Tracking the Necromancer (2)
"Out of the eighteen, nine provided information."
"Hm, really?"
By spreading false rumors that they would execute all the bandits except for five, leaving them buried in the sand, Eunhyeon had stoked the bandits' anxiety until they spilled details about the necromancer and the alchemist.
Riod gathered the transcribed confessions from the bandits and handed them to Eunhyeon.
While waiting for all the statements to be compiled, Eunhyeon had been munching on bread as a light snack in the knight order's cafeteria. He took the statements from Riod.
"...These are some truly vile methods."
Eunhyeon's tactics—pinpointing the opponent's weaknesses, twisting them to create openings, and shaking them mercilessly without mercy—were on a level where even trying to find a positive spin was impossible.
"Thanks to that, we got this information."
Elenoa frowned uneasily as Eunhyeon read through the bandits' confessions with complete nonchalance.
"The 'Soul Binding' curse supposedly carved into the bandits' bodies... Is that real?"
"Who knows."
"So that was a lie too. Sigh..."
I worry deeply about what my child would have done with his life if he had not become my apostle...
'Even you, Goddess? Seriously, that hurts. Don't say things like that.'
Pushing Verdandi's concern aside, Eunhyeon slowly read through the bandits' statements.
The names 'Marius' and 'Renat', along with their descriptions, were information he already knew from the memories of the survivor girl from Bram Village.
Anything else noteworthy...
"Riod. Did you read this?"
"Of course."
"What's it say?"
"Marius Holton. Former mid-level priest at a Vesta temple."
"What did you say?"
"He went missing from the Erenia Holy Kingdom five years ago. He's only been encountered by the bandits and treating them like dogs for the last three months."
"A necromancer... a temple priest...?"
"There's quite a detailed personal history here. Is this reliable?"
When asked the knight who seemed to have written the statement, the knight nodded gravely.
"At least it didn't seem like a lie. He'd butter up the necromancer with drinks more than once or twice. Once he got drunk, he'd ramble on about his past. He recalled and recounted his personal history from memory."
"Ha, we've got ourselves an unexpected weakness."
With a smirk, Eunhyeon popped the last piece of bread into his mouth and continued reading the statements.
"He told you the location of his personal hideout?"
"The necromancer must have been pleased with his hospitality. He showed goodwill by telling him—only him—to head there if anything happened. We can't verify if it's real, but I don't think he shared it without meaning."
"Yeah, probably."
"It wouldn't hurt to scout the location at least once. Riod, how's the court noble meeting?"
"I've reported to the palace. A meeting on handling this issue is scheduled for this afternoon."
"Duke Armitas heard through you, Lady Elenoa, so moving troops shouldn't be a big problem."
"The issue is cooperation from nobles in other territories."
"If they don't investigate properly, their own territories suffer. Even idiots can weigh the pros and cons."
"For now, the meeting will establish the need to investigate territories and villages in this kingdom. And you come too."
"Huh? Me too?"
"You're the one who noticed the demonic beasts' traits during this expedition and suggested purification prayers to Lady Elenoa. Beyond that merit, no one can ignore your input in future fights."
"But I openly mocked those guys at the public trial."
What was he supposed to say to those nobles with them right there?
"Plus, this is official, but personally, I'd appreciate your help."
"Hm?"
"Diene Queen... No, that's my problem. Never mind."
"Ah, why bring it up just to drop it? Now I'm curious."
Despite Eunhyeon's grumbled frown, Riod didn't elaborate.
"Anyway, attend the meeting with me. What about Lady Elenoa?"
"Of course I'll attend with Father. I participated in this expedition too."
"Got it. See you later then."
"Yes."
Elenoa left the knight order office like that and departed in her carriage.
"Are you in your right mind?! Marquis Olivion! How dare you think of bringing that criminal's foot into the sacred royal palace court meeting!"
As expected, trouble erupted.
As soon as Eunhyeon—who had hurled insults at many nobles during the previous public trial—appeared at the court meeting, the nobles scowled and began berating Riod one after another.
Especially Orba Count, who had suffered an indelible humiliation from Eunhyeon's direct 'baldness' remark, exploded in the greatest fury.
It was amusing how every single one reacted exactly as Eunhyeon had predicted, forcing him—almost an uninvited guest here—to suppress his laughter inwardly.
"Watch your words, Orba Count. He stood trial as a criminal, but that case was withdrawn by order of Queen Diene. He's the one who made great contributions in this demonic beast subjugation expedition. Why treat him like that?"
"D-Duke... But this scum said unforgivable insults to me..."
"Enough. The meeting starts soon. That's settled, so put aside personal grudges."
At Abros's dismissal, Orba Count trembled with rage, his face flushing red, but he had no choice but to comply.
In this kingdom, rank and hierarchy represented an unchangeable power dynamic.
He might challenge Marquis Riod, but the gap of two ranks between Duke Abros and Count Orba was absolute.
"Wow... Count, how have you been? Meeting you again in such a high seat—truly, you never know what life brings. Right?"
"You bastard... You mock me like this and think you'll get away unscathed?!"
"Pardon? Oh, that would be a problem for you..."
"What...?"
"If you're picking a fight, I'm willing to accept. But are you sure?"
"How dare you, to me of all people!"
Having decided not to hide his identity or abilities anymore, Eunhyeon had nothing to hold back.
Even the goddess overseeing his actions showed no displeasure at this, so Eunhyeon was like a car without brakes, flooring the accelerator.
"Count, I'm holding back a lot here too. Truth is, I want to cut off that thing between your son's legs."
"How dare you to my son...!"
"So you do value your child."
"...?!"
"Then why treat others like that? I just don't get it."
In an instant, Eunhyeon's voice turned icy cold as he approached Orba Count with a chilling expression.
Leaning close to the count's ear, he whispered so only he could hear.
"Considering what your son tried to do to our girl, I can't just let it slide."
"My son... What exactly did Villad try to do...?"
"Haha, looks like that worthless son of yours conveniently left out his involvement when he told you about the incident."
"What are you saying! Explain properly!"
"How could your son, Villad Orba, have witnessed 'that incident' at the scene and reported it? Ever thought about that?"
"That's..."
Even for Orba Count, that part had been questionable.
Why had his son Villad been there at that time?
He'd asked, but Villad had stubbornly refused to answer, clamping his mouth shut.
"Obviously. How could he confess to his father that he tried to kidnap, imprison, and rape a female student from the same school?"
"What did you say...?"
Learning the shameful secret his son had desperately hidden shook Orba Count, his expression slowly hardening.
"And I was imprisoned there with Erin, but I'm the one who let your son escape unharmed from that place. Get it now?"
"..."
"I saved your son. That trash who tried to rape Erin, relying only on his noble superiority."
"Urk...!"
Unable to recover from the shock of his son's disgrace, Orba Count ground his teeth, face red.
Eunhyeon sneered mockingly at him.
"Think you can do it? Try me. Use all your power, wealth, and force."
Slowly releasing mana, he surged forward, choking the count's throat.
"Guhhh!"
The count must have learned excellent swordsmanship and mana control as part of his education before inheriting the title, but years of neglect had left his aged body unable to resist Eunhyeon's mana even once.
Even as he desperately turned his head seeking help from those around, the three people showed no intent to save him, draining the color from Orba Count's face.
With the meeting still far from starting, the only ones in the chamber were Riod, Abros, and Elenoa.
As his consciousness faded, whites of his eyes beginning to show, wondering if he'd die like this—
Riod's voice called out.
"Eunhyeon. Enough. Nobles attending the meeting will start arriving soon."
"Oh. Right."
"Hahhh! Hoo, hoo, hoo!"
Like releasing a taut rubber band pulled to its limit, Eunhyeon released his mana, and Orba Count's airway cleared as he gasped for breath.
"Count, this is a warning. If you want to fight, come at me. I'll accept. And I don't even expect an apology for the unforgivable wound your son tried to inflict on Erin. But at least don't block our girl's path forward. Stay away from Erin entirely. Got it?"
"..."
Orba Count said nothing, but his face twisted with anger, fear, overwhelming defeat, and humiliation.
"Hey, you know this is all just kidding, right? Let's forget the past and maintain a good relationship going forward. Oh, except the issue with Erin and your son—that's excluded. Otherwise, I'd like to build a cordial rapport with you, Count."
His expression warping greatly at Eunhyeon's grinning outstretched hand—
"Get that away!"
Brushing off Eunhyeon's hand roughly, Orba Count stood alone and stomped to his seat, fuming.
His glare at Eunhyeon was far from normal, so Elenoa, who had watched it all, approached Eunhyeon behind seated Riod and said,
"Wasn't that too harsh? Provoking him like that might make Orba Count lash out more aggressively..."
"Yes. That's the point. It gives me justification to deal with him and his son."
"...Please end this amicably."
"Ask them that."
Elenoa sighed at Eunhyeon's unyielding stance.
Soon after, nobles began filing into the meeting hall one by one. Spotting Eunhyeon's face, they all flinched in surprise and took their seats.
Confused why Eunhyeon was here—behind Riod of all places—the nobles whispered to those beside them.
"Queen Diene is entering!"
Following the attendant's cry, Queen Diene entered at the head of her entourage.
Seated, she scanned the attending nobles' faces, then frowned slightly upon seeing Eunhyeon standing behind Riod.
"Let's begin the court meeting. Today's agenda is countermeasures against the 'necromancer' and 'humanoid chimera demonic beasts' brought back by the return of the Artia Knight Order expedition. Marquis Olivion."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Give your report."