Chapter 116

Episode 116

As the banquet reached its peak, the Lady excused herself and retired to her quarters.

She always did this. Unless there was something special, she left banquets early.

This was another aspect that set her apart from typical noble ladies.

It highlighted her humble and down-to-earth personality. Sometimes, I wondered if it was a calculated strategy or simply a habit.

Meanwhile, Knight Selendis, who had been thrust into the spotlight as the new hero, couldn’t escape the attention.

“Knight Selendis, I heard you fought bravely in the war. Would you tell us about your heroic deeds?”

“To hold off Roman’s cavalry with only a few hundred infantry… It’s an unbelievable victory!”

She was popular among many nobles, especially the young men.

If she hadn’t been wearing armor, she would have been forced to dance all night. It was fortunate that it ended with just storytelling.

“My lord, this is our chance!”

Jericho rushed over. Normally, he would have been busy eating and drinking, but something else seemed more urgent now.

“Are you going to die if you don’t ask me right now?”

“Oh, come on, don’t be so harsh. You understand my feelings, right? I have to satisfy my curiosity immediately. Otherwise, I’ll get sick.”

“You’ll make the Lady sick with your impatience.”

“Those at the top always have it tough. They have to bear the weight of power, you know?”

“Tsk. You’re incorrigible.”

Jericho was so persistent that I had no choice but to leave the banquet hall. We went to the Lady’s quarters and requested an audience.

She was surprisingly dressed in her nightgown, sitting on the sofa.

“Excuse me, my Lady. We’ll come back later after you’ve changed.”

“It’s fine. I’m the one who invited you in.”

I wasn’t pleased to see her exposed skin, but she gestured for us to approach, and we stood before her.

“Sir Jericho seems curious about the seventh mission. If it’s alright with you, we’d like to receive the mission briefing now.”

“Before that, I need to explain the current situation. I heard from the sommelier at the Lucius Club that monsters are rampant not only in our territory but also throughout the continent.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“What are your thoughts?”

This time, Jericho spoke up.

“I believe it’s a cyclical phenomenon. Numerous scholars have published papers analyzing monster behavior and activity patterns. For example, in the short term, their activity peaks during a full moon. In the long term, they’re more active in summer than in winter. Monsters are influenced by their surrounding environment. Of course, demonic beasts are a different story.”

The Lady smiled faintly and asked, “What about demonic beasts?”

“They exhibit irregular activity patterns. It… depends on the theory, but the most recent theory suggests a connection to the demon realm. The more influential the demon realm becomes, the more active demonic beasts become.”

“So, the current surge in monster and demonic beast activity could be interpreted as something happening in the demon realm?”

“Not necessarily. It’s an unproven theory. It’s just speculation unless we go to the demon realm and see for ourselves.”

“But even speculation can be meaningful.”

I interjected naturally. As someone who had read “The Legend of Aldebaran” multiple times, it was a fascinating hypothesis.

It was easy to play along with the Lady.

I was already expecting her to give us a mission related to demons. So, I decided to showcase my abilities a bit more.

“You once said that it might be a sign of the demons planning another invasion.”

She had said that after we had solved the incident at Viscount Cliff’s estate. She had mentioned something she had read in “The Legend of Aldebaran.”

“Demonic artifacts are rarely found without a reason. It might be a ‘sign.’ For example, a preliminary step for the demons to invade the human realm… You said something like that, and I agree. It’s best to be prepared.”

“Excuse me? But my lord, a demon invasion is a fantasy. It’s just a legend.”

“Did you forget our recent encounter with a demonic beast? It’s not a legend it’s a reality.”

Jericho fell silent.

He was the one who had been kidnapped in a carriage. He had fought a demonic beast with a single horn.

He must have thought it was a miracle that he had survived.

But I had a different opinion.

“Anyway, monsters are causing continuous damage, and we’re hearing reports of demonic beast sightings. We should at least take care of the situation within the Dukedom, even if we can’t do anything about other territories.”

“I agree with Aubrey. So, the seventh mission is to eliminate monsters and demonic beasts. More specifically, to retrieve ‘Dark Souls.'”

…I hadn’t anticipated that.

“Dark Souls” was a dangerous object that contained concentrated demonic energy. It was a powerful substance that even Jericho, from a demon-hunting family, had to use a special hammer to destroy.

And she wanted us to retrieve it?

“Aubrey might not know this, but I believe Jericho can do it. Can you bring me ‘Dark Souls’?”

“Uh, yes. It’s possible, but… it’ll be dangerous. Controlling the leaking demonic energy isn’t easy. It’s different from destroying it.”

“You can’t destroy it. There’ll be nothing left.”

“But we’ll be in trouble if the church finds out. The inquisitors won’t let us off the hook.”

“That’s why we’re buying holy water, aren’t we? And I believe you’ve befriended the inquisitor in the Caribe region.”

Had she planned that far ahead?

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

Perhaps I wasn’t finding my own path but still dancing in the palm of her hand.

“My Lady, I understand that we need to retrieve ‘Dark Souls.’ But who should we deliver it to? It’ll be difficult for you to handle.”

“I’m going to relocate the Lucius Club here. Deliver ‘Dark Souls’ to the sommelier.”

“The sommelier… You mean the master of the Lucius Club?”

Jericho asked, and I nodded.

Things were getting interesting.

‘My “Mind’s Eye” didn’t work on the sommelier. He’s at least as powerful as the Lady… And he needs ‘Dark Souls’?’

Countless possibilities flashed through my mind.

Only one stood out.

‘Assuming the Lady is the Demon King’s daughter, he must be one of her closest confidants from the demon realm.’

I recalled the contents of “The Legend of Aldebaran.”

There was one scene that came to mind.

‘Alquines, the Count of the demon realm and a great mage… Is he the one who transported the Lady to the human realm?’

I suppressed a shiver. If this were true, there were some incredibly powerful individuals in the Dukedom.

But I couldn’t shake off a sense of disappointment.

Without concrete evidence, I couldn’t delve into the Lady’s deep and dark secrets. No matter what I said, she would just ask me if I had enjoyed reading “The Legend of Aldebaran.”

“Understood, my Lady. If the Lucius Club is relocating here, how about moving the Inspection Unit headquarters here as well?”

“That’s a good idea. But it might raise suspicions if we move everything at once, so let’s do it later.”

“Yes. And I’m planning to visit the Kalisto main castle after the banquet. I’ll meet with Duke Kalisto and report the situation.”

“Alright.”

That wasn’t all!

I cautiously requested, “Wouldn’t it be better for you to go as well, my Lady? The Duke and Duchess must be worried.”

“I understand. But if I move so easily after the war, people will find it strange. They’ll say Lady Lucia risked her life to protect House Walker. I don’t want such rumors spreading.”

I had lost.

I personally preferred lazy and intelligent superiors, but it seemed like I was stuck with a diligent and intelligent one.

“I apologize for my shortsightedness. I’ll obey your orders.”

“And Jericho, I heard Aubrey gave you an important task. Please solve that mystery quickly.”

“Leave it to me! I, Jericho, will dedicate my life to this mission!”

We left the Lady’s room. I told Jericho to summon Selendis and meet me in the office.

The three of us gathered.

“We’ve received the Inspection Unit’s seventh mission. Did Jericho tell you about it on the way here?”

“Yes, my lord. I heard.”

Then, things would be quick.

The map we had created during the war proved useful once again. We spread it out on the table and began our discussion.

“While I’m visiting the Kalisto main castle, Selendis, create a monster distribution map. In other words, I want to know which areas have a high concentration of monsters.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just eliminate all the monsters we encounter?”

“That’s not very efficient. Our goal isn’t to eliminate monsters and demonic beasts. It’s to find and retrieve ‘Dark Souls.’ We need to focus our efforts to shorten the mission time.”

“Understood.”

“It would be ideal for Jericho to join the search, but deciphering those damned secret documents is also important. Finish it as soon as possible.”

Even though the Lucius Inspection Unit and House Walker were working together, we had to maintain a clear distinction between the two.

‘But it’s only a matter of time before they merge. Everything is proceeding smoothly without any obstacles.’

The Lady had said she would relocate the Lucius Club to the Walker territory. If the Inspection Unit and the trading company also moved here, it would be practically a merger.

It would make things easier for me, but I couldn’t predict the consequences.

The Lady was no longer just enjoying tea in her mansion she was actively involved in the succession struggle.

‘Hylix, I wonder what kind of expression you’ll make when you see me.’

I set off for the Kalisto main castle with Deneve, harboring a small sense of anticipation.

***

The scenery seemed unfamiliar, perhaps because it had been a while since my last visit.

I knew why.

Sir Paris had been the knight guarding the entrance to the main castle. But after he had joined our family, a new knight had been assigned to that position.

“Welcome, Baron O’Brien. I heard about your victory. Congratulations.”

“Congratulations, Sir O’Brien!”

“Congratulations.”

I entered the inner castle, greeted by the knights’ congratulations. But an unexpected figure was leaning against the wall, waiting for me.

“You look well. I was worried when you left the capital, but it seems like I was worried for nothing. I hear you’re doing quite well these days.”

It was Hylix. Oracle and Sir Mars were with him.

With a lineup like this, it was clear that they had been waiting for me. How thoughtful of them.

“Greetings, Grand Duke Hylix. I hope you’ve been well.”

“Yes, I’ve been alright. But don’t misunderstand I haven’t been happy. Unfortunately, a vassal I cherished lost his life in the war. In a rather brutal way, too.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t know what to say.”

“…What?”