Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Advisor Sabl (2)
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"...Why on earth is a Tolke coming out here?"
Jamie demanded an explanation from Sabl as he stared at Tolke's corpse. No matter how much he thought about it, a Tolke emerging from the garden pond made no sense.
It lived in freshwater, sure, but this wasn't a large lake, and Tolke's natural habitat was river currents to begin with.
"The lake connects to the Bills River, so monsters occasionally show up."
"Pardon?"
"...You probably won't believe it, but the lake was made for that purpose from the start. You could call it the marquis's hobby."
"I don't get it."
"In simple terms, then..."
To sum it up:
The marquis enjoyed underwater monster hunts twice a year, and the Bills River crossing Apten was teeming with ferocious aquatic monsters.
So, he diverted a channel from the Bills River right into the marquis's front garden to create the lake.
"Of course, we have proper defenses in place. There's a magical barrier at the river inlet, preventing monsters from approaching."
"Then how did it get in today?"
"The magic weakens at certain times. It seems today was one of those days."
Jamie let out a hollow chuckle as he recalled the Bell Marquis.
He hadn't expected the old man to have a hobby like this.
Noble pastimes are beyond me, as always.
"I'll head back now."
"What a shame this happened on your first meeting. Rest well, Young Master Jamie."
Jamie returned to his room with Sabl seeing him off.
The marquis, having heard about the previous night's incident, rushed to Jamie in astonishment.
"Are you alright? No injuries?"
"I'm fine, thanks to Advisor Sabl."
"That's a relief."
The marquis sighed in relief upon hearing there were no injuries.
"Still, it's strange. We inspected the defenses not long ago—how did a Tolke slip through?"
He had rechecked every corner of the marquisate because his daughter was returning after seven years.
Accidents involving children could be disastrous. Yet a Tolke had appeared in the lake.
"It seems the mage in charge of the inspection made a mistake. I'm truly sorry."
"I'm really fine. I was just startled for a moment yesterday."
The Bell Marquis felt a pang of emotion, thinking his grandson was only saying that to reassure him.
He praised Advisor Sabl, who stood behind him with hands clasped.
"Thanks to you, our Jamie is unharmed. I owe you."
"Not at all. I only did my duty. Even without me, Young Master Jamie would have repelled the Tolke himself."
Jamie's 'Lightning Thunder' from yesterday would have reduced a Tolke to a charred lump.
"Your skills are as impressive as the rumors say. It was an honor to witness them myself."
"You're too kind."
Jamie found himself thinking rather highly of Sabl, who bowed to him despite his own prowess.
Impressive skills and humble to boot.
'Because I'm a Welton?'
Whatever the reason, the respect improved Jamie's mood slightly.
No one in the world disliked praise, no matter how many ages they'd lived.
"Jamie!"
Sears, who had heard the news late, ran to him and enveloped him in a tight hug.
"Are you okay? Not hurt anywhere?"
Jamie struggled to breathe but knew he'd have to explain fully to escape her grasp(?), so he summarized what he'd told the others as best he could.
"That was dangerous. Don't go out alone next time, got it?"
"Yes, Mother."
Jamie replied perfunctorily. He wasn't one to stay put just because she said so.
At that moment, a servant brought joyful news from outside.
"Young Lord Drex Bell has returned!"
Sears's eyes widened as she shot to her feet.
"Big Brother?!"
"He's finally here."
Holding Jamie close, Sears bolted for the entrance at the marquis's words.
"M-Mother!"
Jamie had no time to react.
Worried about falling, he instinctively clung to her neck.
Sears spotted someone and cried out brightly.
"Big Brother!"
"Sears?"
A man who looked just like Sears widened his eyes at the sight of her.
"I heard you were coming, but yesterday?"
"Yeah! How long has it been?"
"Indeed. And that child..."
"Yep, it's Jamie. Say hello."
Though dazed, Jamie bowed politely to the man who resembled Sears.
"I'm Jamie Welton. Nice to meet you."
"Haha, finally meeting my nephew. Good to see you. I'm Drex Bell, your eldest uncle."
Drex smiled just like his mother and shook Jamie's small hand.
"Where's the girl?"
"Probably still sleeping. I left her behind for urgent business."
"I'll meet my second niece later, then. Anyway, it's been too long, you rascal."
"Sorry, Brother. Better late than never."
The siblings, reuniting after seven years, embraced tightly to make up for lost time.
Drex released Sears and greeted his father, the Bell Marquis, who had arrived behind them.
"I'm home, Father."
"Welcome."
"Sears, I need to talk with Father first. See you at dinner."
"Talk?"
Sears blinked her large eyes, watching the retreating backs of the marquis, Drex, and Sabl.
"Something bigger than my little sister coming home?"
She crossed her arms, narrowing one eye.
Then she asked her son.
"Right, Jamie?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Hmph. Work over family, huh? Wonder what it is. They looked pretty serious."
As she said, the three had grave expressions as they spoke earnestly and vanished.
Was something serious afoot?
Suddenly, Jamie recalled the soldiers he'd seen on the way here.
'Maybe related to that.'
Then he looked around.
'Speaking of which, where's that Bayril guy?'
The Sword Master had been there yesterday but was nowhere today.
The Bell Marquis rested his chin on his interlaced hands and asked his eldest son.
"Learn anything?"
"We have results."
Drex placed his bag on the desk and pulled out documents.
"Take a look."
"Thank you."
The marquis and Sabl frowned as they reviewed Drex's papers.
The marquis spoke.
"So the Demons' infamy has spread to neighboring territories."
"It seems so. The lords there have already heard the rumors."
Drex had visited adjacent territories to Apten on the marquis's orders.
"But the other territories only have rumors—no actual damage."
"Only we're suffering losses."
A string of murders was plaguing Apten lately.
Simple serial killings would be easy to solve, but the brutal methods, the perpetrator's elusive movements, and finally the 'Mark of the Devil' pointed unmistakably to the Demons.
"Soldiers are still searching for traces, but nothing's turning up," Sabl said.
The marquis sighed softly.
"They're here for revenge."
The previous patriarch, Isfil Bell, had slain the Demons' leader, dismantling the group entirely.
But after fifty years, they were resurfacing.
To settle a grudge long nurtured.
A faint smile tugged at the Bell Marquis's lips.
"Fine. I'll play their game."
His eyes blazed as he declared,
"I'll show them exactly what happens when you mess with Bell."
The Demons would be erased from the world once more.
By Bell's hand.
"Swoosh~ Swoosh~!"
Sara held Vena high above her on the bed, swinging it this way and that.
It was make-believe flying, with Vena in the flying role.
"Swoosh~"
-Mas...ter.
Vena's eyes spun in circles.
It had been over thirty minutes already—enough to make anyone dizzy.
But Sara showed no sign of stopping.
"Sara, be gentle. Vena looks miserable."
"Okaay~"
Sara answered well enough.
Of course, Vena's situation didn't change.
Giggling gleefully, Sara swung Vena wildly, clearly delighted.
Kids have no malice, they say.
'Purity is the scariest thing.'
Still, any longer and Vena might actually die.
"Sara, can't you see Vena's suffering?"
"Vena's suffering?"
The word "suffering" halted the flying game.
Sara widened her eyes and looked at Vena.
Vena hung limp, strength drained from its body.
"Does it hurt, Vena?"
Shaking it back and forth, Vena flopped weakly.
"Is Vena dead?"
Unmoving like a dead squirrel, Sara turned to her brother with worry.
Jamie sighed and approached her.
'Get up, you fool.'
-Master, just a bit. I feel like puking.
Motion sickness had hit hard.
Jamie stroked his sister's head.
"It's not dead. But keep it up, and it really might be trouble. Do you want Vena to die, Sara?"
"Nooo."
Sara sniffled.
Jamie chuckled at her large, watery eyes.
Sara cradled Vena gently.
"Don't hurt."
She softly petted its pink fur with her tiny hands.
'Better?'
-Thank you so much, Master.
Vena's black eyes welled with tears, moved.
Jamie shook his head and walked back to the window.
People bustled about outside.
'Is it really a big deal?'
Curious, but they hadn't told him yet—probably didn't want to worry him.
'It's another territory's problem anyway.'
He and Sears were originally Bell family, but now Weltons.
Not entirely unrelated, but no need to burden departing guests.
Jamie decided not to dwell since it didn't concern him.
'More importantly, when can I go to the Pyro Church?'
He'd come to Apten to speak with Goddess Pyro.
Two days in, and the church hadn't been mentioned once.
Waiting longer might mean leaving without going.
'I'll sneak out alone.'
The sun was still up, plenty of time till evening.
Sara was distracted with Vena—no issue there.
Decision made, Jamie told his sister, who was playing with Vena.
"Sara, Brother's stepping out briefly. Play nice with Vena, okay?"
"Yes!"
Satisfied with her cheerful reply, he quietly left the room.
-Ma-Master!!
Vena's wail echoed in his mind then.
"Heehee! Vena~!"
Sara must have resumed her intense "love" now that they were alone.
Ignoring what wasn't quite a scream, Jamie slipped out of the mansion carefully.
Then he flew toward the Pyro Church.