Ch.570570. Back to the Count’s Estate (1)

Even if the kingdom’s delegation headed to the empire to discuss peace, the resentment from long-standing military conflicts couldn’t disappear in an instant. Moreover, since the incident with the Viscount Akion, though direct confrontations had ceased, the border guard’s vigilance had only intensified.

In the border region separating the empire and kingdom, in a deserted forest, figures concealed by magic revealed themselves with subtle movements.

“Everyone stay alert from now on. Tonight, we will secretly cross the border and infiltrate the kingdom.”

The resolute voice carried the spirit of either a religious figure bearing a sacred mission or a hero moving for the greater good according to everyone’s will.

The team members quietly listened to their leader’s words.

“We’ll be crossing through the southeastern border of the kingdom. Though it’s far from the notorious Marquisate of Feiosha, the kingdom’s regular troops are still keeping vigilant watch, so we must be careful.”

Not only the Marquisate of Kallia, a border territory that had protected the kingdom’s borders for centuries, but also the regular troops dispatched by the royal family to protect nearby border territories were forces the empire had come to respect after numerous confrontations.

“What about communication with the shadows attached to the princess?”

“I’ve been trying to communicate repeatedly but failed. Perhaps the princess has noticed our existence.”

“Just as His Majesty the Emperor said. Princess Adelheid carries the seed of a usurper.”

The Empress had summoned the shadows and commanded them.

Adelheid’s ambition was too deep to be trusted easily.

The Empress had said that while she outwardly called for peace and harmony, she might secretly harbor thoughts of pushing away the empire and seizing the throne. Hadn’t she asked them to be her shackles, her eyes and ears?

“If our shadow has been discovered, the princess will surely move to avoid being caught off guard. We need to contact Amelie before the princess does.”

To keep Adelheid in check more effectively.

As the Emperor’s shadows, they needed to use Amelie as a hidden dagger—or more precisely, to manipulate her like a puppet using the Empress’s authority through her connection to the Emperor.

Her goal was to enter the royal palace before Adelheid and plant various schemes.

“Let’s move again now.”

The Emperor’s shadows once again concealed their presence.

“Everything for His Majesty the Emperor.”

They soon melted into the shadows of the forest and disappeared.

* * *

‘…What am I going to do about this.’

After losing the duel, she showed her sadness in front of me briefly, but maintained her composure in front of others.

“……”

“……”

After all schedules were finished and we returned to the room, she was far from her usual playful self. She remained coldly silent, unlike her normal behavior.

Sitting on the bed with a book she’d brought for some reason, she stared intently at the novel filled with excessive adjectives, as if determined not to look at me.

I casually sat next to Sione and tried to get her attention.

“…Sione?”

Wrong move.

Rustle—!

As soon as I called her name, she roughly turned the page that had seemed unlikely to turn for a while.

Sione, now immersed in a new page, continued her silent treatment.

“Sione.”

When I moved closer and put my arm around her, she finally gave me a sharp look.

“…Even so, that was too much. Ray, you saw the armor I was wearing, right?”

“……”

“The breastplate is dented in the exact shape of your knee. You didn’t need to hit that hard.”

It’s quite a violent statement… but the metal plate really was impressively dented.

Still, I had my reasons.

Sione was already at Master level with monstrous durability. I only used enough force to subdue a Master like her, which resulted in the thin metal plate crumpling.

In reality, her body, strengthened and protected by her mana, suffered no injuries.

‘…But I did drive my knee in with the intention of subduing her.’

Considering how she had been gasping for breath…

It must have been quite painful. And thinking that she had been hit so hard by her husband—it was a powerful blow that struck not just her body but her heart as well.

Instead of making excuses, I kept quiet.

“And how humiliating it was to be thrown to the ground. I couldn’t even breathe, and you struck my back with your sword.”

“……”

“It hurt so much when I was pinned to the ground… Well, Ray, nothing to say?”

Finally surrendering to Sione, I raised the white flag.

“I’m sorry.”

“Just words?”

“…Is there something you want?”

And once again, as if she had been waiting for these words all along, she completely changed her attitude.

Gone was the dejected puppy caught in the downpour, replaced by one wagging its tail endlessly at the sight of a treat.

‘Her acting skills seem to improve day by day.’

But this level of teasing was fine. Even during training, hitting too hard was still hitting too hard, and being hit was still being hit. I could easily let it slide.

“Did you say it? That you’ll give me what I want?”

I nodded obediently to Sione’s words.

“It seems like you already have something in mind for me.”

“Hmm? Not yet actually.”

At my response, Sione tilted her head playfully with a puzzled expression, as if she genuinely had no idea.

“Later! I’ll let you know when I think of something!”

* * *

After my duel with Sione, the barony experienced various changes and new developments as time quickly passed.

Tasha, who had earned the title of Saint of the Barony and even awakened a new type of Divine Power, attracted people who voluntarily gathered to learn new teachings from her. Thanks to them, the new religion firmly established itself in the barony and continued to grow.

‘Finally, the goods from Viscount Akion’s estate have arrived as well.’

The Viscount Akion estate with its new family head.

Their high-quality iron, combined with the metallurgical skills of outstanding craftsmen, had finally produced weapons and armor that arrived at our family.

With compensation payments and new supplies, we needed to build several more warehouses—truly a stroke of good fortune and a signal flare announcing the barony’s grand new beginning.

Riding this momentum, after discussing with Ainel, things worked out exactly as planned.

‘Joint operation with the County.’

The operation to clear the Magia dungeons that I had mentioned to Sione was beginning to take concrete form.

‘Gaining combat experience in the Magia dungeons and exploring the places mentioned in the ancient texts.’

This would not only enhance combat abilities but also, with luck, give me the possibility of gaining new powers.

‘Besides, it would be good to have that beastkin special forces unit join this operation as well.’

Beastkin, rarely seen in the kingdom.

Being able to fight alongside beastkin warriors with sufficient combat power for Magia dungeons would also provide great stimulation for me.

‘That beastkin special forces unit.’

A good opportunity to see just how strong those who stayed at our family estate really are.

While preparations for the joint operation with the County were in full swing, I went to find Tasha again, as Ainel had suggested.

“Tasha.”

“Ah, Lord! I heard you’re preparing for a joint operation with the County. Is everything going well?”

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

I conveyed to her what had been agreed upon with my mother-in-law.

“I’m sorry to ask when you’re already busy with barony matters, but I need you to come with me to the County.”

“What? You want me to go to the County?”

Tasha tilted her head in confusion at this sudden request.

I calmly explained the reason.

“It seems the Count also wants a new religion established in his family.”

“Ah—so that means.”

“Yes, you’re thinking correctly.”

Tasha’s role was already decided.

“To spread the new teachings to the County, just like in our barony.”

“……”

“While our barony’s forces clear the Magia dungeons, I’d like you to take care of things there.”

“…The church in the County is huge. There are many intimidating people too. Do you think I can do well there…?”

The County’s religious order is certainly larger in scale.

But why should that be a problem?

“Of course. With both the Barony and County supporting you, what can the religious order possibly do?”

At those confident words, Tasha quickly regained her spirit and answered brightly.

“In that case, I’ll do my best…!”

Trusting in us, she was ready to wage one religious war against the order in the County.