Chapter 11
11
The people of Illestone Mansion stared at the mansion's main gate, speechless.
"H-How could this...!"
It was the first time so many people had gathered near the entrance where the Red Tree had stood.
And no wonder, for the threat that had blocked the entrance was gone.
Scattered branches lay messily strewn about in front of the entrance.
Someone's clothing and a thick liquid oozed from the empty tree bark hanging on the entrance pillars, but no one cared about those things now.
"What happened last night...? L-Lord, is it... really that child...?"
"She kept her promise."
The Archduke ignored Kelle, the butler's words filled with astonishment, and stepped forward.
Had the mansion's entrance always been this beautiful?
The entrance to Illestone Mansion, with its intricately carved family crest in gold, was bathed in sunlight and looked magnificent.
It was the first time Archduke Illestone had seen the scenery beyond the entrance.
"It was hiding inside an empty shell?"
"Yes, after everyone fell asleep, a monster mimicking a human emerged from the empty shell and came to Simone's room."
"Came?"
"I overheard that she promised the monster that she would let it eat her last night."
A deep furrow formed between the Archduke's brows.
"Let it eat her?"
"Yes, that's what the monster said."
'You said I could eat today.'
The monster's cry still seemed to ring clearly in his ears.
"I don't know anything else. Simone-nim only told me to cut down the tree after she was eaten and the monster returned to the tree. That's all."
"I see."
It was commendable that she hadn't told an ordinary adventurer about the tree.
It wouldn't be good for an outsider to know what kind of monster had been living in the mansion for 300 years.
"Hmm."
Archduke Illestone fell into thought.
'I thought the victims were only from within the mansion.'
The target wasn't just people belonging to Illestone Mansion.
Someone who happened to pass by, someone who happened to encounter a monster in human form.
From the mansion's servants to ordinary commoners, the types of victims were quite diverse.
Only after seeing the clothes mixed with unknown liquids inside the tree bark did the Archduke realize that there had been other victims besides the people of the mansion.
'Sleep early.'
The Archduke realized only after seeing the numerous clothes and skin that one had to sleep to avoid becoming the monster's target, and that was why Simone had even written a journal to make the mansion's people sleep.
'But why?'
He wondered why the monster moved only when people were asleep, but that was something he would hear directly from Simone later, who would probably be sound asleep right now. But.
"How did Simone find out about the tree's secret?"
How did Simone, who had no connection to the Illestone family, know something that no one had known for 300 years?
Louisby answered.
"Simone-nim seemed to know from the beginning."
"...From the beginning?"
The secret of that tree?
"Yes, I don't know what kind of investigation Simone-nim conducted beforehand or how she found out about the monster..."
Louisby wore a serious expression along with Archduke Illestone.
"She knew the tree's identity and how to get rid of it in advance."
She wasn't even afraid. Rather, she suppressed the monster with tremendous power.
At Louisby's answer, Archduke Illestone thought for a moment, then nodded and straightened his upper body.
"...I see. I understand. Good work."
"Yes, Archduke."
As he watched Louisby bow politely, Archduke Illestone said,
"I have a carriage waiting at the main gate, so take it back to the guild. This is the Illestone family's expression of gratitude for eliminating a long-standing threat at the risk of your life."
Louisby, who was about to say, 'I just did as much as I was paid for,' had no choice but to close his mouth.
Although he had a stern face, she could tell that the Archduke was pleased to be able to see off his benefactor through the main gate instead of the back gate.
"Adventurer, I will always hope that your journey will end safely."
Louisby looked up at the mansion as she boarded the carriage, escorted by Kelle, the butler, and the servants.
One of the curses that had isolated Illestone Mansion for a long time had disappeared in just one night.
That monster had been so easily destroyed.
'So easily...'
If she was such a powerful Necromancer.
Perhaps, if it was her.
Could she save herself, her family, and the empire?
'...It's time to wrap up the adventure.'
Louisby thought lightly and turned her head.
Contrary to Simone's wishes, Louisby's actions were clearly diverging from the original story.
Thanks to the Nine Feet Ghost, who, taking advantage of the weakened state of her Mana due to the battle with the Tree Human in the early morning, mumbled 'die' for the first time in a long time, Simone was able to wake up late.
For the past two days, Anna had woken her up with a trembling voice, fidgeting as the breakfast hour approached, but today, for some reason, she was considerate enough to let Simone sleep in.
Thanks to that, Simone woke up from a very sound sleep to a scene quite different from usual.
'...What's going on here?'
"Did you sleep well, Simone-nim?"
"Good morning, Simone-nim."
"Would you like to have your meal right away? Or would you like tea first?"
"...What?"
Who are these people?
Simone looked around, bewildered.
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing's wrong. We're just serving Simone-nim with all our heart, as always."
"That's right. Please feel free to call us anytime."
"Huh?"
Somehow, the number of servants taking care of her had increased dramatically.
Roughly six or seven, maybe more.
Just yesterday, Anna was the only maid who stayed by her side.
Even the servants who used to act as if they had seen something they shouldn't have if they happened to pass by her.
'What's going on?'
Today, they were treating Simone with excessive politeness. It felt like she had become a very important guest of the Illestone family.
Thanks to the servants who were actively taking care of Simone, Anna was pushed back and anxiously watching Simone's every move.
"I'll... have the meal first."
"Yes, Simone-nim. We will prepare your bathwater to be ready when you finish your meal."
Was this a task that the servants who had passed Simone's sincerity test volunteered for, or was it something the Archduke had ordered?
Simone finished her meal and bath amidst suspicion and confusion and headed to Archduke Illestone's study.
And Archduke Illestone, who she faced, raised the corners of his lips for the first time as he looked at Simone.
Of course, it was quite awkward and difficult to call it a smile.
"Good morning, Archduke."
The Archduke spoke as soon as Simone greeted him.
"Simone, I will trust you."
His voice and tone were still emotionless, but his wariness of Simone had lessened.
"From now on, I will treat you as a guest of Illestone Mansion and support you so that you lack nothing."
Judging from Archduke Illestone's words, the servants who had been so attentive to Simone this morning were all sent by him.
"So, Simone, you must do your best to lift the Mansion's Curse."
"Of course, Archduke. That was the contract."
The wrinkles on his forehead, which had increased with each word Simone added, had disappeared without a trace today.
What's wrong with everyone today?
It's too much pressure.
Simone shook her head, openly disliking the changed attitude of the people.
"I'll sit down first."
"Please do."
Simone sat on the sofa and looked out the window.
The mansion's entrance was wide open.
The changed attitude of the people was probably because of that.
Now that Simone had clearly shown her own value, she probably wouldn't be ignored for the time being.
"Then let's hear it."
While Simone had briefly turned her gaze out the window, Archduke Illestone's expression had returned to its original coldness.
"What happened last night?"
"I blew up that tree and killed it with Death Mana."
"...That's not what I wanted to hear. What I'm curious about is the content of the curse."
The Archduke wanted to hear why the people of the mansion had to sleep early, what the identity of the tree was, and how the tree, which had not been able to be removed for 300 years, could be removed in one morning.
At Archduke Illestone's question, Simone took a sip of tea and answered calmly.
"That monster is very timid."
"A timid monster?"
"And it's very weak, but annoyingly smart."
One had to be careful of anything that had a human form but wasn't human.
Because it was very smart.
"The reason why it only moves when the mansion's people are all asleep is to increase its chances of survival."
The tree wanted to live as long as possible. It wanted to obtain nutrients, but if it openly roamed the mansion, the people of the mansion might quickly notice its weaknesses, so it moved at night when everyone was asleep so that no one could know its identity.
In that way, it would roam around in search of new nutrients on nights when everyone was asleep, and if it found someone who wasn't asleep, it would rush at them and eat them.
"To plant a tree that only grows on human blood and flesh in the mansion. Whoever did it cast a very cruel curse."
Archduke Illestone ignored Simone's words and asked.
"You said this monster is weak. But why couldn't we cut it down?"
It wasn't that the Archduke family hadn't tried to get rid of the tree until now.
They had tried it several times over 300 years, but instead of cutting down the tree, the sword would break or crack if they tried to cut it.
The swordsman from the Adventurer's Guild who was sent out of the mansion this morning said that he had easily cut it like paper.
No matter how good the swordsman's skills were, it didn't make sense.
At his question, Simone answered.
"I told you, it's very timid."
"So?"
"Because it's timid, it usually uses all its power to protect itself. That's why it's very hard. So hard that ordinary people can never break it."
Simone smiled.
"But there is a time when a monster that likes to defend itself puts its power into something else."
At Simone's words, Illestone answered immediately.
"When it absorbs nutrients."
"That's right."
Archduke Illestone recalled the words of the swordsman, Ren.
- Simone-nim only told me to cut down the tree after she was eaten.
"...So you let yourself be eaten? To break the monster's defense."
"That's right. I thought Mana would protect me."
To do such a dangerous thing as letting yourself be eaten by a monster whose identity you didn't even know.
"You must have several lives."
"I only have one."
Archduke Illestone shook his head at Simone's behavior, which immediately retorted with the determination to prevent him from being sarcastic.
"But how did you know the tree's identity? Even our family didn't know."
The Illestone family thought that people who were fascinated by the tree went to be eaten themselves, but they never thought that the tree would move.
At Archduke Illestone's question, Simone's mouth closed for the first time.
'I read it in a novel.'
...If she said that, she would probably be scolded by Butler Kelle for lying again, right?
Simone said.
"Necromancers all know. There's something like that that's been passed down from generation to generation."
"I thought the Necromancer line was cut off 300 years ago?"
"But I'm alive here, aren't I?"
As Simone pointed to herself and smiled brightly, Archduke Illestone sighed deeply and ended the conversation.
After that, Archduke Illestone only asked if she needed anything and issued an order to leave.
He didn't ask what curse she would solve next or how she would solve it at all.
It was also a kind of expression that he would leave that matter entirely to Simone in the future.
