Chapter 655
Chapter 655
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 655
Chapter Title: 655. Reborn in the Count's Family as the Plum Blossom Sword Guard
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We had crossed the border into the Balt Kingdom.
The border wasn't under complete surveillance, so it had been relatively easy. The moment we entered the Balt Kingdom, we scaled down our group and disguised ourselves as merchants.
This was a sensitive time right before war. If my identity got exposed, it could become the spark that ignited the whole conflict, so caution was essential.
'Mirror Tunnel really comes in handy.'
Using Mirror Tunnel, I could send Hereisa and the maids back and forth as needed.
We reduced the size of our group.
Two carriages now. One carried me and the maids. The other was a cargo wagon stuffed with goods to sell the merchant disguise. Jardin and Berol were hiding inside it. Berol had purged the poison from his system a few days ago, but he still hadn't fully recovered. As a loyal knight, he had no idea his fellow knights had been slaughtered by Jardin.
I'd sent my entire Gold Rose Knight Order back to the territory, save for five members. Those five—including Floyd—were now masquerading as mercenaries. They'd shed their gleaming plate armor for the rugged leather gear typical of sellswords.
"Having to play mercenary... I don't like this mission one bit."
Floyd grumbled under his breath. That was the extent of it.
The maids and I dressed the part of merchants. It wasn't anything fancy—just commoner clothes with a touch more flair.
The carriages headed straight for Nellooman territory, and we arrived without a single incident.
Jardin, who had been hiding in the cargo wagon, stepped out boldly now. Thanks to him, gaining entry to the Nellooman viscount's estate was a breeze. But things didn't unfold quite as smoothly as I'd hoped.
Viscount Nellooman lay bedridden, stricken with illness. His face was ashen black, his body twitching like an epileptic's. Blue spots mottled his skin.
"Nellooman! What in the world happened to you...! Nellooman...!"
Jardin staggered toward him before collapsing to the floor with a thud. It didn't look like his legs had simply given out—something felt off.
'This bastard... he's watching me. Putting on a show.'
The reason he wasn't approaching his cousin? Probably fear of catching whatever it was.
"Jer... din..."
Nellooman's cracked, blackened lips twitched. The voice that leaked out was barely a whisper.
"Nellooman!"
Jardin shot to his feet and closed in on the bed. He didn't take the man's hand, though.
"Jerdin... help.... Help me... Jerdin..."
"Help? What do you need from me? Nellooman?!"
"......The butler.... The butler..."
With that, Nellooman closed his eyes. He wasn't dead—just asleep.
Right then, a middle-aged butler strode up to Jardin.
"The lord has fallen asleep. He likely won't wake until tomorrow. Allow me to show you to the reception room."
Bilmad, head butler of the Nellooman viscount's household. We followed him into the reception room.
"......Butler. What happened to Nellooman? Tell me everything. These symptoms... they're exactly like Father's condition."
"The lord has been cursed."
The butler let out a deep sigh. Jardin's face twisted in horror.
"Not an illness—a curse...?!"
His eyes shook, unable to hide the turmoil. Nellooman's symptoms matched his father's perfectly—which meant Jardin's father had been cursed too.
"Is that certain, butler?!"
"Yes. It's the verdict of the mages from the Magic Tower we summoned for treatment. A high-rank mage was among them."
"A curse... By the gods, who...? No, it has to be that woman. Diona...!"
Jardin's body trembled as he spoke. It looked like rage at a glance, but he couldn't fool my eyes. He was afraid.
"Butler.... Nellooman begged me for help. But I know nothing about curses. What could I possibly do?"
"The mages shared a way to break it before they left."
"......What way?"
"Deep in the Hasreng Mountains. White leaves that cleanse impurities. They said those could lift the curse."
"If you know the method, why is Nellooman still lying there?"
Jardin's voice was sharp with irritation. He was snapping at the butler right in front of him. The butler's face darkened as he replied.
"The mages grew terrified and washed their hands of it. The curse's power exceeded their understanding by far. Not even a billion ner could make them stay."
"Damn cowards. Mages have always put their own hides first."
"...We hired adventurers and mercenaries to go into the Hasreng Mountains, but there's been no word in over ten days. We're trying to hire more, but the rumors have spread—no one's taking the job."
"......What about the soldiers? No knights or troops?"
"We need them to defend the territory. The continental situation has shifted dramatically of late, and security is crumbling. We can't spare any knights or soldiers."
"......So when Nellooman asked for my help... he meant for me to go into the Hasreng Mountains myself and fetch those white leaves."
"I know it's presumptuous. But you're our only hope, Jerdin-nim. Please, save our lord."
Jardin sighed.
He'd come seeking aid, only to end up the one giving it. Ignoring the request wasn't an option—not when he desperately needed Nellooman's support right now.
Jardin couldn't make the call. He wasn't in a position to. He glanced quietly my way before speaking to the butler.
"Butler. I need time to think. Step out for a moment."
"Yes. I'll wait outside. Call for me once you've decided."
The butler left. I lounged back in a chair with deliberate arrogance. Jardin, having spent enough time around me, couldn't bring himself to meet my gaze.
"Yuria. Could you break that curse?"
"Not right now."
I was genuinely surprised—I knew Yuria's capabilities all too well. She was an archmage, one of the continent's finest. I hadn't expected a flat no from her.
"It's unlike any curse I'm familiar with. To fully analyze and dispel it, I'd need at least a week of research."
"Unlike the others? It's not a magic curse?"
"There were no traces of magic."
Meaning it hadn't been conjured through spellwork. That was baffling. Could curses even be cast without magic in this world?
I pondered briefly, then it clicked.
'An ancient relic could do it.'
That single phrase explained everything. The ultimate catch-all.
'Two choices: have Yuria study the curse, or head into the Hasreng Mountains for the white leaves.'
A question nagged at me.
"Do these white leaves actually exist?"
"It sounds like Elst leaves."
"Those are a thing?"
"Leaves that absorb moonlight. They cleanse impurities—highly effective against curses."
So they were real.
'What a pain. Should I just blow off Nellooman and head for the Hisfield Pass?'
Jardin caught my eye. For him to claim the family headship successfully, Nellooman's backing would be ideal. Without any support base, the Hisfield family might shun him outright.
'If we scour the Hasreng and come up empty, ditch Nellooman and make for the pass. We'll have to pass those mountains anyway.'
The Hasreng Mountains lay to the left of the Hisfield Pass.
"We'll hunt for those white leaves first."
I had elixirs that could cure status ailments, but wasting one on Viscount Nellooman felt criminal.
???
We trekked through the mountains. The trees were too dense for carriages—we had to go on foot. It wasn't taxing. My body was hardly frail enough to struggle with this.
Whenever monsters appeared, Floyd handled them effortlessly. Nothing in the Hasreng Mountains could stand against a top-tier Aura Expert like her.
"Huff. Pant.... Huff!"
Jardin was gasping for air. Berol was supporting him as they hiked. I offered no such courtesy. Without Berol, he'd have fallen behind long ago.
'Useless trash.'
We followed Yuria's lead. She navigated toward spots where moonlight poured down.
"Found it."
And so, after about twelve hours, we located a pristine white leaf.
It dangled precariously from a small twig, ethereal in appearance. It felt harder than an ordinary leaf when I touched it, radiating a pure, cleansing aura.
"Easier than I expected. Let's grab one more and head back."
The extra was for Jardin's father, Count Hisfield. We found another two hours later.
"Now, let's go."
On the way out, someone blocked our path.
A figure cloaked in pitch-black robes.
Yet I tilted my head in confusion. No presence at all, even though it was right there. I focused mana in my eyes and peered into the robe. Something shadowy writhed within.
"Floyd."
"On it."
Floyd drew her sword and charged. Her blade merely cleaved an innocent tree—the enemy had rocketed into the sky.
"Not yet."
Floyd swung again. A slash of sword aura hurtled toward it. The foe swam through the air like it was mocking her, dodging every attack.
It evaded even her ranged strikes. No ordinary opponent.
'Can you dodge this? Lightning.'
A bolt crashed down. It slipped past that too and dove straight for me.
"Intruders. Writhe in agony and die."
A chilling voice accompanied its instantaneous appearance before me. Yuria moved in the same instant. Refined black aura from her dagger sliced through the enemy's form. Black smoke billowed from the rent robe, enveloping my body.
"Master!"
Yuria reached for me. I raised a hand to stop her. Better I take the hit than drag her in. I had Complete Recovery, after all.
"Kuhuhuhuhu."
The black smoke seeped into my body and vanished.
My head spun. An unpleasant sensation. Then I realized what it was.
'Impure mana. I thought it was a ghost-type monster at first... but it's a demon.'
My body shuddered uncontrollably. Chills wracked me without end. Glancing at the back of my hand, blue spots had erupted like hives.
Identical to Viscount Nellooman's symptoms.
'Cursed. No magic traces, huh... It's a curse infused with demonic power.'
Strength drained from my limbs. Mana let me resist somewhat, but in time, the curse would gnaw away at my mind and stamina.
"Su-Suzerain! Are you alright?!"
"Baron! Your color's awful! And those symptoms... n-no, don't tell me you're cursed...!"
Floyd and Jardin rushed up, making a fuss.
"I'm fine. Calm down. Jardin. Didn't I tell you not to crowd me last time?"
"Eek! S-Sorry!"
Jardin recoiled. Floyd touched my body. I had no issue with that.
I turned my head to look at Yuria. She was unnaturally quiet. Normally, she'd have checked on me before Floyd.
Yuria was shaken. Her blue eyes wavered. Her lips pressed tight with tension, her dagger hand trembling.
'......Angry?'
Having spent so much time together, I knew her well. She was furious right now. Not at me—at herself, at the demon. For failing to protect me.
'Yuria knows about my Complete Recovery skill.'
Logically, she had no reason to rage. She was the type to bury her emotions deep. Yet here she was, failing to hide it.
It put me in a good mood. She was this furious because of me.
I smiled faintly, draped an arm around her shoulders, and drew my face close to hers. I could hear her breathing.
"Yuria. Are you angry?"