They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 82

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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 soldiers’ spear tips leveled at Raern in unison.
A heavy tension spread through the surroundings.
“Arresting him outright? That’s excessive.”
A man emerged slowly from the deep shadows within the castle.
“There’s no need for that, Captain. Of course he’s a criminal, but we should show mercy to one who’s already lost his home.”
Clad in a neat black coat, he exuded aristocratic composure as he adjusted his gloves with his fingertips.
His gaze rose slowly and fixed upon Raern.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
His voice was gentle, yet the emotional current beneath it was anything but soft.
Raern’s eyes narrowed.
“…Why are you here?”
The man’s lips curved upward.
“Because this place is now my domain.”
A brief silence fell.
I raised my eyebrows.
‘This is getting interesting.’
Elhart watched the situation unfold in silence as well.
Kei stepped back with his arms crossed as if merely observing, yet he already held a dagger in his hand.
The man tilted his head as he looked at Raern.
“Surely you didn’t know?”
His lips curved gently.
“The Brin Family Stronghold has already been transferred as collateral.”
Raern’s expression hardened subtly.
“Don’t spout nonsense.”
“Nonsense, he says.”
The man let out a short laugh.
“Then I suppose I must explain.”
He snapped his fingers, and a knight standing in the back stepped forward.
In his hand was a small magical artifact.
A sphere emitting a faint glow.
The moment I saw it, my eyes narrowed.
‘A tracking-type magical artifact, perhaps.’
True to this era’s magical artifacts, its mana output was negligible.
At that level, it made sense that Raern wouldn’t have noticed it.
‘With the vast mana Raern possesses, it’s like not noticing dust clinging to one’s body.’
The man continued with ease.
“During Your Highness’s absence, there were far too many people who went missing.”
“…”
“One of them proved quite diligent in revealing their location.”
Raern’s pupils flashed.
It was an extremely brief moment.
But it was enough.
The man did not miss that reaction.
“As I thought, you knew all along.”
He took another step closer.
“Kidnapping, unlawful confinement.”
He listed the words calmly.
“And torture as well.”
The air grew heavier.
The spear tips of the troops behind lowered slightly.
“The evidence is sufficient.”
The man’s gaze briefly shifted toward me before returning to Raern.
“The victims entrusted this matter to me. Of course, being a merciful person, I attempted to resolve it through negotiation.”
Raern let out a scoffing laugh.
“And?”
“I demanded compensation.”
The man’s smile deepened.
“It was quite reasonable. Considering there were not just one or two victims and compensation was necessary for all of them.”
“….”
“However, House of Brin could not even afford that.”
With that, the situation became completely clear in my mind.
I clicked my tongue softly.
‘He really squeezed them dry.’
Raern’s expression gradually cooled.
“So you occupied the Lord’s Castle?”
“To be precise, it would be more accurate to say I received it.”
The man bowed his head slightly.
“Marquis Silva Morak, I formally introduce myself.”
His eyes curved with contempt.
“I am now the master of this place.”
Raern’s lips twisted crookedly.
“Master?”
He laughed lowly.
“How amusing.”
Mana rippled ever so faintly.
I immediately grabbed his arm.
“Raern.”
Revealing his abilities now would only complicate matters.
“….”
He seemed to understand that as well, quickly suppressing his mana.
Instead, I fixed Marquis Morak with an even colder gaze.
Marquis Morak observed my expression as though finding it intriguing.
“How wise of you.”
His eyes swept slowly across me and Elhart.
He seemed curious about the face hidden beneath the hood.
“It’s better to avoid unnecessary conflict.”
Yet as though he didn’t consider it particularly important, he turned his gaze back to Raern.
“If the young lord withdraws quietly, I’m inclined to be magnanimous about this.”
“….”
“Of course, if not.”
He raised his hand.
In that instant, the castle’s barrier responded as though coming alive.
An invisible pressure bore down upon my skin.
“This entire castle, which was the young lord’s home until days ago, will become your enemy.”
A brief silence.
I suppressed the urge to laugh.
‘This is getting interesting.’
Raern’s masterwork of a castle falling into enemy hands.
“Raern.”
At my call, he turned his head slightly toward me.
“Why.”
“For now, let’s withdraw. We need to find your family first.”
If we weren’t planning to destroy the castle, we had to avoid direct confrontation.
He remained silent for a moment, seemingly calculating something, then nodded.
“Understood.”
It was a brief answer.
Yet I could tell that dozens of calculations had passed between us without needing to be spoken aloud.
I turned my gaze back to Marquis Morak.
“I’ll withdraw for now.”
He smirked, raising one corner of his mouth.
“A wise decision indeed.”
“But I have one question.”
“Please, ask away.”
“Do you happen to know what this castle means to House of Brin?”
At my question, Marquis Morak tilted his head curiously.
“Well, I wonder….”
After pretending to ponder for a moment, he clapped his hands together.
“You’re not about to speak of some children’s fairy tale, are you? About an Expedition Team or something?”
“A fairy tale?”
“Yes, well, there’s that story, isn’t there? About heroes who ventured into the Black Rift to seal it at the kingdom’s founding.”
“Why do you call it a fairy tale?”
“Because it’s absurd. The Black Rift? What in the world is that supposed to refer to? Perhaps it’s just a glorified account of someone stumbling on a snowy field and tumbling into a crevasse?”
My lips parted slightly without my realizing it.
“…What?”
“It’s none of our concern how or where those who played at being heroes met their end.”
Somewhere deep in my mind, a line that should never have broken snapped with a sharp crack.
“It’s time to stop squandering money on descendants in the name of this hollow deception.”
Being insulted myself was bearable.
Of course, I would remember it and repay it many times over, but not to the point of losing my composure.
However, belittling the sacrifices and resolve of the Expedition Team, that brutal struggle—I simply could not tolerate it.
“Should I just sweep him away right now?”
As I muttered this with a smile, Raern urgently seized my wrist.
“Hold back. Don’t destroy our house.”
“Ha… right?”
The more I laughed, the more my anger surged.
“I understand, just let go for a moment. Wait, he started it first?”
“Kei, come quick and hold him.”
At Raern’s desperate cry, Kei rushed over and grabbed my other arm.
Meanwhile, Elhart asked with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you stopping him? Isn’t that the simplest solution? His remarks warrant summary execution.”
Kei then lowered his voice so only I could hear.
“It’s because you don’t know, Your Highness. When the Commander starts raging, the magical barriers and everything in this entire area gets blown away.”
“…I see.”
Now understanding, Elhart walked forward in front of me and bowed.
Meeting my eyes, he spoke.
“Let me handle it. I’ll try not to destroy the castle.”
“….”
I stared at him blankly.
My mind, which had been burning red-hot with rage, began to cool the moment I saw his face.
When I said nothing, he carefully cupped my cheek in his hand.
“Ser, yes? I can pulverize that bastard into bone dust, piece by piece.”
His voice was impossibly gentle, yet the content was brutal.
His gaze was the same.
Golden eyes brimming with savage killing intent.
Yet rather than fear, why did merely looking at him bring me peace?
Perhaps because there was still someone in this world who had not forgotten us.
“…Come to think of it, simply beating him to death doesn’t seem sufficient.”
I released the tension from my fists and lifted the corners of my mouth slightly.
“I want to handle this more thoroughly.”
At my declaration, Elhart broke into a radiant smile.
As if waiting for those words.

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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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