Episode 76
It was nothing but a hassle to have another powerful figure intervene when there were already so many things demanding his imdiate attention.
However, he couldn't just ignore a letter from a person of such power, so he imdiately tore open the envelope. Upon reading its contents, he suddenly burst out laughing.
"I must send a reply imdiately! Bring so writing paper!"
A bright smile blood on the Marquis's face, making it hard to believe he had been in a low-pressure state for days.
"Yes, right away!"
The aide hurriedly left the room, as if afraid his mood might change again.
Left alone, the Marquis mulled over the letter's contents and then began to laugh frivolously.
The letter was brief, but it contained the very words he most wanted to hear right now.
'I don't see any law saying a business conducted in the North can't be done in the South. Contact if you're interested in collaboration.'
"That's right. Why didn't I think of the other Dukes sooner?"
He had montarily forgotten that it wasn't just the Northern nobles who disliked Lucifer, and that there were far more people who didn't want to see them succeed.
'If the Deshimo Ducal House establishes a rcenary Guild, Lucifer would be absolutely no match for them.'
Thinking that things would proceed pleasantly from now on, he left the room with a light step.
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In a room shrouded in darkness, Duke Deshimo tilted his wine glass as he read the telegram that had just arrived from the North.
"What a visibly stupid fool."
The ssage stated that the rcenary Guild business contest would be ruined by Marquis Strode's ddling, and that he would soon visit with a business plan that would be of help.
He couldn't hold back a sneer at the news delivered by his informant embedded in the North.
"If he had truly killed a demon, his first thought should be to latch onto him. But his first thought is betrayal. That Atanas really has no luck with people."
Thanks to this, he could easily ruin his plans, but even upon reflection, Marquis Strode was a man so full of greed and so incapable of seeing the future that it felt like a waste to even call him the North's second most powerful figure.
He could smile briefly at the satisfactory answer, but Duke Deshimo's insides still burned hot with anger.
"It's strange. No matter how strong that Atanas is, he shouldn't be strong enough to kill a demon."
How shocked he had been when he received the news that soone who, like the Executor Bureau, couldn't even use divine power, had defeated a demon using brute force alone.
The Executor Bureau had urgently convened a eting and dispatched executors to verify it wasn't a falsehood, but no miracle occurred where the rumor differed from reality.
"Thanks to that, only our side is in an awkward position, tsk!"
A traitor forsaken by God, Lucifer, had slain a demon, so why couldn't the God-chosen Executor Bureau slay demons? How long must they live in fear? And so on.
Complaints poured forth incessantly among the Empire's citizens, so he could hardly find the North's actions, which were breaking the peace so well maintained until now, agreeable.
"The Imperial Palace is making a fuss, the others are saying to wait and see for now, and there's no answer from Him."
The other Dukes were frustratingly cautious and wouldn't make a move, but he was different.
"If soone tries to climb up, you have to cut them off at the root."
It was enough for Lucifer to be Lucifer, receiving all sorts of disdain and playing the role of a butcher beating up monsters.
When they insolently started making a fuss about starting a business, it shouldn't have been permitted in the first place. It was no different from this situation arising because of the complacent others.
"No, it's more fun to trample on it when they're happy, thinking everything will work out well."
Thanks to this, a considerable amount of money would go to those lowly rcenaries and things would beco a bit botherso, but if he thoroughly crushes Lucifer this ti, he, having lost his confidence, wouldn't even dream of making a coback.
'It might be good to subtly spread a rumor too. That he didn't eliminate the demon, but rather joined hands with it and beca rich.'
Since this is a rather sensitive topic, it seed better to discuss it with the other Dukes.
First, ruining the business and seeing him frustrated was the priority.
As if drinking wine by the glass was unsatisfying, Duke Deshimo gulped the wine directly from the bottle.
"Ah, also tell them to deal appropriately with anyone working hard on the contest. It seems my mind won't be at ease unless we cut down anything that shows potential."
Wiping the blood-red wine staining the corner of his mouth, he smiled wickedly.
Along with a scathing criticism that he wasn't satisfied just relying on the stupid fool and staying put, the order was given to the assassins he had stationed nearby earlier.
This was on the night, with four days remaining until the contest deadline.
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When she woke up in the morning, Flora's mood was utterly refreshing.
Strangely, unlike usual, her eyes opened on their own early, and the weather outside the window she glanced at looked the clearest and brightest it had been in recent tis.
'The weather is nice.'
With only two days left until the contest deadline and Count Vittora's work progressing smoothly, it was impossible for her mood to be bad.
'It's amazing he made a tool to effectively extract the Shalias fruit juice and even crystallize it. As expected, a professional is different.'
Just as the weather was as good as Flora's mood, it seed like a good day to et Count Vittora and review the interim results together.
After lunch, in that garden where they t last ti.
After writing a note to send to Count Vittora, she handed it to Janet the mont Daphne looked away.
"Daphna, I'm wearing the yellow dress today!"
"Yes, I rembered and prepared it for you."
As Daphne approached Flora, Janet assessed the situation and flew out through the gap in the open window.
Now that the appointnt was set, it seed she could start the day energetically.
"Oh, Young Lady! A letter arrived for you today."
"Huh? A letter?"
Daphne made a dugu dugu sound with her mouth and then brought out a small envelope instead of the dress, holding it out.
Flora's golden eyes widened as she took it in her small hands.
It was the letter from Basilian she had been waiting and waiting for.
"Gasp!"
As Flora made to tear the letter open imdiately, Daphne hurriedly stopped the child.
"Let's wash your face first and change your clothes before reading it, alright?"
"Okay! Quickly, quickly!"
At her uncharacteristic urging, Daphne, with an understanding expression, quickly wiped Flora's soft face with warm water.
Just after finishing washing her face and changing her clothes, Flora humd as she tore open the letter from Basilian.
To my dear Flora.
"Oh, the handwriting is pretty."
Flora smiled contentedly upon finding her na written on the ivory-colored letter paper.
'Now that I think about it, Basi can write too?'
Given that he wanted to beco a rcenary, his situation seed to necessitate a wandering life, so when did he learn to write?
'Could he be a noble's illegitimate child or sothing?'
Thinking back, Flora knew almost nothing about Basilian.
His na, his age, and that he had no choice but to live with rcenaries?
'He looked pretty beggarly when we first t too.'
It was a harsh judgnt of the world, but seeing how he was practically at death's door back then, the word 'beggar' was almost a euphemism.
Unless she heard about his circumstances directly from Basilian, she couldn't recklessly speculate about him, but what was certain was that he had no protector to shield him.
Rembering the bitter faces he sotis made, a wave of longing, stronger than yesterday's, washed over her.
'How foolish. He just needs to get stronger by my side.'
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't understand why he left when he liked her so much. She really had to make him stick right by her side when he returned, so he could never leave again.
'I'll tell him to really beco my subordinate next ti we et.'
If she beca Basilian's protector, he wouldn't have to be lonely anymore, and Flora also wouldn't have to soothe her longing like this with letters.
'Shall I see what he wrote then?'
As she unfolded the neatly folded letter, clean, firmly pressed handwriting ca into view.
Hello, Flora. This is my first letter to you. I'm sorry for sending it late. Are you staying healthy?
'If you're sorry, you should have written and sent it sooner.'
I'm sorry for leaving. I ca out because I wanted to get stronger by having various experiences, but it weighs on my mind that I didn't tell you.
'Hmph, then you shouldn't have left secretly.'
Actually, I wasn't going to write a letter either, but I missed you so much I couldn't help it. Do you miss too? I hope so.
'Did you think I wouldn't miss you? What, do you think I'm that cold-blooded? If you miss , you could just co visit.'
Until recently, I was learning rcenary work near the demon's Ice Castle, and this ti, I've officially beco a rcenary and decided to start traveling with the Red Serpent rcenary Band.
"What?"
She had been consoling herself with the fact that he was at least nearby, but traveling? Going far away?
Flora's eyes widened as she glared at the letter, then quickly began reading the remaining contents.
Of course, I'll only be away until I complete this mission, so it won't be a very long trip. Still, since I'm leaving the North, I'm getting further away from you, so I wanted to let you know.
'What was I worried about? So he's not leaving for good.'
As a sowhat reassuring part appeared, Flora's face smoothed out again.
Watching this from the side, Daphne wondered what on earth was written in that letter to make Flora's expression change so variously.
I don't know how long it will take, but I'll work hard so we can et soon, with stronger than I am now. So until then, you must not be picky with your food, eat well, go for walks, exercise, and take good care of yourself.
Knowing it was nagging born from worry, Flora nodded with a pleased expression instead of grumbling.
Oh, by the way, I heard a strange rumor lately. News spread that a rcenary Guild was established in the Southern territory. Did you know about it?
"……Huh?"
What was this about now?
The people who treated rcenaries as trivial were suddenly opening a business to take care of rcenaries?
And at this very ti when Lucifer was causing a commotion by announcing a contest?
They say business is all about competition like this. A rumor is going around that Duke Deshimo is providing generous support. Hmm, whatever the outco, I hope nothing happens that would disappoint you.
Despite the sincere concern, Flora couldn't easily smooth out her crumpled expression.
'……How dare they steal my idea so brazenly?'
And they're even boasting about having lots of money, promoting that they'll provide support without holding back?
'Who does he think held the contest because he lacked money?'
It was to filter out the useless vassals, not so soone else could snatch her business idea and take it for themselves all this ti.
Just yesterday, news had arrived that, thanks to a little trickery by Count Vittora, instead of them banding tightly together, their relationships had actually grown distant!
Because of those stupid hyenas trying to extort money from Lucifer, her plans were in danger of being disrupted.
Oh, I heard that with the rumor spreading that the North is a good place to live, the number of people coming and going has increased a lot.
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