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Chapter 173

While lost in thought, Ian witnessed the soldiers trembling with their spears and shields in hand, beginning to whisper.

"E-everything seems to be true, Captain. You saw the scene outside...!"

"That\'s right. Lately, even the sky has been ominous, and there have been countless disturbing rumors. We’ve also all fainted and woken up."

"At this rate, we might all be branded as accomplices! If the purifiers of the Order come, we\'re as good as dead!"

As the soldiers\' murmurs continued, a spark of awareness returned to Osric\'s vacant eyes. Swallowing dryly, he looked at Ian and cautiously spoke.

"S-Sir Ian...? Is it alright if I call you that?"

"It\'s fine." Ian nodded, signaling the group to calm down.

Osric continued, "Is it true that the Count was really... a demon?"

"Yes. This place was their stronghold. I also have something to ask."

Ian looked directly into Osric\'s eyes. "Even if the place was surrounded by walls, did no one find it strange that the lord constructed a separate mansion outside the city?"

"...! O-Of course! I\'ve heard it\'s common for the noble families of the Empire. Our kingdom is adjacent to the Empire and has a friendly relationship, so it\'s not strange to follow their ways..."

Osric abruptly stopped, closing his eyes tightly and sighing.

"Oh, my... Lu Solar..."

He seemed to realize his words sounded like a feeble excuse. Eventually, he dropped his sword and dismounted. The soldiers, as if waiting for this moment, also dropped everything and prostrated themselves on the ground.

Kneeling on one knee, Osric shouted. "I swear to the Radiant Goddess, neither we nor the residents of Glumir knew anything about this. If we can prove the truth with our lives, we will gladly do so!"

"...."

Ready to die to protect their honor and prove their faith, huh?

Ian let out a short, hollow laugh. These were the words typical of a knight, not considering the soldiers\' position at all. Some soldiers were panting as if ready to flee.

Before anything unfortunate could happen, Ian opened his mouth.

"We completely wiped out the vampire clan and their minions with our own hands."

"...!"

"But of course, their pawns may remain in the kingdom. There’s a chance that the Order might think the same."

The color drained from Osric\'s and the soldiers\' faces again.

Ian’s calm voice continued, "But at least I know you\'re innocent. So, stand up."

"Thank you for believing us, sir...!"

With a voice filled with sincerity, Osric stood up abruptly and added, "If there are any of their pawns left in the kingdom, we will root them out without leaving a single one–-"

"Do as you see fit, but more importantly...."

Ian looked at Osric.

"Could you sell us some carriages and horses? Many of us are injured, and we have a long way to go."

"Of course... but may I make a small proposal related to that?"

"A proposal?"

"This matter is too great and serious for me to handle alone...."

Swallowing dryly under Ian\'s gaze, Osric quickly continued, "If you, our honorable guests, could visit the city and testify in person, it would greatly help in revealing the truth. It would also help prove our innocence to the Order as well. Additionally, on behalf of the kingdom, we would like to express our gratitude to you and the esteemed guests—"

Ian cut him off. "Understood. As long as you provide comfortable lodging and good food while we stay."

"Of course! Then, could you wait here for a moment? I will go back, report this, and return with the carriages."

"Sure. As you can see, there are many of us, so a large carriage would be appreciated. I\'d also like a wagon to carry our luggage."

"I will arrange that. Everyone, stay here and guard the esteemed guests."

Osric looked at the soldiers, who were rising hesitantly.

"You must do your best. They are the saviors of Lu Sard."

"Yes, Sir...!"

"Yes!"

While the soldiers stood upright and shouted, Osric, who had bowed his head to Ian, immediately mounted his horse. Without looking back, he turned his horse and rode away, not even bothering to pick up the sword he had dropped. The soldiers, picking up their weapons, stood with their backs to the group.

"Indeed, it is you, my lord." Philip leisurely whispered to Ian. Receiving Ian\'s gaze, he wore a mercenary\'s smile on his lips.

"Thanks to you, we can enjoy a grand reception while having time to recover and reorganize. We might even be able to obtain horses and carriages."

"I thought I asked to buy them."

"Oh, come on. Do you think they would take money from you, my lord?"

"...."

This guy has truly become a rogue when it comes to dealing with nobles.

As Ian shook his head in disbelief, Mev\'s voice continued in his ear. "I will handle the investigation and testimony they want, Ian. If you permit it."

"If you want, do so," Ian responded readily.

A faint smile played on his lips as he added, "I didn\'t know you were so good at threatening. Thanks to you, things have gotten easier."

"I\'m glad if that\'s the case, but I didn\'t intend to threaten."

"...?"

As Ian looked at her, Mev added calmly, "I\'ve never spoken an empty word."

"Then... no, I see." Ian, about to ask something, nodded instead.

The answer was obvious. As the Platinum Dragon\'s saint, Ian also served as the saint, and opposing Ian would indeed be blasphemy.

And she would say that it\'s only natural for a holy knight to serve the saint. It almost ended in bloodshed.

Ian turned his gaze and licked his lips, meeting Charlotte\'s eyes. She gestured with her chin toward the pile of spoils on one side and then nodded toward the soldiers lined up.

Seems like she wants to put them to work. The pupil has become the master. These guys are truly amazing.

Ian chuckled and nodded.

Charlotte, smiling with her fangs visible, immediately spoke up. "Those who think they can, come down. Move the items piled up here to the top. These are Sir Ian\'s rightful spoils and evidence."

That sounds like me.

Ian scratched his chin, watching the soldiers hurriedly move.

"All the rest of you, come on down," Thesaya added in a clear voice.

Receiving the soldiers\' gaze, she maintained her elven elegance as she continued, "There are still things buried below. Help dig them up."

"..."

"Why, don\'t you want to?"

"N-no...!"

The soldiers, who had been warily eyeing the ruins, finally descended the slope of the debris. Thesaya, catching Ian\'s gaze, silently mouthed, "This is working."

Isn\'t she adapting a bit too quickly?

Ian, clicking his tongue, eventually spoke up. "Don\'t work them for free. Once the job is done, reward them appropriately. Give more to those who perform well."

His words were enough to ignite motivation in the soldiers\' eyes. Philip\'s exclamation followed.

"It\'s about using the carrot as well as the stick. You\'re truly remarkable, my lord. I\'ve learned something new again."

You might want to ease up on all the learning.

Ian chuckled and picked up the plate he had set down.

"Go ladle me another bowl of stew."

***

Sir Osric returned, accompanied by a large, sturdy two-horse carriage, a cargo wagon, a few guards, and another knight. The carriage, imported from the Empire, was originally used by the Count and Countess. It wasn\'t an exaggeration; the interior was spacious enough to comfortably fit four people, not including Charlotte, who sat in the coachman\'s seat.

"We\'re departing now."

The carriage left the mansion under the escort of soldiers. The rose vines in the labyrinth garden had all withered and turned black. As Philip had said, the garden was much smaller now, and a straight path to the main gate was open.

“...."

However, the scene beyond the mansion hadn\'t changed. Countless corpses, dried and shriveled beyond recognition, were scattered around. They had already started to rot, giving off a foul odor, with flies buzzing around. Not all the corpses were drained of blood like mummies. Those who had blocked the way to the mansion were rotting in their butchered and dismembered state.

Ian looked through the carriage window, taking in the path lined with corpses stretching into the distance. It was a sight that made it abundantly clear why Osric and the soldiers had been trembling from the moment they saw them.

To them, there was likely no difference between the monstrous creatures\' leader and the person who had killed them all. The others were also looking outside, each lost in their own thoughts. Of course, there was an exception.

"It\'s quite comfortable, Ian," said Thesaya.

Ian turned to her and replied, "Yes. So, I think it\'s okay for you to sit in the chair."

"It\'s comfortable here. Maybe because I\'m used to it. So please be careful not to step on me." Thesaya, lying on the floor with her legs slightly bent, glanced at Mev and Philip.

Philip muttered in disbelief. "I was wondering why you were doing this. You\'ve always traveled like this, haven\'t you?"

Ian, catching Mev\'s gaze from across the carriage, clicked his tongue. It was a position ripe for misunderstanding.

"I didn’t force her to do that. She is doing that because she likes that."

Mev faintly smiled. "I just thought you must have been tired. I already know you don\'t like to stand out. But it seems you couldn\'t help but be noticed wherever you went."

"Thank you for understanding."

Although these guys drew all the attention, there were moments when it was actually quite convenient for me.

"Accept it, Redhead," Thesaya said with a leisurely smile. "No matter where we go, kitty and I will always draw attention. You\'ll get used to it quickly."

"You\'re not a demon anymore, Thesa," said Ian.

Ian, looking down at Thesaya with calm eyes, added, "You\'re now an elder elf, a noble among the long-eared folk. So it would be good to learn some manners."

"... Do I really have to?" Thesaya flinched and asked.

Ian nodded and continued, looking at Mev. "At least learn the basic etiquette of a civilized person. Here, Sir Mev Riurel will be an excellent teacher for you."

"Alright, I understand. If Ian says so."

"Sitting in the chair will be the starting point."

Thesaya sprang up and took the empty seat next to Ian.

Mev, who had been quietly observing her, turned her gaze back to Ian. "Are you sure about this? The etiquette I know is from the outskirts, and it\'s the knightly kind at that."

"Anything would be better than nothing, so don\'t worry. Besides, among us, you\'re the only one who can teach such things."

"Hmm... if that\'s the case...."

"Think of her as Lucy. Or rather, think of her as even younger than Lucy. As you may have noticed, despite her appearance, she knows very little."

"Please take good care of me, teacher," Thesaya said with a mischievous smile.

Mev\'s gaze turned subtly stern as she looked at Thesaya.

Meanwhile, Philip nodded slightly. "So, in a sense, I have a disciple now."

"Dream on, Freckles. If anything, I\'ll be the one indulging you. Especially since you couldn’t even see my eyes at first."

"That was because Thesa...."

"What about me?"

"... Never mind. Let\'s forget it."

"Why do you stop halfway through? And why are your ears turning red? What\'s the matter?"

With just this one added, it feels several times noisier.

Ian, half-listening to their conversation, eventually turned his gaze back to the carriage window. They had arrived in Glumir City. Glumir was as large and relatively well-ordered as it appeared.

Citizens stopped in their tracks to watch the carriage. Looking at their somewhat lifeless and gaunt faces, Ian suddenly recalled the Empress’s memories.

She claimed to have no affection...

She might have believed she had lost her attachment to the land and its people, but that clearly wasn\'t true. If it had been, she would have killed them all to feed the mansion. Putting the entire city to sleep with magic was too mild a method for a demon of this dark age.

Of course, if left alone, they would have all met their end in their sleep... Ironically, most of her subordinates had lost their humanity entirely.

Suddenly, a fragment of chaos emitted a faint resonance. Ian\'s eyebrows twitched slightly as he placed his hand on his chest. He wondered if the fragment, which had absorbed the true blood, still retained a faint trace of the Empress\'s thoughts.

The Empress isn\'t the first. Surely, they can\'t all be lingering just a little, can they?

There was no way to confirm it, anyway. The carriage crossed the city and finally stopped in front of the inner castle. The castle, built in the Imperial style, had curved walls and even a roof, giving it the appearance of a grand mansion.

Waiting in front of the wide-open gate were knights, priests, and other castle staff and servants. As soon as the carriage stopped, they all bowed slightly, their faces showing varying degrees of tension. Most seemed to fear that any misstep could lead to being accused of colluding with demons and losing their heads. It wasn\'t entirely wrong; there could indeed be vampire pawns among them.

Ian wasn\'t the only one who thought so.

Mev, pressing down on her helmet and lowering her visor, spoke. "I\'ll get out first, Ian. I won\'t let anyone come near you."

"It would be best if you didn\'t speak a word from here on, my lord. It will make you appear more dignified. I\'ll escort you to your room, so please follow me," added Philip, nodding as he gracefully disembarked and held the carriage door.

Thesaya whispered as she took Ian\'s arm, "Stay close to me, Ian. Let me know if I\'m walking too fast."

"... I\'m not that injured."

To think the day would come when I\'d receive this kind of overprotection.

Even as he thought this, Ian calmly stepped out of the carriage. Those waiting bowed their heads in unison, as if welcoming a new lord.