Episode 95 – Fear

*

I wasn’t paying much attention, so I didn’t really feel it, but Baron Salvier’s wealth was truly enormous.

The first visible impact of money on life was the difference in food.

Even after leaving the white glass tower, I hired all the chefs from that hotel, and my free meals, boasting considerable quality, were already one of the famous and proud things of this capital.

I prepared generous portions so no one would be short, and I turned a blind eye to people packing food to go, so I was hearing news that the number of people at the free meal service prepared by the Hero family was gradually decreasing.

Even I, who often skipped meals when I was an undead, occasionally enjoyed excellent meals after finding a human body.

Sometimes, when Lilia, Lara, Mena, and Banata, who stayed by my side, were tired, I indulged in the luxury of ordering dishes from fancy restaurants to my room,

And after eating such expensive dishes that I had never tasted in my previous life, I realized one thing.

Good restaurants pay a lot of attention to the appetizers before the main course.

Listening to the screams coming from the basement warehouse of the mansion through the tightly closed door, I was reading documents.

Villard, who firmly believed that this mansion was a ‘restaurant’ thanks to Piadu’s guidance, seemed to be already experiencing overwhelming emotion from the appetizer even before meeting the main course, me.

Had Villard ever imagined himself being tortured by his own son, even once in his life?

I couldn’t easily imagine how it would feel to have what he had done to his son, whom he had oppressed with force all his life, done to him in reverse, but at least the screams I was hearing now were very satisfying.

The documents I was reading were given to me by Daniel and were a summary of the corruption Villard had committed as a public security officer.

I quickly scanned them with my eyes and said.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“I’m really… very sorry.”

Rose was standing in front of me with a dark expression, her eyes downcast and her arms pressed tightly to her sides.

I didn’t even look at her and said while reading the documents.

“I’m also very angry, but there’s someone you should apologize to before me.”

“I tried to apologize to Mena-ssi too, but… she said she wouldn’t talk to me unless it was Banata…”

“That’s understandable, but why are you standing like that? Give the body back to Banata.”

“Yes, but before that, I wanted to thank you. Thank you so much for healing me…”

“I don’t need it. It’s not because of you.”

“…”

Rose immediately shut her mouth when I cut her off.

“I know you were trying to save Daniel. It’s surprising but understandable that Piadu is a distant relative of Daniel, but what I’m really curious about is…”

“…”

“Why did you two, who died by my hand, try to negotiate with me? You could have just sided with your father, Robin.”

Rose shook her head at my words and said.

“I can’t do that.”

“Why? Do you have a grudge against Robin or something?”

“No, it’s not that. But…”

Rose’s body began to tremble slightly.

“…Because I’m scared.”

“…?”

Rose slowly trembled and continued.

“Ed, you are kind and generous to others, but you will never forgive my father.”

“Never.”

“If I sided with my father and you truly became enraged, I would lose my brother again.”

“…”

“I’ve learned well enough that a world without my brother is just pain for me.”

I listened to her words in silence and scanned the documents again.

Certainly, considering that I granted Ellie’s request to avoid civilian casualties and that I healed Edward’s sister, I had been very careful in suppressing my anger recently.

I even felt pathetic for being so soft myself.

However, at least Rose and Daniel, who had lost their lives by my hand, seemed to be afraid of me.

Especially Rose, who had clearly seen how I treated Jennifer right in front of her eyes.

Even though I am moving carefully now, Rose, who knows what I am capable of, was cautious not to offend me as much as possible.

In fact, my attitude in the current conversation was not at all favorable to her, which made it even more so.

I put down the documents I had finished scanning and approached Rose.

As I approached, Rose avoided my eyes with an anxious look and lowered her gaze towards my chest.

I said slowly.

“Give the body back to Banata right now, and Banata, if you’re listening, go see Mena right away. She was very worried about you.”

“… I understand.”

“Get out.”

Rose immediately turned around, opened the door, and left.

As soon as I was alone in the room, I turned my gaze to the pile of documents I had put down.

Considering that my name is not among the records of Villard’s numerous victims that fill that pile of paper, there may be many more victims that have not been revealed.

Of course, the number of victims written down is already not small.

One familiar name among them kept lingering in my mind.

*

As I entered the basement, the pungent smell of blood stung my nose.

It wasn’t comparable to Jennifer’s laboratory, which was filled with the stench of rotting flesh and blood clots, but the unique metallic smell of freshly spilled blood felt intensely.

Before me were Piadu, standing leisurely with his arms crossed, and Villard, tied up with fishing hooks piercing his entire body, pulling at his flesh.

Piadu, or rather Daniel pretending to be Piadu, slowly pulled the string attached to the fishing hook and said.

“Why are you making such a fuss? Father, this is what you used to do to me.”

“Stop, please stop. I was wrong.”

I approached Daniel and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Okay, stop.”

“Ah, Baron-nim. Have you arrived?”

“…Me, a Baron?”