I Became a National ‘Disaster’ Level Monster

Chapter 97: There’s No Way I Can Apologize

The day before the household selection ceremony.

“You brew tea very well.”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

“I’m not just saying this lightly. Truly… it has a taste that warms the heart.”

Inside his estate within the territory, Kitsune Rokyu was drinking tea with Sophia, who was still working as his maid.

Of course, he usually had no interest in drinking tea, nor in the act of sitting with someone to eat or drink. Being a Beast Hunter, it was something he would normally avoid.

‘This is truly bliss…’

Was this the calm before the storm?

Tomorrow, he would undoubtedly be torn apart by Kurumi and die just before that happened.

Seeing the woman sitting across from him, sharing tea with him as he had asked, Rokyu honestly felt like he could die without regret now.

So, it was only natural to give her a ‘gift’ for letting him experience such happiness.

“Tell me what you desire.”

“…Pardon?”

“I knew from the moment you said you came from Korea that you were someone Kurumi planted by my side. So, there must be something you want to know from me.”

He had known all along that she was a Hunter who had joined Kurumi’s ‘side’ in Korea.

Yet, he had foolishly kept her by his side without driving her away.

‘I have no regrets.’

Having already reached enlightenment(?), Rokyu was so deeply infatuated with Sophia that he was willing to give up his life if it meant she would be more favored by Kurumi.

Since she would soon return to her master anyway.

He was showing her kindness to help her complete her mission before she left.

“…What are you talking about?”

“What do you mean?”

“You think I’m someone planted by Princess Kurumi… Did I really seem like a spy for her?”

“Weren’t you? I thought you were completely her subordinate.”

Crack.

But in that moment.

When Sophia’s smiling expression began to crack, as if he had said something wrong, Rokyu was startled and quickly covered his mouth with both hands.

“S-subordinate! What makes you think I’m… I mean, what makes you think I’m her subordinate?!”

“Weren’t you…? You came to the territory almost at the same time as Kurumi, so I thought you were her closest subordinate.”

“We’re not close at all?!”

Sophia vehemently denied it, raising both hands in front of her and making an X sign.

Being that thief’s subordinate?

Not to mention being close to her!

‘I already have Jaewon, but just in case! That woman is definitely the enemy!’

Sophia, with sharp, glaring eyes, began to badmouth Princess Kurumi to the bewildered Rokyu.

“Hmph! From the start, I’m not close with her at all! That girl is ridiculously obsessed with men! I mean, she kept hitting on a guy I consider like a precious younger brother! There should be limits to shamelessness!”

“Kurumi did that…? I can’t even imagine such a thing.”

“Anyway! I totally dislike that woman! I much prefer you, Rokyu Young Master, over Princess Kurumi!”

Anyone who set their eyes on Shin-woo was a complete nuisance.

That was the essence of what Sophia had said.

However, despite her angry demeanor and those few words about preferring him over Kurumi(?).

‘She’s insanely adorable…!’

Even in that moment, Rokyu, with his rose-tinted glasses firmly on, couldn’t even properly look at the cute little beast before him, who was throwing a fit, and he had to avert his eyes.

“Young Master. You have a visitor.”

“A visitor…?”

The voice of an attendant called to him from beyond the tatami room, where he was sitting alone with Sophia.

“It’s the day before the household succession ceremony. Could it really be someone important enough that I need to meet them personally while managing my condition?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“?!”

With the deadly battle among the direct descendants imminent, who could have come to see him at such a time?

In the attendant’s voice, he could sense a slight tremor.

Feeling a sense of unease, Rokyu reluctantly rose from his seat.

“…Then I’ll be going now, Miss Sophia.”

“Ah, yes. Take care, Young Master.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say something like “Let’s meet again next time…” so he simply bid farewell and headed towards the guest room where he was being summoned.

And as soon as he slid open the door.

Thud!

Rokyu collapsed to the floor.

“Wh-why are you here…?”

In front of him was the first opponent he was to face in the household succession ceremony the next day.

Kitsune Kurumi had been silently waiting for her second brother.

“You’ve arrived, Brother Rokyu.”

“Kurumi…!”

Why was he already facing her now?

Directly harming another direct descendant before the household succession ceremony was a clear violation of the rules.

Or could it be that she was here to cause indirect harm, since direct harm was forbidden?

For example, just as his now-forgotten parents had once poisoned Kurumi’s parents with sugar water laced with poison the day before an important duel.

“Wh-why are you here…”

“……”

“You, you bastard…!”

He had to show strength somehow.

He had to ignore Kurumi.

Somehow, in order to avoid being the last among his family in line, he had harassed this innocent younger sister countless times to protect his family’s honor.

But now… no, perhaps ever since she was born, Kurumi had always been far superior to him in every way. The indirect harm she was about to inflict on him.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be, but if it involved.

“Rokyu Young Master.”

The one and only sun that had recently appeared in his world.

If it was something related to Miss Sophia.

“……”

He was scared.

So terribly scared.

He never imagined there could be a fear worse than death.

He would rather give up his life here than lose his mind if something were to happen to Sophia.

So what could he do?

“Brother.”

“…! …!!”

He didn’t even consider the possibility of begging for forgiveness.

If it were a problem that could be solved by that, he wouldn’t have been so afraid.

Thinking about what he had done, and what his parents had done to her, there was no way such a miracle.

“I will forgive you.”

“…What?”

There was no way such a thing could happen.

“So, apologize.”

“What… did you just say…”

“I said I’ll forgive you. Sincerely apologize to me.”

Her voice was neither arrogant nor disdainful, but solemn and calm.

Kurumi sat in the tatami room, saying no more, simply waiting.

But he couldn’t respond.

“Y-you’re saying you’ll forgive me?”

“……”

“You bastard! I am a direct descendant of the Kitsune family! And you dare to forgive me?!”

“……”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you think I would beg for my life?!”

He was already on Katsuo’s side.

Everything was over now, so what would change by doing this?

So, to protect himself and his people, Rokyu shouted at Kurumi to get lost.

“Brother Rokyu. Did you know?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“When I was young, because of you, Sister Sakura, Brother Katsuo, and other family members who scorned me, there were many times I wanted to die.”

“…!”

“That’s why I came here today, because I want to forgive you first.”

Kurumi reached out her hand to Rokyu once again, with a calm expression, and spoke.

“Did you really enjoy those times?”

“…!”

“Did you do all those things to me because you genuinely enjoyed them? If that’s the case, you can leave the room without taking my hand.”

If he had enjoyed all those terrible things.

Of course, he had done it because he wanted to live.

But still, why was she, the one who had suffered, trying to justify those horrible acts?

‘Will things be easier if I take that hand?’

No, even if he survived tomorrow, he would soon be branded a traitor and live a life worse than death.

Moreover, the punishment for his family members who lost in the household succession ceremony would be to slaughter them all in his place.

He shouldn’t take that hand, extended like a devil’s whisper.

However.

“I will protect you.”

“…What?”

“So, take my hand. And apologize to me.”

…Gulp.

This might be a trap.

If Kurumi’s protection failed, the only thing left would be a gruesome end.

But even so.

“I’ll become the head of the family and change this rotten clan.”

With those honeyed words that even Brother Katsuo had never uttered, words that promised he wouldn’t have to live this way anymore, Rokyu had already taken her hand.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Brother.”

“I-I just wanted to live! I was so scared of being treated like you! I was terrified that everyone around me would die like your parents and servants, so I kept insulting you! I threatened you! And in front of the elders, I played even more cruel pranks on you!”

“I know. Brother Rokyu always only tormented me in front of others.”

“…! Y-you knew…”

It was all over.

Now, if he made even the slightest mistake, his life would vanish like a candle in the wind.

But at the same time, what was this feeling of relief?

It was as if he had finally shed the enormous, heavy burden he had carried on his back for so long.

He just felt refreshed.

“Brother, I forgive you. So, surrender at tomorrow’s household succession ceremony.”

“…Alright.”

And so, with a face drenched in tears

and snot, Rokyu quietly let go of the sister he no longer needed to torment.

The next day, as promised, he knelt in the underground arena and surrendered as an apology, then immediately returned to the surface and went back to his family’s home.

“Head Maid. Gather all the servants.”

“Young Master…?”

“I have something to say right now.”

Rokyu ordered the head maid, who had cared for him since childhood, to gather the more than a hundred servants in the courtyard.

And whether they were doing laundry, cleaning, or preparing for the upcoming dinner.

Looking at the multitude of his people who had come out while doing their respective duties, Rokyu said just one thing.

“From this moment on, all of you are fired!”

“…Pardon?”

“Did the Young Master just say…”

“F-fired us?!”

Leaving only those words behind, as if he wouldn’t listen to any response, Rokyu was the first to turn and head back inside the estate.