Chapter 49 : Death row convict! I’m back! (1)

Despite successfully securing the cooperation of the Duke’s family, it wasn’t as if all the problems piled up like a mountain were resolved. 

They had only just started to make progress.

By using the Frost Duke’s family as a base, they would uncover the card Saint Jeanne had hidden, and then take care of them decisively. 

It could be said to be cruel, but this was the fight for survival.

Those with half-hearted intentions would only end up being devoured in turn. 

Wolfgang, who had not forgotten the lessons of the Winter War, decided, after a deep discussion with Theodore, to absorb the Duke’s family first.

The Frost Duke’s family was an ancient aristocratic family that had existed since the founding of the kingdom. 

Thanks to that, there were countless records left in the Duke’s possession. 

The treasure Wolfgang had been aiming for was none other than those records.

As expected, massive records, including clay tablets and wooden planks, welcomed them, each showing signs of time’s passage. 

These were all the records the Duke’s family had been preserving.

There were even records that had been lost due to storms, theft, and other reasons, meaning the depth of these records was unimaginable.

“I will check every single record left by the Duke’s family, without missing a single one.”

“What about legends or myths, where the truth is unclear?”

“There are no exceptions. We check everything, every last one.”

“Understood.”

This wasn’t a game; it was a part of their operation. 

That’s why Wolfgang gave the command to Galina, and without complaining, Galina carried out the operation, understanding her leader’s intent.

“Know the enemy, know yourself, and you will never be defeated.”

If you know your enemy and yourself, you can fight a hundred times and never be in danger.

That phrase resonated deeply with Wolfgang, who had fought wars for the past ten years. 

Had she approached the Wendigos cautiously, had she known their characteristics beforehand, perhaps many of them wouldn’t have died.

Experience is the best teacher and an excellent record of mistakes. 

Wolfgang had no intention of repeating past failures. 

That’s why she had decided to absorb the Frost Duke’s family.

Endless, vast records.

By thoroughly examining them, they might be able to uncover some of the cards Saint Jeanne had hidden. 

Even if it wasn’t everything, just finding out a portion of it would be a great achievement.

However, in this operation, Jackal had temporarily stepped back. 

After all, it would be an inefficient and harsh order to ask Jackal, who couldn’t read due to childhood abuse, to examine records.

Instead, Wolfgang had assigned Jackal the task of guarding and scouting the Duke’s family. 

While they stayed at this base, it seemed unlikely that Saint Jeanne would just sit idly by.

Fortunately, there was someone to replace Jackal—Mirina Frost, the next Duke and an active ally of Wolfgang. 

Not only did she bring all the records, but she also actively collaborated in this operation, replacing Jackal’s duties. 

Being from a noble family, she could read, making her quite helpful.

“I didn’t expect you to verify even the legends and myths directly.”

“Are you questioning my judgment?”

“I’m just curious.”

“Most legends are fake, but when enough fakes pile up, they become true.”

For example, if there are many similar kinds of legends, it’s safe to assume that they aren’t mere myths but could be something with a real substance. 

Listening to Wolfgang’s words, Mirina nodded in admiration.

“I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

“It means that similar types of legends don’t just spread for no reason.”

“Right. And we must be especially cautious with the kingdom. I don’t think the heroes who defeated the Demon King did so without preparation.”

This was why Wolfgang was approaching things so cautiously. 

According to legend, when a great threat approached the kingdom, heroes under the leadership of Saint Jeanne would reappear.

“In typical works of fiction, these kinds of legends aren’t there for no reason. It’s safer to plan with the assumption that they will appear again, 100%.”

With Wolfgang’s extensive experience with novels and anime, she believed these legends were more than just stories. 

For the people here, however, such legends were nearly mythological, lacking credibility.

But after hearing Wolfgang’s words, Galina and Mirina began to rethink. 

It was true—sometimes similar legends do exist, and as Wolfgang said, those legends could be traces of real individuals.

Three days passed.

Thanks to checking everything without a break, Wolfgang realized that the legend of the four heroes sleeping in the kingdom was recorded far more frequently than expected.

What did that mean? 

It meant there was a very high chance that the first-generation heroes were indeed resting in the kingdom, and it was highly likely that Saint Jeanne understood this as well. 

Wolfgang clicked her tongue.

“So that’s it. So this is what they’ve been relying on?”

In fact, after analyzing the records, Wolfgang even discovered that their tombs were likely hidden beneath the royal palace. 

Of course, these were still just records resembling myths, so she couldn’t trust them entirely.

But at the very least, she had to keep them in mind. In case anything happened, she’d be ready to respond. 

However, she hadn’t yet gone through all the records left by the Duke’s family.

There were still several other legends—like the warrior’s arm buried in the sea or the forgotten warrior—but they were too vague to pay much attention to, so she set them aside.

While Wolfgang would’ve liked to investigate further, she knew that excessive caution could be a hindrance. 

She didn’t want to give any more time for the unknown enemy to make their move.

“There are many possibilities. A slim chance, but what if Saint Jeanne actually has no hidden cards? What if the stories of the hidden heroes are just myths?”

But if she kept analyzing every slim possibility, she would get nowhere, and excessive caution could lead to its own downfall. 

It was all about balance. Not too cautious, not too bold. It was a tightrope walk.

That’s just how war works.

Now, what should she do?

Wolfgang fell into thought. 

If she stayed at the Duke’s family’s base, the reason she came here would lose meaning.

At the very least, she wanted to go directly to the royal palace and verify whether the legends were true or not.

But she couldn’t just barge in and announce, “I’m back, Kingdom!” 

That would be a declaration of war in itself. 

She was stuck, unable to move forward or backward, when suddenly…

Someone leapt into her arms. 

The soft sensation and sweet fragrance caught Wolfgang off guard. Then, she saw golden hair.

“Sister!! What are you thinking about so seriously?!”

“Think for once.”

The person in Wolfgang’s arms was none other than Mirina. 

Since their sparring session, Mirina had grown quite attached to Wolfgang, like a well-trained dog.

Wolfgang felt a little uncomfortable, but since Mirina was actively helping, she decided to go along with it. It was just that Mirina was a little too enthusiastic.

Now, Mirina was nuzzling her face against Wolfgang like a dog, so Wolfgang sighed and raised her hand to stop it. Mirina pouted.

“Can’t you accept the affection of a younger sister you haven’t seen in a long time?”

“Now’s not the time for that.”

“Huh?”

“I need to go to the royal palace directly, but if I just show up like this, it will be practically a declaration of war.”

Thinking back to what Wolfgang had done when she arrived in the kingdom—knocking out the guardian dragon and destroying the royal guards—she couldn’t just march into the palace like that. 

She would likely be met with hostility.

In the worst case, Saint Jeanne might even bring out her hidden card. 

Wolfgang, who hadn’t properly conducted reconnaissance yet, was trying to avoid encountering unknown forces at all costs.

As Mirina’s affection was stopped, she quickly began to think of a plan. 

She probably thought she could handle everything herself, but knowing Wolfgang liked caution, she kept her thoughts to herself.

“How about this?”

“Do you have some kind of clever idea?”

“Yes, actually, in a few days, there will be a social gathering at the royal palace.”

It wasn’t sudden—it had been planned for months. 

And it seemed the Duke’s family had been invited multiple times despite rejecting the invitations.

It was indeed a good suggestion. 

Even though she was a saint, Saint Jeanne wouldn’t cause trouble at a social gathering. Moreover, opposing nobles would also be there.

“With this, I might be able to get help from the Crown Prince’s faction. If that happens, it will be harder for them to issue a unilateral guest order.”

“Sister, I did well, right?”

“Yeah, you did well.”

“Then, as a reward, please pet my head!”

Since she had received help from Mirina this time, Wolfgang thought it would be rude to ignore her, so she reluctantly petted Mirina’s head.

“Captain, I’ve brought food for Jackal…”

“Of.”

“Captain, what’s going on here?”

Just as Galina, who had brought food for Jackal, returned, she witnessed the scene and Wolfgang had to work hard to explain herself to Galina’s blank stare.