Violence Carries Love
Finding Izel in this vast Divinum holy site with just Erisa and me was damn near impossible. Even searching only the Divinum Cathedral would take days, if not weeks.
So the first thing I did to track her down was commission the information guild.
Those guys were pros at finding people. Throw enough money their way, and they'd sniff out a runaway noble lady in no time.
In a restaurant, Erisa and I were having a meal while waiting for word from the guild. I used the downtime to gather intel on Lupert Grand Duke.
"Erisa. What's your grandpa been up to lately?"
Erisa replied.
"He's recovering for now. Occasionally calls in old acquaintances for chats."
"Yeah? What do they talk about?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but it seems like he's just checking in on them."
Lupert Grand Duke was clearly laying the groundwork, rebuilding connections. Even if he'd used illness as an excuse, after over a decade of distance, things would be awkward.
Next, he'd start gathering people and building power. His reason for coming to this Divinum holy site was probably tied to that. Associating with me would give him a huge boost.
One nagging question, though: why had he emerged so soon? In the original timeline, he didn't show his face until three years later—after Cloud Grandpa's death.
'Obvious, really. He figures Cloud Grandpa's dead.'
Cloud Grandpa's whereabouts were still a mystery, and most people had no clue why. I was the only one with him when he vanished.
That's why even Grollmog had suspected he might be gone, and now countless busybodies were treating it as fact. If he weren't dead, he'd have surfaced by now.
The Yosrahim Empire-Orc war should've kicked off last winter, but five months later, Cloud Grandpa still hadn't appeared.
"Makes sense. After lying in bed so long, he'd miss people."
"Yes."
"Must be tough for the duke, though."
"How so?"
"He's mobilizing troops on the Yosrahim Emperor's orders, right? That ain't cheap."
Erisa nodded.
"Yes. It's strained the territory's finances badly."
"How many's he got ready in Lupert territory?"
"Ninety thousand."
Ninety thousand was a drop in the bucket compared to a million, but still a massive army. And Lupert wasn't fighting alone—he'd ally with nobles from kingdoms the Yosrahim Empire had crushed before.
By my past-life estimates, that made around three hundred thousand total. Even without my father's Karl territory forces, it was a serious host.
'Three hundred thousand... If Cloud Grandpa doesn't return, it'll be a brutal slog.'
Subtract three hundred thousand from a million, leaves seven hundred thousand. A 3:7 ratio looks good for the empire at first glance, but reality was different.
Neutral factions were in play.
Strip them out, and rebel and imperial numbers evened up—meaning a bloody civil war, just like in my past life.
'What to do?'
The obvious fix: take out Lupert Grand Duke. History said he'd lead the rebellion.
But one thing bothered me—Grollmog's talk of history's corrective force.
'What happens, happens, no matter what.'
In other words, kill Lupert, someone else steps up, and civil war erupts anyway.
I figured the same even without that. Too many disgruntled local nobles, especially those from fallen kingdoms grinding their teeth openly.
Like the radical independence faction that caused trouble in Karl territory before.
To truly stop a civil war, solve it the natural way. The only way to break history's corrective force was to follow the laws of nature.
'Worst case, squeeze out the pus.'
And nature had the law of the jungle—survival of the fittest.
If war broke out and I crushed them with my overwhelming power, I could end it with less damage than my past life.
It'd still cost lives, so I'd avoid it if possible, but as a reliable option, I kept it in my back pocket.
Mishandling this could breed bigger problems later—like another civil war during the age of ruin, as in my past life. Better to let Lupert stew, then uproot the rebellion decisively when it starts.
"Best to leave it be for now."
Erisa reacted to my mutter.
"Pardon? Leave what be?"
"Oh, the ninety thousand troops. Even with money woes, it's the emperor's order. Dismissing them on a whim could spark big trouble."
"Yes, it could."
I shot Erisa a sidelong glance laced with killing intent as she resumed eating. If Lupert rebelled, I'd have to kill her too. Such a pretty blonde, but no choice.
Treason's price was clan extermination.
Then a stranger approached from behind, handing me a note.
"From the information guild. We've found the noble lady you're seeking, Lord Baekmyeon."
Erisa set down her knife and fork.
"Where's Izel now?"
"At the Myth Pavilion, a guesthouse on the outskirts of Divinum holy site."
I eyed the guild agent.
"What’s she doing there?"
"Holed up in her room. The owner says she hasn't stepped out in days."
"Any presence?"
"Checked on my way here. She's there."
I pulled out my subspace pouch for the balance.
"Got it. Here's the fee."
The agent, pockets heavy with gold, warned.
"Hurry, though."
"Why?"
"Four commissions for that lady total. Word'll reach the others soon."
I rolled my eyes.
Four places.
One was me. Two were probably Hubeo's retainers who'd come to Divinum with him and Izel. The last was a mystery.
"Can you say who?"
"We keep client secrets ironclad. Telling you there were four was already bending rules."
"Fair. Client confidentiality's industry standard."
"Thank you for understanding."
I slipped a few more gold coins into the agent's pouch as I stood. Reward for breaking protocol.
"Erisa. I'll head out first. Follow after."
"Yes."
I flew straight to the Myth Pavilion, leaving Erisa behind. Best to clear up loose ends quick. In my past life, ignoring these vibes cost countless lives.
Including mine on the last day.
***
My landing in front of the inn caused a stir. Humans don't fly. But I ignored the stares, stormed inside, and grabbed the innkeeper by the throat.
"You got a girl named Izel here?"
The innkeeper gagged.
"Wh-what? Izel who?"
"Noble lady. I got the intel, so don't bullshit me."
I reached for Yoj's hilt; he frantically pointed upstairs.
"If it's the noble lady, second floor. First right after stairs, second door."
"Got it."
I dropped him and tossed gold on the counter.
He eyed it greedily.
"What's this for?"
"Take your pick. Includes gag money and maybe funeral costs. Act accordingly."
My killing glare made him bow low.
"Y-yes, sir."
"Good. Later."
I headed upstairs, then kicked the door off its hinges and barged in.
Izel, munching snacks, yelped and scrambled back.
"B-Baekmyeon? How...?"
I scanned the snack wrappers littering the room, then fixed on her terrified face.
"Stress eater, huh?"
"......"
Izel just stared. I dragged a chair over and flopped down. Time for straight talk to convince her.
"Whatever. No time, so straight to it: date Hubeo from now on."
"Pardon?"
"You know what dating means?"
"I do, but that's not what you said before..."
"Situation changed. My position did, so yours too."
Izel's lips trembled.
"What do you mean?"
"Misunderstanding cleared. Hubeo likes you, not Erisa."
Her eyes widened.
"Me?"
"Deaf or something? No time—literally you."
"Ah, yes..."
"But ends justify means. Same outcome."
"Pardon?"
"Refuse my request, you die. Your clan gets wiped out too."
Izel shuddered in fear.
"But before, you said I didn't suit Professor Hubeo, unlike Erisa?"
I scowled, drawing Yoj to her throat. She was wasting time. Hubeo and the rest would swarm soon; this dragged on, I'd be in trouble.
"Enough chit-chat. You haven't grasped it yet. Your next answer decides your life and clan's fate. Shut up and obey."
"Who the hell are you? Back off Izel if you value your life!"
Knight voices from the door. Fast. I glared killing intent their way.
"And you are?"
They saw the scene, hands on hilts.
"Here for Lady Izel."
"Knew that. Who?"
"Ralsson, knight of Lupert Grand Duke's house."
I snorted. Fourth client: Lupert. Made sense; he knew she was missing.
"Ah, gotcha. Tell the duke: meddle in Baekmyeon's business, no good end. Unless you can handle it—start now."
Recognizing my white mask, the knights bowed hastily.
"Forgive us. Didn't realize it was you, Lord Baekmyeon."
"Better late than never. Now scram."
"Yes."
They fled. I turned back to Izel.
"Oh, and don't worry about Erisa. She's no match for Hubeo anymore."
"Why?"
Because if Lupert rebels, she's a traitor's granddaughter. Can't pair that with Hubeo. Why? Can't kill my buddy's wife.
"No need to know. Ponder those knights' actions. Obey me."
Izel glanced outside, gulped.
"Wh-what must I do?"
"Day after tomorrow. After Holy Hall, confess to Hubeo. He's too wishy-washy, so you do it."
"Me? But as a woman..."
"Better than clan annihilation, right?"
Izel bowed her head.
"Yes..."
"And wipe memories from a few days ago to now. Can't? Say so. I'll do it. But it'll hurt. Don't know memory loss principles well—know to hit the head, not how hard. Need practice, but I usually just kill."
Izel blurted desperately.
"No! I'll forget myself."
"Good. Now back to your retainers' hotel. Stray, it's refusal—extermination starts. Ugly sight; behave."
"Yes."
Izel bolted, abandoning even her precious snacks. Real panic.
Damn, such an easy fix—why'd I agonize? My brother Yozef was right: violence solves all, perfectly.
Live true to yourself, life's smoother. Violence is my life.