The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 34

Chapter 34. The Serpent of the Apocalypse

Read it only at Utoon.net!
Discord         

The reactions to Allenbert’s sudden behavior were varied.

‘This guy’s crazy.’

‘Hmm, this is confusing.’

‘He’s not in his right mind.’

‘What’s with his eyes rolling like that?’

‘My little brother, he’s got great martial talent, but he’s still lacking in social skills. It’s fine. Geniuses are always like that. This big sister has a lot to teach him.’

The family members watching Allenbert all had similar thoughts at that moment.

‘Could fever cause madness? I should ask the doctor.’

Somerset seriously wondered about this.

‘That lunatic.’

Baklava, on the other hand, felt a chill from the madness he couldn’t comprehend. How could someone burp at a time like that?

However, Karl was a step ahead of his two younger brothers.

“Allenbert, it seems your body hasn’t fully recovered from the fever yet. Overeating in such a state isn’t good for you.”

With an air of authority, Karl gently admonished his younger brother, and Allenbert played along.

“You’re right, brother. I’ll be more careful.”

Allenbert lowered his gaze respectfully as he replied, causing Somerset and Baklava to curse inwardly.

‘That sly bastard.’

‘Wow, how disgustingly fake.’

The same guy who used to speak like a street thug was now acting all polite and deferential.

But Verdzich smiled for a different reason as he watched.

‘Clever.’

Clearly, Allenbert had aligned himself with another sibling since he was now opposing him. And if that was the case, siding with the calm and collected first brother was a better choice than aligning with the hot-headed third brother or the first sister who had no interest in the succession battle. Verdzich would have made the same choice.

‘Pretending to be crazy is part of his strategy.’

How else could he make such precise judgments?

Verdzich had no intention of underestimating Allenbert. He began reasoning based on the assumption that his brother’s eccentric behavior was part of a “mad dog strategy.”

‘His actions during Baklava’s confrontation were calculated. And when he received mother’s gift, he exposed her intentions with sharp insight.’

Just from these events alone, it was clear that Allenbert’s mind was far from ordinary.

‘It makes sense to think there was a purpose behind his seven years of seclusion.’

From Verdzich’s perspective, this suspicion was reasonable. After all, who could possibly guess that all of this stemmed from memories of a past life resurfacing?

‘A bird that hasn’t flown for seven years will astonish everyone when it spreads its wings.’

Verdzich felt it had been crucial to observe Allenbert directly today.

“But second brother.”

At that moment, Allenbert, who had been ignoring him until now, suddenly spoke up.

“Speak, Allenbert.”

Everyone’s attention turned to the two brothers.

“We still have some unfinished business between us, don’t we?”

“…!”

Unfinished business? Who would dare speak so boldly to Verdzich?

‘How absurd.’

‘Does this guy know no fear?’

Allenbert grinned as Somerset and Baklava stared in shock behind him.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to settle our accounts where fewer ears can hear?”

To think he’d say something like that so openly. Verdzich stared at Allenbert in surprise at his unexpected boldness.

“Are you requesting a private conversation?”

But Allenbert wasn’t the type to tremble before a snake or freeze like a frog.

“Yes.”

Verdzich smiled faintly.

“Then let’s do so.”

…The atmosphere immediately turned icy cold.

* * *

The dinner ended in an anticlimactic fashion. However, none of the siblings left their seats just yet.

‘Amazing… my little brother.’

Ulvhild Grünewald thought about her younger brother whom she hadn’t seen in seven years.

‘That sword aura was truly beautiful.’

Ulvhild did not agree with the notion that Allenbert was too old to learn. If that were true, then all noble children who started martial arts young should have become the best of their generation. But how often did that actually happen?

What mattered wasn’t the timing but the talent. And in that sense, look at Allenbert.

‘He developed such a sword aura through self-study, and in just one week?’

It wasn’t something that could be achieved just by consuming good medicinal supplements. The steady control of mana, consistent focus and endurance, and most importantly, the clarity of his mental image of the sword.

‘…Father isn’t someone who would overlook such things.’

There must be another reason. Perhaps it was related to the tragedy on his mother’s side or the interference from his other siblings. Or maybe…

‘Being terminal is nothing. There are ways to extend life, and though rare, he could even find a divine artifact like Erischker.’

If Allenbert was truly capable, there would be no reason not to provide him with such help.

‘More than his martial talent, what impresses me most is his composure—even in this setting, he shows no sign of tension.’

A great warrior needs more than just talent with a sword. Courage, wisdom, decisiveness, judgment… Today, Allenbert had shown glimpses of all these qualities.

‘But the mental state that kept him from recovering for seven years remains uncertain. If he crumbles again before greater trials, it would be better not to chase empty dreams.’

Until now, Ulvhild had shown little interest in Allenbert. His story was tragic, but she had no intention of extending a hand to a brother who had collapsed on his own. To someone who had lived in the world of warriors like her, her brother’s weakness had been disappointing.

‘But now you’ve been reborn… Whether you will break again or have grown strong enough to endure—I will test and see for myself.’

Ulvhild’s eyes gleamed with a strange obsession.

Meanwhile, there was someone else who saw the same thing but came to a completely different conclusion.

‘He’s gone mad after being locked up for so long.’

To Somerset, Allenbert’s drastic change seemed more like madness than strategy.

Why wouldn’t he think that? According to the servant he’d planted, Allenbert had been a pitiful and timid fool during his seclusion.

‘I thought he was beyond recovery after that day.’

Had he been sharpening his blade all this time? Or had the fever somehow transformed him?

‘…Hmm.’

Somerset suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

What if Allenbert’s behavior wasn’t just madness?

‘Come to think of it, he hasn’t suffered any losses. In fact, hasn’t he cleverly gained from all this?’

Allenbert acted as if this gathering didn’t intimidate or trouble him at all—

Yet none of his brothers or even the three duchesses had found any fault with him severe enough to reprimand or humiliate him. There simply hadn’t been any opportunity to do so. It was an incredibly delicate balancing act.

‘And during all this time, he’s gained favor with our eldest brother and sister while clearly positioning himself against me and our second brother.’

How could he be so fearless? To think he’d dare oppose Verdzich—a man even Somerset found terrifying at times.

‘Looking back on it now, in this short dinner alone, Allenbert has clearly drawn lines between friend and foe.’

Now no one could easily touch Allenbert without it being seen as provoking the opposing faction. When had he learned such cunning tactics?

Of course, Somerset had no way of knowing that this was the wisdom of Karzan from his days navigating the underworld.

‘Damn it.’

Somerset clenched his teeth.

This whole event felt like Allenbert’s debutante ball.

After seven years of seclusion, Allenbert had made a strong impression before the duchy’s heirs and their mothers. But as for Somerset…

‘I’ve ended up playing the perfect supporting role.’

Somerset’s face twisted with anger and humiliation as he belatedly realized his situation.

‘Allenbert. You’re amusing.’

Meanwhile, Karl, the eldest brother, was smiling, pleased with the unexpected ally his fifth brother had become.

‘Today brought an unexpected harvest.’

Third Brother Somerset walked his own path, but with his rough temperament and lack of wisdom, he wasn’t someone Karl wanted to embrace as an ally.

‘Baklava is practically leashed by Verdzich, so there’s no need to even mention him.’

Though Ulvhild, his full-blooded sister, was highly skilled, she had no interest in the succession battle.

And then there was Allenbert—who had no faction and whose lineage had lost its prestige—suddenly showing Karl a friendly attitude and raising his standing.

This was a clear gesture of goodwill, and for now, there was no reason not to accept it.

“Karl.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Isabella, the First Duchess, spoke to her son.

“Let’s leave now.”

“I’ll escort you.”

Would Karl recruit Allenbert? And if so, how would he win his favor? Was there another motive behind Allenbert’s actions?

There were many things to uncover from now on.

“Ulvhild.”

“Ah, count me out.”

The First Princess cut in coldly.

“I’m going to find the head butler and ask why Allen hasn’t been given a swordsmanship teacher yet.”

“…Do as you wish.”

“Yes.”

In any case, their goals were aligned.

“Baklava. You should return as well.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Baklava quietly stood up at Emmengarde’s dismissive tone, which implied that discussing matters with him wasn’t even worth her time.

“…”

At that moment, Baklava realized once again that while he had always looked down on his fourth brother Allenbert, during this dinner Allenbert had become the center of attention. Meanwhile, Baklava hadn’t even drawn a glance and had merely watched from the sidelines.

‘…Why do I have to suffer such humiliation?’

As the youngest son of the great House Grünewald, he had grown up without lacking anything. So why was it that only he was plagued by such feelings of inferiority? Baklava couldn’t understand it.

‘And why…’

Why could Allenbert stand so confidently even in front of Verdzich? It was a question that Baklava couldn’t answer at this moment.

* * *

Verdzich invited me to his private sitting room.

“You understand. There are ears everywhere.”

“Of course I understand.”

“Yes, I thought you would.”

It was on my orders that Verdzich’s spies in the annex had been rooted out.

We both knew this fact and yet exchanged words with surprising calmness.

‘He who watches others must always be wary of eyes watching him.’

This is a proverb that applies equally in both the underworld and noble houses.

However, the magical security measures in this room were clearly crafted with paranoid thoroughness. At my current level, I could only sense a fraction of them.

“You seem quite interested in magic.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

We sat on sofas. I looked at Verdzich who occupied the higher seat.

‘Damn, he’s handsome.’

His looks rivaled even those of this Allenbert. His beauty was truly remarkable.

‘Quite impressive.’

Sharp eyes and nose, harmonious features, a confident yet lithe physique with long arms and legs… He was like a sculpture carved by a master artisan.

But why did that beauty now feel like an eerie chill?

As we sat alone together, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this man could easily slit my throat or force poison down my throat without hesitation.

‘He hides immense murderous intent beneath his calm exterior.’

I know men like him well.

This man is a serpent.

A venomous viper filled with deadly poison.

‘…A serpent of the apocalypse who devours everything and kills with its venom.’

It was absurd. Had I ever judged anyone this harshly before?

‘A terrible monster lives in this beautiful harbor city’s castle.’

I suddenly wondered if requesting this private meeting might have been a mistake.