Rite Castle, Wrapping Up

The returning procession of the colony subjugation team.

Though it was clearly a victorious return journey.

People with intact bodies were rare.

But there was no one who looked depressed.

The same was true for Count Sharian.

More than half of the family’s skilled soldiers and many apprentice knights had died or been injured.

The cost to be paid to the mercenary group was also considerable.

Considering the costs for mine development, mana stone mining, and distribution, it was overwhelmingly daunting.

The damage suffered by the Sharian Count family through this subjugation battle could be said to be enormous.

However, not a single trace of worry or concern could be found on the count’s face.

‘Since He trusts our family, there’s no need to worry. Right!’

He had completely taken over the wealthy city of Serdin.

He easily wiped out local nobles like dusting off dirt if things went wrong.

He was a powerful being who could easily uproot even the ‘pillars’ of the royal capital’s underworld.

Under His protection, the Sharian Count family would continue to prosper.

‘And the share of the mana stone mine obtained this time too.’

Count Sharian had said 10% was enough, but.

Due to Ethan repeatedly refusing, saying that wasn’t possible, they finally agreed on 20%.

It would take some time, but once the mine is developed, they would never run out of gold coins in the future.

He returned while imagining a rosy future.

The monster colony subjugation battle they had aimed for was successfully concluded.

Though it was said that demon worshippers appeared in the rear.

Since He went to subjugate them personally, there shouldn’t be any big problems.

Now it’s the end of hardship, the beginning of happiness… or so he thought.

“…Cecil.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Is it because my eyes are getting dim, or do I see some monstrosity in front of me? Did we make a wrong turn towards ruins instead of Rite Castle?”

“No, Father. That is Rite Castle.”

The count blankly stared at the castle for about 3 seconds.

The ancient castle of the Sharian family, Rite Castle, the treasure of the northeast that even the royal family praised as beautiful.

“H-How did this…”

It was precariously standing with half of it blown away.

“Uh, ugh!”

“Father!”

Count Sharian grabbed his nape and collapsed on the spot.

Kenny had a dream after a long time.

Since Kenny couldn’t fall into deep sleep every night due to sparkling inspirations.

She quickly realized this place that felt very unfamiliar was a dream.

‘Did I faint while fighting?’

After recalling her last memory, Kenny roughly guessed what her condition might be like and got up to stroll through her familiar hometown.

Though parts were twisted and distorted because it was a dream.

The filth was the same in dreams and reality.

Until a person named Albert came to find her, Kenny was just a poor person living in the lowest sewer of Sergafilt.

But it didn’t matter much.

Fat Jack, the boss of Zone B, was always kind to Kenny and brought good materials to help with her research.

As she walked for a while, familiar faces began to appear.

They were all saying something to Kenny, whose afterimage was faint.

-Well done, Kenny!

-As expected, Kenny is different.

-It’s because you’re smart. That’s why you’re not thoughtless like other brats.

-Thanks Kenny. That device you made last time, I’m using it very usefully!

The residents of the sewer who treated her like an adult.

The expectations placed on her small shoulders grew bigger every time Kenny created something.

Perhaps because she was hungry for praise and attention.

Kenny accepted everything, whether it was goodwill or malice.

Her inventions sometimes became medicine to treat someone.

They also became deadly weapons that hurt others.

But an inventor just creates what they come up with.

Kenny didn’t judge the value of the things she created.

-Thud!

A chilly sensation was felt on her ankle.

When she turned around, a man who had lost both legs was grabbing Kenny’s ankle.

“Uncle Puri.”

-It’s because of you, you bitch! My whole family died because of the bomb you made!

The excavation bomb that a man who usually had a grudge against Puri had ordered.

Kenny didn’t know the purpose, so she readily made it.

The result was boom!

It led to the tragedy of Uncle Puri’s lower body and his entire family being blown away.

Later, Uncle Puri who came with a rusty knife was dealt with by Jack, but.

The memory of that day was forever engraved in a corner of Kenny’s heart.

-It’s, it’s because of you!

-Hey, you damn bitch!

-Why did you make such a thing. Why!

-Our son became a drug addict because of you!

People flooding in pitch black behind Uncle Puri.

She remembers every single face and name.

Judy, Mai, Rocken, Hylac, Meodin, Usko, and so on.

Having too good a memory also means not being able to receive the help of oblivion.

Kenny would have to live enduring their curses and swearing for her whole life.

She had gotten used to nightmares, but.

The pain wouldn’t easily become familiar, so she tried to tightly close her eyes and cover her ears.

But then.

In the sewer where not a single point of light would ever enter.

A bright light shone down and the pitch-black adults disappeared without a trace.

‘What’s this?’

Since the pattern of the nightmares she occasionally had was standardized.

Kenny knew well that it didn’t end like this.

After spending a long time with the mass of grudges covering Kenny.

When her consciousness became faint and she felt like drowning, only then would she open her eyes and escape the nightmare.

That was normal, but.

[…ny, Kenny, are you okay?]

A bright light and.

Someone’s warm words were heard.

When she opened her eyes wide.

Ethan and Elyssia were looking at her with worried eyes.

“Are you okay? It seemed like you were having sleep paralysis, so I asked Elyssia for help…”

Wham!

Kenny bounced up and immediately hugged Ethan.

“…I was scared.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything’s been resolved well.”

The adults in the sewer were pathetic.

They always just clung to Kenny and asked for favors.

But Ethan.

‘I can rely on him.’

He gave her his embrace for Kenny to lean on.

He didn’t urge her to make better inventions.

He didn’t get angry asking why she made such things.

He just believed in Kenny.

Even though she had only leaned on him for a very short moment, her heart settled down considerably.

The pain from the nightmare had long since evaporated.

It was all thanks to Ethan.

“Thank you.”

Instead of answering, Ethan patted Kenny’s back.

“Have you calmed down a bit?”

“Yes.”

“Then can you explain something to me?”

“…Huh?”

Ethan took Kenny out of the room.

He pointed at the castle that had half blown away.

“How did it end up like that?”

The story he hadn’t heard in detail from Teacher Yuria.

“Ah, well…”

Kenny scratched the back of her head and carefully began to speak.

After hearing the explanation, Ethan was even more dumbfounded.

“You made an automatic magic bullet launcher using the mana condenser recipe book?”

There wasn’t exactly no connection between the two, but.

It was also true that it was difficult to come up with easily.

“…Are you angry?”

“No, I’m just amazed at your genius. What kind of person in the world would use it like that.”

“Phew~”

Kenny let out a sigh of relief.

But Ethan’s expression remained the same.

“Still, we have to fix the collapsed castle, right? Count Sharian fainted seeing that.”

“Ah, that happened while dealing with the bad guy…”

“You said you lost him in the end.”

If she had caught him, it might be understandable.

If she says she lost him after destroying this much, the count might foam at the mouth and collapse again even if he wakes up.

Sneak sneak.

Kenny tried to slink away but was caught by Greg who appeared behind her back.

“You can restore it, right?”

“I can, but…”

“You should restore it, right?”

“Yes…”

“Good, that’s a good girl.”

With Kenny joining, speed was added to the Rite Castle restoration work.

Borka moved fragments and stones with magic.

When Kenny led the golems to start restoring the collapsed castle.

The construction was finished in an instant.

Thanks to this, Rite Castle was restored before the count woke up again.

“Ah, of course. There’s no way our family’s ancient castle would collapse so easily! It must have all been my dream.”

Ethan and Cecil were able to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Are you going back?”

“Yes, I’ve completed my mission here.”

“Thank you for your help. Our family will take responsibility and complete the mine development. So Ethan-ssi…”

Cecil held out an elegant box.

“What is this?”

“It’s the head of the demon worshipper killed in the abandoned mine. The rest of the body is in a coffin loaded on a cart. I sent a related letter to the royal family, so you just need to deliver this.”

“…Me?”

“Yes, it’s troublesome, but that’s the national law. The person who defeats a demon worshipper must report directly to His Majesty and receive a reward.”

“I don’t need merit or rewards, but. Couldn’t I hand it over to Count Sharian?”

“As expected, I thought you’d say that. But the soldiers and mercenaries who returned have already spread rumors…”

“Ah.”

The Aporia mercenary group and the count’s soldiers drinking while shouting slogans like ‘For the hero Ethan who defeated the demon worshipper~’.

Their desperate adventure stories had already reached the ears of merchants.

Quick-witted merchants would move to various parts of the country to exaggerate and reproduce the rumors.

There’s virtually no way to stop this.

‘I can’t avoid this.’

Since it had become unavoidable.

Ethan accepted Targan’s corpse.

‘I had to go to Etre once anyway. Might as well go now.’

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

Cecil, watching Ethan turn away.

Had a worried expression, concerned that he might have become displeased.

Levi, who was strolling in front of the inner castle courtyard.

She soon slipped away to a secluded place, avoiding people’s gazes.

“What’s the matter?”

“You told me not to report during the subjugation, so I’m reporting now. It’s about Etre.”

It was Malos.

He handed Levi a report from Oros.

After reading it all in an instant.

She asked the question she always asked formally.

“Has Oros returned?”

“That’s why I came to tell you.”

“…Was he discovered?”

“Yes. He hasn’t returned for a long time and contact has been cut off, so it’s certain.”

“Tsk.”

Levi clicked her tongue and turned around.

“Possibility of him being alive?”

“I can’t guarantee, but since those involved in the background are suspected to be demon worshippers. There’s a high possibility they kept him alive as a sacrifice.”

She largely agreed with Malos’s conjecture.

There’s no way a Special Forces member whose individual strength surpasses that of a decent expert-level knight would be kidnapped by mere underworld organizations in Etre.

But if the opponent is at the level of demon worshippers, it’s possible.

And demon worshippers are famous for desperately gathering sacrifices to summon their masters to this world.

“If he’s just alive…”

Levi said so and turned her gaze.

In contrast to the shade where the two were hiding their bodies.

Looking at Ethan walking out into the bright sunlight, Levi muttered.

“It’ll be alright. He will save him.”

There was conviction in Levi’s words.