Chapter 18. What a Jackpot (2)
A sharp-tongued young man in his early twenties was descending the mansion's staircase.
"So after finally showing your face at home after so long, all you do is cause a fuss over some brat?"
Even his tone was poisonous.
"Where'd you dig up bones filthier than the Skeleton King?"
Suddenly demoted back to 'bones,' Isaac's eyes flew wide open.
What's this? Who's this mannerless bastard?
Some punk who hasn't even lived a century daring to glare like that...
"Brother."
Ah, so it's my uncle.
Isaac's angelic face contorted.
They didn't look alike. While Lillai had silver hair, that ill-mannered... yes, the uncle with fierce eyes had brown hair. Their only similarity was sharing blue irises.
That wasn't all. Lillai bore some resemblance to Saint Melissa, but that rude uncle shared no likeness at all. If anything...
'...The Pope?'
Though only slightly, Isaac felt genuinely uncomfortable. His bad blood with the Pope wasn't just about leading opposing factions.
The jerk uncle seemed equally displeased with his nephew, glaring at Isaac.
"Put that down. We're sending it to the annex."
At his imperious tone, Lillai's straight gaze turned murderous - identical to when the Skeleton King's name was mentioned. The shift came when he called his nephew 'it.'
Ironically, 'it' was cheering for the jerk uncle.
'Good job, well done.'
Between the two, Lillai who came to retrieve him was preferable, but currently he appreciated this guy trying to banish him to the annex.
'Yes! Snatch me away and dump me in the annex!'
Hurry!
Then we can eliminate this lunatic uncle!
The rude uncle just snorted, clearly unwilling to touch his nephew.
"What a spectacle. Giving such things to a brat who can't even distinguish objects."
The uncle seemed more interested in what Isaac held - a pale blue jeweled ornament from Lillai. Not just dislike - it was pure envy in his gaze.
The jewel's rare color made it more valuable than ordinary gold - a mineral Isaac had favored. But still, it was just something from his crazy uncle. Why would a ducal heir be jealous of...?
"Giving him one of only ten white jadeites in existence? You're not our only nephew - was Big Brother's son really that precious?"
Retract 'crazy.'
Isaac's bulging eyes locked onto the jewel. White jadeite! One of the world's three rarest minerals - legendary in every aspect: properties, aesthetics, and scarcity. Dubbed 'God's Tears,' its value matched its fame - enough to make Isaac's eyes roll back. While perhaps useless for holy factions, it was perfect for Isaac. Priced high enough to purchase an entire family estate.
However Lillai obtained it, the uncle had reason for envy.
'This isn't some gold ring-level treasure.'
Isaac upgraded him from 'crazy uncle' to 'Crazy Uncle' and stuffed the jewel into his mouth. He couldn't comprehend why such treasure would be casually given, but couldn't let relatives steal it either.
Seeing this, the startled uncle reflexively raised a hand before crossing his arms with intensified displeasure.
"Why bring that trash here at all? Into the main residence no less? Who authorized this?"
Is he clergy or street thug?
Lillai was too paladin-like for taste; this guy was just gutter trash.
[Ugh! These damned clergy! Daring to emanate holy power before Master? Should we hang them both like Saint Melissa?]
"Don't bother hanging them for me."
At Isaac's skill level, he could detect energy fluctuations smaller than a fingernail.
Frankly by now, they were emitting killing intent rather than holy power.
Unthinkable they were brothers.
But why would siblings act like this?
"Why's the youngest making trouble when everyone else is quiet?"
"Should we abandon a child bearing Eschewa's blood?"
"We were planning to send servants even if you hadn't gone."
"Oh right - to send him to the branch family!"
"Is that a problem?"
"It's a huge problem! He's our nephew! The first son's child!"
"First son? Bullshit."
Ah, I see.
They're a dysfunctional family.
Isaac gazed skyward as if denying reality.
Should I return to the imperial palace now?
They'll self-destruct before I can turn them into scraps.
'Well, I just need to devour my physical body.'
Whether they're blown away by wind or typhoon matters not.
The problem was these people were technically his family and guardians until he regained strength.
Which somehow made it more irritating.
Even for a dysfunctional family, this treatment of an ignorant firstborn's child crossed lines...
"Right, the firstborn's child. That firstborn nearly ruined our family."
"What?"
"The first son abandoned the family, cutting off support and nearly destroying us. And now this child?"
The real line-crossers were the parents.
I don't know details, but I see why I'm treated like a bastard.
"Why should we accept that child from some vulgar woman of unknown lineage?"
And now I see why this bastard keeps crossing lines.
Ashili's eyes widened, and Lillai's gaze similarly flashed.
"Watch your tongue. Our family never faced ruin, and your sister-in-law is the current Saint."
"Hah, right. You always favored Big Brother and the Saint, so I get your attachment to that trash."
"!"
"Ultimately his partner bore another son? Proving he failed both as Saint and family head? Typical of the Saint's offspring."
"Brother."
"That brat's face is decent enough for Saint's blood - we can sell him as Eschewa's seed. Yes, that's how he'll contribute."
As he spoke, Lillai covered Isaac's eyes.
Simultaneously, Lillai's fist flew into his brother's face.
"Have you finished speaking?!"
"Kyaak! Stop them!"
"Young Master! This is unacceptable! Gasp!"
[How dare these filthy clergy insult Master! Let's slaughter them all!]
As fisticuffs erupted, servants and knights rushed in. Even listening Whisper tried to charge in, claiming Master was insulted.
Watching this, Isaac again gazed at the blue sky.
Ah, rather than becoming Pope with these fools, beheading the Pope alone would be faster.
'Should I revive all the magic cores in the annex and bail?'
"Why? Don't you know we brought that child to push as Saint candidate? Don't forget we already have one! Remember it's thanks to us Eschewa maintains its status!"
"Brother!"
At that moment.
"Won't you stop?!"
A nervous voice accompanied blue lightning striking between them.
An elderly stranger observed Isaac from afar.
"The family head summons the child."
"Tsk (Damn bastards)."
"Tsk tsk tsk (Should've known they're dysfunctional)."
Isaac muttered curses while being dragged by servants to a bath, scrubbed raw, then thrown into a conference room.
Bathing was fine.
Though the servants seemed under orders to scrub him like threshing grain, it didn't matter.
Right - can't meet the family head looking filthy.
Though he planned to devour the position soon, for now the head was supreme authority.
The family that once rivaled the Skeleton King and produced Saints, one of the Empire's Five Great Houses - certainly no ordinary figure.
At minimum, show courtesy and assess what kind of person...
"Tch, another male."
"Useless mouthbreeder."
Like hell.
Isaac bristled at the elderly assembly.
The head summoned me, so why are unrelated geezers here?
"What use is siring males?"
Moreover, being criticized for male birth?
"If we accepted that lowborn as Saint, she should've fulfilled her duty. Birthing another son? She's unworthy."
Goddammit, what kind of hybrid mess is this?
Can't you pick one - son preference or daughter preference?
Isaac's face twitched at the convened crowd.
His critics were Eschewa's pillars supporting the family head - elders and senior members.
For a prestigious house like Eschewa, advisors flanking the head was normal.
The real issue lay elsewhere.
"Lillai. We decided to raise that child in the branch family and release him. Why let him tread main house grounds?"
Why are non-heads causing commotion?
"Release? People might think we abducted him!"
Even basic animal treatment - why is the head's seat occupied by a concubine instead of a cardinal?
Sharing this thought, Lillai stared at the woman in the head's seat.
"Father has vacated his position."
"He's away. Troubles with Saint candidates make everywhere noisy."
Simultaneously, the rude uncle snapped:
"Why? Displeased our mother sits as acting head?"
No displeasure.
My displeasure is your ill-mannered speech.
Isaac glared, but the blabbering uncle wouldn't stop.
"Displeased? Go beg Grandmother to birth a daughter then."
"You...!"
"Don't you know only Saint-bearers may speak here? Want a voice? Go birth a daughter yoursel— Thwack!"
"Gasp! Young Master! Your nose!"
The uncle clutched his face, interrupted by Isaac's golden rattle projectile.
Ah bastard. Not having daughters stings, huh?
Saint? Shouldn't say this, but you couldn't even defeat the Skeleton King!
Enraged, the uncle grabbed Isaac.
"Filthy trash! Ptooey!!"
Isaac spat a wad directly into his uncle's face.
The spit-covered uncle trembled with disgust, but so what?
Hit a suckling infant?
Try it. Try hitting me, moron.
"This mannerless, rootless bastard!"
Ultimately, he couldn't strike, only tremble.
Though Isaac had briefly slapped his uncle's face, the real reason for his arrogance:
'Who said Saint families don't favor males? I'm just baggage here.'
Simple truth.
In Saint-producing families, daughters are precious.
Those bearing daughters gain status.
Moreover, the Saint's special combat abilities never manifest in males.
Isaac understood his worthless treatment in this context.
"See! This is what the first son's heir does!"
"Lord Goel!"
"His vulgar actions prove he's no Eschewa blood! Probably some beggar's spawn! He's unworthy of the branch family! Banish him now!"
Isaac also knew he must silence this uncle before reclaiming his body.
Then:
"Yes, he's truly too precious for the branch family. He's no ordinary child."
At Lillai's words, the elders frowned.
"Not ordinary?"
Lillai's eyes sparkled as he lifted Isaac like a lion cub.
"Yes. This child has talent. Talent incomparable to Goel Brother's."
"What nonsense?"
The uncle's eyes bulged as Isaac, suspended mid-air, grinned.
Good, the old folks' expressions shifted.
Just a bit more.
"Listen well - this child will become a Saint!"
Yes!
More!
"Not just that! He'll undoubtedly become Pope!"
Good! That's it!
Continue!
"No - the child who will kill the Skeleton King!"
Wait, uncle.
Drop the last part.
