I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 54

 

Sionel looked without emotion at his uncle, who was sleeping deeply, unaware of who was standing before him. No, he tried to regain his composure.

 

He couldn’t afford to lose more reason just from this encounter.

 

Did Gideon know what it felt like to have his life held hostage by an unknown opponent? Gideon had been weighing his life in the balance, waiting for the right moment.

 

Sionel remembered everything Gideon had said in the cave.

 

‘…No. This is good. The method didn’t matter. He just needed to die cleanly and quietly.’

 

The poison Chad Moreau used made his body appear dead, but it didn’t kill him. Thanks to that, his consciousness remained awake.

 

He had foolishly wondered if Gideon had ever truly loved him, but today his question was finally answered.

 

Love that could only be expressed after death.

 

‘Merely.’

 

The love Gideon expressed only after confirming his nephew’s end was something he knew all too well.

 

Using unconditional love as a pretense to blind people’s eyes, block their ears, and take advantage for one’s own benefit.

 

The calculating behavior of nobles who yearned for romantic love.

 

Gideon’s words held no value beyond that. He didn’t fall into sentimentality anew. He accepted it naturally, as if he had already known.

 

Sionel raised his arm high. The dagger thrust into the air glinted.

 

The situation had reversed. Gideon, who had held his lifeline, had let go, and now it was his turn.

 

Whoosh!

 

The well-sharpened blade cut through the air with a sound. It headed toward Gideon’s heart at high speed.

 

“….”

 

But with clothes in between, the blade stopped just short. Looking emotionlessly at Gideon, who couldn’t wake from sleep, he lowered the blade.

 

“Thank you, Uncle. For appearing before me like this.”

 

For showing me what I need to do.

 

His uncle shouldn’t die like this. Wasn’t this too peaceful a death?

 

To people, he would still remain as the good person who saved the Devonham Duchy and willingly became a parent to his brother’s children.

 

“That’s unfair, isn’t it.”

 

The end he envisioned for Gideon wasn’t like that.

 

Such an honorable death was a luxury for the murderer who killed his parents.

 

Under the gaze of others that Gideon was so obsessed with, he should be thoroughly broken and isolated.

 

When his ugly nature was fully exposed, with nowhere to hide, receiving only criticism with no one left by his side. Then, and only then, should he meet his death.

 

A miserable death without pity or honor.

 

That is the death I desire for you.

 

Until I come to meet you again, keep your current honor well.

 

So I can destroy it all with my own hands.

 

Sionel left the tent. The guards were sitting in front of the tent, sleeping with their heads together.

 

No matter how tired they were, it was impossible for the Imperial guards to relax their vigilance and rest.

 

In the unusually deserted surroundings, Sionel looked at a tree close to the tent.

 

There was only one person capable of doing such a thing.

 

“Chad Moreau.”

 

No sound came from the tree thick with leaves. Sionel maintained his gaze. Eventually, Chad climbed down from the tree.

 

Chad’s face was bright as he lightly brushed grass from his body. Chad glanced at the tent, then spoke.

 

“Did you kill him?”

 

A voice filled with certainty. He didn’t seem to think Sionel would have made any other choice.

 

“No.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I won’t kill him now.”

 

Had his heart grown weak after seeing his uncle in person?

 

Chad, who had been studying Sionel’s expression as the situation didn’t unfold as he expected, discovered one fact and closed his mouth.

 

Those eyes hadn’t changed from the beginning. The killing intent and hatred filled with the desire to tear him apart right now.

 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

 

As expected, that young master was different from him.

 

He was rejecting the easiest method provided and planning to reclaim his rightful place fair and square.

 

Chad shrugged his shoulders.

 

“As expected, I can’t understand nobles.”

 

“I can’t understand you either. Why did you let me live?”

 

After stabbing the needle into his neck, he felt his body dying. His heart felt constricted, and breathing became difficult.

 

At the same time, familiarity came with it. He had experienced a poison similar to this before.

 

The paralyzing poison he had taken when he collapsed at Gideon’s feet. His body stiffened so he couldn’t take any action, but his consciousness remained fully awake.

 

“It’s a new type of poison that’s slowly spreading among assassins. The pulse becomes very slow and faint, bringing you close to a dead state. Probably, only a skilled doctor would be able to notice it.”

 

“….”

 

“Still, I didn’t think you’d recover this quickly. I thought you’d only be able to move tomorrow or so. Did you build up resistance from taking so much poison?”

 

Even at the playful words, Sionel didn’t laugh. Chad looked away awkwardly for a moment, then sighed.

 

“Because I hate losing.”

 

And he revealed a fragment of sincerity.

 

“I want to keep you by my side and keep watching, but if you die, I feel like I’ll never be able to beat you.”

 

He couldn’t forget the expression Ponia made while watching Sionel burning with fever. As if nothing would have meaning without him, even her world was dying along with him.

 

“Well, I wasn’t trying to get compensation for it, so don’t worry.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Chad rarely frowned. The words that had just flowed from him were that unrealistic.

 

“…What?”

 

“Didn’t you hear? I said thank you.”

 

Sionel spoke curtly, his expression clearly showing the nuance that if he asked one more time, he wouldn’t let it slide.

 

Just looking at his expression, one might have thought he was picking a fight.

 

“Whatever the reason, it’s true that I got through one crisis thanks to you.”

 

Sionel passed by him. Quietly, without pointing his sword at his throat or engaging in physical combat.

 

It made Ponia’s constant anxiety about whether Sionel would rush at Chad seem pointless.

 

Chad asked with a bitter expression.

 

“Even knowing I’m an assassin, you’re just going to leave?”

 

“Don’t you think it’s too late to make an issue of something I already knew?”

 

Chad’s words seemed so absurd that Sionel clicked his tongue, and Chad continued his questioning.

 

“Will you tell Nia?”

 

“No.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because from your answer just now, I realized you can’t harm Nia.”

 

Just now, he had read that Chad’s answer was related to Ponia.

 

Beyond the curly hair and glasses that hid his expression, his face was confident as if he knew exactly what expression he was making.

 

“Never let Nia find out.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because that’s the only way you can stay by her side.”

 

“….”

 

“So, you must remain only as a repairman forever. Don’t think about getting any closer.

 

Sionel, drawing an arc at the corner of his mouth, was definitely wearing a victor’s smile.

 

After Sionel entered the forest again, Chad let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Maybe I should have just let him die.”

 

* * *

 

The guards who had been sleeping in front of the Duke’s Quarters only woke up when the replacement guards arrived.

 

Among them, as they received scolding from their superior without knowing why, Aren, who had not yet fallen asleep, belatedly entered the barracks.

 

And right next to his sleeping uncle, he covered his mouth and sat down heavily. He couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed.

 

His brother, Sionel Devonham, was alive.

 

Aren, who had been about to approach him immediately in joy, eventually turned back. His brother, whom he met again after a long time, felt unfamiliar.

 

His brother, who had only been affectionate, was someone who didn’t know how to get angry. He was always gentle, and smiling was most natural to him.

 

But just moments ago, his brother’s expression and eyes while thinking of their uncle were completely different.

 

His brother, with warmth gone and an expressionless face in its place, was only cold.

 

He was happy that his brother was alive. But.

 

Aren looked at Gideon. It felt like returning to that moment when his brother had collapsed at their uncle’s feet.

 

He still couldn’t choose anyone. He had neither the anger his brother possessed nor the ruthlessness his uncle had.

 

In unbearable fear, Aren curled up his body.

 

“What am I supposed to do…?”

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