Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Unintended Variable (3)
Was there any advantage to be gained by deceiving her here?
Rudian briefly pondered this.
Iskar Territory.
If he deceived her and made her pay attention to that place, it would certainly be a great benefit from Rudian's perspective as he prepared his grand plan, but...
'Something's bothering me.'
Why Iskar Territory of all places?
That point held back Rudian's mind as he was about to lie.
'...I need to know for certain about this matter.'
After contemplating for a while, Rudian eventually gave up on shaking Asmodeus and swore to tell the truth according to her words.
"Good. Now I can finally relax."
"Speak. What happened there?"
She began to open her mouth with a much more comfortable expression.
"It's nothing major. Before you came to the capital, you had quite a commotion with those guys dispatched from the Kingdom of Rohans, didn't you?"
"That's right."
"Those guys were quite troublesome, so we were hiding your existence, but it seems Iblis dispatched a cherished subordinate to investigate that side."
"What...?"
Rudian's expression changed slightly.
But she, who had relaxed a bit, didn't notice such changes in Rudian and continued speaking.
"The problem is, that subordinate seems to have gone missing while investigating Iskar Territory."
"......"
"He was quite a strong one, so Iblis was furious. Well, I lightly ignored it though."
Asmodeus proceeded with her story, mixing truth and lies appropriately.
"Still, I couldn't completely ignore it, so I came to find you under the pretense of looking into it. It's fortunate that it wasn't you. It means it's the work of another organization."
If she really intended to just pretend, she wouldn't have gone so far as to demand an oath through spirit words.
But without showing such signs, she naturally continued the conversation.
"A third party's doing... That part interests me too. Iskar Territory isn't ordinarily vast... Where was he investigating when he went missing?"
"Oh my? Don't you know that such high-level information can't be carelessly leaked?"
"We're also planning to deploy personnel for investigation, so can't allies share even that much information?"
Asmodeus pretended to be difficult for a while, then brightened at the mention of deploying personnel and began to spill the information.
"Fine. If you're also willing to step up, it's not a level that can't be shared."
"Speak quickly."
"The place where Decarabia, Iblis's subordinate, went missing is said to be 'Baran Village,' which you had set as your hometown."
"What...?"
Instantly, Rudian's expression twisted menacingly.
Judging this to be anger, Asmodeus fanned the flames with a subtle smile.
"Naturally, I came to find you because you were suspicious after hearing that information. It's fortunate that it wasn't you, but if a third party is involved, you'll probably have to step up as well, won't you?"
The moment Rudian made the spirit word oath, she judged that a third party had created a trap to target not only themselves but also Rudian and the Adora organization.
And she was confident that conveying this information would somehow shift Rudian's attention away from them to somewhere else.
Diverting attention and utilizing their intelligence network—truly a method that would kill two birds with one stone!
"I've said everything I need to say, so I'll be going now. Since we've shared information with such magnanimity, I trust you'll show corresponding sincerity."
Asmodeus left the reception room gracefully with a victor's smile.
Even after she disappeared, Rudian sat there blankly with a dazed expression.
***
Baran Village.
Demons.
And disappearance.
The fragmented information came together to produce only one answer.
'...Rebecca!'
If it was a subordinate cherished by Demon King Iblis, then it would be a demon.
And one with at least high-level status.
Situationally, since they had disposed of the familiar Alec Hyuma without anyone knowing, no matter how much it was for investigation, they wouldn't commit the foolish act of sending another familiar and wasting their forces.
'Damn! Could Rebecca have awakened?'
The possibility was very high.
If the subordinate had gone missing to the point of requesting help from Asmodeus, it essentially meant they had been defeated.
However, since neither Baran Village nor Iskar Territory had the capability to handle high-level demons, it was safe to assume it was Rebecca's doing nine times out of ten.
'I should probably look into the situation.'
While it was something that could be ignored considering the grand plan, Rebecca's existence held more than ordinary meaning for Rudian.
Even though the sun had already set, Rudian got into the carriage without hesitation.
"To the Information Guild. As fast as possible."
"Yes, Master."
The coachman of the Belstad family bowed respectfully and began driving the horses.
Even while heading to the Information Guild, Rudian sighed and held his head as complex thoughts arose.
'Rebecca wouldn't have broken her promise voluntarily.'
She must have been forced by circumstances to awaken unavoidably.
But regardless of the reason, what mattered was that Rebecca had awakened her inherent blood, and because of that, her life—which he had so desperately wanted to prevent from going astray—had begun to seriously derail.
After all, wasn't the very trigger for her awakening due to the Diablo magic he possessed?
'How... Should I resolve this?'
Whatever the intention, though the direction might be wrong, Asmodeus had sufficiently succeeded in diverting Rudian's attention.
Rudian desperately pondered how he should act moving forward within limits that wouldn't affect his plans.
In such a situation.
Neighhhh!
Suddenly, due to an abrupt stop coinciding with the horse's cry, his body was thrown forward.
"Gasp!"
When the coachman's flustered voice came from the front, Rudian irritably shouted toward the front.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I'm sorry, Master. A crazy woman suddenly blocked the carriage's path..."
"What?"
No matter how much they had to slow down in the middle of the capital, if someone blocked a running carriage's path, an ordinary person would at minimum be seriously injured.
Especially if it was a woman, the possibility of instant death was very high.
"Master, I-I think you should come out and see."
"What's the matter?"
When the coachman, who he thought would just shout for someone to move aside, called him again, Rudian felt something was strange.
"That woman, something about her atmosphere is odd..."
Rudian frowned and opened the door to get out.
He was in a hurry to quickly check on Rebecca's safety, but some lunatic was blocking the way...
Blocking...
"......"
Rudian recognized the person who had blocked the carriage's path and opened his eyes wide.
Take back the word lunatic.
"Ru~di~an~!"
A voice that swayed as if drunk.
The familiar orange eyes and hair were nowhere to be seen, replaced by an ominous color like dark red blood.
'Rebecca,' with her cheeks full of flush, had somehow approached Rudian.
"I found you~!"
"Re, Rebecca? How are you here?"
A completely different atmosphere and completely different way of speaking from usual.
Even her appearance seemed slightly changed, but it was definitely Rebecca Bloodrain herself!
"I knew it, it really is Rudian~!"
Rebecca swayed as she approached Rudian and embraced him.
While he didn't know how to handle this sudden situation, Rebecca buried her face deep in Rudian's embrace and spoke.
"You know, I had such a hard time looking for Rudian."
"You... Did?"
"I missed you, missed you so much... I came all the way here without even resting... but no matter how much I searched, I couldn't find you..."
Rebecca's words gradually grew weak.
But Rudian broke out in a cold sweat as he inferred the latter part of what Rebecca hadn't said.
'Don't tell me she released the Demon Eater's power to find me?'
In the original work, the Demon Eater's ability to detect demon power was beyond common sense.
Comparing it to an animal's sense of smell would be insulting...
Looking at her current state, the possibility seemed very high.
"I'm so tired right now, you know? Seeing Rudian suddenly makes me feel relaxed..."
True to her words, Rebecca's dark red hair was gradually changing back to its original orange color.
Rudian barely managed to collect his emotions and gently stroked the back of Rebecca's head.
"Yes, you must be tired from the long journey... Rest well for now.
"Mm... I'll sleep a bit..."
With those words, Rebecca collapsed limply.
Rudian carried Rebecca as she was and laid her down inside the carriage.
Then he picked up what was presumably Rebecca's travel bag scattered in front and let out a deep sigh.
"Let's return to the mansion for now."
"Ah, understood, Master."
The coachman immediately bowed and took the reins again.
Rudian carefully lifted Rebecca's collapsed head onto his knee and quietly stroked her cheek.
'I never thought we'd reunite in such a way...'
Still, the emotion that dominated Rudian's heart the most was just one.
"I'm glad you're alive..."
Truly, he was relieved.
***
Instead of going to the Information Guild, Rudian returned to the mansion and carefully laid Rebecca's body on his bed.
"The village chief... Still, it seems he prepared well for the journey."
Rebecca's outward clothing condition was very good.
Even though he knew well that awakened Rebecca's mental state was very unstable, she was properly dressed in travel clothes, and her bag contained not only a small amount of cash but also travel preparations thoroughly equipped.
There was no way the mentally unstable Rebecca could have packed all this herself, so circumstantially, the village chief Marco and the auntie must have taken care of it.
'I've become indebted to the village chief again.'
However, perhaps due to the long journey, apart from her outward appearance, Rebecca's health condition wasn't very good.
"Master, at this level, rather than medical treatment, calling a priest would be..."
"Absolutely no priest. I don't care how much money it costs, just proceed as is."
Rudian glared and expressed his refusal.
A priest for her, a Demon Eater?
He'd rather cast Turn Undead on the dead.
Unless he was determined to ruin Rebecca's life, a priest was absolutely out of the question!
"Ah, understood."
He instructed them to spare no expense, whether it was elixirs or whatever.
When the unconscious Rebecca woke up, it was a day later, even after deploying nearly ten people for her care.
"Are you awake?"
"Yeah..."
When she woke up again, Rebecca had returned to her complete orange hair.
Realizing what she had done, she was avoiding eye contact while hugging the blanket and hiding her face.
Seeing Rebecca return to the appearance he knew, Rudian sighed in relief and said.
"This is my house, so don't think about anything else and rest well."
"Mm."
"When your strength recovers, let's talk again then."
He had to replan the details of the demon extermination plan that had been delayed for a day.
Though he felt sorry for her, this plan was something that the longer it was delayed, the greater the possibility of information leaks and the anxiety of allies, so it had to be finished as quickly as possible.
But Rudian couldn't leave his seat.
"Don't go."
"......"
"Stay with me."
Rebecca, who had grabbed the sleeve of the rising Rudian, muttered quietly in a voice as small as an ant crawling.
"...Alright."
Rudian sat down without hesitation.
If Rebecca wanted it, he should do so.
Thus, a strange silence continued between Rebecca lying down and Rudian watching over her.
Rebecca closed her mouth after that, and Rudian also quietly enjoyed the silence and spent time.
After some time had passed.
"Master, you have guests."
Jester, the head butler, announced someone's visit.
"Unless it's someone important, tell them to wait."
"Princess Luciella Delphione and Young Lady Maria Kepler."
"......?"
Why, those two people, at this time, at this moment, here?
CLICK!
But before Rudian could say anything, the door opened and the two people entered inside.
"I'm sorry, Lord Rudian. I wanted to apologize about matters related to my father, so I came here suddenly."
"...Rudian, I'm so tired. Just give me a cup of tea. I also bought snacks for Miss Yev to eat."
"Ah, no... W-wait."
How exactly did the situation have to get tangled for such an absurd thing to happen...
No matter how he thought about it, something seemed wrong...
As soon as that thought arose, a murderous voice was heard from behind Rudian.
"Rudian."
"Y-yes?"
"...Who are those women?"
Rebecca, who had suddenly sat up, was glaring at Luciella and Maria with fire in her eyes.