"...48 regular followers, 3 archbishops..."

The man holding a notebook and counting the number of captured heretics was smiling as he lightly leaped over the wreckage of the collapsed building.

"There are over 420 dead and 124 injured. They brought quite a lot."

As the man's words, counting the number of soldiers, passed by her ears, she had nothing more to say. She thought that if she wasn't careful, their anger could be directed towards her hometown, Eliheim.

"..."

I'll look for a chance to kill myself...

Or escape...

"This should be enough."

"...What did you say?"

"I think we can exchange the corpses and the injured for bounty money, would that be alright?"

"Why. Do you. Ask me. That?"

"Well, since we're in the same boat now, I'm just asking."

"..Who's in the same boat!!!"

"Eliheim."

"...Keuk."

"The price of the Desmunt mansion is roughly 230 million gold, and if we convert the damage from this incident into money, it's roughly 180 million gold... I think we can fully compensate if we use the information from Eliheim..."

"I. Don't know how to speak. The imperial language."

"Hmm...? It seems like you understood, though?"

"Cruel human...!"

"The human race has a habit of becoming cruel when it comes to 'money'."

The Apostle of Benevolence looked at me and bit her lip tightly.

"I heard you're a princess of Eliheim..."

"...!!"

"I'll escort you safely back to your hometown, so if you give me a huge treasure, I can specially end this with a settlement?"

The Apostle of Benevolence, with killing intent in her eyes, burned with hatred, putting so much force that it seemed to break the magic that bound her.

"Don't touch. My kingdom."

"Aha~"

I had no intention of touching it.

"You're scary. Please don't look at me like that."

I didn't understand why she was showing such hostility when all I would do if I went to the elf kingdom was to admire the beautiful faces of the elves, but I decided not to question it.

It was an understandable reaction, considering the slave brand on her collarbone.

"Hmm..."

From the looks of it, the Apostle of Benevolence had no intention of returning to her hometown. After investigating and finding no major crimes, I was going to send her back to her hometown with a small restriction, but she turned pale like a sinner whenever the topic of her hometown came up.

Whether it was because of the scar on her face.

Or because of the slave brand, I don't know.

"If you want to return to your hometown, I will send you."

"..."

"Debt and all, it seems like humans have done something wrong, so we'll settle the debt later and you can go back to your hometown to recuperate."

"..."

She didn't seem to want to go back.

What should I do now?

Two options were laid before us after a great war.

One option was to regroup, take some time, and then bring evidence and witnesses to hold them legally responsible.

The other option was to wage a territorial war against Wolfgang right now, without taking time to regroup.

Since the stage was already set, the emperor would probably understand if we moved with the mindset of 'let's all die together'.

Personally, I want to move with the second option, but.

"I'll have to expand my territory and build a bigger mansion this time."

All of these choices were up to Darbab, the family head, so I decided not to move separately.

The master of Desmunt was Darbab, not me or the young lady. I smiled slightly and waited for the family head's choice.

"I'll build an Olivia museum here."

"...Family head."

"And here, a tower taller than the magic tower..."

"Family head!"

I, who had stopped Darbab's thoughts, who seemed like he would turn the capital of the empire into a Desmunt exhibition if left alone, smiled slightly and asked him to tell me what he would do from now on.

"Hmm..."

Darbab, who had finished a rough summary, gave a pleasant smile and first expressed his gratitude to me, with the conviction that if I hadn't come, the people of the empire might have been harmed by now.

"If it weren't for you, I would have made 60% of the capital into Desmunt's territory."

"...Is that a compliment?"

"It's a high praise. If it got that big, the emperor would probably move the capital."

"...Heh heh."

"Then, this elf is..."

Darbab looked at the bound elf, erased his smile, and said.

"What are you planning to do?"

What am I planning to do?

"I'm planning to extort money from her."

"Hmm..."

"I think they'll execute her if I send her to the empire. It was hard to capture her, so I thought it would be a waste to kill her, so I decided to keep her."

"...Apostles are certainly competent personnel, so it would be good to use them according to their purpose, but..."

Darbab, who was stroking his chin with his hand, expressed his concern.

"Isn't there a risk of her going berserk?"

No matter how great a worker she was, he was expressing his concern that it would be better to not have her than to have her if she couldn't be controlled.

Certainly, there was nothing wrong with Darbab's words. Even I would find it difficult to bring an enemy who had turned the mansion into a mess into our side.

Nevertheless, the reason I brought her in was one thing.

"I heard from Elishia-nim. That the Apostle of Benevolence is a parachute."

There was a guarantor.

Darbab, who heard my words, nodded with a positive expression. He had also received Elishia's help in this battle.

"Are you talking about the black magician called the Apostle of Gentleness, Elishia?"

"That's right."

"Hmm... if she vouches for her, I can trust her, but I don't understand the term 'parachute'."

"It's someone who got a high position by luck... to use an analogy, it's like the crown prince. But this person has abilities."

"She's stained but not contaminated... I understand."

The Apostle of Benevolence, who seemed to have heard an unpleasant curse without realizing it, frowned and looked at Darbab and me.

"If you're going to. Insult me. In Elvish."

"I don't want to."

"...!!"

"It's my choice."

The Apostle of Benevolence disliked Ricardo.

Darbab and I continued to discuss the future problems. About the benefits of bringing in an elf.

"Elishia-nim said that the Apostle of Benevolence is a princess of Eliheim."

"Eliheim... a name I haven't heard in a long time."

"Have you been there?"

"Yes."

At Darbab's unexpected story, I perked up my ears and concentrated. I also knew nothing about the elf kingdom of Eliheim except for what I had read in the novel, so I thought it was important information.

But Darbab was.

"I dropped a meteor on the World Tree."

He was giving a melancholic smile while spitting out an answer that was completely different from what I had expected.

"I shouldn't have listened."

"I only broke a little bit."

"That's the same thing."

"..."

Anyway.

"I'm thinking of using the Apostle of Benevolence to open a trade route between elves and humans."

"You're going to open a trade route?"

"Yes, if we get exclusive rights to mine magic stones, Desmunt will be able to escape the empire's interference."

"Certainly, if that happens, Desmunt will have immense power compared to the empire... no, even other countries, so it seems like a worthwhile proposal."

"That's right. Through this elf."

"Yes... through this elf..."

"...?"

The Apostle of Benevolence could not understand any of their conversation.

"How dare you..."

The Apostle of Benevolence, who could speak basic imperial language but could not interpret difficult conversations, was an 'illegal immigrant' who decided to get angry even though she didn't know what they were talking about.

"Hehehe...."

"Hehehe...."

Why are they laughing like that?

It was scary.

The scariest thing was that man.

"I look forward to working with you, Apostle of Benevolence... no, Princess of Eliheim. (Εὔχομαι πρὸς σὲ... ⲁⲣⲭⲉ ⲛ̀ⲧ ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓⲁ)."

The Apostle of Benevolence looked at the man who spoke Elvish with a suspiciously smooth fluency and expressed her confusion.

"Πῶς δύνασαι λαλεῖν τὴν γλῶσσαν τῶν Ἐλφ... ὡς ἐγγενής? (How can a human speak Elvish?)"

The Apostle of Benevolence glanced at my smiling face and continued to speak.

"Are you a half-elf?"

"Pardon?"

For some reason, I felt good.

Elves are all handsome and beautiful.

"Am I that handsome?"

"...Are you crazy, human?"

"Didn't you ask if I was a half-elf? That means I'm an 'elf,' handsome."

"..."

Since there was no answer, I thought my appearance must be outstanding even among elves.

"Insolent."

I, who was embarrassed, gave an awkward smile at the Apostle of Benevolence's question and answered.

"I studied."

"Elvish...?"

"Yes, I met an elf a long time ago."

"...You met an elf?"

"Yes, I met one a very long time ago."

"..."

"At that time, we couldn't communicate properly because we couldn't speak the same language, so I studied, thinking that I might be able to talk properly if we met again."

A strange person.

To speak so boldly to an apostle.

To know about the elf kingdom of Eliheim. The Apostle of Benevolence was afraid of the man with many suspicious points.

-Thump. Thump. Thump.

After their conversation had continued a little longer.

From afar, the sound of countless footsteps began to be heard along with a splendid flag.

The man said.

"Let's end today's conversation here."

There's a guest to welcome.

I can see them.

The brilliant knight order of the empire.

And.

-Grind.

A disgusting hypocrite began to appear before my eyes.

Along with cold footsteps, people filled with many emotions began to approach.

The Empire was full of famous people.

Rowen, the Sword Master of the Empire.

Shartia, the 3rd Princess of the Empire.

And Wolfgang, the villain who had orchestrated all of this, and the Crown Prince, standing with an expression that something had gone terribly wrong.

What a magnificent spectacle.

This picture of hundreds of Imperial soldiers approaching Desmunt.

"I was wondering when you'd arrive, and here you are."

"A luxurious lineup."

"Indeed."

Darvav and I, with small smiles, looked at the approaching figures with cold expressions, thinking.

How to cook them to make a delicious dish.

Wolfgang's face was pale.

Wolfgang, with the most desolate expression I had ever seen, looked around the collapsed debris and was on the verge of tears.

This wasn't the picture he had painted when he led the troops out of the Imperial Palace.

It was obvious, without even looking, that Wolfgang had dreamed of a future where the key figures of Desmunt were dead and the family could no longer be maintained.

Because the price for having a good dream must be paid in its result.

I, looking at the approaching soldiers with a serious expression, offered a formal greeting.

With the meaning that Desmunt had endured the storm and risen again.

"We have been waiting."

"...Ricardo."

The Crown Prince, with a dumbfounded expression, had an awkward look on his face at the appearance of an unexpected person.

'He's trembling.'

Judging by his expression, the Crown Prince didn't seem to be the mastermind of this incident. His pale, stiff face was like that of a terrified person.

Before my conversation with the Crown Prince could lengthen, Darvav, with a cold smile, stepped forward and spoke, looking at the Crown Prince and Wolfgang.

"I was planning to visit, but I didn't expect you to come."

"...Duke."

"I was wondering why you were taking so long, and I thought perhaps His Majesty the Emperor had abandoned us, but seeing this luxurious army, I am ashamed to have harbored such thoughts."

At Darvav's sarcastic words, the Crown Prince's expression began to harden even more.

"...The Empire has not abandoned Desmunt."

Because he could tell at a glance who his sarcasm was directed at.

Just looking at the perfectly fine head of the Desmunt family was enough to tell. That the damned Wolfgang's plan had failed miserably.

It was already a done deal, so he had squeezed his eyes shut and hoped for a miracle of success... but it was bleak because it had been blocked by those who survived even after being trampled like weeds.

There was no way to recover now.

Darvav's sarcasm was not over.

"To bring such a large army, I, the head of this Desmunt family, thank the little sun of the Empire."

"...Thank you for thinking so, Duke."

"Not at all. If I had known Your Highness the Crown Prince would bring such a large army, I would have left some things to be dealt with."

-Grip...

"I apologize for finishing things too quickly."

Everyone present could tell.

That the current head of the Desmunt family.

"To the infinite glory of the Empire."

Was expressing hostility towards the Crown Prince.

Darvav, who was tightrope walking at the highest point of power, continued to question, observing the pale complexion of the Crown Prince.

"It seems Your Highness the Crown Prince is not pleased with Desmunt's survival."

"How could that be, Duke. I feel great joy that the hero who subjugated the beast is alive."

"Haha..."

Darvav placed a hand on his chest and tapped his armor. The 'thump-thump' sound of the armor echoed through the place where the storm had passed, beginning a declaration.

"This Desmunt has survived the invasion of the wicked cultists."

"..."

"This incident is an act that shakes the very foundation of the Empire, which continues its traditions and history, going beyond a single noble of the Empire."

"..."

"It must not be overlooked, and I believe we must wage an all-out war against the cultists who threaten the security of the Empire."

"..."

Darvav looked at Wolfgang with a cold smile.

"I, Darvav of Desmunt, and the Desmunt ducal family, swear before the little sun of the Empire that we will not leave a single noble or related person involved in this incident, and we will uproot them all."

"..."

"Even if it is the sun of the Empire..."

"...Duke!"

"Even if they are a descendant of the sun, I will hold them accountable for their crimes."

As Darvav's chilling declaration echoed through the place where the typhoon had passed, Wolfgang, who had let out a cold sigh, bit his lip as he looked at the bound cultists.

'I have to do something.'

'At this rate, not only my family, but my life will be in danger.'

'If I say someone else was the mastermind.... It's impossible. I've already signed the ledger presented by the cultists....'

In this desperate situation, Wolfgang saw only one way to survive.

Right. The witnesses.

If he killed all the witnesses related to him...

-Grip...

He could live.

If he killed them all without leaving any evidence, there would be no way to investigate further, so Wolfgang was certain that he could not be punished on suspicion alone.

Judging by the actions of the head of the Desmunt family, it seemed he had discovered to some extent that he had a collusive relationship with this incident, but if he just destroyed the evidence, everything would be as if it had never happened.

Wolfgang, who had gathered powerful magic in his right hand, let out a forced scream and said.

"How dare you wicked and lawless rabble... lay a hand on the pillar of the Empire!!!"

A blue whip from Wolfgang's hand began to move gigantically towards the Archbishop's neck.

The moment the whip made of magic was about to strike the neck of the bound Archbishop.

"Marquis."

Darvav, who had grabbed Wolfgang's hand, began to threaten him, exuding a chilling magic.

"These are hard-won prisoners, are you planning to kill them?"

"...I apologize. I thought that the villains who threatened the pillar of the Empire should immediately be punished with death for their crimes."

"Ah... I know what you're thinking, but."

-Grip...

"Don't we still have something to resolve?"

"..."

Rowen of Histania, who was wearing heavy armor as if he had left the emperor somewhere, separated Darvav and Wolfgang and said, looking at the vast, collapsed mansion.

"Are you alright?"

"Hmm... could you lend me some money?"

"Seeing you joke, it seems you're lively."

Rowen let out a small smile and began to speak.

"The Empire will take charge of the punishment of the sinners. We will make sure to extract the information, so I would appreciate it if you would trust us and leave it to us."

"May I observe?"

"It won't be a very pleasant sight."

"I have to be able to trust you."

"That's true."

Rowen gestured with his eyes to the soldiers behind him. To move the bound prisoners to the prison.

-Step.

I, who was standing around awkwardly, moved towards the Crown Prince and opened my mouth.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"..."

"Look at my face."

"..."

Because in a situation like this, the most fun thing to do was to tease the one who had been ruined.

"Why don't you lift your head?"

"..."

"If you are the Crown Prince of the Empire, you should command like a Crown Prince. 'Move them to the Imperial Castle!' or 'Bring down the hammer on the sinner!' You should have said that."

"..."

"What are you going to do now?"

I said to the Crown Prince as if he were pitiful.

"There is no way to escape now."

The Crown Prince, who had lowered his head, with difficulty opened his tightly clenched lips and spat out his anger.

"I will definitely kill you."

"Will you be able to kill me?"

"I will not fall. No matter how fierce the typhoon blows or how harsh the wind blows, I am the legitimate heir of the Empire, the Crown Prince who will not fall."

"Your words sound plausible, but..."

I glanced at the Crown Prince's face and asked.

"You know, don't you? Where Desmunt will side now."

"...If you think the only noble in the Empire is Desmunt, you are gravely mistaken."

"Hmm..."

I shook my head and replied.

Because he, too, was gravely mistaken about one thing.

"The emperor's child is not the only one."

"...!!!"

Due process.

A definite conclusion.

And the finishing blow.

I smiled faintly and said.

"I have prepared a gift."

"A gift?"

Just as the Crown Prince's question was about to grow.

Darvav began to give me a signal with his eyes. A signal to light the fuse of the cannonball now.

"Knight Commander."

"Why do you call, Darvav."

"Do you know what the punishment is for selling slaves in the Empire?"

Rowen, with a puzzled expression, mechanically spat out the answer in his head.

"Death. Those who purchase slaves are punished with 60 years in prison."

"Then what happens if the purchaser is royalty?"

Rowen's expression began to harden in an instant.

"...If it's royalty"

Though Histania maintained political neutrality at all costs.

"They lose all their titles and are sentenced to 10 years in prison."

Because he thought that this one incident was enough of a storm for the Empire.

With Darvav's signal, I took the notebook from my pocket and handed it to Rowen.

-Flip.

As the sound of the notebook being flipped began, Darvav looked at the Crown Prince and Wolfgang and said.

"I, Darvav of Desmunt, will now accuse the heinous criminals of the Empire."

"..."

"Wolfgang Louis, who sold the forbidden slaves in the Empire, and the Crown Prince, who purchased the slaves..."

The castle they had tried so hard to protect.

"I accuse them."

Crumbles down.