The Imperial Supreme Commander Has Returned - Chapter 50

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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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The Imperial Commander’s Return — Episode 50

“So you’re a Blood Lineage Successor.”
“What? You know of us?”
“Of course I do!”

Tas’s eyes widened as he asked the question.
Delram, about to answer that naturally he would, swallowed the rest of his words.
He’d almost said: “Because I hunted down every last one of them.”

Back when the demons invaded.
Not every human had joined hands in unity to resist them.
Too many were hedging their bets, and just as many sought to weaponize the crisis for their own gain — it was tiresome even to mention.
Yet one conviction remained universal.
The view of demons themselves.

“Demons are extraordinarily dangerous.”
“They are beings that can never coexist with humanity.”

That’s why, even when demons were used, everyone remained vigilant.
Because they all understood that ultimately, they would have to fight the demons.

Yet there was one exception.
One group that had actively cooperated with the demons instead.

‘The Blood Lineage Successors.’

Just as their name suggested, they were a peculiar lot.
That peculiarity stemmed from how they gained their strength.

Humans typically gained power in three ways.
They could refine mana into aura and become Knights.
They could master mana and learn formulas to become Mages.
Or they could serve the gods and become Priests.

Of course, there were other miscellaneous paths like Shamans or Barbarian Warriors.
But ultimately, they all fell under the categories of Knight or Mage.

‘The Blood Lineage Successors, though, were different.’

The power they wielded flowed through their very blood.
They didn’t need to swing swords under the blazing sun all day like Knights, nor bleed from their noses over incomprehensible formulas like Mages.
Simply being born into the right bloodline was enough.
That alone awakened countless supernatural abilities.

Naturally, they became objects of envy.
Others trained until their hands bled, entire families wagered their fortunes on rare mana cultivation — and yet these ones simply won the lottery at birth and got a free pass?

‘They should have at least been good at diplomacy.’

There were seven Blood Lineage families across the Continent.
Without exception, they were arrogant — they knew nothing of compromise.
Instead, they sought to lord themselves over everyone else.

But there is always one immutable truth.
No matter how fierce the beast, it cannot overcome superior numbers.
In the end, unable to withstand the coordinated assault, all seven families were annihilated, and the survivors were sold into slavery.

That had been more than two hundred years ago.
In the meantime, bloodlines had already become obscured, and the Slavery System was abolished.
Yet the moment a bloodline was exposed, exploitation still followed.
It was an unspoken rule established by the nobility.

So why not simply refrain from using power and live an ordinary life?
It was nearly impossible to do so.
Once a Blood Lineage Successor’s blood ran thick, it showed on the surface.
Like the vertical pupils of a goat—like Tas’s eyes.

But it wasn’t only the eyes.
Skin, arms, legs, hair, and more.
Every part of the body was innately transformed.
So often, even the disabled were mistaken for Blood Lineage Successors.

‘And the circumstances of those adults who looked after Tas were equally obvious.’

They must have gathered in some remote corner of the Continent and lived in hiding.
Then by misfortune they were discovered and caught by slave traders—
after which they’d fled desperately through the Underground Sewers.

So what was Delram’s opinion on Blood Lineage Successors?
Surprisingly, he harbored little resentment.

‘Well… they’re not the architects of it, and their descendants lived as slaves for two centuries. A little misanthropy is fair enough, isn’t it?’

He suspected he’d have done the same in their position.

But that was that, and this was this.
Even before the Regression, Delram had relentlessly hunted down and slaughtered every last Blood Lineage Successor who conspired with demons, becoming half-demons and running rampant.
A traitor was simply more dangerous than a demon.

And the same held true in this life as well.
If the Blood Lineage Successors aligned with demons once more, he would burn them all without exception—young and old, man and woman alike.

Regardless, by whatever thread of fate, things had unfolded this way.
Delram gave Tas’s anxious shoulders a reassuring pat.

“Don’t worry. Either way, it just means you can kill demons more effectively, right?”
“…Yes!”
“First, let’s get out of here and remove the Slave Mark. And as long as you keep a scarf wrapped around yourself properly, no one will know you’re a Blood Lineage Successor.”

Then Tas spoke hesitantly.

“But… the slave traders, sir.”
“Hm?”
“The slave traders who bought us. They’ll know who we are… what happens if we run into them later?”

Delram stared at Tas blankly at the rational question.
A look that said, what is he worrying about such a thing for.
The answer that came was simple.

“Just kill them all.”
……

Even at his young age, Tas reflected.
He and his siblings might grow stronger……
But it seemed they were growing up wrong in matters of character.

* * *

“This is impossible…….”

Nuak trembled, his shock palpable.
It was something Delram had thrust at him in that sudden confrontation.

A palm-sized shell covered in coarse fur.
A Demon Corpse Fragment.
Delram clicked his tongue as he spoke.

“Aren’t you ashamed? Not some backwater village in the Continent, but near the Gwangmyeong Church Headquarters itself, and a demon walks about that you didn’t even notice?”
“Where—where did you find this?”
“In the Underground Sewers.”
“That can’t be!”

Nuak sighed and examined the shell.
Its grotesque appearance aside, an unsettling aura emanated from it.
Though he had never encountered one before, he could sense it instinctively.
That this was Demonic Energy.

Holy Power is the force of harmony.
It coexists with Aura and does not reject Mana.
That is why it could heal both Knights and Mages.

Yet now that Holy Power roiled within him.
Like a man recoiling as a cockroach landed on his face.

An aura that Holy Power itself abhorred!
There could be no other explanation than Demonic Energy.

“Still… at least you caught it quickly.”
“I can’t promise that, though.”
“What! You mean there are more demons?”
“I don’t think there are many left, but this one spawned offspring. I killed over a thousand of them, but there’s no telling what else might survive. The remaining ones could be hiding somewhere in the Underground Sewers, waiting for their chance.”
“……!”

Delram turned to the stunned Nuak.

“You know what needs to be done?”
“We must purify the Underground Sewers at once! I’ll notify the royal court and request support from Knights and Mages. Where is the rest of the corpse?”
“Left it in the Underground Sewers. It was too large.”
“Can you guide me there?”
“That shouldn’t be difficult.”

But not right now.
Before they parted, there was a question they needed to puzzle through together.
Why had demons appeared so soon?

There were several hypotheses, at least.
First, that Delram and Nuak’s actions had altered the future.
But no matter how he looked at it, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“Then there’s only one answer.”
“You’re saying that even before the Regression, demons existed—but we humans simply failed to discover them?”
“Precisely. I’ve thought it through carefully… In this world now, there is Mana, Aura, and Holy Power, but no Demonic Energy, yes?”
“That’s right.”
“So this might be an experiment. They sent vanguards to test whether demons can thrive even without Demonic Energy. Or perhaps they’re trying to spread it. I’ve never seen demons spawn offspring before.”
“That makes sense!”

A clear answer.
Yet Nuak’s face had darkened with dread.
Either way, it was a conclusion far too terrible to stomach.

“Still, I’d prefer to think it was chance. Some demon drifting between dimensions slipped through by accident, perhaps…….”
“Life rarely turns out the way you want it to.”
“Lord, have mercy.”

Nuak traced the sign of the cross and rose from his seat.
Then he issued his dismissal.

“In any case, you’ve done good work. I’ll be in touch.”
“Where are you off to?”
“The Consistory! I need to recommend an emergency session with the Pope and all the cardinals at once. It can’t wait!”
“Let me know when you have answers.”

Delram waved goodbye to the hurrying Nuak.
He needed rest himself now.

* * *

Delram climbed into the carriage.
Their destination: the Bistache Family estate.
Beside him, Tas was craning his neck out the window, utterly fascinated by the view.
Delram worried the boy might tumble straight out at any moment.

Especially now, passing through the Western District—the residential quarter of the nobility.
A boy who’d only ever lived in mountain villages and the Underground Sewers would naturally have his eyes go wide at mansions finished in fine stonework.

“Wow, wow!”
“You can marvel at it now, but once we arrive, compose yourself. It’s not good to show your feelings so openly in front of others.”
“Even in front of you?”
“Everyone except me and your family.”
“Got it!”

Tas’s three younger siblings had been left at the temple.
Nuak had agreed to see to their care personally, and since the Gwangmyeong Church specialized in raising orphans, there was no risk they’d go astray.

Besides, his siblings lacked the physical markers of Blood Lineage Successors.
Born to the same parents, but their bloodline was weak enough that they’d escaped the trait.

He’d asked that they be raised as priests if possible.
They were still descended from Blood Lineage Successors, after all.
Thin blood or not, there was no telling.
They might awaken later and end up sold into slavery.
But if they became priests in the Gwangmyeong Church, at least they wouldn’t have to fear that.

Tas, on the other hand, Delram had decided to keep with him.
The boy’s talent was coveted, but above all, it was what he wanted.

—I want to beat them all up! Every demon out there!

What had happened between Delram and Tas in the Underground Sewers.
It had lodged itself deep in the boy’s heart.

Of course, Delram was a busy man.
With so much already on his plate, when would he find time to raise a child?
So he planned to handle the basics himself and outsource the rest.

Which brought him to the Bistache Family.
An iron-blooded sword house and a prestigious family of Knights—they’d raise him right.

‘I hope she’s not angry that I broke my promise.’

Three days had already passed since Delram received Rubyan’s invitation.
Though unintentional, ignoring it amounted to the same thing.
No matter how much Rubyan cared for Delram, she was still nobility.
She might take offense at what could look like disrespect toward her and her house.

“Little one!”

Of course, Delram’s expectations proved wrong.
The moment he stepped down from the carriage, someone came running.

A woman drenched in sweat, as if she’d been training the entire time.
There was no doubt—it was Rubyan.

“You rascal! Where have you been? Why are you only just arriving now!”
“My apologies. I’ve been dealing with some difficult matters.”
“Difficult matters? Now that you mention it, your complexion… Ah! We just received some eel from Abuphin Bay. I’ll stew it well for you!”
“Eel? Oh, no, that’s kind, but—”

Delram stepped forward and introduced Tas.

“This is Tas.”
“Tas?”

Rubyan and Tas’s eyes met.
Through the gaps in his training clothes, muscle like stone was visible.
One blow from him and you’d think you’d die.
Even spirited Tas flinched, ducking behind Delram.
Yet Rubyan smiled with satisfaction.

“So the boy brought along another boy!”

Hearing those words, Delram thought to himself.
The Bistache Family… it’s really all right to leave him with them, isn’t it?

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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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