Even Neril’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Well, the capital is located a bit further south on the continent.

It wouldn’t be surprising if she’d heard rumors about Kaeld, who operates in the southern region.

“So the rumors haven’t reached this far yet. Strictly speaking, it’s not that I’ve merely heard of him—his name has practically been drilled into my ears.”

“Hm.”

“He’s someone who’s accomplished all sorts of good deeds and feats in the southwest. Listing them all would make my mouth sore. If I hadn’t been tracking the witch here, I would’ve met him in the capital by now.”

“What?”

“Kaeld did something incredible recently. I believe the captain even heard of it and invited him to the capital. I was supposed to attend that meeting too.”

Ah.

So that’s why, before the regression, Xenia became Kaeld’s fourth companion around this time.

Before the regression, Neril wreaked devastation upon Grey, and Dame must have carefully hidden the truth from his daughter.

But this time, things escalated because I ended up clashing with her in a magical duel, making it impossible for Dame to hide the witch’s appearance from Xenia.

[Thanks to that, instead of staying in the capital and meeting Kaeld, Xenia ended up tracking you and Neril.]

‘Yeah. I almost lost Xenia to Kaeld. Lucky me.’

Still, there was a strange admiration in Xenia’s voice.

As expected, she said what I anticipated.

“He must be a true hero. He helps simply because he wants to, without weighing gains or losses. Unlike someone like you, who stirs up incidents in pursuit of fame.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I thought you were praising me for being strategic.”

“Ugh. Anyway, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that just now. That was an extremely problematic thing to say… and I already have enough to deal with.”

Her words were no different from outright rejection of my offer.

I tried to persuade her further, but Neril stopped me.

“It’s no use talking now.”

“Why not?”

“Dame was pretty stubborn. Like father, like daughter.”

Xenia shot a glare at Neril.

“Stop bringing up my father.”

“Anyway.”

“Don’t just brush it off!”

“I wanted to talk about that red gem that Terce swallowed.”

The topic must’ve been too interesting—Xenia stopped being angry.

Neril spoke in a quiet voice.

“It’s probably the Gem of Desolation.”

“What?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t know what she meant. I just repeated it in disbelief.

The Gem of Desolation.

The core of the fourth Demon King—the Demon King of Desolation.

Just like the heart Kaeld drew out before the regression had been the core of the Demon King of Lies, Idria.

If someone else had said it, I would’ve laughed it off as a joke.

But the name of the Witch of Carnage wasn’t so easily dismissed.

I swallowed a sigh and muttered.

“No wonder it was tough, even with all of us combined.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing. But how can you be so sure that gem is the Gem of Desolation?”

“That was originally the Demon King of Desolation’s power—wilting crops and plants, making people and livestock sick. All of it came from draining vitality.”

“I get that much. But it sounded like you know the gem itself.”

“Yeah. I mean, no.”

No, she says.

Well, guess I’ll leave it at that.

[You’re really just going to let that slide? She’s clearly hiding something she doesn’t want to say.]

‘…’

[Want me to use my Eye of Omniscience?]

‘No. I’m not going to pry into something she’s deliberately hiding… because she’s my companion.’

As I said that last part, my chest stirred strangely.

[Tch. You’re too soft.]

Trail sounded a bit annoyed, but didn’t push any further.

Just then, I heard murmuring from a table behind us.

“Did you hear? The Sword master of No Killing and the Martial King are going to duel.”

“Hah. Sword master of No Killing, my foot. I used to think he was decent, but this time he’s really crossed the line.”

“Seriously. Who does he think he is, challenging the Martial King?”

“He’s out of his mind. Just because he’s a bit famous among mercenaries, he thinks he can go up against the Martial King?”

“Well, they say he’s kind of a celebrity in the nearby Quelk territory.”

“Yeah, I heard he’s made a name for himself.”

“Is that why he got cocky? He’s about to get a harsh reality check.

That was the general tone of the conversations around us.

Not just them.

People all around were gathered in groups, gossiping and slandering me while singing praises of the Martial King.

It seemed I was being resented for challenging the one local pride of this otherwise unimpressive region.

Neril asked,

“So they say?”

I just shrugged.

“Well, now I’m too scared to slice open the Martial King’s belly.”

“Heh… Wait, slice open his belly?”

“Yeah. I want that gem. I’m going to take it.”

“Are you tossing away your title already?”

“I’m not killing him. I’m just going to extract the gem from his stomach.”

“People usually die when you do that.”

“There’s a pretty great paladin around here—not quite a priest, but still. I’m sure he’ll patch him up fast enough.”

I said that while looking at Xenia.

She responded with an expression of exasperation.

“So you were planning to use me from the start. Even back at that meeting two days ago.”

“My desire for you to join us as a companion was sincere. Just think about it.”

“You think I’d ever accept that? Honestly, just not arresting the witch here is already testing the limits of my patience. And now you want to put that terrifying Gem of Desolation in the hands of you and the Witch of Carnage? No way.”

“Then all the more reason to come with us. You’ll need to monitor us.”

Xenia bit her lip furiously before replying.

“All of that assumes you win against the Martial King. I’ll decide after watching the duel.”

“…”

“The technique you showed me two days ago was certainly impressive. But that alone doesn’t guarantee victory. That was probably your trump card.”

Maybe I should copy Neril’s line.

Yeah. No.

Alright. Time to draw up a plan.

First, I quietly called Neril over without Xenia knowing.

“There are two goals this time. Getting the Gem of Desolation—and making a name for myself.”

“Got it.”

“But the two conflict.”

“Right. To get the gem, you’ll have to slice open the Martial King’s stomach. No way the people here would like that.”

“Exactly. So I need to create a situation where even if I do something that brutal, the people here will find it ‘understandable.’”

“Hm.”

Surprisingly, Neril even crossed her arms and gave it serious thought.

It was a rare sight—her racking her brain over someone else’s matter.

She didn’t even notice me watching her as she muttered uncertainly.

“This isn’t easy. I can’t think of a way.”

“It’s fine. Just do what I ask.”

“Alright. What is it?”

“So…”

I whispered in a low voice.

Neril immediately understood what I meant.

“You’re going to expose his dirty deeds during the duel? Right in front of all the gathered locals?”

“That’s right. Think you can do it?”

“I do know a suitable spell. But something filthy enough that the locals will side with you… No, never mind. You’d find something like that easily.”

It looked like she was about to add “like you always do,” but held back.

Still, I was deeply grateful.

This plan wouldn’t be possible without her support.

After she left the room, Trail’s voice rang out.

[So what crime are you planning to expose exactly?]

‘That’s what we’ll find out now. Together.’

If Trail had a visible form, I imagined he’d be looking pale white.

[No way… right?]

‘……’

[Come on, no way. Don’t joke around.]

‘Calm down. I already have a hunch. The lord’s son.’

[Huh? Oh. You mean the one who was beloved by the people.]

‘That healthy son suddenly died. It’s obvious his vitality was drained to the bone by the Gem of Desolation.’

The Martial King is clearly aiming for the lordship.

That’s why he killed the lord’s heir, and now he’s clinging close to the lord, slowly choking him off so he can’t even consider producing another successor.

[In that case, wouldn’t it be easier to just kill the lord too…?]

‘If the lord dies without naming a successor, an investigation is guaranteed to come down from the capital. And if the Holy Knights of Light were to come and catch on to the strange situation in this territory, things would get troublesome.’

[Ah, I see. So he’s planning to make the lord write his name in the will before killing him.]

‘Most likely. He’s probably in the middle of that groundwork right now… but the lord is holding out. He might not look it, but he’s got quite a spine.’

Trail seemed convinced.

And then, in a somewhat relieved tone, he continued.

[Anyway, if we just know the son’s name, we can search for his secrets. Since he shares the same family name as the lord, we won’t have to comb through everything like with Grey.]

‘You were worried.’

[Of course I was. One hell like that was enough.]

‘But here’s the thing. The secret related to the lord’s son definitely involves the Gem draining his vitality. And like I said before, I have no intention of exposing the Gem to the world.’

[……So then?]

‘Don’t worry. I don’t need to go through all 2 million.’

My Blood Script arranges sins in order of what the target most desperately wants to hide.

And the sin the Martial King fears being revealed the most is the act of draining vitality from the territory’s people, starting with Gurt Britz. I don’t need to look at that one.

‘Meaning, I just need to start from the bottom of the Blood Script and work my way up. Somewhere in there, I’ll find a sin related to the young lord’s death that doesn’t reveal the Gem of Desolation.’

[Um, excuse me?]

‘Once I find a suitable crime while going up from the bottom, I will stop there.’

[Excuse me, calm down and listen to me for a second.]

‘I would say… within a few hundred, I’ll probably hit bingo? A bit of effort and we’re good.’

I continued in a gentle and sweet tone.

‘Then let’s do some overtime together.’

[Uwaaaaaaah.]

Fortunately for Trail, after three days of shutting myself in and digging through secrets, I finally found a satisfying sin.

[It’s all burned out. Completely white.]

‘You okay?’

[How is it that we both pulled three all-nighters and you’re perfectly fine!?]

‘My record for staying awake without sleep is two weeks, you know.’

[Monster. You’re a monster!]

‘Ahaha. Come now.’

Why the oddly placed compliment?

Anyway, time passed, and the day of the duel arrived.

The duel was set to take place in the largest open space in the territory.

People were packed so tightly there wasn’t even room to step.

At the center, I stood facing Terce.

The lord wore a sentimental expression, as if it had been a long time since his people had shown such passion.

A soldier, acting as the temporary referee for the day, raised his voice.

“Today, this gathering was made by the challenge of Mide Mohan, the Sword master of No Killing…”

“Boooo!”

“No Killing? What No Killing! More like a moth throwing itself into fire!”

“Kneel and beg while you still can!”

The referee cleared his throat and continued.

“Ahem. Mide Mohan has challenged the Martial King, Terce Crine, and this duel is the result.”

“Wooooo!”

“Martial King! Look over here!”

“We always respect you!”

“Please crush that reckless little mercenary for us!”

Well, the crowd’s reaction is night and day, huh.

Neril tapped me on the shoulder.

“How’s your condition? You haven’t been sleeping these past few days.”

“I haven’t, but not because I’m nervous.”

“I can’t even imagine you being nervous anyway. So, you’re confident?”

“Yeah. I’m sure I can win. What I’m more curious about is whether the plan will go smoothly.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best too.”

I nodded at her reassuring words.

Meanwhile, Xenia had her arms crossed and was glaring at me.

“I’ll cheer for you… for now.”

“Thank you.”

“…And since I’m cheering, let me give you one piece of advice: you should only use that unnamed technique at the final moment, when you’re aiming for a decisive blow.”

“Huh?”

“It clearly puts a huge burden on your body. If you fail to take the Martial King down with it, you’ll be open to a quick counterattack.”

This lady is clearly misunderstanding something.

I shrugged and spoke.

“I’m a top-grade mercenary.”

“I know.”

“And the only reason I’m a top-grade mercenary is because there’s no grade higher.”

Xenia flinched at my words. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noveⅼfire.net

I continued calmly.

“In all my mercenary work, wandering from place to place, not once have I ever gone all out for a job. Even without doing so, everything just worked out smoothly.”

“…That’s some excessive confidence.”

“Well, just watch and see.”

Tap.

I turned and walked up to stand before Terce.

“Good morning.”

“Hmph. Silence. I don’t want to hear greetings from the likes of you.”

“You’re directing your anger at the wrong person. The woman behind me is the one who upset you.”

“And it was you who brought her. I’ve spent the last week thoroughly investigating you.”

Tap.

He rested his sheathed sword on his shoulder and spoke with relaxed confidence.

“I’ll admit, anyone traveling with the Witch of Carnage and the Vice-Captain of the Holy Knights of Light must be quite extraordinary. But you’re still no match for me.”

Oh?

I expected him to know about the Holy Knights, but even the Witch of Carnage?

I never made that public.

‘He must’ve deduced it from the residual mana left in the previous territory.’

I responded nonchalantly.

“Is that so.”

“If you kneel and beg now, I might spare you—”

“By any chance, do you remember the name ‘Dway Markro’?”

Stop.

His smug expression froze solid.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep