Chapter 52: The Chase Begins
“I’m done with my business. Let me out.”
“Understood.”
Returning to the carriage of the Rosemary Marquis House, Rest ordered the driver to set off, signaling that he had no further need to linger. He knew he would likely never visit the Evern Honorary Viscount House again. It no longer felt like a place he could call home.
“…”
Seated in the carriage, Rest rested his chin on his hand, gazing out at the passing scenery. Memories of the events at the Honorary Viscount House flooded his mind—his father, engulfed in despair, and his stepmother, lost in a frenzy, shrieking in panic. He had triumphed over those who had oppressed him, forcing them to acknowledge his strength. A sense of relief washed over him, a refreshing clarity that came from having accomplished what he set out to do.
(But… why do I feel this way? It’s as if there’s something left unfinished, a gaping void in my heart.)
Despite having settled his score with the Evern Honorary Viscount House, an inexplicable sense of dissatisfaction lingered. It felt incomplete, like a full-course dinner missing its dessert. Where did this emptiness come from? As he pondered this, a sudden realization struck him.
“Stop the carriage.”
“Eh? Oh, yes!”
Calling out to the driver, the carriage came to an immediate halt.
“Sorry, but it seems I have something else to attend to. Would you mind heading back without me?”
“I don’t mind, but…”
“Thanks.”
After apologizing to the driver, Rest stepped out of the carriage. The vehicle bearing the emblem of the Rosemary Marquis House resumed its journey, disappearing around a corner.
“…I’m surprised. I never thought you would chase after me.”
“Hah… Hah… Hah…”
Breathless, Cedric Evern, Rest’s half-brother, appeared before him. He had used Body Enhancement to pursue the carriage after Rest had left the estate. If he hadn’t learned from Dibble to activate Life Search even outside of combat, he likely wouldn’t have noticed Cedric’s approach.
“I thought you were locked away somewhere in the mansion, forced to study… Did you manage to escape?”
“Hah… Hah… Rest…”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll… kill you…!”
Cedric, struggling to catch his breath, glared at Rest with a fierce intensity, as if he were aiming a deadly arrow.
“I’ll kill you… it’s all your fault… If you hadn’t been taken in by the Rosemary Marquis House, everything would have gone smoothly…!”
“…”
“I would have passed the exam… Viola and Primula would have been mine…!”
“Don’t refer to someone else’s fiancée so casually. It’s annoying.”
Rest shot a condescending look at his foolish brother.
“They belong to me, and no matter how fate twists, they will never be yours. Don’t claim ownership over someone else’s fiancée without permission.”
“If you weren’t here… If you weren’t here, I would have become the court magician… Damn it, damn it, damn it! Don’t mock me, any of you… I’m a genius. The strongest magician… I’ll have power, honor, women… everything…!”
“…”
(Oh, this is pathetic. Is this really my brother?)
What a fragile man he was. Cedric Evern had been coddled by their parents since childhood, thriving on the oppression of Rest, whom he deemed weak. Thus, he had never known failure or experienced the sting of defeat. Even the incident a year ago, when he had led the Rosemary Sisters into the Forest and put them in danger, was merely a stroke of bad luck in his mind, not a failure.
And so… he was weak. Fragile. Pitiful. A heart that had never been crushed by failure or tormented by despair was far too delicate, easily crumbling before even a single setback.
“…How disgraceful. Is this truly my brother?”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Rest pointed in a direction that led away from the main road, beckoning Cedric to follow.
“If you want to kill me that badly, I’ll oblige. Come with me.”
“I’ll kill you, you worthless scum…!”
“This time, it’ll be a true showdown. I’ll repay you for everything you’ve done to me, so be prepared.”
As he spoke, Rest felt the emptiness in his heart begin to fill.
(I see now… The reason I felt something was missing was that I hadn’t gotten my revenge on Cedric.)
He had made his father and stepmother eat their words, but he had yet to retaliate against Cedric. After enduring countless magical assaults, what kind of resolution was it to not strike back?
(This is a return match. I’ll make sure to repay him for everything he’s done!)
With a grin that revealed his fangs, Rest led Cedric toward a secluded area, ready to settle the score.