Chapter 50
Chapter 50
In the end, Lord Raymond retreated the soldiers and knelt at Simons feet.
He was boiling with rage inside as he was doing it in front of a boy his son's age, but there was nothing he could do in front of the undead Legion.
Even if its Kizen, youd be in trouble if you used your force like this.
Still, he hadnt completely surrendered yet. The lord strained his eyes.
The Dark Alliance firmly acknowledges the autonomy of the countries and territories it belongs to. This is an area that Kizen cant be involved in! If it develops into a diplomatic issue, how do you plan to deal with it?
Simon, who was sitting down on the Lords seat, gave a faint smile.
Ill get straight to the point.
He took the evidence from his pocket and dropped it on the floor.
The contract from the middleman, advance payment given to Ellen, and even the remains of a torn Efnel school uniform.
You seem to have secretly communicated with a priest of Efnel.
Raymond felt his blood chill to the bone.
What was worse is that you did it after entrusting the mission to Kizen. In addition to treason, you led a clash between a necromancer and a priest. Can I interpret it this way?
N-No, thats!
Simons eyes gleamed coldly.
And you said that my actions could turn into a diplomatic issue. Your actions could turn into a war across the continent with that logic. Am I right?
Raymond was covered in a cold sweat.
He was trying to keep Simon at the castle to prevent a clash between Kizen and Efnel due to a double booking of the mission. But he had already been caught by Kizens side.
He was agonized.
At this point, Ill end up being killed. It wont just be me either. The entire territory will be annihilated. I need to do something. At this point, its sink or swim now!
Raymond jumped to his feet.
How dare you!
Then, he shouted,
How can a person who has no power other than belonging to Kizen discuss treason with such crude evidence?!
Simon let out a smirk. It was like the lord was rushing in with his neck exposed.
But it didnt really feel bad.
He thought that watching the opponent struggle while holding all the cards by himself was quite enjoyable.
[Kuhehehe! Your true personality is starting to reveal, Boy!]
My heads ringing, so please stay quiet, Pier.
Simon looked back at Pier and bobbed his head. Then, Pier removed the robe wrapped around his body.
Huh Huh?
Raymonds eyes began to tremble.
This was wrong. This was really wrong.
Revealed from Piers robe was Ellen. She was standing blankly, eyes glazed over. Her head was tilted and drool fell from her mouth.
A magic circle was drawn on her forehead.
We captured the Efnel priest during the mission.
Said Simon as though sentencing someone to death.
Shes unconscious for now with a curse. If we send her to Kizen for interrogation, well be able to draw out a lot of stories, dont you think?
Thud.
Raymond fell to the floor.
* * *
The situation was settled. Raymond confessed all his crimes and begged to spare at least this territory in exchange for his life.
One thing that was a little surprising was that Raymond was a well-known person among the people of the territory.
He risked all his political life to develop the territory and attracted investment from the merchants by running on his own feet. He even somehow managed to arrange a visit from the Crown prince.
But the disappearance incidents held him back. If it became an issue, there was a fear that all his plans would be in vain, including the Crown Princes visit.
So, Raymond joined hands with Elizabeth, who was running the information guild, and blocked all information leaks. (Apparently, Elizabeth didnt realize that she was the culprit of the incidents.) He also secretly commissioned various mercenaries, famous knights, and Kizen.
However, there was no response from Kizen for three months, and Raymond became impatient, eventually contacting the priest through a middleman.
However, Simon intervened in the request that was about to be discarded in Kizen, and the situation twisted like this.
Pardon me all to hell.
Raymond lay on the floor and burst into tears.
To speak the truth, I didnt believe in the middleman from the beginning. They said that shes a priest from Efnel, but I thought there was no reason for such a person to go through a middleman. I just accepted the offer out of desperation, but to think that a Efnel priest would actually come I was too naive about this.
Simon, who was sitting down pretending to be dignified, felt his guilty conscience rise to his face. At the same time, Ellen, lying on a sofa and pretending to be unconscious, also had a face full of a guilty conscience.
In fact, the magic circle drawn on her forehead was also fake.
This incident was solely my fault! You can freely take my life! But please, spare this territory!
Simon, who was starting to feel guilty, coughed, and said,
Alright. I understand the situation.
Lord Raymond. Lets make a deal.
What?
I just got here, but I have managed to like this territory. The front line close to the Holy Federation. I dont want this strategic point where we have to support many soldiers to be devastated when an all-out war breaks out.
Raymond raised his head with a blank face.
Of course, if things go according to procedure, Kizen will annihilate everything that was in this territory.
Ah
But I dont think you caused this situation with malicious intent. Ill try to cover this case as far as I can to not damage the territory.
C-Could you really do that?!
Ill try. But
Simon lowered his voice and said,
It may cost quite a bit.
Raymond hurriedly put his forehead to the floor and shouted,
Ill pay it, even if it costs my entire fortune!
* * *
* * *
Just like that, Simon obtained 500 gold, 10 times the initial commission fee of 50 gold. He placed the huge money bag into the subspace and left the reception room with a sincere guide.
[What was that, Boy? You only extorted a little compared to your vicious act.]
Its fine. I want to be satisfied with just getting this much in exchange for causing trouble.
Said Simon while shrugging his shoulders.
In fact, arent all these precious taxes of the people from the territory? Its not like were robbing bad people.
The corner of Piers lips rose.
As the son of former Legion Commander Richard, they had many similarities, but in the end, this boy had something fundamentally different from Richard.
You did a great job too, Ellen.
Ellen, who had been inside Piers robe, stuck her head out.
Hehe! How was my acting? Wasnt it good?
Why dont you wipe your saliva off first before speaking?
A-Ahh!
She quickly went back into the robe out of embarrassment, and Simon giggled.
When he was leaving the castle relaxedly with the feeling that he had settled a case, the surroundings suddenly became noisy.
Move your asses!
Hurry up!
Fully armed guards were rushing somewhere.
Whats going on?
[Looks like someone came to attack.]
Lets go check it out.
Simon also ran after the guards.
Looking down from the 2nd floor of the castle, countless corpse spiders were swarming in front of the castle gate, and in front of them stood a familiar person.
Simon quickly turned his back and ran down the stairs.
[Boy! Slow down a bit!]
Kyaaah! It hurts!
Simon ran faster than the two of them and came to the front of the castle gate. The heavily armed guards were preparing for battle.
Whats going on?
In response to Simons question, the guard captain, who was wearing a helmet, found Simon and saluted him.
Its an undead! It seems that theyre trying to attack the lords castle. It's dangerous, so please stay ins
Please open the gate a bit. Ill try going.
Wh-What? But thats too dangerous!
Simon smiled and placed his hand on his chest.
Im still learning, but Im also a necromancer. Dealing with the undead is my job, so trust me.
Mm
Eventually, the guard captain opened the gate a little. Simon escaped through it, and Pier and Ellen, who followed Simon, joined him.
As Simon looked back and nodded his head, the guard captain nodded with a firm face and closed the gate.
I didnt expect her to act this reckless.
Simon started walking slowly.
In front of the swarm of spiders besieging the castle, you could see a woman in a wine-colored dress.
The hostess of the Thieves Guild, and at the same time, the Captain of the Spider Troops, Elizabeth.
What is it, Elizabeth?
[Simon Polentia, son of former Legion commander, Richard Polentia. I, Elizabeth, want to serve you as my master. Therefore, Im begging for a chance to join your Legion and take your test.]
Pier giggled and folded his arms.
Simon calmed his expression and cleared his throat.
Please send away your subordinates. Lets talk in a quiet place.
* * *
Simon decided to part with Ellen before moving to his inn. He himself untied the ropes that bound her arms.
Theres nothing good if todays incident gets known, so please keep it a secret.
She stared at Simon's face.
Hm? Whats the matter?
Ah, uh You do seem a little different from the rumors of necromancers Ive heard after all, you see.
Pier grinned and raised his greatsword.
[If you mean the stories of turning a person into a skeleton to keep a secret, I can fulfill it right now!]
Hieeek!
She got startled and hid behind Simons back. Pier laughed out loud, and Elizabeth, who was watching from a distance, was biting her tongue and glaring at Ellen menacingly.
And this.
Simon held out a pouch from the subspace.
Its your share of the commission that I got from you earlier.
Ah!
Take care of your siblings.
Touched, tears began to form in her eyes while she held the pouch to her chest.
Thank you! Thank you so much, Simon! Ill never forget what youve done for me!
Where are you heading to again?
Its a territory called Loharon, in the Holy Federation!
Yeah, I hope youll safely get to the Holy Federation.
Yes! Thank you! Ill never forget this!
When Simon was about to leave, turning his back, Ellen loudly shouted,
Will we be able to meet again someday?
Simon shrugged.
Well, next time we meet might be on the battlefield.
Haha
Ellen thought to herself that Simon was really good at drawing the line.
If I ever have to go to the Holy Federation, Ill be expecting you to guide me.
Yeah! Of course!
As though she was truly moved, she waved her hand vigorously until Simon and the others couldnt be seen.
[Not only did you spare a priest, but youre giving her money and sending her away.]
Yeah.
[Whats the reason behind this?]
Simon smiled slightly and crossed his arms.
I just thought that itd be a good choice to make connections with a priest when I have to carry out a black request form mission someday. And, I just handed over the money to truly make her an accomplice and gain her trust.
[Kuhehe! I cant tell whether youre good or bad by watching your actions!]
I wonder.
Simon put his hand in his hood pocket and titled his head.
Is it really necessary to separate it in such a black and white fashion?
[]
Half of my blood is a priests. I have no intention of hating people just because they live on the other side, and theres no reason to do so. Its the same reason for sending off Ellen this time and extorting only a bit of money from the territory. I dont have to get extreme, right? Its fine as long as I take my profits in the middle.
The corners of Piers lips rose up deeply.
[It seems that itll take time for me to fully understand a human like you after all!]
Simon smiled and turned his head.
Elizabeth.
[Yes?]
You wouldnt attack Ellen, who I let go safely, by releasing spider troops, would you?
She flinched inside, but then lowered her head.
[O-Of course.]
As long as you know it.
Simon started joking around with Pier again. While following these two, Elizabeth was captured by strange emotions.
Simons back receiving the divine spear instead of her flickered in her vision.
After being rejected by Simon once, Elizabeth made up her mind over and over again.
She had no advantages for herself even if she joined the Legion. Shed just be bound by a cumbersome contract, gaining nothing.
However
In the end, Im walking toward hell again with my own feet.
She had never been, not a single time, able to overcome her own feelings
Elizabeth?
[Ah, yes. Im on my way.]
Still.
Even if she regretted it, even if she couldnt see the future, even if the end would be terrifying
Shed make the same choice over and over again.