Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1843: Dying Lord

Adam had no idea what awaited him on the upper level and at the Grad family residence, but this certainly wasn’t on his list of expectations.

In a way, he understood why Markol had acted aggressively. Even if he was an idiot, his actions made sense. Their family was in crisis, and upon seeing a Phantom on his family’s property at that moment, he saw no other choice but to resort to aggression.

If Amelia had simply scolded him and then apologized to Adam for his behavior, Adam would have forgotten about the whole thing in ten seconds.

But pretty quickly, the situation took a much darker and more brutal turn, especially for Markol.

“Damn, did that really happen? I felt something was off, but I couldn’t even imagine something like this happening.”

Adam glanced at Amelia.

“Up until that moment, she’d been polite to me, Krador and Laroza. But… as soon as her brother went too far, she lost all restraint, right?”

“S-S-Sister…” Markol’s voice trembled. Her words pierced his heart like sharp daggers. “How can you say that to your brother?! Take back what you said! I’m ten times, no… a hundred times, better than that Phantom!”

It was evident that Amelia’s words had hurt his feelings. This was hardly surprising, considering she had just called him a defect and a worm.

However, Amelia had no intention of wasting any more time on him as she turned to Adam.

“I apologize for my brother’s behavior. He’s desperately trying to deny reality and his place in the world. Let’s move on. We’re almost at my father’s chamber.”

“Now she’s polite again?” Adam raised an eyebrow. Deep down, he was shocked that, all this time, Amelia’s face had shown no emotion other than a rare coldness.

But that was none of his business. He had come here to heal Amelia’s father, even though he didn’t know how to do it, and to learn the Soul Stance.

“Sure.” Adam shrugged. “It seems your family is pretty straightforward, isn’t it?”

Amelia blinked.

“There’s no point in lying. Those who will burn when they get too close to the sun need to know that, for their own good.”

Suddenly, something snapped inside Adam as he burst out laughing.

“Hahahahahaha!”

His laughter echoed through the hall, causing the servants to look confused.

“You just crushed your brother’s ego, and you’re saying things like that? Though…” His gaze fell on Markol. “No matter how cruel your words may be, I can’t call you a liar.”

“Because I am not. I understand that you don’t know how our family works. That’s to be expected. But, as everywhere else, some succeeded and those who failed.”

Adam looked at her over his shoulder.

“As I understand it, you’re one of the former?”

“Naturally,” she replied without a hint of doubt.

Adam waved his hand before stepping forward, under Markol’s wide-open eyes, filled with horror.

“I see. Let’s move on.”

“Sure, sorry again for the delay.”

Thus, Adam and Amelia ascended the grand staircase, heading toward the far hallway.

Markol was left alone in the middle of the empty hall as Amelia’s words echoed through his mind over and over.

The worst part was that he knew Amelia was right.

He really was a failure to their family, and because of the nature of the noble monster families, he wasn’t the only one.

…

The Grad family’s residence differed little from the luxurious mansions Adam had seen among the nobles of the Twelve Branches.

Here, different materials had been sourced from the Tarnished Lands, and instead of a view of the garden, there was a view of the lower level of Varreyn on one side and the territory beyond its walls on the other.

Otherwise, the place was similar to dozens of others at the Citadel.

“There’s plenty of wealth and rare items, but these buildings are never alive. These mansions are built to display status and influence, because that’s what’s expected, not because the builder had a vision or a desire to create something meaningful.”

Sure, Adam had an expensive house, but he understood that he’d bought it for convenience and because he could easily afford it. The nobles built their residences not because it was easy, but because they had to prove they were better than others.

‘I wonder what Amelia thinks about this? It doesn’t seem like she’s interested in anything other than power itself.’

“Could we run into trouble with anyone else in your family?” Adam asked as they walked down the empty marble hallway.

“Yes,” Amelia replied honestly. “My mother is with my father right now. But she won’t be able to stop you.”

“Why?”

A chill flashed across Amelia’s eyes.

“Because I’m stronger.”

Adam narrowed his eyes.

‘Is she stronger than her mother? Would that even be possible if they were related by blood? The older a monster is, the stronger it usually is.’

At the very end of the hallway, heavy wooden doors awaited them, which Amelia slowly opened.

Dim light streamed through the window, falling on a spacious bed in the very center of the chamber. Lying on the bed was a man with gray, sagging skin, black hair that was rapidly losing its color, and half-closed hazel eyes. His skin was stretched tight over his bones, revealing his severe exhaustion.

“Amelia’s father…” Adam immediately realized who was standing before him. “Shit, he really does look bad.”

“Amelia!”

Suddenly, an irritated female voice rang out.

A woman was sitting next to the bed. She immediately jumped up from her chair as soon as they both entered.

Strangely enough, she had the same light hair as Amelia, and her eyes were blue as well, though a much paler shade.

“Who is that?” She pointed at Adam as her aura intensified. The blue energy waves radiated from her, heading toward Adam.

But before her aura could reach Adam, Amelia stepped forward, and the woman’s aura shattered, unable to overcome Amelia.

“Mother, please don’t stop me from saving my father.”

“I won’t entrust his life to some human!” The woman waved her hand. “Get out of here, you wretch!”

“Calm down.”

Amelia’s voice rang out, sending a chill down the woman’s spine.

“Or…” A glint flashed across her eyes. “I’ll have to make a pragmatic decision and get rid of the obstacle.”