Chapter 168: [168] No Love At Home

’These guys are a really nasty set…’ The sword demon said in Eliron’s mind as he watched them.

Duke was lying on the floor, barely moving. Not because he could not, but because they had broken his spirit.

’They are…’ Eliron replied as he watched them with disgust.

What they had done was absolutely despicable. Gaining someone’s trust and love, only to betray them at the end in the worst possible way.

And that was not the worst part…

Doris could have killed him at any time, instead she sat there, enjoying his suffering, reveling in his pain.

It was disgusting.

She was diagusting.

’But at the same time, I guess I should offer them my thanks?’

Satoru raised a brow. ’Thanks? Did you bump your head or something?’

Eliron smiled. ’What do you think the Duke will say when he finds out I saved his son?’

The entire situation was only going to improve his standing with Kingsbridge.

This alone was already enough to gain him favour with the Baron, he did not even have to heal his wife to get what he wanted…

And that was not the only way they were being immensely helpful.

While words were good, experience was a far more effective teacher.

That was why Eliron sat back and watched Duke take all the punishment meted out to him.

’I didn’t expect her to take out his eye in the first strike thought…’ Eliron sighed.

’That woman is a witch.’

“You bastard!! I’ll kill you, I’ll fucking kill you for this!” Doris screamed, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at him.

Eliron smirked.

“Don’t be a cry baby. It’s just one hand, I left you with the other one, didn’t I?”

Realizing that Eliorn had just repeated the same words she told Duke, Doris’ lost it.

Her mana flared, filling the room with its oppressive weight as she stood up, unsheathing her blade.

Then she smirked. “Funny guy right? I’ll cut off that stupid to tongue of yours and feed it to you.” She spat.

Yet, even after her threat, she did not hurriedly rush towards him like a fool.

Instead she sprinted towards her father, who was standing behind his guards.

’She’s smart.’ Satoru observed. ’To have a level head even in this situation is an attribute that most warriors lack.’

Marcus on the other hand had already summoned a new staff. It was clearly of lower quality than his last one, but it was still a decent weapon.

“How long have you been here?” He asked, his voice cold.

Eliron raised a brow. “How long have I been here? Or how much have I heard?” He smirked. “All of it.”

Marcus closed his eyes for a second, his jaw clenched with rage. ’Shit.’

’He is a liability…’ he thought.

But at the same time, fighting him would only end in a massive drop in his attack force, the knights and mages he needed to take over the estate would die…

He had witnessed Eliron’s skill first hand, and from that, he could estimate that he was powerful.

There was even a chance Marcus would die in the fight.

“Since you already heard everything, then there is no need for me to explain further. My plan is to seize the seat of Baron from my brother tonight.”

Eliron smiled. “Oh? Is this a confession?”

“No, it is an offer.” Marcus gestured with his hands.

Since fighting him was not an option, Marcus had decided to appeal to his greed.

“As Baron, I will be the undisputed ruler over these lands. Forget whatever deal you have with my brother, all I ask is that you turn a blind eye to what will go on today.”

“And what will I get if I do?” Eliron asked, an amused smile on his lips.

“Whatever you please. Lands, women, houses, gold, food for your people…”

“Tell me what you want, and I assure you, you’ll get it no matter the cost.”

“Is that so…” Eliron folded his hands across his chest. Then he smiled. “Well in that case—”

He pointed at Doris.

“I want her.”

Marcus’ gaze darkened. “What?”

Eliron shrugged.

“She pissed me off, so I want you to give me your daughter… So that I can drive my sword right through her chest.”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

The guards shifted nervously, and Marcus stared at him in disbelief.

Even Doris seemed shocked by his absurd request.

She scoffed. “Do you really think my own father would offer me to the likes of you? Why are we even wasting time, dad, let’s kill this fucker!”

Doris raised her sword with her left hand, her eyes locked on Eliron.

Silence…

Slowly, she turned towards her father, swallowing as she met his gaze.

Surely, he was not planning to…

“I’m sorry Doris.”

Doris’s blood ran cold.

“You see…” Marcus continued. “I can always bear more children, but this is my only chance to claim what is rightfully mine.”

Doris blinked, then laughed nervously—

“I see. What did I expect?”

Swish!

She immediately swung her blade right at her father’s head, the sword glowing fiercely with mana as it came down.

Clang!

Reacting quickly, two guards blocked her strike, sparks erupting as their blades met, a shockwave cutting past them.

Then they shoved their foot into her gut, sending her flying backward, slamming into the wall.

And then Marcus pointed his staff at her, his lips moving as he muttered a spell.

She tried to move, but the rocks wrapped around her arms like chains, binding them together as she screamed in rage.

Then more rocks rose up from the floor, slamming into her and locking her in place. Up until only her chest upwards was free.

“Damn you, damn you traitor!” Doris screamed.

“YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THIS FAR IF IT WASN’T FOR ME, YOU DOG, I’LL MAKE YOU PAY, YOULL FUCKING PAY!!”

Marcus ignored her comments, and instead used his magic to push the stone container he had formed towards Elion.

The moment she was face to face with him, Doris became deathly silent, the gleam of the black sword reflecting in her iris…

Sweat soaking her face…

And the, the proud killer began to beg—

“P-please…” she was about to start, just before Eliron slammed the but of his blade into her skull, knocking her out.

’Well Damn…’ The sword demon said as he glanced at Marcus and then his unconcious daughter.

’I’m just as shocked.’ Ekiron thought.

Was a simple offer all it took to break the bond of family?

“I hope you find her to your liking.” Marcus said. “Since the deal is done, I would like to continue with my business.”

He was about to turn around when Eliron spoke. “Wait, where do you think you are going?”

“We had a deal.”

Eliron shook his head. “You said ask for anything. I have only asked for one have I not?”

Marcu’s fists clenched at his side. “Alright, one more and nothing more.”

Eliron smiled. “Then I’ll be going for the big one.”

He pointed his sword at Marcus’, right hand, then moved it to the left.

“Give me both your arms. That was what you wanted to take from the baroness right? Surely, this is a fair deal.”

Marcus smiled bitterly.

“I should have known, negotiating with a mad man like you would bear no fruit. Enough of this madness!”

Thump!

Marcus slammed his staff into the floor, a magic circle suddenly spreading underneath it, veins of mana wrapping around the room.

Vwooosh!

The room came alive.

The door leading to the baronesses room suddenly slammed shut, and then the walls began to move, the room rotating like a discus.

Bricks interlaced with bricks, doors opened and shut, the ceiling mixed up with the mess.

Elion nearly tripped as the stone flooring rushed past his feet, forming large bumps that flowed around the space.

He then stared right at Marcus who had a wide grin on his face.

’Nice trick…’

He mused. At first, he thought it was just an illusion, but right now, he could feel it, this was no mere illusion.

This was the real deal. Somehow, Marcus was able to manipulate the space around him.

Not waiting for him to finish his showcase, Eliron charged forward, aiming to slice in in half.

Then a wall suddenly separated them, the constructed space twisting and turning in strange patterns, the walls of the catacombs rewriting itself.

And finally, everything was still. But Marcus and everyone else were nowhere in sight.

Eliron was alone.

“A fine location for a bout don’t you think, Elven lord?” Marcus’ voice echoed all around him.

His voice dropped to dangerously low growl. “These catacombs will be your tomb!”

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