Generational Gap (3)
"Hmm."
Eunhyeon stroked his chin and didn't respond immediately to Abros's invitation.
"I'm not interested in a noble position in this country, but I'm intrigued by what you're thinking, Your Grace. May I ask what your intentions are? If you need help, I'm willing to assist within the limits of my abilities."
This was something Eunhyeon would never have said in the past.
Eunhyeon had always been a passive person who didn't actively intervene in matters or take initiative; instead, he only stepped in when requested, setting conditions and demanding payment in return.
So, openly expressing willingness to cooperate first with someone like Abros was utterly unexpected.
The cause of this change in Eunhyeon's behavior was that his goddess, Verdandi, had lifted the restrictions she'd placed on him.
The current Eunhyeon was gradually shifting from his previous style of hiding his identity and acting from the shadows to proactively stepping forward and offering help.
If Verdandi had witnessed this first step in his changing mindset, she surely would have smiled with joy.
However, even if his methods were changing slightly, the core principle guiding his actions remained the same.
'Make people grow and prepare for future threats.'
He was simply faithfully carrying out the mission given by his goddess.
"You once readily offered me a fortune of 600 platinum coins. And you even accurately guessed exactly how I planned to use that money."
"The restoration of the Holy Sword Durandal...."
Riod muttered softly, having heard the details of the situation from Eunhyeon at the time.
The Holy Sword was, as the name implied, a sacred blade.
After the war between humanity and the demon race in the 'Era of the Void' ended, these were swords infused with the power of the seven goddesses who had recreated the war-ravaged continent.
Anticipating that demons might one day return to the Arkena continent through some method, the seven goddesses had forged holy swords imbued with their own powers and bestowed them upon humans, enabling humanity to stand against demonic threats on their own.
One of those blades, 'Durandal,' had been wielded by the founding king of Pernias Kingdom, who had established the nation and written its history anew.
About 200 years ago, the king of Pernias at the time had granted Durandal to the Armitas family, making it the ducal house's treasured heirloom.
That Durandal had shattered twenty years ago during Arkena's great war.
"I won't ask where or how you learned about Durandal. What's important is your intention. You knew I planned to restore it and hand it to the second prince, claiming him as the owner of the founding king's holy sword to position him as crown prince. Right?"
Eunhyeon nodded honestly, affirming Abros's words, which matched exactly what he'd told Elenoa before—not a syllable off.
"That's correct."
Eunhyeon wondered just how long Abros had been piecing together his actions, but Abros didn't press him on it.
At the very least, there was no malice in those actions.
"I heard about what happened in the Arkys Great Labyrinth from my children. I can't comprehend your actions or mindset—they're utterly inscrutable and unsettling—but at least I believe your intentions are to prevent chaos in the kingdom and save people."
Not even a citizen of this country, yet thinking more deeply about its future than anyone, acting with risks in mind and laying extensive groundwork in advance.
Abros didn't know it was the duty of an Apostle bearing a goddess's will.
But he had to acknowledge that Eunhyeon was the one contributing the most to Pernias's stability, unbeknownst to all.
"If things continue like this, the kingdom will just fester and rot away."
Creak.
"Father."
"Alex? What brings you here?"
Mid-conversation, the three men all wore surprised expressions as Alex appeared, sliding open the old sliding door without warning.
Alex smiled, entered the room, and naturally took the remaining empty chair.
"I heard a servant bringing out Montas wine say the Black Witch was heading to her mansion. Since Elenoa was there too, I followed belatedly. Upon arrival, I learned the three of you had come out for drinks, so I headed straight here."
"Unnecessary meddling. Once your royal guard duties are done and you're off, rest quietly at the mansion."
"You know how turbulent the capital is these days. That's why you asked the Witch to let Elenoa stay overnight instead of sending her home in the middle of the night, right?"
"Hmph."
Abros didn't reply and silently poured wine into the glass before Alex.
"So, what were you discussing?"
"I was just suggesting he consider becoming a noble."
"Oh?"
Alex looked at Eunhyeon with interest.
"You two seem to have gotten quite close."
"No, that gaze of yours is seriously burdensome. I haven't done anything, so why look at me like that? What the hell?"
Riod chuckled at Eunhyeon's sullen expression.
"You obviously refused, right?"
Alex nodded knowingly at Abros's confirming head shake.
Abros explained the court meeting's contents to Eunhyeon.
"Demons... You really think such beings have infiltrated the capital?"
"It's just a possibility for now. Without seeing them ourselves, we can't conclude based on circumstantial evidence alone."
"It's hard to believe, but... If it's true that a succubus demon is brazenly attacking nobles, how should we respond?"
Eunhyeon spoke up at Alex's question.
"Their greatest weapon is hypnosis. They show people dreams so real they manipulate perceptions. The hypnosis varies by succubus rank—low-grade ones only induce illusions through dreams, but high-grade ones can even twist wills, making people blindly obedient. They could turn allies against each other."
Those under a high-grade succubus's hypnosis fully degenerate into the demon's slaves.
They harbor no dissatisfaction or doubt toward orders.
Even lifelong comrades or family—they'd kill on command without hesitation. That was their 'hypnosis.'
"That's horrifying."
Alex grimaced at Eunhyeon's explanation.
"We didn't encounter succubi using hypnosis that potent during the war twenty years ago."
"Of course not. The demons manipulating the empire from the shadows back then were low-grade ones born naturally on this continent. What they tried summoning via rituals were the high-grade demons from beyond the Void's boundary I mentioned earlier."
"How do you know all this?"
"Come to the Merbiss Magic Library sometime, and I'll lend you a book on the life of Pernias's founding king. It vaguely mentions high-grade demons from the Era of the Void."
Eunhyeon, unable to reveal they'd existed since pre-apocalypse Earth, casually lied with a bored expression.
"To continue, dealing with succubi isn't impossible for humans. Low-grade dream demons only use basic mental manipulation magic. With countermeasures against brainwashing, we can overpower them physically."
"Then why do you, Father, and Sir Riod look so grim?"
"Knowing the counter doesn't solve it. We haven't even detected clues or their existence, and they're masters of disguise magic too. If they're committed to posing as humans, there's no way to find them. Though that's not the only issue?"
Eunhyeon glanced at Abros and Riod, trailing off questioningly.
"The most exasperating part is the nobles' current response."
"Wasn't the meeting outcome positive?"
"They concluded to keep it as a possibility and discuss again with solid evidence. But... even if demon infiltration is confirmed, there's consensus against public announcement."
"Why?"
"They're worried it'll tarnish the kingdom's image. Who'd feel safe knowing a demon might be prowling the capital?"
If revealed, commoners might panic, abandon homes and fortunes to flee. Resulting chaos could disrupt public order; merchants might shun the city on rumors; foreign powers might interfere, citing demon presence.
Though extreme hypotheticals, the nobles—fueled by such fears—were rushing to conceal the truth.
"Tricky problem."
Alex murmured with a complicated expression.
"The nobles pushing this are mostly young ones who've never faced demons. They lack proper info on these vague entities, worrying only about personal losses without addressing root causes. They hate losses more than death, avoid proactive solutions, and shift blame."
Recalling young nobles who'd pompously blamed Queen Regent Dianne while denying demon possibility, Abros and Alex frowned.
Eunhyeon, guessing the meeting wasn't productive, nodded and spoke.
"Is it okay to tell me this casually? It's court meeting content, and I'm just a commoner."
"Ha, now you say that—what a sore loser remark."
Alex snorted mockingly at Eunhyeon's retort.
Eunhyeon narrowed his eyes at Alex briefly, sighed, then asked Abros again.
"So, to sum up: The current young nobles, untouched by demon wars, lack crisis awareness, problem-solving will, responsibility—basically parasitic bugs leeching salaries?"
"Your phrasing is blunt, but accurate."
Abros chuckled at Eunhyeon's summary.
"And as your vassal noble, you'd want me—bolstered by your power and prestige—to show a different side from those trash, stepping forward instead of scheming from behind to support the kingdom."
"Exactly."
"You expect too much. You think I can do that?"
"At least, it's not impossible."
This man overestimates my abilities, Eunhyeon thought.
"I had no intention anyway. But I've pondered this noble assault chain."
"Hmm?"
"I see it as a golden opportunity to instill crisis awareness in those young nobles you're worried about...."
Eunhyeon trailed off deliberately, smiling.
Abros instinctively frowned.
It was the sinister expression—like a snake flicking its tongue, poised to devour him—that he wore when plotting something nefarious.
"Riod."
"What?"
"Victims are all nobles, right?"
"So far, yes. No reports or sightings of similar symptoms among commoners."
"Those victim nobles you mentioned earlier—their names ring a bell."
"They do?"
"I once took Erin to a clothing store over some unpleasantness. There, a noble's behavior was outrageous. He dressed his daughter in expensive high-grade fabric, spouting nonsense like 'It's only natural for lowly commoners to gift clothes to noble blood,' and even swindled a pricey gem."
The guy seemed utterly conscienceless, as if his soul had evaporated.
"Worth at least three gold coins, and it seemed habitual. But one victim's that swindler—or worse."
"What?"
"Recently, did the other two have similar troubles or incidents?"
"...One: the victim's son at Aiter brutally beat a commoner he disliked; fined in court. But the other..."
"Baron Berman. Lenion Hersha's former superior who overlooked his embezzlement."
At Eunhyeon's words, all three widened their eyes at him.
Stunned by the clues pouring from Eunhyeon after he raised the topic.
"Whether human or demon perpetrator aside, surprisingly, it seems like righteous vigilantism. Hard to say if genuine goodwill or malice in disguise."
"Did you know the common thread from the start?"
"Roughly. Would've told you if asked."
Riod generally disliked relying on Eunhyeon.
He didn't like depending on a friend for every issue.
But this time, Eunhyeon proactively offered info—an unexpected move.
Riod noticed Eunhyeon had a plan and expectations of him.
Helping his friend and benefactor was something Riod desired above all.
"Need my help?"
Eunhyeon nodded slightly and addressed the stern-faced Armitas father and son.
"Your Grace, frankly, I couldn't care less about these nobles' safety. Unlike you or Riod, I see no value in aiding trash who've acted so vilely as to become vigilante targets. But instilling crisis awareness in the kingdom's central nobles? I'm all for that."
"......"
"Will you join the picture I'm painting?"
What was this man thinking?
Fear, strangeness, confusion swirled, yet overpowered by intense curiosity.
Twisted methods aside, he always worked to guide the kingdom beneficially.
Thus, the urge to watch his moves outweighed blocking him.
Abros swallowed hard at the schemer's serpentine temptation and nodded.