“Don’t be ridiculous…”
Ruder dismissed Etna’s claim with outrage, brushing it off as utter nonsense. But those very words were enough to breathe life into Nigel, who had been on the verge of collapse.
Barely managing to stand on trembling legs, Nigel stared at his father with desperation. Ruder’s face, filled with nothing but concern and care for his son, remained unshakably composed. He had come, clearly, to protect Nigel.
That was when Etna adjusted his grip on his sword.
“This isn’t Nigel. Don’t come any closer, Father.”
“Etna!”
“If you’ll just listen to me, you’ll understand.”
Etna’s voice was tight with frustration as he began explaining everything he had just discussed with Nigel. Every single word.
Nigel couldn’t even lift his head—too terrified by what Etna was saying. He just kept his gaze fixed on the ground.
When the long explanation finally ended, Ruder went silent. To Nigel, that brief silence stretched on like eternity.
“Stop spouting nonsense and shut your mouth.”
Nigel looked up at the razor-sharp voice. Ruder’s eyes blazed with a fury more intense than Nigel had ever seen before—directed squarely at Etna. Etna’s grip on Nigel tightened.
“…Father.”
“It’s not uncommon for someone in shock to suffer from memory distortion. If your brother’s memories are unclear, your job is to protect the poor kid—not call him a fake. What the hell are you even saying?”
Ruder’s chest rose and fell in heavy agitation as he tried to rein in his temper.
“No. Fine. Etna, you must be confused. After all, Nigel suddenly became some sort of divine messenger.”
“Father, I…”
“But that doesn’t give you the right to barge in and threaten him like this. Is that what I taught you? Even if, even if Nigel is a fake like you say—what, your plan is to just kill him and be done with it?”
Etna flinched. He stood frozen, staring at his father, echoing his words in his head. Then he let out a hollow laugh.
“…I admit I was hasty.”
“Etna. People make mistakes. As long as you haven’t crossed the line, there’s still time to take it back.”
Etna didn’t respond. His amber eyes stared vacantly into space. But Nigel could tell that this wasn’t just a confused gaze.
A window.
Someone was projecting some kind of system window to Etna. Whether it was a message, a warning, a command—Nigel couldn’t tell. It wasn’t visible to others.
Glarus? Had he not only sent Etna here, but was also trying to corner Nigel further? The content of the window was hidden, so there was no way to know.
Etna clenched his jaw and raised his head. The fury that had briefly subsided now flared up again. He clutched Nigel hard—painfully hard.
“Yeah. I messed up. I shouldn’t have blurted it out like that. I should’ve taken my time gathering evidence on this bastard and convincing you, Father.”
“Etna!”
“Harold is dead!”
The two shouted over each other. Nigel flinched at the sudden mention of the name. Inas. It had to be Inas who did it. Etna didn’t miss the flicker of emotion on Nigel’s face. His gaze turned savage.
“Harold was Nigel’s former attendant. He knew him better than anyone—and he was the first to feel something was off after Nigel changed. Then, suddenly, he vanished. Killed by unknown means. I’m sure this thing did something. We can’t let it go. If we do, it’s not just me—you’re in danger too, Father!”
Etna shook Nigel violently. The sharp edge of the blade grazed his cheek, slicing the skin. Blood and tears mixed and dripped to the floor. Even then, Ruder’s attention fixated on Nigel’s injury, helplessly frozen. That only fueled Etna’s rage.
“Doesn’t he seem off to you? Ever since I saw him again, I felt it—something wrong. Something ominous.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My brother isn’t like this. This is someone else. Can’t you see it, Father? He’s your son! Look at him properly!”
As Etna demanded, Ruder turned to Nigel. That piercing gaze was unbearable, and Nigel began to gasp for air. Just moments ago, this man had told him he loved him. Now, that same father looked at him with a coldness that strangled his breath. Slowly, Ruder shifted his scowl to Etna.
“…I see.”
The words came out like a curse. In the blink of an eye, Ruder unsheathed his sword.
“You’re the fake.”
“…Father.”
“That’s right. You’re the fake. I buried you myself, Etna. I saw your cold, lifeless body return to us out of nowhere…”
All warmth drained from Ruder’s voice. His glare toward Etna was pure hostility.
“No one comes back from the dead. I almost sold my soul to a devil.”
“Father, I really am Etna.”
“Get your filthy hands off my son.”
Etna gulped loudly. Clearly, he hadn’t expected things to go this far. His breathing grew ragged. Even Nigel thought this was reckless. But Etna—Etna had never imagined their father would reject him so completely.
“…Looks like you’re completely under its spell.”
Etna’s gaze locked on Ruder with cold determination.
“I didn’t want to harm my brother’s body. But if you’re going to stay bewitched like this, this is better.”
Yet the hatred in his eyes wasn’t directed at the man he loved.
“Etna!”
“You still call me that… even when you say I’m a fake.”
Etna muttered bitterly. His hand trembled around the sword. Even if he didn’t believe this was truly Nigel, the shell was still his brother’s body. But Etna forced the trembling down and tightened his grip.
Nigel trembled. He couldn’t control the fear. As the blade drew near—
The door burst open.
Nigel didn’t even have to look to know who it was.
Inas had entered.
As Etna’s attention briefly shifted, Inas stormed forward, his icy glare unwavering, and yanked Nigel from Etna’s grasp.
“……”
It happened in a flash. By the time Nigel realized, he was already cradled in Inas’s arms.
Even Ruder and Etna, stunned by the sudden shift, fell into uneasy silence.
The silence broke with Nigel’s coughing. His throat hadn’t been strangled, but being grabbed by the collar for so long had left it sore and compressed. Etna lunged forward to snatch Nigel back, but Inas wasn’t so easily caught off guard.
He held Nigel tightly. When Nigel barely opened his eyes, he saw the firm line of Inas’s clenched jaw. He didn’t look shaken, but his anger was palpable.
“Idenbach.”
Ruder, now free of hesitation, readied his sword once more.
“Take Nigel and run. Don’t let anyone reach him.”
“Yes.”
As if he had planned to from the start, Inas answered without pause.
“W-Wait—”
Nigel tried to stop him, but it was useless. Etna swung his sword again toward them, but failed to make contact.
Inas carried the struggling Nigel out of the room. Through the closing door, Nigel caught a glimpse of Ruder standing between Etna and the exit. The murderous tension made his fear surge.
“Inas!”
He pleaded not to leave, but Inas ignored him, as if deaf. No matter how Nigel thrashed, there was no breaking free from his hold. He clung to Inas.
“Inas, please… We have to go back. Father, he… My brother…”
The scene through the crack in the door burned into Nigel’s mind. It shouldn’t be happening.
Only after they’d moved a fair distance from the study did Inas finally set Nigel down. Nigel staggered, unable to stand, and Inas quickly steadied him. Looking Nigel in the eye, he spoke calmly and clearly.
“Only one of them can survive.”
“W-What are you saying…?”
“……”
Inas gave no answer to the desperate question. His pitch-black eyes were piercing—like they would swallow Nigel whole.
Then, slowly, Inas smiled. The chill that ran down Nigel’s spine was unmistakable.
“Who do you want to save?”
“B-Both…”
Of course. Ruder was his father. Etna, his older brother. Even if Etna no longer saw Nigel as his sibling.
“Impossible. No one’s ever succeeded.”
“Th-Then… we should call for help—”
“If we call for help, the Duke survives.”
Nigel flinched. He already knew. Calling for help wouldn’t stop the fight—it would just bring people who’d side with Ruder, not the resurrected “Taren” that looked like Etna.
That unspoken truth hit hard, and Nigel began to tremble. A cruel choice—but one that felt horrifyingly natural.
“Do you want the Duke to survive?”
“H-He’s… He’s my father…”
Ruder was Nigel’s father. That much was certain. Even if he had pushed Nigel harshly to turn him into a proper duke, even if there had been strife between them—his love was real. It was real…
Nigel trembled as he bowed his head.
But why… why couldn’t he remember any of the good times?
“Don’t worry.”
Inas tightened his hold on Nigel as he glanced around in confusion.
“Etna can’t beat your father. Ever.”
“But… his level is higher.”
“It’s not about level. Not everything is decided by stats and numbers.”
Nigel blinked. It was true—the difference in level wasn’t huge. But Etna had the Holy Sword and the power granted by the gods as their avatar. Ruder wouldn’t lose easily, but in a drawn-out fight, odds were against him.
Still, Inas’s face was calm. He looked like someone who had already seen all the cards on the table. That serene smile—almost like a mask—was eerie.
“To Etna, Ruder is the most respected man in the world…”
“……”
“To your father, Etna is a demon trying to kill his son.”
One who can’t bring himself to strike, versus one who wants to kill for real.
If a death match broke out between the two, the result would be obvious.
Lightning coursed through Nigel’s body. He shoved Inas aside and ran. This time, Inas didn’t stop him. Nigel heard only a faint sigh behind him.
The mansion was big, but not a castle—still, the study felt too far. Nigel stumbled several times before finally reaching the door.
Etna was collapsed on the floor.
He didn’t seem dead. No wounds. Up close, his chest rose and fell lightly—he was alive. Just not moving. Like a puppet with its strings cut.
Ruder stood in front of him, holding a sword. Though he had sworn to kill, he hadn’t been able to do it. The tip of his blade trembled.
And before them… floated the ghost of Rimera.
She spun in place, pale and grief-stricken, whispering:
“Darling… darling… that’s our child. Etna is our son. Our precious boy. Please…”
But Ruder didn’t recognize her. Her voice, unheard by the living, echoed like a funeral dirge. Nigel stared blankly at her once-beautiful face. She looked like a stranger.
Pain bloomed in his head. Nigel stumbled back, hitting a statue in the room. It clattered with a loud thud.
“Nigel!”
At last, Ruder saw him. He dropped the sword and ran. Nigel couldn’t bear to meet his eyes—he kept glancing at Etna.
“Dad. He… my brother, he…”
“Don’t look.”
Ruder covered Nigel’s eyes with his hand. His large, trembling palm radiated warmth. Nigel buried himself in Ruder’s embrace—yet, at the same time, wanted to shove him away.
“Dad. I… I really don’t remember anything. Like he said.”
“Forget that nonsense!”
Ruder yelled and hugged Nigel fiercely. He was shaking just as much as Nigel—both clinging to each other.
“That thing is a fake. No matter what anyone says, you are my son. I’ve never doubted it. Not once.”
“…Dad.”
His low voice, his solemn face—Nigel could feel it. Ruder truly believed in him. He had never once been swayed by Etna’s words.
That made Nigel feel grateful. And scared. So he held Ruder tight.
The guilt began to swell and devour him from within.
Behind Ruder, Rimera appeared. Her pallid face twisted in rage as she screamed:
“You fake! Give me back Etna! GIVE ME BACK MY SON!”
His chest thudded ominously. Somewhere, it sounded like the world was collapsing. Everything Nigel thought he knew—was crumbling. As the darkness consumed his vision…
He fainted.
