The Strongest Family Has Arrived!

Chapter 12

—–CROW—– 

* * *

The world was in an uproar over the incident where a young Vasenberk esper massacred the residents of Conrad and burned the land.

Eleven-year-old Livan had never even been to Conrad, yet he was arrested on charges of conducting illegal experiments there.

“Please show leniency to the child! Livan knew nothing!”

Professor Miller Schnell, Livan’s adoptive father who had taken him in as an orphan and given him the surname Schnell, didn’t even plead his own innocence.

“The child is innocent! He was only on the faculty list because of our greed!”

“Please show leniency!”

All the professors, who were like parents to him, did the same.

Even though they were innocent too.

Every single one of them, their necks strained with emotion, pleaded only for leniency for Livan.

What exactly were these illegal experiments? The professors weren’t the kind of people who would do such things.

I don’t even know what it is, why am I arrested here?

Why aren’t the professors vehemently insisting that we are innocent?

Livan was young, but he vaguely guessed the reason.

It must be because the great Duke Vasenberk had influenced this trial.

Because his son had committed the massacre.

To give some justification to that madness, that he unintentionally killed people while investigating illegal experiments.

If Vasenberk decided to pin the blame on innocent people, they had no choice but to accept it.

That was the power the name ‘Vasenberk’ held in this empire.

“……Miller Schnell, Anna Schnell. The aforementioned nine defendants are sentenced to death by hanging.”

Despair blurred his vision.

“Livan Schnell, the aforementioned defendant, is sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in Abyss, taking into consideration his age and other circumstances.”

Despite the despairing verdict, the nine professors repeatedly expressed their gratitude, crying and bowing their heads.

Rejoicing that at least Livan had survived.

“I’m sorry, Livan…. Mom is really… sorry….”

His adoptive mother, Professor Anna Schnell, hugged young Livan and apologized repeatedly.

What was there to be sorry about?

They took in Livan, an orphan. They recognized his genius and educated him. They provided a good home, warm meals, and showered him with affection. They even gave him the title of professor at a young age so he could freely conduct research.

A debt he could never repay in his lifetime.

A debt he could no longer repay.

His kind adoptive parents and the professors who cared for him like family, all bowing their heads like criminals, were led away in a line to the execution grounds.

That was the last he saw of them.

Tears wouldn’t come in the face of the unbearable misfortune that had suddenly struck.

And then.

“Son of a bitch.”

Only when he arrived at the remote island prison to pay for a crime he didn’t commit did Livan begin to cry.

The culprit behind all this.

Dressed in the same prison uniform.  Hands tied, standing with an indifferent expression.  That young devil.

Only at that moment, when he first met Ryan.

“You devil!!!”

Having lost everything, there was nothing left to fear. Livan rushed at Ryan, crying.

“Kill me too! You devil! Killing people is easy for you, isn’t it!!!”

“…….”

Finally, emotion appeared in Ryan’s eyes as he looked down at the sobbing Livan.

What is this? After killing all those innocent people, after sending my innocent parents to the gallows.

Now.

Why are you making that remorseful expression?

“…Sorry.”

Their first meeting. His first words.

“I’m sorry.”

That’s what Ryan said.

* * *

‘Now I understand a little.’

I finally realized the source of the dissonance I felt from Livan.

‘I thought something was strange.’

In my previous life, why did Livan attack our family?

Was it simply because he was close to Ryan, that he risked his life to help him?

‘That’s absurd.’

As expected, Livan also had a reason for revenge. To avenge the unjust deaths of his adoptive parents and the professors.

‘Though it wasn’t an unjust death.’

Livan didn’t know, but the experiments definitely took place.

Livan was eleven at the time.

He was young, but a genius, and not so young that he wouldn’t understand how horrific human experimentation was… so I had thought Livan was also guilty.

However.

‘He was completely excluded from the experiments.’

It seemed the Academy professors didn’t involve young Livan in the inhumane experiments.

So, Livan knew nothing and believed the professors were innocent.

‘Good, then I’ve decided on my approach.’

I stood up energetically and said,

“I’ll help you! Fry them in hellfire.”

“……?”

Livan blinked. As if he had expected me to say this, Ryan lay sprawled on the bed and chuckled.

“Is this funny to you, brother…?”

“Yeah, it’s funny. Look at the little one’s spirit.  She’s definitely my daughter.”

“No, seriously…!”

“Oppa!”

I cut Livan off and, bravely placing my hand on my chest, began my appeal.

“I am the eleventh child of Duke Vasenberk, and until I was kicked out of the house, I grew up in Windsor Castle, where the Duke’s illegitimate children are raised separately.”

Livan just blinked, as if my words were unexpected.

“The children of Windsor Castle receive a very rigorous, high-quality education from a young age. I have never missed a perfect score on the regular tests covering politics, economics, society, culture, and general knowledge. I’m telling you, I’m much brighter than the average twelve-year-old.”

“But….”

“That’s not all. I’ve seen and heard a lot. For example, the identities, weaknesses, and family secrets of the espers you want to fry in hellfire….”

I added, folding my fingers one by one.

Of course, they wouldn’t tell children such things. Most of the information I knew was acquired when I was the deputy head of the family in my previous life, but.

‘Who cares.’

The source of the information wasn’t important.  What mattered was whether it was true or false, and how useful it was.

Even if they doubted me for knowing so much, they had no way or reason to investigate.

“Please take me with you! You won’t regret it!”

“Wow~~!!”

Clap, clap, clap.

Livan glared at Ryan, who was cheering and clapping.

“Eloquent, isn’t she? My daughter.”

“…….”

Livan sighed again, turning back to me.

“I’m sorry, kid. Even if you know something, how much could you possibly…”

“Please take me with you. Then I’ll slowly prove how useful my information is, and how much I know. Can I say one thing first?”

I took a deep breath before dropping the bombshell and spoke seriously.

“Twelve years ago, the Academy professors really were conducting experiments in Conrad.”

“…….”

“…….”

Silence descended. Livan’s eyes narrowed, and Ryan’s laughter abruptly stopped.

“What do you mean?”

Livan finally spoke after a long while.

“I told you I’ve never even been to Conrad.”

“I know the truth about that day 12 years ago. But if you don’t want to hear it, I won’t say anything.”

Livan’s eyes wavered. He seemed to instinctively sense that there was something he didn’t know.

‘He’ll be shocked if he learns the truth. He might not even want to hear it…’

The silence continued, and I waited patiently for Livan’s decision.

“Come out here for a second.”

Ryan, sensing something strange, tried to take me outside as if to cover my mouth.

“Wait.”

But Livan stopped him.

“What kind of experiment was it?”

“Hey, why are we digging up something that happened years ago?”

Ryan protested.

“She wasn’t even born then. She must have just overheard something, why would you believe…”

“No, brother. Move. I’ll listen and decide for myself.”

Livan pushed Ryan, who was blocking the way, back onto the bed and asked,

“What kind of experiment was it?”

“Human experimentation attempting to turn ordinary people into espers.”

I answered immediately. Livan’s eyes widened.

The tyranny of the espers, who monopolized esper abilities and whose power was growing day by day.

The esper transplantation experiments that began to counter them.

“Those professors built a secret experimental facility in Conrad.”

They were trying to create a means to oppose the Vasenberks.

If the experiments succeeded and ordinary people could also possess esper abilities, our family would no longer hold a monopoly on power.

That’s why my father found and eliminated the experimental facility.

Without leaving a trace.

To conceal the very fact that the experiments were attempted, to prevent word from getting out, he killed even the unrelated residents of the territory and burned the land.

“They secretly conducted esper transplantation experiments at that facility. Gathering only children who were deemed to have a high probability of successful transplantation.”

At those words, Livan’s mouth fell open in shock. His body trembled, and ragged breaths escaped his parted lips.

“If those experiments were successful, the Vasenberks wouldn’t be able to monopolize esper abilities. That’s why, 12 years ago on that day, Duke Vasenberk destroyed Conrad.”

—–CROW—–