episode_0072

After accommodating their guests with individual rooms and serving a meal, Raymond stood on his balcony, continuously surveying the surroundings.

The approach of winter and the chill in the air were keenly felt by his body.

However, unlike usual, despite arriving at the mansion, he did not remove his armor. He stood rooted to the ground, holding both hands like a statue, as if waiting for something.

How long had he been standing there? It was Raymond who spoke first.

His gaze remained fixed on the scenery ahead.

“How long must we wait for you to reveal yourself? I knew of your presence since the carriage arrived. There’s no point in further confrontation. How about coming out for a conversation?”

Slowly emerging from the unyielding darkness in response to his words was Cineria.

Apart from the bodysuit she always wore except when meeting Yukal, she appeared quite different than usual. Contrary to her usual practice of not drawing weapons unnecessarily, she held a dagger in each hand, wearing additional special protective gear on her arms and legs.

Though Yukal sensed that only Hekwal 4th Division continued to monitor him under orders, upon learning the destination, Cineria was also accompanying him alongside the 4th Division.

Whether they would ever know this fact or not…

Fixing his gaze on the revealed Cineria, Raymond spoke with a cold expression.

“Even just looking at you makes blood flow, almost like a river. How many must you kill to reach such a state?”

In response to his words, Cineria smiled deeply, slowly running her hand over the blade of the dagger.

“Hmm~ No need to worry. I have no intention of touching your noble daughter. I have no immediate desire to clash with the Duke of Astrea.”

“That can’t be the only reason. There must be a reason why you shouldn’t touch the people in the carriage. It’s more accurate to say you’re protecting them. So, when you attacked the carriage before knowing my identity, you must have hesitated.”

Raymond continued to gaze at Cineria with a cold expression.

“At the time of the Ardente Academy attack, including my daughter, many witnessed mysterious dark figures. The Academy claimed they were special guards, but that was likely just to cover up the truth.”

As tension seemed to build in the unmoving sword, a slight glint began to appear on the ground.

“One of the dark figures said, ‘Sent by Yukal.’ I should respond. What relationship do the current headmaster of Ardente Academy and Yukal in my mansion have?”

Despite the intense energy that seemed ready to burst forth at any moment, Cineria instead let out a small laugh.

Whether her actions irked him or not, Raymond frowned, staring at her.

“I find it quite rude to mock someone in front of them, but what are you up to?”

“No, no, I’m not mocking; I’m relieved. You still don’t know who I am or anything about us. That’s enough. So, that’s why I’m asking those questions.”

Feeling pricked at the core, silence was the only option.

After hearing Rachel’s story, he had mobilized his own and his family’s power to investigate their identities, but to no avail.

Whether they were behind the Academy attack, their strength and scale, the name of their group—none of it could be uncovered.

The only clues were the message left by the dark figure to Rachel to forget and the statement that Yukal had sent them.

The daughter was asked to bring Yukal as the Astraea Duke, but upon checking midway, there wasn’t much gain as expected.

Recognizing oneself as an enemy, truly prepared for death, protecting Rachel and the occupants inside the carriage, and noting suspicious individuals, including Yukal, concerned about the students’ condition.

Planning to send the daughter and the women somewhere tomorrow and interrogate Yukal, but since they came over, there was no need for that, which was fortunate.

Not wanting to harm a talent like him with one’s own hands.

Looking at the speechless Raymond, Cineria, with an even more seductive smile, spoke further.

“Just to clarify so you don’t misunderstand, I’ll inform you as a service. I merely had a transaction with the little headmaster of Ardent Academy. Apart from that, they dislike me over there, so you can rest assured.”

Yet Raymond’s expression remained unchanged.

“In that case, what about Yukal? What is his relationship with that child?”

“One shouldn’t keep taking without giving back. Just the information I provided should be beneficial to them, right? You can rest easy sending your precious daughter to Ardent Academy.”

When Cineria mentioned Rachel, her aura intensified noticeably.

To the extent that the wind’s direction began to shift slightly.

“I may not want to do this repeatedly, but I might have to make extreme choices. I want to avoid attaching myself too closely right now, but if they come after me, I won’t shy away either. The level of the guards and knights residing in the mansion is considerable, but do you think they can handle everything?”

Raymond could only remain silent in response to her words.

If what she sensed was indeed accurate, aside from the woman in front of him, there were 48 individuals spread throughout the mansion.

Each individual’s skills were not to be underestimated.

“If I can just hold down the greatest knight of our empire for a moment, I consider it my victory. There will be casualties among our members, but how many can handle sudden situations? While I don’t particularly want to act first given the agreement, dealing with what ‘comes’ is not a problem.”

If they were to engage immediately, most of the individuals inside the mansion would undoubtedly perish.

“I can’t guarantee I can take you out in one go, so you’re still pondering. I also don’t particularly enjoy showing parents their children’s severed necks, do I?”

Despite lacking credibility, she continued to smile and threatened to cut Rachel’s throat at any moment, eventually provoking Raymond.

“You wench! How dare you spew whatever nonsense you please with that filthy mouth!! If you wish to be condemned like that, I swear by the name of Raymond Astraea that I will deal with you!”

Swiftly drawing the sword that had been stuck in the ground, he unleashed a powerful aura.

-Clang!

The clash between the dagger and the sword hilt created a resounding noise that reverberated throughout the mansion.

Disarming the opponent by tossing the sword hilt, he swung the sword towards the opposite side, but it ended with the protective gear attached to the bodysuit being damaged to a certain extent, enough for Cineria to retreat.

“Stop. If you move any further, I cannot guarantee the safety of Rachel, whom you cherish. If you don’t want to witness that sight, it’s best to cease.”

Upon noticing the movement of the shadowy figures near Rachel, Raymond could no longer act.

“You were the one who summoned me here for a conversation, Raymond. Before the knights rush in hearing this commotion, let’s have a brief constructive discussion.”

“Keep going.”

“My only condition is this: you will not harm Yukal in any way until I return to the Ardent Academy while staying at this mansion. In return, are you willing to discuss the relationship between Yukal and me?”

Raymond, pondering her words, accepted the proposal.

“Agreed. However, allow for some level of injury if sparring or teaching him, as long as no lasting trauma remains.”

“If that’s the extent, I’m fine with it too.”

Anticipating the approaching knights, Cinerea, with a damaged armguard and dagger tucked into her belt, slowly faded into the darkness before speaking.

“Yukal, that boy, much like the little headmaster, has made a few promises but doesn’t have such a significant connection with us here.”

“….”

“Hmm~ I did say I’m the most beautiful in the world and that he’s a talent worth recruiting, right?”

With those words, she completely disappeared into the darkness, and the door immediately opened as the knights entered.

“Are you alright, Your Grace! We heard sudden noises in the night and thought it might be an attack, so we’ve completed deploying all our forces.”

Raymond, briefly staring at where Cinerea had vanished, then turned to the knights.

Picking up his fallen scabbard and sheathing his sword.

“I had the rare occasion to wield a sword in the middle of the night. I didn’t control it properly, causing a loud noise. It’s nothing to worry about specifically. You can go back. Apologize for startling you late at night.”

Upon hearing this, the knights went back to sort out the situation, leaving Raymond standing there muttering to himself.

“Where on earth do these dangerous individuals keep coming from? Oh heavens…”

While some questions were answered, the frustrating night continued.