Chapter 50
In the end, Lord Raymond dismissed his soldiers and fell to his knees before Simon.
Though it made his blood boil to be groveling in front of a boy young enough to be his son, he had no choice in the face of the undead legion.
“...No matter how high Keyzen stands, such displays of force are unacceptable.”
Still, he hadn’t completely surrendered yet. There was still fire in the lord’s eyes.
“The Dark Alliance fully recognizes the autonomy of its member states and territories. That is a domain Keyzen has no right to interfere in! What do you intend to do if this escalates into a diplomatic issue?”
Simon, sitting upon the lord’s chair, gave a faint smile.
“Let’s get to the point.”
He pulled several pieces of evidence from his coat and tossed them to the floor.
A broker’s contract, the advance payment made to Ellen, and the torn remnants of Efnelle’s school uniform.
“You colluded with a priestess from Efnelle, didn’t you?”
Raymond felt the blood in his body run cold.
“Even after submitting a request to Keyzen. It’s not just treason. You deliberately instigated conflict between a necromancer and a priestess. Wouldn’t you say that’s an accurate interpretation?”
“...N-No, that’s—!”
Simon’s gaze turned cold.
“And you said my actions could become a diplomatic issue, but by that logic, your actions could lead to war across the entire continent. Am I wrong?”
Cold sweat dripped from Raymond’s face.
The reason he had tried so desperately to keep Simon within the territory was to prevent a clash between Keyzen and Efnelle from a double-request. But Keyzen had already found out.
He was torn. At this rate, he would die. Not just him, the entire fief could be wiped out.
‘I have to do something. At this point, it’s do or die...!’
Raymond suddenly sprang to his feet.
“Insolence!”
And then he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“You’re nothing but a mere subordinate of Keyzen without a shred of power to your name! How dare you speak of treason with such shabby pieces of evidence!”
Simon let out a dry laugh. The man was practically throwing his neck at him now.
But he didn’t mind it.
Holding all the cards and watching the other flail, it wasn’t a bad form of entertainment.
[Keh-heh-heh! So the boy’s true nature finally begins to show!]
‘...You’re ringing in my head, quiet down, Feer.’
Simon nodded at Feer. In response, Feer pulled open the robe draped around him.
“W-What...?”
Raymond’s pupils began to tremble uncontrollably.
Something had gone wrong.
Terribly, terribly wrong.
What was revealed beneath Feer’s robe was Ellen, standing blankly with lifeless eyes, her head tilted, drool dripping from her mouth.
A magical seal was drawn on her forehead.
“We captured Efnelle’s priestess during the mission.”
Simon said, as if delivering a death sentence.
“She’s under a curse, temporarily unconscious. If we send her to Keyzen for interrogation, I’m sure we’ll hear all sorts of stories. Don’t you agree?”
Thud.
Raymond collapsed to his knees.
* * *
The matter was, for the time being, settled.
Raymond confessed to everything and begged that at the very least, the fief be spared, even if it cost him his life.
And one thing—something a little unexpected—was that Raymond was highly respected among the people of the fiefdom.
He had devoted his entire political life to the territory’s development, personally worked to secure investment from merchant groups, and even managed to arrange a visit from the crown prince this year.
But the recent disappearances had become a stumbling block. If this became public, all his plans, including the crown prince’s visit, would be ruined.
So Raymond had joined hands with Erzebet, who operated an information guild, to block all leaks of information (at the time, he had no idea Erzebet was the true culprit behind the incidents). He secretly requested help from various mercenary groups, renowned knights, and even Keyzen.
But Keyzen remained silent for three months. Growing desperate, Raymond finally contacted a priest through a broker.
Then Simon, who had picked up the request that Keyzen was about to discard, intervened, entangling the situation beyond repair.
“I’ve committed a grave sin...”
Raymond sobbed as he lay prostrate on the floor.
“I never trusted the brokers to begin with. They said she was a priestess from Efnelle, but I didn’t believe someone of that level would go through a broker. Still, in desperation, I accepted the offer, thinking it was my last chance. I never imagined the real priest from Efnelle would actually come... I was too naive.”
Simon, who had been sitting upright with dignity, suddenly flinched. At the same time, Ellen, who had been pretending to be unconscious on the couch—also flinched.
In truth, the magical seal on her forehead was fake.
“This was entirely my decision! You may take my life if you must! But please, spare the territory...!”
Simon, now feeling a slight pang of conscience, cleared his throat.
“Alright. I understand the circumstances.”
“......”
Raymond remained motionless, forehead pressed to the floor, ready to accept any punishment.
“Lord Raymond. Let’s make a deal.”
“...What?”
“I haven’t been here long, but I’ve come to like this place. A frontline territory near the Holy Federation. If a full-scale war breaks out, this strategic stronghold will need to support countless troops. I’d rather not see it reduced to rubble.”
Raymond lifted his head in a daze.
“Of course, if this proceeds through the proper channels, Keyzen will obliterate everything associated with this land.”
“Ah...”
“But I don’t believe you acted with malicious intent. I’ll handle this matter myself, covering it up just enough to avoid harming the territory.”
“Y-You would really do that for me?”
“I’ll give it a try. But,”
Simon lowered his voice,
“There may be a cost involved.”
Raymond immediately pressed his forehead to the floor and cried out,
“I’ll give you everything I own if I must!”
And just like that, Simon received a hefty 500 gold, ten times the original commission fee of 50 gold. Pocketing the heavy pouch into his subspace, Simon left the guest chamber with a lavish escort.
[What’s this, boy? For someone who acted so villainous, you sure settled for a light haul.]
“It’s fine. I’m satisfied with this much for the trouble it caused.”
Simon shrugged as he replied.
“Besides, all of this is basically the citizens’ hard-earned tax money, right? We’re not exactly robbing a villain here.”
Feer grinned.
As the son of the former legion commander Richard, there were similarities, but ultimately, this boy was fundamentally different from Richard.
“Ellen, good job.”
Ellen poked her head out from inside Feer’s robe.
“Hehe! How was my acting? Pretty good, right?”
“Could you wipe the drool off before you talk?”
“Ah, oops!”
Embarrassed, she quickly ducked back into the robe as Simon chuckled.
Feeling a sense of closure, they exited the lord’s castle, only to find the area suddenly in chaos.
“Move quickly!”
“Hurry up!”
Heavily armed soldiers were rushing somewhere in a frenzy.
“What’s going on?”
[Looks like someone’s attacking.]
“Let’s check it out.”
Simon ran alongside the soldiers.
“...!”
From the second floor of the castle, looking down, he saw countless corpse spiders swarming in front of the gate. And standing before them was a familiar figure.
Simon quickly turned and dashed down the stairs.
[Boy! Slow down, will you!]
“Ow! You’re hurting me!”
Outpacing the others, Simon arrived at the castle gate. Armed soldiers were already forming up for battle.
“What’s happening?”
Upon seeing Simon, the helmeted captain of the guard quickly saluted.
“Undead, sir! It appears they’re about to attack the lord’s castle. It’s dangerous, please get inside—!”
“Open the gate a little. I’ll go check it out.”
“W-What? But that’s too dangerous!”
Simon smiled and placed a hand over his chest.
“I may still be a student, but I’m a necromancer. Handling undead is what I do—so please, trust me just this once.”
“Uh...”
Eventually, the captain of the guard opened the castle gate slightly. Simon slipped through, followed closely by Feer and Ellen.
Simon looked back and nodded. The captain, wearing a grim expression, also nodded and shut the gate.
‘I didn’t think she’d be this reckless.’
Simon slowly began to walk forward.
Before the swarm of corpse spiders surrounding the castle, stood a woman in a wine-colored dress.
The madam of the Thieves’ Guild.
And formerly, the general of the spider troop, Erzebet.
“What’s the meaning of this, Erzebet?”
[Son of the former legion commander, Richard Follentia—Simon Follentia.]
With graceful movement, she dropped to one knee.
[I, Erzebet, wish to serve you as my master. Therefore, I humbly ask for a chance to join your legion, and to be tested.]
Feer folded his arms and chuckled.
Simon cleared his throat, trying to maintain a composed expression.
“Pull back your subordinates. Let’s talk somewhere quiet.”
* * *
Before heading back to their lodging, Simon decided to part ways with Ellen. He personally untied the rope binding her arms.
“Nothing good would come from either of us spreading word about today’s events, so let’s keep it a secret going forward.”
“......”
She stared intently at Simon’s face.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Ah, it’s just... you’re a bit different from the rumors I’ve heard about necromancers.”
Feer grinned and lifted his greatsword.
[If you’re thinking of that old story about making someone into a skeleton to keep them quiet—well, I can make it come true right now!]
“Eeek!”
Startled, she jumped and hid behind Simon’s back. Feer burst into laughter, while Erzebet—watching from a short distance—bit her lip and glared at Ellen menacingly.
“And this.”
Simon took out a pouch from his subspace.
“It’s your share of the commission we took from you earlier.”
“Ah...!”
“Take good care of your younger siblings.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged the pouch to her chest.
“Really...! Thank you so much, Simon! I’ll never forget this kindness!”
“Where did you say you were headed again?”
“To a fiefdom called Roharon in the Holy Federation.”
“Alright, I hope you make it back safely to the Holy Federation.”
“Yes! Thank you! I’ll never forget you!”
Simon turned his back to leave, when Ellen shouted after him.
“We’ll meet again someday, right?”
Simon shrugged.
“Who knows. Maybe next time, we’ll be on the battlefield.”
“Haha...”
Ellen thought to herself, He really knows how to draw the line.
“If I ever end up going to the Holy Federation, I’ll count on you to be my guide.”
“Yes! Of course!”
With what seemed like genuine gratitude, she waved vigorously until Simon and the others were out of sight.
[Not only do you spare a priest, but you also send her off with money?]
“Yes.”
[And why’s that?]
Simon smiled faintly and crossed his arms.
“I figured, someday, I might need to take on a Black Commission mission that involves the priesthood. Having contacts on that side wouldn’t hurt. And giving her money means we’re truly accomplices now—she’ll trust me, sincerely.”
[Keh-heh-heh! Watching you, I can’t even tell whether you’re good or evil!]
“Well.”
Simon tilted his head, hands in the pocket of his hood.
“Do we really have to fit into neat categories like that?”
[...]
“Half of my blood is from the priest side. I don’t automatically hate the people who live on the other side, and there’s no reason I should. Letting Ellen go was just that, and getting some money out of the fiefdom was the same. There’s no need to swing to extremes. As long as I profit in the middle, that’s enough for me.”
Feer’s grin widened.
[I see it now, truly understanding what kind of person you are will take a long time indeed!]
Simon turned his head with a gentle smile.
“Erzebet.”
[Yes?]
“You’re not going to do something like sending your spider army to attack Ellen, whom I just let go safely, are you?”
She flinched inside but bowed her head.
[O-Of course not.]
“Good, then.”
Simon resumed his casual conversation with Feer. Following behind them, Erzebet found herself consumed by complex emotions.
She couldn’t stop picturing Simon’s back, his silhouette, when he had stepped forward and taken the holy spear for her.
After being rejected by Simon once, Erzebet had steeled her heart many times.
Joining the legion would bring her no gain, only burden her with a bothersome contract.
And yet—
‘...In the end, I’m walking back into hell of my own accord.’
She had never once been able to overcome her own feelings.
“Erzebet?”
[Ah, yes. I’m coming.]
Still—
Even if she ended up regretting it, even if she could see the future, even if it was filled with nothing but despair, she would still make the same choice, again and again.
Superb.