DBOFS 92

Chapter 92

Finally, the day had come when a long-awaited reward would be received.

Harris’s biological father, Duke Godwin, had been able to lock him in an underground prison without even considering him a human—or a son—thanks entirely to the backing of the royal family.

“And on top of that, the Mage Tower…”

Harris had decided he would no longer endure those who deserved to be torn to pieces.

The late duke, unaware of the wicked intentions Harris might harbor, took something out from his chest.

“So, I give this to you.”

As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Rather than offering empty thanks for saving Godwin or apologies for failing to protect him, the late duke decided to show his feelings through action.

“It’s yours now.”

“……?”

Harris narrowed his eyes and opened the box.

Inside lay a silver ring.

Its appearance was deceptively simple, but unlike its outward look, this silver ring was considered a treasure even among the Godwins.

“A rare artifact created by the black mage who married the first Godwin, given to his partner, and made so that it could never be removed even until the day he died.”

Also known as the Ring of Binding.

“Exactly his type.”

Moreover, the ring symbolized the promise that no matter what happened in the future, Harris would have the late duke’s support behind him.

“The name of this treasure is the Ring of Binding, a rare heirloom passed down through our family for generations. There could be no better—”

“Pathetic.”

Harris frowned, completely unimpressed by legends or anything else.

“It’s not even a gemstone or gold… and it’s so thin?”

……

Having been raised without proper education as a Godwin, Harris felt no particular excitement, but the late duke, who had been more privileged, felt a pang of disappointment.

“T-The important thing is the heart behind it! And it’s not silver—it’s platinum—”

“If this thin silver ring is supposed to represent your feelings, it looks meaningless.”

“It is platinum.”

“But it still doesn’t have a proper gemstone, does it?”

“There is! It’s set inside, so you can’t see it…!”

“A gemstone inside a ring? How tiny must it be?”

……

Seeing Harris’s expression questioning whether this counted as an heirloom, the late duke pressed his hand to his forehead in frustration. Who could have caused this?

Thinking of the traitor Irene and the debauched Norman made his head throb. Could the problem have originated in his own bloodline?

“…Your Highness, did you even give your late wife something like this?”

“This is a guard ring!”

Finally provoked to defend his pride, the late duke shouted.

“Of course, the engagement ring was made anew according to her wishes!”

“Ah. So you have some common sense.”

Being lectured on common sense by this brat made the late duke dizzy. From children to grandchildren, everyone was making him feel old.

“……Didn’t I tell you that you must attend the founding ceremony?”

Sending him off quickly seemed like the best option. The late duke sighed deeply.

“So you need to prepare an appropriate ring as well.”

“……?”

Harris raised an eyebrow, unable to see the connection between the founding ceremony and a ring, but the late duke spoke calmly, as if he had made up his mind.

“Marry, Harris.”

The partner had already been chosen.

Harris, unusually at a loss for words, asked,

“Excuse me?”

“What?”

Princess Eltirosa shouted, her face pale with shock.

“Who’s coming where?”

“…Duke Godwin’s son, Harris Godwin, will be attending this founding ceremony,” replied Haroa, the princess’s maid and daughter of Count Nuiren, as she wiped the tea spilled by the princess.

“That’s impossible!”

To Eltirosa, it was inconceivable. She knew that Harris had awakened a sinister ability and had been confined by Godwin to keep it a secret.

“But he’s coming back?!”

And the fact that the crown prince himself had sent the invitation!

“Who do you think caused my aunt to die early, and why would Duke Godwin imprison that monster himself?!”

The young lady of the Nuiren family tried to reason with the screaming princess.

“Your Highness, no matter the circumstances of the Godwin heir, he is now the officially appointed successor by the late Duke Godwin. You should refrain from such comments—”

“Shut up!”

The princess slapped the young lady and shouted.

“Who said you could act righteous? Can’t I even speak my mind in my private space?!”

It’s not even a private space…

Haroa Nuiren clenched her burning cheek and muttered under her breath.

The princess and her maids were in a guide guild funded by the royal family.

Though it was for the highest class, it wasn’t devoid of passersby. Some onlookers had already noticed and whispered at the commotion.

“Isn’t that Princess Eltirosa?”

“Why is she acting up here if she’s not even a guide…?”

Eltirosa had always been hot-tempered and impatient, prone to violent reactions when things didn’t go her way.

Her hands trembled with barely contained anger. She wanted to grab the head of that girl and strike her repeatedly.

No.

Unfortunately, her target was the daughter of Count Nuiren. No matter her rank, she couldn’t take her anger out on a noble.

I’m the princess! Why do I have to care about these nobles—?!

Eltirosa screamed inwardly.

In the past, when the royal family’s dignity reigned supreme, anyone showing such insolence could have been beheaded immediately. But the current power of the royal family was far from stable.

The existence of ability-wielders (supernatural powers) threatened the status of the upper class.

Previously, only the Mage Tower could threaten the elite. But those obsessed with research and power weren’t easily persuaded by the authorities.

Still, communication wasn’t entirely impossible, and the two groups had drawn boundaries to coexist.

But now, ability-wielders have appeared.

And along with them, “guides” capable of healing, purifying, and calming them.

Unlike mages who require long study to gain power, ability-wielders gain strength instantly through “awakening.”

Power beyond civilization and knowledge, abilities.

They cannot be controlled easily, and their emergence cannot be predicted. Personality, status, wealth, or fame has no influence on awakening.

It is indiscriminate, unilateral, and absolute, like divine revelation.

The established hierarchy and order were gradually threatened by this overwhelming power.

Why do such things appear—!

Eltirosa, deeply prejudiced against ability-wielders, naturally disliked them. But she was paradoxically extremely interested in them.

“…Where’s Alucas?”

Especially the red-haired, wild mercenary king who once saved her.

This was why she stormed the guide guild every day.

“Ah, he didn’t come today,” reported the frightened maids.

Dissatisfied, Eltirosa’s anger flared.

“…You! This time it’s you!”

“Kyah!”

The enraged princess grabbed a passing figure, presumed to be a guide, and kicked them.

“Y-Your Highness! You can’t—!”

“T-Tyran?!”

The maids realized too late who the victim was: Tyran, the most famous opera singer in the capital.

His opera, romanticizing the guide-ability-wielder relationship, had been a massive success and even gained royal favor. He was now considered the most admired singer in the royal newsletter.

“Ha! I’ve caught you.”

Unfortunately, Tyran’s luck ran out.

“You’re the worm who licked our crown prince’s feet to sneak into the royal banquet!”

“Y-Your Highness!”

Just as the princess swung at him, Tyran desperately shouted,

“I—I haven’t seen Mercenary King Alucas in a long time either!”

The mention of Alucas made her pause.

“…Why?”

“I heard he hasn’t been coming to this guide guild much recently.”

“Then why—!”

Everyone thought in unison: because you are here sitting around!

But Tyran continued with unexpected information.

“Rumor has it, someone saw a guide in the Godwin estate who captivated his heart…”

“Who?! Who the hell is that?!”

The princess spoke crudely, and anyone knowing her mother’s identity dared not answer.

Tyran, beaten and bleeding, continued weakly:

“I-I don’t know exactly… but it seems Alucas couldn’t approach the guide, because they were a precious person…”

“…!”

Her expression turned icy.

The only ability-wielder Alucas could meet in Godwin, but couldn’t touch due to status limitations, was none other than Harris Godwin.

“Dare that filthy monster’s guide flirt with my Alucas?!”

Bang!!

Enraged, the princess kicked the table in a fit of rage.

Seizing the opportunity, Tyran quietly passed the beaten young lady of Nuiren and whispered:

“Please tell His Highness the Crown Prince that the mission was accomplished successfully.”

She nodded without looking. All was proceeding according to plan. She opened her mouth again to control the furious princess.

“Y-Your Highness! Please calm down. I will find out who the Godwin heir’s guide is!”