Child from the Dungeon

[ Elysium Haven Capital Park, Eliopolis ]

" I see, so you were here to have some time off? " Duncan asks Irina who explained to him at the time that she's actually having some time off without her father knowing.

" Yeah, I've been so annoyed. " Irina tells.

" Being a Royal's Daughter, my life is caged between a Great Wall of duties and responsibilities. "

" My schedules, my dress, my behavior... "

" Everything is controlled by my parents and the other Richter House members. " Irina tells.

" Not to mention, my Father also insisted me to be a Knight, making my training harsher since he wants me to be a Knight Commander. "

Duncan listens and thinks about this, he sensed something doesn't add up.

" Your problems... "

" Does it also given to your siblings as well, if you had one? " Duncan asks which Irina says that her siblings also received it but hers are more than they could've have.

" No, my other siblings, both sister and brother is not as powerful as me, hence, they were not appointed as the candidate for the House Leader who succeeded my Father. " Irina explains.

" What...!? " Duncan asks.

" You mean, the Richter House chose you to be their Leader!? "

" How's that possible, I thought the Royal House only let Males to lead them!? " Duncan asks based on his knowledge, about the 'Royal Houses'.

" I see, so you were really from a 'remote' place, aren't you? " Irina asks, realizing how new Duncan was to the things in Elysium Haven.

" Well you see, Duncan Grimshaw... "

" The Royal Houses' Lineage and Succession doesn't always had to be Patriarchy..., despite the majority. "

" Some are actually Matriarchy, but aside that, some also choose the successor based on their Power and Prowess, or even performances. "

" Such as my House..., the Richter House. " Irina tells Duncan.

" The Richter House itself may be strict on its laws, but despite the strictness our House had been realizing that succession based on gender only would fail them in the current times. "

" For they know, to rule a Family of Royals, one must have great might and great mind, not to mention on having a great merit. "

" Since many of the House Members seek power for themselves, right? " Duncan asks as he suddenly remembers his time in the Nyx Nocterra as 'Tenebrae'.

"( Even when I already posed as Tenebrae, whom said to be the sole successor... )"

"( I remember many of the House's Bottom Feeders, from Lower Caste Members to Branch Members decided to oppose me, even attempting to assassinate me which fails. )"

"( I killed many of them for my sake..., sadly... )" Duncan remembers Tenebrae when he left him, rejecting his offer*.

"( My efforts' reward are taken by its rightful owner, as he now lives with it, perhaps it's my rightful punishment for abusing my abilities to pose another person. )" Duncan thinks as he remembers his time as a 'fake' Royal.

As Duncan think about it, Irina also think for a while. She began to think Duncan's question which made herself understand.

" You've been betrayed, don't you? " Irina asks suddenly to Duncan, which made Duncan frightened, seeing her face already in front of his in such a close range.

" Ir... "

" I can see it in your eyes, your eyes looked like those who already received so many trial and errors, facing battle both in front and in the back, backstabbed and many other things you couldn't tell which made you could ask such a question despite meeting me for the first time. " Irina says towards Duncan as her face is so close while staring at him.

"( So close... )"

"( I just recounting my times in the Nyx Nocterra, yet she somehow ask a question that conveniently match my thoughts? )" Duncan gulps.

"( Does she also experienced it, hence she ask the question to me? )" Duncan ask himself.

" Well, my life is harder since I come from a 'Barbaric Realm'. " Duncan answers the question, lying a bit to her, for of course he couldn't tell her 'what' he really is and 'what' he's been through.

" I see, it seems both of our lives is harder than what we thought of each other... " Irina listens the answer.

" I thought a commoner life will be more free, but it seems not. "

" Well, life had its troubles. " Duncan said to Irina which made her look at him.

As she looked at him, Duncan tries to not be flustered for he could only sigh to mask it.

" You search for freedom during your strict life, yes? "

" Well, let me tell you this. "

" Freedom, doesn't mean Satisfaction. " Duncan tells Irina.

" It is a euphoria one would make to release their stress, but afterwards, more things would come and the freedom finally lasts. "

" I've experienced it, felt freedom for a while in many places... "

" But all freedom had it's costs, for all of my freedom, I've actually placed myself in a place of dangerous possibilities... "

" Things that would make me often regret and realized how fake 'Freedom' is. "

" And thus, after realizing it's fraud, I now realized what would satisfy me. "

" Realizing that 'thing' is the answer to my life. "

" That is? " Irina asks Duncan, interrupting his words.

Duncan hears it and then realized his times with the other kids in the Orphanage, he remembered doing things with them despite he hates it like mopping and cleaning every day, as he recounts it, he compares it to the times in the Nyx Nocterra Residence, a place he was privileged with so many servant, yet the times there were only stressful and vigilant.

" *sigh*. "

" The 'thing' I should be care about is... "

" Joy. " Duncan tells Irina, making her confused.

" Joy, Really? " Irina asks.

" I mean it! " Duncan responses.

" Freedom may release some tension for some time, Privilege may give us everything we want at the time and Happiness might entertained me for a while. "

" But Joy, is different. "

" It's a thing that will make one to continue living, despite many obstacles they had. "

" My friend (Black Merchant) told me this, that with Joy, one could continue living in every state they're in. "

" They may lacked some privilege and freedom while having it, but at least, those with it had a life filled with something greater even in the stormy times. "

" That's what I'm aiming for now, to joy which could be obtained by leaving my comfort zone, hence why I came here, to Eliopolis. "

" To become a 'Hunter' like what my 'friend' recommended, hoping that I will find joy, having so much adventure there. " Duncan says and smiles to Irina.

" You want to become a... Hunter...? " Irina asks.

" But, Duncan... "

" You know that kind of realm is uncertain, right? " Irina ask as she hears Duncan's wish.

" Hunters is a risky profession, they hunt monsters without the Royal Capital's help... "

" Why do you- "

" Because Hunters worked to themselves and their Group (Guild). "

" I may be unsupported, or my Rank could be taken... "

" But at least, as a Hunter, I could do greater work without having to strictly serve the Royals. "

" In there, I hope I could find greater joy, for the adventures it offers. " Duncan says to Irina which made her worried, a Random Remote boy outside the Capital wants to become a profession that is considered risky and unstable at the time.

" Duncan, you... " Irina tries to talk to Duncan as he eats the last of the bread given by her, but as she wants to ask him more of his decisions.

" Irina! " a voice calls her, as Irina looked behind her and see her father glaring at her and Duncan.

" Oh, who are you, Mr.? " Duncan asks as he sees the person.

< Scanning >

...

< Status Info: >

< Name: Hector Richter >

< Level: 77 >

< Tier: Tier IV. >

< Race: Human >

< Age: 36 >

< Class: Mage, Swordsman, Dragon Slayer >

< Magic: Rock Magic, Dragon Slaying Magic >

< Status: >

< HP: 770.000/770.000 >

< MP: 770.000/770.000 >

...

"( Whoa... )" Duncan sees it and amazed, meanwhile.

"( Duncan... )" Irina says in her mind.

"( This is my Father... )"

_________

Extra:

* ...Duncan remembers Tenebrae when he left him, rejecting his offer. 𝑏𝘦𝑑𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝘰𝘮

In Chapter 218 Spin-Off Vol.1 'Dark Stranger ': The Stranger's Choice.