novelraw Chapter 36 : Chapter 36
Chapter 36 : Chapter 36
Chapter 36. Moltke (4)
The two of us left the mansion in silence and strolled through the streets.
Although Thanksgiving was just around the corner, this place, located at the northern end, already felt like winter had arrived.
The green was dead, and only bare branches fluttered in the harsh wind.
I recalled my memories from the game and started a conversation with Adel.
“It reminds me of when you first came to me. Iris and Noemi were pretty too, but I still can't forget your smile.”
“For that, you had a very cold expression on your face.”
That was how the original Frank was, but at least I wasn't.
“I don't know what my expression was like, but that wasn't how I felt inside.”
“How so?”
“You were so, so pretty and cute that I wanted to hug you tightly. But I couldn't bring myself to do it, worrying that Iris and Noemi would get sulky.”
Since I had never raised three daughters, there was a bit of embellishment, but my feelings when I first saw Adel were genuine.
Adel, with her blonde hair fluttering and her eyes sparkling, was so cute I wanted to pinch her cheeks.
Only then did Adel’s expression soften a little.
Blushing, Adel shyly parted her lips.
“I never knew you were thinking that on the inside, Father.”
“I suppose so. I'm sorry. There was nothing I could do about it.”
From here on, there was more embellishment.
Because it was about a period of time I hadn't experienced, having skipped the five-year process.
“The reason I raised you harshly was because of the dangers of the future. But now, I regret why I did that. It was a foolish thing to do.”
“Father…….”
“I was worried that a new Demon King would appear soon, but now the situation has changed a lot.”
“Huh?”
I told Adel the story I had heard from Anonymous.
That there was a being named Primus.
That he was the true mastermind of this world.
That even Anonymous was nothing compared to him.
Adel, having heard all my words, asked back with a face of disbelief.
“Isn't Primus one of the first Children of God? Why would someone like him?”
“I don't know the details either. But we'll find out soon enough. I have a feeling that it will happen, even if we don't want to know.”
An enemy I, too, had never experienced.
I couldn't even predict what he was thinking.
Then, a thought suddenly struck me.
‘Adel repeatedly getting closer and then distant from me like this is disadvantageous in many ways. For Adel's sake. And for my sake, I need to completely restore Adel's trust right now.’
Having made up my mind, I held Adel's hand and said.
“Let's go to the Demon Territory.”
“The Demon Territory?”
“Yes. Before, we couldn't do much because Alvarez was with us. But now, we can go to the Demon Territory without anyone's interference. There, we can confirm it with our own eyes.”
“Confirm what?”
“What Primus is trying to do. Even if we don't go all the way to the Demon King's Castle, I'll be able to notice the changes right away. Since I'm the human who has frequented the Demon Territory the most.”
At the words ‘Demon Territory’, Adel's expression brightened.
It was likely an expression of anticipation, as she would be able to cut down monsters and demons to her heart's content.
“I understand. But who will protect the village? With Alvarez gone, there's no one to take my place.”
“Don't worry. Isn't Anonymous here?”
As long as Anonymous was here, this place was safer than anywhere else.
Who in their right mind would dare invade a place where an ancient dragon resided?
Adel slowly nodded her head.
The next day.
We once again walked towards the Demon Territory.
It might have been just a feeling, but I thought this journey would by no means be an easy one.
I also had a feeling that I would be able to drastically change my relationship with Adel.
***
With the absence of Iris, a key party in the conversation, the meeting dragged on.
The cardinals shouted with faces full of discontent.
“When on earth is that person going to come?”
“They are clearly ignoring us! Let's end the meeting here……”
Creeak.
Suddenly, the entrance door opened and a group of people entered.
It was Iris, leading all of the Unseen Ones inside.
Among the startled cardinals, some even hid under the table, trembling.
“Th-they're going to kill us all. Ugh.”
But that was just a misunderstanding.
“My apologies for being late. Let's resume the meeting.”
There was a certain conviction in Iris' eyes.
Noticing this, Isabel smiled faintly and parted her lips.
“Are the people behind you the Unseen Ones I've only heard about?”
“That's right.”
“Why did you bring them here?”
Iris also smiled faintly and replied.
“This isn't a meeting to be decided only by the leaders, is it?”
In other words, she meant this.
Since it wasn't a private meeting with just the Saintess, they would all attend and proceed with the meeting together.
Isabel started the meeting without even asking where they had come from.
“Excellent. Now this feels a bit more like a meeting. Before, it felt like I was interrogating you all by yourself, so I didn't feel very good about it either.”
“I'm glad you understand.”
“So. What answer have you brought today?”
The Saintess didn't let on that she had met Iris separately.
With the cardinals already wary of Iris and the Unseen Ones, there was no need to stir the atmosphere in a bad direction.
‘She's really no pushover. I'm not sure about the others, but the Saintess will definitely be a great help.’
Iris looked each of the cardinals straight in the face and slowly said.
“We, the Unseen Ones, officially request the cooperation of the Goddess Cult.”
“Wh-what did you say?”
“That's different from what you said before, isn't it?”
“Saintess! This is clearly a conspiracy!”
The cardinals flinched, conscious of the Unseen Ones behind Iris, but they still said what they had to say.
However, Isabel persuaded them with a gentle tone.
“We know nothing about Primus. Until they told us, we thought he was merely a figure from mythology. Shouldn't we first join hands and discuss concrete countermeasures?”
Within the Goddess Cult, the Saintess' status was absolute.
No one refuted her words.
No, they couldn't.
The Saintess was one reason, but they were also afraid of the Unseen Ones standing behind Iris.
Information about the Unseen Ones was limited, but one thing was certain.
No one who had seen their faces had ever returned alive.
The cardinals could only hope that they would be an exception.
***
Moltke, who had left Frank's mansion and arrived at his main castle, immediately issued this order.
“Double the troops right now and begin military training.”
Confirming whether Frank's words were true was important, but preparation was the priority.
‘The Lombard Kingdom has been coveting our kingdom for a long time.’
This land originally belonged to the Lombard Kingdom.
Then his ancestor defeated them and obtained this territory.
It was also the place closest to the Lombard Kingdom.
If a war broke out, this place would be devastated first.
Two days after Moltke returned to his main castle.
Surprisingly, an envoy from the Lombard Kingdom came to visit.
And secretly, without the kingdom's knowledge, at that.
‘How did they know I would be here now and visit at just the right time?’
Moltke debated whether he should meet them, but in the end, he did.
“What business brings you to me?”
“Thank you for granting us an audience, Marquis.”
“I have no need for idle talk. Get to the point.”
The other party smirked and nodded.
“I like your straightforwardness. Then I will get straight to the point without long words. Join our Lombard Kingdom.”
“What did you say?”
“Of course, this is not an empty-handed offer.”
The man gestured with his chin to the person behind him, who then showed a box filled with a large sum of money.
It was by no means lacking, even when compared to the great merchant from the Empire who had sent treasures before, saying he wanted to build a friendship.
“This is just a small token.”
“You mean there's more?”
“Of course. When the war is over, the Benedict Kingdom will be yours.”
“……?!”
This was a clear offer of betrayal.
It wasn't a simple betrayal like defecting.
To betray the king and take his place instead.
Wasn't this telling him, a marquis, to start a civil war?
As Marquis Moltke’s eyes wavered, the other party showed a vile smile.
“Of course, I don't mean we will give you the kingdom's current territory as it is.”
“Then?”
“The east is our share. The west is your share.”
In other words, it meant he had to give up the territory he was currently ruling.
Because the marquisate was the land most biased to the east in the kingdom.
Nevertheless.
Moltke was tempted by this offer.
‘If I succeed, I'll become king, and I can even take care of Frank, who's been a thorn in my side.’
That bastard had threatened him, speaking to him informally.
Saying that if he said one more word, he wouldn't be able to return home in one piece.
The shame from that time was still unforgettable in his mind.
However.
‘Anticus is standing guard there. The Lombard Kingdom may be a military powerhouse, but they can't kill dragons.’
One Anticus was already a handful, and hadn't that place been reborn as a paradise for dragons?
But the other party, as if he had predicted all of that, said this.
“Huhu. You seem to be worried because of Anticus.”
“That's right. She is a being as fearsome as the Demon King.”
“You don't have to worry. We have a countermeasure for that.”
The man took something out from his bosom and showed it to the marquis.
It was a small glass vial containing a green liquid, something he had never seen before.
“What is that?”
“It is a magic potion that can turn dragons into slaves. Just one drop is enough to make them docile slaves.”
“Ha?”
Moltke clicked his tongue and shook his head as if telling him not to joke.
“How can such a thing be possible?”
“That reaction would be normal. Would you like to take a look at this?”
The other party showed him a Magic Crystal Ball.
“This is?”
“It is a magic tool, same as the potion. It shows information from a faraway place in real-time.”
The Marquis' jaw dropped.
“Where on earth did you get such a thing?”
“Is that what's important right now?”
“……No.”
“I will send a signal, so please watch carefully.”
When the man snapped his fingers, Moltke couldn't take his eyes off the Magic Crystal Ball for a second.
Because a shocking event was unfolding.
It was inside a dark cave.
A giant dragon was roaring, bound in chains.
But that was only for a moment.
When a Mage sprayed a potion that looked the same as the one before him using a water ball, the dragon quickly became docile.
That wasn't the end.
The dragon, which until now had only been resisting fiercely, was now perfectly carrying out the caster's instructions.
When told to crawl on the floor, it crawled, and when told to bow its head, it bowed.
“Th-this is?”
“Huhu. Do you believe me a little more now?”
Moltke had no choice but to nod.
He was well aware that the Lombard Kingdom was no ordinary nation, but to think they possessed such high-level magic tools.
Making an enemy of them was truly no different from being a fool.
***
Alvarez was certainly nothing but baggage.
‘Without him, I can cross the Elburz Mountains and arrive in the Demon Territory in an instant.’
Was that all? With no one to worry about, Adel also cut down monsters and low-level demons in an instant.
Adel, who subjugated her enemies so mercilessly that she seemed like a massacre machine.
A week passed like that.
Now, having entered quite deep into the Demon Territory, we had finished preparing to camp for the night.
Then, Adel’s body suddenly went rigid.
Startled, I ran to Adel's side and asked.
“What is it?”
But Adel, with a shocked face, couldn't easily open her mouth.
What is it? Was she hit by something like poison?
I didn't see anything like that around?
A moment later.
Adel managed to part her lips with difficulty.
“Did you perhaps give the basement key to someone?”
“Huh? It's right here.”
Ah!
Only then did I remember.
The fact that Alvarez was left alone in the basement.
We stared at each other without a word.
What was the legal term for this again?
Willful negligence?
Crime of abandonment?
Mistreatment of a prisoner?
Cold sweat trickled down my back.