episode_0213

Episode 213

With our joining, the punitive force that had been stranded by werewolves began to advance rapidly.

Even during the advance, werewolf attacks continued. However, it was only detected and resolved by Reelia every time.

But that was the only resistance.

They did not encounter any defensive forces until they reached the very front of the Castle of Seville. It was as if military resistance had been completely abandoned.

The gate was closed, but that was all. Not a single arrow flew. There wasn’t even a sign of anyone exploring this side from the castle wall.

“Near the castle gate… I can’t sense any sign of a special curse. But it’s clear there’s something… something ridiculously ominous…”

Leelia sounds quite tired. It seems that his body and mind have been spent trying to restore the people who have turned into monsters. The divine power I could see had been reduced by about half.

Maybe this was the purpose? Was he trying to drain the power of Leelia, the most annoying being to him, and prepare for the final battle? But even so, it is difficult to understand this level of non-resistance.

Coo! Cooo!

When the battering ram hit the castle gate, it broke through without difficulty. Spreading out the soldiers to search for ambushes, I headed inside the castle with the elite knights.

“Can you guide me? Julianna.”

Juliana also accompanied him on this expedition, as per his wish. However, he has not yet escaped his status as a sinner. Juliana, who was handcuffed, nodded with a haggard face.

This place was once his castle. No one knows this place better than Julianna.

“Are you okay? Just in case…”

Even as Masker frees Juliana, he looks uneasy. I know what he’s trying to say. The traitor’s wife and Juliana herself are powerful sorceresses. Maybe you might change your mind.

However, I know best that Juliana wants to catch and kill James Sancerne and Ayla more than anyone else. I said, dismissing Masker’s concerns.

“It’s okay. Please subdue the lower part of the castle, Masker.”

“Yes!”

If you enter the main castle, there is a high possibility that you will encounter Aela. If someone were to hear that the witch was Carmel’s mother, it might become a nuisance.

Moreover, it is safer to detect danger using Pilgret’s sense of smell, my magic vision, and Riellia’s intuition than dragging a large number of people in. The escort troops heading into the castle were limited to only the most trustworthy personnel.

Juliana walked confidently while being restrained. The main gate was not even locked. It opened with a creepy sound.

“This way.”

Juliana’s appearance showed no trace of her usual vanity. It’s just a calm face. However, his eyes were as fierce as if he held a sword.

Following Juliana’s guidance, we climbed the stairs. The structure of nature was not that complicated. Unlike Laurentia’s, I got the feeling that it was designed without war in mind.

Julianna, who was casually climbing the stairs, suddenly stopped. I was looking at the door above. Nothing was said, but we all seemed to realize why she had stopped.

Flowing black mana. It was visible to my eyes. It was clearly visible even beyond the door, writhing like a disgusting creature.

“Princess, there… there is… something… in there…”

“…It smells awfully bloody.”

Juliana and Carmel also seemed to sense that there was something scary in that room with their magician’s abilities. Julianna muttered, biting her lower lip tightly.

“That’s… James’ room…”

“Let’s go now. You won’t know unless you open the door.”

“…Yes.”

At my words, Juliana started walking again. We opened the door wide, prepared to see something scary.

What was inside was a sight beyond imagination.

“You’re late, Julianna. Making her husband wait, can she still be called the proud wife of the Marquis of Sesennes?”

James Sesenne greeted us, shouting nonsense. His vassals were lined up on both sides of him, left and right. But not all of them had heads.

The missing head was held in their hands and looking in this direction. The blood that appeared to have been spilled by them was spread on the floor like a carpet.

James Sancerne, who had the dead as his vassal, kept spouting words like a madman.

“Oh, the queen and princess are here too. Glory to Lustier. James Marquis of Sesene greets you two precious people.”

With an exaggerated gesture, he bowed according to the etiquette of a nobleman. Juliana’s expression distorted.

“James…! What have you done…!”

“What are you doing? Ah, these pathetic defeatists? He dared to urge me, the great marquis, to surrender, so I made him quiet. Thanks to that, now I can’t say anything other than complaining in my ear in the middle of the night.”

The way he spoke seemed like he was in a play. Rika and Philgret stepped in front of me with their swords drawn.

“Be careful, princess. There’s something strange about that guy.”

I have never heard of James Sesenne learning martial arts or magic. However, menacing black mana continued to swirl within him.

I guess we can say that they were cursed in a different way than werewolves. Perhaps an even more powerful and ominous curse.

“James… You… are stupid to the end.”

Juliana chewed and spat it out. It contained extreme contempt.

It seems that the nuance was fully conveyed even to James, who was not in his right mind. He reacted violently to those words.

“Stupid? Are you stupid? Don’t ignore me! I am your husband! Juliana! He’s your master!”

Black mana also swirls along with James’ shout. His face had an expression so ugly that it could not be considered human.

“Juliana, you, you have always ignored me! He’s an incompetent person who has nothing but noble status! Damn it! Don’t ignore it! Don’t underestimate me!”

Pilgret and Rika rushed towards James, who raised his voice. The neck and right arm are cut off. But still, the body stood upright.

“Do not disturb! Menial things! Can’t you even see what the great Marquis of Sessenes is talking about?”

The severed head screams. There was no blood at all, as if he could no longer be called human. From the cut section, long tentacles extended out and recovered the head and arms.

The black holy sword used by Rika is Devald. However, the curse on James seemed to have surpassed the effect of the holy sword and was still spewing out black mana.

“This is…!”

“Wait, please monitor the situation for now, Philgret!”

The head, which had returned to its original position, was at a slightly different angle than before. James continued speaking in a condescending manner.

“Vulgar and rude people who do not even know the etiquette of nobles…! Oh, I’m not saying this to the queen and princess, so please don’t misunderstand.”

Riellia was also stretching out her arms as if she were ready to unleash divine power at any moment. But I quietly stopped her.

“If you are in that state, you may die as soon as the curse is lifted. There’s still something you need to hear from that guy.”

Even after coming this far, Aila has not shown herself at all.

I was thinking that the Marquis of Sansene and Aila would use their curses and all their remaining resources to fight back. Looking at her current condition, it seems highly likely that Aila has already escaped.

James is the only one who can give a clue to her whereabouts. Of course, after hearing that, we should allow it to disappear as it should.

It looks very unstable in many ways, but at least it doesn’t rush back and forth like werewolves do. It may be possible to establish a conversation.

“James Marquis of Sesennes. Where did Aila go? That shaman who was with you.”

“Ah, you were the princess. I don’t know. What does it matter to me where such a shallow bitch goes?”

“Wasn’t there a cooperative relationship with you? What were you trying to do with her magic in the first place? There are too many things I don’t understand for him to say he really wanted to commit treason.”

“What did you want to do? Well…”

James’s eyes, which were giving a vain answer, turn to Juliana. Immediately, a fierce flame appeared in his eyes.

“Do you understand? It’s all because you ignored me, Juliana! Been like that since I was little! I grew up hearing that you, a beautiful person who can do anything, and that the only thing you have is your family! Even if you didn’t look down on me, I would, I would!”

In short, it’s an inferiority complex.

From the outside, the Marquis of Sesennes seemed to be living under Julianna, who was the chairman of the Academy and the holder of the grimoire, and who also had a beautiful appearance.

However, I recently found out that in fact, it was James Sesenne who took the lead in their relationship. But in the end, treating Juliana coldly was an expression of a trivial inferiority complex.

“I have never looked down on you or ignored you. It just means you’ve been ignoring yourself, James.”

Julianna spoke calmly, but with strong anger.