7-3 Part 2
Deliver Divine Punishment In the Name
of the Evil Dragon Zirant
- The Empire's Strongest Man -
Translator : PolterGlast
"A-Abraham-sama, it is a disaster! An
intruder has appeared in the mansion!"
"Turn the tables on them!"
Immediately, a messenger appeared from the tower's
descending stairs. Something outrageous was happening below. His desperate
expression said as much.
"T-That is... they are terrifyingly strong...!"
"Then don't dally, call for reinforcements! Who are
they?!"
"No, it is a single rider! A terrifyingly strong
cavalryman has appeared; we cannot stand against him! Please help us, Abraham-sama!"
"I'm the one who needs saving here! Argh, what the hell
is going on?! Wait—where is Atomina?!"
"W-Well, that is..."
It would be bad if we found out. That much was written on
the messenger's face. Either way, we are in a stalemate of crossbows against
crossbows here. I stepped away from the suppressed villain, approached the
tower window, and looked down.
"I'm impressed... Looks like all the best parts were
snatched away..."
"What are you saying? What has come?! Don't tell me the
legendary Nightmare Armor—the Cherubim Armor—has come to
attack!"
"No, that thing is a monster that makes even that look
lukewarm. If I had to make an enemy of that cavalryman, I'd choose the Nightmare
Armor instead."
The match is as good as settled. Lowering the Shovel
from my shoulder to the ground, I gestured with my finger for the former Duke Abraham,
who had stood up, to look out the window.
"Don't be foolish! What can a single rider d—Geeeehh?!
Th-That man, could it be?! And that is... Aaaahhhhh...?!"
"A... Aah... Please look, Jake-sama! That is Atomina-oneeshama!"
"Is it true?!"
On the wide lawn beneath the tower were countless Imperial
Guards and a single horseman. The cavalryman brandishing a long spear is still
taking out the guards one after another. And on the
back of his saddle was, to my surprise, the figure of Atomina-aneue.
"Checkmate for real this time. Well, if you want to
fight that man, I won't stop you, but I'd advise against it."
The soldiers surrounded the horseman, but they were already
hesitant, keeping a long distance that suggested they had no will to fight.
Correct judgment. I would also like to decline fighting that man on a horse.
"Because that man's name is Georg Gnos Urgos. My
older brother, and the Empire's Strongest Man."
"G-General Georg...?"
"Exactly. You are all currently making an enemy of Georg."
Just like that, the crossbows that had been aimed at us were
collectively redirected toward the villain Abraham. I'm amazed by Aniue.
I didn't know he was feared like a demon among the soldiers to this extent.
"There is no chance of victory against that man!
Soldiers, restrain the traitor!"
With this, the case is closed. The villain was restrained,
and the stalemate of arrows and swords pointing at each other was dissolved.
Immediately, the order to cease combat from the surrendered former Duke Abraham
was sent to the group at the bottom of the tower, bringing an end to the battle
smeared with betrayal, friendly fire, and conspiracy.
We descended the tower to celebrate our safety with Georg,
who came to our rescue, and Atomina-aneue.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"By the way, Brother-in-law Jake, there is one
thing I want to confirm."
"Hm? What is it, Ashley...?"
Everyone had gathered right there. So I thought there was no better
time than now. Sorry for not reading the mood, truly, Aneue.
"I'll be blunt. Are you going to divorce Aneue?"
"Wha...?!"
"A-Ashley! What are you saying?!"
I knew it would happen, but the atmosphere froze. We
survived the conspiracy and betrayal. However, Aneue's problem is not
over.
That was the origin of everything in the first place. If we
don't do something about it, similar conspiracies will be repeated.
"Once you let go of such a beauty, it is inevitable
that she will end up belonging to another man. Do you still intend to break up
with her?"
"You really can't read the room... Even Atomina
might come to dislike you for that..."
Sorry, Aniue. I just want confirmation. We eliminated
the villain, the former Duke. But based on my conversation with Brother-in-law Jake
at the top of the tower, this problem hasn't ended at all.
"I am asking if you can compromise with Aneue."
"Ashley! Th-That is... none of your business!"
If he says he will stop treating the people of the manor in
this land like slaves, everything will be resolved peacefully. But if he
answers otherwise, I cannot leave Aneue here.
"Aneue won't bend. Then it depends on what you
will do. Decide."
"Ashley, you have surprisingly forceful sides
too... You are right. Either way, we cannot avoid it. What Atomina says
is correct... Prince Georg's words as well. Excessive expansion of
manors invites poverty to the people and turns them into slaves... But if we
let go of the immense wealth from that, the Duke Aion family will
decline. I am sorry, but I ultimately cannot accept Atomina's
wish..."
Brother-in-law Jake did not look at Aneue. Aneue
didn't look at him either. They had no intention of arguing, but their
attitudes showed that neither had any intention of yielding on that point
alone.
"I see. Then I will take Aneue with me. Are you
really okay with that...? I never thought you were such a bad guy, even from
long ago."
"Even so, nobles have a position... More than the best
wife, it is the survival of the house and the future of the territory."
"Kh... I'm sorry, dear... I cannot yield either... I
cannot smile and eat delicious food paid for by taxes collected from people
suffering and shedding tears..."
Aneue might
resent me for this. But I don't mind. Resent me all you want; I just advanced
the hands of the clock. I don't want to show any more openings for Auntie to take advantage of.
"Ashley, to think you would calmly pulls off the
very things I cannot do... Dulin, was it? Please comfort Atomina later on. And if you don't
mind, please continue to be her friend forever."
"Y-Yesh! Hahi, f-forever?!"
Now then, that leaves one remaining problem. Assuming
information leaks from the former Duke's mouth, the fact that Atomina-aneue and I picked a fight with Auntie will eventually be exposed.
"By the way, Georg-aniue, will we be allowed to return to the Imperial Capital as we
are? Actually, just recently, Auntie
sicced bandits on us."
Even though we caught them red-handed, it is a fact that we
picked a fight with Aunt Du. I intervened and cleared away the conspiracy plotted by auntie and the former Duke. My position is probably even worse
than Aneue's right now...
"Oh, that matter? That’s been taken care of. Your Jii
talked her down."
"Jii? Persuaded Aunt Du? I can’t imagine she would ever listen to him."
Thinking about it carefully, this is trouble. Should I run
to the frontier and seriously start a Zirant cult? However, Georg's
sour face didn't smile in the slightest at my response. Is this finally bad
news...?
"No, Father did. Everything is by Father's order,
making it so we fulfilled an Imperial Command. Ashley, Atomina, Father
supported your decision."
"N-No way... That Father supported us?!"
Father... helped me? Father, who is bound by position and
even less flexible than Georg, mediated with Auntie...?
"Ashley. Father praised you for rescuing Dulin.
He rejoiced that you have grown into such an upright man, but at the same time,
he feared for you. Father wants to see you. Let us return to the Imperial
Capital."
I can't believe it... That Father wanting to see me is
beyond just strange. Let's assume Father had a change of heart. If so, there
must be a cause for it.
"Georg. Is Father... really sick...?"
Instead of answering, Georg turned his eyes away from
me in silence. Not denying it is the same as affirming it.
Illness. That changed Father. He says he wants to meet the
cursed child he turned his eyes away from for so long.
To me, at least, it looked as if the Emperor of this country
had begun to settle the accounts of his life...
- Purge -
【Deliver
Divine Punishment to the Former Duke Aion】 Completed
- Completion
Reward: My Love (Unclaimed)
- I
await you in Paradise. I shall give you my love, so come and meet me.
- Table of Contents –
【Name】 Ashley
【Lv】 20 → 21
【Exp】 2390 → 2520
【STR】 43 → 44
【VIT】 120 → 123
【DEX】 108 → 110
【AGI】 88 → 90
【Skill】 Shovel LV 4 Scoop LV
1
『Meet
the Emperor without sulking. You have the qualification to inherit that throne.』
◇ ★ ◇ ★ ◇
【Book of the Evil Dragon】
- Adventure -
【Complete
3 Jobs at the Adventurer's Guild】 1/3 Complete
- Reward: EXP 450 / ???
- Exploration -
【Do
another 10 laps around the Imperial Capital】
- Reward: VIT +100
- Exploration -
【Do
1 lap around the Maritime City Naglfar】 1/3
- Reward: EXP 100 / VIT +5
- Business -
【Grow
the Hez Company】
- Reward: DEX +100
- Purge -
【Bury
5 Villains】
2 Remaining
- Reward: EXP 900 / Shovel Lv +1
- Purge -
【Steal
300,000 Crowns of Dirty Money】 570 / 300,000
- Reward: AGI +100
- Investment -
【Spend
a total of 10,000 Crowns】 1,877 / 10,000
- Reward: EXP 1000 / Premonition of an Encounter
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