Chapter 115
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 115
A girl?
Count Kiris pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"No. There wasn't one. The only people Ordel brought were the Holy Knight Commander and a single Holy Knight in his mid-twenties. The rest were all from the Duke's House, and none of them were in their late teens."
-...Is that so?
A faint hum.
At the voice that came through the crystal orb, Count Kiris involuntarily trembled.
It was so vivid and chilling, as if someone were whispering right beside him.
The distorted voice made it feel all the more terrifying.
Count Kiris found himself rubbing the back of his neck.
It was already damp with cold sweat.
"I-is there some problem, my lord?"
-No, not at all. In fact, it's perfect.
Though he couldn't understand what that meant, Count Kiris wisely refrained from pressing further.
Knowledge was power, but ignorance could also be a shield.
"Phew, I'm relieved there are no further concerns."
After the call ended, Count Kiris sank back into his chair.
The Master was someone he would gladly die for, yet communicating with him brought no peace of mind.
Because he was terrified.
He knew nothing about The Master.
Not his identity, not his gender, not even his name.
But one thing was certain.
If he failed his mission and disappointed The Master, not only his own life but his family, his house, and everything he had built would crumble like a sandcastle.
The House of Count Kiris had risen to prominence in the Central Nobility entirely thanks to The Master.
Therefore, no matter what, he had to complete his mission.
"Still, I'm in good spirits. To think I have Lute Sheary wrapped around my finger."
Count Kiris emerged from the secret chamber and stood before the window. In the distance, he could see his daughter and Lute Sheary strolling through the Garden.
That arrogant fool who carried himself as if even royalty were beneath him, now dancing in The Master's palm—how delicious.
And the fact that he was being deceived by the unremarkable Ordel only sweetened it further.
"Having Yoanna marry Sheary to legally control him wouldn't be a bad idea either."
If that happened, he could wield Sheary's formidable power and immense wealth as he pleased.
Perhaps Kiris would completely absorb Sheary and emerge as a new pillar of the Empire.
The mere thought thrilled him, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Count Kiris drained the remaining wine in his glass and left his office.
Thus he failed to notice.
The softly illuminated Garden.
How his daughter Yoanna, who had been strolling with Lute mere moments ago, had fled the scene with a deathly pale complexion.
* * *
"That was close."
Lute quietly watched Yoanna's retreating figure as she fled in haste.
When asked where Ordel's room was during her stay here, Yoanna's answer was nothing short of ridiculous.
"Oh, it's in a place where the sunlight comes in so beautifully. Honestly, it was such a nice room I was envious of it. It's such a shame it got damaged through carelessness!"
"...Is that so?"
"Yes! Oh, now that I think about it, I had a letter I needed to write urgently, but I completely forgot. My apologies, Your Grace. I'll take my leave now."
Whether it was her stammering, her nervous glances, or the way she fled as if she'd never been there—
Her lies were so transparent that even a fool wouldn't have believed her.
What had Ordel said? That the room was so shabby it wouldn't be strange to use it as storage?
The fact that someone so precious to me had been treated this way in the Count's household filled me with rage.
"Your Grace."
At that moment, someone approached and bowed. It was Karen Boreo, the maid assigned to Ordel.
"Where is the High Priestess?"
"She has returned to her room to rest. However, she seemed quite uncomfortable and asked for a digestive aid, so I provided her with the medicine I had on hand."
At Karen's report, my face twisted.
Now that I thought about it, Ordel's complexion had been poor from the moment she entered this mansion.
I'd thought it was merely motion sickness since she seemed noticeably better after some sleep, but...
Could it be that stepping into this place, filled only with painful memories, had affected her?
No matter how strong Ordel was, trauma could afflict anyone.
I clenched my fists tightly.
'If I'd known it would come to this, I should have just purchased Rubar Village and given it to her as a gift.'
Then she wouldn't have needed to come here. Rubar Village was nothing more than a pittance to me.
Should I acquire the land under someone else's name even now?
...No, if I did that, Count Kiris might catch wind of something suspicious.
How frustrating.
I thought I'd never feel helplessness again after being freed from that pain.
Yet this was far more agonizing than those days when I could do nothing but suffer.
"What about a physician?"
Even with Ordel's powerful healing abilities, indigestion and emotional distress couldn't be cured by divine power.
I'd brought a physician along just in case, so I could have her examined immediately.
But Karen shook her head.
"She said it wasn't that serious and declined. She simply wanted to rest, so I left her be."
I sighed and nodded.
"Still, just in case, stand by and go to her immediately if the High Priestess calls for you. Continue watching to ensure no one in this place treats her carelessly."
"Yes, I will keep that in mind. Oh, the Holy Knight Commander and Holy Knight Victoria Lawrence have been taking turns standing guard beside the High Priestess, so you needn't worry about her protection."
The Holy Knight Commander.
At those words, I clicked my tongue lightly.
That Holy Knight Commander, who wore the guise of a loyal and righteous Holy Knight yet made no effort to hide his eyes full of longing.
Ordel seemed quite oblivious in this regard and didn't notice, but having someone with eyes similar to mine hovering around her was deeply irritating.
Yet no matter how displeased I was, there was no one better suited to protect Ordel's safety, so I'd have to leave him be for the duration of our stay here.
Besides, I had other matters that required my attention.
Lute's silver-gray eyes, fixed upon the Count Kiris Estate, gleamed coldly through the darkness.
* * *
"Huff, huff!"
Idella gripped the dagger with a deathly pale face.
Her hands trembled violently, but this single weapon was all she had to protect herself, so she clenched her teeth and tightened her grip.
Their target was her, so she had to keep her wits sharp to avoid capture.
The attack had begun late at night, well past midnight.
With nowhere suitable to lodge, they had made camp in the Mountains.
As a wanderer accustomed to sleeping on bare ground, Idella had drifted off without much difficulty alongside Monica.
Monica, the daughter of the Count's House, had even fallen asleep on the earth without hesitation, much to her surprise.
How much time had passed like this?
It was Jeremy, perched in the trees, who first sensed the disturbance.
"We're under attack!"
Idella, who rarely slept deeply regardless of circumstance, snapped her eyes open at those words.
And without thinking, her entire body went rigid.
Pitch-black robes enveloping their forms, an aura so devoid of presence it raised the hair on one's skin, and thus deeply unsettling figures.
They were dressed identically to those who had attempted to abduct Idella from the Southern Slums, and they were now rushing toward her.
Clang!
"Keep your wits about you!"
In that instant, Jeremy blocked her path and swiftly dispatched an enemy.
Then he tossed his dagger to Idella.
"Forget that useless piece of scrap metal and take this. And if enemies approach, kill them."
"...What?"
"You're the one who has to protect your own body, aren't you?"
Jeremy left those words and charged toward the enemies.
Idella stared quietly at the dagger that had fallen to the ground, then gripped it firmly.
Heat began to return to her body, which had grown cold and rigid.
'In the end, the only one who can protect you until the very last moment is yourself.'
Yes, hadn't the High Priestess said the same thing?
I must protect my own body.
"Hold tight so your intestines don't spill out! For any serious wounds, don't bother me—treat them immediately with potions!"
Even Monica was diligently tending to the wounded in the midst of this chaos.
At the composure of her newfound friend, Idella's racing heart gradually calmed.
The kidnappers' target is me.
So I cannot go to Monica's side while she tends to the injured.
I must simply remain here, eyes wide open, without becoming a hindrance to anyone.
I'm sorry to those who've been wounded because of me, but I've decided not to entertain weak thoughts now.
That would be disrespectful to everyone fighting against these enemies.
"...Idella!"
Just then, an enemy who had finally broken through Jeremy and the Holy Knights rushed toward Idella.
Jeremy hastily cut down the enemy he'd been facing and pivoted toward us, but the attacker reached us first.
Squelch!
With a sickening sound of something piercing through flesh, crimson blood splattered across Idella's pale face.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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