Ch#104
"Ppuppu!"
As the soldier's grip loosened, Tie hurriedly hid behind Ppuppu.
She quickly looked up to check on him.
Taller than Uncle Basto.
An ornate elephant mask covering his head.
Even the moonlight-colored hair fluttering below the mask.
It was the moment Tie swallowed hard at the sight of Ppuppu, who looked different from usual.
[Insolent fool. You must be prepared to pay the price.]
Ppuppu muttered and quietly raised one hand.
Then the patterns densely covering his skin turned into red mist and swiftly enveloped the surroundings.
[Don't worry.]
The corners of Ppuppu's mouth visible below the mask curved into a ferocious arc.
[I'll devour all your fear.]
Immediately after, the eyes of the soldiers nearby lost focus all at once.
* * *
"What the hell is that thing?!"
Reginald, watching the scene, shouted.
He unwittingly stepped back and grabbed Letchia's sleeve.
The battle was still raging before his eyes.
"What the hell is that?!"
Veil.
The thug who had suddenly punched him was still knocking down Reginald's soldiers one by one.
Of course, more soldiers rushed at him in response,
"Hah, blackie. You're pretty useful, huh?"
but the mysterious glass barrier that had appeared moments ago was the problem.
Blocked by the barrier, Reginald's soldiers couldn't lay a finger on Veil.
"H-How could this......"
Reginald staggered in place, dizzy.
When he first regained consciousness after passing out.
Reginald had immediately ordered.
'Lock that bastard in the top of the northern tower right now! Torture him to the brink of death if you have to—find out who he is!!'
But soon a problem arose.
'L-Lord! The tower door won't open.'
'What nonsense is that! The tower door was fine, and now suddenly it won't open?!'
'I don't know either. The key that worked fine until yesterday suddenly......!'
The iron door at the tower entrance had broken overnight.
Upon hearing they had to completely demolish it to enter, Reginald had no choice but to change plans.
'Then tie him in the underground prison at least! For the torture......'
'L-Lord!'
However, the soldiers sent to the underground prison returned after just a few minutes.
'All the prison bars have rusted away. There's nowhere to lock him up......!'
'What?!'
It had been a while since anyone was locked in the underground prison.
But for all the bars to rust and break overnight—did that even make sense?
In truth, he had sensed something off starting then.
But he had no choice but to dismiss it as imagination.
There was no other way to explain it all otherwise.
'But why on earth......'
Reginald's eyes anxiously turned forward.
"Aaaah! Lord! Spare us!"
"Run! Retreat for now!"
His private soldiers were begging right in front of him.
The red mist blanketing the air, and the powerful barrier over Veil and his comrades.
Reginald, who had been in the lead, was faltering.
"......This can't be real."
In truth, he had known.
That they weren't pushovers.
And rightly so—he had already checked the mercenary registration the soldier brought.
'Agavert, you say? That guy locked in the stable?'
His adjutant, watching, had informed him since Reginald didn't know.
That Agavert was a band of monsters who had stunned the gate's Holy Knights despite being a new mercenary corps.
'Lord. This seems......'
The adjutant had repeatedly warned Reginald.
Saying Agavert was the mercenary corps currently making waves.
Hearing that, Reginald grew a bit uneasy.
'Then you mean his comrades might be nearby?'
'Probably. Moreover, in the village......'
And soon his premonition proved correct.
'Lord! Big trouble! Witnesses say Adelin Kaldbain headed toward the Lord's Castle!'
The surveillance agent assigned to Adelin had come running breathlessly to report.
'We interrogated the territory folk, and they said Adelin went toward the Lord's Castle with people who seem to be Veil's comrades......!'
Reginald felt rage whiten his vision.
Adelin...... So you finally!
Mercenaries suddenly barging into the peacefully running village.
And at their center, Adelin, his damned niece.
It had to be all Adelin's doing.
'Mobilize all the soldiers! Bring that guy locked in the stable first!'
Reginald mobilized every soldier in the Lord's Castle and even sought out Letchia.
'You should come too!'
Letchia, enjoying fine liquor in broad daylight, looked annoyed.
'......Reginald. It's just a mercenary corps with barely six members. Do I really need to step in for this?'
'You've taken the lady's position—don't forget what you promised me!!'
But Reginald yelled.
'I gave you money! You promised to give me the power to hold this position!'
Letchia eventually donned her cloak.
And followed Reginald.
But unable to shake his anxiety even then, Reginald muttered all the way to the backyard.
'They'll surely raid the Lord's Castle. Adelin must have Roman's will......!'
In truth, this was the real reason Reginald was terrified.
'The will, that damned will!'
The document of the previous lord that he had definitely kept, but vanished one day.
'If not for the will, I would've killed that wench Adelin long ago!'
Before the will disappeared.
Reginald had actually planned to quietly dispose of Adelin.
But just as he was about to execute it.
Strangely, the will vanished completely.
Reginald couldn't help but suspect.
That Adelin had stolen it.
The will was like a key that could instantly place adult Adelin in the lord's seat.
For such an item to fall into the subject's hands......
'Is she plotting behind my back to oust me?'
Reginald was anxious.
Having once been the princess's maid, Adelin might have reliable connections.
If it was a prestigious power holder or the Imperial Family?
'Lord. What shall we do? Shall we dispose of that woman Adelin?'
'......No.'
'Pardon?'
'Wait first, damn it!'
Reginald had no choice but to change plans.
Unable to ignore one possibility.
'What if all this is a trap Adelin set?'
What if she stole the will in advance and was quietly waiting for him to attack her?
The moment he sent an assassin and got caught, Reginald was done for.
Adelin would drag in every grave crime like treason and usurpation to tie to him.
Even the excuse of managing the territory for his immature niece wouldn't hold.
So all this, ultimately all.
'To send me away at once!'
Reginald suffered nightmares every night.
He even had people search Adelin's house and shop multiple times, unable to endure.
'Nothing, Lord. The previous lord's will is nowhere......'
'That damned wench, where the hell did she hide it......!'
But no matter how much they searched, the will didn't appear.
Yet why now......
"Found it."
Reginald's eyes locked onto Adelin picking something from the dirt.
Adelin was lifting something wrapped in yellowed cloth with bloodied, scraped fingers.
"Waaah! We found it-!"
Beside her, a bright blonde girl jumped up and down.
Reginald, who had been gritting his teeth, muttered.
"......Take it."
The soldiers stirred.
But he soon glared wide-eyed and shouted.
"Snatch that from them right now-!!"
