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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Departure
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“Hmm, but do you really have to achieve something with *this* mission? If something better comes up next time, I’ll make sure you get it, Aracilla.”

“No! I have to do it this time. Opportunities to catch high-level monsters don't come around often.”

At Aracilla's strong insistence, Frederick fell into thought.

His posture, with legs crossed and eyes downcast, was like a sculpture, but it didn't register with Aracilla in the slightest.

After quite some time, Frederick finally spoke.

“Alright, well... if you want it that badly, I'll allow it. It won't be a bad thing for you anyway.”

“Thank you, Frederick.”

“No problem. It's just that if you go and see it for yourself, you'll be able to sort things out more cleanly.”

Frederick smiled subtly, uttering a meaningful remark.

Aracilla couldn't understand what he meant by "go and see it to sort things out cleanly," but for now, she decided to focus on saving Demian.

Frederick immediately changed the Western monster subjugation to a joint mission between the Red Hawk Knights and the Magic Tower.

Aracilla took the request form he had written and went to find Philip.

“Magic Tower Master, I've brought a monster subjugation mission. Please grant me permission to go as the Magic Tower's representative.”

Philip stared at his disciple, who abruptly presented the request form and bowed, looking bewildered.

“This is the mission I mentioned earlier. I want to achieve something, so please, please allow it.”

“No... Well, really. Even so, are you saying you're going on a mission with knights *now*?”

He had more or less understood Aracilla's request to go directly to the Imperial Palace to receive the commission.

However, Philip, who had belatedly confirmed it was a joint operation with the Red Hawk Knights, asked back incredulously. Aracilla nodded.

“If we use the Knights, it'll be much easier to achieve something. Isn't it beneficial for both sides?”

It wasn't wrong, but it was the first time someone from the Magic Tower had taken the initiative to cooperate with knights, leaving Philip dumbfounded.

He asked seriously.

“Aracilla, you haven't forgotten about your contract marriage with that man, have you?”

“Of course not, Master. That's *why* I'm stepping up to share some of the credit, isn't it? Why let him have all the good things?”

Aracilla couldn't be honest even with her Master and made up another excuse.

The reason was simple.

Philip was still worried about her contract marriage with Demian. Moreover, she hadn't told him about her premonition dreams, so she wasn't sure if he would believe her now.

More than anything, saying it this way was much easier and faster than explaining the whole convoluted situation.

Indeed, Philip's expression softened upon hearing Aracilla's answer about taking credit from Demian.

He chuckled his characteristic laugh and nodded.

“Alright, good. Since you brought this mission, you can go as the representative. I'll arrange for mages who are favorable to you to accompany you.”

“Thank you.”

Everything proceeded smoothly.

Finally, Aracilla informed Demian about the joint mission.

Naturally, Demian couldn't hide his bewilderment and looked at Aracilla.

“Madam, did you do this on purpose?”

“Did you think I did it by mistake? I'm doing this to prevent your death, so don't try to stop me.”

“But subjugating high-level monsters is too dangerous. It's not something to undertake lightly.”

“I know. It's not like I haven't done it before.”

Though perhaps less than Demian, Aracilla had plenty of experience in monster subjugation.

She was always one of the mages who participated whenever the Magic Tower went on a subjugation.

Even high-level monsters, though not frequently encountered, she had handled without much difficulty.

Demian pressed his forehead, as if he had a headache.

“You saw me die in your dream, yet you're following me to such a dangerous place? I'll be careful on my own, so please stay here, Madam.”

“No. It's already been changed to a joint mission, so I can't back out, and you said you'd support me first, Demian.”

“……”

“Do that support on this mission.”

Since she had already become the wicked wife who was going to steal her husband's achievements, Aracilla intended to go all out.

Reading the strong resolve in her eyes, Demian sighed.

It seemed futile to try and stop Aracilla.

* * *

The day of departure for Poshan Village in the West.

The front of the Vandermir mansion was bustling and noisy. This was because all those participating in the monster subjugation operation were to gather at the mansion.

People in black uniforms and people in white uniforms stood, clearly divided into their respective areas.

“Are we really going with mages?”

The former were, naturally, the Red Hawk Knights who followed Demian.

“Ugh, knights are a bit uncomfortable.”

The latter were the mages who joined the subjugation force with Aracilla.

Whispers continuously flowed from each group.

The chatter ceased when their respective superiors appeared.

Demian, dressed in the Red Hawk Knights' uniform, and Aracilla, in the Magic Tower uniform, came out side by side.

The knights immediately turned towards Demian and saluted. Demian stepped forward to stand before them.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes, Commander!”

The answer echoed robustly. Even though it was early morning, the knights seemed full of vigor.

Standing before the mages, who subtly frowned as their ears hurt from the noise, Aracilla spoke.

“Let's all do well this time.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Most of the mages currently gathered were Aracilla's juniors, regardless of age.

At the listless, half-hearted reply, the knights quietly chuckled.

Demian and Aracilla thoroughly scanned the groups before them, then, as if by prior agreement, each delivered a similar warning.

“Anyone who picks a fight or causes trouble with the mages without reason will be severely punished.”

“If I catch anyone fighting with the knights, I won't let it slide. Go ahead and try me if you want to pick a fight.”

It meant absolutely no conflict with the other side.

The Knights and mages nodded towards their superiors but didn't stop glancing at each other. It went without saying that their gazes were far from friendly.

Carrying a certain degree of precariousness, the joint subjugation force of the Knights and the Magic Tower took its first step.

* * *

Ever since the Duchess's birthday, the atmosphere in the Vandermir Ducal Family had been gloomy.

This was natural, as they had achieved the exact opposite of what they wanted at the birthday party.

The Duke and Grand Duchess furiously lashed out at the Duchess for not handling things properly. The Duchess bowed her head like a sinner.

Although the two had agreed, she was the one who had orchestrated and carried out the plan, so she alone bore the brunt of the responsibility.

After a thorough scolding, and carefully observing the now somewhat calmed mother and son, the Duchess cautiously spoke.

“It seems it won't be easy to divorce those two. What if we just get rid of Father-in-law's will instead?”

Even if the Emperor had notarized it, without the physical will, it would be useless.

Feeling the strong bond between the two, the Duchess thought this alternative was more hopeful.

The Duke, who was smoking a cigar, frowned upon hearing his wife's words.

“If that were possible, I would have done it long ago! That's why I destroyed the copies! But we don't even know where the original is, so what are we supposed to do?”

Few knew, but the previous Duke's will, which the Ducal Family originally possessed, was merely a copy.

They didn't know where the real will was either. Where on earth had his senile father hidden that will before he died?

“Haa...”

The Duke let out a deep, troubled sigh. Tapping the ash from his cigar, he muttered lowly.

“It might be better to just wait for the imperial throne to change hands...”

Then there would be at least a little more to rely on, making things much more reassuring.

Afterwards, the three continued to talk about various things, but no suitable solution emerged. The Grand Duchess left first, claiming tiredness, and the Duke and Duchess were also preparing to return to their bedroom.

*Knock, knock.*

Someone knocked on the Duke's study door.

The Duke and Duchess looked at the door in confusion. Soon, Oscar appeared.

“You're both here. Perfect, I had something to tell you.”

Oscar entered with a smiling face and sat across from the Duchess, diagonally from the Duke.

The Duchess, worried that her often tactless son might upset her husband with some unnecessary remark, quickly asked.

“What is it you want to say?”

“Oh, well—”

Oscar took a deep breath, then spoke to his parents with a serious and determined expression.

“Mother, Father. Please send me to the capital.”

Before he even finished speaking, a vein throbbed in the Duke's temple.

Oscar had often pestered them to be sent to the capital for entertainment before.

Furious that his son was still making such a childish demand when his future was in crisis, the Duke roared.

“What, you want to go fool around again?! This brat really can't get his head straight—!”

“That's not it, Father! I have a different purpose this time!”

Oscar, who was about to be thoroughly scolded and kicked out, raised both hands to ward off his father's anger.

“A different purpose, what, to fool around with women in the capital? Don't talk nonsense and stay quietly in the ducal territory! Don't go around causing trouble!”

“Father, I'm telling you, it's really not like that.”

Oscar pleaded with an aggrieved expression. Seeing his demeanor, the Duchess, whose heart softened, supported her son.

“Dear, it seems Oscar has something to say, so please hear him out first. Our child sometimes makes mistakes, but fundamentally, he's smart and clever, isn't he?”

“Father, please just listen to me and then decide. Please.”

As his wife and son sent him earnest looks, the Duke's intensity softened. He cleared his throat loudly and nodded, as if telling him to speak.

Then Oscar began to explain the plan he had devised since the Hunting Festival.

It was that he would marry Iris and fulfill the will's conditions, just like Demian.

‘I was stuck in the ducal territory, which is why that effeminate Young Master got ahead of me. If I go to the capital, I can definitely turn the situation around.’

Oscar hadn't stopped contacting Iris out of heartbreak or because he'd come to his senses.

It was because he had been busy pondering why she chose Eric Roberts instead of him.

The conclusion he reached was this:

Since he hadn't shown his face and only contacted her from the ducal territory, Iris had been completely swayed by Eric Roberts, who was right in front of her.

Therefore, if he went to the capital and formally proposed a courtship, he could win back Iris's heart.

It was a thought bordering on pure delusion, but the problem was that to the Duke and Duchess, it sounded like a plausible strategy.

“Yes... If we can't divorce those two anyway, then Oscar can just fulfill the same condition!”

The Duke slapped his knee and exclaimed.

If Demian and Oscar's conditions were the same, Oscar, being the eldest son and supported by the current Duke, would have a greater chance of success.

Then the ducal title would fall entirely to Oscar.

The Duchess had a similar thought and praised Oscar profusely.

“That's my son! How can you be so clever, Oscar?”

“That's all because he takes after me! Yes, indeed!”

Seeing his parents' positive reactions, Oscar swelled with pride. Incidentally, he had conveniently omitted the fact that he had already made advances to Iris and been rejected.

Thanks to this, Oscar's trip to the capital was quickly decided.

The day after Demian and Aracilla departed for the West, Oscar headed to the capital.

Chapter 97