How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 124

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

【Chapter 124】

 

“Ugh, urgh.”

 

Carlisle groaned in pain while unconscious.

 

Every time he was beaten by Gorbad, the bruises were so severe that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had developed chronic injuries.

 

Of course, having awakened the blood of Sigmund, he would recover completely after a good night’s sleep, but…

 

“What a complete weakling. Tsk!”

 

Gorbad looked down at Carlisle lying on the sickbed and groaning, expressing her displeasure with a burst of frustration.

 

“Hehe.”

 

Maranello let out a hollow laugh watching Gorbad.

 

“How can someone so endlessly kind and benevolent speak in such a way?”

 

“What nonsense are you trying to spout now? I’m just displeased that he’s so pathetically weak for someone who inherited our family’s blood.”

 

Gorbad glared at Maranello.

 

“You say that, yet your hands are massaging the Young Master, aren’t they?”

 

As Maranello said, Gorbad was carefully massaging Carlisle’s arms and legs.

 

Muscle and Bone Baptism.

 

This technique, called [Baptism], was a secret art exclusive to House Sigmund that helped recovery and increased physical durability by channeling mana through massage into muscle fibers, fascia, and blood vessels.

 

However, it was a technique that could only be used by those who had reached the 8-star level or higher, and the burden on the caster was considerable, making it a luxury that most wouldn’t dare attempt.

 

If someone offered to perform a baptism, it wouldn’t be strange at all for people to rush forward competing to receive it.

 

“This is to help this ill-mannered and impudent brat recover, not because I find him endearing. He needs to recover quickly so he can get beaten up again.”

 

“Are you giving him both the disease and the cure?”

 

“How is this giving disease and cure? It’s nothing but profit for the brat.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Receiving Sigmund’s [Baptism] not only permanently strengthened physical durability but also provided momentum for future growth, so from Carlisle’s perspective, it was a deal with no losses.

 

Conversely, from Gorbad’s perspective, it was a one-sided loss.

 

The person performing the baptism lost not only mana but also some life force…

 

Perhaps because of this, beads of sweat were forming on Gorbad’s forehead.

 

Considering that she was an elderly woman approaching 100 years old, overusing baptism was tantamount to hastening her death.

 

Maranello cautiously spoke up.

 

“Aunt, no matter how much it’s for the Young Master’s recovery, continuing to perform baptism like this seems excessive. I’m worried that your precious body might be harmed…”

 

“You seem to have aged quite a bit too. To think that someone once called the Grim Reaper of the North would say such weak words.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

“No matter how old I am, I’m still a Sigmund. I can overcome this much with willpower. And furthermore.”

 

“…?”

 

“How much life do I have left to be sparing my body? If this old life can be of help to the family, that’s enough for me.”

 

“However…”

 

“Don’t worry about me and stay quiet. I may not know about other things, but I’ll make sure this ill-mannered and impudent brat at least acquires the minimum martial prowess he needs as a member of our family.”

 

Gorbad said this and continued the baptism, massaging various parts of Carlisle’s body.

 

“Aunt…”

 

Maranello couldn’t continue speaking as he watched Gorbad’s few remaining healthy strands of hair turn white in real time.

 

While he fully understood an elder’s heart for the family and descendants, it was too heartbreaking to see her pour out even her own life force so generously.

 

‘I hope the Young Master will understand Aunt’s feelings.’

 

Maranello earnestly hoped for this.

 

* * *

 

“Hmm.”

 

Upon opening his eyes, Carlisle frowned, sensing something strange.

 

‘Why does my body feel so light?’

 

For about two days now, whenever he woke up from unconsciousness, his body felt refreshed and his mind clear, as if he had gotten a good night’s sleep.

 

Considering that just a few days ago he would wake up writhing in pain, this was an incomprehensible change.

 

Moreover, wasn’t the intensity of the beatings getting worse day by day?

 

‘Is it thanks to the regenerative power inscribed in Sigmund’s bloodline?’

 

As Carlisle thought this and sat up, Gorbad opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.

 

“After getting beaten for several days, does it feel like your body is finally loosening up?”

 

“Sigh.”

 

Carlisle let out a deep sigh and said.

 

“It’s all fine, but can’t I rest a bit?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“I’ve been getting beaten for a whole week without eating properly. What’s wrong with letting me eat a meal in peace?”

 

“You brat!”

 

Gorbad raised her staff.

 

“Have you no sense of hierarchy! How dare you speak informally to this old woman!”

 

“What’s wrong with that?”

 

Rather than being intimidated, Carlisle replied indifferently.

 

“It’s not like there’s only one or two grandchildren who speak informally to their grandmothers.”

 

“What?!”

 

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

 

“Well, that may be so, but.”

 

The words were correct – among both commoners and nobles, it wasn’t uncommon for grandchildren to speak informally to their grandmothers in close relationships.

 

“Great-aunt, let me eat.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“Or let’s eat together. You probably haven’t slept or eaten properly while beating me up either. No matter how little sleep old folks need, you still need to have your meals.”

 

“…”

 

Gorbad was so dumbfounded she didn’t even get angry.

 

“Let’s go, Grandma. Let’s go eat.”

 

“This cheeky little…!”

 

“Come on. Let’s eat.”

 

“You, you brat?!”

 

Gorbad was startled.

 

“Let go! You impudent brat! How dare you grab this old woman’s wrist!”

 

“I’m just saying let’s go eat. Why?”

 

“Let go right now! With that pretty face of yours always acting like a woman, you’re quite skilled at grabbing women’s wrists!”

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

“You braaaat!”

 

Carlisle dragged the raging Gorbad by the wrist and looked at Maranello who was nearby.

 

“Guide us.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

“I said guide us. I’m hungry.”

 

“Ah, understood.”

 

Maranello found Carlisle’s reaction very unfamiliar.

 

‘Hmm. This is really strange. With the Young Master’s usual personality, he would have tried to run away or rather laid down with his neck stretched out telling us to just kill him.’

 

Carlisle had a personality that extremely disliked being interfered with by others, as well as being forced to do anything.

 

For such a Carlisle to show this kind of reaction while enduring violence close to torture was unimaginable.

 

‘Could he be planning to ambush Aunt or escape?’

 

Maranello guided Carlisle and Gorbad to the small banquet hall with an anxious heart.

 

“You’re unexpectedly obedient. Have you already decided to be obedient?”

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

 

“I only said that because you suddenly seemed so well-behaved.”

 

“I wasn’t being obedient, I was just playing along. I was already feeling the need for training anyway, but my body just wouldn’t move.”

 

“You little brat? So you’re saying you, of all people, used this old woman?”

 

“You don’t need to think of it that way. Just consider it that our mutual interests aligned. It’s all training anyway. You’re trying to make me stronger by force, aren’t you?”

 

“I was also thinking of fixing your manners while I was at it.”

 

“That’s impossible, so give up on that.”

 

“Such an insolent little…”

 

Just as the maids came out with food, Gorbad had no choice but to stop her movement to punch Carlisle.

 

“Eat plenty, grandmother. You must be lacking energy in your old age.”

 

“This brat, I’ve been watching and watching… huh?”

 

Gorbad was quite flustered when Carlisle cut up the well-cooked steak and placed it on her plate.

 

“They say elderly people need to eat meat well. Your teeth probably aren’t in good condition, so chew thoroughly. I cut it into small pieces on purpose.”

 

“What do you take this old woman for? Though I may be an old woman with few days left, I can devour a whole cow!”

 

“I understand, so eat quickly. Don’t forget the vegetables too.”

 

Carlisle cut up the well-cooked vegetables and placed them on Gorbad’s plate as well.

 

“This brat…”

 

Gorbad glared at Carlisle but didn’t seem to dislike it, as she didn’t get angry.

 

“Butler, are you crazy? Why are you being nice to that demon hag? She’s been beating you like a dog for days, that crazy old witch.”

 

The baby dragon whispered to Carlisle.

 

“Be quiet.”

 

Carlisle responded as if telling it not to say anything, then quietly cut his steak and brought it to his mouth.

 

Savoring the juices of the steak, Carlisle slowly closed his eyes.

 

‘I miss you, my grandmother.’

 

Carlisle was reminded of his grandmother from his previous life through Gorbad.

 

The one and only being with whom he had shared familial affection in his previous life…

 

* * *

 

While Carlisle was having a meal with Gorbad.

 

A carriage from the Loren Family visited Decaron once again.

 

“An envoy came from the Loren Family?”

 

“Yes, Your Grace.”

 

Grand Duke Guntram frowned as if surprised upon receiving the report from his aide Christan.

 

The Loren Family’s delegation was very unexpected.

 

And for good reason, as for the past several hundred years, exchanges between House Sigmund and the Loren Family had mostly been mediated by the Royal Family.

 

Even the direct exchanges that did occur were when armed conflicts broke out between the two families, so it wasn’t unreasonable for Grand Duke Guntram to be puzzled.

 

Hadn’t the emotional rift between the two families deepened even more during Decaron’s victory commemoration event held a month ago?

 

“Who came as the representative?”

 

“Caldor came personally.”

 

“The eldest son of the Loren Family. They say he’s cunning and crafty, just like his father.”

 

“How else would he be the eldest son of the Loren Family?”

 

Christan smiled meaningfully.

 

“What do you think is the reason Lord Loren suddenly sent his son?”

 

“In my opinion… it might be a problem arising from the relationship between Young Master Carlisle and Alicia, the daughter of the Loren Family.”

 

“Because of the recent Predator tribe subjugation?”

 

“It can’t be helped, can it? Since Schwern County moved at Young Master Carlisle’s request, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to make such a judgment.”

 

“If that’s the case, it makes sense for the Loren Family to send an envoy. No matter how much one has the heart and tongue of a snake, in the end he’s just a father with a daughter…”

 

Grand Duke Guntram roughly guessed the reason why the Loren Family had unusually sent an envoy, then looked back at Christan.

 

“Tell the eldest son of the Loren Family that I’ll arrange a meeting shortly, so wait a little.”

 

“Yes, Your Grace.”

 

After Christan left.

 

“Having a son who’s a womanizer and a playboy causes trouble in many ways. This is all because of you.”

 

Grand Duke Guntram said, looking at the portrait hanging in his office.

 

Adelia van Sigmund.

 

Grand Duke Guntram’s wife and mother of Carlisle, Selena, and Frey.

 

“Why did you have to make him so handsome that you’re making this incompetent husband suffer like this? Now it seems even the Loren Family’s daughter has fallen into that boy’s clutches. Does this even make sense? That the Loren Family’s daughter and a man from our house would be involved? My head is already throbbing thinking about how to handle this situation.”

 

Though Grand Duke Guntram poured out his complaints, the beautiful woman in the portrait only maintained her serene smile.

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