episode_0020

We returned to the Arcalin family mansion.

The flesh zombies that had filled the forest had already disappeared.

The body disappeared because the sorcerer Marquisares died and could no longer maintain it.

“””Are you here!!!”””

As Draken returned, the Imperial Knights and their commanders shouted as if they had been waiting for him.

From overhearing their battle reports, it seemed that flesh zombies and remnants of evil worshippers had also invaded this place.

There were few casualties, but most were exhausted from the long battle.

I passed them and headed towards Remenia Arcalin.

“Oh, Mr. Cain, you’re here.”

He also looked obviously tired, but he tried to hide it and greeted me.

Looking around, I saw traces of fierce siege battles fought here by people from the collateral faction and the main family.

Remenia, the head of the Arcalin family, seemed to be commanding the collateral branches here.

Flesh zombies are not very strong, but they can bite people to death.

There is a limit to human physical strength.

If hundreds of zombies come back to life and attack you no matter how many times you kill them, that is also very threatening.

I announced to them, who had collapsed from exhaustion, that I had completed the succession ceremony and had defeated the evil spirit worshipper.

He expressed regret that such an unfortunate incident had occurred during the succession ceremony, which was a kind of festival, and promised to thank all those who fought and give them appropriate rewards.

I’m leaving House Calderon, but all the elders except Greymore are dead, and I’ll soon be the head of the family, so it doesn’t matter, right?

People need to be compensated to work.

You need to make them feel like their efforts and dedication are being rewarded.

Money… … I’ve been spending it lately, but I’ve accumulated quite a bit thanks to hunting named and boss monsters during the three years I was attending the academy.

If the family is short on money, I can just fill it up with some of my own money.

But the time has come to tell the story that had been put off.

All of the elders of the Calderon family come from collateral branches.

These are the fathers of those who are sitting and resting here.

I must tell them that they worshipped the devil and that I eventually killed them.

… … … … I can’t even open my mouth.

“Kane. Wait a minute.”

Then Remenia Arcalin called me.

“… Lord Cain, I have something to tell you.”

“Why are you like that?”

“… … I heard the general story from Elder Greymore.”

“… Is that so.”

“The story that the elders became like that… … I still can’t believe it. I want to see it with my own eyes. Can I go with you?”

“Okay.”

Remenia and I entered the path of trials through the secret passage of the family.

The road was filled with uncomfortable silence.

Remenia was also the head of a collateral family. Therefore, his father was also among the elders.

Even though it was unavoidable, it was natural to feel sorry towards him.

How long did it take?

The elder’s room appeared before my eyes.

In front of that room.

“Ahhh… … .”

The corpses of the nine elders and the remains of the guardians came into Remenia’s sight.

As a reward for worshipping the evil god, they rotted and twisted even after death.

It was a gruesome sight to behold at first glance.

“My father… was on the verge of death.

Remenia looked at their appearances one by one, then opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“I could see that my energy was declining every day. He was a person who was very attached to life, but time is fair and cruel to everyone. I thought that my father needed time.”

“… Is that so.”

“One day, my father said that he was no longer afraid of death. I was just glad that my father was feeling better. Even if I had known in advance, I probably wouldn’t have been able to stop it.”

Remenia approached the elder’s body.

He closed his father’s eyes, who were still open.

“You must have been punished… Time makes no exceptions… … . You were definitely a strong person… But did you become weak-hearted at some point… … .”

Remenia sobbed silently.

I listened to him in silence.

He’ll need time too.

“Father… Was it Cain who killed the elders?”

“… That’s right.”

I answered briefly.

Remenia said she heard the story from Greymore, so this is simple confirmation.

It never occurred to me to hide the truth from him as he struggled through his grief.

“… … Thank you for stopping my father. It was hard enough dealing with the zombies, but if the elders had turned against us, there would have been many casualties. Your cool judgment saved us. ”

“… You don’t have to say thank you. I’m not at ease either.”

“No. It’s fortunate that we haven’t reached an irreversible situation. I just have one request.”

“What is it?”

Remenia knelt down and begged me.

“Please forgive these people… the members of the Senate, and declare them dead after fighting the evil-worshipers?”

“… … Remenia family.”

“They have been loyal to the family for a long time… Could you please listen to me just this once, for the honor of those who are already dead… … Or at least for the sake of the family’s prestige? I will also persuade Lord Greymore. Just this once… … .”

“… … .”

This battle will also make the Imperial Family aware of the existence of the evil god worshippers.

As Merhen’s preparations are also in their final stages, the purge of those connected to them will also begin.

If at a time like this, there were even rumors that the nine elders of the Calderon family had offered their souls to the evil gods…

Hyenas will rush in from all around.

It was with these details in mind that Remenia asked me to do her a favor.

“Okay, Remenia. I will remain silent on this matter.”

“Thank you… … .”

Tears welled up in Remenia’s eyes.

I felt sorry for him, but I couldn’t offer him even a word of comfort.

—

“I will ask these people. Mr. Cain, please control the people below.”

“Okay.”

Remenia began to collect the bodies.

I remembered the [Key to the First Family] in my pocket, but I couldn’t go to the tomb with Remenia in front of me.

We parted ways with Remenia, promising to return next time.

“… Go. Is it okay?”

“… … Was there. Libra.”

Not long after parting ways with Remenia, Libra appeared from the grass.

It looks like you followed me because you were worried about me.

“… Let’s go. There’s a place I want you to go together after work.”

“Where.”

“The location is secret.”

“… … Yes. I will follow you once the Belmagor Church matters are settled.”

“Yeah. It’s not a strange place. It’s a place where the sunset is good. ”

Libra looked into the empty space with hazy eyes.

She was absorbed in imagining something, then closed her eyes and hummed softly with a cheerful expression on her face.

As we descended to the Arcalin family mansion, Drakken greeted us.

“Did it work out well?”

This side also saw me and Remenia walking down the Path of Trials where the elder’s corpse was.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I just have one request.”

“Is there a problem?”

I shook my head and continued.

“No, that’s not it. I just wish you would hide the fact that our family’s elders worshipped evil spirits.”

I gave Drakken a brief summary of what had just happened.

“… Yes. That’s how politics is. I don’t care about dead demon worshippers either, so I’ll do whatever you want. ”

“Thank you.”

“… Yeah. But your contribution will be reduced quite a bit. ”

“It’s an undesired achievement. There’s no need to feel sorry if it’s diminished.”

The penalty for killing nine elders is greater than the benefit gained from killing nine evil-worshipers.

It’s best for me that this matter remains unknown.

“If that’s what you want, it’s not that difficult.”

Drakken thankfully didn’t ask any more questions.

I thanked him and headed to my next destination.

The Arcalin family’s bedroom where Elder Greymore rests.

As soon as we got there, Greymore opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for us.

“… … You’re here. You’re later than I thought. ”

“There was a lot to do.”

“Is that so… … .”

Greymore stared at me with a face devoid of venom.

It seemed like he had a lot of feelings after losing both his legs.

“… … It was just for the money. I was just using them and taking what I needed, but I was the one being used… … .”

Graymore showed his regret to me.

“What a greedy life. How foolish is someone who realizes their mistakes only after losing something… … .”

There really isn’t much time left until Merhen exposes the evil spirits of the imperial family.

When that day comes, Greymore will pay for his crimes.

But this time his sin was not so great.

Greymore was cast out before he could have a proper relationship with the evildoers.

If by any chance he survives…then I would consider using him again.

With nine empty seats in the House of Lords, each person is precious.

I thought that by losing both legs, he had at least received a greater punishment than the wrong he had done to me.

If you don’t have any more sins to suffer, I guess you could give yourself one more chance.

“Lord Greymore. After you have paid your debt, come back to me.”

“… … Okay, my lord.”

Graymore answered softly.

There were still mountains he had to climb.