Ch.111Then the Devil Came Through the Front Door (5)

Jumping down from the tree, one. Spinning half a turn and striking upward with an elbow to the jaw, another one. Twisting at the waist to deflect an attack and thrusting the staff into the Adam’s apple, three. Turning and kicking the fleeing guard in the back, four.

The soldiers tumbled to the ground. Kain untied their belts, crossed their wrists and ankles behind their backs, and tied them to a tree. He tore pieces from their collars, stuffed them into their mouths, and collected the whistles hanging around their necks.

“Uh… ugh…”

Outpost commander Vidocq could only tremble. To his eyes, Kain, wearing a mask and a camouflage cloak covered with leaves and branches, looked like a forest monster. The moment Kain reached out his hand, Vidocq fainted with a short scream.

* * * * *

With Kain’s group and the White Blood Knights watching, Vidocq cooperated enthusiastically with the interrogation. He had little choice, hanging upside down from a tree with his eyes covered.

According to Vidocq, Count Bördem’s soldiers had formed a thin semicircular perimeter and were searching the forest.

Their stated reason was the righteous pursuit of whoever had dared to assassinate Roberta, the hero who defeated the Demon King. But the count’s soldiers already knew that Bördem and Roberta had been lovers. What did it matter that his wife was still alive? His beloved was dead.

But that wasn’t all. The problem was that Bördem’s soldiers were looting everyone they saw and killing anyone who resisted.

They might be called soldiers, but they were actually criminals with laundered identities. Roberta’s “pacification” of the bandits in the Black Forest was only half the truth.

What Roberta had really been doing was “selection.” She identified which forest newcomers were useful, then sent those who were good fighters, had vicious personalities, or enjoyed hurting others for personal gain to Bördem.

“The folks who settled in the Black Forest were happy about it. The aggressive and violent ones would be taken away by Roberta and disappear. But the truth is, those guys weren’t punished at all. Instead, they became soldiers of the county.”

“Why did they do this?”

Vidocq’s answer to Kain’s question was shocking.

“Count Bördem is looting his own territory. That’s how he can secretly accumulate funds.”

It wasn’t true that Bördem had weak control over his territory. On the contrary, he exercised more extensive influence over his lands than anyone.

‘A count who loots his own territory.’

Kain understood what that meant.

Bördem was a robber knight, just like Goetz. The only difference between him and wandering robber knights like Goetz was that Bördem had chosen this path willingly.

And for good reason.

Though his territorial control might seem weak, Bördem was known as one of Elector Reinhardt’s closest confidants. Bördem was securing his power and title by paying money to the Elector.

A nobleman.

A ruler.

Exploiting his own people to enrich himself.

Kain was furious. He couldn’t believe such things were happening in the Empire. That a hero of the Empire was involved in this. That the nobility had become so corrupt.

“Why is Bördem leading his soldiers up here? Is it revenge for Roberta?”

“That’s part of it. But not all. Bö… Bördem plans to capture all the bandits in the Black Forest and kill them.”

“…Why?”

“To take all the money they’ve collected from travelers. This forest can’t function properly without someone like Roberta. So Bördem plans to kill everyone under the pretext of ‘bandit suppression’ and take their assets for himself.”

Kain finally understood why Bördem’s soldiers had beaten the outpost commander. Even the outpost commander, who had been busy overcharging travelers and pocketing the money, was just another bandit to Bördem.

“What’s this about a mine?”

“Higher up in the Black Forest. There’s an abandoned tunnel fortress. It takes about an hour to get there. It’s easy to find because it’s on the middle of a lone protruding peak. They say it was an underground shelter built by some forgotten royal family long ago. It looks like a mine, but it’s not really one. You wouldn’t find even a single stone there.”

“Why does Bördem consider it important?”

Vidocq remained silent. Kain deliberately drew his imperial sword with a loud sound. Vidocq flinched at the metallic noise as it struck the scabbard.

“…I… I don’t know everything… really…”

“Tell me what you do know.”

Vidocq answered.

“I, I don’t know everything. But from what I’ve heard…”

Even the knights who were listening gasped. Maria caught Lily as she tried to sink to the ground. The knuckles of Grand Executor Astrid, who had been listening quietly without saying a word, turned white.

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Vidocq smiled obsequiously.

“It, it can’t be true, right? Such things couldn’t possibly happen.”

“Did you participate?”

Kain growled. Vidocq’s jaw trembled.

“Tell me. Did you participate!”

“…I, I…” A rough breath.

“…I only took them to the entrance. That’s all. That’s it! I don’t know exactly what happens inside! Why should I know what they do with the kidnapped children of disobedient serfs!”

Lily quietly held back Kain as he was about to throw a punch. Though she too was angry, she calmly signaled to Kain.

‘Do you have anything else to ask?’

Kain shook his head. As if she had been waiting for this, Lily struck Vidocq on the nape of his neck. The knights put the unconscious man in a sack and disappeared into the bushes.

* * * * *

The knights returned. The group moved to a new location, heading to a predetermined gathering point to meet with the guerrilla unit that had left for defense.

Because of what they had heard, the group spread out in a loose circle. They judged it better to disperse more widely and keep watch in all directions.

This gave Kain time to calmly organize what he had heard.

Roberta and Bördem were more than just lovers. They were also business partners.

Bördem had looted his own domain with his own hands and tormented the serfs with excessive taxes and labor.

Serfs who could no longer survive fled to the forest. Roberta pretended to take them in while selecting the aggressive, skilled fighters and cruel ones to send back to Bördem.

Bördem appointed them as soldiers of the county, who then went on to torment the serfs again.

‘Serfs will always come from somewhere. Whether they flee from elsewhere or look for a new place to settle… Count Bördem is kind to newcomers at first. He gives them land without asking questions. No one knows it’s actually a trap.’

Among them, there are always those who don’t obey, who rebel, who are troublemakers who refuse to be docile.

Roberta and Bördem kidnapped the people these troublemakers cared about and took them to the “mine.” Only the trees of the Black Forest would know exactly what happened in that old royal shelter.

When Roberta and Berta Village fell, Bördem feared that his dealings with her would be exposed.

So under the pretext of avenging Roberta, he unleashed his carefully trained hounds to carry out a massacre in the forest.

Kill as much as you take, take as much as you kill. Leave no one alive who isn’t in uniform. The bandits killed Roberta, so they deserve revenge.

‘And so… with the money extorted that way… he secures his position with the Elector…’

This couldn’t be overlooked. Fortunately, Count Bördem was currently wandering somewhere in the Black Forest.

Kain desperately wanted to capture him and send him to the capital’s court.

If there was clear evidence and testimony about Bördem’s misconduct, Elector Reinhardt would likely distance himself rather than actively defend Bördem. Isn’t that how electors typically behave?

“Kain. What are we going to do? Just leave like this?”

Maria whispered, having approached without notice. Lily was with her. Both women’s faces were flushed with anger at the injustice.

“Bandits should be caught and punished, that’s right. The count is also responsible for driving serfs to become bandits. So the real responsibility lies with the count. But…”

“But?”

“That’s assuming everything outpost commander Vidocq said is true. All we have is testimony. No evidence. Even if we drag the count to the capital, we won’t be able to do much there.”

Maria was just as frustrated. Like Kain, she wanted to cry out about people dying.

But the justification was on the count’s side. Objectively speaking, the current situation was essentially ‘bandits blocking Count Bördem’s army, which had appeared to investigate the death of the hero Roberta.’

“…In my opinion, I think we should go to that ‘mine’ Vidocq mentioned.”

This was Lily’s suggestion. And it was something Kain had been thinking deeply about as well. If they could bring back some evidence from that mine…

But Lily’s injury and Maria’s fatigue concerned him. It hadn’t been long since they’d fought a major battle, and now they were considering going to a place they knew nothing about.

Kain made his decision.

“Lily.”

“Yes.”

“You should return to the White Blood Knights first. I’m not saying just go back. You need to find out if there were any apprentice knights who deserted about 10 years ago. Maria, you should go with Lily…”

“What about you?”

“I’ll check out the mine alone.”

Surprisingly, Maria didn’t get angry. Instead, she smiled at Lily. Kain felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

“Why?”

“I knew you’d say that.”

Maria put her hands on her hips, and Lily stood close beside Kain. Maria whispered quietly to Kain.

“Don’t you feel anything about… that Grand Executor?”

“She’s rigid. Frustrating. Inflexible. But she’s clearly doing the right thing.”

“Then you should understand how we feel now.” Maria pinched Kain’s side lightly. “No. No matter what you say, we’re going there.”

“Lily is injured.”

“It’s not a problem,” Lily shook her head. “It’s not a fatal wound, and I’ve received proper treatment. Besides, I’ve been trained to fight even in these conditions. It won’t be an issue.”

But Kain asked again.

“What about your heart?”

Lily couldn’t answer easily. She only exhaled hot breath between her lips. But she didn’t lower her head. She stood straight, looking at Kain.

“To be honest, I don’t feel good. That’s… that’s why I want to go with you.”

There was a hint of sobbing in her urgency. Lily’s voice grew increasingly tearful.

“I can’t bear to just stay still. Please… don’t leave me in my past. Don’t… abandon me.”

“That won’t happen,” Kain took Lily’s hand. But Lily still kept her face turned away.

“…I won’t send you anywhere without your permission. I won’t send you anywhere you don’t want to go. Let’s go. Together.”

Lily stopped walking and embraced Kain. Kain was about to hug her back but remembered the wound on her back and put his arms around her waist instead.

Maria covered her mouth, delighted. She didn’t care that the White Blood Knights had stopped walking and were staring as if witnessing something extraordinary.

Even when Grand Executor Astrid approached, trembling with anger.

“…What are you doing, Liliana Brynhildr?”

“This is a personal matter.”

Kain answered coldly. Astrid gritted her teeth.