This Bastard is Too Competent

Cesare fell.

The battle ended with the victory of Marquis Adelas.

However, the nobles were in an uproar for a different reason.

“What on earth are you doing, Marquis?”

“Cardinal Cesare, are you alright?”

It was natural.

Cesare was a cardinal of the Holy Empire.

Even though it was a duel, to stab him with a sword and bring him down, it would create chaos not only within the country but also internationally.

In fact, the Marquis was quite surprised.

“What… What have I done?”

He looked like a man out of his mind.

But Ian was different.

‘He won’t die, but it’s over now.’

Now that they had crossed an impassable river, there was no turning back for either of them. They had completely severed the ties between them.

It was clear that they would do their best to kill each other in order to survive.

That’s why Ian praised Jealousy.

‘This isn’t what I was hoping for, but good job.’

[Phew! It’s no big deal].

Everything was thanks to his power.

The power to unleash envy, turning someone into a monster.

It could be seen as a weakened version of the monsters seen in Bahara.

Of course, it wasn’t just done casually.

The cost of using the power was a part of Ian’s own blood.

Thanks to that, he was feeling a bit dizzy.

‘But can’t we create an even stronger being?’

[It is possible. It’s difficult with my current strength. We need more blood…]

To create a being as strong as the one in Bahara, they would need blood from dozens of people, at least.

Jealousy smirked wickedly.

[I can make one if you give me some more blood, what do you say, do you want me to make one?]

Ian shook his head.

‘I don’t need them.’

[What? Why? You know how strong they can be, right? They could be helpful for what you’re doing.]

‘No. Honor earned at the expense of others means nothing.’

[!]

Ian remembered his past life.

Thinking of the dead who were used and exploited in the name of justice, he couldn’t possibly agree to that.

Jealousy shrugged his shoulders at those words.

[Speak at any time if you need anything. I just need blood and that’s it.]

That was when Jealousy tried to get back into his arms.

The expression on Jealousy’s face, once filled with excitement, suddenly stiffened.

[Huh?]

Jealousy was clearly surprised to see the fallen Cesare.

‘Hey?’

No matter how much Ian called out, there was no response.

Jealousy’s body trembled uncontrollably.

Ian sensed something was amiss.

And then…

[That… is that even possible? No way…]

As Jealousy spoke those words, a problem arose.

“Aaargh!”

The nobleman next to Cesare shouted. Ian quickly approached.

“What’s happening?”

“That… That’s Cardinal Cesare!”

Dark red blood was continuously flowing from Cesare’s fallen body.

It was like a fountain of blood.

Ian stepped back with an ominous feeling.

‘This doesn’t feel good.’

It wasn’t just a mere feeling.

Woong!

At that moment, Patience erupted from his body.

It seemed to protect his body.

Sensing something in that reaction, Ian shouted urgently.

“Everyone, step back!”

Upon Ian’s words, the nobles immediately moved away.

The surviving nobles had pale expressions, unsure of what to do.

“What on earth is happening…”

“Keep your distance, everyone. Never get close.”

Ian gathered the blue wolf around him.

There were no casualties yet.

If things continued like this, they could somehow suppress the situation.

That’s when Jealousy shouted.

[What are you doing? Hurry and retreat! It’s ‘Greed’!]

‘Greed?’

[Don’t let it touch your body! It will devour you.]

Ian’s eyes turned cold.

‘The Fifth Prince Haverion is also like that. I guess the Holy Empire is related to the Seven Sins.’

He couldn’t simply stand idly by.

While addressing his mother’s situation, he also needed to unravel this mystery.

And in that very moment…

Screech!

The flowing blood began to retract, returning to Cesare’s body.

At the same time, several blood-covered nobles appeared.

And they rushed towards the nobles.

“What… what are these monsters?”

“Count Crom! Snap out of it! Count… Argh!”

Seeing that, Ian didn’t hesitate any longer.

Clang!

He swiftly moved forward, cutting down the monsters.

Thanks to Ian’s intervention, a noble whose life was saved broke down in tears.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

But instead of answering, Ian called out to everyone.

“There are only a few enemies left, everyone, don’t be afraid to fight them.”

Just then, royal knights rushed in.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

“Now is not the time. First, subdue the enemies.”

“We will follow your orders.”

“Oh, do not kill them. They are all our country’s people.”

“Understood.”

The nobles under the influence of Greed could possibly be reverted back once subdued.

And with the strength of the knights, the enemies seemed to be quickly overwhelmed.

But something was off.

‘Hey, what’s wrong with you?’

It was Jealousy.

Its continuous lack of response was suspicious.

But strangely, the abnormal reactions began to come from elsewhere.

“Umm…”

“Suddenly my head…!”

Even the blue wolf in the same space staggered.

Not just the healthy knights, but also the royal knights and palace guards all began to falter and kneel on the ground.

The only one unaffected was Ian.

“Everyone, snap out of it!”

“Prince…Ian.”

The knights and soldiers seemed to be holding up.

They seemed to be enduring it somehow with their mental strength.

The problem lay with the nobles.

“Ughhh…”

“Kill… Kill him…”

Those with weaker mental resistance began to rise, their eyes turning black.

They were filled with a sense of vitality, much like Marquis Adelas had been moments ago.

It was a familiar sight, and Ian glared fiercely at Jealousy.

‘Jealousy. Is this your doing?’

[I… I don’t know anything. I really didn’t do anything!]

Rather than respond, Ian brought forth Patience.

Woong!

In an instant, a giant shining hammer appeared above his arm. Startled, Jealousy exclaimed.

[It’s not me, it’s because of ‘Greed’!]

‘It’s better to speak the truth.’

Otherwise, I’ll smash your head in. With such an intense gaze, Jealousy urgently shouted.

[If ‘Greed’ is present, I resonate involuntarily!]

‘Then if ‘Greed’ is gone, everyone will return to normal.’

Ian tapped the hammer he was holding.

Jealousy desperately nodded.

[That’s right! That power belongs to ‘Greed’! It’s already mimicking my power. Of course, it’s weaker than me, but…]

‘What?’

As Ian listened to Jealousy’s words, he quickly understood the situation.

‘Jealousy utilizes the envy of others, while Greed mimics the powers of others.’

In other words, in order to stop them, he had to defeat the one who had already activated the power of jealousy.

Ian warned Jealousy with sharp eyes.

‘Tell me how we can bring him down first. We can discuss the details later.’

[Well… that’s…]

Just as Jealousy was about to say something, the minions under his control rushed towards Ian.

Bang!

Ian blocked their attacks with Patience, but the tremendous force pushed his small body backward. Jealousy urgently shouted at the sight.

[I told you before. If there’s enough blood, I can create as many soldiers as you want. You have enough blood now!]

The problem was the time.

If Jealousy matured, it might turn into a real monster like Bahara. Ian spat out the blood that had collected in his mouth.

‘So how do we bring him down?’

Defeating Jealousy’s minions had to be his first priority.

During the Bahara incident, Ian had overcome it with the help of the knights, but this time he was alone.

Jealousy clenched its lips tightly, seeming to have no other choice.

[Are you asking me to tell you how to defeat me with my own mouth?]

‘If you don’t like it, just wait until I die.’

[That.. that!]

‘Or you too will be eaten by that Greed.’

[!]

Jealousy had no choice but to mention its weaknesses.

[Jealousy and Greed, they exist because of the ears that hear and the eyes that see. If you cover their eyes and block their ears, they will weaken.]

“!”

But there was one more piece of information Jealousy reluctantly provided.

[Overwhelm me with overwhelming strength. Do it so impressively that jealousy won’t stand a chance.]

Upon hearing those words, Ian smiled.

“That’s an easy task.”

***

“First Princess, where are you going right now?”

“Step aside.” The royal chamberlain faced the sharp gaze of the First Princess but did not budge. It was only natural.

“Have you not heard the command to wait for His Majesty?”

The reason the First Princess was waiting in the throne room was because of the king’s order.

Moving now would be tantamount to disobeying the king’s orders.

The First Princess nodded, acknowledging the order. “I heard.”

“But why…”

She did not answer the chamberlain’s question. No, she couldn’t.

‘To defy a royal decree for the request of a single man. It’s something even I find hard to believe.’

But she had no choice.

It wasn’t simply because it was Nathan’s request.

It was because he made the request, calling upon her with the name of their childhood that she thought was forgotten.

‘Lyn, I need your help.’

For Nathan, it was a momentous task that he had prepared himself for.

It was just that she couldn’t easily refuse a favor that the man had asked of him with such determination.

So she pushed past the chamberlain trying to stop her and stepped outside.

“Princess First, please stop.”

“I told you to move aside.”

At the First Princess’s command, her knights rushed forward and cleared the way by pushing the chamberlain aside.

She continued her path and arrived at the great hall.

“Huh?”

She felt strange.

The ominous feeling emanating from the direction of the great hall was so unsettling that it sent shivers down her spine.

She could clearly sense the same filthy aura she had experienced during the Bahara incident.

“Hurry everyone! Move to the great hall quickly.”

“Yes!”

Something was amiss.

The First Princess pushed past the attendants who blocked her way and reached the great hall.

“Just a moment.. please wait. We’ll open the doors soon.”

“No need.”

“Princess!”

The First Princess did not wait for the attendants to open the door.

Bang!

Without hesitation, she kicked the doors open, revealing a shocking scene beyond.

“Oh? Have you arrived, sister?”

It was truly a sight to behold—a man sitting atop a pile of corpses.

However, referring to it as a pile of corpses seemed inaccurate.

“Ugh… Uh…”

“We… we were wrong…”

To the First Princess’s surprise, they were all still alive.

What caught her attention the most was Ian, sitting there with a radiant smile aimed at her.