Chapter 37
The uninvited guest murmured lazily.
“Well, considering it was like that even in childhood, I suppose it’s only natural.”
“Who, who’s there!”
There were no guards in his office.
It was because Fear had driven them all away, saying there was no need for human knights when he was around.
But unfortunately, with Fear having been taken to the temple for treatment, there was no one to protect him now.
Hastily grabbing a decorative sword, Duke Starapit backed against the wall.
“Who dares to intrude here!”
“It’s me.”
The owner of the voice revealed himself.
He was a young, handsome man with blonde hair and purple eyes, accompanied by a small brown fox.
“I-Ikart? How did you get here!”
“I thought you were at least sane when I saw you opening the safe as soon as I arrived.”
With leisurely steps, Ikart approached the desk and scanned Duke Starapit’s calculations.
“I was wrong.”
“Is, is anyone out there?! An intruder! There’s an intruder!”
The ashen-faced Duke Starafit shouted loudly, but no one came running.
Instead, only the distant sound of people yelling could be heard.
“Fire!”
“The grain warehouse is on fire!”
“There won’t be any casualties. I made sure no one was there before starting the fire.”
Ikart said calmly.
This madman! What has he done! Duke Starafit barely swallowed the scream rising in his throat.
He had known since their academy days, but this guy was truly insane.
The duke, still gripping the sword tightly, asked irritably,
“Weren’t you supposed to be confined in the tower? How did you get here?”
“Well.”
With a curt reply, Ikart picked up the diamond mine documents.
“I’ll take these.”
“What?”
The horrified Duke Starafit clutched the documents.
“Don’t talk nonsense! Those are mine!”
“They were granted by the imperial family as a reward for subjugating the demon beast. Since it’s been proven the beast could’ve been defeated without your divine beast, I think it’s only right for Monlepe to take them.”
“Whether it’s right for Monlepe or not, what’s it to you? You, who lost your title and became a commoner!”
Come to think of it, that was true. This guy was no longer a noble, so why was he cowering?
Duke Starafit grabbed Ikart by the collar.
Surprisingly, Ikart showed little reaction, merely speaking softly as if instructing a fool.
“Yes, I’m a commoner who lost his noble title. And do you know what’s great about that?”
“I don’t care about that nonsense. Drop the documents and get out before I kill you, you filthy commoner!”
“No need to worry about anything.”
In the blink of an eye, Ikart drew his sword and held it to the duke’s neck.
“If I kill you right here, it has nothing to do with Monlepe.”
“…!”
Duke Starafit froze stiff.
Seeing Ikart’s crazed eyes up close, he realized.
This guy had lost it. That’s why he defied the imperial order and escaped the tower.
The most terrifying person in the world was a madman, especially one with nothing to lose.
Getting bitten by a rabid dog would only hurt himself.
Duke Starafit raised both hands, signaling he wouldn’t fight anymore.
“Fine, put the sword away!”
With a nonchalant nod, Ikart lightly plucked the diamond mine documents from the duke’s hand.
“I’ll take these. Some compensation would be nice too.”
“What do you mean? I already paid the death compensation back then!”
“Not that. Compensation for emotional distress.”
He wanted to tell him to stop spouting nonsense, but the sword that seemed ready to flash at his neck kept him silent.
Instead, he clung to the issue of the diamond mine.
“Ikart, you may have nothing to lose, but Duke Monlepe does. The moment the mine’s ownership transfers to Monlepe, I’ll do whatever it takes to drag that lizard divine beast to a holy trial.”
A holy trial.
A trial held for misusing a divine beast, it was the thing the empire’s dukes feared most.
Almost no duke who faced a holy trial came out unscathed.
They lost their wealth, their honor, or their dignity—something vital was always taken from them.
Ikart himself had faced such a trial for losing his divine beast.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Speaking bluntly, Ikart flicked his hand.
Soon, the small brown fox brought a piece of paper from somewhere.
It was something found in Viante’s mansion.
Duke Starafit’s face turned pale upon seeing the paper.
[In the event of a civil war, Starafit will lend its divine beast once.]
By imperial law, interfering in another family’s civil war was forbidden.
Duke Starafit hadn’t truly intended to involve his divine beast in the civil war; he had only meant to lend it as a symbolic gesture of support.
But with Viante’s defeat, Monlepe could easily use this paper to drag him to a holy trial.
“W-where did you get this—”
“Looks like you’ll be facing a trial before my son does.”
“I only lent it for protection! I didn’t mean to involve it in the civil war!”
“That’s not my concern. Still attached to the diamond mine?”
“N-no, not at all! I have no objections to Duke Monlepe taking the diamond mine!”
In a panic, Duke Starafit hurriedly wrote a letter relinquishing the diamond mine.
He also handed over the business rights he had received from Viante in exchange for lending the divine beast, under the pretext of compensation.
“You should pay interest too.”
“…”
Only after receiving Starafit’s pride, the empire’s only yellow sapphire mine, did Ikart leave.
“Damn it, there’s still fire over here!”
“The fire’s spreading! Anyone free over there?!”
“Get more water, quick! Water—!”
The grain warehouse was still chaotic, as the fire hadn’t been fully extinguished.
Then, with a loud crash, the warehouse completely collapsed.
Duke Starafit’s legs gave out, and he slumped to the ground.
In a single day, he had gone from riches to ruin for crossing the wrong family.
* * *
After the friendly match ended, the Monlepe ducal family held a grand party for Asil.
The desert cave incident had been a humiliation and disgrace for everyone in Monlepe.
Not only did Asil resolve it in one fell swoop, but she also defeated Fear, paying them back.
Asil’s popularity and standing within the family reached an all-time high.
People were ready to believe Asil could turn red beans into strawberries.
“Hahaha! How did such a brilliant being come to us!”
“It’s the duke’s fortune. After enduring unnecessary hardships, the heavens must have sent a blessing.”
“I don’t think we could ever go back to a time without lady Asil. Long live the duke! Long live Lord Asil!”
People joyfully praised Asil and Edenber.
With an excited expression, Asil raised a mug of milk high.
“Bbi-ya!”
“Thank you for your hard work, Divine Beast!”
“Please take care of us in the future too!”
“Bbi-i!”
Clink! Asil toasted with the crowd.
After a cheerful time, she stepped out to the garden for some fresh air.
“Little one.”
“Bbi?”
Ikart, or rather, Father, appeared out of nowhere.
Startled by the sudden appearance, Asil looked up at him with wide eyes.
Ikart handed him a box.
“A gift.”
“Bbi…?”
Opening the box absentmindedly, Asil saw a bundle of papers covered in scribbled handwriting and a shiny new cat fishing rod adorned with sparkling jewels.
“The fishing rod is for you. Give the papers to Edenber. Don’t mention you saw me.”
With that, he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
‘Why is Father, who’s supposed to be in the tower, here?’
And why did he keep showing up in front of Asil instead of meeting Edenber?
Tilting her head for a moment, Asil returned to the banquet hall and found Edenber.
Keeping the cat fishing rod, she handed the box with the papers to him.
“Bbi-i-ya. Bbi-yat-bbi.” (It’s for Husband.)
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By Anna 💓
