System vs Rebirth

Chapter 1385: Meeting Laufey

”Thank you very much.” A soldier fell on one knee, thanking Noel for a precious lesson.

After returning to the barrack, Noel had been sparring with over twenty people.

The people felt a bit uneasy because they heard all kinds of ruckuses, but fortunately, Noel managed to suppress that emotion by simply coming back while looking fine.

Of course, he was hurt. Even with his Force Control, without a proper rest, he couldnʼt recover fully. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to endure it.

Noel didnʼt end it early so that people wouldnʼt worry about his condition. In the end, he fought multiple interesting battles. He could grasp the potential that his knights had.

It was probably because of his name that they had an easier time recruiting a knight that had spiritual energy in their body. In fact, according to Howardʼs report, they had about 250 knights with spiritual energy and 30 knights with spirits out of 12,000 soldiers they currently had.

It was a huge number, considering a marquis normally only had less than a quarter of what he had.

These knights were seeking an opportunity in his place after learning about runes and other marvelous inventions.

Still, most knights he fought here didnʼt have spiritual energy. However, Noel still taught them and fixed their forms.

At the very least, he wanted to make them not feel like they were losing anything by spending their contribution in this sparring session.

Besides, out of all the people he fought today, he actually picked one of them, who seemed to be a normal knight, to be raised directly by Howard. This knight ultimately became an elite soldier, which roused peopleʼs excitement even more.

Once he was done, he returned to the mansion right away. Although he wanted to get some rest to fully recover from his wound, there was something much more important he had to do.

Without wasting a single second, he rushed to the basement, finding Melissa sitting in the corner of the prison.

A clicking sound echoed from inside one of the cells.

”Hahaha. You have finally come, Marquis Ardagan. Do you think you have won?”

Noel closed his eyes with a pained look. Listening to his uncle like this pained his heart.

Noel steeled his resolve and walked toward the cell, looking at the chained man.

No matter how he looked at him, there was nothing wrong with Laufey. In fact, he should be his uncle because his medal said so.

Name: Laufey Ardagan

Affection: Loyalty (100/100)

Description: The unsung hero of the Ardagan family who loves this family and nephew more than anyone else in the world.

Although he wanted to believe Laufey was still sane, he couldnʼt help but remember how the Supreme Devil could counter Ardagan. There was a chance that what he saw with this medal was wrong, and Ardagan had no way to identify it.

Noelʼs expression turned cold, which made Laufey excited.

”Hahahaha. Youʼve won this time, Marquis. To think that you would hide such a trump card…” Laufey grinned. ”So, what are you planning to do next? Are you going to execute me? You have finally found the traitor of the family. Executing him will give you a lot of glory.”

Noel looked at him with a pitiful gaze.

”Why are you looking at me with such a gaze?” Laufey snarled.

”Uncle.” Noel muttered his title with pity and warmth. On the one hand, he hoped Laufey was fine. On the other hand, he didnʼt know if this was the best for Laufey or not.

”Uncle? I have long abandoned that title. All I can think of is how to kill you!” Laufey laughed like an insane person.

But it made Noel even sadder. ”Why are you acting that way, Uncle? It is as if you wish to die.”

”!!!” Laufey gritted his teeth.

Before Laufey could speak another word as if to denounce Noel, the latter continued, ”I am sorry for being a useless nephew who ends up troubling you. Because of me, you have to suffer all this.”

”What are you talking ab—”

He didnʼt shed tears even when Old Jade died. Yet this time, tears fell down his cheeks, which startled Laufey.

”I know that you love this family more than anyone else in this world. Yet your hand has to be stained with blood and ruin this very family. All the sacrifices you have made so far… I donʼt even have enough to repay you for your service.”

Laufey gritted his teeth. No matter how hard he trained himself to hate Noel, no matter how hard he acted so as to make him believe that he hated him, Laufey couldnʼt do it.

He couldnʼt contain the tears from coming out of his eyes.

”Stop it!” Laufey raised his voice. If Noel continued this, he really couldnʼt bear it.

”I wonʼt. Uncle. Youʼve done so much for me, this family… and my father!”

”!!!” Laufey gritted his teeth. ”You…”

Noel bit his lips. He held the bar and said, ”Donʼt worry. I will definitely—”

”Stop it!” Laufey shouted at the top of his lungs. He looked at Noel as if he was pleading with his life. ”Please stop! Just kill me! I have dirtied my hand. I have tried to kill you multiple times. What uncle? Iʼm the worst uncle you ever had!

”Donʼt give me sympathy. I deserve this end, so please kill me… while Iʼm still sane. I donʼt wish to wield my sword to kill my nephew!”

Laufeyʼs last sentence was indirectly implying that he didnʼt wish for the demon to take over and use his body to claim Noelʼs life with everything on the line.

While he was still able to resist the demonʼs control, he wanted to die.

But this was what Noel needed the most. The moment he heard that confirmation, Noel smiled. ”Itʼs not true. Youʼve sacrificed yourself so much for the family. Please, let me take away your sword.”

”Stop it! Iʼm—”

”A demonic human. I know.” Noel clutched his chest. ”However, I have a method to completely free you from that demon! Uncle… This is the end. Please…”

All the words stuck in his throat when he saw Noelʼs expression. It pierced through the deepest part of his heart.

”I… I…”