CHAPTER 281: SEE YOU AGAIN

Troops were gathered in front of the underground mine in Marquis Dren’s territory. They were originally summoned by Marquis Dren and were trying to carry out their assigned tasks despite the marquis’s death.

“Our Scarsguard will become the exclusive mercenary group for the Twelve Families after this job!”

“Krgh, we’ve been wanderers for 15 years, are we finally settling down?”

“The support funds will be enormous, right, Captain?”

“But the marquis has passed away. Is this job really going to work out properly?”

“What does it matter when we have a contract? It’s a contract in the name of the Marquis family, so whoever is selected as the successor will surely treat us well.”

The mercenary groups roaming the continent were divided into several grades, and Scarsguard was an A-grade mercenary group, close to S-grade.

Their numbers alone were 200 elite members.

The least experienced among them had 5 years of experience, and there were quite a few with over 20 years of experience.

The Scarsguard captain who led them possessed a demon-expelling staff as a weapon, which allowed him to lead the renowned Scarsguard mercenary group.

With the holy power of the demon-expelling staff, they could gain an overwhelming advantage against dark attribute monsters.

Even this time, they greatly benefited from the demon-expelling staff. They were hired for exorcism using the demon-expelling staff.

“Bishop, I’m counting on you. If you don’t do well, we could be in big trouble. I don’t know what kind of being is in there, but judging by the size of the down payment, it must be something extraordinary.”

The bishop of the Holylight Order nodded at the captain’s words.

“But I thought an archbishop-level would come. How much experience do you have?”

“…I only have one more test left. Don’t worry. The ability I received from God is certain.”

The bishop glared at the mercenary captain. The tone that looked down on him almost broke his composure, but he had to understand for now since they were on the same side.

The important things were not money or achievements.

“Please prioritize the exorcism of evil spirits, the rescue of dwarves, and the rescue of domain residents.”

“Understood. Just trust me.”

The Scarsguard mercenary group and the Holylight bishop entered the mine.

“From here on, you need to be careful. Originally, as if there was a boundary line drawn, the evil spirits wouldn’t follow beyond a certain area, but somehow that range has widened…” Ṟаℕ∅ꞖƐS̈

“So it keeps expanding its range. That means there’s definitely a host. We just need to deal with that host.”

“I, I can’t go in any further. Please, I beg you to at least recover the bodies of my colleagues.”

“Leave it to us. We’ll make sure of it.”

As the worker who had been guiding them hurriedly went back, the mercenary group and the bishop continued to go deeper.

Eventually, after passing the boundary the worker had mentioned, the Scarsguard mercenary captain and the bishop simultaneously frowned.

The mercenaries also shivered at the sudden chill.

“There’s definitely something here.”

“I’ll take the lead. Holy light!”

As the bishop raised his staff, a bright yellow light began to spread.

The expressions of the shivering mercenaries brightened at the warmth emitted by that light.

However, it was only for a moment.

Whoosh-!

The holy light created by the bishop suddenly went out.

“Duck your heads!”

The mercenary captain shouted loudly. But the bishop didn’t fully hear those words.

Slash!

The bishop, cut by something invisible, fell forward with a thud.

“Damn it!”

The mercenary captain cursed and raised his demon-expelling staff.

The demon-expelling staff began to emit light, but it couldn’t be an effective solution.

As the mercenary group tensed up, suddenly the fallen bishop twitched and then abruptly stood up, beginning to emit a pitch-black aura.

“This land… has… quite a lot of… power… I’ll swallow it all… swallow it… and make my world…”

Red light poured out from the eyes of the bishop possessed by the evil spirit.

“Miasma… infected with miasma!”

Shaaaaaak-!

“You have something good…”

As the infected bishop stretched out his hand, the miasma formed into a spear-like shape and extended towards the mercenary captain.

Patsutsutsuchuk-!

The mercenary captain strongly struck down the miasma spear approaching him with his demon-expelling staff.

Shaaak-!

The holy power of the demon-expelling staff pushed back the miasma but couldn’t completely eliminate it.

“What!?”

The surprised mercenary captain stepped back greatly. Meanwhile, the mercenary group was gradually becoming infected by the miasma spread all around.

The mercenary captain could somehow resist the miasma with the power of the demon-expelling staff. But others had no means of resistance and were inevitably exposed to the miasma.

“The, the demon-expelling staff…!”

He swung the demon-expelling staff even more fiercely. However, the demon-expelling staff couldn’t completely push back the miasma.

“!”

The mercenary captain stepped back in shock.

The fact that there was a red energy at the tip showed that even the demon-expelling staff had been infected by the miasma.

“Wh, why… why isn’t the demon-expelling staff working!”

In the face of the overwhelming miasma, the demon-expelling staff was useless.

“Become… a sacrifice.”

“Kyaaaaaaak-!”

The miasma swallowed the mercenary captain whole, going beyond the demon-expelling staff.

Shaaaaaak-.

The momentum of the miasma that had swallowed the Scarsguard mercenary group and the bishop grew even stronger.

***

In Ethan’s room prepared at the Marquis’s castle.

Hera Dren, who had decided to work together with Ethan, asked him about the detailed plan.

How would Ethan resolve this situation?

This was one of the reasons why Hera Dren had decided to work with Ethan.

The situation was quite complicated. If one were to say they would solve it, it could be solved somehow, but in the process, there would be various losses.

And those losses would affect everyone involved in this matter, not just Ethan and the Marquis Dren family.

In this situation, she was very curious about how Ethan would move.

His confident attitude and uninhibited speech and behavior.

Considering these points, it seemed that Ethan’s purpose was not simply to receive a large compensation and profit.

“What are you thinking of doing?”

Ethan answered Hera’s question simply.

“I’m thinking of dealing with everything.”

“…In what way?”

Deal with everything, he says. She wanted to press for details on this blatantly vague answer, but Hera held back.

It felt like Ethan was seeing everything that she couldn’t see.

“That’s the problem you need to think about from now on.”

“Pardon?”

“Hera, I didn’t kill Marquis Dren, but I’m definitely under suspicion.”

Ethan said with a smile.

“Because I’m under suspicion, all eyes are on me. In this situation, if I move roughly, even if my background is sufficient, problems will arise. So, the one who will handle this is not me, but you, Hera.”

“But I…”

Hera was flustered by Ethan’s words.

“Don’t worry. I’ll provide you with enough support. If you need anything, just say the word.”

Hera Dren swallowed hard.

In this situation, sufficient support was no different from a noose.

If she couldn’t fulfill her role despite receiving support, she would have to take all the responsibility.

“Cleaning up the Marquis family from the inside, which is shaken by external problems. Isn’t that a very clean picture?”

Indeed, the picture Ethan painted wasn’t bad.

“Do you think that if I receive support, I can deal with all my siblings and take the family head position?”

“Yes.”

Ethan answered immediately.

“…You’re lying.”

Hera shrugged her shoulders.

That statement was half true and half false.

With Ethan’s support, any of the siblings could immediately sit in the family head position.

The hidden implication in that statement was the confidence that he could put any of the other siblings in the family head position, not just Hera.

Ethan just showed a smile.

“Then I’ll proceed right away. When you say you’ll support anything, does that mean I can ask Count Ethan Whiskers directly?”

Ethan nodded at Hera’s bold words.

“As it happens, I have some useful information right now. An underground mine was discovered on the outskirts of our domain a while ago.”

She explained about the underground mine.

“Before my father passed away, he had found people to exorcise that evil spirit. They went in with a bishop, but contact has been lost. I’ve even heard that the miasma is spreading from the mine to the surrounding domain. It’s a very troublesome situation.”

Hera explained her plan.

“I’ll step forward and suggest we give it to Count Ethan. I’ll persuade them by saying we should give the problematic land, and if the problem grows, we can take it back. That way, we can handle the issue and get the land back. None of my siblings will refuse this proposal. Because if we leave it unattended any longer, it will become a big problem for the Marquis family.”

Hera’s mind was spinning rapidly.

Until now, the goal had been so vague that she didn’t know exactly what to do.

But now that she had a clear goal, her mind became so clear.

“If we hand over the land like this, this matter will be settled for now. After that, it will be an internal struggle. All the siblings will aim for the family head position.”

“Win over the third child.”

“…Pardon?”

“She seems the most intelligent. Win over the third child. Then you’ll be able to sit in the family head position much more easily.”

“I’m not sure… My influence within the family isn’t that great. I don’t know if my third sister will listen to me.”

“Use my name. And.”

Ethan took out a pouch from his chest.

It was a spatial pouch prepared for such situations.

“Just say you received an advance payment.”

Hera carefully opened the pouch. It was full of gold coins.

“…How much is it?”

“5 billion gold.”

“…!”

Although she had lived a wealthy life, she had never, ever thrown 5 billion gold at once like this.

“What if… what if she doesn’t come over even with this 5 billion gold? What if I end up just passing on the information?”

Ethan made a gesture of cutting his neck with his finger.

It meant cutting off the tail.

Gulp.

There was no place to back down now. Hera Dren took the 5 billion gold.

“I’ll be going then.”

***

“Young master, it’s a big problem!”

“A big problem?”

“You know that mine where the marquis sent people before he passed away! Now, all the people sent there are out of contact. Moreover, the miasma has spread outside the mine and is causing great damage to the domain!”

The subordinate quickly reported on the current situation.

Paris Dren frowned and ruffled his hair after hearing the story.

“Damn it. Why are all these things happening at once…”

He hadn’t even decided how to respond to Ethan Whiskers’ proposal yet.

Knock knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Brother, it’s me.”

“Hera?”

The door opened, and Hera Dren entered and bowed politely.

“I wanted to discuss this matter. I said I’d skip the meeting, but things seem strange, so…”

“…It’s a complicated situation. It won’t end just by discussing it with you. Moreover, the miasma problem from the mine has burst out all at once. For now, get out. I have too much to think about right now.”

“I want to help you think a little.”

“What can you…”

Paris chuckled and waved his hand for her to leave quickly.

“How about giving that land?”

“…What?”

“The land where the mine is. Let’s give that area to Ethan Whiskers.”

Paris’s eyes widened at Hera’s words.

“Tell me more, Hera.”

“It’s problematic land, you see. We can solve it, but they won’t be able to. Let’s give them that land for now, and if they can’t solve it, we can use that as a reason to take it back.”

“…!”

Paris looked at Hera.

Then he jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“Call everyone right now!”

The siblings quickly gathered at Paris Dren’s call.

The siblings also had unpleasant expressions, as if they were having headaches for various reasons.

“What’s the matter?”

“What’s going on? Did you come up with a good method?”

“A method has been found. I just received a report.”

Paris glanced at Hera.

“This is how we’ll do it.”

Paris recited exactly what Hera had said to his siblings. The other siblings also nodded at the plausible words.

“To think of such a thing, it’s unlike you, brother.”

“Shut up. It’s better to quickly sort out the troublesome matters first.”

Paris said so while laughing inwardly. There was no need to mention that it was Hera’s opinion.

Hera is indeed naive. To think she would tell me such a thing.

“I’ll go and handle it.”

***

“I accept your proposal. We’ll compensate you. There were many misunderstandings in this matter, but I hope no bad feelings remain between us.”

“So, where is the land I’ll be receiving?”

Paris Dren pointed to one side of the map.

“It’s this outer region here. However, there’s a problem in this area right now. It seems some kind of miasma is pouring out from an underground mine, but it’s nothing significant. We can easily handle it, so don’t worry about it.”

“Hmm, I see.”

When Ethan passed over it without much comment, Paris frowned slightly. It was as if he was trying to intimidate.

“Our family can handle it easily, but it might be difficult for your side. We’ll hand over the land as compensation, but if problems arise on that land and cause damage to the surroundings, you’ll have to return the land. If our family suffers damage due to poor management, that’s another issue.”

“Of course. I’ll manage it well without causing any damage to the surroundings. This resolves all the problems. It’s clean. Thank you very much.”

Ethan smiled, stood up, and extended his hand.

Paris Dren grasped that hand firmly.

“No need for thanks, we’re more grateful.”

With this, he can send Ethan away.

Revenge is impossible right now. Sorting out the internal situation is the priority.

Paris Dren intended to rectify the internal problems and ascend to the family head position.

Taking revenge on Ethan Whiskers is the next story.

A lot of blood will be spilled in the process, but naturally, a lot of blood must be spilled for a new era.

“See you again.”

Author's Thoughts

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