Chapter 81: Verdi's Net

"Where have you been?"

When I returned from Fernan to Graypond, Saintess Lucia was waiting for me.

She was proudly dressed in her official Saintess attire, and her casual tone showed that she had grown accustomed to me.

"Do you have to keep showing the public that you are meeting with me?"

Each of our moves continued to attract attention from other people.

The Saintess and I, the Soul Whisperer, often spent time together engaging in in-depth discussions about the Kingdom's future. This was how we typically used our time and this was quite well-known to the public.

However, in reality, we were simply passing time together because we needed to provide proof to the citizens here that we were not enemies.

"There was something I needed to resolve."

Lucia's expression turned strange at my response.

"In this situation? You know how many assassins are outside right now trying to kill you, right?"

"Gyaaaah! Alright, that was really good!"

Just then, Findenai burst into the room. Her maid's uniform was stained with blood all over.

"Even though there were only three today, their skills were quite impressive! They've now started sending their elites!"

Findenai wore a contented smile, satisfied after deliberately luring assassins into the city and engaging in a fight.

Saintess Lucia seized the opportunity as if it was the right timing; she pointed at Findenai and shouted.

"That's right! I was also going to talk about this! There's no need to go out and hunt assassins on purpose, don't you think so?!"

"Huh? They're here to kill us, and what did I do wrong by retaliating and killing them?"

Between Lucia, who thought there was no need to go out and hunt assassins, and Findenai, who believed it was better to kill those who were already aiming for our lives—although both sides had understandable arguments, if I had to choose, I sided with Findenai this time.

"It was necessary for her to do such things."

"Haha! Look at this! Master Bastard is already head over heels for me, so he won't listen to your words, holier-than-thou preachie1!"

Findenai immediately approached me and put her arms around my shoulders. I sent her a warning glare, signaling her not to cross the line, but she still deliberately pressed her chest against me and replied playfully.

"Are you excited?"

"...Do not push those...angular things onto me."

Growing increasingly annoyed, I responded harshly, prompting Findenai to shout back in fury.

"Angular things?! Do you even understand how precious these are?!"

Findenai showed off her chest proudly.

Upon witnessing this obscene scene, Lucia blushed deeply and lowered her head while I, finding the situation troublesome, closed my eyes momentarily.

Findenai huffed and grumbled to herself in response to my reaction before going to a corner of the room to do something.

After calming down, I reopened my eyes and looked at Lucia.

"Anyway, Findenai only did what was necessary for me."

I was tracing the sources of the assassins based on the reports continuously provided by Findenai.

From the details about the assassins' unique characteristics, to their speech patterns, and even to the name of the God they called.

"At the start, they were all over the place and calling out different names of Gods, but now, they've mainly unified and just called for Hearthia."

"But the bishop who serves Hearthia is friendly towards us..."

It felt more like an attempt to cast suspicion on the followers of Hearthia. However, this matter was not as straightforward as it seemed, so we shouldn't rush to conclusions too quickly.

If we reconsidered this from another perspective, there was also a possibility that the followers of Hearthia might have actually sent the assassins.

Everything felt like a psychological game similar to a game of rock-paper-scissors.

However, if I were to abandon the charade and recklessly poke around, there would be significant risks involved.

If I made a wrong move, it could paint an picture of me, the Soul Whisperer, oppressing the different religions.

"Considering their unified calls under Goddess Hearthia, it seems that the group who sent assassins has formed some kind of cooperative relationship."

When I was staying at the Royal Palace, only Findenai, who had information related to me, ventured out and slaughtered assassins.

Of course they would have no choice but to join forces.

"But since Findenai did things so well, they will try to pressure me in a different way."

Even if they wanted to argue things through their religious doctrines, I had already dealt with them by using Holy Power; additionally, the Saintess was on my side.

If they intended to continue resorting to violence or assassination to resolve the situation, there was Findenai, who stood firm like a Yaksha2.

So, it was obvious that they had to take a different route.

"Do you have any other thoughts?"

Along with Lucia's question, someone slowly offered me a teacup from the side. It was Findenai, who had brewed the tea without my permission.

I temporarily postponed my answer and furrowed my brow as I gazed at the teacup.

"I believe I have instructed you not to brew tea anymore."

I remember saying it tasted like pig urine and that it would be a waste of tea leaves.

However, Findenai shouted with a huff.

"Ah, come on! I know how to boil it very well now!"

With a subtle expression, I casually accepted the teacup, savored the aroma, and brought it near to my lips.

But then, I immediately put it down.

"Put it away."

"...."

"You have progressed from producing something that tastes like pig urine to something resembling that of a pig."

"It turned out I had chosen to serve the wrong Master."

Findenai took the teacup, which tasted like shit, and slurped it herself.

"Gag!"

She rushed to the bathroom.

From what I observed, it seemed like she didn't just brew tea, but also added something else to it.

"...."

Lucia watched us with a foolish expression as if observing a theatrical performance.

I steered the conversation back to the original topic.

"Yes, of course, they will not directly attack me but will try to indirectly twist things around. Everything is within my expectations. I have already scattered some prey for them to devour easily."

"Prey?"

Lucia didn't understand what I meant. And while wondering if I had to explain everything to her, I tapped my cheek to answer.

"Do you remember the gauze on my cheek when we first met at Mersen restaurant?"

"I don't really want to talk about that time, but I do remember."

I smiled slightly and explained to Lucia, who had responded to me with discomfort.

"It was a wound made by my older brother, Darius."

"Margrave Norseweden? You seem to have a good relationship with your sister, but are things not the same case with the Margrave?"

As if anyone would ever doubt her as the Saintess, Lucia immediately showed concern. However, what was rather interesting was her observation that Deia and I seemed to get along.

I shook my head.

"No, it was a deliberately created wound."

On top of that, it was on my face.

It had to be significant and noticeable because we had to publicly show that Darius and I didn't get along well.

And since it happened before the Great Debate, it would have had an even greater impact.

It was a calculated bait from the start for the bishops who were desperately trying to find flaws in me.

It probably gave them a faint glimmer of hope; they would likely be pleased that a feeble hole had opened in the seemingly impregnable wall they were encountering.

However, it wouldn't take them long to realize that the location they had been diligently swimming in was, in fact, already within the hunter's net.

* * *

Darius, who originally never had the habit of trembling legs, couldn't help but feel tense at this moment.

He took a deep breath while reading the letter in his hand.

Although he received an explanation from his younger brother, Deus, before returning to Norseweden, directly facing the situation made him incredibly nervous.

I wonder if I can handle this well.

Darius worried that, as a warrior, if he could hold his own against those cunning religious fanatics in terms of dialogue. For now, he was waiting for the impending conversation with the cleric who was coming over.

I must succeed.

He couldn't afford to stumble at this point.

It was a moment of determination for Darius, thinking it was time to display his dignity as the head of the household.

Knock, knock.

"Lord, the guest has arrived."

The butler's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Let him in."

With annoyance evident in his expression, Darius responded with a voice full of irritation.

Through the door opened by the butler, entered a scrawny man. His clothes were plain, but his body emitted the scent of fragrant oil, which was also accompanied by an air of elegance.

He had the typical demeanor of a church representative.

- First impressions are important. Do not hide any discomfort.

Deus' calm voice echoed in his mind. With annoyance, Darius asked.

"What brings you to this frontier? Your Gods didn't seem to have much interest in the Northern region."

Despite the impolite remark from their first meeting, the cleric hesitated for a moment before calmly bowing his head in greeting.

"My greetings, Margrave Norseweden, the Giant of the North and the Towering Fortress."

"Hmph."

Darius didn't hide his displeasure. He realized it wasn't too difficult once he actually tried doing it.

"Let's get to the point. I don't have much to say to you."

"Certainly. Actually, I have something to discuss about Deus Verdi, your younger brother, Margrave..."

Bang!

- When he mentions my name, react fiercely. It would be great if you could strike the desk at least.

- You will be doing well. Isn't that just like what you always do?

Recalling Deia's expression, who was teasing him from the side, Darius slammed the desk. The sound echoed dramatically throughout the room, startling even the cleric.

"How dare you utter that bastard's name in front of me!"

- It is also important to address difficult topics that are hard to bring up from their side.

"I should have killed that bastard before I got kicked out of the Royal Palace. I shouldn't have stopped at just beating him with my fists."

As the head of the household, Darius was furious that the Verdi Household had become infamous for bearing a Dark Mage.

That was the scenario they wanted to show.

But in reality, the current Verdi Household was shunned by the surrounding nobility.

No matter how much recognition they received from the Royal Family, the deep-seated prejudices and traditions persisted.

"So the rumors were right. The wound he incurred before the Great Debate was inflicted by you, Lord Darius."

The cleric had a big smile.

He was pleased that the information about Darius causing the wound on Deus' face was confirmed.

Darius was confident that he had almost overcome this situation.

"That's right! There were limits in how I overlooked how he acted like a ruffian during his stay in Norseweden. And now he became a dark mage? I cannot face the preceding heads of the household with my head held high!"

While fuming, Darius glared menacingly at the cleric, his killing intent palpable.

"So, did you come here to annoy me by mentioning that fucking bastard? If that was your goal, you've succeeded quite splendidly."

In response to Darius' growl about why he should also take responsibility for the mess Deus left behind, the cleric immediately kneeled and shouted.

He thought it was the right time to turn things around.

"I am well aware that you find the Soul Whisperer displeasing, Margrave. That's why I've come to find you, to offer you my assistance, Margrave."

"Assistance?"

"Yes, that's right!"

Looking at the man repeatedly bowing his head, Darius could barely hide the smirk that appeared on his face with each passing moment.

He had overcome everything so far. He thought to himself, wouldn't he get caught like this?

- Sigh, if you think you will get caught, just get angry. Be ignorant, that is more like you.

"Help me? What can you do to help me? I'll handle my own kin! I don't need the assistance of religious fanatics like you!"

Bang! He struck the desk again with his fist, causing it to split in two, emphasizing the force behind his action.

The cleric trembled all over, but he could clearly feel the intensity of Darius' anger towards Deus.

Ah, this desk was expensive.

However, unbeknownst to him, Darius was actually more worried about the scolding from Deia he would receive in the future because of the expensive desk he had just destroyed.