Chapter 116: Foiled Plot and Fragrant Soap

How could things turn out so coincidentally?

If it weren’t for Feltron’s ability to control living beings, we would have died without knowing why.

We wouldn’t have captured the dramatic moment of handing over the sacred relic to the Growler, either.

Should I call this good luck?

If we had arrested that bomber earlier, we wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble.

Anyway, now wasn’t the time to complain about this and that.

It was truly a life-or-death moment.

“Aaaargh!”

The terrorist let out a scream-like battle cry as he charged toward the Growler.

Was it because the sacred relic was getting closer?

Strange phenomena began to occur around us.

Kiiiyaaaa—!

A sound like ghosts wailing erupted, and green mist burst out, enveloping the city.

Soon after, tremendous vibrations started.

As if a massive earthquake was about to strike.

“Wh-what’s happening?”

Clatter! Clatter!

Shocked voices rang out from everywhere, along with the sounds of windows opening.

Residents who had woken up were watching the situation with horrified expressions.

I can’t delay any longer.

Extreme Choice Activation

Wooong—!

A low vibration sounded, and the choices appeared.

But I was already frantically pressing one side.

The answer was already decided, after all.

[Selection ‘Attack Power’

You will enter Glass Body state.]

The opponent was a priest who couldn’t use divine power anyway.

He was essentially no different from an ordinary person.

He had lost the power to communicate with the god due to being eroded by Feltron’s authority for a long time.

I could probably take him down like this.

But I didn’t stop there.

Destructive Retribution Activation

Shwoosh!

A bluish flash burst from the communication rod, filling the surroundings.

The energy wave was so intense that it caused this phenomenon.

I gripped my trembling arm and aimed at the target.

It was such a hard skill to handle that I had no choice but to grit my teeth.

“Grrrr!”

Thwoong—!

A massive beam of light shot out, slicing through the forest.

Its power turned everything in its path to dust.

It was the synergy effect of Extreme Choice and Destructive Retribution.

If I added Greatsword Mastery to this, it would produce truly transcendental power.

But right now, all I had was the communication rod, so this was the best I could do.

Anyway, it should be enough to smash the target.

But why go this far against a mere ordinary person, you ask?

My target isn’t that thief.

What would happen to the sacred relic if it got caught in Destructive Retribution?

I don’t know how great an item it is, but the chances of it remaining intact were slim.

Moreover, hitting a running person would be difficult.

So, I targeted the Growler, which was standing there imposingly.

If I took that thing out, the massive explosion wouldn’t happen anyway.

Crash!

As the beam struck it dead on, the Growler’s body jerked back violently.

-Grooooooo!

The impact seemed considerable, as it thrashed about, letting out a roar.

It felt like telepathy that constricted the mind and body was wildly stirring inside my head.

“Aaaargh!”

Cordell McNeil was writhing on the ground in agony.

He was quite strong, but this was his first time experiencing such a mental attack.

But I wasn’t affected at all.

The sound burrowing into my brain only felt like mosquitoes buzzing around.

It seemed the power of Destructive Retribution had blocked the telepathy.

Soon, the terrifying beam that had been shooting out began to thin.

Shwooo—.

The skill’s effect had finally ended.

I quietly gazed at the devastated forest.

The Growler was a very rare and powerful ghost monster, but it couldn’t withstand Destructive Retribution.

Of course. This could melt even a Grand Master.

How could a mere undead endure it?

On the other hand, the culprit who had tried to throw the sacred relic was unharmed.

I had intentionally adjusted the direction of Destructive Retribution.

So that he wouldn’t die.

Step! Step!

I walked indifferently across the blackened earth.

Flames sprouting up here and there created an eerie atmosphere.

It made this place feel like a scene from hell.

Finally, upon reaching right in front of the culprit, I slowly extended my hand.

Grab!

Even though I snatched the sacred relic, the opponent showed no reaction.

Well, what could he do now?

The Growler had been completely annihilated, so the terror plan was over just like that.

“It’s about time we had a sincere conversation. Why did you do this?”

I said, looking at the culprit with emotionless eyes.

At that, he growled, unable to hide his flushed face.

“Because of you! Because of you, all my plans went awry. It was the perfect opportunity to get revenge on those Sordin bastards…….”

He seemed to harbor deep resentment toward the order.

That’s why he had gone to such lengths, disguising himself as a mid-level priest.

However, questions still remained.

“But Nordenark has nothing to do with it.”

“I had to die as a priest of Sordin!”

I roughly understood what he was thinking when he pulled this off.

He wanted to make the Sordin Order the culprit behind the destruction of Nordenark.

There’s no way a religion that committed such a massacre would continue unscathed.

“But how did you infiltrate? You don’t seem to believe in Sordin at all, so how did you use divine power?”

But the opponent clamped his mouth shut.

He didn’t seem inclined to talk about that.

Of course, I wasn’t particularly curious.

It would all come out during the investigation anyway.

“Sir McNeil.”

“Uuugh! Y-yes?”

“Restrain this man. We need to hand him over to the capital prosecution headquarters.”

“I’m neither a security officer nor a prosecutor.”

Why does this guy always have to nitpick?

I shook my head and raised the communication rod.

Then, an affirmative response came immediately.

“Of course, I have no intention of disobeying Your Grace’s orders.”

What should I do about this guy’s snarkiness?

Even if I reported it to His Majesty the Emperor, Cordell’s mouth would never shut up.

I need to give him remedial education not occasionally, but frequently?

Since I had captured the insane bomber, it was time to head home.

I spent my last night at Jaren Burgess’s mansion in Nordenark.

“You can stop by whenever you come to the north. Think of it as your own home and come as much as you like.”

Usually, such words have a high chance of being insincere.

How could I feel like it’s my home when it’s not?

I’d inevitably have to be mindful.

But Jaren Burgess’s eyes were sincere.

They held a desperate plea for me to visit just one more time.

I could guess why.

Having connections with a duke of the empire can only be beneficial.

Honestly, it wasn’t a bad proposal.

He was in the underworld, but he had been helpful in various ways.

I nodded readily.

“See you next time.”

“Yes, I’ll escort you to the entrance.”

Jaren Burgess was at an age approaching old age, but he was quite good at riding horses.

Seeing him skillfully following the carriage, it seemed he had received some knight training in his youth.

Finally, as we were about to leave the city, I tried to say goodbye.

But when I stuck my head out the window, an astonishing sight awaited.

“Duke Carius is over there!”

“Your Grace! Thank you so much for saving the city!”

“Thanks to you, we’re alive!”

“Waaaaah!”

Countless crowds and fervent cheers filled the streets.

Colorful papers fluttered from the city walls, and girls brought bouquets and presented them.

I accepted them with a dazed expression.

“What’s all this?”

When I casually asked, Jaren Burgess smiled and replied.

“I mobilized my organization members to spread tales of your exploits all night. I told them that they can stretch their legs and sleep peacefully because of Your Grace’s actions.”

I wanted to ask why he did such a unnecessary thing.

My reputation in the north was already enormous.

Still, it didn’t feel bad.

In the past, I was practically a murderer, so the feeling was more of fear.

But now, it was like treatment befitting a hero.

Probably even a triumphant general hadn’t received such a welcome.

“Thank you anyway. Take good care of Nordenark.”

“Of course. Safe travels, Your Grace!”

I smiled awkwardly and waved to the people.

They came all this way to see me off, so I should at least repay them this much.

The cheers seemed to grow even stronger.

Finally, as the carriage moved away from Nordenark, I entered the passenger seat and sank into the cushion.

We had just started, but I already felt tired.

“Ah, is this the life of a celebrity?”

As I muttered that, disdainful gazes poured from the side.

Cordell McNeil, Feltron, and Shugl were staring with arms crossed.

As if it was absurd.

I lifted my chin and boldly exclaimed.

“What? Huh?”

They all shook their heads simultaneously.

Oh?

These guys are collectively rebelling.

“Looks like I need to give remedial education to all three at once.”

I tossed it out casually, but intense reactions erupted.

“No, I’m not involved with these guys?”

—I found the culprit, didn’t I? You should let this slide.

—I didn’t do anything in the first place!

I just threw out a single remark, but their rebellion was easily suppressed.

At the research lab on the outskirts of the Carius Duchy.

Vargas was immersed in happy悩.

Thanks to Lady Eustia, the soap production method was complete.

Now, anyone could make it as long as they had the ingredients.

Of course, the ingredients required magical treatment, so Vargas couldn’t avoid being involved.

Still, the fact that a commercially viable soap had been produced was something.

Duke Carius would surely be greatly pleased.

“The issue is when to push this forward…….”

Production and supply should be as fast as possible.

Even now, a considerable amount of money was being spent to stock the public showers with liquid soap.

Moreover, if released in the Midias shopping district, it would sell out at an incredible speed.

It had similar performance to the existing liquid soap but was much cheaper.

“Let’s make a prototype first.”

Vargas neatly cut the pale lump and divided it into paper bags.

Then, he intended to go straight to Vice President Miller Xavier.

However, he had no choice but to stop.

It was because Lady Eustia was blocking the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To show it to the group vice president. Building the factory and launching it is their job.”

“Sigh! You really have no sense. Who would think well of it if you bring it like this?”

“Huh?”

Vargas wore an expression of incomprehension.

Then, Lady Eustia let out a long sigh and said.

“You need to make it look at least somewhat presentable. Make it again.”

He couldn’t understand her actions, but Vargas moved as instructed.

It was true that Lady Eustia had been a great help in completing the soap.

He mixed the ingredients according to the recipe and boiled them, causing the pale liquid to bubble up.

It was right then.

She opened two small vials and poured unknown liquids right in.

“Ah, no? What are you doing?”

Vargas exclaimed in surprise, but Lady Eustia just shrugged.

“Wait and see. Let’s check if it works.”

With the recipe changed, there was no way it would turn out properly.

Vargas wore a skeptical expression.

But the result was astonishing.

A soap with a subtle light green hue was complete.

Moreover, a refreshing fragrance filled the research lab.

“H-how did you do that?”

“I just added dye and fragrance right before it finished. I thought it would look better.”

“Hah!”

Honestly, it was a result that defied common sense.

Who knows what effects those dye and fragrance would have?

It could have turned into some strange substance other than soap.

But Lady Eustia’s luck was at a level that far surpassed common sense.

She just grabbed whatever and added it, and it happened to be components that didn’t affect the other ingredients.

Vargas, who had been blankly blinking, approached her and said.

“L-Lady?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Would you like to go into business with me?”