Abatus Count Family's Research (2)
I learned the full story around evening. After carrying Galred on my back and brawling with the two knights who charged in after him, somehow managing to repel them all, Erica showed up. Noel and Mina, who seemed to have a sixth sense for these things, arrived too, and we pieced together what had happened.
"It all started with their research into new bio-weapons," Erica said cautiously, her usual spirited tone subdued. "Aizen, you might not know this, but the Argent Empire is showing signs of invading again. Compared to them, this small kingdom is starting to struggle in the fights. So, to break out of that, they began developing new weapons."
"And the Abatus Count family caught attention first?"
Erica nodded at my quiet question. "Even barons aside, most counts and above are founding noble houses from when the kingdom was established."
"The Abatus Counts were one of those founding families. Their magic deals with life itself, so their weapons focused on monsters."
Using monsters as weapons. "Efficient in theory, but I wonder how efficient they really are. Management sounds like a nightmare."
"The kingdom loved the idea anyway. Monsters were always a headache alongside the Empire, but capturing them to use as troops? Plus, the Abatus bio-weapons have this trait—once they settle in a spot, other monsters avoid attacking it."
Since they were living creatures, monsters sensed the danger and stayed away. Nobles managing territories always had defense costs, so cutting those would be a big plus—if management was easy.
"Those knights earlier were babbling about weapon experiments."
"Yeah. Naturally, the Phoenix family was interested too, and we took in prototypes from the Abatus Counts to raise."
Erica added that things were pretty good at first. "Monster sightings, which used to come weekly, stopped. In battles, we'd just unleash them, and they'd rip through the enemy on their own. But..."
At some point, the bio-weapons stopped obeying. They'd snap at servants over food or drag allies into fights when released. Overall control held, and inquiries to the Abatus Counts led to fixes that made them usable again. But minor incidents piled up.
Then came the major disaster.
"We spotted Empire spies and set the knights on them, unleashing it in pursuit. And everyone died."
The bio-weapon, charging at the spies, turned on the knights instead. One spy escaped, and 14 knights died subduing it. Full great-monster gear might have reduced casualties, but they'd gone light for spy-hunting—that was the downfall.
Phoenix Border Count held the Abatus Counts accountable, who paid compensation. But dead men couldn't be brought back.
"The incident ended there, wrapped up with compensation," Erica said. But there was more beneath the surface. If it had truly ended cleanly, Galred wouldn't have been sent to lynch me without backlash.
From my view, it was still a story that made me grimace. "So they just used me as a punching bag for their grudge."
I got the tragic backstory, but I couldn't fix it. One thing was clear, though. "The Abatus Counts must be more powerful than I thought."
The real key wasn't the Phoenix knights' sad deaths—it was how everyone had hushed it up until now.
Noel hesitated briefly, then nodded. "The current queen comes from the Abatus Count family."
"In-laws to the throne, huh." No wonder everyone tiptoed around. Noel, the Phoenix family, even Professor Reina—people who bowed to no one—were overly cautious. When your foe birthed a queen, caution made sense.
'No wonder Prince Gilford was so reckless. This is the backing he had.'
Back then, I'd chalked it up to personal dislike, but now it clicked. The "overthrow Aizen" faction likely had Abatus backing. The prince pushing with raw power unscathed, the faction forming overnight—it all fit.
"Like Noel said, the obvious foes were small fry."
Only now, this deep in, could I gauge the Counts' shadow play. No ordinary pests.
"From their view, the Cyclops is danger incarnate. It blocked their ties to the royals and military expansion."
"Father said the palace knows about the Phoenix incident but offered you minimal support because of them. He hesitated to even pass that much."
That "support" was just academy resources. I had no complaints, but with Caterpillar Golem as proof, that being all showed the Counts' stranglehold.
They'd crush rivals early. Why not me? "I comet-ed in too fast, huh?"
A rural nobody pops up with results before they could interfere. Even the palace must've been shocked.
"Spot-on phrasing."
"Be careful, Aizen. They're tied to the crown—power alone won't touch them."
"Proof through results is the way." No other path. Dealing with untouchables wasted energy better spent on more Cyclops or next-gen designs.
"Aren't you mad? You could've had way more backing."
"More backing means more shares diluted. Current support's plenty."
I answered Mina's tentative question honestly. Losing naming rights stung, but these backers were ideal.
And. "The academy's got valuables galore—this level's enough."
"True. But no more 'settle scores later' attitudes."
Startled by the voice behind me, I turned to Professor Reina glaring down, eyes demanding a response.
Two seconds of scrambling. I opened carefully. "...That wasn't what I meant."
Reina's eyes screamed disbelief.
****
"So, what'd he say?"
"He gets the situation but pointed out our side's fault."
Phoenix Count smiled faintly at Erica's report. Internally relieved after the panic—his knights lynching Aizen unapproved was defying authority, as Aizen noted. He had to reprimand Galred heavily and apologize, which was awkward.
One surprise... "Recount how Aizen took down Galred and his crew."
"Crumpled Sir Galred's gauntlets, hoisted him, then kicked Sir Contart's knee mid-charge, stomped his head, headbutted Sir Fix from behind, kneed his face to send him flying, and tossed him onto rising Galred."
'Not human, right?' Absurd even on repeat. Erica wasn't lying, so it happened. By kingdom standards, Aizen overreacted. He was a low-rank guest, no title; knights were the Count's vassals, some titled.
Setting aside details, a nobod beat a Border Count's men. Arguably insulting the Count. If fearing his position, Aizen should've stayed quiet.
'Fascinating guy.'
The Count had gleaned from Reina and Noel—Aizen's odd common-sense gaps. He acts on ingrained norms mismatched here, oblivious. The Count couldn't pinpoint those norms.
'Thought we'd hush it with gifts, call it even...'
Entertaining either way. Most would've downplayed fault, blamed knights for more from the Count. Aizen just called it out, nothing more. Rude. Bold.
'Reina nailed it.' A little polish, and his future shone. Hand-to-hand vs. knights, casually twisting then fixing a ramp—raw talent in body and magic, all poured into golems.
A pioneer on untrod paths, where luckless fade nameless. Aizen teetered but succeeded.
'I want him.'
Far better than scheming Abatus. Palace and Nexia watched too. But as Border Count, he wouldn't yield.
'How to snag him.'
Decision made when settling compensation. Maybe he'd sought this excuse. Gazing at his daughter. "Erica."
"Yes, Father?"
"Tomorrow morning, fetch it from the clan forge."
Erica pondered, then bowed. "The one for Sir Galred?"
"He started this—responsibility falls. Long servant or not, can't overlook it. Defying my favored is near mutiny; loyalty doesn't excuse breaking rules. His merits spare heavy punishment, but send that promised item as apology to Aizen."
Phoenix rudeness started it. For vassals, this was fair. As great noble, it bordered scandalous humility, but the Count didn't care. Worth it.
"I'll inform him."
"Do."
Reina mentioned Aizen loved minerals—hoarding golem-worthy stuff for study. Intriguing. "Wonder how he'll handle this."
The Count drew his sword, channeling mana. Rare mana-metal from Phoenix County, a rare metal. Red glow, searing heat. He smiled faintly.