The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 54.2

Chapter 54.2: Already, The Sun Has Set (2)

As Garick’s straightforward description suggested, the swordsman Edmund in Cain’s memory was a man obsessed with wielding a sword, unconcerned with family or lineage.

‘If he hadn’t become a Count, he would have never even met my mother.’

It was impossible for Edmund, who preferred the coldness of a blade to the warmth of human connection, to talk about anything else.

“It was you.”

“Excuse me?”

Cain frowned without realizing it and asked back. Oleciren couldn’t help but smile at his genuine reaction.

“Before that, nine out of ten words were about swords, but after you were born, at least one in ten changed to you.”

Having regressed across timelines, Cain’s memories of Edmund were only from his childhood, decades ago.

But even that was enough to clearly imprint on Cain what kind of man Edmund was.

A madman who only engaged in perfunctory social interactions and spent all day swinging his sword.

The strongest man in the kingdom, worthy of the title of the strongest swordsman.

A man who had no love or affection as a father.

‘And… if he did, it would be for Abel, not me.’

Cain shook his head inwardly.

There was no way that Edmund, who already knew that his mother, Chloe, was a witch, would love him.

If he loved him, he wouldn’t have let his mother go like that.

He wouldn’t have left his young self behind and entered the dungeon alone.

However, Arna, Little Mother, was different from Chloe, who was in a political marriage, as they met on the Northern Expedition.

Then naturally, his choice would be Abel.

Cain shook his head.

“If that’s the case, it must have been about my half-brother, Abel, not me. You may have heard, but he…”

Count Garick interrupted, staring at Cain with sharp eyes.

“It was you.”

“Honestly, I can’t believe it. Then what did he say?”

“Just like Edmund defeated the previous Ethelred at seventeen, he said he might also be defeated by you when you turn seventeen.”

Oleciren, who had been listening quietly, blinked and looked at Cain.

Even Mia seemed to be hearing this for the first time, turning to look at Cain.

However, Cain only gave a wry smile, as if he couldn’t believe it at all.

“Me, defeating the strongest swordsman in the kingdom?”

“That’s why he said he couldn’t stop. To one day proudly receive his son’s blade.”

“…….”

Cain lowered his head.

His reflection was visible in the half-drunk red tea.

Himself, at the age of seventeen.

But having already lived through the coming time, he couldn’t believe those words.

‘My talent isn’t that great.’

He was pretty good, but not as talented as Abel, who was exceptional from the start and even rose to become a hero.

━……It’s decent enough.

Moreover, that evaluation wasn’t just his own self-assessment, but also the assessment of Master Johnny Walker, the absolute being of the East.

In order for Cain to defeat Edmund, who had reached the level of Sword Master, he would probably need the power of the 〈Sacred Treasures of the Four Seasons〉…….

‘Don’t tell me?’

Cain suddenly lifted his head.

━That’s how Spring is. It’s everywhere and nowhere.

The words of the hero Abel, who died by his hand.

The Holy Sword, ‘Summer.’

The Holy Crown, ‘Autumn.’

The Demonic Sword, ‘Winter.’

The three seasons had left their mark on history, but only ‘Spring’ remained unknown.

But conveniently, ‘Spring’ was within Cain at the most necessary moment.

‘The voice that spoke to me was also Spring.’

【I will always be watching, Cain Ethelred.】

Edmund wasn’t a fool, there must be a reason why he made that judgment.

Then the only thing left was ‘Spring.’

His biological mother, Chloe, being a witch.

The suspicious murder that took place on a snowy day.

And perhaps, Edmund, who might know about ‘Spring,’ wanted to see it.

Gulp━.

As if to clear his mind of all thoughts, Cain drained his cold tea in one gulp.

“Well, alright. Let’s just say that’s true.”

What was the point of asking a dead man anything?

Cain pointed to Oleciren.

If it was a personal matter until now, from now on, it was time for the Seven Noble Houses and the Royal Family.

“Lord Count Garick, I want to make Princess Oleciren the king.”

Garick raised his bony hand and stroked his chin. Despite his weakness, the aura of a great noble of the Airian Kingdom could be seen in him.

“One of the two princesses must become King, so it’s not impossible. Furthermore, if Ethelred, Lamaring, and we join forces, then three Counts will already be supporting her.”

From the Seven Great Houses, they had now become the Three Great Houses.

Now that Count Garick had implicitly declared his support, only one remained.

“However, let me ask you this, Cain.”

Garick’s demeanor changed.

The dignity befitting one of the seven peaks of Airian slowly emanated from him. His eyes, though sunken, held a stern glint as they fixed on the gray-eyed Oleciren.

“That’s not how one becomes king.”

“……?”

“For that matter, wouldn’t it be the same if you just raised your hand and said you wanted to be king?”

“……!”

Although Cain and Oleciren had met, the fact that the three Counts supported her was entirely due to Cain.

To the point where they would agree even if he bluntly told them to support her as a candidate for King.

Leaving aside Cain, who was lost in thought, Garick asked,

“Your Highness, why do you want to be king?”

Oleciren couldn’t readily answer.

Then Garick continued,

“Do you want to gain power by any means necessary? What do you want to do once you become king?”

“I……”

Oleciren’s voice trembled,

“A noble and a king are different. Just like a territory and a nation, and how His Majesty Hybolt and I are different.”

Garick had touched upon the core of the matter that Oleciren and Cain had been unable to face.

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