125
False accusation
‘What is this···.’
Helena, the abbess of Flitton Castle, looked up to the sky and searched for God.
The royal knights riding the monsters above the castle. Now they are just looking down, but just a moment ago, countless fireballs fell.
I don’t know what’s going on, but since it’s the imperial family, I can’t interfere. Just as the empire respects the religious order, the religious order can’t interfere with the empire’s affairs.
Not knowing the situation, he evacuated the priests and monks in a hurry, but as the abbot, he could not escape, so Helena was left alone.
‘May it always light the way forward, even in the dark.’
Helena quietly sought God.
Someone approached from a dark place. Helena tensed and held the sacred object in her arms tightly.
No matter how high the prestige of the religious order, in a chaotic situation, evil thoughts can arise.
As the sound of unusually heavy footsteps approached, the shape of the opponent was visible in the eerie moonlight.
As soon as she saw him, Helena barely managed to suppress a scream.
Two men were approaching, one of them looking like he had just come from a battlefield, and the other…
‘Naked? ······Pervert!’
Helena took out her mace without much thought.
Although he was not an inquisitor, the mace was a basic and essential item for a priest in case of misfortune.
“Oh, they’re not weird. They all have their own stories.”
A strangely calm and quiet voice.
“Who… who are you! Don’t come near me!”
Helena tried hard to keep her trembling voice in check, but how could she remain calm in this situation?
One of the large men looked like a monster, and the strange-looking guy next to him was naked. It was a situation where I had no choice but to look for God.
“Oh, we are family.”
“······Same family?”
There was something about the man’s strangely calm voice that made her relax. Helena aimed her mace at the men and checked where the man was pointing.
There was a strange, familiar object hanging from the back of the man’s neck.
Helena squinted her eyes and studied it for a while before realizing that it was a cape.
‘That man is an honorary monk? Ah… how corrupt has the order become!!’
Helena sighed sincerely. She knew that the order was rotten, but even if it was so corrupt, how could they have given the monkhood to such perverts!
“Don’t come any closer! If you come any closer, I’ll call the Inquisitor!”
She was alone, but she raised her voice loudly. No matter how perverted they were, they would surely run away if they heard the story of the Inquisitor.
But, as if he wasn’t a normal pervert, he came closer.
“Ahem… not a purchase… a fair compensation… Oh, right. There’s this too. An admission ticket-.”
This time the man took a piece of paper out of his pocket and flapped it around.
The paper flew naturally and landed in Helena’s hand.
Kikikikik- Helena couldn’t stand it anymore and screamed at the naked man twisting his body while making strange sounds.
“Oh, he may look like this, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s just crazy about magic, so don’t worry.”
“Damn it. You bastard···.”
Helena, who had finally calmed down at the man’s playful voice, opened the paper with trembling hands and read it.
[Helena, it’s been a while. I’m from Brighton. I heard that you became the abbot of Flitton Castle at a fairly young age. You who couldn’t even memorize one scripture properly and cried······.]
As soon as Helena read the letter, she shivered for a different reason.
Brighton!!
How did I get out of this!
‘What does that guy have to do with Brighton… no, Brighton-sama?’
I should have noticed something strange the moment there were three pieces of paper in the envelope!
Helena wanted to burn the paper right away, but she tried to control her mind and read it.
The more I read about him, the more memories from the past came flooding back and I became momentarily confused.
The really important part was written at the end.
[Ah, the guy who delivered this letter is ignorant and looks rough, but he’s not a bad person. He has basic common sense. I’m slowly converting, so don’t worry. Think of old times and give him some convenience. I don’t mind selling my name, so as long as he doesn’t kill Count Behart, take care of him. Even if he’s a guy, surely… Ah, and don’t do anything that’s annoying. He doesn’t discriminate between men and women. Then, I hope we can have a nice conversation next time. I have a phrase or two I’ve collected for you…]
Helena looked at the men through the paper. She said she had basic social sensibilities, so she was probably referring to a large man, not a naked man.
‘Brighton Bird… no, you’re putting your name on it…’
At first glance, it could be seen as a half-hearted letter, mainly about words, but Brighton has never put my name on it before.
‘He was a seriously good person.’
Helena nodded and decided to believe the letter.
No, it was a letter that could not be trusted. Could there be anyone else who was so terribly faithful?
‘···Annoying behavior?’
Helena flinched for a moment, then nodded.
“Come in.”
I spoke in as soft a voice as possible so as not to offend.
“Yes, may the sun shine on your path.”
At the man’s words, Helena smiled awkwardly and turned away.
The letter contained no mention of any nude metamorphosis, so he was still holding the mace.
***
“It suits you well.”
“You guys··· really···.”
I chuckled as I looked at Kua Ba Rou in his monk’s robes.
My body was so damaged that I received treatment from the abbot, but every time I laughed, my insides felt like they were being stabbed.
‘I guess I’ll need to rest for a few days.’
My biggest worry was that I would have bloody rice stool tomorrow. I couldn’t help but be worried because I kept picking up and eating devil candies while I was absent-minded.
Judging from the quietness of the tenant, it seemed like it would take quite some time to digest it.
‘Count Berhard is dead.’
No matter how easy the inheritance was, it was certain that there would be noise. And on top of that, the sight of the castle of Byzant preparing for war that I had seen on my way here… it was certain that it would be quite a mess.
‘We’re going to have to tighten the security for a while.’
As my thoughts continued, the five elders came to mind.
‘What kind of guy is he?’
He tried to kill me, but then he suddenly saved my life, and even helped me destroy the evidence with AS. It was an excessive kindness that left an awkward impression on me, beyond just a simple thank you.
‘Is this a wild ceremony by the royal family? Are you blaming the deaths of the demon candies on the royal family?’
A favor given for an unknown reason can only be awkward for the recipient.
‘But I still got the hang of it.’
I recalled the guy in my hazy memories. I couldn’t see the sharp thing he had, but when I focused, I could hear his distinctive sound.
If we meet again next time…
‘I ate a lot of devil candy, so I guess I can do it.’
Since you said you would contact me, I thought I could express my gratitude when we met later.
Ugh… My face crinkled involuntarily at the sudden sharp pain.
‘For now, recuperation comes first.’
At that moment, my thoughts were broken by the voice of Kua Baorou heard from the side.
“What’s in your heart? Isn’t that the dragon shell I saw back then? The color was different, but the shape was definitely···.”
He lowered his gaze to Kuobarou’s question. There was the shell that BbungBbung had taken as a souvenir from the housewarming party.
I grabbed the golden staff and found it lying on the floor, and just in case, I went through the long-awaited tuning process to use it as a heart shield.
“Oh, it’s a heart protector.”
I answered by tapping it. I tied it around my handprint just in case, but it turned out to be more useful than I thought.
“What kind of dragon shell is that···.”
Kuobarou muttered in disbelief, then his eyes lit up.
“no.”
I couldn’t give up the shell that contained my precious memories with BbungBbung just because the ugly guy had shining eyes.
“Please have some of this.”
The abbot who had just returned offered some bread.
“Thank you. And since you gave it to me, some wine too.”
“···Yes? Oh, yes.”
The abbot, who had been stammering as if he was flustered, nodded his head vigorously and ran off somewhere.
‘You’re so bright. Is that why you became the abbot at such a young age?’
The abbot returned with a large porcelain bottle in its entirety.
Eating and drinking dry bread and wine made me feel hot inside,
The castle, which had been noisy for a while, became quieter than before.
‘Have the negotiations been concluded now?’
It seemed as if someone had taken Behard’s head, which had been in an unexpected accident, and offered it up.
“It’s lukewarm.”
“···Squeak!!”
“What… What is it! Why are you doing that!”
When Kuobarou twisted his body, the abbot got scared and stepped back. He looked quite strong, but he seemed to be less courageous than expected.
“Oh, this guy has kidney stones. Do you have any more bread?”
“Huh? You just ate our monastery dinner all by yourself?!”
‘Are you hearing any news? That’s why these guys from the religious order···.’
I clicked my tongue at him and got up.
After receiving emergency treatment and recovering to some extent, it was time to go back.
“Thank you, Abbot of Athena.”
“Yes? I’m Helena···.”
“Let’s go, Kua Ba Rou.”
“I··· phew···.”
Kuo Baorou frowned as if he didn’t like the wide monk’s robe, but when viewed from the side, it surprisingly suited him well.
He seemed like a guy who couldn’t get married anyway because he was ugly, so he chose to become a priest to make excuses.
I took out my pocket, which was deep inside, and flicked a gold coin to the abbot of Helios.
“It’s a donation. The rest is a tip.”
The abbot of Helios, his eyes wide open, looked at the gold coins for a moment, then nodded with a complicated expression on his face.
“Tea… Lips? Oh, please say hello to Brighton. I too feel very sorry about that… ”
The abbot of Helios, who had taken the gold coins, spoke in a subdued voice.
I nodded without asking for more details.
When I left the monastery, it was very dark, as if the sun had not yet risen. The flames were still burning in the inner castle, but the Wyvern Knights were nowhere to be seen.
‘I guess it’s finished.’
It was best to get out of Flitton Castle as quickly as possible before it got too much trouble.
“You really have a troll parent, don’t you? How can you walk around like that when you’re so tattered?”
Kuo Baorou made a subtle comment, and I couldn’t give him a definitive answer, so I scratched my head for a moment and then just hit him.
“······I saved you all this time, and all I got in return was a handcuff! What an ignorant bastard!”
Kuobarou became furious and shouted.
Guo Baorou was right. It was a dangerous situation where I almost closed my eyes if I had moved. If Guo Baorou hadn’t been there, I would have been able to rest comfortably.
That’s why I wasn’t grateful.
“It’s a troll-style expression of gratitude.”
“Your parents are really trolls. If not, then that weird resilience… Aaak!! Why are you hitting me again…!”
“When you are truly grateful, a troll hits you twice.”
“I thank you too… Aaak!! Why again!”
“This is how trolls receive gratitude.”
Only after being hit three times did Kuobarou close his mouth.
‘You’re dumber than I thought.’
A weasel would have closed its mouth after being hit once, but it took three hits to get Kuobarou to open it.
‘Even wizards are smart-alecked.’
I clicked my tongue as I looked at the distorted Kuabarou.
***
Perhaps because the Devil Candy was gone, Flitton’s voice was strangely lively.
After watching him for a while, I headed toward the inner castle. There were quite a few soldiers on the way to the inner castle, and they looked like defeated soldiers.
‘They are more like refugees than defeated soldiers.’
There wasn’t even a security check at the inner gate.
The chain of command seemed somewhat broken.
The carriages were piled up as if they were trying to escape, and the nobles were shouting at each other. In such a situation, traffic control was needed, but the soldiers and guards seemed to be out of their minds to do so.
‘Are you okay?’
Surprisingly, the tolerance to direct bombing was good.
Although it collapsed here and there and looked like corn that had been eaten by rats, it still maintained its appearance.
Around the inner city, people of all kinds were moving busily. Among them, there were those dressed in flashy clothes and those who were disheveled.
There were a few corpses covered with blankets or large sheets, but when I glanced at them, I didn’t see any faces I recognized.
I glanced at him briefly and headed toward where the group was.
“···You’re alive.”
“Yes, Jo Sa-sang-gak.”
He waved his hand roughly, as if he had heard that saying quite a few times.
In front of the carriage, there was a barley man with a face that looked very sad, and inside he could see Nova and Park’s head.
I scratched my neck for no reason at the sight of Nova’s frowning face.
The situation was urgent, so I had no choice but to feed him chestnuts, but my head started to hurt just thinking about how he would react.
At that moment, the carriage door opened first.
“······you.”
Nova’s face was distorted. It was the first time I had seen this expression on Nova, so I couldn’t think of anything to say.
Nova looked me up and down quickly with a strange expression that seemed like she was about to cry but was also laughing, then reached out and stroked my various parts.
I thought about hitting him, but I figured I could just bear with it since I already hit him once.
“Are you okay? You’ve worked hard. Just rest for a bit.”
It was Nova who surprisingly went smoothly. Nova pulled me and sat me down in the carriage.
Perhaps because it was the carriage that Youngae rode in, it was even fluffier than the one I rode in. It was definitely a five-star carriage.
“The result wasn’t bad. It ended well. There must be a reason why you pushed yourself too hard. Yeah, I guess so.”
Nova muttered softly as if talking to herself and went outside.
I looked at the big head of the park with round eyes for a moment and then closed my eyes.
I was tired because I slept intermittently at night.
I thought it would be okay to sleep for a while.
I put my sword in a good position to draw it and fell into a half-asleep.
***
When I opened my eyes again, the carriage was moving.
I was cutting something hard, and when I turned my head, it was Nova with one shoulder raised.
Then I got up, wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth.
I looked outside and it was slightly dark, as if I had been asleep for more than half a day.
“You’re awake. How’s your body?”
Nova asked lightly, one shoulder still slightly raised.
“I feel fine, but I’m hungry.”
“Here it is! Meat and bread! Alcohol!”
Park Dae-gari quickly held out what he was holding in his hand. The way Park Dae-gari looked at me was just like when Jo-won first hit me.
‘Did I hit you?’
I received him, scratching my head because I couldn’t remember.
At first glance, it seemed like a cocky action, but we had already sworn at each other. We were pretty close, so this was okay.
“This is a potion.”
After he had finished eating and quenched his thirst with wine, Nova handed him a small bottle.
I felt like my energy was returning after drinking the fatigue recovery drink.
Of course, my physical condition was still not very good.
“Aaron.”
Nova immediately grabbed me by the back of my neck. Nova’s pumpkin-like eyes stared at me.
“Count Berhard is dead. He was murdered.”
It seemed like he was trying to see my reaction, but there was no way he would confess just by making eye contact.
“That’s too bad. We were close friends.”
Nova made a strange expression at my answer. Her face seemed relieved, but there was also a hint of disappointment.
It was clear that he was trying to induce a confession, but he did not fall for it.
The problem arose elsewhere.
“Hiccup!”
“···Vivian?”
“Hiccup! Huh?! Hiccup!”
Park Dae-gari, who looked like a puppy that had peed on its bed, looked like someone who was shaking.
“Hiccup! I don’t know! Hiccup!”
Park Dae-gari looked back and forth between me and Nova with a face that looked like he was going to cry. He looked worried that someone might hit him.
Nova’s gaze at me narrowed even further.
Hiccup!
“···Did you definitely take care of it?”
“I don’t know.”
Nova took a deep breath and shook her head.
“The situation changed drastically when Count Behar died. Count Behar had three sons and one daughter. Normally, it would have been hereditary for the eldest son, so there would have been no problem, but it seems that the eldest son doesn’t have a very good reputation. On the other hand, the other sons have established their own foundations. In addition, someone from the imperial family will come forward to manage the Behar County for a while.”
Listening to Nova, it seemed like things were going to be more complicated than expected.
In the Middle Ages, when leisure was about raising children, it was inevitable that there would be many children, and this would inevitably lead to a tangled inheritance system.
It was common for the eldest son to take everything cleanly, because if all the children were taken care of, the family would fall into ruin as the lands were torn apart and they would fight among themselves.
However, sometimes things like Count Berhard happened. The problem became even more serious if the hereditary object was not clearly defined.
“It’s complicated.”
“That’s right. I can’t say that it has nothing to do with Cassidy, but if you don’t have to worry about the Behart family….”
“Everyone must be greedy for multi.”
“···Multi? Anyway, there must be those who want to expand their territory during this gap. Cassidy is no exception.”
I nodded to Nova’s words. In any case, since Count Behart, who was holding the eastern end, died in an unknown accident, it was certain that the eastern end would be noisy for a while.
‘This must be a headache.’
It wasn’t my concern, but the word “multi” really caught my attention.
‘···Stocks that I can raise with my own hands.’
Even opportunities came rolling in on their own.
If we leave them alone anyway, they’ll fight among themselves…
“We should strengthen the Cassidy alliance a bit more in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. Since Fener has already lost its power···.”
Nova muttered as she looked through the paper, but I couldn’t hear her because I was thinking about the castles with good transportation from Cassidy.
“Vivian, when you get back, the lord will probably hurry up and get you married. The bond formed through marriage is the strongest. Is there a firstborn son you like? According to reputation, a man named Shane from the Arina family is handsome and has a good personality…”
“Ah …
Park Dae-gari suddenly interrupted Nova’s words as if he was having a seizure.
The voice was so loud that the carriage suddenly stopped.
‘The child’s voice has gotten louder.’
I sipped my wine, quietly exclaiming in admiration at the loud sound.
“Why? You don’t like Shane? Then there’s Konghart or Glusene. Of course, Shane has a better reputation and more to gain, but…”
“That’s not it! Of course I know I have to get married! ······But still!”
Park Dae-gari shouted without a subject or object like a teenager.
‘You look like you don’t want to get married.’
It was understandable. To have to marry someone whose face I had only seen… Most nobles were proud of not washing, and since they were usually debauchers and had bad habits, a marriage like that in a fairy tale was truly rare.
Still, there was nothing that could be done.
It was the price paid for the affluent life she had enjoyed as Young-ae.
If you ask those who are not nobles, they will choose to be a noblewoman out of 100. This is a place where there is nothing to eat, so eating gruel is a daily routine.
“Vivian? What’s wrong? You have to tell me.”
Nova asked Park Head with sharp eyes. Park Head was startled and shrank back and mumbled.
Although the two had different social statuses, perhaps because they had been together since they were young, Vivian seemed to be more aware of Nova’s feelings.
“Is there anyone you like? Then tell me first. I will try to put in a good word for the lord.”
Park’s head shrank a little more.
The situation that was going on was quite interesting.
Nova urged him again, saying that she couldn’t help him if he didn’t tell her first, and her voice was warmer than expected.
Nova seemed to value Vivian more than expected.
After a while of trying to persuade him, Park Dae-gari, who had been observing me, glanced at me and opened his mouth.
I don’t know why, but that glance felt strangely unsettling.
“So I already···.”
“Already? Already···?”
Nova asked back, her eyes wide open.
In this situation, the word ‘already’ could be seen as truly impure.
In this uncivilized Middle Ages, excessive chastity was demanded of unmarried young ladies. It was so uncivilized that there was even a separate inspector for them.
If it was discovered that you had sex with someone before marriage, it would be a huge stain on you, to the point that you would be cursed at and even have the engagement broken off.
‘That Park head···?’
It was clear that the opponent would be impaled on that Park head without fail. I expressed my condolences to the unknown man, however small.
“What kind of dog is that… tell me. Vivian.”
Nova’s voice grew increasingly harsh. The private life of the noble lady was a serious and troublesome matter.
Nova urging and Park Daegari being questioned.
Finally, Park Dae-gari raised his head with a determined expression.
“Who are you? You have to tell me so I can help you…”
Park Dae-gari nodded vigorously and immediately pointed at someone with his finger.
‘···?’
I squinted my eyes for a moment at the finger pointed directly at me.
I pondered for a long time over why a pale finger with no trace of hardship was pointing at me.
However, before I could finish my thoughts, Park Dae-gari continued speaking.
“My heart is already full of Aaron···!!”
My thoughts stopped for a moment at that bold shout.
Nova, whose facial expressions rarely change, looked truly comical with her eyes, mouth, and nostrils all dilated.
Dalgrak-.
Just then the carriage shook slightly.
I leaned against the wall, and the finger followed me.
Beep-.
“Of course, it was an unavoidable situation······.”
Park Dae-gari added hurriedly with an anxious look on his face, but I couldn’t hear him because of my tinnitus.
***
‘It’s an opportunity.’
Weasel… no, Dylan looked ahead of me and caught his breath.
I learned from watching Aaron.
Opportunities aren’t something you wait for, they’re something you grab.
I should have seized the opportunity and dragged him in to strike, but it was a mistake to have waited for an opportunity until now.
‘···You can do it. You can go higher. With the puppies.’
Dylan slowly scanned the noisy bar.
The Inquisitors, Vermunt, Kanna, Hanna, and everyone else who had gathered.
Everyone who was supposed to be there was there.
Dylan took a deep breath and let out a long cry.
Put all your strength into it, and try to be as similar to the ten puppies as possible.
“Thank you all for coming together!!”
A bar that becomes quiet in an instant.
A question appeared in the eyes of everyone looking up at Dylan.
I opened my mouth again, fully exposed to the burdensome gaze of each and every one of them.
“I am Aaron’s son! My name is Dylan!”
Shock erupting everywhere!
If Dylan had said it, no one would have believed it, but the Inquisitor had already notarized it.
“The reason I have called you all is because my father’s relationship has been so messy lately, and I want to sort things out with him. So first… Mom?”
“Coolook!”
Berman, who was watching him, was shocked and heard a noise.
“Dylan… are you going to die?”
Brick raised his glass as if to commemorate the dead man.
“I’ll bet my entire fortune on death. Anyone want to bet?”
Pool took out a silver coin and asked, but no one answered. Pool licked his lips as if he was disappointed and put the coin back in.
“Why does he get so anxious whenever the team leader leaves his post and can’t get into trouble?”
“Thank you, we’re having fun.”
Everyone chuckled at Brick’s answer.
However, Berman couldn’t just smile. His first love was also sitting in front of Dylan.
It wasn’t that he still had feelings for her. Berman had already confessed his true feelings to another woman, although the results were not good.
But no matter how heartless she was, she couldn’t just ignore the fact that her first love was dueling with Aaron Chojang for sex slavery.
‘The problem is that Sophia is really strong···.’
Berman tried to persuade him several times using the excuse of practicing swordsmanship to stop him, but he was just beaten. Sophia was really strong.
As he let out a deep sigh, Berman suddenly realized that Kel was unusually quiet.
Kel was moving his mouth wildly. He looked around as if his mouth was ticklish and giggled to himself.
“What is it?”
“Ahem··· Kheuheuum!”
In response to Berman’s question, Kel coughed as if he had been waiting for it, completely clearing the air.
Poole and Brick, who had been discussing ‘How many punches from Captain Aaron will it take for Dylan to die?’, also turned their heads.
“I was going to wait until Team Leader Aaron arrived before telling you… Hehe! Now that you’ve figured it out! I can’t help it!”
After a moment of silence, Kel opened his mouth as if he couldn’t hold it in any longer and spoke quickly.
“···Rosa is pregnant!!”
Unlike Kel, who spoke with great excitement, the reactions of those around him were complex and subtle.
That’s understandable, Kel’s lover Rosa was a prostitute.
She is also the most popular prostitute in Cassadic.
Although he couldn’t help but wonder, Berman simply clapped at Kel’s delighted face.
“Wow… I had no idea that Kel would be the first to become a father?!”
Brick also congratulated him in an awkward tone.
“Hahaha! You idiots! You still don’t have a baby!”
When everyone awkwardly laughs at Kel who just likes me.
“Are you sure that’s your child?”
The particularly cold and calculating Pul brought up the subject that everyone was trying to avoid.
The atmosphere suddenly became cold. Berman bit his lip.
“He’s Rosa’s child, so of course he’s my child.”
But there was no hesitation in Kel’s answer, and the smile on his face remained the same.
“Okay, congratulations. I’ll buy you the drinks.”
Only then did the pool smile and take out the silver coin.
“Wow, I never thought there would come a day when grass would buy me alcohol.”
Kel laughed, giggling.
Berman looked at him and ordered some expensive drinks inside.
If not on a day like this, when else would I get to eat garlic chives? I had to pull them out and eat them as much as I could. It was called garlic liquor, and I had no idea what it was, but it was expensive, so it seemed delicious.
However, because the drink was extremely spicy, Berman had to endure a lot of cursing from everyone.
But as I drank it, I got drunk and it was quite sweet, so I could drink it.
“My little sister Kanna! Come up… Huh? You’re my older sister? No, even so… I’m older than you… This is just a joke… Where did you learn such words….”
Up front, Kanna and Dylan were talking about something, but they just laughed and discussed names for Kel’s child.
After a long discussion, Kel declared that he would be named ‘Aaron’ regardless of gender.
The reason was that if they gave Aaron’s name, they wouldn’t get sick, beaten, or suffer. Everyone nodded because it seemed very plausible.
“You can call Captain Aaron there to your heart’s content, right?”
Kel’s continued laughter was so refreshing that everyone laughed along.
