The Silent Hero’s End

In the Kingdom of Zelin, within the Royal Capital of Budapelle, the National Council Hall hummed with activity.

Viscount Renitz occupied a rather prominent seat. Technically, he had no right to such a distinguished position, being merely a titular noble without a fiefdom. Yet, he sat there. The reason was simple: twenty years prior, he had led the defense of Komi City, crippling a vast number of Imperial troops.

It was because of this valiant stand that the Imperial forces themselves bestowed upon Komi City the moniker, “City of the Fearless.”

Viscount Renitz became a hero. Bards sang of his deeds, and children declared their aspirations to become like him. Even the venerable old Count had personally draped a cloak over his shoulders and offered him blessings before the battle. Renitz often found himself reminiscing about those bygone days.

Later, the upright old Count passed away, and his son ascended to the title. Subsequently, Komi City rapidly transformed into a major metropolis within a few short years, now even showing signs of surpassing the royal capital, Budapelle.

However… Viscount Renitz sighed.

The new Count was currently holding forth in the National Council Hall, predictably steering the discussion, as always, toward the issue of Komi City’s appropriations. The Kingdom’s Minister of Finance nodded in agreement repeatedly. Renitz sat in silence, uttering not a single word.

“What are your thoughts on this proposal to allocate funds to Komi City, Viscount Renitz?” King Skaels inquired.

“As His Excellency the Count has stated,” Renitz replied, speaking the only sentence he would utter throughout the entire council meeting. In that moment, he imagined the Count and his allies sharing a knowing smile.

Ultimately, the proposal passed. Votes in favor of the Komi City allocation accounted for eighty percent, while seventeen percent opposed it, and three percent abstained.

The Count had once again achieved his objective. Viscount Renitz knew better than anyone whose private coffers that allocation would ultimately fill. Komi City was no longer under the just administration of the old Count. Nobles and officials colluded, leading to the rich growing richer and the poor growing poorer.

Eventually, the poor died, the less affluent became poor, and the even wealthier became truly rich, trapped in an endless cycle. The nobles and officials, meanwhile, perpetually occupied the top of this food chain.

As a former hero, Renitz was forced into silence. What good would a struggle do? It would only lead to impeachment. All the men he had once promoted were now commoners. The noblest individuals were engaged in the most ignoble deeds, yet Viscount Renitz felt he had no choice but to compromise.

In his eyes, Komi City was like a cake. He had once poured his heart and soul into defending this beautiful cake against enemies. Looking back, though the cake had not been seized by invaders, it was now teeming with maggots. The King was likely unaware that the Count’s mansion was now barely smaller than the royal palace itself.

‘Time to go home,’ he thought, as he boarded his carriage and set off toward Komi City.

Viscount Renitz had a son studying abroad who had just started his vacation a few days ago. Calculating the journey, his son should arrive home today. Speaking of his son, he was truly his pride and joy. The boy attended the Delbelu Academy in the Kingdom of Liege and, from what Renitz had heard, had achieved excellent results in his first academic year.

Thus, he decided to cast aside all unpleasant thoughts and celebrate properly. Upon returning to his mansion, he addressed his butler.

“Bring out the champagne that has been aging in the cellar for twenty years.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Shortly after, the butler returned with the champagne. “My lord,” the butler added, “Komi City might be a little restless lately.”

“What’s happened?” Viscount Renitz asked.

“Many nobles and officials in Komi City have recently been assassinated.”

“Who exactly has been assassinated?”

The butler handed him a list, and a barely perceptible smile touched Renitz’s lips.

“I might have to trouble you again,” Viscount Renitz said. “Please bring another bottle of forty-year-old champagne.”

The list contained the names of all the parasites corrupting Komi City. He wanted to praise the assassin, who had done what Renitz himself had long wished to do but never dared. They deserved their deaths. If he were to meet this killer, he would personally thank them. If the assassin were ever caught, he even entertained the thought of using all his influence to protect them.

Seeing the names of the deceased vermin on the list, coupled with the joy of his son’s return, Viscount Renitz’s earlier vexation from the council meeting vanished instantly.

‘Today truly is a day worth celebrating. Thank the Goddess,’ he mused.

He instructed his servants to prepare several fine dishes, then waited quietly for his son to come home. His wife had once been the daughter of a certain noble family in Komi City. Because he had originally refused to be complicit with corrupt officials, he had lost his position for a time, and his wife had left him.

But at least his son stood by his side. He recalled the immense satisfaction he felt when his son resolutely chose him. This son didn’t need much guidance to avoid straying from the right path. He, too, detested the current atmosphere in Komi City, sympathized with the plight of the poor, and was a righteous young man.

‘I hope he can achieve great things in the future, unlike me, who chose silent compromise,’ he thought.

Staring at the bountiful table of food, the man was filled with anticipation. Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door. The butler was about to leave the dining table to answer it.

“Wait,” Viscount Renitz called out, stopping the butler. “I’ll get it.”

He was impatient to see his son. He wondered if the boy had gained or lost weight. Had he grown taller? Had his eyesight improved? He wanted to ask about life at the magic academy and if he had found a beautiful girlfriend.

Viscount Renitz, casting aside his noble decorum, rushed to open the door like any eager father. He had intended to say, “You foolish boy, you’re finally home; the food’s getting cold,” but suddenly, he found himself unable to make a sound.

It was liquid. It was blood. His throat had been slit, and crimson fluid erupted instantly.

Viscount Renitz’s vibrant eyes gradually dimmed. A gentle breeze swept past, and in a hazy moment, he saw a pair of crimson eyes, sparkling like rubies—a greeting from hell itself…

He collapsed, never seeing his son one last time.

Beneath the moonlight, young Renitz clutched his father’s corpse, weeping uncontrollably, nearly fainting multiple times. Clutching his head, he gritted his teeth and vowed, “No matter who you are, no matter where you are, I will find you! And then, I will tear you limb from limb!”

A few days later, young Renitz, looking despondent, attended his father’s funeral. Before the gravestone, the Count personally held a black umbrella over him.

King Skaels of Zelin displayed a complex expression as he personally draped the Viscount’s cloak over young Renitz’s shoulders. “Your father was the man I respected most.”

The gravestone was inscribed with: Tomb of Major General Viscount Renitz of the Kingdom of Zelin. On the back, it read: He never compromised.

When a historian wrote the biography of Viscount Renitz, though most of the text described his military prowess and magical talent, the epilogue concluded with a profound statement:

The tragedy of an era is not the arrogance of evil, but the silence of good men.