novelraw Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Episode 78
When Atanas, who had stayed by Flora's side for quite a while, left, and the maids guarding the door had disappeared, she opened the eyes she had closed.
"Janet."
At the small whisper, the sparrow by the window fluttered up and landed on Flora's hand.
"You're the only one I can trust right now. You won't disappoint my expectations, will you?"
「Of course, my Master. Command me as you wish. Even if it means bringing back the Emperor's head, I will accomplish it.」
At the fervent oath of loyalty, a deep smile spread across Flora's lips.
The news that the Count might have betrayed her had nearly made her lose her reason, but upon careful thought, something felt off.
Would he, who knew the Shalias only grew in Lucifer territory, foolishly decide to join hands with Duke Deshimo and proceed with the business?
'As an alchemist, he knows the value of the material. He didn't seem like the type to make such a stupid choice.'
This wasn't a thought she could arrive at because she trusted Count Vittora.
It was trusting herself, who had chosen him with her excellent discernment, and a conclusion she could reach because she had conviction in him.
'Then there's only one thing left. A force trying to check Count Vittora attempted to snatch him away.'
It could be one of the disagreeable vassals who resented him for being engrossed in the business plan, or perhaps someone who decided to eliminate him, thinking he might become an obstacle to their new business.
'Someone like Duke Deshimo, for instance.'
Anyway, the damn hero's descendants are useless.
Of course, even if all these hypotheses were wrong, and even Flora's discernment was mistaken, it was fine.
She could make him regret that decision thoroughly.
"I don't believe the Count ran away. Because there's nothing for him to gain by running. So I think it's an external force."
「Shall I fetch him?」
"Just fetching him isn't enough. We have to make them pay the price dearly."
A wicked smile settled on Flora's lips. It was a laugh filled with the determination to eliminate anyone who obstructed her path.
The Count had only been gone for half a day; if he disappeared during that time, he likely hadn't managed to leave the territory yet.
Whether by his own will or by force. Absolutely.
And Flora was someone who could ensure they absolutely never left this territory.
"I'm thinking of letting the monsters run amok for the first time in a while. How about it, is it possible?"
It was late at night, and there were many guests in the territory—it seemed like a perfect time to attract attention one way or another.
「Of course. I'm more confident than anyone.」
"But you mustn't harm people recklessly, okay? Tell any monster that does that I'll kill it."
「I'll step in before that happens, so don't worry too much.」
With a confident reply, Janet flew up above Flora's head and lightly tapped her beak against her forehead.
Then she swiftly flew out the window.
Not long after, as commotion arose outside, Flora naturally began preparing to go out.
"Urgent report! A horde of monsters is descending near the northern forest!"
"Everyone, assume combat readiness!"
"Non-combat personnel, protect the castle!"
Satisfied with the urgently ringing bells and the chaotic news of deployment preparations, Flora smiled and opened her hand.
A black flame flickered above it and then smoothly seeped into the rabbit doll guarding the spot beside her bed.
She had been wanting to try a new magic, and she didn't know why such a perfectly timed opportunity had come.
The rabbit doll soon transformed into the appearance of Flora, sleeping soundly.
'I was getting bored of just being in the castle anyway, so this works out well. The two Lucifers will be deployed anyway, so using a little demonic power should be fine.'
By the time they come to check the room after the battle, they'll have been exposed to the monsters' demonic energy anyway, so this much won't even be noticeable.
After lifting her body with demonic power, Flora hid herself, leaning slightly against the castle wall outside the window.
Soon, the door opened and Elena hurriedly entered.
She confirmed that Flora was safely asleep and then stayed in the room, guarding the door instead of leaving.
Relieved to see she wasn't suspected, Flora, with a more relaxed expression, threw herself toward the base of the castle wall.
A swirling black demonic power, like the wind, enveloped Flora's body, and soon a bird flying from somewhere swiftly snatched her up.
"Nice catch! Now let's go find the missing Count!"
Janet, who had transformed into a giant hawk, carried Flora on her back, and the two vanished high into the sky in an instant.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
"Huff, huff."
In the dark forest, Count Vittora was running aimlessly from someone, his face looking like he might cry at any moment.
'How did it come to this?'
He had been on his way to the garden after being contacted by the special sparrow Flora commanded.
"Oh, if it isn't Count Vittora."
"Good afternoon, Marquis."
"You haven't been attending the vassal meetings lately either. It's really hard to see your face. Did you get interested in the mercenary business and are preparing too hard for the contest?"
"Haha, a vague noble like me has to work hard at things like this if he wants his circumstances to improve even a little, don't you think?"
Was it a mistake to try to smooth things over with flattering words to get away quickly, thinking of Flora who was waiting?
"You must have a pretty good idea, then?"
"An idea? I'm just trying to do my best."
"Hmm, are you busy by any chance?"
When the Marquis followed up by asking if he could spare a moment if he had no plans later, he was plunged into thought.
He needed to go see Flora immediately, but refusing the Marquis's offer seemed like it would lead to being questioned about where he was going.
'Did I try too hard?'
Thinking of Flora, who wouldn't want it revealed that he was involved in the contest, keeping his mouth shut was the right move.
'It's best to avoid giving any grounds for complaint for now.'
"Shall we do that, then?"
"Have you eaten? I found a quite famous restaurant in town; let's talk over a meal."
Oh no, it seemed the conversation was going to be long.
'The Young Lady must be waiting a long time.'
He had even brought a sample with him and wanted to show it off proudly, but he got tangled up because of the suddenly appearing Marquis Strode.
He wanted to contact her to meet later, but seeing the Marquis urging him to go now, it seemed he couldn't do that either.
'It's better to humor him for a bit and then return quickly.'
He thought that when the Marquis stepped away for a moment, he could contact the castle in that gap without raising suspicion.
"Yes, then I'll gratefully accompany you."
If he asked to see his business plan, he could just show him the sub-plan containing other ideas, excluding the Shalias utilization plan.
He thought it was fortunate he had solidly prepared a backup, as he didn't want to reveal his trump card, but perhaps following him had been too careless.
He should have felt something was off from the moment Marquis Strode, who usually paid him no attention, called him over.
They had only had lunch together briefly when a sudden drowsiness overwhelmed him.
By the time he saw the suspicious little smile on Marquis Strode's lips, it was already too late, and he fell asleep just like that.
"......Where is this?"
When he opened his eyes, it was already the dark time after sunset, and he was dumped like trash in an unfamiliar space he'd never seen before.
"It looks like a forest, no matter how I see it......"
His muttering couldn't last long.
From the forest, wrapped in a bleak silence, the sound of rustling and footsteps began to be heard.
When he hurriedly turned his head toward the sound, three men in black masks appeared, dressed in clothes that screamed 'I'm an assassin' to anyone who saw them.
"Oh my, you woke up faster than expected?"
"We were going to send you off painlessly while you slept. You really have no luck."
"Being born in the North was an unfortunate event in itself; what's the point of talking about luck?"
Though spoken as if joking, the words exchanged with snickers clearly contained the intent to kill Count Vittora.
"Ugh, ugh, ugh."
Count Vittora, who had been stumbling backward, unable to overcome his fear, sprang up from his spot and started to run.
"No matter how much you run, the fact that you'll die won't change."
"Being a nuisance."
"Stop wasting time with nonsense and chase him!"
The three men began chasing Count Vittora closely with very relaxed movements.
'Damn old man! No matter how much you want to get your hands on my plan!'
As an alchemist, he wasn't particularly physically fit, but faced with a life-threatening situation, he mustered every ounce of strength he had and ran like mad.
"Eeek!"
Just then, a sharp dagger embedded itself next to the foot he had placed down.
When he screamed in shock, he heard gleeful, snickering laughter from behind, mixed with words of regret.
He felt just like a mouse being chased by a cat.
'Damn it, damn it, damn it.'
It was a forest quite far from the town, and he couldn't see anyone around to ask for help.
Not wanting to die like this, he ran for his life, not caring if he got hurt by the threatening projectiles flying at him.
And currently, the Count was hidden in the middle of a dense coniferous forest, catching his breath.
"Hey, you're a mouse in a trap right now."
"If you beg for your life even now, we're willing to kill you painlessly, so stop being a nuisance and come out, how about it?"
"Can't we just burn the whole forest down?"
The chatty assassins mocked him, who was in a death crisis, with jesting voices.
In a situation where he didn't even know where he was, with no feasible way to escape, what came to him was a profound sense of injustice and despair.
'If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn't have followed that old geezer!'
The moment a happy future was about to unfold right before his eyes, it looked like he would lose everything because he failed to be wary of the greedy old man.
His new life, his golden future, his honor, and even his life.
'Should I just pray or something?'
It was the moment he was pondering how he could possibly escape this situation.