Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Rayhem Dukedom (1)
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Rayhem Dukedom was a territory boasting considerable scale even within the Cabensier Empire.
The land of Duke Rayhem, the emperor's most trusted retainer and a man of exceptional magical ability.
Naturally, the city of Verdil, which played a central role in that domain, was one of the greatest metropolises not only in the Cabensier Empire but across the entire continent.
They called it the city of revelry, Verdil—a premier cultural tourist destination on the continent. Its city gates were heavily guarded, but Isabel and I were exceptions.
"The symbol of the Sun Church, I see. His Excellency the Duke has already given us word."
Presenting our emblem at the gate immediately brought the guard captain into view. The middle-aged man took our identification and saluted us courteously.
"Confirmed. Lady Isabel Sedent and Evan Lane. This way, please."
The missions assigned to priests by the Church varied widely, but the task I had been given this time was one personally requested by Duke Rayhem.
According to Isabel's briefing the day before, there were suspicions that an underworld organization in the slums on the city's outskirts was involved with black magic.
By principle, black magic—all acts related to the demonic realm and demons—was deemed heresy and required mandatory reporting to the Sun Church under imperial law.
Thus, it wasn't particularly strange for Duke Rayhem to request support before handling it on his own.
'If that were really all...'
Having heard certain details from Isabel in advance, I cautiously extended my senses.
For now, following the man's guidance to the city center proceeded without incident.
The city was certainly far more bustling and lively than the main temple headquarters, but it wasn't anything particularly wondrous.
Perhaps because I hadn't yet wandered through the red-light district, casino, and auction house areas that had earned the city its name of revelry.
In any case, up to this point, it was just another thriving imperial metropolis...
"Here we are."
"Mm."
At the man's words, I stopped scanning the surroundings broadly and looked ahead.
In the heart of the city, a stark fortress loomed beyond the iron bars.
The man bowed at a perfect ninety degrees, signaling the end of his duty, and withdrew. Immediately after, the gates parted to either side as if waiting.
Kiiieeeek...
There was no further guidance, but it was clear they expected us to enter on our own.
I narrowed my eyes and asked,
"This some kind of provocation?"
"Evan, it's not good that you always jump to conclusions like that."
Isabel scolded me like a teacher, but her expression wasn't pleasant either.
She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as she placed a hand on the bars.
"...The reception is odd, that's for sure. Hard to see it as having no ulterior motive."
"You think so too, Isabel?"
"Still, we can't just treat them as outright enemies. Shall we go in?"
Isabel gestured toward the interior of the lord's castle, and I nodded. A petty power play like this wouldn't reveal their true intentions.
As she said, we'd have to meet them face-to-face and talk to get any real sense.
Bang!!
The moment we passed through the bars, the entrance behind us slammed shut violently.
"......"
"......"
Isabel and I exchanged awkward glances. In a horror flick, this would scream "trapped," but...
There were no magical wards or anything; it was just shabby iron bars and a door we could smash through if needed.
Ignoring it, we opened the main doors and proceeded inward.
Stepping into the lord's castle, a vast lobby, central staircase, and a chilling atmosphere contrasting the ornate lighting welcomed us.
Not a single servant in sight. Yet my senses clearly picked up presences inside.
"Hah."
At this point, there was no room for doubt. Duke Rayhem, what a sleazy old coot.
I let out a hollow chuckle and glanced at Isabel. She said nothing, but a vein throbbed on her forehead in an angry cross.
'She's pissed.'
I cleared my throat as quietly as possible. Being snubbed by nobles was routine for me, but not for her.
Isabel, as the eldest daughter of House Sedent, shouldn't be treated this way even by Duke Rayhem.
I didn't know what gave him such confidence, but the implications of this setup were crystal clear.
Isabel strode forward purposefully, and I followed up the central stairs. Without wandering, we headed straight to the top floor.
In other words, directly to the lord of this castle who was steadily asserting his dominance.
Bam! Before anyone could stop her, Isabel flung open the office door, the handle crunching pitifully with the force.
"Ah, you've arrived."
"......"
Yet the office's occupant remained utterly composed. An elderly man with a monocle over one eye turned from an unidentified tome.
Duke Dietrich Aulos Rayhem. Former chief imperial mage and ruler of this domain.
His hair was white as snow, but the sharp gaze between wrinkled lids was as unyielding as a fortress wall. He had the air of an ancient tree.
'Strong.'
His presence felt anything but frail. As a mage, he might be at the peak of human limits.
"......"
I gauged his realm with narrowed eyes, reining in my aura.
No need to let him know I was sizing him up.
Besides, it wasn't my place to take the lead here.
"...Ha."
Isabel broke the silence first with a scoff. She roughly swept back her golden hair and spat her words.
"Duke Rayhem, you've pulled off quite the childish stunt. Do you find this amusing?"
"What on earth are you talking about? Childish stunt?"
"......"
His shameless denial left Isabel speechless, her face twisting in fury.
I stood behind her, equally dumbfounded...
"In any case, I thank you for coming to resolve this unsavory incident in my domain, Lady Isabel Sedent. Even if it means being used for your evaluation trial."
The duke continued undeterred by our obvious irritation.
The faint smile on his lips was somehow uncomfortable to behold for long.
"It's late today, so why not rest here in my castle and start tomorrow? Street thugs from the back alleys aren't so urgent that you need to rush. Right?"
"......"
Isabel didn't reply. She just glared coldly with a crumpled expression.
It was oddly striking how such a youthful face—younger-looking than Eliya's—could twist into something so fierce.
While inwardly admiring it, I mulled over the duke's words.
'Not so urgent that you need to rush.'
What an ambiguous statement. If it were truly just lowlifes dabbling in crude black magic, it wouldn't be wrong—but...
Then I wouldn't be here. More precisely, Isabel wouldn't.
They'd have sent some mid-tier candidate and supervisor instead. For the higher-ups to deploy a Special Inquisitor meant there was purpose behind it.
In short, the Church hadn't taken this request because of the duke's plea.
It was a dispatch to uncover what he was hiding.
And Isabel knew that better than I did.
"Hoo..."
Thus, despite his blatant provocation, she composed herself.
A faint golden aura rippled over her shoulders, and her eyes regained their calm.
"...Apologies, Duke Rayhem."
The now-serene Isabel looked up at him coolly and countered,
"Once suspicions of black magic arise, this matter falls under Church jurisdiction. Naturally, we'll handle it at our discretion."
A formal visit to the lord's castle, but no intention of following orders.
The duke's eyebrow twitched once.
"...Hmm, is that so? If you're set on it, I have no reason to object."
"Then we'll have to decline your gracious offer. We'll find our own lodging, so no need to worry. Can't be hard to snag a room in a city this big."
"......"
This time, the duke fell silent. He merely picked up his book again, and Isabel asked nonchalantly,
"May we take our leave, Duke?"
"...As you wish."
The duke nodded. Leaving the old man who no longer glanced our way, Isabel grabbed my wrist and spun around.
We exited the duke's office and left the castle without hesitation. Fortunately, the iron doors opened automatically without resistance.
"...You okay, Isabel?"
"I'm fine."
As we crossed the main street, I asked, and she replied. She said she was fine, but her cold expression told otherwise.
She shot a disgusted glance at the castle's peak.
"I don't know how deep that old man's involved, but it's clear calling us here was a smokescreen. At this point, I'm even questioning if there's really trouble in the slums."
"...You said suspicious signs were already spotted in Verdil before the duke's request."
"Yes. And none of them tied to the slums. Rather..."
Mindful of possible eyes, she trailed off, but her golden eyes—sharp even in the late evening—shifted to one side.
The city's east side. Where the revelry district lay, encompassing red-light areas, casinos, and auction houses.
Toying silently with her lips, Isabel turned to me with a quiet sigh.
"...Anyway, let's find a place to crash tonight. City this big, inns shouldn't be hard to come by."
"Ah, sure."
I nodded readily. Slums or revelry district, we needed a base to probe the city's oddities.
Choosing outside lodging for our extended stay here was probably wise.
Personally, the duke's offer had rubbed me the wrong way too.
'But why provoke us so openly? If smokescreen was the goal, he'd avoid drawing unnecessary suspicion from the Church.'
Mulling that nagging point, I searched for a long-term inn with Isabel.
As a sprawling tourist city, inns dotted Verdil everywhere.
I figured any building would have two rooms available easily.
It took less than two hours to realize I was wrong.
"Sorry, all single rooms are booked for tonight... Only one room left. Would that work?"
"......"
Ninth time already. Same response. Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I pictured that damned old man's face in my mind.
Different buildings, yet the lobby staff recited the exact same lines, down to the punctuation...
Only one person in this city could orchestrate such a petty prank on this scale.
How could a duke stoop so low?
I sighed softly and glanced anxiously beside me.
"...That madman Duke Rayhem. Pulling this childish, sleazy crap..."
Sure enough, Isabel—rarely one for crude language—had already summoned her crescent blade and gripped it like she meant to shatter it.
The lobby clerk noticed a beat late and yelped in terror. Sweating bullets, I had to restrain her.
"C-Calm down, Isabel. Getting mad now won't change anything."
"...I'll go check if that thick skull holds up the same under a smash. Let go, Evan. I'm warning you, don't— Ah."
"Come on, Isabel, please."
Pinning her arms under mine from behind made for a weird picture.
Isabel was petite like Eliya, appearing quite fragile and not quite adult-like at first glance.
And this wasn't the Hespania Mountains, where her face was known.
If this were my past life, I'd probably get reported at the motel counter for being with a minor and end up in a holding cell...
The thought oddly saddened me, but I managed to calm her down somehow.
She clenched her fists, face bubbling with rage. I wondered idly if her flushed forehead would feel hot to the touch.
"Hoo."
Isabel blew her bangs up. A bit calmer now, but after nearly two hours circling for a room, exhaustion darkened her eyes as she pressed them.
She spoke firmly.
"Anyway, let's find another option. A man and woman sharing a cramped single? Absolutely not. Especially when he's a guy with a fiancée."
*****
We went in.