Chapter 186: Evil (3)

Jermain’s group, heading to the lord’s castle, was stopped at the entrance.

“You can’t come in.”

“Do you even know what’s happening right now?!”

[…]

The iron gates were tightly shut, and the knights guarding them said no more.

Charlotte, furious, shouted.

“All of the territory is in chaos and you’re just standing there?! What the hell are you supposed to be doing?!”

No matter how much of a scene she made, she got no answer.

Jermain, standing behind, looked into the castle through the closed gate.

It seemed they were aware of what was happening in Francèse, as troops moved hurriedly. Sometimes, a side door would open and a mounted squad would exit the castle.

Jermain stepped forward.

“Does that order to keep us out come directly from the feudal lord?”

“…”

“I don’t know if it’s the lord himself or a representative, but tell them a friend of Lord Laurent has come. I have a good relationship with him.”

At his words, one of the knights, who had remained silent, looked at him.

Jermain added.

“And not just with Lord Laurent. I’m also friends with the third prince.”

“…”

“See this?”

He showed the emblem of the Allied Army Comrades Association attached to his priestly robe.

“I’m a veteran of the Alliance. I served as a campaign priest.”

Only then was there a response.

After a brief pause, the knight replied quietly.

“Wait a moment.”

Then he sent a messenger into the castle, and shortly after, they returned with a response. The knight who had spoken to Jermain opened the gate for them.

As soon as Jermain’s group entered, the gates shut tightly again.

“Follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

The knight didn’t answer. The atmosphere inside the castle was tense.

Soon they were brought before a middle-aged knight. Seated at a desk, he was reading something with a visibly weary face.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

He raised his head.

“I’m Jess Flandre, brother of Lord Lian. So, you’re a friend of Laurent?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve come a long way.”

He nodded.

“So, have the zombies spread a lot out there?”

“You already knew?”

“Not in detail. We’re still trying to grasp the situation.”

“It all began at the Académie Française.”

Jermain spoke firmly.

“This man here is a researcher we rescued from that place.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Hey, can you explain something?”

The researcher looked confused.

“Explain? Well, I just woke up and everything was already a mess…”

“Nothing happened before that?”

“Well… I’m not sure…”

“Nothing like experiments with magic or drugs?”

“I don’t know…”

“In any case, I felt something strange at the Académie Française. I’m sure it all started there.”

Jess nodded.

“As a priest, you must have sensed it.”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t worry too much. We’ve already sent an emissary to the capital.”

“But His Majesty must be confronting the Empire in Bezos…”

“Ah, you didn’t know.”

He tapped the desk with his pen and said.

“For now, His Highness the Crown Prince is acting on His Majesty’s behalf. He’s already been informed about what happened in Francèse, so he’ll surely send reinforcements.”

“Ah, if it’s the Crown Prince…”

Jermain let out a sigh of relief.

All of Briol knew Cedric. He was intelligent, kind-hearted, and widely seen as ready to govern the kingdom at any time.

“That’s a relief.”

“You think so…?”

Just then, someone entered and whispered something to Jess, who then disappeared. Jess traced a line on the map on his desk.

Jermain asked.

“By the way, what about the feudal lord…?”

“He’s ill.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t seem to want to talk more about it and waved his hand.

“I’ll assign you a room to rest. If you’re a friend of Laurent, I can’t just let you go like that.”

“Thank you.”

Jermain’s group left the office. Outside, a servant awaited them.

“This way, please.”

“Alright.”

Charlotte patted Jermain on the shoulder.

“Thanks to you, everything went well. I appreciate it.”

“You were the one who saved us. No need for thanks.”

As they exchanged kind words, Jermain looked at the researcher. He had risked the priest’s assistant’s life to save him, but didn’t say much.

Jermain told him.

“Hey, I hope you live with dignity for that friend who died for you. I’m not being sarcastic—I mean it.”

“Ah, yes. I know. Thank you very much.”

Then, suddenly, the researcher sneered.

“Thanks to you, I managed to get into the castle, didn’t I?”

“What?”

Suddenly, the researcher lunged at Jermain. But Charlotte kicked him instantly. The researcher fell to the ground.

“What the hell?”

The researcher got up glaring at Charlotte, then changed direction and lunged at the servant.

He started biting the servant’s neck, flashing a bloody smile.

“Hehehe…”

Jermain was so stunned he didn’t know what to do. Charlotte drew her sword.

“A zombie? But… does it have consciousness?”

The servant, convulsing on the ground, soon began to move. He became a zombie.

The researcher pushed the new zombie toward them and fled in the opposite direction.

“Stop!”

Charlotte decapitated the zombie in one swing and shouted while running after the researcher:

“That human! He’s the host of the zombies! Stop him!”

It happened so suddenly that no one could react in time.

Jermain stood in shock, watching the chase.

In the distance, screams started to echo.

Jermain looked down at the servant’s corpse that Charlotte had killed.

“What the hell is going on…?”

***

Cedric immediately sent the remaining troops to seal off Française and dispatched a messenger to Bezos with a summarized report.

The exact cause was unknown, but it was clear something was happening.

Yuri spoke sincerely to Laurent.

“Something like that…?”

Laurent’s pupils trembled with unease. Yuri placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. They say my brother is handling it well.”

“But why completely seal the place…?”

“I’m sure he has his reasons.”

Laurent opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again. Yuri continued.

“It’s a plague. So they sealed off the routes to prevent further spread. It was decided to send priests and doctors.”

“You called it a plague? The Crown Prince said that?”

“Yes.”

Yuri did everything he could to reassure Laurent.

He knew Laurent didn’t trust Cedric, but Cedric was the one currently managing the kingdom’s affairs.

“Your Highness…”

Laurent spoke.

“I’m sorry, but I think I have to go.”

“Go?”

Yuri shook his head.

“I already told you it’s sealed. And in any case, even if you went, you wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

“Even so, I must go.”

“Laurent. Wait a little.”

Yuri lowered his head and thought for a moment before speaking.

“Why don’t you wait just a little longer?”

“Your Highness.”

“Be honest. You’re uneasy because of my brother Cedric, aren’t you?”

“Well…”

“It’s understandable.”

Yuri looked Laurent in the eyes.

“But right now, the imperial army is right in front of us. We need every available man. And you’re a key asset.”

“I know.”

“And besides, even if you went, you couldn’t do anything. It’s a plague. It’s best if you don’t go.”

Laurent couldn’t respond.

Yuri was right. He couldn’t do anything about a plague.

The best course was to minimize movement and wait for the territory to stabilize.

Still, an inexplicable unease grew in Laurent’s chest. As Yuri said, it was because of Cedric.

The story of the white bird wouldn’t stop bothering him.

As absurd as it sounded, paranoid thoughts started to take root—what if Cedric was plotting something against Française?

“Yes. You’re right, Your Highness.”

Laurent let out a sigh. He wanted to ease the pressure inside by exhaling, but it didn’t help much.

“I think I let my worry get the better of me.”

“It’s alright.”

Yuri patted him on the shoulder.

“I’d be worried too. But hold on a little longer. We’re at a critical point.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s leave Française to Lord Lian. He’s an exceptional knight.”

As he said this, a war horn sounded outside.

“Again?”

The imperial army didn’t only attack the fortress of Bezos. Sometimes, they sent troops to raid nearby villages.

Each time, Briol dispatched squads of knights in response.

“Laurent, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Both ran out immediately. Horses and equipment were already prepared. Jared and the other knights arrived behind them.

They formed a unit and moved out. The castle gates began to open in rhythm with their march.

They crossed the exit without hesitation.

While galloping behind Yuri, Laurent looked south, where Française lay. He felt he should go.

But he quickly shook his head.

Yuri was right.

Even if a disaster really had occurred, his duty was to remain at Yuri’s side.

That was what he had to do. Française had to be left in the hands of his father and Cedric.

Suddenly, Laurent flinched and looked up at the sky. The clouds moved under the open sky. Occasionally, birds flew by, but there was no sign of the eerie white bird that had troubled him so.

***

Cedric was sitting in his office.

From time to time, light flickered from the crystal orb on his desk.

“That’s right.”

He murmured to himself.

“By holding Fiore at Française, Bezos will be exposed. Then they’ll no longer have the strength to defend it. But Fiore is stronger than I expected. So…”

He referred to his own father by name, as if speaking of a stranger.

“The Shadowless Sword must come here.”

Inside the crystal orb, silence reigned. Cedric smiled and said:

“Why?”

[It’s dangerous.]

“Don’t worry.”

Cedric smiled as he took off his glasses and set them on the desk.

“I’ve thought it all through. So send the Shadowless Sword as soon as possible. As quickly as possible. Understood?”

[Understood.]

“Hurry. I want to finish this before Moyongchan returns.”

[What do you plan to do with Briol?]

“I’ll arrange a temporary ceasefire at the royal palace… No, perhaps it’s better to eliminate it completely.”

Cedric thought for a moment and then nodded.

“For now, we’ll leave it. And the Holy Kingdom?”

[It’s locked in a fierce battle with Brusen. Since the Holy Knight hasn’t intervened, Brusen has the upper hand.]

“I see.”

[What should we do?]

“Leave them.”

Then suddenly, Cedric narrowed his eyes coldly.

“For now, don’t contact me again.”

He stored the crystal orb in the drawer and began organizing the papers on his desk.

Shortly after, someone knocked on the door.

“May I come in?”

“Yes. Come in.”

The one who appeared when the door opened was a young man with salmon-colored hair.

It was Inariel, one of the Ten Greats and holder of the title of Grand Archmage.

“What brings you here?”

“Hmm…”

Inariel narrowed his eyes as he observed Cedric. Cedric shrugged and met his gaze with a smile.

Inariel spoke.

“They say you’ll be king.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Better you than that useless man who only knows how to swing a sword.”

“Haha…”

“This room is too dark. You’ll ruin your eyesight. That’s why you wear glasses, isn’t it?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Look, I’ll be away for a while. If Yuri comes, give him this.”

It was a letter.

“Don’t read it.”

“Understood. Though I’m sad you’re leaving. I felt safer with you here. I’d like to keep you… for Briol’s sake.”

“You’ve got a silver tongue, boy.”

“I mean it. Is it something urgent?”

“Yes. But it won’t take long. Besides, there’s not much I can do here…”

Inariel sighed. His face was young, but his expression was that of an old man.

“Well, that’s it. Take care.”

“Alright.”

And so, Inariel left the office. For one of the Ten Greats, his departure was surprisingly simple.

Cedric looked at the letter.

Inariel, unaware of his true identity, had sealed it with a light spell.

If someone tried to open it by force, Inariel would know. But Cedric had his own method.

A black smoke rose from his hand and wrapped around the letter. Then, without breaking the seal, the inner sheet floated out of the envelope.

The sheet was completely blank. That too was part of Inariel’s spell.

Cedric waved his hand again. The black smoke enveloped the sheet and, little by little, the letters began to appear.

“Hmm…”