novelraw Chapter 83 : Chapter 83
Chapter 83 : Chapter 83
Chapter 83. Cromwell Staviana (3)
───Adopt Ilea as your daughter.
With Yohan’s sudden proposal, silence enveloped the reception room.
No one opened their mouths.
The Count simply pulled a handkerchief from his coat and began dabbing the water from his clothes.
The silence didn’t last long.
“Hic.”
A hiccup echoed.
Ilea clamped a hand over her mouth.
“S-Sorry, I was just caught off guard.”
The Count said calmly,
“Seems this wasn’t something you two agreed upon.”
Yohan nodded.
“It was just decided now.”
He had long been deliberating whether or not to send Ilea to the Count’s family.
He simply hadn’t reached a conclusion.
But the Count had arrived in the South much earlier than expected.
Yohan hadn’t had the time to make a decision.
Ilea bowed her head slightly.
“This is... very sudden.”
Her cheeks were faintly flushed.
Yohan said,
“If you really don’t want to, you can refuse. I’m not going to force you.”
Ilea quickly waved her hands.
“No, it’s fine. I mean, it’s not that I like it, but it makes sense. Yes. It’s a reasonable idea.”
She was rambling a bit.
He’d been noticing more of her unusual behavior lately.
Yohan spoke.
“Well, if you’re okay with it, it’s a good move in many ways.”
Ilea gave a small smile.
“I agree.”
Her response wasn’t as negative as expected.
‘I thought she’d refuse.’
He was spared the effort of persuading her.
Yohan was pleased.
As the Count wiped his clothes, he spoke.
“Don’t I get a say in this? I don’t see how taking a daughter relates to making you Crown King.”
The Count was right.
The matter of an adopted daughter had little to do with Yohan’s coronation.
There were, however, three major reasons Yohan wanted to send Ilea to the Count’s house.
First, to monitor and keep the Count in check.
The Count was a cold strategist. He might be submissive now, but sooner or later, he would scheme for a reversal.
It was essential to plant someone in advance.
Second, Yohan intended to enroll Ilea in the Holy Capital Seminary.
The seminary taught sacred magic. Its graduates were appointed directly as high priests, and Ilea might even be revered as a Saint.
Her magical talent was unparalleled.
In the original story, Ilea had once disguised herself as a high priestess.
If she followed a similar path now, it would be a massive asset for Yohan.
The clerical connections she would build would be priceless.
To take advantage of that, she needed the Count’s noble background.
Only nobles could enter the Seminary.
Once Ilea was adopted into the Count’s house, that issue would be resolved cleanly.
Third, it was a precaution for the aftermath of Eriyan’s resurrection.
Once Eriyan returned, the Count might turn on Yohan.
Yohan had already prepared countermeasures.
The Third Prince Gawain and the knight Campbell were part of them.
But they weren’t enough.
He needed a decisive blow.
If Ilea, the Count’s daughter, became bound to Yohan in marriage, the Count’s actions would be restricted.
It could even lay the foundation for Yohan to absorb the entire Count’s domain.
In short, Ilea de Staviana would bring Yohan immense advantage.
With her consent, Yohan no longer had any reservations.
He said to the Count,
“Of course you have no choice, but you will benefit.”
“What kind of benefit?”
“I’ll take care of the Hyungshin Society for you.”
The Count had promised the Third Holy Grail to the cult, but that promise could no longer be fulfilled.
He hadn’t gained control of the Miyatro Territory.
So there was no way to obtain the Grail.
The Third Holy Grail was kept in the baron’s Forbidden Archive.
The Count asked,
“You’re going to give them the Grail?”
Yohan smirked.
“It’s a Class-2 holy relic. Too valuable to hand over to maggots.”
“Then how do you plan to handle it?”
“I’ll wipe the Hyungshin Society from your land. No—I'll destroy the entire organization.”
The Count no longer needed the Society.
The one who would bring Eriyan back was Yohan.
Now, the cult was just a liability.
The Count turned to Ilea.
“With this mage’s power?”
For Ilea, it was a simple task.
Yohan nodded.
“That’s right. But calling her this mage? Be a little nicer. She’s your daughter now.”
The Count stared at Ilea in silence, then said,
“Don’t expect my support. My knights aren’t deeply involved with the Dead Shadow.”
There were several knights in the Count’s house with formidable combat ability.
Most of them were unaware of the Dead Shadow—or were pretending not to know.
Living like a blind man with open eyes. That was how the Count’s knights showed loyalty.
Yohan said,
“Don’t worry. Ilea can handle it on her own.”
The Count looked doubtful.
Hakain spoke up.
“I’ll vouch for her. My Lord, that mage is no ordinary magician. She’s a Great Mage.”
The Count hesitated for a moment, then asked,
“Still, it’s strange. Why are you trying to destroy the Hyungshin Society? Has the Apostle agreed to this?”
The more followers, the more power an Apostle gained.
The tributes they offered increased the Apostle’s stature.
But now Yohan was trying to massacre those very followers.
The Count couldn’t understand it.
Yohan said,
“Trash like the Hyungshin Society is unnecessary. They’re cheap knockoffs. Being worshipped by them only tarnishes the Apostle’s prestige. What I’m saying now is all in accordance with the Apostle’s will.”
The Count crossed his arms.
“Hearing you talk like this… it almost sounds like you are the Apostle. Maybe it’s those mysterious eyes of yours, but that’s the impression I get. Can I ask something personal?”
The Eyes of the Great Saint were inspiring a strange reverence in the Count toward Yohan.
Yohan replied,
“If I can answer, I will.”
The Count’s gaze sharpened.
“What are you?”
Yohan turned his gaze out the window.
There was still time before sunset.
He tapped the armrest of his chair with his finger and said,
“Even if I told you, would you believe it?”
Ilea quietly murmured, staring at Yohan,
“Yohan.”
Revealing his identity was something that had to be decided carefully.
The Count said,
“…That depends on what I hear.”
Yohan suddenly leaned forward.
His and the Count’s eyes met at point-blank range.
Yohan slowly spoke.
“I am the Apostle.”
A long smile crept across his lips.
The Count’s brow twitched.
But beyond that, he showed no outward emotion.
He said in a calm voice,
“Now that is a bit much.”
Yohan shrugged and leaned back in his seat again.
“Demons enjoy jokes, after all.”
The Count waved his hand as if exhausted.
“There’s no point in continuing this conversation.”
“Why not ask more?”
“Because I don’t think I’ll get any meaningful answers from you.”
Yohan chuckled and stood.
“Then let’s wrap up here. I’ll consider Ilea adopted.”
The Count had no right to refuse anyway.
He might scheme something later, but for now, it was almost impossible for him to escape Yohan’s grasp.
Yohan knew almost every card the Count held.
The Count stood as well.
“Now then. Could I see Eriyan?”
Yohan nodded.
“A promise is a promise. Wait here for a moment.”
He headed straight to the Forbidden Archive.
***
Eriyan’s remains were kept in an ordinary wooden coffin.
The Count knelt before it for a long time, muttering to himself.
He was probably whispering words of love.
During that time, Yohan explained the current situation to Gaf.
Except for the part about sending Ilea as an adopted daughter.
That could wait.
If Gaf found out now, he might throw another fit.
There was something more urgent for him to focus on.
Gaf frowned as he listened.
“You’re working me like a damn slave.”
“Come on, we’re partners, aren’t we?”
Gaf had agreed to escort the Count back to Beldana.
Hakain, the original escort, would be temporarily detained at the Baron’s territory.
Gaf, grumbling, approached the Count.
He muttered in a blunt tone,
“I wish I had that kind of chance. To bring my wife back.”
The Count turned to him.
“You lost your wife too?”
“Over ten years ago.”
Gaf had lost his wife and comrades to a demon.
“…I see.”
“You’re lucky, Count. Yohan, that bastard might be slippery, but he’s no liar. Your wife really will come back.”
The Count looked at Yohan.
Yohan merely shrugged.
The Count said to Gaf,
“We should get moving.”
He didn’t have time to waste.
He needed to attend the royal council and carry out Yohan’s directives.
If he didn’t act quickly, he’d fall behind.
He lifted his knees off the ground.
As Gaf packed the Count’s things, he said,
“Come down to the first floor. I’ll be waiting.”
The Count glanced at Yohan, then left the reception room.
***
One by one, flames ignited underground.
The dark study slowly brightened.
A shadow loomed over Hakain’s face.
“Are you going to torture me down here?”
The study was a sinister and ominous place by any standard.
Traces of miasma lingered everywhere, and a faint scent of blood wafted through the air.
Hakain’s honed senses as a Sword Demon kept sounding the alarm—Get out of here, now.
Ilea smiled with her eyes.
“Why would I waste time on torture? Maybe an experiment, though.”
Hakain swallowed dryly.
He’d seen countless experiments performed by mages.
Truly, the memories that lingered in his head were horrifying.
He’d rather die than become a test subject.
Ilea slowly approached him.
Hakain awkwardly backed away, smiling nervously.
“W-Wait a moment. Let’s talk this out, yeah?”
“Specimens don’t speak.”
The moment she reached out with her magical hand, Yohan’s voice rang out.
“Stop toying with him. I need to talk to him.”
Ilea gave a cheeky smile and tapped Hakain’s shoulder.
“Just messing with you. Why so nervous?”
Hakain let out a sigh of relief. He looked at Yohan.
“You need to speak with me?”
Yohan nodded.
“To you, I—”
He didn’t finish.
His figure vanished.
A cold voice echoed in the air.
“Looks like the sun has set.”
Hakain immediately looked up.
Then he slumped to the floor, unable to hide his shock.
“Y-You’re…!”
A terrifying presence was descending slowly.
Its red eyes gleamed ominously.
A chilling voice rang out.
“Sword Demon Hakain. You have a task.”
Hakain instinctively reached for his sword hilt.
Ilea’s cold voice followed.
“Drawing your sword again?”
He couldn’t bring himself to unsheathe it.
Mapheltan crouched in front of him.
“Teach me the sword.”