Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: A Miracle in Disguise
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"No way! Absolutely not!"
"What, have you lost your mind, wizard? That cursed undead needs to be burned right now!"
"But the research... I need to research it. Just ten days—no, three days, please."
Romari was bickering with the knights, tears streaming down her face.
"Impossible! Even if you're a wizard hired by Lord Eugene, some things are just not allowed. That wicked monster threatening the marquessate must be incinerated immediately."
"Right. As a wizard, surely you know the church forbids resurrecting dead monsters?"
"Could it be you're in league with that damned wizard?"
The knights' atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.
"Hey, lords. Did you just call Lord Romari a black mage?"
"Galpredic."
"Uh, that's not what we..."
As Galpredic stepped forward, the knights faltered.
Regardless of skill, he was Eugene's right-hand man—a figure none of the knights here could treat lightly.
"Me, a black mage!? I swear on my master and the name of magic—I do not serve evil mana!"
"He's right. Romari may be a bit scrawny, but as a wizard, he's flawless. I vouch for him, lords."
"Yes! Aside from my build, I have no issues... Wait, no!"
"Romari."
Romari, about to shout, spotted Eugene and wiped his tears, bounding over like a puppy.
"Lord Eugene, Lord Eugene! Could you please rein in these knights?"
"Because of the undead?"
"Yes, yes. It has such high research value. Burning something so precious! Please hand it over to me. I swear on the name of magic, I'll devote my body and soul..."
"That oath of yours—you'll hit a hundred if you keep it up a few more times."
"I-I mean it this time! I'm serious!"
Romari clasped his staff-holding hands tightly to his chest, eyes brimming with tears.
"So all the previous ones were lies?"
"No, not that. Sob sob..."
"Poor guy," as Mirian put it.
Romari, covered in dirt from rushing over, clothes and face smeared, looked utterly pitiful as he wept.
But Eugene wasn't one to waver at that. He quickly calculated in his head before speaking.
"Hmm. The monster disposal rights are mine, so. I'll think about it."
"Eek! Thank you! You'll be blessed, Lord Eugene!"
Turning from Romari, who grinned through snot and tears, Eugene approached the knights eyeing him unpleasantly.
"Lords. I'll handle that undead myself."
"Hmm! Lord, we have no right to block your authority. However, by royal and church law, undead must be burned away..."
"Lord, aren't you under Duke Gabriel?"
"...Yes."
The knight frowned—what did that have to do with this?
"As expected. Loving royal law so much tipped me off."
"......!"
Eugene's cold words made several knights flinch. They were all Gabriel's men.
It was an open secret that Gabriel sought a title from the royal family.
But he'd surrendered unconditionally to Essendra.
Mentioning the king or royal family now would hit the already cornered Gabriel even harder—it was obvious.
"H-Have mercy, but the church..."
"Who's responsible for the marquess being under house arrest? And where's the bishop who should take the blame?"
"......"
Realizing that with Essendra holding the marquessate, it was best not to mention the royal family or church, the knights fell silent.
Just then, Essendra and the nobles emerged belatedly.
"What's going on?"
"Duke! Perfect timing. That wizard..."
Like ducklings to their mother, the knights swarmed Essendra, tattling every detail.
"Those cowardly bastards."
"Hold on."
As Galpredic glared, Eugene held him back.
After hearing the full story from the knights, Essendra furrowed her brow.
"Hmm."
"Duke. The lords are right. Even so, that wicked beast must be burned at once, no?"
"I agree with Lord Daniel. Royal family and church aside, leaving it will unsettle the marquessate's people, won't it?"
"What will other peninsula domains and cities say if they learn? Dispose of it now."
The nobles, wary of Eugene—Essendra's true right-hand—seized the chance, crowding her and chattering.
"Hmm. You lords aren't wrong."
Essendra gazed at Eugene, looking troubled.
Leaving a twin-headed ogre undead—especially an evil one—would stir bad opinion.
The marquessate nobles aside, other domains or cities could make trouble, ruining the optics.
'What to do? Ah!'
A sudden idea flashed. Eugene calmly spoke.
"True, leaving such a beast is unsettling. But white cow or black cow, if it tastes good, that's what matters, right?"
"Huh...?"
The abrupt cow talk made everyone blink.
"In other words, though made undead by evil magic, how we use it changes everything."
"Lord, what do you mean?"
Essendra frowned.
After a brief internal struggle, Eugene raised his right hand to his chest, resolute.
"To be frank. What do you think allowed me to capture an undead monster said only holy knights can face?"
"......?"
Essendra and everyone tilted their heads.
Eugene slowly, reverently, traced the holy sign.
"One reason... God's grace."
"......!"
The sudden faith confession silenced all.
"So, how about dressing this—proof of God's blessing and miracle upon me—in priestly robes?"
"Ha..."
As Essendra looked incredulous, Eugene drove the wedge home.
"If the bishop returns, it'll be a perfect shield. A miracle without him— what can the church say?"
"Ah!"
"Oh..."
Essendra and the nobles startled, then gaped as if rehearsed.
"Wow, our lord's shamelessness is Demon King level."
'M-Mad! Even our progenitor never sold out God, I heard!'
The spirit and wizard gaped at the origin vampire tracing the holy sign.
* * *
"Unbelievable. Never thought I'd see an undead in a surcoat."
"But doesn't it suit him quite well?"
"I hate to admit it, but yes. It does. Absurd."
Essendra was confused.
A two-headed, four-armed ogre wore a holy symbol around its neck like a holy knight or paladin, plus a surcoat emblazoned with the church crest.
Not some rush job—the castle's sealers had embroidered it meticulously overnight, top quality. Its fit confused her more.
"It won't actually move, right?"
"No. Destroyed the magic core, so it won't. Just for display."
"Good. Even standing, it'll be effective."
Anyone seeing it would find it a spectacle.
Most superstitious folk would weep in awe of the miracle, praising Archbolt who'd wrought this impossibility.
'The noisy church won't utter a word. Ha, what a thing.'
Essendra eyed Eugene anew.
"Lord. I've never heard of such a thing, but you're truly mad."
"I'll take it as praise."
"Haha. Fair enough. Oh, really not coming along?"
"Yes. Time to return to my domain. Check internals, restart the silver mine properly—for your gain too, Duke."
Though Nadir Mountain silver mine was Eugene's, 30% profits went to the true owners, House Archbolt.
For land granted and recognized as lord by a great lord like Eugene, it was standard.
"Sure, but you handling internals? Hard to believe."
Eugene inwardly flinched at Essendra's point but replied impassively.
"My cousin manages it—quite capable."
"Hmm. Leaving domain to him? Trustworthy?"
"Yes. Trustworthy."
'Or die.'
Eugene eyed the prepared vassals and knights, continuing.
"And as I said, my presence would displease them. You've a chance to show loyalty and skill—why disappoint?"
"Oh? Considering others? Suspicious. Makes me want you more."
"Misunderstanding."
"Hahaha. Can't be helped. As you say, more merits would unsettle vassals. Such narrow minds. Ah, right."
Essendra clucked her tongue low, scanning around before raising her voice.
"Selena! Where's Selena!"
Servants scurried about, then a mid-height knight with short bobbed hair ambled over.
"You called, Duke."
"Aunt."
"...Yes, Aunt."
Eugene's eyes gleamed at the knight correcting her title reluctantly.
'This girl's the one...'
Selena Ferrin Archbolt, with delicate features and striking light green eyes, looked mature beyond her fifteen years—Essendra's niece.
"Greet Lord Eugene."
At Essendra's words, Selena glanced at Eugene.
"Pleased to meet you. Selena Ferrin Archbolt."
Dry tone. Mirian, draped on Eugene's shoulder, bristled.
"Kieek! What's that? Tiny mouse girl glaring at our lord? Ugly and rude!"
'Not ugly.'
With growing human beauty sense, Eugene deemed Selena decently pretty.
Not that it mattered to him.
"I'm Yan Eugene."
"......!"
Selena's eyes sharpened at the blunt informal address.
"As expected, too scrawny to make my squire."
"W-What?"
"Galpredic!"
Ignoring her, Eugene turned sharply.
"Called?"
Galpredic, chatting with Partek's group, lumbered over. Eugene pointed at Selena.
"You're her squire from today."
"Huh? Squire? Suddenly?"
Eyes wide.
"Duke Gabriel's daughter. Take her."
"Take care of my niece, Lord Galpredic."
With Essendra smiling too, Galpredic scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well, don't need a squire, but if you two insist... fine."
"......"
Selena, straight from great noble direct line to baggage, was speechless.
But sharp, she knew why these scheming(?) knights took her.
'For Father...'
From today, hostage—endure any humiliation. For Gabriel to live.
'But!'
Grinding teeth secretly, Selena lifted her chin.
"Selena Ferrin Archbolt. Galpredic, right? If I may, I'd like to test my future master's skill. Allow it?"
Androgynous look, deepened voice, but Galpredic clocked her as female and grinned.
"Want a bout now?"
"Glad my master-to-be is perceptive."
"Come at me. Counting down. Three, two..."
Talented, rigorously trained by castle knights since childhood, Selena drew her longsword fluidly despite surprise, stance ready.
"...One."
Shing! Clang! Thud!
"Gahk!"
Her longsword, smacked by his gauntlet, hadn't hit ground before Galpredic's burly hand gripped her nape. Under a second.
"Kek! Gack!"
Choking, she thrashed wildly. Their eyes met—her dangling like a statue.
"Know what my master did for squire punishments?"
"Ghk! Khrk!"
"Strip naked, spar with wooden swords. You know as knight-aspirant? Sword ignores gender, age, status. Harsher on weak."
"......!"
"Stare at me or Lord Eugene like that once more, and I'll parade you stripped a month. Swear on my honor."
Overwhelmed not by labored breath but Galpredic's bloodshot glare's menace, Selena fainted.
"H-Hey, Lord Galpredic. You won't really strip her?"
As her master now, Selena's fate was his; Essendra asked worriedly.
"Duke. How do you see me to say that..."
"Right? Phew."
"Galpredic's a man of his word."
"......"
Shouldering her fainted niece, Galpredic grinned. Essendra was convinced.
Not just Eugene—his most trusted knight was mad too.
(To be continued in the next episode)