After a tough battle, we entered Count Garneth's mansion again.
The purpose was to give the injured Chihara and Netanya, who must have been very shocked, a chance to rest and interrogate Marquis Zenger.
But there was a problem that had to be dealt with before that.
“Your Highness, what is this...”
The Countess's eyes trembled without a trace as she stood in the hallway welcoming us.
The eyes of the servants lined up behind her didn't look much different.
A look of awe and fear.
It was because I forgot that many eyes were watching me as the battle happened suddenly.
'If we leave it like this, annoying rumors will start to spread.'
But I had neither the time nor the energy to waste on such trivial matters.
“Your Excellency, may I ask you to take care of the rest?”
Based on what we've seen of Bayen's abilities so far, erasing people's memories would be nothing.
As expected, Bayen nodded coolly.
“I’ll take care of the little things, so you just do what you have to do.”
"Thank you."
After expressing my gratitude with a light bow, I headed to the basement with the Crown Prince and Delton.
As I opened the old wooden door that was cracked here and there, dampness and an unpleasant smell rushed into my nostrils, but I entered the basement without any hesitation.
Phew-
Marquis Zenger, who was dragged floating in the air, bound by Delton's ability, was roughly thrown into a corner of the basement.
“Ugh.”
His appearance was truly gruesome, with all his limbs cut off, only his head and torso remaining, and pus oozing from one eye.
So much so that even the strongest of hearts would be unable to read it without frowning.
But I, who was actually contributing to his appearance, just stared at him with an indifferent expression.
No matter how much he suffers, why should I be the only one who has found out the secret of my mother's death?
The physical pain of the Marquis of Zenger was nothing compared to my mental pain.
I stared blankly at him groaning in pain under the dim light, then quickly walked over to him.
“You look terrible, Grandpa.”
“Ahhhh!”
As I pressed the toe of my shoe against the cut section of the arm, Marquis Zenger grimaced and twisted his body wildly.
“According to the research conducted at the temple, the Ibis’ mineral is said to be impervious to human weapons and impervious to fire... It seems that a body made of such a mineral can feel pain. It would be worth studying.”
“What the... Are you saying you’re going to use me as a test subject?”
“Of course. I mean, you're the first human to have your body turned into minerals, so shouldn’t you?”
"Ha."
The Marquis looked up at me with eyes that seemed to be filled with emotion, and I spoke to him in a soft voice as if to reassure him.
“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I won’t kill you. Wouldn’t we be able to learn more by studying your living body?”
“...”
“I heard that the temple researchers recently developed an elixir of immortality.”
“Immortal, you say?”
“Yes. His Majesty has banned it, saying that it is a drug that goes against the laws of nature, but I think differently. It may not be right to administer it to ordinary people, but what about criminals who have committed serious crimes? Those who have committed crimes too serious to be punished with death... people like you, for example.”
I looked at the Marquis and smiled.
“Grandpa will live an immortal life as a test subject for the temple researchers. As a test subject who will face tomorrow no matter how much you wish for death.”
“...”
“But if you cooperate with me, I will finish the experiment as quickly as possible and give you rest. Even so, it will take several decades for the research to be completed, but you will still be able to enjoy the goddess’s blessing. So...”
I grabbed him by the collar and twisted my mouth.
“Tell me everything you know about Ibis.”
There was no point in holding the Marquis and complaining about why he killed my mother.
Because the interrogator's frustration only gives the prisoner a sense of satisfaction and superiority.
So I tried to get the information I needed, calmly and with as little emotion as possible.
But the Marquis just smiled brightly as if he had seen right through my thoughts.
“You’re naive, Shayne. Do you really think that kind of threat would work on me?”
“...”
“No matter how much you make me a living test subject and cause me eternal suffering, I will not betray my master. That means there is nothing you can find out about her.”
It was a truly leisurely laugh.
I stared at him blankly.
“That’s incredible loyalty. I want to test how long that loyalty will last.”
“I told you it was useless. No matter what you do, I will never open my mouth.”
“Well, can you say that in the face of your own child’s suffering?”
"What?"
The Marquis' eyebrows rose askance as if asking what he meant.
“You said that the reason you swore loyalty to Ibis was because of your second son’s life. I wonder if you will be able to maintain your loyalty to Ibis while watching your son suffer under my thumb.”
“What are you... You’re not saying you’re going to take my son hostage, are you?”
“Why not?”
Just as I was making eye contact with the Marquis and smiling, the basement door opened and Bayen came inside.
I smiled at Bayen, who was looking at me with indifferent eyes as usual and asked.
“What happened to the people?”
“Everyone is asleep. When they wake up, they won’t remember anything.”
“As expected, you are of the blood of a goddess. You’ve worked hard. But, I’m sorry, but can I ask you one more favor?”
“What is it?”
“He has two sons. The first son is from the Marquisate of Zenger, and the second son, who received a different title, is probably sleeping in the Count of Water’s residence, ignorant of the world.”
"So?"
“Could you bring them here? Delton said he can only use his powers within the range he’s in.”
When I frowned as if I was apologetic, Bayen shrugged his shoulders slightly.
“It won’t be difficult.”
And then in an instant, he disappeared like smoke.
But that was only a fleeting moment, and he reappeared shortly thereafter.
With two sturdy middle-aged men.
Silver hair that shines softly and gray eyes.
They looked just like the young Marquis of Zenger and looked around in bewilderment.
“Where is this...”
“Am I dreaming?”
But that was only for a moment, as he was startled to see the Marquis lying in the corner, his body covered in wounds.
“Oh, Father!”
“What is this! Why is my father like this...!”
They ran up to the Marquis, hugged him, and screamed loudly, but soon their eyes sparkled and they glared at us.
“You guys! How dare you bring this upon our father!”
“How dare you harm the Marquis of the Empire. Reveal your identity immediately...!”
The second child, who had been growling with a face red from anger, stopped for a moment.
“You, aren’t you the daughter of Mushikan? Why are you, who should be in the temple, in a place like this...”
It was a very embarrassed expression.
And it was the same as the first one.
“Your Highness? Are you the Crown Prince?”
The eldest son, who discovered the Crown Prince, had a bewildered expression.
“Your Highness, what has happened? How did my father end up like this, and how did Your Highness and the Saintess end up here...”
“You two couldn’t have done this to my father, could you?”
“Why are you not speaking? Please answer, Your Highness!”
It was at that time that they sensed something was wrong and were harassing us fiercely.
“Hayden, Marcus. Stop it.”
Marquis Zenger, who had been calmly dissuading his children, stared at me with a stern face.
“Your temper has gotten much worse since I last saw you, Shayne. When you were young, you couldn’t even kill an ant, but now you’re threatening me over my bloodline.”
“Well, it’s not that I’ve changed, it’s just that I’ve changed depending on the situation. The ants are just a little annoying, but they’re innocent, and you are the one who killed my mother.”
“Huh. The words are like a knife, stabbing my lungs.”
He nodded his head coolly, smiling faintly as if he had just had a drink.
“Yes, you are right. I also killed your mother, so what can I say if you kill my own flesh and blood?”
“Huh? Killing your mother?”
“Father, what on earth is that...”
The Marquis' children asked with puzzled expressions.
Marquis Zenger, who had been quietly watching them, slowly closed his eyes.
When his eyes opened again, there was no emotion whatsoever.
Just like the voice that flows out afterward.
“Kill them.”
“...”
“In any case, these are the lives we have saved thanks to the grace of Ibis. We have enjoyed many things by following his will, so what regrets do we have? Kill them as much as you want.”
The way he spoke was so pious that I couldn't help but chuckle.
I stared at the Marquis with a smiling face, and after a long time, I finally opened my mouth.
“Why do you think I would kill them?”
The purpose was to give the injured Chihara and Netanya, who must have been very shocked, a chance to rest and interrogate Marquis Zenger.
But there was a problem that had to be dealt with before that.
“Your Highness, what is this...”
The Countess's eyes trembled without a trace as she stood in the hallway welcoming us.
The eyes of the servants lined up behind her didn't look much different.
A look of awe and fear.
It was because I forgot that many eyes were watching me as the battle happened suddenly.
'If we leave it like this, annoying rumors will start to spread.'
But I had neither the time nor the energy to waste on such trivial matters.
“Your Excellency, may I ask you to take care of the rest?”
Based on what we've seen of Bayen's abilities so far, erasing people's memories would be nothing.
As expected, Bayen nodded coolly.
“I’ll take care of the little things, so you just do what you have to do.”
"Thank you."
After expressing my gratitude with a light bow, I headed to the basement with the Crown Prince and Delton.
As I opened the old wooden door that was cracked here and there, dampness and an unpleasant smell rushed into my nostrils, but I entered the basement without any hesitation.
Phew-
Marquis Zenger, who was dragged floating in the air, bound by Delton's ability, was roughly thrown into a corner of the basement.
“Ugh.”
His appearance was truly gruesome, with all his limbs cut off, only his head and torso remaining, and pus oozing from one eye.
So much so that even the strongest of hearts would be unable to read it without frowning.
But I, who was actually contributing to his appearance, just stared at him with an indifferent expression.
No matter how much he suffers, why should I be the only one who has found out the secret of my mother's death?
The physical pain of the Marquis of Zenger was nothing compared to my mental pain.
I stared blankly at him groaning in pain under the dim light, then quickly walked over to him.
“You look terrible, Grandpa.”
“Ahhhh!”
As I pressed the toe of my shoe against the cut section of the arm, Marquis Zenger grimaced and twisted his body wildly.
“According to the research conducted at the temple, the Ibis’ mineral is said to be impervious to human weapons and impervious to fire... It seems that a body made of such a mineral can feel pain. It would be worth studying.”
“What the... Are you saying you’re going to use me as a test subject?”
“Of course. I mean, you're the first human to have your body turned into minerals, so shouldn’t you?”
"Ha."
The Marquis looked up at me with eyes that seemed to be filled with emotion, and I spoke to him in a soft voice as if to reassure him.
“Don’t worry, Grandpa. I won’t kill you. Wouldn’t we be able to learn more by studying your living body?”
“...”
“I heard that the temple researchers recently developed an elixir of immortality.”
“Immortal, you say?”
“Yes. His Majesty has banned it, saying that it is a drug that goes against the laws of nature, but I think differently. It may not be right to administer it to ordinary people, but what about criminals who have committed serious crimes? Those who have committed crimes too serious to be punished with death... people like you, for example.”
I looked at the Marquis and smiled.
“Grandpa will live an immortal life as a test subject for the temple researchers. As a test subject who will face tomorrow no matter how much you wish for death.”
“...”
“But if you cooperate with me, I will finish the experiment as quickly as possible and give you rest. Even so, it will take several decades for the research to be completed, but you will still be able to enjoy the goddess’s blessing. So...”
I grabbed him by the collar and twisted my mouth.
“Tell me everything you know about Ibis.”
There was no point in holding the Marquis and complaining about why he killed my mother.
Because the interrogator's frustration only gives the prisoner a sense of satisfaction and superiority.
So I tried to get the information I needed, calmly and with as little emotion as possible.
But the Marquis just smiled brightly as if he had seen right through my thoughts.
“You’re naive, Shayne. Do you really think that kind of threat would work on me?”
“...”
“No matter how much you make me a living test subject and cause me eternal suffering, I will not betray my master. That means there is nothing you can find out about her.”
It was a truly leisurely laugh.
I stared at him blankly.
“That’s incredible loyalty. I want to test how long that loyalty will last.”
“I told you it was useless. No matter what you do, I will never open my mouth.”
“Well, can you say that in the face of your own child’s suffering?”
"What?"
The Marquis' eyebrows rose askance as if asking what he meant.
“You said that the reason you swore loyalty to Ibis was because of your second son’s life. I wonder if you will be able to maintain your loyalty to Ibis while watching your son suffer under my thumb.”
“What are you... You’re not saying you’re going to take my son hostage, are you?”
“Why not?”
Just as I was making eye contact with the Marquis and smiling, the basement door opened and Bayen came inside.
I smiled at Bayen, who was looking at me with indifferent eyes as usual and asked.
“What happened to the people?”
“Everyone is asleep. When they wake up, they won’t remember anything.”
“As expected, you are of the blood of a goddess. You’ve worked hard. But, I’m sorry, but can I ask you one more favor?”
“What is it?”
“He has two sons. The first son is from the Marquisate of Zenger, and the second son, who received a different title, is probably sleeping in the Count of Water’s residence, ignorant of the world.”
"So?"
“Could you bring them here? Delton said he can only use his powers within the range he’s in.”
When I frowned as if I was apologetic, Bayen shrugged his shoulders slightly.
“It won’t be difficult.”
And then in an instant, he disappeared like smoke.
But that was only a fleeting moment, and he reappeared shortly thereafter.
With two sturdy middle-aged men.
Silver hair that shines softly and gray eyes.
They looked just like the young Marquis of Zenger and looked around in bewilderment.
“Where is this...”
“Am I dreaming?”
But that was only for a moment, as he was startled to see the Marquis lying in the corner, his body covered in wounds.
“Oh, Father!”
“What is this! Why is my father like this...!”
They ran up to the Marquis, hugged him, and screamed loudly, but soon their eyes sparkled and they glared at us.
“You guys! How dare you bring this upon our father!”
“How dare you harm the Marquis of the Empire. Reveal your identity immediately...!”
The second child, who had been growling with a face red from anger, stopped for a moment.
“You, aren’t you the daughter of Mushikan? Why are you, who should be in the temple, in a place like this...”
It was a very embarrassed expression.
And it was the same as the first one.
“Your Highness? Are you the Crown Prince?”
The eldest son, who discovered the Crown Prince, had a bewildered expression.
“Your Highness, what has happened? How did my father end up like this, and how did Your Highness and the Saintess end up here...”
“You two couldn’t have done this to my father, could you?”
“Why are you not speaking? Please answer, Your Highness!”
It was at that time that they sensed something was wrong and were harassing us fiercely.
“Hayden, Marcus. Stop it.”
Marquis Zenger, who had been calmly dissuading his children, stared at me with a stern face.
“Your temper has gotten much worse since I last saw you, Shayne. When you were young, you couldn’t even kill an ant, but now you’re threatening me over my bloodline.”
“Well, it’s not that I’ve changed, it’s just that I’ve changed depending on the situation. The ants are just a little annoying, but they’re innocent, and you are the one who killed my mother.”
“Huh. The words are like a knife, stabbing my lungs.”
He nodded his head coolly, smiling faintly as if he had just had a drink.
“Yes, you are right. I also killed your mother, so what can I say if you kill my own flesh and blood?”
“Huh? Killing your mother?”
“Father, what on earth is that...”
The Marquis' children asked with puzzled expressions.
Marquis Zenger, who had been quietly watching them, slowly closed his eyes.
When his eyes opened again, there was no emotion whatsoever.
Just like the voice that flows out afterward.
“Kill them.”
“...”
“In any case, these are the lives we have saved thanks to the grace of Ibis. We have enjoyed many things by following his will, so what regrets do we have? Kill them as much as you want.”
The way he spoke was so pious that I couldn't help but chuckle.
I stared at the Marquis with a smiling face, and after a long time, I finally opened my mouth.
“Why do you think I would kill them?”
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