Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Cleanup (2)
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Demian returned to the duke's residence with the knights.
Upon arrival, he immediately met with the duke alongside Sebastian Vincenzo.
The two explained in detail everything that had happened.
“...To think that mere black mages would dare pull off something like that?”
The duke's face flushed red with anger.
“Sir Sebastian, I am truly grateful that you protected the knights without regard for your own life.”
The duke grasped Sebastian's hand tightly as he spoke. Sebastian was so moved he didn't know what to do.
“No, it was nothing more than what I should have done.”
“How many people fail to do even that much?”
The duke showered Sebastian with praise. It seemed like all the mistakes from the duel with the marquis family had been erased in one go.
“I cannot help but be grateful to you as well, Sir Demian. Thanks to you, I have saved face.”
Had they not only been attacked by black mages but also lost knights in the process, the duke's household would have lost all prestige.
But thanks to Demian, not only had the knights been protected, but the ferocious beasts had been slain as well.
For the duke, it was a stroke of immense luck.
“Sir Demian, would you mind staying at the duke's residence for a while longer? The Church may step in to thoroughly investigate this incident.”
The duke said with an apologetic expression.
Even for a duke, dealing with the Church required caution.
The duke's family was already deeply entangled with black magic due to Chelsea Goldpixie.
Though they were victims, if luck was not on their side, the entire house could face heresy trials.
“You're the only one who directly confronted the black mages. I know it's a hassle, but please handle the Church.”
“Well, I suppose I can do that.”
In truth, Demian wanted to return home immediately.
But this incident allowed him to incur another debt with the duke. It was worth the time investment.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you!”
And so, Demian once again became a guest of the duke's house.
The Church did not come straight to Demian Haksen.
They dispatched investigators to meticulously examine the battlefield before finally coming to meet him.
It was two days later that Demian Haksen met the inquisitor face-to-face.
“...Huh?”
He was greatly surprised the moment he saw the inquisitor's face.
It was a face he knew well.
“Sir Demian Haksen, it's been a while.”
Agnes.
The great disciple of Cyan and the holy knight he had become acquainted with during the Black Snake incident stood before him.
“Agnes, what brings you here? Didn't you say you were heading to Church headquarters?”
“I volunteered after hearing about you and the duke's residence.”
As always, Agnes's expression was extremely stiff.
But her eyes were filled with joy.
“Please, have a seat and let's talk.”
Agnes offered Demian a chair and even poured him tea herself.
For a private meeting with the notoriously ruthless inquisitor, the atmosphere was remarkably warm.
“It seems you have quite the deep connection with black mages, Sir Demian Haksen.”
Demian gave a subtle smile at Agnes's jest.
As she said, it was an incredibly persistent connection. Utterly exhausting.
“Did you happen to learn their affiliation before killing the black mages?”
“I didn't hear that much. Given their lackluster skills, they were probably unaffiliated.”
Demian concealed that the black mages he killed belonged to Yulan.
Revealing too much information could expose that those two were Yulan's captain and vice-captain.
With Demian's publicly known level of skill, he couldn't have beaten them.
“I see...”
A hint of regret flashed across Agnes's face.
“You seem disappointed.”
“Ah, was it that obvious?”
Agnes let out a short sigh as she spoke.
“In truth, I have been pursuing Yulan. More precisely, a certain black mage affiliated with them.”
“May I ask who that is?”
Agnes nodded at Demian's question.
“The black mage known as Corpseplay.”
Demian's eyes widened slightly. Agnes gave a wry smile upon seeing his reaction.
“So you do know of them. Of course you would. A horrific murderer who massacred thousands.”
Corpseplay.
No one knew their real name. The bizarre moniker "Corpseplay" became known through a certain incident.
One day, a noble's territory turned into an undead den overnight.
While the knights were purging the undead in the village, they came upon a shocking scene in the village center.
In the village square, the words "Corpseplay" were scrawled large using the villagers' corpses and entrails.
He had slaughtered the entire territory's people just to advertise his name.
But the reason Demian was shocked was not Corpseplay's past.
Corpseplay Delant.
In the distant future, a figure who earned Archlich Dorgo's trust and rose to legion commander.
With Dorgo's support, Delant grew into a grand black mage, commanding an undead legion numbering over several hundred thousand.
And he brutally massacred humans numbering more than ten times that legion.
“If you ever learn anything about Corpseplay... please tell me.”
Agnes's eyes burned with hatred as she said this.
* * *
The interrogation was brief.
Once finished, Agnes let Demian go.
After Demian left, one holy knight entered the interrogation room.
“Lady Agnes, do you truly believe that man's words?”
“What a strange question.”
The holy knight looked frustrated at Agnes's response.
“There are too many suspicious points to simply take that man's word at face value.”
The holy knight still vividly remembered the shock from first arriving at the scene.
The forest was utterly devastated.
It was evidence of advanced black magic that low-tier black mages couldn't even dream of.
And a low-class adventurer killed the black mage who used such magic?
Without a single scratch?
It was impossible.
“Have you forgotten that black mages are devil-spawn who use bizarre methods to wield black magic beyond their level?”
“Even so, there are limits. There has never been a case of a low-tier black mage unleashing magic of that power.”
“Just as we advance, don't they as well? That's why the Church remains vigilant against black mages.”
The holy knight spoke as if exasperated by Agnes's words.
“I heard that man killed Yulan executives too. But Lady Agnes, have you forgotten the inquisitor's motto?”
Doubt endlessly, verify continually.
Deception sprouts suddenly like weeds.
“I haven't forgotten.”
“Then why do you so readily believe that man's words?”
“I'll ask you in turn. Did you sense any black mana in the forest?”
When a powerful black mage dies, black mana lingers in the area.
This black mana causes various issues, so it must be purified.
But in the forest where the black mages died this time, not a trace of black mana lingered.
“It's proof that the black mages he faced were as incompetent as Demian Haksen claimed.”
“But...”
“Above all, the reason I believe Sir Demian is simple: his strength.”
The holy knight before her was, compared to a regular knight, only at the low-class level.
Thus, he couldn't recognize Demian Haksen's strength.
But Agnes was different. The moment she saw Demian Haksen, she immediately realized how much stronger he had become.
Pure mana that could be felt even from a distance.
Killing intent refined and flowing through his entire body.
In just over a month, Demian Haksen had grown unrecognizably strong.
“I guarantee Demian Haksen's innocence.”
With Agnes saying that, the holy knight could no longer argue.
* * *
After his private meeting with Agnes, Demian prepared to return home.
This time, the duke personally stepped in to help.
“Is this really all you need?”
The duke asked Demian with a face that couldn't quite believe it.
Currently, five large wagons were lined up outside the outer castle.
The wagons were loaded to the brim with all sorts of goods.
All gifts Demian had prepared for his family.
“This is more than enough.”
Not only had the duke purchased the gifts, but he had also generously paid the duel compensation.
Now, Demian needed nothing more. He just wanted to get home quickly and see his family's faces.
“If you say so, then there's no helping it.”
The duke reluctantly nodded.
“Now it's truly time to part. It was a pleasure having you.”
“I feel the same.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
The duke pulled something from his pocket and held it out.
A ring engraved with the duke's family crest.
“Show this at any business operated by the Goldpixie Duke family, and you'll get free service.”
Demian's mouth fell open slightly at those words.
To exaggerate a bit, there was no place in the Apple Kingdom where the Goldpixie Duke family's influence didn't reach.
Their businesses numbered in the extreme.
“Compared to what you've done for me, it's a meager gift. If you ever need my help, come find me anytime.”
The duke repeatedly emphasized this.
* * *
“Sis, out here again?”
Abel Haksen, the youngest of Viscount Haksen's family, spoke in a voice full of complaint.
Louise, who had been standing at the mansion entrance gazing into the distance, turned at Abel's voice.
“Oh, Abel. What is it?”
“What do you mean? I came looking for you because you suddenly vanished.”
Abel said with a displeased face.
“You think just standing here will make big bro come back? Come inside and wait.”
“I'll go in after a bit longer.”
Abel sighed deeply at Louise's response.
He knew full well how stubborn Louise Haksen could be.
“You're that worried about big bro?”
“Yeah, such a delicate boy—I'm concerned if he can adapt well at the duke's residence.”
For a moment, Abel nearly choked.
What? Delicate? The guy who stormed a city alone and smashed an entire organization?
“The duke's place has tons of knights. They must bully newcomers a lot—how scary for him...”
Abel recalled Demian Haksen casually beating down the Ryanbloom Marquis family knights.
No matter how he thought about it, he wasn't the type to be bullied.
“I hope he returns safely...”
At that moment, Louise's eyes widened. She shouted, gazing into the distance.
“Demian!”
Hearing that, Abel looked down the road too. At the horizon's end, Demian was approaching on horseback.
Demian spotted them and waved.
“Good, he looks safe.”
Louise breathed a sigh of relief. But then, strange things began appearing behind Demian.
Knights and soldiers in full armor emerged.
Louise and Abel's faces stiffened at the sight.
“A-Abel, what is that?”
“I-I don't know either.”
Following them, wagons piled high like mountains came into view one after another.
Louise and Abel's mouths gaped open unwittingly.
“Sis, I'm back. Abel, you good?”
Demian said with a bright smile. The two asked in bewilderment.
“D-Demian, who are all these people?”
“Oh, these are the ones His Grace ordered to escort me.”
“E-Escort?”
Louise wore an incredulous expression.
“Big bro... what are all these wagons?”
“Can't come back from a trip empty-handed. Bought some gifts.”
Abel's mouth fell open. The quantity was way too much for mere "gifts."
“Go get Dad and Mom. Time to show them the presents.”
At Demian's words, Abel hurriedly dashed into the mansion.
* * *
“......”
“......”
Viscount Haksen and his wife, having come outside, were speechless at the sight of the gifts Demian had bought.
“Y-You mean His Grace really provided all this...?”
“Yes, that's how it happened.”
“Not stolen or anything? For real?”
“Yeah, for real.”
Viscount Haksen pinched his cheek hard and rubbed his eyes repeatedly.
“Enough with the weird stuff—come check this out. I cleared out the bookstore in the duke's castle. Got the latest trending books from the capital too.”
“W-What?”
Viscount Haksen rushed to the wagon. He inspected a few books and let out a cheer.
“Th-This is Madame Delphinel's new poetry collection! And Viscount Dorak's new novel! Oh my god!”
Father began frantically examining the books.
Demian left his father be and turned to his mother.
“Mom's gifts are here. You mentioned the furniture at home was worn out, right? Didn't know what you'd like, so I bought all the expensive ones.”
Mother's face lit up as she approached the wagon.
“Oh my, oh this is white sandalwood furniture! This table's rosewood. Oh my, what's all this?”
Mother was overjoyed inspecting the furniture.
“Sis, yours are over here.”
“You got me a gift too?”
“Of course.”
In his previous life, the one who took care of Demian Haksen until the end was his big sister Louise.
Thus, he had put extra care into her gift.
“A grand piano handcrafted by Master Buckley. His Grace personally gave it from his own collection.”
Louise covered her mouth with both hands.
She loved music enough to attend concerts and knew the name Buckley well.
A legendary craftsman whose schedule was booked solid for ten years.
“Kyaaa! My little brother!”
Louise hugged Demian's neck and jumped up and down.
“The soldiers here will help move it.”
He had deliberately brought extra soldiers for exactly this purpose.
The soldiers began efficiently transporting the items into the mansion.
Demian watched the scene with a pleased expression.
Then, he suddenly felt a gaze from the side. His youngest brother, Abel Haksen, was staring at him.
“What's up?”
“Nothing.”
Abel said with a sullen face.
It clearly wasn't "nothing."
“Come on, help move the luggage.”
“I was planning to anyway.”
Abel replied curtly. Demian burst into laughter at his behavior.
“Hey, you think I forgot your gift?”
Demian opened his interspatial storage and reached inside.
Abel jumped in surprise.
“B-Big bro, th-that's...”
“Interspatial storage. Here, take this.”
Demian pulled out a bow and tossed it. Abel looked puzzled.
“Doesn't Lady Copperhead like bows? Got it specially for you.”
The bow Demian handed over was no ordinary item.
It was one he had personally requested from Marquis Ryanbloom, crafted from a minotaur's horn.
“B-Big bro, you weren't kidding when you said that before leaving...?”
“Would I lie?”
Demian patted Abel's shoulder.
“Your little bro wants to get married. Big bro's gotta help.”
“Wh-Who said I want to get married!”
Abel shouted, face red. Demian widened his eyes.
“What, you planning to just fool around with Lady Copperhead and call it quits?”
“N-No, that's not it...!”
Abel waved his hands frantically.
“B-Besides, how am I supposed to give her the gift! Lady Olivia doesn't even know me!”
“Don't worry about that. Your big bro's got a plan.”
“Huh?”
Demian explained to the puzzled Abel.
“While at the duke's, I heard the news. Soon, the Copperhead Viscount family will hold a jousting tournament to celebrate Lady Olivia's birthday.”
A jousting tournament involved knights competing in various events.
It was a grand affair, drawing all local nobles and even making waves in other regions.
“Go to that tournament, gift the bow to Lady Olivia, and win her heart while you're at it.”
“Huh? B-But...”
“You're not thinking of refusing, are you? I went out of my way to get such a rare gift for my little bro?”
At Demian's not-quite-threat, Abel shut his mouth.
“Demian, is that true?”
Having overheard, Father approached and asked.
“A jousting tournament, eh? Just like the Copperhead Viscount family.”
Such events were massive and costly.
The Copperhead Viscount family wasn't on the level of the Goldpixie Duke, but they were still a major noble house.
Thus, they could afford such a grand event.
“Ah, Dad!”
Abel shot his father a pleading look. Please stop Demian, it screamed.
“That's great news!”
But Father was endlessly positive toward Demian's idea. Abel's shoulders slumped.
“You planning to enter the jousting tournament too?”
“Yeah, enter and win it all.”
Truthfully, Demian had little interest in fame.
A mere regional tournament in the west. Too small-scale in his eyes.
Yet he had decided to participate for two reasons.
‘In my previous life, the jousting tournament winner married into the Copperhead Viscount family.’
A future he had to block for Abel's sake.
‘And that son-in-law became a fairly powerful knight thanks to the winner's prize.’
The Copperhead son-in-law later reached high-class level.
Rumors said the winner's prize from the Copperheads played a big role.
Demian planned to check the truth of those rumors this time.
“Hmm...”
But Father let out a worried hum.
“If the Copperheads are hosting, Sophia will come too... You okay with that?”
Demian tilted his head at Father's question.
“Who's Sophia?”
“Your former fiancée.”
Demian's eyes widened.