episode_0073

“Is this the place?”

In front of a shabby warehouse on the outskirts, overgrown with dense bushes.

Three men hidden in the thick foliage, enough to conceal even a large body, were keeping watch around the warehouse. Their horses, already tied up far away, had left their clothes dirty with splattered mud.

“It seems likely that Yeong-ae is being held in one of these two warehouses.”

Christian replied to Ernst’s emotionless voice.

“So, can’t we just go in and take care of it?”

“She’s being held as a hostage, Yeong-ae is. If we act recklessly, she could be in danger too.”

Beside him, Julian stared angrily at the two warehouses ahead.

This was the place Ernst had quickly found based on the report. Normally, Julian might have regarded Ernst, who brought them here abruptly, with suspicion. However, he was not in a position to afford such leisure now.

His mind was already preoccupied by the incident involving Dmitri, and now Louis Edmond, like a fly in the ointment, had caused this trouble.

Even if Julian had been in perfect condition, and his thoughts had been clear, Ernst would have had to report to him regardless.

The original plan had been to come here after several setbacks, but the last night’s final revelation had disturbed his nerves.

“Louis Edmond’s condition is more serious than I thought. His words and actions are too rough. It seems like big trouble could arise if handled incorrectly.”

The potion that had pulled Louis Edmond out of depression had such a profound effect… Even Ernst had not anticipated the results.

“I need to use it cautiously from now on.”

Finally, the door on the right side of the warehouse opened, and a red-haired man stepped outside. In the tense atmosphere, his red hair immediately caught the attention of the three men.

As soon as they confirmed Louis Edmond entering the opposite warehouse, the three simultaneously raised their lips.

“Now’s the time.”

“It’s now.”

“It seems safe to move now.”

Without anyone saying a word, a hand went to the hilt strapped to the waist.

Bang.

A resounding noise echoed through the warehouse.

Like the sound of something bursting, it was Christian kicking down the warehouse door.

The massive wooden door, shattered easily under his foot, was now in pieces. Thankfully, it was a rainy day, so despite the broken door, the dust did not obstruct their view.

The expressions of the people inside the warehouse turned to horror. It wasn’t just the loud noise; the aura they exuded was already too overwhelming for them to handle.

Amid fearful gazes, the silver-haired man spoke in a low voice.

“Louie Edmond, you should lie down and watch your step.”

In reality, the odds were fifty-fifty.

Whether Louis Edmond had escaped from where Eleanor was being held or whether he had headed towards captive Eleanor.

Fortunately for Julian, it was the latter. If Eleanor and Louis Edmond had been separated, there was a chance Eleanor might have faced a harsh situation at his command.

As his words ended, Julian fearlessly tossed the curved saber he held in his hand into the air.

Before entering the warehouse, they quietly dispatched those guarding the entrance. Bloodstained blades scattered blood into the air, enhancing Yurian’s usual decadent beauty even more.

“Yoo, Yurian Vallatier.”

“Daring to speak my name on that wretched tongue will be your last.”

Yurian raised his saber menacingly towards Louis Edmond and the men in robes. Then he subtly signaled Christian and Ernst who approached from the side.

With that signal, Yurian, Christian, and Ernst charged towards the brown-robed figures.

Christian excelled in flamboyance. To facilitate swift movements, he wielded a plain longsword instead of his usual bastard sword.

Indeed, what he brandished was a longsword. However, it was difficult to tell whether the sound of slicing through the air and the flesh being cleaved belonged to the longsword.

“Kraaah.”

“I-It’s a monster. How can it possess such strength?”

The men’s blades barely blocked the longsword slashing through the air, but what rebounded was their own blades.

If flamboyance belonged to Christian, elegance was Yurian’s domain.

While Christian’s longsword shattered their foes, Yurian’s saber cut through them with precision and grace.

Eleanor and Eugene followed the swirling blades. Even Louis Edmond could only stare blankly.

As the number of robed figures dwindled in the warehouse, Louis Edmond finally regained his senses.

Louis Edmond grabbed Eleanor’s fallen head and forced her back up.

“D-Don’t move!”

With a trembling voice, Louis Edmond aimed a dagger at Eleanor’s white throat and shouted at Yurian.

“If you take one step closer, I’ll stab this woman’s throat.”

His hand holding the bloodied dagger trembled, drawing a red line over her neck. Eleanor did not scream.

Yurian, Christian, and Ernst momentarily halted. Louis Edmond began to retreat, knowing there must be guards outside. They had to escape, even if it meant sacrificing these people. Where did he leave the horses?

Confused green eyes darted around. Despite glaring at Yurian, he didn’t forget to spew venom.

“H-How dare a half-penny noble like you challenge the heir of Edmund Marquis! Once the prince ascends-”

“Eleanor, close your eyes!”

Yurian shouted loudly. Moved by his tone, Eleanor shut her eyes tightly.

“W-What are you do-”

In an instant, something flashed past Eleanor’s hair.

Followed by a scream.

“Aaaargh!”

Alongside the ear-piercing scream, the sound of a blade hitting the ground echoed. The blade pointed at the throat had vanished.

Ernst’s thrown dagger pierced through Louis Edmond’s hand from behind Yurian. Losing his right hand in an instant, Louis Edmond clutched his bleeding wrist, only able to scream in agony.

And death approached him.

“Boldly laying your filthy hands on my beloved Eleonore!”

Yurian swiftly plunged through the gap and thrust the saber’s blade into his throat.

Swoosh.

The sharp sword tore through the tender flesh enveloping his neck, releasing a pungent scent of blood. Then Louis Edmund slumped to the ground.

With the blade sheathed, Yurian cautiously approached Eleonore.

Although from afar Eleonore had stood unwavering against Louis Edmund’s dagger, up close, her slender shoulders trembled.

“It’s over now, Elli,” he said in his honeyed, melancholic voice.

Surrounded by his warmth, Eleonore leaned gently into Yurian’s embrace, lowering her long eyelashes.

On the beam above the warehouse, Nasir watched the carnage unfolding below.

“Indeed, that man called Christian is a monster. He could rival even the renowned Duke of the North.”

Despite lacking comprehensive skills, he seemed capable of surpassing the Empire’s guardian Duke in strength.

“Moreover, Yurian’s prowess is considerable.”

Christain’s massive sword and Nasir’s dagger differed, yet both exuded a refined deadliness. Even Nasir found it challenging to guarantee victory facing them.

“Ernst Nari’s skill was exceptional as well.”

Initially quite a distance away, Ernst’s ability to throw a dagger and sever a person’s wrist indicated more than just cunning and intrigue.

After confirming the disposal of the remaining remnants, Nasir cautiously descended from the beam.

His attire resembling those strewn on the ground, Nasir erased his demeanor and approached Ernst carefully.

“Nari, it’s me, Nasir. As you mentioned, about the noble-”

Before he could finish, Nasir’s pumpkin-colored eyes widened in shock as Ernst’s dagger was lodged in his throat, much like the fallen blonde-haired lady’s fate.

“W-what’s happening?”

In the commotion, Christian and Yurian turned to look at Ernst.

However, Ernst, in his usual black-robed guise, removed his dagger from Nasir’s throat.

“One man was left behind.”

“Even if they were likely bribed, they didn’t flee. Admirable loyalty,”

Collapsed on the ground, Nasir weakly clutched Ernst’s ankle. Attempting to speak, only gasps filled the air.

Ernst brushed off Nasir’s touch, wiped his bloodied hand on a handkerchief, and calmly approached Yurian.

“Your Highness, Eleonore seems to be in a dire state. I will stay here to clean up; please go quickly.”

Carefully holding Eleonore, Yurian looked up at Ernst.

“There might still be remnants around. Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

“The security forces will arrive shortly. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Ernst. Your information greatly aided in finding Eleonore. Let’s go, Christian!”

Upon Yurian’s words, Christian also carried the ivory-clad woman tied beside him and hurried out of the dingy warehouse.

Ernst approached Nasir amidst the scattered bodies. He removed Nasir’s black mask, raised the dagger to his face, and brought it down.

“Perhaps my end will be similar to yours. Until the very end of my life, I will take care of your wishes and your family, so do not hold too much resentment.”

The soldiers from the Security Bureau arrived at the scene afterward, finding a body next to Louis Edmund with a face so disfigured that its identity could not be easily ascertained.

#.11 Realism Complete