The newly devised plan, which took a full three hours to finalize, maintained the overall structure of the operation originally set by the Redburn siblings.
However, many of the detailed elements had changed significantly.
First, I disguised myself as part of the Demon Army and went to Baron Kilen for assistance.
I lied, claiming that the Demon King had sent me to help dismantle the Redburn siblings by using the mercenaries Baron Kilen had under his command as pawns to bring him down.
With my lie, into which I poured my very soul, Baron Kilen’s mansion was quietly searched from top to bottom, gathering various evidence of corruption.
But what made me slap my forehead was the fact that traces of Ghost-type Demons coming and going were far more abundant than signs of corruption.
With plenty of proof of corruption in hand, there was no need to drag things out any longer, so I set a date for the meeting and lured Baron Kilen to the capital.
And now, the current situation.
Thinking back on having to spend three whole days cooped up in the den of either Baron Kilen or some idiot baron just to reach this moment wasn’t exactly a pleasant memory.
But it had allowed me to annihilate the demons who came to meet Baron Kilen.
Perhaps because I held the Special Task Force’s authority to overthrow a noble house even if caught, there was no trace of nervousness at all.
This is exactly why having Inspection Authority is so great.
It gives you the freedom to do whatever you want.
“This, this is what…?”
“Don’t deny reality. Look at us properly. Hey, don’t look away now.”
Thwack!
My fist scanned over Baron Kilen’s face.
Baron Kilen, whose face was roughly brushed, shouted with a fierce expression.
“You, you deceived me!”
“You’re only realizing that now?”
Thwack!
“Y-you really thought you’d get away with this…?”
“Come in.”
At my single command, the closed door swung open and a group of knights poured in.
At their forefront was Vern Knight Commander.
“…Is it you?”
“That’s right.”
The Vern Knight Commander frowned and approached Baron Kilen.
“Baron Hailer Kilen, you are hereby served the Royal Decree.”
Baron Kilen’s complexion instantly turned pale.
“Evidence of ongoing embezzlement of public funds, breach of trust, and collusion with the Demon Army has been uncovered. Therefore, I, Deaurus Lumin, in the interest of the Kingdom’s peace and security, hereby strip Baron Hailer Kilen of all titles and authority, and order his immediate execution.”
Grinding his teeth, Baron Kilen swiftly reached into his pocket.
It was the Escape Scroll I had given him.
Since I hadn’t stepped in directly, Toruman and the Vern Knight Commander who were observing also refrained from intervening.
Baron Kilen’s body was swallowed by a swirl of light, and the Holy Sword that had been binding him sagged under its own weight.
“Is it alright not to give chase?”
At the Vern Knight Commander’s question, Toruman nodded.
“There’s no reason to chase someone insisting on drinking their own punishment.”
“…Punishment?”
I smirked at the Vern Knight Commander’s puzzled expression.
“You have to give them a chance.”
At least a chance for the siblings wronged by Baron Kilen to get their revenge.
“Huff! Huff!”
Baron Kilen collapsed to the ground, surrounded by the fading light, clutching at his chest in a panic.
Although the pain from the sword wound lingered, there was not a single visible injury.
“Ugh, that bastard…”
He was not part of the Demon Army but a Hero!
I hadn’t anticipated such a development at all.
No, the fact that he had acted as if he knew everything about the dealings he had made with the demons was absurd from the start.
“To think a Hero would possess the talent of a con artist.”
I thought I had been cautious.
That’s why when I first saw him, I even tested him a few times.
After all, Heroes naturally harbor a deep animosity towards demons and demonkind.
To receive the grace of the gods means to harbor a natural murderous intent toward them.
This is not something that can be concealed simply by strong self-control.
But he had none of that.
‘At least I confirmed the Escape Scroll was genuine.’
Since the caster can set the coordinates for the escape point, there was no chance the knights could pursue him.
“Ugh, I have to cross the border quickly…”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
At that moment, a soft, melodious voice came from behind Baron Kilen.
“Y-you are…”
A girl with cute blonde features.
Elena’s eyes shone brightly.
“You thought using the Escape Scroll would let you run away?”
“…How?”
“Didn’t you notice? I was the one who coded how the coordinates for that Escape Scroll were set.”
“…What?”
“Oh, I guess you didn’t know I’m a mage, Uncle. I suppose you never cared about what abilities the heirs of the houses you were trying to topple possessed.”
“Y-you made that?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Suddenly, Elena’s gaze shifted sideways.
Bang!
Baron Kilen’s left arm flew off.
“Guh?!”
Blood spattered everywhere from the severed limb.
“Y-you dare…!”
“You dare? Are you really in a position to say that, Uncle?”
Elena flicked her hand.
Baron Kilen’s body floated up and crashed into the nearby forest.
“Ugh! H-how can someone like you wield ancient magic?! That should be the exclusive domain of the Magic Tower!”
Psychokinesis Magic and Spatial Magic.
Both of these were on a different level from commonly known magic.
Elena shrugged.
“Does that really matter?”
“…Ha.”
Baron Kilen quietly trembled in defeat.
“Ha ha, ha ha ha, hahahahahaha!”
“Oh my, have you lost your mind?”
Elena frowned at his reaction.
Could it be he didn’t fully comprehend his predicament?
He shouldn’t even have the mana left to cast magic after using the scroll.
“Sorry I’m late.”
At that moment, Murfin approached Elena’s side.
“Welcome back, brother. If you’d been any later, it would have been all over, but I left some for you.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Murfin stepped forward, and Elena silently conjured a magic arrow with one hand.
It was a mana arrow for precautionary suppression, just in case.
“Long time no see, Uncle.”
“Ha ha ha ha. Looks like the legendary beast has cleared up, Murfin.”
“Why did you do it?”
Why did you bring down the Noble House of Redburn?
“Why? That’s an obvious question.”
Baron Kilen answered, bewildered.
“Because it’s the duty of the nobility.”
“Duty of the nobility?”
“Exactly.”
What is a noble?
They are those who rule over the commoners.
Those who enjoy all knowledge and power.
Possessing such power means they must protect those beneath them.
That is why nobles must be willing to do anything to enhance their power.
“So they can feed their subjects. Especially in these times of war! They must aim higher than anyone else! But Redburn, how did you behave?”
They gave up on climbing higher, all in the name of justice.
That was neglect, tantamount to starving their subjects and leading those they should protect to death like reapers.
“I will do whatever it takes to protect my family. By any means!”
Murfin muttered incredulously.
“Your family has been dead for a long time. More than that… they were likely sacrificed to demons in exchange for becoming the Demon King’s minions.”
His eyes burned with cold fury.
Baron Kilen sneered in response.
“Their bodies and souls have become fertilizer to feed the subjects. Having sacrificed myself to fulfill the sacred duty of a noble, I’m sure they are proud.”
“…Insane.”
Murfin sighed.
“Well, the time for talk is already past. Let’s end our ill fate here.”
“Ha ha, end? By whose will!”
At that moment, Baron Kilen’s eyes reddened.
He stretched out his remaining arm sideways and shouted.
“Your servant is in danger! Please grant your grace!”
Murfin and Elena exchanged puzzled looks at the sudden, incomprehensible plea.
But shortly after, the sky began to darken ominously, and a sense of dread washed over them.
“Brother!”
“Yes!”
At Elena’s shout, Murfin immediately threw a punch at Baron Kilen’s face.
To clear the Redburn family’s name, Baron Kilen had to be taken alive to stand before the royal court.
They absolutely had to knock him out here.
“It’s too late.”
“Guh?!”
Just before Murfin’s fist landed on the sneering Baron Kilen, a black light rained down.
Elena looked up in horror.
“That’s… the entrance to the Realm of Demons?”
Suddenly, the gateway to the Realm of Demons opened in the sky.
But instead of demons pouring out, a black light was being fired directly at Baron Kilen.
It was an unprecedented phenomenon.
“Damn it. What’s going on?”
The black light enveloped Baron Kilen, kicking up a dust cloud from the impact.
“Krkrkrkr.”
As Murfin and Elena stepped back cautiously, a hand stretched out from the dust cloud accompanied by a sinister laugh.
“Elena! Danger!”
Murfin immediately shoved Elena to the side, wrapping his arms around her in defense.
“Gahk!”
The extended arm struck Murfin.
“Brother!”
Elena unleashed a volley of mana arrows into the dust cloud, trying to suppress it.
After the dust settled, Baron Kilen appeared, covered in mana arrows from head to toe.
“…What?”
Baron Kilen’s once slender human form had grown terrifyingly large.
Muscles covered his entire body, his skin darkened, and his fierce, glowing red eyes made it clear he was no longer human.
“What a magnificent body.”
The mana arrows piercing his body lost form and crumpled.
His severed arm quickly regenerated.
“Today, I am reborn. The Demon King has bestowed a role upon me. Today, I will sever the ties with you and become complete.”
At that moment, Murfin and Elena were left stunned.
“Hmm? What’s wrong? Surprised by my new form?”
“Your size has grown, but your arrogance hasn’t changed one bit. If you had taken even a moment to reflect on yourself, you wouldn’t be asking such foolish questions.”
“…?!”
Baron Kilen was startled by a voice behind him and swung his arm around swiftly.
Boom!
And it was cut off.
“Embezzler, traitor, colluder with the Demon Army, and now one who has abandoned his humanity.”
The accuser calmly revealed a sword shimmering with starlight.
The Sword Aura, said to be wielded only by Sword Masters who had transcended humanity, glittered like starlight.
Murfin and Elena already bowed their heads pale-faced.
“Your Majesty, the King.”
“…”
Baron Kilen’s face was painted with confusion.
The Kingdom of Lumin’s one and only Sword Master was passing judgment on the criminal noble.
“Baron Hailer Kilen. Thank you for your service to the Kingdom thus far.”
“W-wait…!”
Before he could finish, numerous sword markings appeared across Baron Kilen’s body.
The speed of the sword strikes was too fast to be seen.
Within a moment imperceptible to humans, Baron Kilen’s body was sliced hundreds of times, scattering like dust in midair and dissipating.
The black blood, flesh, and bone fragments strewn on the ground were the only remnants of the monster who had once abandoned his humanity.
Deaurus sheathed his sword and said,
“Rest well. Forever.”