Chapter 272: If I Had Known It Would Be Like This
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 272: If I Had Known It Would Be Like This
“It certainly wasn't this bad until a year ago.”
Among the knights of the Spanya family, Roden was the longest-serving Knight Commander.
It was Roden who had advised the family head to take a new wife after the passing of his first, as the lord had been unable to overcome his loneliness and grief. Their bond was deep; Roden had even been the one to teach the lord swordsmanship.
“The concubine, Madam Misiri Spanya, was a person with no great greed for wealth or power. At least… that was the case until two years ago.”
For some reason, it was as if she had become a different person starting two years ago. Roden testified that while her outward behavior hadn't changed, those around her began to feel as if they were being turned into her hands and feet, one by one.
“There are two other young knights in the Spanya family whom I trained myself. I took pride in raising them to be fine knights, but before I knew it, they had become subordinates who followed only the concubine’s orders…”
“I see.”
Since then, as the family head’s health declined, the power structure shifted decisively toward Misiri Spanya. Even the maids and the head maid within the Lord’s Castle became people who listened only to her commands.
“She’s a terrifying woman! To think she hid her true nature for eighteen years!”
“Hmm.”
According to Rubia, she had hidden her true colors for eighteen years, only to suddenly reveal them once her son turned sixteen.
Could someone really be that meticulous?
If there had been no signs of magical intervention, I might have thought so too. But looking at the state of the estate, I wondered if Misiri Spanya had truly planned all of this.
Making the family head bedridden with poison and turning the people inside the castle to her side one by one to seize the estate?
And her ultimate goal was to pass the position of family head to her son, hiding her nature for eighteen long years to achieve it?
“Let’s go meet her. Misiri Spanya.”
“A-Aven! Are you sure you’ll be alright…?”
“About what?”
Rubica, who had been listening silently beside us, looked at me with concern.
“There are two excellent knights who inherited Sir Roden’s swordsmanship. The head maid is someone with exceptional magical knowledge, having once been an active mage. Even if Rubia can hold her own…”
Rubia, who was blinking at Rubica’s face beside me, tilted her head and looked at her older sister.
“Sister, when was the last time you saw Aven?”
“About two months ago…? Why do you ask, Rubia?”
“Ahaha! Never mind. Just leave it to Aven.”
“But Rubia, if something happens because we brought in an outsider…”
“Right now, even a hundred million of me couldn't beat Aven.”
“What does that…?”
A hundred million Rubias? That would be tough even for me. I’d feel a bit guilty about killing a hundred million people. Not that I lack the ability, though.
“Aven, what on earth happened to you…? No, come to think of it, that knight from earlier…”
Rubica recalled what had just happened in the basement of the Lord’s Castle. The massive knight clad in pitch-black full-body armor made of an unidentified material.
“Do you have an accomplice…?”
The Mute skill is occasionally seen in the Labyrinth City. There’s a form of sign language used there that’s easy to learn and specialized for labyrinth raids and cooperative combat.
“Ehehe, just watch, Sister. Aven! I’m counting on you!”
“Well, let’s start by bringing Misiri Spanya here.”
Knight Roden seemed to contemplate for a moment, stroking his chin, before voicing his concern.
“The concubine may have used poison on the Lord. He is not the type of person whose health would deteriorate so suddenly. If you happen to find anything that looks like an antidote, could you bring it back?”
“Poison? Hmm.”
It probably wasn't poison. Stonen Spanya, the current head of the Spanya family, had been eroded by foul mana and turned into a monster that eats people.
Thinking about it that way, bringing Misiri Spanya to the private houses right now might cause problems.
It would be better to go there directly. I couldn't risk the mana harming the commoners in the village.
“It’s better to go inside the Lord’s Castle. We don't want to cause unnecessary chaos among the people.”
“I’m coming with you, Aven.”
Rubica grabbed my hand as I tried to step forward. Her golden eyes seemed to smolder.
“That was some delicious meat. In my current state, I should be able to provide meaningful help.”
“Ah, right.”
Having a guide would be convenient.
* * *
Thud…
A thick purple mist settled inside the Lord’s Castle. It was a mixture of Queen Arachne’s paralysis poison and Poison Mushroom spores.
“It won't affect you, Rubica. You don't need to hold your breath.”
“H-How is that possible…?”
“Because I designed it that way.”
The mist is absorbed into the body through the respiratory system, and for an average person, it has the effect of paralyzing their limbs and rendering them immobile.
“Who are you?”
“Honestly, for a knight…”
The mist had no effect on the knights patrolling the castle, but that wasn't a major issue. At best, they were only at the level of a Sword Expert.
Swish!
“Aven! Dodge!”
Clang—!!
“What the…. Gah!”
The sword they swung failed to cut through the skin of my neck; instead, it snapped in half with a sharp metallic ring.
“A-Aven…?”
Rubica, watching from the side, stared at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
“Hmm.”
It certainly didn't seem like Misiri Spanya had won these knights over through normal persuasion.
They’re brainwashed. I can smell the mana.
It was a bit unpleasant, but there was a definitive way to break the spell.
Squirm…!
After momentarily engulfing the nameless knight’s body, I purified the eerie mana unique to necro-type monsters that had dissolved into his system. Then, I spat him back out.
Flop!
“U-Ugh… What on earth happened…?”
“Are you back to your senses?”
“Y-You…! Who are you?! Wait, Lady Rubica?!”
“Multen. Are you alright?”
Fortunately, Knight Multen had regained his senses. The overwhelming difference in mana quantity made it relatively simple.
“I’ve come at the request of the eldest son.”
“The eldest son… Master Rivier’s request…?”
The knight looked confused and seemed unfit to accompany us. His limbs were weak, and since I had just swallowed and spat him out, he was completely unarmed.
It takes ages for knights to put their armor back on, so I simply got Misiri Spanya’s location from him.
“The Madam is in her room.”
“The third room on the fourth floor?”
Misiri Spanya was using the third room, leaving the second room—which had belonged to the first wife—vacant. Given the circumstances, the family head was likely in the room at the very end.
She doesn't seem like a particularly difficult opponent.
I could sense mana, but it wasn't exactly a formidable presence. However, perhaps sensing my existence, a very ominous aura was swirling around.
“Father must be over there. I’ll go check on his condition.”
“No, Rubica. It’s dangerous right now.”
“Dangerous? What do you mean?”
How was I supposed to explain this? I didn't want to tell Rubica that her father had become a monster. I wanted to resolve this without the Spanya sisters finding out if possible.
“If I were you, Rubica, the first thing I’d want to see is the family head’s face. They might have set a trap anticipating exactly that.”
“I-Is that so…?”
Rubica thought it over and nodded, as if finding logic in my words.
“True. It would be better to secure Misiri Spanya first before going to see Father.”
Fortunately, Rubica followed my lead, so I postponed checking on Stonen Spanya. He might have become a monster, but he was staying quiet for now.
Securing Misiri Spanya was the priority.
Click…
Just as I reached for the doorknob of the third room.
BOOM!!
With a tremendous roar, the wooden door was smashed to pieces, and the family head, Stonen Spanya, burst out from the room at the very end.
Skreeeeech…!
“Don't touch my wife…!!”
“F-Father…!!”
“Ho.”
With blood smeared all over his mouth and hands, Stonen Spanya held a longsword in one hand and someone’s severed arm in the other.
His thrust was fast and precise, but it wasn't powerful enough to deal any meaningful damage to me.
“I thought Father was bedridden…?! What is that in your hand! Father—!!”
“Rubica, your father isn't in his right mind. I’m going to use some rough measures, is that alright?”
“U-Uh, okay…!”
While Rubica was stammering, I moved first.
Grip…!
“Right, you’re a victim too. I hope you snap out of it easily.”
Chomp!
A massive mouth slammed shut with a loud thud. After Stonen Spanya was consumed by the Megido Serpent’s maw, he was spat back out onto the floor, the dark magic dispelled.
Thump!
The old man’s body is intact.
Aside from the human flesh in his stomach, there were no other physical changes. I had wondered if he had become a ghoul or an undead, but it seemed he had simply been brainwashed to crave human flesh through magic.
Still, because the brainwashing magic was deep, he was unconscious. I hadn't wanted Rubica to see him like that, but it couldn't be helped.
“Rubica. Please move your father to his room. There will be a corpse inside, so don't be startled.”
“…Understood. Aven, you’ve truly become strong.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
Click.
The door to Misiri Spanya’s room was locked. Naturally, she’d be scared after such a loud noise in the hallway. But a mere wooden door was easy enough to cut through.
Slice…!
The doorknob was carved out in a perfect square, followed by the creaking of hinges as the door began to open.
Creeeeak…
“Misiri Spanya.”
“H-Hieeeek…!”
I wasn't in the mood to be kind enough to interrogate her. I’d just search her brain directly for the answers.
“N-No…! Don't come near me…! Stay away—!!!”
* * *
“B-Brother?!”
“Rivier.”
We were at Rivier’s detached villa on the outskirts, set up to avoid exposure to the necromantic mana.
“W-What happened…?! My mother…!!”
“Yeah.”
I shouldn't have phrased it like that.
“You certainly have a wonderful mother.”
“Pardon…?”
If I had known it would be like this, I would have settled it with a conversation. Hmm.