Chapter 148 : Chapter 148

Chapter 148 - Family Banquet

Millesdusk's main camp, the Pantheon, was as hot as the sun even before it had fully risen in the dawn.

The yin energy that the great family of sorcery and curses had accumulated for centuries was powerless today.

The sorcerers belonging to the family stationed at the main camp became gossips and chattered busily.

They tried their best to get as close as possible in the banquet hall to catch a glimpse of the Family Head and his kinsmen.

"It's been over 10 years since I joined Millesdusk, but I've never seen any of the direct-line members. I'm going to see their dark violet hair this time!"

Dark violet hair was the symbol of the direct line and the symbol of Millesdusk.

The sorcerers, forgetting even the frost that had settled on their beards, chattered like children.

Unable to contain their excitement, they gathered their words.

"Among the kinsmen, I'm most looking forward to the Daughters. I hear that the spirits they handle are beyond the detection of even skilled spirit sorcerers."

"Of course, the Ghost Sisters are noble, but the real deal is the little giant, the Fourth Son-nim."

"Hmm. I agree with this friend. The talent to have mastered the Skeleton Colossus sorcery, which requires time even among Bone Sorcery, so quickly is amazing."

"Bone Sorcery? Then shouldn't we be cheering for the Ashen Son, our First Son-nim? - Or so I almost said."

At the abrupt change, the sorcerers laughed heartily.

This was because even among the sorcerers, the First Son was a being who had crossed the line, a being who played on that line.

To quietly curse the being in the sky but to inevitably look up in admiration.

That was the First Son, and it was understandable to curse him and to respect him.

"The First Son-nim's talent needs no explanation."

"Right, right. I once saw the advance of the Undead Knight Legion in my life.... Phew, I found myself mourning the enemy without realizing it."

"It's truly a level of private soldiers that no kinsman of the next generation will succeed in creating."

"Probably so. The Death Knights require at least a mid-to-high level Cursed Knight or higher."

In the northern sword families, it was a level they called a Sword Expert.

The First Son had repeatedly overthrown nations to gather such knights.

Millesdusk did not care what resistance the conquered nations put up.

But even if the main family did not intervene, they could not stop the First Son.

"At that time, the bloodbath in the east never seemed to stop..."

"Refugees and fallen nobles poured out."

"Still, he trained in the Ash Mountains for 10 years, so maybe he's matured a little now."

The sorcerer who had been crossing his arms at the mention of the First Son snorted.

"Matured, my foot. Why would the First Son-nim need to mature in the first place? Why does he have to mature?"

The sorcerer who had been speaking let out a sigh.

"He's a person who doesn't need to. He's a person who will live as he pleases and die as he pleases."

"...Even so, don't speak of a kinsman's death so lightly."

"Why? Who was it that was excitedly betting on when and by whom the Fifth Son-nim would die when he left the Pantheon?"

"Ahem..."

The sorcerers stroked their beards and coughed repeatedly.

"Anyway. If I were to bet money again, I'd bet on the Fifth Son-nim this time."

"Because of the Dark Elixir business? Certainly, his status has risen a lot with that business."

"You can't just look at the Dark Elixir business. You have to look at the Fifth Son-nim's insight and drive that completed the Dark Elixir business as a business."

"That's right."

Someone appeared among the sorcerers.

They definitely knew his face, but it took a long time to recognize him.

This was because that person was cooped up in his office and rarely came out.

"G-General Manager of the Treasury-nim."

"I heard talk of money, so I came over without realizing it while passing by."

"If you're just passing by..."

"It's the same as you all. I came to see the direct-line kinsmen. It seems the view here is quite good. Is it okay if I stay here?"

"O-Of course."

Who would tell the powerful figure who managed the family's funds to get lost?

The sorcerers shut their mouths and made a space for him.

The man who resembled a mouse adjusted his round glasses and opened his mouth.

"The Fifth Son-nim certainly has a different feel from the other kinsmen you all have been talking about."

"D-Did you hear everything?"

"As you know, I have no one to tell, so you don't have to worry."

The sorcerers stroked their chests.

The General Manager of the Treasury, who had smirked, looked at the banquet hall and the main road in front of it.

It was a road that was still as cold as ice, but soon the kinsmen would arrive.

While the other kinsmen spread the scent of blood and the cold of ghosts, the Youngest Son spread the smell of money.

"The Fifth Son-nim has survived in a unique form that has never been seen in any kinsman before. A form closer to a businessman than a sorcerer."

A businessman...?

The sorcerers' heads turned to him.

The General Manager of the Treasury himself was reminiscing about the past, looking into the air.

A chick who had taken a large sum of money by sending not himself but his subordinates, with guts, a business item, and a little bit of threat.

But now he had become a big shot and had repaid that massive loan with interest.

It was a feat accomplished with just the Dark Elixir business.

And now, through a series of coincidences that didn't seem like coincidences, he was even evading taxes.

He was a very high-level businessman.

The Fifth Son had accomplished what even Jubel Maxman couldn't.

"It may seem like all the other kinsmen are independent, but not yet. There will surely be a time when they need the family's power and fame."

But the Fifth Son was different.

The Fifth Son had achieved independence in the literal sense.

"Even if his family name is taken away and he is kicked out of the Pantheon, the only one who can make a comeback as if nothing happened is the Fifth Son-nim."

"..."

The sorcerers swallowed hard.

His actions, which they were mulling over again through the words of the General Manager of the Treasury.

He had come this far from nothing to fight his siblings who were born with everything.

As he had said, he was a fearsome kinsman in a different sense.

Among the sorcerers, as a fear they had never felt before was being engraved.

"Anyway."

The General Manager of the Treasury broke the silence.

"Anyone want to bet on which of the kinsmen will arrive first?"

The sorcerers quietly raised their hands.

***

The banquet hall was as quiet as a mouse.

The countless subordinates who moved with plates, dishes, and glasses for the delicacy made no sound of footsteps.

There was no sound that would grate on the ears.

The only thing that seeped into the ears was the gentle melody of the musicians.

On the long, vertical table, white plates and colorful delicacies stood out on a black tablecloth.

The aroma from the dishes and the sweetness of the wine stimulated the nose and whetted the appetite.

It was a table that would not be lacking in any era or any place, but.

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere inside the banquet hall was by no means pleasant.

The subordinates and the musicians also knew that and could not relax their tension.

A banquet hall where the chilling cold and the warm warmth of the dishes met.

The subordinates barely finished arranging the plates in the nauseating atmosphere.

But the direct-line kinsmen could not pick up their forks.

The master of the family had not yet arrived, and until then, this uncomfortable silence had to continue.

But the only one who was exempt from this rule, the Youngest Son, spoke from the very end of the table.

"How long has it been since we all gathered like this? It must have been well over ten years."

The musicians' notes almost wavered for a moment.

Such nonchalance in this atmosphere.

Thinking he was amazing in some sense, the subordinates gestured to the Youngest Son.

"How was the Dark Elixir? It seems you've all achieved some personal accomplishments."

Though no one showed it, their levels must have risen noticeably.

Even if they couldn't move on to the next stage right away, they must have gotten a clue.

"It was great when I drank it myself! To be honest, I didn't expect it to be this good! It wasn't named Elixir for nothing~."

The Fourth Son, who was one of the more affable ones here, picked up the youngest's words.

Then he looked at the Daughters sitting in front of him.

The Second Daughter was sitting on a hard chair for the first time in a very long time, not her sister's lap.

She squeezed the tense Third Daughter's hand and answered.

"I think this banquet was held for my youngest brother. It's as if he's achieved something that will be remembered for generations."

Nod.

The Third Daughter also nodded in affirmation.

It was also like her to give a thumbs up under the table, so that only the Youngest Son, who was sitting next to her though not close, could see.

"Thank you just for your words, sisters."

The First Son listened to the conversation quietly. In fact, it was not even clear if he was listening.

His gray eyes only stared into the empty air and did not react to any voice or answer.

Even so, everyone's gaze was on him.

It was a reality that couldn't be helped, even if they pretended not to.

The memory of being beaten painfully since childhood bound them, suppressed them, and made them tremble.

It was for that reason that the Fourth Son's hand had been unconsciously stroking his scarred abdomen since a while ago.

Most of the people here knew the fear of the First Son.

As if he knew that fear or not, only the Youngest Son enjoyed the music with a comfortable smile.

'This is the game soundtrack I bought with my own money. When I was crazy about it, I used to sleep listening to this.'

Now he was listening to such music and holding a wine glass with the main characters.

Outside the monitor, I would play the track I wanted, but now I had to order it myself.

"Musicians. Is 'The Road to the Pantheon' possible?"

"O-Of course. Now, now. One, two..."

The music changed.

The melody that had been as calm as a lake became heavy.

Even so, the level of the musicians could be seen in that there was no resistance.

Even though the requested music did not particularly suit a banquet hall, they arranged it on the spot.

This was because a person who wanted to live would bring out the best of their abilities in their life.

That was the same for both sorcerers and musicians.

"Was there such a song in the eastern music scene?"

The First Son, who had been silent all along, opened his mouth for the first time.

The Youngest Son smiled and nodded.

"There are many good songs if you take the time to delve into them. It's one of the hobbies worth enjoying."

"Our youngest brother has surpassed us by mastering even such hobbies. Even though the time he had was much less from the beginning."

Is the conversation going that way again?

I was at a loss for words for a moment, but the Fourth Son retorted with his legs crossed.

"Who's 'us'? Don't lump me in with you."

It was the second time the musicians' fingers trembled.

The First Son's gray eyes slowly turned to him.

The Fourth Son did not back down and met his gaze.

"Jamie. If it weren't for something like this, you wouldn't be able to be associated with me. Don't be so stiff."

He spoke as if scolding, but his tone was cold.

It was very similar to the banquet hall where the warmth of the dishes and the cold of the atmosphere met.

The Fourth Son, Jamie, snorted softly.

"You, who were cooped up in the mountains for 10 years—"

"You're still the same height."

"...What?"

The Fourth Son's eyes changed.

Murderous intent filled his clear green eyes.

Height was a sore spot that should not be touched for the little giant.

"I expected you to have grown a little since it's the first time we've met in 10 years. But you still don't even reach my shoulder."

The First Son didn't just touch his sore spot once, but repeatedly.

Crrrk—

The fork he was holding bent with just his grip.

The blade of the knife was sharpened by the simple force of his nail pushing it.

The steak knife instantly turned into a man-slicing knife, and the Fourth Son did not let go of the knife.

"Do you want to die right now?"

"With such a small knife, you can't even repay half the scar I carved on your belly."

The First Son said leisurely, taking a sip of the wine in front of him.

The gaze he had given at first was completely withdrawn, and his gray eyes stared into the empty air again.

The Daughters did not care, as if it were a foregone conclusion, and the same was true for the Youngest Son.

Because a being who would extinguish the heat of such a fight in an instant would open that door and enter.

That moment began with the messenger's declaration.

"The Family Head is entering."

Kwoooong—

The messenger who had appeared like a ghost opened the door to the banquet hall.

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