Chapter 235 – Return

000

A village in the northern region where the cold wind spreads over the stream.

I somehow made a corner for people to live in, and even in the place where I developed little by little, I wonder if there is no intention to show mercy to the prisons or hostels where criminals live.

Frost was everywhere, and the cold that gnawed at the bones was the main culprit of making the hard labor even more difficult, afflicting all those confined.

However, you shouldn’t be sympathetic.

Everyone here is a felon.

Light-level crimes such as simply stealing or spitting on the road are not brought here.

Those whose crimes were serious to a certain extent, but would not go to the death penalty, or the fearless scoundrels who committed minor crimes over and over again and became familiar with the guards face-to-face.

It is because they are brought here after being judged and sentenced to labor.

Of course, among those trapped in these places, there were also dangerous elements such as ‘thought criminals’.

Some had physical strength, while others knew how to use magic.

However, all such people are treated equally, and restraint magic that suppresses mana is applied to their limbs, and on top of that, they wear heavy iron shackles.

Enchanted shackles check all of the user’s muscular strength, and although they can walk just fine, if they try to run around, they have the power to become heavy as if they are filled with water in an instant.

Even if there are no shackles, the place where they are confined is always guarded 24 hours a day.

All guards take turns every 8 hours in 3 shifts a day, watching their movements with lightning-like eyes.

Even if one person has a different mind or is bought off, there are 3 guards patrolling at the same time on every floor going down to the 3rd basement floor.

In order to leave this place, I had to get past 11 more guards.

Not only that, but all sorts of boundary magic spread over passages, stairs, and doors.

Since the surveillance system, including the barrier, was perfectly established, any dangerous criminal entering this place was nothing but a rat.

No one can go out, until the king’s order comes that he can pay for his sins his and set his body free.

No, even if it was the king, if he made a wrong decision, there would be no way to let a criminal out of this prison.

“However, you missed an important criminal in this prison some time ago. No, I should say that you let go.”

In a cold cell, a prison guard who, by nature, had to lash out at those imprisoned here, or grab a stick and pound bars to show authority.

With all the measures that criminals take, she sits on a cold stone chair, restrains her body, and hears a tall woman talking to herself in front of her eyes.

He said, ‘Kuh… Although he was making a plausible voice of resentment, in fact, he was not reflecting.

It was done under the command of ‘him’, it must have been for the sake of the country.

The investigator in front of me, who doesn’t know that, is a person who gets in the way of the kingdom’s prosperity.

The man was seriously thinking.

The woman, she was a slender woman who was tall enough to be matched by most adult men.

She wore a black leather coat that came down from her neck to just below her knees, and inside her was a shirt and pants that were not feminine and masculine.

Her hair was silver mixed with a bit of beige, and it was short enough compared to other women.

But even so, if her face her was masculine, it wasn’t.

Her distinctive features of her, but also striking, were her sharp, cold-looking eyes of her.

She has a truly cold-hearted and icy impression, and has a history of interrogating a number of male criminals in front of her.

It was rumored that there were strange people among her who had begun to take a kind of pleasure in being seduced by her or receiving her cold eyes.

The small golden triangular earrings that could be called family crests hung from both of her ears and swayed with her movements.

“We have never done anything shameful in His Majesty’s name his.”

And seeing her raise the corner of her mouth while talking like that, the investigator looks down at the traitor who was her jailer without erasing his cold expression of her.

“I guess… I don’t seem to remember.”

Saying that, she gently grabs the tip of her right middle finger among the red leather gloves she was wearing on both hands and pulls it.

Then, her slender, yet feminine hands her, which seemed much whiter than the snow outside, appeared.

In such an extreme area, the guard, who has few opportunities to meet women, unknowingly swallowed at the sight of her and followed her hand her with his eyes her.

And, what she touched was his head her.

“Shock.”

Paperweight! A high pitched sound accompanied by sparks resonates intermittently, and electricity rises from her hand and strikes the man’s head from her.

“Aaaaa!!!”

Naturally, the man screamed in unbearable pain and twisted his whole body, but thanks to the restraints hanging over his whole body, he couldn’t move his body.

It flutters like a fish on top of the water, and when the electric shock disappears after not too long, it sags like it is asleep.

“Tch… To faint at this level…”

The woman confirmed that the man had passed out, then kicked her tongue and moved away from him about two steps.

She couldn’t stand this level of interrogation, and from her point of view, she had a track record of interrogating about half of the criminals imprisoned here.

The guards here were clearly showing that they were physically and mentally weak compared to the criminals locked up.

“So I told you? They don’t open their mouths easily.”

And, watching such a woman from the outside of her room, she confirmed that the man had passed out and opened her door and came in.

It was a girl who had the appearance of intentionally making everything the opposite of the investigator.

Her height her stopped growing at a position slightly lower than the investigator’s chest, and her golden hair her, dazzlingly shiny, continued from the top of her head her.

And, the hair her came down in twin tails with a lot of waves, and the well-set roll hair was so voluminous that it looked like a ‘drill’ at first glance.

Seeing the figure of the investigator, she had a smile on her face that seemed to be as she expected.

She, like the woman in front of her, had a beautifully sculpted face that seemed to have been fashioned by God Himself, but her eyes were large and full of her self-confidence.

She looks at the investigator with a confident smile on her lips, as if she has no intention of losing to anyone.

The clothes on her body were also wearing a gothic dress that was not suitable for being in such a shabby place.

He must be still in the process of growing up, but his swollen chest his, as well as black mesh gloves and stockings. And black shoes.

Wearing clothes of her own taste, he stood crookedly with his hands on her waist and looked up at the investigator.

‘As you said’. The fact that they didn’t open her mouth gave her some reassurance.

“Now. Get ready to leave this place and head to the kingdom, Ascalon.”

When the girl speaks as if she were commanding it, and she brushes her hair. The female investigator nods her head knowingly.

“… I see, Miss Merca. I’ll make sure to get her carriage wanted.”

The way she respectfully placed her hand on her chest her and bowed her back her was like her butler giving all her allegiance to her master her.

Hearing her answer her, the girl called ‘Merka’ folded her arms and put a smile on her lips her.

“Now. Tromeia… Your protection is about to be shaken. I see. How to act… If you don’t want to pierce through the rotten parts of your shield, you’ll have to be careful.”

After muttering as if giving advice to those who can’t be heard or seen, I walk out with confident steps in this cold space where I have nothing to see anymore.

And, the Ascalon passing behind the girl like a shadow was—

She was the drooping figure of all the jailers she and her master her, Merca, interrogated and defeated.

001

After finishing all their work in the old El Cairo area and returning to the capital, Cleon and his party decided to head to the Great Temple first and report to Esca without stopping at the inn immediately.

It was the three of them who got on the carriage, leaving behind their promise to Mejed to call them whenever they needed their strength.

Verastol had n’t shown his face or expression once since he got up early in the morning and put on his armor his.

He just kept silent and didn’t say a word until he reached the capital.

The expression inside that thick helmet must have been wrinkled to the fullest, Quon and Cleon. Even if neither of them opened it, they could tell.

When Verastol leads through the entrance to the Great Temple, the guards step aside and let the other two inside.

Among them, there is a guard who has a history of preventing Cleon from entering the Great Temple.

When our eyes meet, he wrinkles his expression as if he is quite embarrassed, but Cleon walks past him with a casual expression as if he does n’t care.

Then, walk up to her office where Esca is waiting for you and open the door.

As if she had been waiting, Esca greeted the three of them with a bright face.

“Cleon! You’re back…! Both Verastol and Quon-san, everyone has suffered a lot.”

As if the three of them, especially Cleon’s return, got up from their seats as if they were the most happy, Esca came over and hugged him like a caring mother, as if feeling relieved that Cleon was safe.

“…”

Sensing Berastol’s intense gaze, Cleon talked to Esca, who was a little flustered and couldn’t hold him face to face.

“Eh, Esca-san. Because the two of you are watching.”

“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry… Huhu.”

Esca listened to Cleon’s words, dropped her body her, covered her mouth with her hand, and smiled.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Cleon, who blushed, immediately looked at Vera Stall.

Then, Vera Stoll looked at Cleon for a little bit with still burning eyes, cleared her throat, then turned to Esca and opened her mouth.

And, after explaining everything that happened there without adding or subtracting.

The beautiful sun-sacred sword that Quon carried in his bosom-the new owner of Galatine.

Immediately upon hearing that she was a saint, Quon, Esca’s expression her seemed to be surprised.

“Miss Quon… User of Gallatine?”

“The situation is urgent, so, sorry. I just happened to…”

Quon bowed her head toward Esca and apologized, but as if she did n’t have to, her Galatin’s blade her shone softly, showing her magical power her.

Esca looked at Cuon and Galatine for a while, then felt a clear connection between the two and could only nod her head.

“…I see. I’m just embarrassed because it’s unprecedented. If the Holy Sword recognized Miss Kuon as someone suitable to capture him. I don’t think it’s a part of me to comment on that contract.”

She spoke to Quon in a calm voice and with her kind face her.

In response to Esca’s response her, Quondo let out a sigh of relief as if she was fortunate, and bowed her head once again to thank her for her understanding her.

“Anyway, the mission to retrieve Galatine was completed safely. And it’s good that both of them returned to the capital.”

Watching Esca say that, Cleon hesitates for a moment before opening her mouth to Vera Stoll.

“Because this guy worked hard too. Praise him.”

Of course, those words were directed towards Esca.

Berastall gave a panicked voice like ‘what…’ And then looked in Esca’s direction.

Esca is like a very, very brief moment.

Her face her became cold like ice, then she covered it with a smile and smiled.

“Of course. I’d like to talk with Verastol a bit more and hear the details. Cleon. Miss Quon. Both of you must be tired from the long trip, so go back and rest for today.”

At Esca’s words, Cleon and Quon nodded and said goodbye and slowly left her office.

And the moment after they both left and the door to the office was completely closed-

Bang! A terrifying mana pressure weighed down the entire room.

“… Verastol. You, really. Really… You’re a mean kid.”

“Ah, ugh… Coot…”

Vera Stall felt the strain on her whole body her just by feeling the pressure of her mana her, and she sat down in her seat in a state of panic as she felt the pressure that made her breathless.

“Eh, Scar, sir. I’m sorry, I… “

All he could do was look at Esca expressing her anger in front of her, bow her head, and beg for her mercy her.

No matter how moderately masochistic she was, she could never feel pleasure or pleasure in this kind of pain and terror of hers.

“I have given you three orders. One, to retrieve Gallatin. The second, to kill Quon by faking her accident.”

As she spread her fingers one by one, Vera Stall nodded her head strongly as she looked at Esca as she spoke carefully.

“But both sides failed. Rather, since her Galatine passed to Quon, she can no longer harm her recklessly. If she dies, her Galatine will run out of control, and even that opportunity will be lost under her watch her..”

In other words, her impenetrable defense system her was completed, and Esca felt it was a burden to lay her hands on Quon any longer.

“Ah… That’s not all. Making Cleon pay attention to the likes of you. It’s unforgivable.”

And Esca, who was completely upset by Cleon’s actions a moment ago, approached Joa Lin Vera Stoll with her hair and slowly took off her head and helmet her.

Her quivering pink hair her slithered and fell to the ground.

“Berastor. …I can’t believe he had other feelings for Cleon.”

And whisper in her ear with a voice that comes from hell.

Vera Stoll stiffened her body, then immediately lifted her head and rocked her from side to side.

Is it a lie to survive, or is it from the heart?

The eyes of her Esca penetrate her and look inside her.

“Aaaaa…!”

And, Esca, who saw the emotions swirling inside her, immediately changed her expression and laughed as if she was having fun.

“Anyway, it seems that punishment for you was not necessary. To think that the feeling of tormenting and blaming yourself so much is weighing down your entire body…”

“Aww…!”

At Esca’s words to her, Vera Stoll hesitated as if she was shocked, and stepped back from her.

“Okay. Verastol. As for the punishment for you, let’s replace it with neglecting you as it is. Please, I hope you suffer from being weighed down by those emotions.”

“…Sorry…”

After saying that, Esca grabbed Vera Stoll’s chin as she looked away and made her look at herself.

“Okay. Let’s hear the result of the last order. You brought what you asked for, right?”

Vera Stoll shivered but nodded as she opened the bag she was carrying.

And the objects contained within it – shields and swords made of black metal.

Right away, it was to show them made of ‘Soul Eater Metal’ that was kept in the underground tomb.

“… Okay. I think this should be enough to create an empty part of ‘her’.”

And Esca nodded her head as if she was satisfied with that.

“Sure. Bring it to the laboratory. The rest will be taken care of by the humans there.”

“…I understand, Mr. Esca…”

Then, after giving the command in such a cold tone, Verastol used teleportation magic to grab his belongings his and disappear from the room.

Esca looks out the window of the empty room.

`Istal. Setos. …A relationship of collaboration with you for the time being with the same purpose… However. The keys I need are gathering in my hands one by one.`

Then, she raised her hand and squeezed it as if to grasp all the scenery of the royal capital overlooking it.

‘Surely… For Lesia and Cleon… I will make the ‘Journal of the Throne’…!’

It was to solidify his will her by repeating his own oath that he never forgot for a single day from ‘that day’.

002

What was waiting for Cleon and Quon, who had escaped from the Great War, was Aruru, who came to see their faces after hearing the news that the two had returned.

While the two were gone, the royal road was doing well, and Astarote’s influence was gradually waning.

And it was a story that the permission to enter the land where the spirit vein of fire was sleeping, which I had talked about before leaving, would soon drop.

“Whoop whoop~”

And Aruru, who heard the story of the adventures of the two from Quon and Cleon, made her hum as if she was in a good mood.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“That’s right. The two of them came back safely, but more than anything, I’m happy that Quon has become a ‘Hero’.”

“I…?`

When Quon tilts her head and feels a question, Aruru replies.

“Yeah. It was natural for me to be a hero since I was young, but… I didn’t have a hero my age around me. So-“

“Oh, isn’t that a bit wrong?”

The moment when the direction of the story was about to flow into a good story.

A voice interrupted the three people’s appreciation.

“If you’re the same ‘sacred sword user’. I was around you too, right?”

If you look there without even realizing it – there is a girl with blonde roll hair.

The figure of a tall woman accompanying such a girl caught my eye.

“It’s been a while. Aruru Tromeia. Was it about 10 years ago that you last met in person?”

Aruru looked at the girl who was speaking confidently to her for a moment.

Soon, as if she had remembered, she changed her expression to a slightly started expression and spoke.

“That amazing drill head… I can’t believe it, Merca Arcadios…?”

“Do you still remember people by the shape of their hair… Well, that part doesn’t seem to have changed.”

Merca frowned at Aruru’s words, but she waved her hand and looked away as if the story was over.

“Arcadios… Is it the Marquis of Arcadios?”

“Oh my. You seem to be studying better than I thought. Magic Swordsman Cleon.”

She praises her for knowing about her own family, but the marquis’ family is the second most powerful family after the duke’s family.

Among them, I had heard from Aruru that the Arcadios family was so prestigious that it was comparable to the Tromeia family in the past.

However, because they do not have their base in the royal capital and do not come out of their own territory, they are also a family that is widely recognized as a local aristocrat in the royal capital.

“You know about me as if for granted.”

“Yeah, since I’ve finished an investigation. Regarding this matter.”

“This day…?”

Hearing her voice say that, Cleon felt a bit uneasy and asked back.

“Magic swordsman Cleon. Saint Quon. And- the magician Lyla in your lodgings. The three of you should help me with my work.”

“Wait. So suddenly… What is work in the first place?”

Cleon asks, looking at the woman who has been talking like that on her own.

“-Merka is the kingdom’s special investigator. Her job is to pursue the truth behind criminal cases occurring in various regions.”

When Aruru replies to that instead, Merca nods her head confidently.

“It’s just as she said. And what I’m after- a criminal on the run who has escaped from prison. It has something to do with Cleon and Quon.”

“… Wait a minute- No way.”

It seemed that Cleon’s anxiety was slowly turning into reality.

Quon also hugged Galatin more tightly, who was holding her in her arms her, perhaps realizing the meaning of her words her.

“The criminal’s name is Alvein. In the past, he belonged to the same party as you, the ‘Brave Raider’.”