Whoosh. Whoosh.

Kaeld was swinging his sword fiercely through the air.

Sweat poured off his body like a waterfall, and his breath was hot and heavy.

The sword he had once swung thirty thousand times without pause…

Now, he collapsed before even reaching three thousand.

“Urgh.”

Clang.

At last, he dropped his sword and crumpled to the floor.

Idria, who had been watching in silence, finally spoke.

“Feels like I’m watching the most pointless act in the world.”

“Huff… huff… shut up.”

“You really don’t learn, do you? I told you that body’s not the same as before. Are you the type who only understands when pain teaches you firsthand?”

“Kgh…”

“Even your disgusting sweat, your annoying breathing, everything’s grating. Stop already.”

But Kaeld couldn’t.

Gritting his teeth, he growled.

“If I don’t do something… I feel like I’ll die!”

“You already died once. So what?”

“Even now, Mide’s building up his reputation without pause. How much longer am I supposed to waste time like this?”

“Sigh.”

Thud.

Idria closed the history book she had been reading.

Kaeld flinched, bracing for the searing pain in his nerves again, but thankfully, it didn’t came.

“For your idiot self, I’ll explain it simply. I won’t repeat myself, so bash it into that thick skull.”

“What…?”

“Start by watching this.”

Suddenly, space itself split apart.

And then opened wide.

Inside was a garden.

But for a garden, it was far too bleak.

Everywhere lay fallen guards, bleeding out.

At the center, the emperor sat collapsed, legs trembling—

“Mide!”

“Yes. Mide is facing the emperor. Looks like the emperor foolishly tried to challenge him.”

“…”

“So now Mide is advising him not to do it again. Pay attention to their conversation.”

From beyond the rift, Mide’s voice echoed.

“I suppose I’m just more like Lady Lepia.”

“…”

“And since there’s already a precedent for that, it’s not completely impossible, is it? So please, don’t stand in my way from now on.”

“A-all right. I won’t.”

Idria let out a short laugh.

“The emperor has no guts. Despite wanting to become a Hero.”

“He wanted to become a Hero? The emperor?”

“You didn’t notice? Mide figured it out ages ago.”

“…”

“Let’s keep watching.”

The emperor asked where Mide planned to go next.

Mide answered casually, as if it were obvious.

“To the Dronoar territory, of course.”

“…”

“I need to complete the quest Your Majesty gave me, don’t I?.”

Snap.

Idria snapped her fingers, and the space vanished as if it had never been there.

Kaeld grimaced.

“Dronoar… that’s where I treated the lord before.”

“It was Serein who did that.”

“…Still, it’s a place where my name carries weight. What’s Mide planning there?”

Idria answered in an unnervingly casual tone.

“You probably already know. He’s going to sway the lord of Dronoar who’s known to be part of the so-called ‘Kaeld faction’ to his side.”

“Tch. This is bad. If this keeps up, even my reputation in the south will crumble!”

“You can turn it around.”

For a moment, Kaeld thought he’d misheard.

But he hadn’t.

Idria repeated herself.

“You can turn it around.”

“W-What are you saying? How, in this situation?”

“There’s a hidden card. One that’ll flip everything. I have been preparing it so just shut up and wait.”

“You could at least give the person involved a hint, don’t you think?”

Idria smirked.

No matter how much she insults him, he always makes sure to talk back properly.

Unlike Mide, but interesting in his own way.

Interesting but infuriating.

“Wipe that smug grin off your face and just—AAAGHHH!”

He rolled on the floor.

The parasite gnawing at his nerves had been activated by Idria.

As Kaeld screamed and clutched his head, tearing out his own hair in agony, Idria spoke.

“Now things are getting fun. Your idiocy is finally entertaining.”

“Ghh… s-stop…”

“Beg.”

“What?”

“Rub your forehead against the floor in front of me. Kiss my feet. Then I’ll stop.”

Kaeld bit his lip. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI(F)ire.net

Even as the hellish pain swallowed him whole, he didn’t move an inch.

‘Oh?’

A flicker of intrigue crossed Idria’s eyes.

“What’s this? Can you endure it?”

“I bow to no one. Kgh.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to stoop any lower. Not anymore.”

“Hmm…”

Snap.

Idria snapped her fingers.

The pain vanished.

Kaeld collapsed, coughing up blood.

Idria gave a small laugh.

“Says the guy who’s already groveling.”

“Shut up.”

“Since you’re being so ungrateful, I will show you something else.”

With a flick of her hand—

Shhh.

Space split open once more.

But this time, it wasn’t showing a scene.

There were people inside.

Completely frozen, as if encased in ice.

“W-Who are they?”

“Specimens I have gathered over many years.”

“You gathered…?”

“Well, technically, they were made based on the ones I gathered. I kidnapped people with exceptional talents in various fields and remade them to suit my tastes. Each one is a masterpiece.”

“…”

“I’m planning to wake them soon and put them to use. Originally, they were supposed to appear after you made your debut as a Hero, but… well, circumstances have changed.”

Kaeld sneered.

“Hah… and you think those things are enough to turn the tide?”

“Not on their own. The real hidden card is still in preparation.”

“…”

“But while I prepare it, Mide will keep growing in fame. He needs to be checked. And this is how I plan to do it.”

Idria ran her fingers leisurely over the so-called “masterpieces.”

“Come to think of it, I never did make any subordinates all those years. Maybe it’s time I appoint these ones as my retainers.”

“…”

“The younger Demon Kings have their Four Heavenly Kings and Five Generals and all that nonsense… but lately, I’m starting to think it’s not such a bad idea.”

Swish.

Her finger stopped on one.

Grinning slyly, she opened her mouth.

“You’re a cute one. You’ll have to work a little hard for me.”

“…”

“I’ve prepared the perfect stage for you. Now go. Go and harass Mide.”

Click.

With a flick of her finger, Idria opened a rift in space.

She then pushed one of her “beloved creations” into it.

Kaeld, watching all this silently, finally spoke.

“That thing’s supposed to give Mide trouble? It didn’t even look strong.”

“I’m feeling a little sleepy now.”

“Hey.”

“I’m going to sleep now. So you know what you have to do, right?”

“What are you even saying? That doesn’t connect to anything you just said.”

“How stupid can you be.”

Idria’s voice turned cold.

“Didn’t I say I’m going to sleep?”

“…”

“So hold your breath.”

“…?”

She lay down on a flat rock and turned over.

“If your breathing wakes me up, I’ll kill you.”

Our carriage was just entering the Dronoar Territory.

I leaned back and casually watched the scenery pass by through the window.

That’s when Neril spoke.

“You’re way too relaxed, it’s annoying. Some of us are over here stressing out.”

“Why? What are you worrying about?”

“This is the middle of enemy territory. Dronoar is where Kaeld is practically worshiped as a flawless Hero. And you’re the one being framed as the villain who wronged him.”

“…”

“The whole vibe here’s gonna be different from the other territories. How exactly are you planning to convince the lord here?”

Before I could answer, Serein replied on my behalf.

“That’s easy, Miss Compulsion.”

“Hmm. Let’s hear it, Miss Monster.”

“Have you ever seen a monster this cute?”

“Or a compulsion this kind?”

“…Anyway, don’t worry too much. I’m the one who healed the lord of this territory, remember?”

Neril looked convinced.

“Right. So you’re saying your testimony against Kaeld’s misdeeds will be enough to sway him?”

“Yes. The lord here, Count Acaine, bowed his head to me multiple times in gratitude.”

“Hmm.”

“If I, the one who treated him, give my testimony, I’m sure the Count will accept it.”

I took my eyes off the window and said,

“It’d be nice if things went that smoothly.”

“Huh?”

“Back then and probably even now, Kaeld had Idria supporting him.”

“Ah.”

“If Idria was involved, she probably manipulated things so that the fame you should’ve received went to Kaeld instead. It probably wasn’t just a simple healing, there must have been more to it.”

Serein’s face twisted in discomfort.

That’s when Adwin spoke up.

“By the way, what’s up with Xenia?”

As he pointed out, Xenia had been sitting silently in the back of the carriage, staring out the window.

Lisel answered as if it were obvious.

“She’s probably carsick. I’ll open the window a bit for her.”

“Doesn’t seem like that’s it… and she can open the window herself, can’t she?”

“She doesn’t want anyone to know the brave Hero Party member gets motion sickness. Just pretend you don’t know—I’ll sneak it open for her.”

Confidently, Lisel approached Xenia.

After a quiet exchange in the back, she returned to us with a flushed face.

Neril asked,

“So, it wasn’t motion sickness?”

“No, but her face looked exactly like someone who’s carsick!”

“You’re the only one who thought that.”

“Hey, I’m still older than you, Neril…”

Neril’s tone shifted.

“Oh! That’s right! You are.”

“…”

“How could I forget such an important thing?”

Is that really so important?

Offense changed the subject.

“I never thought it was motion sickness anyway. Could it be hunger?”

“That’s really the only other option.”

“But we ate just an hour ago?”

“Exactly, an hour ago.”

“Hmm.”

That’s when…

“Ugh, seriously, I’ve been listening this whole time. You guys are so loud.”

“Sorry. I said it loud enough to be heard, but I didn’t think you’d actually hear.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Xenia clicked her tongue and shifted to sit with us.

I asked,

“So what’s really going on?”

“Just… reminiscing.”

“About what?”

“I have been to Dronoar a few times before.”

“Huh? When would you have ties to this place?”

Xenia scratched her head.

“Don’t get all serious when I say this. I hate when that happens.”

“…”

“This is Ophelia’s hometown.”

If she hadn’t warned us, things really would’ve gotten heavy.

Xenia continued.

“To be precise, she almost became the daughter-in-law of Count Acaine.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Yeah. The Count has a son named David de Hoffman. He and Ophelia were lovers.”

“…”

“Whenever she had long leave from the Order of the Holy Light, she’d invite me here. So I have met David a few times.”

With a soft sigh, she said,

“If things don’t go well with the Count, I will try talking to David.”

“Xenia.”

“Ugh, don’t look like that. This is exactly why I didn’t say anything sooner.”

I gave her a small smile.

“We will find Ophelia soon.”

“Yeah. We will.”

“If all else fails, we’ll use the wide range search magic circle.”

At that, Xenia’s eyes lit up.

“Right! I totally forgot about that. Why didn’t I think of it earlier?”

“I have had it in mind since we infiltrated the imperial palace’s underground.”

“Mide… thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do.”

Xenia looked genuinely touched, her eyes misting over.

Offense nodded.

“I’ll let Xenia go first. Let her be the one to use the magic circle first.”

“That was the plan anyway.”

“But I called dibs first.”

“It’s not a first-come, first-served thing.”

“Then what kind of order is it?”

“Whoever I like best.”

As our chatter continued, Xenia smiled again.

She covered her mouth and laughed.

“Heh. This kind of stuff really suits our party.”

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep