episode_0083

After that, it was a series of hardships that were expected.

Dozens and hundreds of letters were delivered every day.

The nobles on Leopold’s side seemed to have finished their conversation with the prince, but it was just a simple thank-you letter without much content, but Ernst’s side was a little different.

The letters asking if I was really neutral or trying to persuade me to become an Ernstian were noble.

All I had to do was reply appropriately, saying that I had a simple friendly relationship with Leopold and that I had no intention of criticizing the Ernstists.

In particular, the excuse that he wanted to maintain a friendly relationship as a female knight like Princess Leonor was more effective than expected.

The problem was the influx of letters related to arranged marriages…and crazy people sending love letters.

I couldn’t ignore it completely.

First, I had to read the contents to find out what type of letter it was.

Usually, I can get a feel for it just by looking at the first line.

My heart trembled at the eyes full of life, and the way he saved people with his sword shining was like the incarnation of Elfinel…

As I continued to read, I felt like my hands and feet were going to shrivel up, so I shrunk the letter instead.

Still, let’s say these guys tolerate it because they are just lovers.

It feels bad, though.

The letter regarding the arranged marriage was a complete mess.

A guy who is proud of his family name.

A guy who gives a long speech about trade with the East.

A guy who wants to make the Median family prosper again.

He pointed out my still unstable position and even told me to come to him for the peace of the empire and Ilshin’s well-being.

“Harmony between the two races through the combination of civilization and barbarism…? This guy is truly a sight.”

I was dumbfounded, so I threw it in the ashtray and burned it with a cigarette.

What on earth does a bastard who wants an arranged marriage think when he openly calls his partner a barbarian?

Well, there’s no way there could be a decent person sending me a letter like this at this point.

A sane person would have seen the mood of his superiors and figured out that this was pointless.

In conclusion, the people who send me letters calling me love letters or engagement requests are idiots who dream in vain even among nobles.

“Nigel, can you ask your employees to send a comprehensive response to these guys?”

“I think it’s probably possible. What would you like the content to be?”

“Hmm…’Unfortunately, I have no intention of getting married. From now on and forever. With anyone.’ Tell them to say it like this.”

I don’t know if anyone will listen to what I tell them.

“Okay. You’re probably tired, so it might be a good idea to get some rest.”

“Okay…I need to get some rest.”

I smoked a cigarette and looked out the window.

In the garden, Friede was excitedly patting Damien. Just as I asked.

At least it was a nice sight to see.

—-

Lacey returned to the special pavilion.

I haven’t completely finished work, but I came here to take a break.

It’s just the right time. I had something to ask you, though.

…After hearing that shocking speech, I was a little reluctant to meet her.

It’s not entirely wrong to say that prisoners should be killed, but the content of that speech… reminds me of a certain art school aspirant.

Honestly, that’s not something a candidate for sainthood would say, is it?

Still, if not now, I don’t know when I’ll be able to see your face again. I guess I should go and see.

I left the room and headed to the 3rd floor.

The third floor, which had been completely burned down, had also been somewhat restored.

Come to think of it, Lacey’s room must have been destroyed too.

I must have been quite embarrassed when I came back.

I knocked on the door where the cross was hanging.

“Who are you?”

“It’s Hashal. Is it okay for a moment?”

“…Please come in.”

The door opened.

Lacey was wearing light street clothes.

The white robes she usually wore and several nuns’ robes were neatly hung on hangers on one side of the wall.

Well, I guess I didn’t want to have to wear those clothes even in a private lodging with no one watching.

It’s not a garment that gets dirty easily, but it’s bulky so it might be a little uncomfortable.

The room was neater than expected.

Other than the basic furniture and the cross and mace hanging on the wall, there wasn’t even anything that could be called decoration.

On the desk was an open book and a diary that had been written down, and the bookshelf next to it was full of various books.

Do you like reading?

I was curious about what kind of book it was, so I glanced at the titles.

‘Classification of heresy. Tribal gods, ancient gods, and evil gods.’

‘Unified faith, the significance and conclusion of religious conflict.’

‘History of Carolus the Great and Archangelism.’

These are pretty decent titles.

In order to be elected as a saint, you must take time out of your busy schedule to study theology.

That could be said to be a pretty exemplary attitude.

‘Tribal phylogeny.’

‘The threat of other races.’

‘Speech method to incite the public.’

uh…

I think I’ll remember that speech again.

‘The inefficiency of burning at the stake – how to prevent suffocation.’

‘Legitimate interrogations allowed for apostates.’

‘Degeneration theory proven by history.’

…Let’s stop looking into it.

—-

Lacey led me to the table and handed me a glass of water.

“I’m sorry that this is all I have to offer you since it’s a sudden visit. So, what’s going on?”

“I had two questions to ask. There’s no one but you who can answer. These are curse-related issues.”

This is probably something she specializes in.

“Curse…you say it.”

After taking a sip of water, I placed a case on the table.

A metal case about 30cm wide and 1m long.

I unlocked it and showed the contents to Lacey.

Silver-white gauntlets that emit a subtle cold air.

It was frosty.

“I would like to hear advice from an expert on the identity of the curse on this item and whether there is a way to solve it.”

“…Fetish, that’s a pretty deep curse. Who did you get this from?”

Lacey’s voice trembled slightly. He seemed quite surprised.

“When I was in the east, I asked them to make me a weapon and they gave me something like this. The problem is that whenever I wear this, my condition gets… worse.”

“That would be natural. This thing was made to kill you. Containing two types of curses.”

“Are you trying to kill me?”

Was this an assassination tool…?

Considering that he wore it until the end in the original, it seems like a failure.

Lacey took out the frosting and began to look at it seriously.

“Yes. Since the curse of madness was added to the cold of the underworld, the wearer would gradually become weaker and then go crazy and die. The coldness of the underworld is due to the resentment of the material itself…and the other one, the curse of madness, was intentionally created by someone. It looks like there were many enemies in the eastern part, right?”

“Someone…I don’t think there are any shamans left in the East.”

They say that Ka’har killed all the shamans.

It would be difficult for someone other than a person belonging to the royal palace to manipulate an item that was to be delivered to me.

Could this be the work of one of those guys called my brother?

“I don’t even know that much. But it is clear that they are not one by one. If it were a spell so severe that it could overcome and affect anti-magic power, multiple casters would have had to work together. If it had been activated, it would have been linked to killing and the effect itself would have been certain.”

no wonder. I thought it was strange that I was affected by the curse even though I had anti-magic power.

In the first place, it happened because Hershela’s murderous actions were reacting to a curse that was at a level that could break through anti-magic power.

It was truly a series of vicious cycles.

Every time you accumulate killing karma, the curse also becomes stronger, and you will become imbued with that madness and accumulate more killing karma.

Was Madness Hershela born because of this curse?

“Somehow…so, what about the other one? What did you say, the cold of the underworld? I said it was a problem with the material itself.”

“Yes. This material, this spirit. I guess it was an ego beast. Did they call them spirits over there? I thought it was already extinct.”

Speaking of frostbite, perhaps it was the silver snake of Frostvale…?

I’ve never seen it in person and only read it through text, so I’m not sure.

“The murdered spirit is still tied to the corpse. Embracing the coldness of the underworld that weakens everything it touches.”

“Is it like that until I die…So, can you solve it?”

“Umm…”

Lacey put down her frosty feet again and trailed off.

“The Curse of Madness can be weakened, but it will be difficult to completely eliminate it. The curse on the vengeful spirit can be stopped by incinerating the vengeful spirit itself, but is that okay? Then this weapon will become just a simple scale gauntlet. The strength will be weakened, and the effect of inflicting damage to the opponent will also be lost.”

I’ll have to think about that.

If it’s not hard and its attack power is weak, it’s just trash equipment that turns the wearer insane.

“…Then let’s leave the cold side alone. If you weaken the Curse of Madness, to what extent will it be weakened?”

“You may have violent impulses, but at least you won’t lose your mind. If you fall into madness yourself, it will be meaningless.”

In the end, it’s just a temporary solution.

Still, this means that if you don’t lose your mind or commit massacre again, you can use it to some extent. That much is enough to make you feel good.

“It’s ambiguous…those things always cause problems again when it’s crucial.”

“If you are that worried, there is a way to take a fundamental solution. Try to build up your business. More than now.”

“Up?”

“Yes. Not a killing spree drenched in the blood of innocents, but a guardian karma and a warrior’s feat. Karma is something that resides in a person’s soul. The footsteps of his life and evidence of his beliefs.”

Lacey smiled slightly. Like an adult giving advice to a child.

“Solidly accumulated karma will give you a strong spirit that will never waver no matter what situation you face, and not even the curse of madness will be able to break it.”

It’s up…

To put it simply, if I become stronger, I won’t be affected by the curse.

“I guess it’s still a bit far away. Then, please at least try to curb it.”

“It’s 500 gold.”

uh?

Wasn’t it free?