episode_0125

“Didn’t you say my forehead isn’t for eating?”

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Ada sleeping with her lips on my forehead.

“… Ada will wake you up.”

Ada, who was still asleep, unconsciously reacted to my voice as if she was dreaming.

I carefully laid Ada down and wiped her drool-covered forehead with my hand.

“Is there anyone else?”

A situation that made me feel uneasy for some reason. I couldn’t help but laugh at the similar situation to when I collapsed from overwork before.

At that time, even after I came to my senses, my body wouldn’t listen to me for a while and I had a hard time, but now, I was in such great condition that it was hard to believe that I had been beaten by Satanael and passed out.

‘The effect is certain.’

Could it be that the blessing bestowed by the goddess is so effective that it is like fully doping the vitality potion that I had been refraining from taking due to side effects?

Moreover, this is a permanent effect with no side effects, so it is a fairly satisfactory compensation.

“Rupert!”

I was momentarily lost in the effects of the blessing, but I came back to my senses when I heard a voice calling me as I opened the door and came in.

“How are you feeling?! Is there a problem… .”

“It’s okay, Dad. But what happened to him?”

“Satanaeel is completely finished, don’t worry.”

I managed to calm down Earl Bradley, who was looking at me with a worried expression, and asked him about the current situation. The answer was none other than Richard.

chuck.

“Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve missed him.”

“I didn’t do anything special, bro.”

Richard approached me while I was lying down and held my hand tightly, shaking his head as if to disagree with my answer.

“I am ashamed that I came home without doing anything and put my family in this danger.”

“I agree with that to some extent.”

In this kind of atmosphere, it would be normal to say something cheerful like, “No, brother. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Still, I felt the need to point out and move on from my mistakes since they were mistakes that were made anyway.

“… Ahem. If you had been hurt, you would have regretted it for the rest of your life. It’s just fortunate that you’re safe.”

“So, now that you’ve finished your work, are you going home?”

“That’s….”

Richard had difficulty answering my question and trailed off.

***

“This is going to be another mess in the empire.”

Samuel, William’s shadow escort, muttered to himself as he and the men who had come to support him reorganized after the battle.

“That’s fortunate. If things had gone wrong, wouldn’t something like Sleepy’s estate have happened all over the estate?”

Samuel nodded at his subordinate’s words.

They had requested assistance to monitor the suspicious figures gathered at Somerset Manor, but they had been involved in a battle with the Night’s Servants who had suddenly invaded the previous night.

Given their nature of not wanting their identity to be revealed, if it had been something minor they would have just let it go.

The incident that happened last night was a major incident that could not be overlooked.

‘You guys were a great help.’

The full story of the incident that was relayed to them by Third Prince Edric, who immediately realized their true identity, was shocking.

The existence of the dark elves who were trying to throw the continent into chaos was information that even they were unaware of.

“First, some will go to the Sleepy Estate to provide support, and the rest will withdraw so that this incident can be reported to the imperial family.”

“Yes!”

After giving his instructions, Samuel thought for a moment.

Rupert Somerset, who had been rising to fame and power in Agora since the previous Abyss Cult incident.

This incident was an equally great feat, so the imperial family could not just ignore it.

‘This could be a winner.’

He cautiously predicted the rise of the Earl of Somerset.

Originally, once the class of the nobility was established, it was extremely difficult to change it, either upwards or downwards.

Just as one’s status as a nobleman is not lost even if one commits a serious crime, it is nearly impossible to win a title even if one has achieved a certain level of merit.

Rupert, who was favored by the royal family, had achieved this, and if combined with his previous achievements during the Abyss Cult, he could see that it was enough to earn him a victory.

marquis.

The second rank from the top among the five ranks, it is only one level lower than a count, but its status is exceptional.

‘If this momentum continues, the Seven Great Nobles of the Empire may change when His Highness the Crown Prince ascends to the throne.’

Samuel thought that now would be the lowest point for Rupert, who was rumored to be the crown prince’s closest confidant.

***

“Don’t cry, I’ll give you this!”

Ada gave the crying girl a picture book that Rupert had made, a treasure she had cherished.

but,

“Dad, I’m going to see you… .”

If it were any other day, Shelby Sleepy would have been jumping for joy and receiving the book, but now she just cried.

Ada patted her shoulder and tried to comfort her, telling her not to cry, but she ended up crying along with her, as if she had empathized with her emotions.

The sad cries of children echoed throughout the mansion, and the sound pierced someone’s heart.

“I’m sorry, human. Because of us, you have suffered wounds that can never be healed.”

Cypris speaks with his head bowed toward Baron Sleepy’s wife.

She felt a great sense of guilt.

She felt responsible for the innocent people who were harmed by Satanael, a traitor from her own clan.

If the Allied Forces had not come to Somerset Manor, this tragedy would not have occurred in Sleepy Estate.

one,

“Raise your head. It’s not your fault.”

“No, it’s our fault.”

“My husband returned from fighting the enemies who invaded the territory, not from fighting you.”

-Please do not insult my husband’s death. He is an honorable man who did his duty.

Mrs. Sleepy’s expression was determined.

It would be a lie to say that she wasn’t sad about her husband’s death and the devastated estate, but her priority was to ensure that their deaths were not in vain.

To do that, more than anything, she had to become stronger as she was now in charge of the territory.

The Baroness knew that this was not the time to blame anyone or hate anyone, but to prepare for the future that lay before her.

“I promise you in the name of the Mother World Tree, that I and all of the Crimson Wardens will do everything we can to help you until your lands are restored to their former glory.”

Cypris approached the Baroness and rested his forehead against hers.

It was the etiquette that elves showed when conveying their will to others.

An action that indicates that there is not an ounce of falsehood in what one says.

“If you could do that, I would really appreciate it.”

During this busy farming season, the Sleepy Estate, where everything was scorched earth, was in a bigger crisis than it appeared.

Of course, if the imperial family found out about this incident, they would exempt taxes and provide financial support, but it was unclear how long it would take for the devastated territory to be rebuilt.

With the help of the elves, the territory might soon return to its former state.

***

“We want to go back first.”

“Are you going to leave already? Why don’t you stay a little longer?”

The Knights of Zion, including Alexander, had already prepared to return and were looking for Rupert to say their final goodbyes.

Rupert, who is trying to dissuade Alexander from going back without even taking a proper rest, not just out of courtesy, but with sincerity, in a situation where the incident has just been concluded.

But Alexander shook his head.

“If we are lazy, the groans of those suffering somewhere in the empire will increase.”

In fact, the Knights of Zion, a military organization directly under the Saint, did not move around like this in normal times, but were all scattered across the continent, each carrying out their own missions.

Some stopped those conducting forbidden research, while others hunted beasts infected with magic.

Becoming a Knight of Zion meant dedicating one’s life to fighting for the suffering.

Alexander tells them that this fight was just another part of their daily routine and that they should return immediately.

Could it be that Rupert had met the goddess?

If he himself had removed the danger that had inadvertently befallen the continent, he began to respect these men, who had devoted their entire lives to keeping the continent safe, out of sight of people.

“I hope your future is filled with good luck.”

“Everything is according to the will of the Mother Goddess.”

So now that Alexander had led his knights out of the territory, it was time to return to normal life.

‘I should return home, but for now I think I should help the Crimson Warden restore the Sleepy Estate.’

This was Richard’s answer to Rupert’s question as to whether he would return home now.

Like Cypris, Richard also felt responsible for the destroyed Sleepy Estate, and his father, the Earl, also believed that Richard’s actions were right and approved of them.

So now, the Crimson Wardens, including Richard and Cypris, have moved to the neighboring Sleepy Estate and are busy with reconstruction efforts.

‘But now that you’re nearby, come visit often.’

‘Yes, Father.’

‘And I don’t mind an elf daughter-in-law. In fact, since you look a bit rough, I’d rather have a pretty daughter-in-law…’

The next step was not to be followed by Richard and Cypris with their pale faces, but Rupert could tell that the two of them were not ordinary, so he thought that the family would grow soon.

“Thank you for your hard work, Master.”

“Are you back already?”

“Yes, we have stock of all the items you mentioned, so it didn’t take long to get them.”

“Thank you, you are the best.”

“Aren’t we partners?”

It was Rupert who asked Esteban to procure necessities to help the ruined neighboring estate.

“By the way, are the craftsmen and workshops safe?”

“Yes, the craftsmen have been evacuated to the safest place, and the workshop is not caught up in the battle, so everyone is safe.”

“Then we need to film Van Helsing’s trial quickly.”

“Yes?”

Now that the situation had finally been resolved, Rupert was taken aback by Esteban’s sudden statement that he had to print the book.

“Do you remember when the last incident happened?”

“Ah!”

Only then did Rupert seem to realize what Esteban had said.

“When rumors spread that the Abyssal Cult incident was similar to the content of the Iron-Blooded Alchemist, sales skyrocketed, so I think there will be another uproar this time.”

Rupert agreed, but he was starting to get scared.

Now, I’m starting to think that whatever work he creates, people might analyze and seek it out as if it were a prophecy.