Wolves of Hader

Chapter 67

Everyone was looking down at the corpse of an old man.

All the members who had come together were at a loss for words.

The old man was Count Urada.

There were no other wounds on his body except for a dark red livor mortis mark around his neck.

And lying as if asleep, a white piece of paper was placed on Count Urada's chest.

It was the suicide note he had left behind.

"When was he found?"

Hans, the deputy, stepped forward.

"By the time we entered the count's room, he had already passed away. There was still some warmth left, but resuscitation was impossible."

"What about his family?"

"There was only a middle-aged woman and a young girl hiding in the basement, and no one else. It appears he sent out all his household members right after the defeat."

"Who's the middle-aged woman?"

"The count had three daughters, and the woman is said to be the third daughter. The girl who was with her was reportedly her attendant. She didn't answer when asked why she was at her parental home."

"Where are they now?"

"We escorted them to the room of the late count's wife. They're still unaware of the father's death. We were waiting after informing them of the facts."

I picked up the suicide note.

After reading briefly, it appeared that the count had already lost everything even before the war.

『... Nevertheless, I drove my soldiers into a deadly situation and brought chaos to your house, so this fool deserves to die hundreds of times over. This old man, laden with sin, will pay the price himself, so I sincerely beg you to show compassion as deep as the sea.

My youngest daughter is staying in this castle. Though her father's crimes are grave, please spare just that child. She is the only one this old man loves in the world.

Please take down the wicked group and reclaim what they took, to set the territory right again. May God's grace fill your house. Lastly, I ask you to forgive our soldiers.』

The mention of a "wicked group" in the note was meaningful. The count's own fault was the biggest, but referring to "them" seemed to indirectly indicate they were the true cause of the whole situation.

"What about Captain Donnie?"

"The young master requested it—he's currently looking into the count's two daughters and the two houses."

Russell also asked.

"Who are the 'wicked group' he refers to?"

"Please turn the suicide note over."

When I turned over the note, something white was written on the back. Sprinkling some dirt onto the paper revealed the letters.

Apparently, the count thought we wouldn't figure it out.

"They're the names of three houses."

"That's correct."

"How much have you investigated about these three houses?"

"I have recorded all findings discovered so far."

Deputy Hans handed me a scroll.

The information had been gathered by the berserkers, who arrived twenty days before us.

As soon as he read the scroll, Russell frowned as if he couldn't believe it.

The greed of humans blinded by power and money was just too blatant.

"Truly cunning people. It wasn't the grand duke and the count who joined hands, but these houses who sided with the grand duke. Count Urada took the blame for everything."

I nodded.

The preparations for war weren't made by Count Urada, but by these three houses.

So that, at any time, if the grand duke gave the order, they could attack us or the count's house.

Russell sighed.

"So, the war itself was a deal the grand duke had made. The real aim of their involvement was likely to divide up Urada's territory among themselves."

For Count Urada, this war was the last resort. He must have thought that eradicating our house would win back the grand duke's favor. But it was a futile hope.

Even with victory, the destruction of the count's house was inevitable.

The three houses, as creditors, would have had the pretext of debt to attack the Urada house.

In the end, everyone was played by the grand duke.

Houses ruined by severe drought, and families that abandoned all morality over money.

And the overwhelming power that ruthlessly used such people.

Beneath this case was every kind of human ugliness. Puppetry played by those under the thumb of power—a pitiful sight.

Yet for us, perhaps, things had worked out for the better.

"Hans, investigate the deserters hiding here with your squad. Not just this territory, but also the territories of the houses named on the back of the suicide note."

"Yes, sir."

Hans and the berserkers headed for the gates.

Then Russell said,

"Have the knight order move the count's body back to the ice cellar and check the full layout of the castle!"

"Understood!"

Together with Russell, I entered the castle.

The first floor was very large, but empty, so a desolate air lingered.

I walked up the stairs to the upper floors.

Inside, it seemed the territory's residents had swarmed in and stripped the place of everything.

Not just clothes and silver candlesticks, but even table chairs and blankets were gone.

"What do you plan to do with the lady?"

"Hm. I can't exactly tell her to go home. If she hasn't returned despite her family's house falling, there must be a good reason."

At the end of the fifth-floor hallway was the count's wife's room. I stood there and gently knocked on the door.

Before long, the door opened.

A breathtakingly beautiful lady, appearing to be in her mid-thirties, opened it and bowed gracefully to us.

"Are you the third daughter of Lord Urada?"

She silently nodded. Her face showed clear signs of recent weeping. Her hair was disheveled.

Across the room, sitting by the window, was a girl so lovely that both I and Russell were startled.

The lady, nervously watching us, suddenly moved to partly block our view with her body.

"Young master, I have a request."

"Please, go ahead."

"I am fine with being a maid. But, could you please let that child go free?"

"Is she not your attendant?"

"She is my attendant, but she is a girl I very much care about. She's had a hard life, so please show her mercy. I beg of you."

The lady knelt on one knee before me and bowed her head. The girl, eyes brimming with tears, tried to avoid our gaze.

"Would becoming a maid in our house truly be preferable to returning home?"

She gave no answer, only showing restless anxiety that perhaps her attendant might be harmed.

"You have to choose one of two options. Either continue living in this castle with your attendant, or live as a guest in our house."

Only then did she look at me.

She would naturally choose to remain in this castle.

"But if you choose to stay here, you must participate in managing the territory."

"Managing the territory?"

"We will appoint a deputy manager for the territory. Since you're Lord Urada's daughter, you are qualified. If you're not confident, you can call for the original steward or butler."

Her eyes widened at this. She exchanged a silent look with the girl said to be her attendant, then nodded at last.

"I will do that. I have no experience, but I'll try anything. I'll try to find the butler somehow."

"That's all right, then."

"Thank you—thank you so much."

Tears fell from the hem of her skirt, still kneeling and bowing her head.

The girl also approached quietly to sit beside the lady and express her thanks.

"I'm sure you're grieving for your father, so I'll give you some time. Once you've settled your feelings, I'll return."

"My grief is nothing compared to that of the fallen soldiers' families. If you allow it, I wish to apologize to them personally later."

"Let's do that."

I stepped out of the room.

Russell grinned with satisfaction.

"The girl really is very beautiful."

"She certainly is."

She looked to be about sixteen.

I doubt any man in this world will ever find a woman more beautiful than that girl.

"She's not an attendant, you know."

"Then, could she be..."

"She's the lady's daughter."

"I see."

Most likely, the lady had left home with her daughter for a reason.

Considering what her merchant husband is probably like, I can imagine why.

"Russell. Send news of Count Urada's death to the creditor families mentioned in the suicide note. And inform them that we're managing this territory."

"Some families have probably already set out. They'll be desperate to secure this castle and its land."

Had they won the war, someone would have received the title, and others would have divided up the territory.

They would have fought a muddy battle to grab a larger share.

But is that really all?

The grand duke would never leave Urada's territory alone. Whoever was given the title, they'd only become a puppet lord.

Why would the grand duke attack the count, even setting aside us?

Even if relations were bad, the Urada territory is becoming a worthless land.

Seizing the central stronghold.

Perhaps this was always the Syren family's goal, regardless of whether they aimed to attack us or for some other reason.

Yet they lost a war they could not afford to lose. The grand duke's plans have gone awry, and the three houses are now in a critical position.

Thus, the grand duke will be smirking, and those three houses will run in with burning eyes—to drive us out from Urada Castle.

I stayed in the count's study.

Soon, newly gathered information began to pile up on the desk.

Some things were totally unexpected, while some were just what I hoped for.

As information accumulated like this...

The heads of the three houses, and another creditor, began to arrive one after another at the castle—all bringing their forces.

///

On the ninth day since we came to Urada Castle.

A castle that had been empty was now filled with more than 500 people.

When the three houses arrived with their troops, it looked as if a battle could break out at any moment.

But when we simply opened the gates without fuss, everyone entered without objection.

During the attack on our fortress, the houses were allied, but now that they'd have to compete for control over Urada Castle, they were trying to avoid a fight.

Each family took up a position in the castle, occupying a floor each, and a peculiar tension started to build.

The private soldiers of each house were stationed around the castle gardens, and even they were wary of each other. Any careless action might harm their house.

The three houses came as creditors, not in any official connection to the war.

Even if we present evidence, they could deny it relying on the grand duke.

But is that all?

While I was in the count's study.

Donnie entered.

"They've arrived too?"

"Yes. One is pretending to be a creditor and sitting in the knight's hall, and the other will also attend soon. The heads of house are also all in the hall."

"Let's go."

Leaving the study, I walked outside.

Berserkers standing in the hallway followed me down from the castle.

Knights lined the corridors on every floor, their gazes fierce.

Since they couldn't recognize the berserkers, they must not have been the ones involved in the war.

We headed toward the knights' hall in the castle's east building.

In the past, there had been over a hundred knights, so the hall itself was very large.

At the entrance stood guards in armor bearing the symbol of each house.

Creak—

With a rough sound, the door opened and a spacious area appeared.

In the center was a long, large table where five people were seated.

Only two of them stood to greet us politely, while the other three just glared at us with clear displeasure.

Tap, tap.

My footsteps echoed especially loud.

No one was sitting at the seat of honor. Not out of deference to us, but because they were competing with each other.

I stood at the head seat; Donnie and the berserkers lined up behind and beside me.

The heads of house scowled, and finally, one spoke up.

"How terribly discourteous!"

"That's right! Our knights are waiting outside!"

"Dismiss your knights at once!"

All three stood glaring at me simultaneously.

It was a sight, staring at their oily, greedy faces. Greed was smeared all over them.

"If you don't wish to be paid, you're free to leave. I have neither obligation nor right to pay Count Urada's debts."

"What!"

The man in his forties shouted at me.

This was Viscount Kiris, the oldest.

"And the discourteous ones are you. It was you who barged in with an army, threatening us."

"Why, you—!"

Bang—

The man in his forties slammed the table.

"This is my wife's family home! The castle and territory of my father-in-law! As a son-in-law, I came here to reclaim my in-law's castle that was seized!"

"So?"

"What?"

He glared at me, his face reddening, rendered speechless.

"So, are you saying you'll drive us out by force? Then go ahead. Let's see what happens."

"Y-you..."

The faces of the three who had stood up turned so red they looked about to burst.

The two sitting watched with interest.

One of these two is an investigator.

Directly dispatched by the Emperor.