The Strongest Family Has Arrived!

Chapter 3

—–CROW—–

“I’ll die if you don’t take me! Appaaa! Please take meeee!”

*Swish, swish.*

Ryan, cleaning his ear as he walked away, thought,

‘Incompetent, huh?’

The girl seemed to know that following him was her best option.

If she stayed in their hands, she might be abandoned or even killed.

‘But…’

Ryan’s steps slowed.

‘…There’s no such thing as incompetent, is there?’

He hated to admit it, but he believed that the blood of his father, who produced ability users, was “real.”

Because Ryan himself wasn’t incompetent.

For some reason, his ability manifested late, and now he was only *pretending* to be incompetent for the sake of his revenge.

‘That child can’t be incompetent either.’

She might not know it herself, but she must be a late bloomer.

For the same reason as Ryan was, back then.

“…Please take me with you… I was kicked out of the house, and I have nowhere to go…”

Suddenly, the image of the girl overlapped with his twelve-year-old self, banished from the family.

“Damn it.”

Ryan stopped abruptly.

He had a lot to do. He wasn’t in a position to take care of a child, nor did he have any obligation to.

But he could at least separate her from *them*.

‘Yeah, what sin did that little thing commit other than being born?’

So, this was a small act of pity that wouldn’t cost him anything.

Thinking that, Ryan started walking back.

*Step, step.*

He’d just go with her to the mainland, give her some money, and tell her to find her own way.

*Step, step.*

And if she cried and clung to him, making a fuss…

Well, then he could just dump her somewhere.

He really would abandon her. Really.

Right now, it was hard enough to take care of himself and prepare for his revenge.

So, he really wasn’t going to raise her.

Really.

“….?”

Vania looked up at Ryan as he returned. The girl’s small body was firmly held by the soldier.

“Ugh!”

Ryan roughly twisted the soldier’s arm, and Vania, looking bewildered, quickly slipped free.

Having easily subdued the soldier, Ryan swiftly drew the sword from his waist. He held it up and twirled it around.

“Wow, this looks nice. Can I take this as a release gift?”

At his threatening movement, the other three soldiers hurriedly drew their swords.

“Oh? Want to have a go? Do you think you can beat me after I spent twelve years doing nothing but building muscle in prison?”

Ryan sneered and gestured at Vania with his chin.

“Let’s go.”

“Ah!”

Vania, blinking, ran and hid behind Ryan.

“Hey, you guys.”

Ryan, leaning casually with the sword slung over his shoulder, said,

“Now, hand over my daughter’s child support.”

***

The House of Vasenberg.

The corrupt family that controlled the great Valensia Empire.

By monopolizing the powerful force of abilities, they interfered with the Empire’s military, administration, and even legislation.

Members of the family controlled numerous businesses, influencing the nation’s financial flows.

Furthermore, they formed a massive underground cartel, committing all sorts of unspeakable illegal acts.

And I, Vania Vasenberg, was called the princess of that corrupt family before my regression.

This was because I possessed an exceptionally powerful ability among the many siblings in the family.

Everyone adored me, and I thought the whole world was beneath my feet.

A large house, fine clothes, beautiful jewels, exquisite food, luxury, social gatherings…

In my childhood, I knew nothing and simply indulged in the glamorous life of a noble lady.

Because the family deliberately raised me like an idiot, keeping me under their control.

Unaware of the dark side.

Like a bird in a cage.

Like a princess in a castle.

So that even if I grew up and learned many things, I wouldn’t want to escape the life I was accustomed to.

So, at sixteen, when I became an adult, I finally learned the truth.

That my father and brothers were criminals living above the law, and that my family, the Vasenbergs, were a corrupting influence on the nation.

“Ugh, it’s hot.”

I quietly followed Ryan as he walked towards the pier under the scorching sun.

Inconspicuously, like a mouse behind his back.

Plan A:

1. Get kicked out of the family by pretending to be incompetent → Success!
2. Meet Ryan and follow him → Success!
3. …

The plan was proceeding smoothly, but it was only the beginning.

Now that I was following Ryan, I couldn’t let my guard down.

Because Ryan was a time bomb with insane abilities.

This man’s ability was…

“Hey.”

“Yes?!”

I was startled. I jumped in surprise as Ryan suddenly turned around.

“What? Did you see a monster or something?”

“N-No.”

“Let’s get on board.”

Ryan pointed to a ship at the pier.

A luxurious vessel with the Vasenberg insignia emblazoned on its bow.

“Um, the ship we’re taking…”

Next to it, a shabby-looking vessel sat almost hidden.

“…is that one.”

I pointed to the dilapidated small supply ship used by the prison. It was the ship that carried out released prisoners.

“What?”

Just then, Ryan’s gaze shifted behind me. It was the aide and the soldiers we had parted ways with at the prison entrance.

“This big ship is the one I rode here on. And it will take those people back.”

“Huh, how stingy. Can’t we just ride together? I get seasick on those crappy boats.”

“I don’t think so…”

At that moment, Bill, the aide, approached and nudged my shoulder.

“Huh?”

I felt a sudden surge of anger at his impertinent gesture. This aide had been treating me with disrespect, constantly speaking down to me, ever since we started traveling together.

‘I can’t get used to this.’

Before the regression, this man would have groveled at my feet.

“What?”

“The Vasenbergs have eyes and ears everywhere in the Empire. Remember, if you blab and run your mouth carelessly, you won’t live long.”

This meant that if I went around bragging about being the Duke of Vasenberg’s daughter, they would eliminate me.

Because I was incompetent.

Or rather, I was pretending to be incompetent and had intentionally been expelled from the family.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Listen to how she talks back.”

Ryan, who had been listening, interrupted.

“You treated her like a princess when you didn’t know she was incompetent, didn’t you? Try to be a little consistent.”

“I only obey those who bear the Vasenberg name. Young Master, too… No.”

Bill added with a sneer.

“If you also want to stay alive, stop running your mouth so carelessly and live quietly as if you were dead.”

“…What?”

A crack appeared in Ryan’s expression. My jaw dropped.

‘This crazy old man?!’

This was an emergency! Did he know who Ryan was to provoke him like this?

My head spun.

‘If he kills the aide here…’

It would cause a serious setback to the plan.

I impulsively hugged Ryan’s waist.

“D-Don’t talk to Appa like that!”

Silence.

“…”

“…”

Ryan blinked and looked down at me, and Bill scoffed in disbelief.

“Puhaha! Hey, did you hear that? How sweet, defending him like a loyal daughter?”

Fortunately, Ryan, his anger seemingly diffused, put his arm around my shoulder.

“I’ll let it slide because of her. Get lost if you don’t want to die. Even if I’m incompetent, I can still take care of an old man like you.”

“…”

Bill, glaring at Ryan with disapproval, boarded the ship with the soldiers.

“See you again sometime!”

Ryan waved with a smile.

That Bill guy didn’t know. That I had just desperately saved his life.

Ryan still had his arm around my shoulder, and the pressure made me want to cry.

“Make sure you keep your head attached until we meet again…”

When I heard his quiet murmur, devoid of any humor, I knew it wasn’t directed at me, but my heart still pounded.

Ryan Vasenberg.

Before the regression, I had only seen this man for about ten minutes.

But at that time, I became certain of what kind of ability Ryan possessed.

“What? Why are you trembling? Are you crying?”

“No? I was just a little surprised.”

“Surprised by what? Afraid I was going to fight them? Is that why you stopped me?”

“Yes. I was worried you’d get hurt…”

“Ah, don’t worry about it.”

No, I was worried about *them*, not you.

“Even if we had fought, I would have won. Don’t be scared.”

Ryan pulled me closer, his arm still around my shoulder.

“I said don’t be scared.”

He bent down, bringing his face close to mine, peering at me.

My heart… pounded.

Extreme fear.

This man’s ability, presumably…

“Relax your face, it’s okay.”

The worst and strongest power, said to have appeared only once since the birth of ability users.

An ability like the Grim Reaper, capable of extinguishing the breath of all living things in a single second.

“Smile! Smi~le!”

“Ha. Haha. Yes, yes! I’m smiling!”

….

—–CROW—–