Chapter 16: Maybe Opportunity (2)

Originally, the principle was that the head of a noble family was appointed based on age.

Although it wasn’t particularly relevant to me, as the child of a concubine, if we were to compare Laura and Riera, the legitimate children, Laura should have been the family head.

This rule was almost universally applicable across all worlds, whether dark fantasy or regular fantasy.

Yet, in the Kaltz family, Riera was the family head.

Laura merely served as her deputy, assisting her.

So, how could Riera, who was younger than both Laura and me, become the family head?

The answer to that question was simple.

Because Riera was more exceptional.

‘She’s a once-in-a-generation genius, after all.’

This fact didn’t mean that my sister, Laura Kaltz, was ordinary or lacked ability.

She was more than qualified to be the family head.

Laura Kaltz was also considered a genius in her own right, and under normal circumstances, she would have undoubtedly succeeded as the family head.

However, the reason she didn’t was that her younger sister was overwhelmingly superior.

In terms of talent alone, Riera was on par with the protagonist and Eliza, to the point of being called “beyond human.”

There was no reason for her not to be chosen as the family head.

“You’re truly a disgrace to the family name.”

Yet, it seemed that such a family head now deeply disliked me.

Her gaze was heavy and cold.

Despite not having officially undergone her coming-of-age ceremony, she exuded an overwhelming pressure.

As expected of the head of the Kaltz family and the final boss of the chapter opposing the protagonist, she was truly intimidating.

It seemed that the current situation was highly uncomfortable for her.

Well, it wasn’t a normal situation to begin with, with my sister Laura dressed as a maid and entangled with me.

She, like Laura, cared deeply for the family, so such behavior couldn’t sit well with her.

“Um… Riera. This is a misunderstanding…”

In this situation, my sister Laura tried her best to explain.

I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that, she said.

Of course, there wasn’t much difference between what Riera thought and the actual situation, but Laura was trying to calm her down.

“Can you just stay quiet, sister?”

“Eek…”

However, her attempt at persuasion was dismissed before she could even finish.

Riera’s words, implying that Laura’s words weren’t worth listening to, immediately silenced her.

In the Kaltz family, the family head’s words were absolute.

Being her older sister didn’t make Laura an exception.

As long as Laura was a member of the Kaltz family, she had to obey Riera’s words, so Laura couldn’t speak any further.

“You always do such despicable things.”

After silencing her sister, Riera’s gaze turned back to me.

And then she continued her relentless criticism.

However, I wasn’t particularly hurt by it.

This was just how things always were.

She utterly despised me.

“Why do you keep disappointing me? Even if you’re the child of a concubine, don’t you realize that your actions tarnish the family’s reputation?”

She, too, as a daughter of the Kaltz family, loved the family as much as her sister Laura did.

Thus, it was only natural for her to dislike me, the child of a concubine with no notable abilities.

No, rather, as the family head, she disliked me even more than Laura did.

Despite my efforts to be kind to her before she was recognized as the family head, our relationship had inevitably soured.

“Um… Family Head. About that…”

What should I say in this situation?

I was familiar with this scenario, so I knew how to handle it.

Just bow my head and apologize.

Doing that would at least make her temper subside, and she’d let it go.

‘After all, I’ll have to leave soon anyway.’

She was quite busy.

According to the setting, around this time, she would be researching forbidden magic in the Magic Tower.

Thus, she was incredibly busy, which was why Laura served as her deputy.

So, I just needed to apologize.

That would make her let it go.

“Quiet. I don’t want to hear it.”

But for some reason, today felt different.

Normally, she would accept my apology, but today she didn’t.

She glared at me with a much more displeased expression than usual.

I was startled by her sudden change in attitude, but what shocked me even more was what she said next.

“I can’t stand this anymore. I won’t waste words. Choose.”

She spoke as if offering me mercy, but her words were anything but merciful.

“Be executed. Or, prove yourself.”

Riera Kaltz gave me two choices.

Both options were brutally harsh.

‘The first is asking if I want to die by her hand.’

To interpret Riera’s words, execution meant exactly that.

You might wonder why execution was even on the table, but that’s just how dark fantasy family rules work.

In a world where a family head killing a family member isn’t considered unusual, the first option was essentially asking if I wanted to die, and it was obviously a choice I should never make.

‘The second is challenging her for the family head position.’

The second option, “prove yourself,” meant demonstrating my worth to the Kaltz family.

And the method of proof was typically a duel with the family head.

So, what she was saying was to try and defeat her in a duel.

If I won the duel against the family head, I would become the family head from that moment.

If I defeated her and became the family head, she wouldn’t be able to kill me.

‘What a hopeless set of choices.’

Of course, the chance of winning was practically nonexistent.

The Kaltz family members were inherently strong.

It’s an antagonist family opposing the protagonist; they wouldn’t be weak.

And this was a duel against Riera, who was called a once-in-a-generation genius within the Kaltz family.

Naturally, as a mere extra, my chances of winning were effectively zero.

It was practically a death sentence.

‘The atmosphere is really tense, isn’t it?’

Perhaps because of that, the atmosphere froze after Riera’s words.

Everyone present likely understood the implications of her words, just as I did.

“…Rovan…”

My sister Laura silently bowed her head.

She grabbed my sleeve, trembling with anxiety.

Even if she was a mid-boss who disliked me, given the situation, it was natural for her to be scared.

The family head’s decision was absolute and unchangeable, making this a truly terrifying situation.

“…Master…”

Even Eliza, who had been watching from a distance, looked somewhat flustered.

Had she not expected the family head to act this way?

Although she might have been upset about losing her prey, she didn’t step forward.

After all, she was also employed by the Kaltz family.

As a hired hand, she couldn’t interfere in family matters, especially those decided by the family head.

Given her loyalty to the Kaltz family, she wouldn’t intervene.

‘This is a real crisis.’

So, all things considered, I was truly in deep trouble.

If things continued like this, I would undoubtedly be killed by Riera.

‘Maybe it’s not so bad?’

But surprisingly, I felt at peace.

No, I even felt a sense of relief.

You might think, ‘This guy’s gone mad after 20 years in a dark fantasy world,’ but I wasn’t mad.

My mind was clearer than ever.

So why was I feeling good in this situation?

The reason was that this duel might allow me to gain two things.

‘I might be able to escape the family.’

I didn’t necessarily have to win the duel.

Even if I didn’t win, surviving would mean I could live.

Because in the Kaltz family, the loser of a duel had to leave the family.

Leaving the family meant I would no longer be a part of it, and thus, she couldn’t execute me.

Of course, being expelled from the family came with its own risks, but wasn’t that what I wanted?

I had long wanted to leave the family.

The problem was that I couldn’t.

So, this situation might be a good opportunity for me.

It would give me a legitimate reason to leave the family.

‘And I might even learn an incredible skill.’

Moreover, the most important thing was that I had an incredibly valuable item with me.

I touched the “Skill Stone” I had obtained from the protagonist’s party earlier.

No matter how I thought about it, there couldn’t be a better opportunity to use this than in a duel with Riera.

‘Let’s give it a try.’

It was a gamble worth taking.

I might just gain an incredible skill from this opportunity.