited, the opportunity would come someday.

The moment she had been waiting for, the opportunity finally came for her family to make the leap.

The Demon King’s second coming.

This time, she would fulfill her family’s longing. The Nerus family would be named heroes…

For that, Countess Nerus could do anything.

However, it was unexpected that Tragula had given up the Golden Falcon.

She thought he was the kind of person who would give up his self-respect and physical appearance for the Golden Falcon. In fact, he did…

Countess Nerus thought long and hard about her last conversation with Tragula.

<Won’t you regret it?>

<I won’t regret it.>

Tragula, who was calmly saying that, had a very strange face.

‘What a funny voice. You’ll regret it eventually.’

Countess Nerus would make it so. A persistent smile hung around Countess Nerus’ mouth.

As if she had moved the predecessor Count Nerus as it was, insidiousness rose to the face of her.

‘How far do you think you can go without my help with the Golden Falcon? And besides you, do you think the three spies I planted in the Black Knights are one or two?’

Thus, Countess Nerus gritted her teeth and returned to the Countdom with the Golden Falcon.

“Mother!”

As soon as she entered the Count’s house, her only son, Optatio, the heir to the Countdom of Nerus, came running in, smiling brightly.

Countess Nerus had many adopted sons, but Optatio was the only real son. It was because she only wanted the bloodline of Tragula.

And the lineage of the heavenly palace proved its value.

Optatio soon hugged Countess Nerus as if hanging and Countess also smiled and hugged her son. It was her first friendly smile.

“Have you been studying well?”

“Yes!”

Countess Nerus happily patted her son’s head.

Optatio, who just turned 10, was a good, smart, and ideal child for anyone.

Optatio asked with his eyes shining.

“Did you see brother Tragula in the capital this time? How was he?”

“You’ve never seen him before and you really like him. Knowing that this mother doesn’t talk much with her patrons, you ask every time.”

“But it’s cool. The descendant of the Heavenly Palace became the subordinate of the Black Knight!”

Optatio strangely liked Tragula particularly.

Without even knowing that Tragula was his father, he naturally envied Tragula among numerous away members, just as blood was attracted.

At that time, Optatio’s gaze touched the Golden Falcon worn by Countess Nerus.

“Huh? This is…. It’s Tragula’s Golden Falcon.”

Countess Nerus smiled and handed over the bow to Optatio.

“Yeah. Now it’s yours.”

“What? But…”

Optatio looked at the Golden Falcon held in his small hand.

The Golden Falcon was almost as tall as Optatio.

Countess Nerus shook her head coldly and affirmed.

“I’m splitting up with Tragula. He’s not coming back anymore.”

“Wh… Why?”

Countess Nerus did not answer. Instead, she stood up, pressing down Optatio’s shoulders stronger.

“Now you’re going to be the second Golden Falcon. Can you do it?”

“…”

Optatio’s eyes shook anxiously. Optatio nodded slightly, looking at Countess Nerus.

“… if mother wishes so.”

“Good. You’re a good boy.”

Only then did Countess Nerus relax and pat Optatio’s head lightly.

Optatio was good and benevolent, unlike the rest of the Nerus family.

Countess Nerus had even gone to the trouble of raising him. So that he would not know shadiness, so that he would despise meanness, for this was a child who would walk differently from the Nerus she had known.

He would remain the true hero they envied and portrayed to be…

Perhaps the Nerus’s were the people most deeply buried in the illusion of heroism.

So enthralled by it that they were able to throw their whole life away in this way, taking over the generations.

Countess Nerus could do anything to make this child a hero’s offspring or anything else that would put her in that position of being shining and honorable.

Her eyes flashed eerily for a moment. It was a look that burned with a sense of will and hostility.

***

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

Fabian, who was frustrated with his hand that couldn’t move at will, got angry by kicking hard on the ground several times.

He was in a hurry because he needed to raise the level of the expedition members as much as possible, but the situation was hard to keep up with.

The expedition members who had left, the dungeons that had been taken by others one by one, the slow and prolonged injuries…

All of this was due to Jun Karentia.

The flames soared in Fabian’s eyes. Now the freshness of his hero days could no longer be found.

The expedition members held their breath and watched Fabian’s unfamiliar appearance. An atmosphere like thin ice continued.

However, Fabian did not even notice that it was his attitude making things worse. He was only occupied with getting out of the situation.

It was no easy task to train Jeanne, April, and the expedition members who had entered Aegis vacant seats all at once.

Even more so if Fabian, the highest level of the expedition team, was unable to produce his skills.

In the end, Fabian’s expedition team had to disperse for a while, going on lease with mercenaries from other expeditions.

And among these scattered people, there were those who would not return to the Fabian Expedition again. These were the people who thought that the expedition that had been leased had more potential.

“Traitors!”

Fabian was furious, but there was nothing he could do about those who had already left.

It was a virtual collapse of the Fabian expedition.

Deca, who had struggled during that time, seemed to be exhausted. He said carefully to Fabian.

“Fabian… I can’t do it like this. Why don’t we join another expedition and have a chance?”

“…”

Fabian clenched his teeth. He couldn’t fall down like this. This was the chance he had been given.

Everyone else may think Fabian had completely collapsed and cannot revive, but… There was still a hidden move for him.

‘After all, isn’t the final winner determined to survive? You’ll see, Jun. Because not everything is going to be as easy as you planned…’

Fabian’s blue eyes glittered. The blue sapphires, which had been broken without anyone knowing, were filled with black water.

CHAPTER 17. The Tyrant and the Fallen Hero

As soon as we got out of the dungeon with Meyer, August was the first thing we encountered.

August’s expression when he saw us was subtly twisted. Only then did I realize that I was holding Meyer’s hand tight.

“Haha! It was a bit dark and tough inside the dungeon!”

I hurriedly let go of Meyer’s hand, making excuses. Meyer also added, coughing in vain, as he decided to keep his distance in public.

“Jun kept messing up.”

August didn’t look like he really believed it. Rather, he frowned and asked back.

“Who asked?”

“…”

“…”

“Let’s just hurry up and go. It just so happens that you hit puberty at age 30…”

August clicked his tongue and strode back to the place where the horses were tied.

Meyer whispered in my ear with his back down.

“Jun, I think August already caught us…”

“Be quiet. I know that, too.”

Honestly, I didn’t expect to completely deceive August. I poked Meyer’s waist with my elbow. Of course, it was my elbow that hurt.

“Ow!”

“Oh no, Jun! Are you okay? Wait, August. Come here and look at her arm!”

Meyer made a fuss and called August. August, who was ahead, murmured quietly as he crossed.

“St. Marianne, I suppose this is another test you have given me…”