Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Aid Request - 7
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The Sahad Duke, the sole duke in the west, had sent troops upon hearing that the former nobles of the Anitul Earl had betrayed the Empire, determined not to miss this opportunity. But a problem arose.
It was because Lugadrian, a strategically vital location in terms of its current position, had fallen to the beastkin.
According to the intelligence brought by the messenger, Viscount Ishur, the lord of Lugadrian, had already been killed at the hands of the beastkin. And they had even obtained information that Hadron was backing them.
The enraged vassals of the Sahad Duke led their armies to reclaim Lugadrian, but they were forced to retreat after Hadron's forces ambushed the nobles' territories through tunnels hidden throughout the western region.
In the end, the western nobles shifted their priority to rooting out the rats that had infiltrated their domains, delaying their advance indefinitely.
In stark contrast, the 1st Holy Knight Order sent as reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom joined up midway with the Holy Kingdom's 2nd Holy Knight Order led by Helen and began executing the traitorous nobles.
With two 2nd-rank holy knights—the pride of the Holy Kingdom—it was more than enough.
They were able to suppress the rebel forces in an instant, but they couldn't eradicate the main culprits, Hadron's forces.
Just like before, they had vanished into the ground like rats, hiding persistently underground.
Still, it wasn't without results.
"To think Sir Andrew fell to a mere boy in his early twenties."
They had captured one of Hadron's key forces—a 2nd-rank knight—in perfect condition.
"As expected of a Titan; his potential is extraordinary. There was good reason for the First Knight to worry."
The third and fourth knights of the Black Heaven Knight Order arrived at the scene late and rescued Sian and Camilla, who had been waiting for extraction.
'This scent... she's a woman.'
With the help of the Black Heaven knight, Sian was able to escape the underground city alongside Camilla.
...
"This is driving me insane."
I could hear the war report through Helen, and my head throbbed painfully.
The nearest village, Lugadrian, had fallen to the beastkin, after all.
"Where am I supposed to buy supplies now?"
"Why not just come to the capital yourself?"
"Camilla, I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"I'm not joking either."
Camilla spoke with a serious expression.
I wanted to smack her on the head if possible, but her words did hold some merit.
'I could just find another city.'
The nobles who had served the Anitul Earl had colluded with Hadron and betrayed the Empire.
Traitors faced harsher punishments than enemies, so a grim future awaited the defeated, and their territories shared the same fate.
"Why the hell did those idiots side with Hadron?"
From a third party's perspective, it was incomprehensible behavior.
No matter how notorious Hadron was as one of the three great criminal organizations, they weren't on the Empire's level.
'The imperial family hasn't said a word, so they probably don't care much.'
Camilla explained in detail to my question.
"Even if they hadn't betrayed us, they would have met the same end. The slave markets they secretly used without the imperial family's knowledge were run by Hadron from the start."
"I see."
In the end, it was a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't—so they went all in.
Of course, there was a difference in punishment. What might have ended with three generations of clan execution had extended to nine.
"That'll leave a bunch of ownerless lands."
With multiple noble houses wiped out, unclaimed territories would spring up like mushrooms.
"Isn't that good for you as a hero?"
"No way."
Lands too vast to manage would just become a burden.
And considering the tunnels Hadron had dug all over the western territories, it was like passing around a hot potato bomb.
"It'd be nice if the imperial family stepped in to clean it up."
"The imperial family won't even pay attention to this incident."
"Right?"
Even the Black Heaven Knight Order, the imperial family's knights, had only mobilized because the second apostle, Helen, was in danger.
The fact that the imperial family, with the power to annihilate the three great criminal organizations, was staying put spoke volumes.
They weren't doing nothing—they were doing too little.
"It looks like the Holy Kingdom will have to handle the postwar cleanup."
"You've got your work cut out for you. But don't get captured again like last time. Think about the position you're putting your rescuers in."
"Haa... I have nothing to say about this incident."
Camilla let out a deep sigh, and on impulse, I pinched her cheek.
It was soft and squishy.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing, just bored hands."
Maybe because of the debt she owed from this time.
Camilla took my minor pranks in stride.
How far would she let me go, I wondered?
"Sian, are you feeling okay?"
"Helen, you're here? I'm fine now—healthy as can be. No need to worry. Oh, and if you could let my family know I'm safe, I'd appreciate it."
"I've already informed Helia. Everyone's been worried about you."
"Yeah? Guess I need to head home soon."
"Sian, you need to rest a bit more. Pushing yourself could make you sick."
"Maybe you're right."
Following Helen's advice, I took some rest at the temporary camp set up by the Holy Kingdom, and Helen nursed me devotedly.
Probably because I'd saved everyone safely this time—her affinity seemed to have increased properly.
'I thought breastfeeding had ruined everything.'
True to her nymph nature, Helen didn't seem to mind such trivial matters.
"Hero."
"What is it, Camilla?"
"What happened between you and Mama?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Impossible. Mama's attitude toward you has changed."
"Helen's always been like this with me."
Nymphs were inherently kind to others by default.
It wasn't for nothing they were called the race of love.
Of course, Helen had shown me particular affection, but she'd been that way from our first meeting.
"Hmm... You're surprisingly oblivious, hero. In any other era, you'd have a hard time getting married."
"Why the sudden jab?"
Camilla's unexpected sharp tongue left me speechless, but it was somewhat convincing.
...
Once I'd recovered somewhat, a visitor came to see me.
A Black Heaven knight clad entirely in black armor, hiding their identity.
'Number 4—does that mean the fourth knight?'
I couldn't see their face because of the armor, but from their posture and scent, I guessed the knight before me was a woman.
And sure enough, a feminine voice came from behind the helmet.
"Is my son-in-law faring well?"
"Son-in-law?"
"Helia. She said she's currently in your service."
"Ah, yes. Helia's taking care of my daughter in my stead."
"A fine choice. Nymphs who serve the goddess of family excel at childcare."
"Haha, thank you."
I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but it felt like dealing with a parent overly interested in their child's spouse.
'Son-in-law, huh. Who'd have thought I'd have such a connection here.'
Male nymphs reportedly had fiancées arranged from birth.
Not that the Holy Kingdom lacked families politically tied to it.
Thus, Helia, Forest, and Ravi—all serving me—each had their own fiancées.
'They don't seem thrilled about it.'
For nymphs, marriage was akin to the end of life due to their racial traits. Even at just 200 years old, preparing for death that soon would be unwelcome for anyone.
"The reason I've come to you now is to make a request."
"A request?"
"In my stead, relay this message to my son-in-law: 'Time is running out.'"
"Understood. But if Helia chooses to stay in my village, I'll respect her decision."
"Very well. I can't force that on you."
She proved reasonable, not nitpicking my firm stance.
Our conversation stayed strictly business.
"Then, shall we discuss other matters."
"Kugh?!"
Suddenly, she grabbed my arm, and excruciating pain shot through my body.
"Sir Andrew, whom you faced, specializes in a technique that destroys the internals with aura. The external wounds will heal, but inside, it's a mess."
"Haha, so that's why it's still stiff."
"Don't get cocky. A normal person would have had their nerves torn and died in agony by now."
The fourth knight delivered the chilling tale casually.
With expectations rising, I asked her,
"Did you come to heal me, by any chance?"
"As if. We're not that idle, and I don't have such skills."
"But..."
Then why bother coming?
As I stared in disbelief, the fourth knight explained step by step.
"That injury isn't something easily treated anyway. Miracles can't even diagnose it properly, making healing difficult, and natural recovery risks tangling the internal damage further."
"Sounds brutal."
"Hadron designed those killing techniques over years, accounting for nymph miracles, and Sir Andrew honed it to the extreme. It's less powerful than other 2nd-rank knights' but nearly a sure-kill move. You're probably the only one to survive it."
"I'll take that as a compliment. But what's the treatment?"
"Don't rush me; I'm getting to it."
"Ah, yes... sorry."
"First, you'll need a potent spiritual medicine for treatment."
"Spiritual medicine?"
"Nothing else is as suitable for instantly healing damage spread throughout the body."
"I see."
"What's with the hand?"
"From the flow of conversation, it seemed like you'd give me one now."
"What nonsense is that? You'll have to procure the spiritual medicine yourself."
"Eh?"
Wasn't the whole point of this talk to reward me with spiritual medicine here?