Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Baltazar had chosen to dedicate himself to the Temple in childhood, knowing he would never inherit the family name. And he had risen to a high position there.
After Baltazar became the Duke of Rothwell, the Temple and the Rothwell Ducal House grew remarkably close.
‘It had been strange that he returned to the family right after Father disappeared.’
In truth, it was also peculiar that the Temple treated Baltazar—who had returned to the family—with such favor. And stranger still that they openly displayed their relationship in society.
They made Baltazar the Temple’s proxy and granted him the distribution rights to the Suppression Inhibitor.
Currently, the Temple held a monopoly on manufacturing high-quality Suppression Inhibitors. Because of this, it had been quite some time since the Cardian Family received any supply.
The Mage Tower also distributed Suppression Inhibitors, but theirs were inferior in quality. They were insufficient to heal the Darkness Corruption dwelling within the bodies of the highest-tier Ability User, the Duke of Cardian, and Varcan.
No wonder Varcan had come to despise the Rothwell Ducal House.
And yet, he had helped Diena.
In her past life, and in this one too.
A moment of silence fell between them. It was Diena who spoke first.
“What will you do with me now?”
Varcan tilted his head.
“Why are you asking me that?”
Diena lifted her head and looked at him directly.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to follow you.”
Varcan’s eyes narrowed. His expression suggested he doubted whether she was in her right mind.
“…Do you know who I am?”
“Of course. Varcan Cardian.”
He continued deliberately, his voice cold and meant to intimidate.
“If you know that, you’d better think it through more carefully.”
Varcan crossed his arms and turned his gaze toward the window.
“I helped you because what the Duke of Rothwell is doing irritates me. That doesn’t make me a good person.”
“I see.”
“The Cardian Family, where I belong, is in the north. The weather is harsh, and dangerous beasts appear constantly.”
“I understand.”
When Diena seemed not to grasp his meaning, Varcan’s expression turned spiteful as he continued.
“I don’t see what help a child like you could be. Besides, I have little sense of responsibility, and I’m not the type to form attachments.”
Beside Varcan, Malacar nodded earnestly.
“He’s right. The Cardian Family is no place for a young girl. It’s outside the Purification Zone, so unlike the other Four Major Houses, we can’t expect protection from the Temple.”
Yet Diena shook her head.
“I’m not that young. I’m only three years younger than you. And I’ll be more useful than you think. Besides, I don’t need the Temple’s protection.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m good at cooking, I get along with animals quickly. And I’m willing to do any hard labor.”
Diena looked up at him with pitiful eyes.
“I eat very little, so I won’t be much of a burden.”
Varcan’s brow furrowed with displeasure.
“There’s no need for you to prove your usefulness. Whether you’re useful or not doesn’t matter. And eating little isn’t something worth praising.”
“Then… in that case—”
Varcan exhaled deeply, watching Diena, who still hadn’t given up.
“Do you want to die?”
He asked quietly, then continued slowly, breathing out.
“You must have heard of Cardian’s weaknesses while you were in the Rothwell Family.”
The bodies of the Cardian Family members harbored a tremendous darkness that could rampage at any moment. It was because they were Ability Users whose powers were based on the force of darkness.
‘Originally, it wasn’t supposed to be this severe.’
And that darkness was growing stronger with each passing day.
“You said you didn’t want to die. So why follow me? How would you know when my power might rampage?”
But Diena understood the cause of Varcan’s concern.
‘It’s because of Uncle’s ability.’
People didn’t know it, but Baltazar possessed two Abilities.
‘Everyone thinks he’s an Ability User who manipulates gravity, but there’s another hidden ability.’
An Ability that amplifies darkness.
For Ability Users, it was nothing short of catastrophic. Baltazar had manipulated the Cardian Family members at will using this Ability and the Suppression Inhibitor.
What made it worse was that when an Ability User rampaged, those nearby were also consumed by Darkness Corruption.
For Non-Ability Users especially, Darkness Corruption was effectively incurable.
Without periodic doses of the Suppression Inhibitor, they would eventually die.
And…
‘Varcan’s sister, Princess Bianca, was ill because of that.’
His sister Bianca was a Non-Ability User.
Two years ago, Varcan’s darkness rampaged, resulting in the death of the Duchess and leaving Bianca severely consumed by the darkness.
‘If I had my ability, I might have been able to heal her…’
In her past life, the Duke of Rothwell had exploited that fact. Using Diena, who possessed purification power, as bait, he had taken countless things from the Cardian Family.
‘He took everything, but in the end, he never allowed me to use my ability on Princess Bianca.’
In that previous life, Varcan’s sister had died that way.
Diena had never healed a Non-Ability User consumed by darkness. Therefore, she couldn’t be certain her Ability would work on them.
‘That’s why I have to go to the Cardian Family all the more.’
She had to confirm whether her Ability could heal Bianca.
Diena sighed. She didn’t want to persuade him by claiming she’d cure Princess Bianca in a situation like this.
If her Ability didn’t work, she’d only be sowing false hope—or worse, he might accuse her of being a liar.
‘I need to convince Varcan in a way he’ll understand.’
With her resolve set, she opened her mouth.
“Yes, I really don’t want to die. That’s why I’m following you.”
Varcan looked taken aback.
The feeble expression from before had vanished. Diena’s face now carried quiet determination.
“Actually, everything I said before was just an attempt. I had a feeling it wouldn’t work on you.”
“What? Then why did you say those things?”
“I thought maybe if I sounded a little pitiful, you’d take me with you. I was just trying. And I wanted to know what kind of person you are.”
The Varcan of her past life might have been moved. He would have granted her anything if she so much as appeared weak.
“But now I understand clearly—emotional appeals won’t work on you at all.”
“Good that you figured it out now. I’m not stupid enough to be manipulated.”
With those words, Varcan crossed his arms.
Watching him, Diena felt it again—the realization that the foolish Varcan of her past life, who would have done anything she asked, no longer existed.
“Diena, why are you crying? What’s wrong? Just tell me—I’ll fix everything for you.”
“I got dust in my eyes…”
It was fine. She’d already prepared herself for this.
With that thought, Diena slowly opened her mouth.
“I know Cardian’s weakness well. I also know that if it weren’t for that weakness, the Cardian Family could become even stronger.”
“…That’s true. But it’s impossible, isn’t it?”
“My Purification Ability makes it possible. My Ability purifies darkness. That’s also why I said I don’t need the Temple’s protection.”
This time, even Varcan couldn’t help but show visible surprise. An Ability that purifies darkness—he’d never heard of such a power.
He turned to look at Malacar.
“Is that really true?”
“It’s fact. My condition has improved considerably, hasn’t it?”
“Wow, now that you mention it, it has. That’s an insane Ability.”
He was right. Malacar’s condition, which should have required immediate use of the Suppression Inhibitor, had improved noticeably.
Varcan looked at Diena questioningly.
“Why did you hide this Ability from the Duke of Rothwell?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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