The Spirit Said, 'You're Unworthy as My Master, Cancel the Contract!' So I’ll Give It to My Sister Who Wants It - Episode 2.28

Click, click. The dry sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor.

King Doran of Terre led several royal guards as he made his way to the underground level of the royal castle. The dimly lit space was a place no one would usually approach.

That was because it was the dungeon where criminals were imprisoned.

The group stopped at the deepest part of the dungeon. Behind the iron bars, a man slumped on the cold stone floor suddenly lifted his head in surprise. Then, as if grasping at hope, Gilbert quickly stood up and clung to the bars.

“Father! You’re late! Hurry and get me out of here!”

Gilbert’s face lit up with relief, but Doran remained expressionless.

“No, Gilbert. The true culprit who tried to assassinate me and frame a foreign hero has yet to be found. Therefore, as a suspect, I cannot allow you to leave this cell. Why did you station soldiers just outside the banquet hall that night? And why did you offer me the poisoned wine?”

“T-That’s… Oh, right! Chancellor Thomas deceived me—”

Just as Gilbert desperately tried to defend himself, the sound of clanking armor echoed from deeper within the dungeon.

Doran turned toward the noise. From the dark corridor, dozens of armed soldiers emerged. At the front of the group stood a familiar figure. Doran furrowed his brows and called out his name.

“Speak of the devil… Thomas.”

“Your Majesty.”

Thomas, the chancellor, gave a courteous bow.

Several royal guards at Doran’s side reached for their swords. The number of armed men behind Thomas was far too many for a mere chancellor’s escort.

The air grew tense. Yet Thomas only smiled leisurely and spoke.

“You speak of rumors, Your Majesty? Do you mean the one where you suspect me of being the mastermind behind the assassination attempt? My, my… To think you would call me, who has watched over you since childhood, the culprit…”

Thomas chuckled elegantly and glanced at Gilbert.

Though his lips curled into a smile, his eyes remained ice-cold. Gilbert’s face instantly paled. Then, Thomas turned back to Doran and declared—

“You are absolutely right.”

At that moment, the soldiers behind Thomas unsheathed their swords and lunged at Doran.

“Damn…! Have you lost your mind? Royal guards, clear a path to the exit!”

At the king’s command, the royal guards immediately drew their weapons.

They fought to carve a way through the narrow dungeon corridors for Doran’s escape. However, they were hopelessly outnumbered—Thomas’s soldiers outmatched them several times over.

In no time, the royal guards were subdued, and Doran was cornered against the wall. He was swiftly restrained and forced to his knees.

At the same time, the lock on the cell was broken, and Gilbert was freed from his cage.

—A swift and merciless coup.

Gilbert looked down at Doran coldly. Thomas approached Gilbert and whispered to him.

“Become the king, Your Highness.”

“…!”

Gilbert inhaled sharply but did not look away from Doran.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Thomas snatched a sword from a nearby soldier. The gleaming blade shone in the dim light. Without hesitation, he pressed the sword against Gilbert’s chest.

“Use this sword to slay His Majesty.”

“W-What…?”

Gilbert recoiled, glancing between Thomas and the sword, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Y-You do it yourself.”

“No, Your Highness. It must be you. …Let me explain the reality of the situation. You have failed. You misjudged the usefulness of the earth spirits, gave them to the hero, then tried to betray that hero by assassinating His Majesty. You failed in every step.”

“Ghh…”

Gilbert clenched his fists, his face twisting with frustration at the brutal truth. Thomas leaned in closer, whispering into his ear.

“I understand how you feel. It’s infuriating, isn’t it? …Then why not kill him? Erase everything that stands in your way. Have I ever led you astray before? Please, trust me, Your Highness.”

Thomas knew exactly what Gilbert resented, what he couldn’t forgive. He lured him in with sweet words.

“I will grant you command over ten thousand soldiers. I will help you achieve your great ambition—marching on Asteria.”

—Gilbert was no more than a child playing with toy soldiers.

And if that was the case, all Thomas had to do was give him a toy that would make his eyes sparkle.

Gilbert’s eyebrows twitched. He lifted his head, a faint light flickering in his gaze.

“Ten thousand? How did you gather such a force?”

“Hahaha… It was simple. You are aware that monster activity has increased recently, yes?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I spread the word among the people. I told them that a massive ‘Monster Stampede’ would soon occur, that swarms of monsters would come to destroy everything. Of course, that will never happen. But upon hearing it, what do people think? ‘I don’t want to die. I don’t want my family to be taken from me. That’s right, we should seize Asteria instead.’”

“—!”

“They may be ordinary citizens, unskilled in battle, but they will fight with their lives on the line. Lead them from the front, Your Highness. Prove that you are the rightful king. And once your grand ambition is realized, take my daughter as your queen and rebuild this nation—my king.”

As if handling fragile glass, Thomas gently guided Gilbert’s hands around the sword.

This time, Gilbert accepted it without resistance.

Thomas smiled smugly. As long as Gilbert held the sword, victory was assured.

(Do it, Gilbert. I’ve paved the way for you. All you need to do is summon the courage to strike. Once you do, all my efforts will finally bear fruit. I will rule Terre through this fool.)

Thomas’s ambition was clear—he would use the simple-minded Gilbert as a puppet to seize control of the kingdom.

Gilbert, who had been staring downward, suddenly lifted his head. His eyes now gleamed with newfound determination.

As if he had finally realized that he was the hero destined to save his kingdom.

“Father… don’t hate me for this! It’s your own weakness that brought this upon you! I will be the true king who leads Terre!”

Like a marionette in Thomas’s hands, Gilbert raised the sword high.

Doran, still on his knees, opened his eyes wide in shock—.