Chapter 36: Hilton’s Confession

A week had passed since Evan had shared his plans with Darwen.

Evan was sitting in his room, reading a letter sent by Darwen.

‘Things are progressing smoothly.’

Today, after making thorough preparations, the operation had finally begun in earnest.

The preparations had taken about four days.

All to ensure Heres wouldn’t catch on—or, even if she did, to make sure she couldn’t do anything about it.

To do that, everything needed to be finished in a single day.

Three main targets would be struck simultaneously.

Other important points were placed under surveillance.

‘The goal is to secure evidence to show Clyd.’

Darwen, leading skilled individuals, had raided the illegal trading spots run by Heres and Hilton.

The results were a success—they subdued their targets without issue and were now transporting the seized goods.

With Hilton’s intel, it hadn’t been difficult to raid the sites or locate the storage for the stolen goods.

‘Well then, shall I get moving?’

Evan rose from his seat.

By now, Heres would have arrived at the temple.

She was probably desperate to find a cure for Hilton’s condition.

‘While she’s distracted, I’ll strike decisively and end this.’

Evan headed straight for Hilton’s room.

Arriving at the door, he glanced around, then knocked once to signal his presence.

A moment later—

Clack!

The sound of the door opening reached him.

Evan turned the handle and stepped into Hilton’s room.

“You’re here.”

Hilton, keeping his distance, greeted Evan with hollow eyes.

His legs were shaking uncontrollably.

Evan frowned at the sight.

‘He’s completely broken. Looks just like a rookie hunter facing a boss monster for the first time.’

But this would be the last day he’d see that face.

“I’m giving you an order, Hilton. It’s time you paid for your crimes. Soon, you’ll face Father. Until then, confess everything you and Heres have done to him.”

Without hesitation, Hilton nodded.

“Ah, understood.”

“Good. Rest for now.”

Evan immediately made his way to the training grounds.

Now, like a rolling wheel, everything would proceed on its own.

He would act as if he knew nothing about what was happening.

It was best not to do anything suspicious.

He just needed to play the role of the diligent son, working hard to become a knight.

That would give him a chance to leave a good impression on Clyd, who would be emotionally shaken by Heres and Hilton’s betrayal.

‘And then, I’ll naturally head off to take the knight’s exam.’

Of course, the training wouldn’t just be for show.

Ever since he’d watched Reynold’s swordsmanship, he’d pushed himself even harder.

He was no exception.

‘I need to double—no, more than double—my Aura maintenance time.’

His goal was to raise his Aura maintenance to the level of a Sword Expert before the exam.

That was Evan’s aim.

***

In the count’s reception room.

Darwen and Clyd were deep in conversation.

The master of the house, Clyd, wore a hardened expression.

That’s how shocking Darwen’s report had been.

The betrayal of Heres and Hilton.

And the evidence of their activities had been secured.

All the ledgers of their secret dealings and the letters sent to rival factions—everything.

‘I can’t believe it.’

Tap. Tap.

Clyd drummed his fingers on the table.

Darwen picked up a ledger and continued.

“Count, I know this is difficult to accept, but this is reality… And if you look at the other information I’ve gathered, there are even greater dangers.”

Darwen’s expression softened with sympathy.

He knew the pain of betrayal all too well.

His own guildmates, closer than family, had once betrayed him and left.

Many research secrets were leaked, and the guild suffered greatly.

But the deepest wound was the betrayal from those he trusted.

That pain never faded.

Clyd looked over a few documents before setting them down and finally spoke.

“Marquess, thank you. I can’t believe you’ve gone to such lengths for me. I am deeply indebted.”

Clyd bowed his head.

A rare sight, given his usual temperament.

Darwen waved a hand as if to say it was nothing.

“No need. I just happened to stumble upon the Nervan Cult’s men and was lucky enough to secure the evidence. Once I caught one, the rest fell into place like a spider’s web.”

Clyd let out a heavy sigh.

“I understand, Marquess. I’ll see to the rest myself and make sure you are properly rewarded for your efforts.”

Darwen nodded in understanding.

Or rather, there was nothing more he could say.

‘He’s barely holding it together.’

He looked like a volcano about to erupt.

Had Darwen not been there, who knows what Clyd might have done.

Darwen stood.

“You must have a lot to think about. I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Darwen left.

The reception room was silent, with only Clyd remaining.

“Hilton…”

Crack.

Soon, Clyd too left the room.

***

Evan was crossing swords with Alan in the training grounds.

Clang—!

A heavy metallic ring echoed in his ears.

They were using dull iron swords, not wooden ones.

These swords were made for training, to simulate real combat.

Though they weren’t sharpened, their blunt force was still dangerous.

But Evan was willing to take that risk for proper training.

“Master Evan, are you really going to take the exam this time?”

Alan asked as he blocked Evan’s sword.

Evan met Alan’s gaze and replied.

“Yeah, you said it yourself, right? This is the last knight entry exam this year. If I miss it, I’ll have to wait until next year.”

“That’s true, but… wouldn’t it be better to prepare a bit more? There are many eyes watching. And if the examiners know you’re participating, they might be even stricter.”

Alan sounded genuinely concerned.

He knew all too well how Delian and Hilton had taken their exams.

“The examiners won’t give you any favors. They’ll grade you harshly, and if you’re even slightly lacking, you’ll be disqualified without mercy.”

Alan’s face was serious.

His advice was sincere, but Evan’s response was indifferent.

“That’s fine by me. If I want to surpass Delian, I have to do even better.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Evan drew out even more Aura, increasing its density.

A strike filled with explosive power.

He used Sword Technique: First Style at the same time.

Mana imbued Evan’s sword, tracing a sharp arc through the air.

Clang!

Of course, Alan, a mid-level Sword Expert, managed to block the attack.

“Urgh! Where did you learn such swordsmanship?”

Alan staggered back, barely blocking the blow.

At that moment, a message flashed before Evan’s eyes.

[Resonance Rate has increased by 0.03%.]

As always, whenever he used techniques from his previous life, his Resonance Rate would rise little by little.

That was how Evan had learned to increase it.

Of course, there might be other ways he didn’t know yet, but he would figure those out in time.

“Young master! The knights are moving! Looks like a gathering!”

Reynold, who’d been watching the spar, suddenly shouted.

Evan raised a hand to signal Alan to stop.

Just as Reynold said, the knights were on the move.

Evan quickly realized what was happening.

Clyd had summoned the knights.

‘If they’re moving this quickly, he must have finished talking with the Marquess and met with Hilton.’

It was probably to deal with the aftermath of what Heres and Hilton had done.

Of course, with Hilton confessing everything, the cleanup would be easy.

What Evan was curious about was what would become of Heres and Hilton.

He soon shook his head with a faint smile.

‘They’ll handle it.’

It was clear they’d either rot in prison for life or die.

Evan immediately gave Alan an order.

“Alan, from now on, it’s special training for two weeks.”

“Huh? W-what do you mean—?”

Evan cut him off.

“We’re leaving for Kellutan in two weeks. So pack and get ready.”

Evan’s goal was drawing closer, step by step.

***

Bang!

The sound of Heres slamming the carriage door.

Her face was twisted in irritation.

Clyd’s order to return.

She didn’t know why, but she had been summoned back.

“Why call me when I’m so busy?”

With servants attending her, Heres approached the main gate.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Clack.

Armed knights approached and restrained her.

Flustered, Heres raised her voice.

“What are you doing? Release me at once!”

Even as she shouted, Heres glanced around.

The atmosphere was tense.

The knights’ grip was rough.

“How dare you! Do you know who I am?!”

She yelled at the knights, but it was useless.

The knights dragged her away, not caring for her protests.

They brought her to a temporary detention center used for interrogating serious criminals.

“W-why! Why are you bringing me here?!”

Only then did Heres realize something was wrong.

She struggled fiercely.

But the more she resisted, the harder the knights squeezed her.

“Aagh! Stop! Let go!”

Pain shot through her bound arms and Heres screamed.

After a long struggle, she was dragged inside.

There, she saw Hilton locked behind iron bars.

“…Hi, Hilton?”

Why was her son imprisoned here?

Heres couldn’t make sense of what was happening.

Her desperate gaze turned to her son.

What she saw was a vacant stare—like a puppet, void of self.

“What… what happened?! What is going on?!”

At that moment, a huge man with light blond hair, easily over two meters tall, approached Heres.

He introduced himself as Badran, chief warden of the detention center.

“Baroness Heres, welcome. The Count has personally given me authority.”

“You lunatic! Do you think you’ll get away with this?!”

“Still don’t get it? Tsk tsk. After all you’ve seen, you still don’t understand? Are you that slow?”

“W-what?”

“Tsk!”

Badran, the towering man, let out a sigh of exasperation.

Then a booming voice rang out.

“Take the criminal Heres away!”

“What are you doing?! Let go! How dare you treat me like a criminal!”

“I told you already, didn’t I? The Count has entrusted everything to me.”

Badran gestured to Hilton behind the bars.

“If you don’t want to die, you’d best confess everything like that one.”

“W-what?”

Seeing her confusion, Badran sighed again.

“You still don’t get it. Take her away!”

At his signal, more knights appeared, dragging several men over.

Heres recognized them.

They were the ones who’d helped her embezzle and trade stolen goods within the county.

“Hilton… don’t tell me he confessed…?”

Finally realizing the situation, Heres began to tremble.

A summons from the Count.

A cold reception.

And now, this nightmare before her eyes.

Badran grinned at Heres.

“An interesting journey awaits you. After the interrogation, you’ll be sent to Arsella, so steel yourself.”

“A-ah…”

Heres’ face turned pale, her whole body shaking.

Arsella was a notorious prison—once you went in, there was no coming out.

Its infamy was known throughout the kingdom; it was the largest prison in the realm.

“No, please! There’s been a mistake! Let me see my husband!”

Heres finally broke down, sobbing and pleading.

Badran, watching, only spoke briefly.

“Say that in the interrogation room. Take her away!”

Heres was dragged off by the knights to another room.

Thud!