Chapter 131

The Duke seemed to know something that made him look like this… And what he might say next…

I felt as if something heavy and stern would fall from his lips, revealing something I had yet to know, and which would shock me profoundly when I did.

Reflecting on it, there were indeed some regional differences even within the same continent.

Recalling the general sentiment that didn’t favor the existence of twins, I thought that perhaps Dominus’s karma was being discussed, and the heavy expression on the Duke’s face suggested that whatever he said next wouldn’t be good news.

As we approached the final battle, I intended to stop him from hearing such bad news until after everything was over, but my brother blocked my path with an outstretched hand.

My confusion made me turn to look at him, but he just shook his head lightly, silently signaling that I shouldn’t proceed.

Despite no coercion, the strange gloominess on his face indicated that forcibly stopping the Duke would not be necessary.

So, I stopped and listened to what the Duke had to say.

Steady footsteps echoed as the Duke approached us from afar, his steps heavy.

But even these heavy footsteps paled in comparison to the dark expression on the Duke’s face.

“I have one question,” he said, his heavy footsteps leading him to us.

Before he could even speak, I anticipated that he would ask about us being twins.

“Ask anything,” my brother replied before I could.

“Twins… Is it true?” the Duke asked, confirming our identity as twins through our silent nod.

I had expected the Duke not to react well to this news, given the negative perception of twins in the Empire.

“The Emperor has been lying to me all along…”

Instead of reacting positively to our confirmation, the Duke spoke bitterly about a lie he believed Dominus had told us.

The Duke’s sudden bitter smile felt awkward, but he dismissed it as a personal matter.

“It wasn’t your fault. Only you and Dominus knew…”

He decided not to share more, stating that he would reveal everything later.

Even though I was surprised by the change in his attitude, I continued.

“There’s no need to worry, but time has been wasted. Let me explain briefly.”

My brother’s serious tone cut off any surprise I might have expressed.

“Without even seeing it, we all know what Dominus is doing here. He’s trying to summon an unknown god…”

My brother nodded in agreement with the Duke’s words.

“Dominus is trying to use Asulin and the Northern Daughter, who is still shrouded in mystery, to summon an unknown god.”

“Using them as sacrifices…”

The Duke’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

Beside him, I too felt my face contort in disgust, and the Duke’s reaction was no different.

To use people as tools to summon gods was intolerable.

Though I wanted to lash out in anger, the Duke remained composed.

“This is common knowledge here. What we want to know is what Dominus intends to do with the god he summons.”

The Duke focused on continuing the conversation.

“That’s a good question,” my brother responded, raising his right hand towards the sky.

“Dominus wants to change reality. He wants to erase all his failures and make himself a victor instead of a loser.”

His words were hard to understand, and the Duke echoed my confusion.

“What does it mean to change reality?”

My brother explained further, and the Duke’s puzzled look showed he shared my confusion.

“To change reality is to overturn one’s circumstances, but how can it be done so easily?”

Understanding that Dominus harbored great dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs and wanted to change it, I felt a coldness in my blood.

At the same time, an uncontrollable rage burned within me, conflicting with my feelings.

Through my brother, I realized too clearly how my father viewed me.

“Why… Why are you here?”

My brother’s words, spoken with closed eyes, made me realize what he meant by changing reality.

Mother died due to complications from childbirth.

I, the late-born twin who caused her pain, could have prevented her suffering if I never existed.

And my brother’s existence represented the hope that things could have been better.

Realizing this, I felt a chill run through my veins, and an uncontrollable anger flared up within me.

“Ha ha ha…”

The laughter that escaped was a release of pent-up frustration, but it was a hollow victory.

The anger inside me demanded a scream, but to merely shout would cheapen its value.

I clenched my teeth, containing my fury.

“Brother…”

With his eyes tightly shut, my brother’s expression was filled with regret.

Even the Duke seemed to close his eyes, though I couldn’t understand why.

Their reactions made me feel bewildered, as I was the one directly affected.

“He… He is…”

The Duke’s voice, heavy with sorrow, tried to express something, but…

“Stop! You sent me here only to gossip? Tsk tsk…”

A familiar voice interrupted, and the atmosphere suggested that understanding Dominus’s plans would take more time.

I turned my head towards the voice.

As expected, an unwelcome face greeted me.

How could someone’s face be so grotesque?

The owner of such a memorable face, the leader of the assassin league, the Elder on the Mountain.

“I should have sent another member instead of him. Why did I send him here?”

The Elder, who normally would have silently infiltrated our location, was now openly expressing his anger.

“You! Ungrateful worm! After Dominus made you a cornerstone of his new reality, you betray him here?!”

The Elder pointed at me, his voice filled with rage, despite his ridiculous appearance.

“…Cornerstone?”

My brother reacted sharply to the word, and a deadly aura enveloped him.

“…Ugh!”

Weakly groaning, he struggled against the aura.

If I had imagined him responding coldly to such an attack before, I would have been wrong.

“Don’t act rashly! Don’t interrupt until I’m finished speaking!”

Though unseen, the Elder was struggling to control the assassins around us.

His weakened state was evident compared to his prime.

“Kraaaah!!”

From behind us, a familiar, eerie roar echoed again.

—

[End of Translation]