The only thing that greeted Zion upon his return to the mansion, guided by a servant, was silence.
‘…Haven’t they talked yet? Well, it’s unlikely someone would act so impulsively.’
Ascending to the guest room, Zion felt a wave of relief as he realized his worries were unfounded.
Soon after, a servant announced dinner, and he followed the guidance toward the dining hall feeling unburdened.
“It seems you told Yuria an interesting story.”
Zion immediately sensed something was seriously wrong.
“Uh, what story are you talking about…?”
“Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m not blaming you. Considering her temperament, you could say you’re also a kind of victim here, right?”
An awkward atmosphere settled over the small and humble dining table—unexpected for the residence of such a powerful noble and magnate.
Zion couldn’t find a word to say and instead watched Yuria’s expression closely.
She poked at the steamed seafood with her fork, clearly displeased.
“Why do you look so world-weary sitting at the dinner table?”
“…It’s nothing.”
The brief exchange between father and daughter revealed there had indeed been some sort of incident between them.
Zion, the cause of it all, anxiously wondered when the blame might fall on him.
“I told you once during the day, but this is a very important time for our family.”
Benya set down his utensils and wiped his hands and mouth before speaking gravely.
“I’ve been preparing steadily for the past four years to run in the election. Expanding the scale of the Alzred Caravan, reinvesting the profits back into society, consistently showing my face to the citizens to build familiarity—and Yuria stepped forward to assist in these efforts. Of course, I clearly explained the circumstances and intentions to her first, and she agreed.”
When their eyes met, Yuria gave a small nod, a little surprising to Zion.
It was proof that Benya respected his daughter as an equal.
If Benya had been a plainly bad person, someone who simply oppressed Yuria and forced only his own ideas on her, Zion wouldn’t have had to worry so much.
But in the short time they had been together, Benya was clearly not such a man.
Zion sympathized with Yuria’s yearning for freedom but also understood Benya’s deep concern for his daughter.
“There’s only a month left until the election. At this stage, a candidate must be careful with every minor gesture and word. Even an insignificant phrase or meaningless gesture at a public event can become fodder for the press and lead to a disastrous drop in support. So, if a daughter who seemed to be living harmoniously suddenly goes on a solo journey, how do you think the public would take that?”
At the very least, it was certain it wouldn’t have a positive effect.
“The problem won’t end after winning either. When you’re at the peak of managing the people’s livelihood and building a support base, any family scandal could fracture public opinion. You might find it hard to understand, having grown up in a monarchy, but a president’s power is neither absolute nor immutable. So…”
Benya rose from the table after clearing the dishes and spoke solemnly.
“We’ve decided to allow the trip only after two or three years—once public affairs have stabilized and the support base is solid.”
“!…?”
Zion’s eyes widened, as if he’d misheard.
“So, you’re saying you will grant Yuria’s wish…?”
“That’s right.”
Zion turned to Yuria in stunned silence.
The girl herself still wore a dissatisfied expression.
Why?
Was it because she wasn’t being allowed to go immediately—that she was being told to wait another two or three years?
“I-I see.”
Feeling tension drain from his shoulders, Zion replied weakly.
[So, it’s all worked out in the end?] Frey, who had been nervously watching without showing it, sighed with relief.
Arcs seemed indifferent from the start, fiddling with equipment in a corner of the room.
“It’s not like she’ll be allowed to travel unconditionally. If she wants to travel alone, she needs at least a minimum level of skill. We’ll select a competent mercenary, and if she can prove herself in training matches against them, we’ll approve her trip.”
Before leaving the table, Benya approached Zion and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Your responsibility just got a whole lot heavier. Take good care of my daughter.”
Startled, Zion nodded stiffly.
Benya left the dining hall satisfied, and soon only Zion and Yuria remained.
“I thought you two had a huge fight.” Zion said awkwardly, and Yuria shrugged with an embarrassed expression.
“We didn’t. Honestly, I came in ready for a big argument. I don’t know what came over Dad. After hearing me out, he just stayed silent for a long time, then gave his permission.”
“Then why do you look so unhappy?”
“Who knows? Maybe because he used to be so stubborn about it and now suddenly agreed so easily. Do I look that obvious?”
“I really thought it was serious.”
Yuria touched her face this way and that before laughing sheepishly.
“This isn’t something to be gloomy about. Unless I’d screamed and jumped around. How’s the food? Is it good? It is, right?”
“It is. It’s not easy to find seafood in Illium, but being on the peninsula means there’s plenty to eat here.”
“Oh! Speaking of seafood, I have to brag a bit. Wecos used to be hard to get seafood in the inland areas too, but we collaborated with the Devine Trading Company to develop a frozen storage system that was a huge success…”
The two shared a warm, intimate meal despite being alone, and Zion returned to the guest room with his personal servant.
“If you need anything, ring the bell. Have a comfortable night, Lord Zion.”
Left alone, Zion let out a long sigh.
The most urgent matter at the mansion had been smoothly resolved.
Now he could relax without worry.
“Uncle, Arcs.”
Yet Zion’s expression froze completely upon entering his room.
[What’s wrong? Why such a serious look all of a sudden?]
[Yeah, yeah. Just call me ‘sister,’ please.]
“Don’t you two feel anything?”
The two awakened beings exchanged confused glances.
Perhaps it was just Zion’s imagination.
He hoped so.
But having experienced it twice already, it was impossible.
“…There’s a scent of monsters coming from Benya.” Zion said cautiously.
***
Callbedo Cheni, captain of the mercenary corps, crossed an empty back alley with a scowl, as if he had just bitten into a bug.
“Damn it. So narrow-minded and stupid, like an old fool.”
It had been a year since he steeled his resolve, yet he still sometimes doubted whether joining the Devine Trading Company had been the right choice.
Especially on days like today, when despite speaking nothing but truth, he only received a torrent of curses.
The captain bore responsibility himself.
He was the one who conceived the risky plan to disguise the mercenaries as bandits, attack Yuria’s caravan, and kidnap her.
Though the plan was dangerous, he was confident it would succeed—and the reward was great.
Benya cherished his daughter so dearly that he wouldn’t hesitate to do anything—even abandon the election—to save her if she were kidnapped.
Unexpected variables caused the plan’s failure, but the captain realized those variables could become new weapons.
This flexible mindset was something he learned under Benya.
However, Chairman Bolen Debain refused to believe his report, unwilling to shoulder responsibility or suspecting him of fabricating stories.
“A coward who relies solely on his subordinates without collecting information himself.”
Though he emphasized Zion’s importance through the communication channel multiple times, his words went unheeded.
Ultimately, Zion fell under Benya’s control.
When the captain faced Chairman Debain to give a final report, the old man hurling meaningless insults for over an hour left him powerless on the way home.
“Poll numbers are still favorable, but we can’t relax just yet. No matter how much that old man uses personal connections and gold to control politics, elections don’t depend solely on the decisions of the elite.”
Even if the polls slightly reversed, once Debain pulled some strings, victory was guaranteed.
Still, the captain wanted a more certain and secure outcome.
Fraud bred anxiety, and any anxieties that could be eliminated should be.
“One more plan… No, that old man won’t listen to me now. Should I act on my own? But if I get caught…”
“You seem troubled, Captain.”
For a moment, the captain thought he heard a hallucination.
It was Benya Alzred’s voice.
But he distinctly sensed the presence no more than ten meters ahead.
“Chairman? How did you get here…?”
“That’s what I want to ask. Why are you here? The direction you came from isn’t where the Devine Chairman’s secret passage is?”
A chill ran down the captain’s spine.
He cautiously placed his hand on his sword’s hilt, preparing for battle.
“You don’t have to answer. I’ll guess. So you took another round of unreasonable abuse from the chairman, huh? You’ve had a hard time keeping him in line without me noticing.”
“Ha, ha ha. I don’t know what you mean, Chairman. That’s a vicious joke.”
“No need to explain. I’m not fishing; I know everything.”
“Since when?”
“I learned everything only two days ago. I’ve been investigating for a long time, but it was only after receiving your report about the bandit attack two weeks ago that I grasped the full picture. I’m involved in domestic bandit eradication and security management. No bandit gang bold enough to attack a caravan exists in that area. It’s suspicious. Want to know how I investigated and uncovered everything?”
Instead of answering, the captain slightly lowered his stance, ready to draw his sword and strike Benya.
“Don’t be so tense.”
Benya’s calm expression gave nothing away.
“I don’t blame you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I say. I won’t interfere with whatever you do. Do as you please.”
The captain’s face twisted grotesquely.
Nonsense.
He was like a pathogen hiding within the Alzred Caravan.
“Curious, though. Why did you side with Chairman Debain? We’ve been business partners for over ten years. Did I ever wrong you?”
A pointless question.
Mercenaries betray their employers for money and power.
“You’re too clean.”
The captain spat out those words.
From that brief answer, Benya inferred much.
“I see. That’s useful.”
Benya nodded and turned his back, leaving himself defenseless.
The captain fought the urge to draw his sword.
“Well, I’ll be off. Take care.”
“You really are leaving? You won’t harm me, the man who betrayed you and sided with your enemy?”
“Yes. Nothing.”
As Benya started to leave, he glanced back at the captain.
“Don’t let your guard down. I hope you return safely.”
As the sound faded and Benya disappeared, the captain remained tense and frozen.
Only after a long while did he stretch and wipe the cold sweat.
“Damn it. What on earth is going on?”
It felt like a bad dream.
Even now, it did.
The world around him was eerily still, as if time had stopped.
Not a single sign of life could be felt.
‘…Wait.’ Only then did the captain realize how unnatural the situation was—too late.
The first sound came from above: heavy footsteps on the roof.
When he quickly looked up, a growl came from behind.
Lowering his stance, the captain swiftly drew his sword.
There was still no sign of life, but instead, hostile and powerful presences began to manifest one by one around him—the same overwhelming aura he had sensed before.
” Grrrkkrrk.”
“Kiiieee? Kkriik. Keeeek!”
“Sssrrrrk.”
Hearing these nightmare-like sounds, the captain couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Mo… monsters?”
Goblins.
Orcs.
Kobolds.
Nameless monsters resembling wild dogs, centipedes, and crows.
They appeared one after another—from around the corner, on the roof, and inside an abandoned house.
‘Am I dreaming?’
A centipede-like monster, its body covered in steel-like armor, crawled toward the captain.
Standing upright, it was over two meters tall.
The captain’s breath hitched as he stared blankly.
The stench, the noise, the disgusting clicking of its many legs—all vivid.
“Ugh… aaaaah!” The captain screamed involuntarily and swung his sword.
The blade shattered one of the many legs and scraped the armor.
The monster silently stared down at him, then opened its maw wide and swallowed his head whole.
***
‘Pride’ was a feeling unfamiliar even after thousands of years.
Its name was amazement and delight.
‘A mere pet died at the hands of a single young human…’
Each time he waved his hand, the image projected through dimensions shifted and distorted, reflecting the world anew.
The first sight was the dry remains of a Cocatrice, as if all moisture had drained from its body.
‘My creations are crossing dimensions without my permission and obeying the crude magic of humans.’
Next came the vision of a group of monsters dragging the corpse of a human man quietly out of a primitive civilization city.
“Hoho, hohohoho.”
“Human imagination is truly marvelous.”
The Middle World had long been a realm where invasions ceased.
The Seven Transcendentals and the Transcendentals all agreed it was not worth the effort to invade.
But Pride held a personal interest in the Middle World.
Not for grand reasons, but because it was amusing to watch lowly beings swarm and occasionally carry out surprising actions he hadn’t foreseen.
That pastime didn’t last long.
Pride’s capricious and quickly bored nature stemmed from its conviction that it was the strongest of the Seven.
That such Pride would regain interest in the Middle World, once abandoned, was remarkable.
“Since they reached out first, I cannot refuse.”
Pride smiled softly and rose from the Throne of Bones.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.