Chapter 119

(119)

The pleasant time of distributing the tribute items had ended, but we couldn’t walk away smiling, for the truly heavy matters hadn’t even begun yet.

Lady Jeilliris said as she dumped the frozen corpses onto the desk in her study, “Wasn’t this the first time the Infiltrators targeted you so precisely?”

“That is correct.”

It had been the case during the time of Matheos and Jin as well, and even at the monastery. Until now, it had always been me stumbling upon them or accidentally getting entangled with them. They had never chased me this directly until now.

“I believe this situation is entirely different from the previous encounters.”

Lady Jeilliris tapped the armrest of her chair.

“Heretic cults don’t spread without missionaries.”

“That is correct.”

Simply hearing the mental waves transmitted from somewhere or reading the characters left behind by the Infiltrators could lead to exposure. A healthy and devout believer might be able to resist it, but for someone who has gone through particularly tough days or is feeling emotionally weak, the old forces can slip into one’s dreams, gradually mutating the mind and eventually eroding the body.

Once you become an Infiltrator, whether you like it or not, you are compelled to continue sacrificing offerings to sustain your body, naturally leading to connections with fellow kindred.

In essence, it’s not the structure of one clear organization, but rather a loose network of multiple small organizations.

It is naturally very difficult to destroy them completely, but correspondingly, they also struggle to act in an organized manner.

In the end, the events caused by them have remained on the level of isolated, powerful individuals.

“However, this time seems different. There were ominous signs at the house of Duke Purioaito.”

“Yes. Based on the circumstances, the Duke seemed to be dreaming of his sister’s resurrection and had formed ties with the Infiltrators.”

“In Alchenberg, they even corrupted the head of the monastery.”

“What happened to Count Dorkaiss?”

He had a strong suspicion that Count Dorkaiss had deliberately lured undead creatures towards the heir of the Antares family, who was set to marry his daughter.

Considering how the abbott had chosen corruption in order to save the corrupted part of that Lord’s son, it seemed natural to believe that the Infiltrators had been involved with Count Dorkaiss from the start.

“That’s why I regularly meet with Matheos at the cathedral every Sunday to keep up with the investigation.”

“Could you share that information with me as well?”

“It is a report submitted by the heretic examiner after visiting the count’s city. Count Dorkaiss was involved in a large-scale purge of three thousand undead entities and several hundred Infiltrators. During that time, he encountered serious attacks from the Infiltrators; once the corruption became too severe, he committed suicide by requesting purification from a priest.”

“!”

I could easily infer the details behind the scenes.

“To save his daughter and his family, he carried everything upon his shoulders.”

“Since his death was noble, everything was quietly covered up. The entire countship was cleaned out meticulously.”

“You have been merciful.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

It was fortunate that it ended here.

Since the count’s affairs affect hundreds of thousands of subjects, pulling in a corrupted noble would be like offering up the entire territory to act as sacrifices.

The Infiltrator’s scheming was slowly becoming more aggressive and sophisticated.

Lady Jeilliris smiled faintly and said, “So, we cannot know what the future holds. If you had not risked your life to fight for Duke Seberik, what would have happened between the Duke and the Imperial Court?”

Hearing her words, I let out a hum of acknowledgment. The thought that things could have broken down between Duke Seberik and the court due to just three Infiltrators was sobering.

The idea alone sent chills down my spine.

“Therefore, I have no choice but to trust you. You may not understand, but aren’t results what matter?”

The emperor intentionally shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly to shift the topic back.

“These are colossal strategies that no mere network could ever dream of achieving. Now it is established fact that they have formed a massive organization.”

“They cannot be allowed to establish branches within the capital. Furthermore, the lords of the provinces must be especially vigilant against corruption.”

This was the same thing Bishop Paolavan of Hong had said when he opposed Argos — that the Infiltrators were spreading through regional bases and the secular nobles couldn’t be trusted.

“You’re absolutely right. To achieve proper monitoring and comprehensive interference, we may, ultimately, have no choice but to turn to the Church again.”

Lady Jeilliris frowned, as if troubled.

Smiling confidently, I replied, “Please leave it to me. If you give the word, I shall take a Saint on a Wyvern and fly wherever you desire.”

Lady Jeilliris smiled faintly.

“Indeed. My ruffian, you’re reliable.”

** * **

I returned to the secondary palace carrying the tribute bag emptied of frozen corpses, attempting to ask Lady Jeilliris why she had chosen those particular medicines, but was hesitant to speak up.

Before this reincarnation, it seemed I never consumed such things, though perhaps she intended to research and mass-produce them.

Lady Jeilliris was preoccupied with generally improving the skills of the knights and, surprisingly, had cared about public welfare. She continued to teach imperial swordsmanship and had decided to install focusing lanterns in the capital from this year onward.

“Welcome back! Wipe your hands and rest. Would you like me to cut some fruit for you?”

Rudi greeted me warmly with sparkling green eyes.

Before this reincarnation, regardless of how many missions I had completed, returning to the palace provided no warm welcome.

“Your Highness Valencianus? Did the report go smoothly?”

Lady Trentia was drying her freshly washed hair with a towel. Apparently, she had been practicing swordsmanship in the training yard behind the palace, even though I had instructed her to go home.

“You’re quite diligent, Lady.”

She was wearing loose, everyday clothing, unusual for her. Her slightly tanned face contrasted sharply with her hands, which were stark white, the veins clearly visible through the skin.

She must have never removed her gloves, even if she had taken off her helmet.

“Hmm. Actually, today I was just as eagerly awaiting the bag your highness was carrying.”

She confessed, her face as red as her hair was long.

“It should naturally be this way. Providing for the full stomachs of your guards and intimates is very important for the royal family.”

I motioned for Rudi to sit beside me as I opened the large tribute bag.

“Just for your information, all the magic swords were taken by His Majesty. It seems he plans to distribute them among the knights who have distinguished themselves.”

Lady Trentia, fortunately, showed no disappointment.

“That’s fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“I usually adapt my style for differing situations. In my case, since I frequently engage in cavalry battles and chaotic skirmishes, it’s important for me to immediately draw mana blades whenever necessary. Magic swords often come with runes on the blade, requiring a bit more focus.”

“Ah, I didn’t know that. Then what about these? They’re Dwarf-made silver steel longswords.”

I produced a longsword from the bag.

Lady Trentia stared at it with a look akin to seeing heaps of gold coins.

“The imperial workshop’s swords are fine in their own right, but it would be impossible not to covet these.”

“Are they really that good?”

She looked at the sword with eyes burning with eagerness.

“Knights willing to trade their left hand or their firstborn for such a sword would line up around the block.”

I hesitated for a moment after reaching for the sword to present it to Lady Trentia. Rising from the sofa, I cleared my throat and carefully drew the sword from its scabbard.

The clean ‘swish’ resonated as the thick, wide blade gleamed like a mirror.

From the leather-wrapped hilt to the crossguard, it was solid silver steel, and a large ruby was embedded in the center of the crossguard, complementing Lady Trentia perfectly.

The sword was the Frozen Flame, known as ‘Hwanhan.’

“Your Highness.”

Lady Trentia knelt before me with joy, placing her left knee on the ground.

Rudi covered her mouth with both hands and gasped silently.

I held the sword horizontally and said,

“Knight Trentia. Will you continue to dedicate yourself to me, His Majesty the Emperor, and the Empire?”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

“Will you serve your lord faithfully, uphold the light with devotion, and protect the weak with justice?”

“Yes. Your Highness.”

“Then henceforth, this sword belongs to you. Carry it always and guard my back.”

“Yes. Your Highness!”

I carefully held out the sword’s blade, offering her the handle.

Knight Trentia, overcome with romance, took the hilt of ‘Hwanhan.’

She must feel some resentment for now serving not as a Platinum Knight of the Emperor but as the bodyguard of a mere ruffian, but I am grateful for her constant dedication, so I must repay her somehow.

Rudi was giggling, as if she had just finished reading a novel and was still reeling from it.

“Woah…”

I smiled and turned toward Rudi.

“Rudi.”

“Yes, yes?”

“There have been so many events, and no doubt, there will be more to come. I’m just grateful that you’re still by my side, helping me since I was seven.”

“Lord Valen…”

“Although it’s annoying that we are in a time when I have to give you such things and ask such things of you, as long as we’re tossed into this era, we must give our utmost to advance together.”

“Whatever you ask… I’ll follow wherever you lead.”

“Take this dagger to protect yourself, and guard yourself well.”

I held out a pair of short daggers to Rudi.

They were thick-bladed but narrow and sharp.

“Those are magic daggers. They are top-tier magic tools, so they barely use mana.”

“How do I use them?”

“Infuse mana into the grip.”

As Rudi focused, frost and dew formed along the blade within moments, and the blade extended more than a foot.

It was the Living Winter, called ‘Sengdong.’

“It can extend up to two feet.”

Since these daggers are not overly short, they would become nearly longswords in single-hand dimensions when extended by two feet.

Rudi happily grasped the daggers in both hands, joyfully testing the blade’s extension and retraction.

“Lord Valen! They’re so light and easy to use! I’ll take good care of them.”

In the case of a chaotic melee, Rudi could also become involved in close combat. I hope she has better weapons for when it happens.

For now, I’ve given her leather armor, but once ‘Aquateg’ is produced, I’ll buy it for her.

“Good.”

Holding ‘Hwanhan,’ Lady Trentia commented,

“Your highness seems to have secured a blade for yourself as well.”

“Right. Mine’s worn out from overuse, so the edge has begun to show cracks recently. This one has a narrower blade than yours. It’s a Dwarf-made black steel sword. The name is ‘Black Tear.’ It means black tears.”

She chuckled contentedly.

“A name that seems like it’ll make enemies shed bloody tears.”

Then she dropped a thunderclap on us.

“Now that you’ve acquired good weapons, we should test them, shouldn’t we? Shall we head to the training ground?”

Rudi and I looked at each other.

Her green eyes trembled.

She seemed to be saying it’s absolutely impossible.

“Knight Trentia, will you reconsider just once?”

“59.”

* * *

I headed toward the Royal Magic Guild to find Sererassie.

In the large hall, the apprentices and students, carrying all sorts of potions, grimoires, papers, parchments, and odds and ends, shuffled about solemnly, looking like they hadn’t rested for a week.

Apparently, because of Sererassie, other guild masters have been consumed with competition and zeal and had begun pushing hard on research and mass production, and its effects were starting to show.

I carried a heavy basket filled with freshly baked bread, ham, and cheese down to the middle floor.

There were cats playing around in Sererassie’s workshop.

Among them were animals with three tails, four heads, and others that shot flames from each of their paws.

On closer inspection, these weren’t cats but slimes.

… What kind of research was she conducting?

“I’m here! Take this bread!”

The students and apprentices who were almost dead mobbed me, bowing their heads and grabbing the basket.

From inside came Sererassie’s crisp voice.

“Could you wait a second? It seems I have an embarrassing younger sibling.”

“Why are you speaking so casually? I’m actually the senior.”

“I am a Duke, and you’re a Count, are you not? If it bothers you so much, come back as a royal next life.”

The sound of slippers shuffling, and she came out.

Her long indigo hair flowed freely, her earrings shimmering with green and yellow gold. It was the elegant and somewhat sadistic-looking sorceress.

“Finally back. What brings you here, my unruly younger sibling?”

Smiling, I replied,

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face, so I thought I’d come pay my respects, check on what research you’re doing, and stock up on more red and blue potions before heading off to go shopping for good magic tools at Magic Street.”

“I’d need ten of me to do all that. Still, do come in. It’s quite good timing. There’s someone I need you to stop.”