Ch.155155. Homeward

The Bright family estate, Violene.

Inside the mansion, preparations for a banquet were in full swing, with staff not only cleaning the interior but also busy procuring the finest ingredients for various dishes and decorating the banquet hall.

Of course, it wasn’t just the servants who were busy.

“We must target Darius Verdi.”

Elia Bright, Erika’s older brother and the eldest son of the Bright family, declared firmly.

The second son, Edwon Bright, nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. I’ve heard he’s favorable toward us and welcomed his younger brother Deus Verdi’s marriage.”

“He even sent a separate gift for the family meeting. He’ll be easier to win over than his brother Deus Verdi, the Spiritmaster.”

Hearing his sons’ advice, Ellan, the family head and Erika’s father, exhaled heavily, resting his hand on the desk and propping his chin.

“Verdi doesn’t just have an eldest son. Besides, since Deus was the one who suggested meeting first, he probably isn’t hostile toward us.”

“That’s what’s strange! Why would the Spiritmaster, who’s rising as the kingdom’s power, marry Erika?!”

“He must want something! If we’re not careful, that snake will suck us dry!”

Despite his sons’ passionate warnings, Ellan remained silent for a moment, examining the Verdi family tree on the desk.

Both parents had already passed away, leaving the eldest son Darius, second son Deus, and finally their younger sister Deia Verdi.

Ellan tapped Deia’s name and asked, “What about this woman?”

“…That woman is absolutely out of the question.”

The eldest son Elia frowned at the mere mention of Deia’s name.

“She’s like the matriarch of the Verdi family. While the eldest son Darius protects Norsweden and the second son Deus spends time at the academy as a Spiritmaster, she’s the one who governs Norsweden.”

“Hmm.”

“We sent her a gift once. Since the Zeronia family collapsed so quickly, it was a bribe to remind her not to forget our engagement arrangement…”

Recalling that time, Elia sighed deeply before continuing.

“She sent us a reply gift in return. A letter and flowers.”

Compared to the luxurious gifts sent by the Bright family, it was extremely modest, but they were grateful just to receive a response.

The letter’s content was quite friendly.

It said things like how a bond once formed couldn’t be easily broken, that she couldn’t forget, and that she trusted the Bright family.

While the letter itself was full of flattery, the problem was the flowers.

“They were white flowers called Seolhwa, said to bloom only in Norsweden. And… they were already withered by the time they arrived.”

“…”

“She must have known. While verbally claiming our relationship was strong, she expressed that it was already rotten.”

Through the Seolhwa flowers, Deia had expressed that things between Bright and Verdi were already over.

“Do you understand? They already know we were trying to build a new bridge with Zeronia. Deus, who strengthened royal authority by purging nobles through bishops? Touch him and fire will rain down.”

Elia slammed his fist on the desk and shouted.

“Deia Verdi? Who knows how many snakes that woman is nurturing in her belly. She’s Norsweden’s viper. We must absolutely, absolutely target Darius Verdi!”

“Hmm.”

Seeing that the family head Ellan finally seemed to agree, Elia’s voice grew louder.

“We’ll target the giant who decided to be the kingdom’s shield. Straightforward and loyal, we’ll win him over. Fortunately, as the eldest son and family head, his siblings can’t ignore him.”

Targeting Darius—that was the Bright family’s strategy.

As time passed…

Two carriages entered the estate.

From one emerged Deus Verdi and Erika Bright.

From the other stepped Deia Verdi.

“Due to issues in our territory, our family head couldn’t attend.”

With a shrug and a mocking tone, Deia’s words made the Bright family realize this meeting would be incredibly difficult.

* * *

Clearly,

He thought he had won.

Darius’s thick greatsword thrust unwavering toward the enemy’s heart through heat and explosions, and it connected.

But if asked whether this led to victory in battle, the answer was no—it didn’t even pierce the skin.

Clang!

What he heard as he pushed forward with brute force wasn’t the sound of flesh tearing, but the more chilling sound of solid armor.

“…!”

Darius’s eyes widened. Visible through the Doberman’s torn coat was an unfamiliar, smooth black garment.

It was too different from Griffin Kingdom’s armor to be considered typical armor, yet its sturdiness far exceeded that of iron plate.

Protection.

It was what the elite Salvation Corps members of the Republic of Clark wore, said to be impossible to remove once put on.

That’s why it had such formidable defensive power—even Findenai couldn’t penetrate Protection and had to deal with Salvation Corps members in other ways.

Darius recognized it as Protection immediately. Information about the Republic of Clark was quite difficult to obtain, but he knew thanks to the junk dealer staying in his territory.

‘I heard they’re being brainwashed.’

The unique machine embedded in the back of the neck seemed to be a brainwashing device, and Protection appeared to have been forcibly applied.

But that gave Darius no reason to hesitate.

If someone gets brainwashed, that’s their own stupidity.

“Haaah!”

Even if he couldn’t penetrate Protection, he could still harm the person wearing it. Darius tilted his sword sideways, preparing to strike rather than slash.

Screech!

The Doberman slid past the greatsword, throwing himself forward. Though Darius was startled by this unexpected move,

The man discarded his revolver and pulled out a spherical bomb from his coat that fit perfectly in his palm.

Darius realized instantly.

‘He’s going to self-destruct!’

It was too late to respond. Numerous hidden bombs throughout the Doberman’s body began to explode.

Engulfed, Darius.

Though he had withstood firepower several times already, at such close range…

“Damn… it.”

With his upper armor completely reduced to ashes, the blackened Darius exhaled dark smoke and fell backward.

Meanwhile, the self-destructed Doberman remained unharmed thanks to Protection.

Though his coat and hat were blown away, he had defeated a formidable opponent like Darius who would have otherwise been unbeatable.

Yet the Doberman showed no emotion as he picked up his revolver from the ground.

Just as he aimed the barrel at Darius’s temple and was about to pull the trigger…

Thunk!

A blunt axe flew in, striking the Doberman’s hand. Both the revolver and axe fell to the ground.

Beyond the axe embedded in the ground stood a white-haired woman with striking blood-red eyes.

She had discarded her usual revealing maid uniform and wore her old yellowish coat with a black shirt and pants, along with the Vampire Gloves that Deus had given her.

“Fin…den…ai!”

“Doberman.”

The Doberman, who had been moving without any reaction until now, growled as he glared at Findenai.

Meeting his gaze, Findenai slowly picked up her axe.

“You stupid bastard.”

Behind Findenai, members of the junk dealer group rushed in. They had returned earlier than expected to follow their leader back, and now stood there to repay their debt to Norsweden.

Findenai pulled out a cigarette from her pocket.

The cigarette he had given her.

After smoking this one, she would have seven left. They seemed to be running out faster than expected, which made her feel somewhat regretful.

Puff.

Hiss.

Findenai lit the cigarette with a lighter and savored the taste deeply.

Strangely, when she was enveloped in smoke while smoking this cigarette, it felt like he was there with her.

“Leave that bear-like guy alone and come at me.”

As if that had been his intention all along, the Doberman charged forward, rolling to pick up his dropped revolver and immediately pulling the trigger.

It was indeed a shot worthy of being called the best marksman among the Resistance, but…

By the time he fixed his focus on Findenai to pull the trigger, she was already standing right beside him.

Life in the Republic of Clark had been much more intense than here.

But after following Deus Verdi and facing various formidable opponents…

In less than a year, she had achieved remarkable growth compared to when she first crossed the mountains.

While the Doberman was skilled, he was originally talented at leading people.

Thanks to the Republic of Clark’s cheat-like equipment, he had defeated Margrave Darius, but if they fought again, victory would be difficult.

Anyway…

At this close range, the Doberman was no match for Findenai.

Thwack!

After embedding her axe in the ground, Findenai grabbed the Doberman’s head and yanked it forward.

With her other hand, she seized the brainwashing device on the back of his neck and pulled it out.

Crack!

“Aaaaargh!”

The Doberman’s scream echoed. Findenai threw the brainwashing device, covered in sticky blood and flesh, to the ground.

“What the hell.”

Along with fluid, something like a larva was wriggling and suffering in the brainwashing device.

Apparently, the mechanical part was simply for fixation, and this worm seemed to play a central role.

Findenai crushed it under her foot.

“Hey.”

Looking down at the Doberman who was writhing in pain and curling up, Findenai raised her axe.

After a moment of silence…

Findenai spoke to the Doberman with a flat, indifferent tone.

“Stop acting, you bastard.”

Bang!

A gunshot and white smoke erupted from the curled-up Doberman’s body.

He had aimed at Findenai from his curled position and pulled the trigger, but…

The bullet was blocked by the axe and fell powerlessly to the ground.

“Something’s been off since before.”

The meeting that Doberman had organized when they returned to the Republic of Clark once had been raided.

Although a woman named Lexi was confirmed as the traitor, Findenai still sensed something fishy afterward.

“There doesn’t have to be just one traitor.”

The Doberman slowly rose from his curled position. His expression was so calm it was hard to believe he was the same man who had been writhing in pain.

“You truly are a beast, Findenai.”

“Not as much as you, who sold out your comrades. They named you well, Doberman. You dog.”

“They were never my comrades. I was a Salvation Corps member from the beginning.”

“So you even had worms implanted in your body? For a Salvation Corps member, you’re quite infested with parasites.”

“This is my loyalty to the President.”

“Ha, you’re insane.”

Click.

In the middle of their conversation, the Doberman suddenly took position and aimed his revolver at Findenai.

Having been exposed, he intended to eliminate Findenai, the most dangerous agent, but…

The Doberman was already rolling on the ground. A beat late, he realized that Findenai’s axe had struck his temple with precision, causing shock and dizziness.

“Phew.”

With a cigarette in one hand, Findenai exhaled smoke deeply and pinned the Doberman’s shoulder with her axe.

“W-wait!”

Knowing how Findenai killed Protection-wearing Salvation Corps members, the Doberman called out desperately.

But…

Thud!

The Doberman’s neck area was precisely stomped on. Even if there were no external wounds, Protection couldn’t completely nullify the impact itself.

That’s why it was effective to either strike the head to cause dizziness or, like this, crush the internal neck bones.

Protection prevents wounds, but the human wearing it can still be injured.

Looking down at the Doberman who died with the whites of his eyes showing, Findenai turned without the slightest hesitation.

“Fin…denai…”

“Not my master… anymore.”

Hearing Darius, who had barely regained consciousness, calling her name, Findenai muttered something to herself.

Her expression contained an indescribable bitterness.

“Give my regards to Deus. And don’t forget I saved you.”

“W-where are you… cough!”

“Hey, give him some basic treatment and take him to where the soldiers are. We’ve received things from him, so we should at least do this much.”

Watching the members tend to Darius, Findenai realized her cigarette had almost burned out.

“Huff.”

After taking one last deep drag from the cigarette, she dropped the butt on the ground.

Looking toward the mountains, Findenai declared:

“Let’s go back, to our damn homeland.”