Chapter 93: The Price of Alliance

The guards and knights of Belbaton hurriedly ran out from outside the castle gates.

But the situation had already been resolved long ago.

“Are you alright!”

The man who appeared to be the captain of the guards approached where Evan and the Executioner stood.

The Executioner turned his head and spoke to Evan.

“Young master, please leave this matter to me. Besides, I have to meet the lord of this place anyway. I will make sure to report your deeds to him properly.”

Evan nodded.

“If you would do that, I am grateful.”

He didn’t particularly care how it was handled.

In fact, it was helpful that someone else was taking care of the troublesome matter and would be reporting his exploits to the Marquess.

Just as Evan was about to leave, the Executioner called him back.

“Young master, please remember this. The Evil Aura has not yet been completely cleansed. Not only in the Andor Marquisate but it is gradually spreading elsewhere as well. Please be cautious.”

He emphasized this several times.

If he repeated it that much, it meant there was definitely something serious going on.

‘Such strong warnings mean the Order has probably already fully grasped the situation,’ Evan deduced from the Executioner’s demeanor.

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

Evan bid farewell to the Executioner and moved on.

Returning to the guild, Evan sought out Rolten first.

Rolten needed to be updated on the current situation as well.

The sooner they sent reports, the better the Count Kerthen Household could prepare an appropriate response.

Evan recalled the Executioner’s words.

‘The Evil Aura still hasn’t been dispelled… Something is about to happen in the kingdom.’

No, in a way, Evan already knew this fact.

‘Earlier in the main quest, there was a choice between the kingdom’s main quest and that of the Kerthen Marquisate.’

He had chosen to forgo the kingdom’s main quest and instead focus on the marquisate’s.

Considering that, it was no surprise something unusual was happening in the kingdom.

Although he couldn’t proceed with the kingdom-related quest, it seemed that everything was coming full circle to this point.

‘While I was dealing with the Nervan Cult within the marquisate, things were already unfolding throughout the kingdom.’

And the two factions he had uncovered so far had been intertwined like gears.

Enemies born from historic conflict.

In the middle of it all, the Lamakria people’s attacks fueled by newfound power and the cult’s heresy purification.

‘From this perspective, it looks like a naturally occurring problem.’

But if it was connected to the main quest, it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

It meant there was something else with the potential to greatly affect the world.

‘I still lack sufficient information.’

Evan felt that completing this quest might finally reveal the answers he sought.

He asked the attendant, “Is Rolten alright? Where is he now?”

“Rolten has just finished his treatment and is resting in his room at the guild members’ dormitory.”

“Take me to him.”

Following the attendant, Evan climbed to the second floor of the guild.

A long corridor stretched ahead, resembling a series of rooms similar to a dormitory.

The attendant stopped in front of the door in the middle.

“He is here.”

Evan opened the door and entered.

Clack!

Rolten was already removing his bandages and getting dressed.

“Are you already well enough to move?”

Rolten looked up when he saw Evan.

“This much should heal with a bit of rest. Worrying about me is the most useless thing in the world. More importantly, how’s your investigation going?”

Evan pulled out the Crystal of Memories from his chest pocket.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t find Beron. But I have recorded everything about those guys. I think I’ve figured out their identities to some extent as well.”

Evan shared all the information he had gathered with him.

Beron was walking through a rough mountain area.

He had defeated those who had kidnapped him and discovered a Fragment of the Map marking their stronghold.

Without a plan, he headed toward their base.

He couldn’t think of anything else at the moment.

Beron’s sole motivation right now was simple revenge.

***

After climbing the harsh mountain path, he had to stop soon after.

“There he is! Over there!”

“Capture him!”

The Sacred Knights searching the mountains confronted Beron.

They drew their swords and charged toward him.

At that moment, Beron also prepared to fight.

If those who had incited the villagers were the kidnappers, then these knights were the ones who had devastated the village.

They were also the ones who killed his parents.

Rage surged deep within his heart.

It no longer mattered who was right or wrong. He simply decided to kill them all.

A pitch-black aura enveloped his entire body.

Black armor formed over him.

It felt as if the armor and his body had become one.

At first, it was unfamiliar, but now the armor felt like his own skin.

It seemed alive, breathing with him.

Red gleams flashed from Beron’s helmet.

His sword materialized in his hand as he raised his head to glare at the rushing Sacred Knights.

Clang!

Beron’s sword struck against the knights’ armor but left no scratch due to its hardness.

In contrast, the Sacred Knights’ attacks, imbued with Holy Power, cut through Beron’s armor.

Their strikes were powerful.

They pierced through the armor and wounded his body.

Screech!

Swords swung from all directions, cutting through Beron’s armor.

Sometimes they pierced through him, leaving his whole body mangled.

Despite suffering brutal attacks, Beron swung his sword at the knights, but it was useless.

Eventually, Beron collapsed on the spot.

“You insignificant rat.”

“Filthy bastard. How corrupted you must be.”

The knights showered Beron with scorn as he lay fallen.

Just as they were about to end his life with a final thrust,

Beron struggled to stand up again.

He staggered, appearing as if he would fall at any moment.

But they couldn’t know that, in an instant, his armor was regenerating and his wounds were healing.

Beron steadied his breath and charged once more.

“You’ve even sold your soul. Pitiful servant.”

The Sacred Knights casually faced Beron.

As expected, Beron was cut mercilessly and reduced to rags during the fight.

But he never stopped.

He kept getting up and continuously fighting them.

The Sacred Knights began to sense something strange.

“Argh! You monster!”

One by one, they started falling to Beron, gradually turning the tide of battle.

By the time they realized it, Beron’s armor had evolved through several stages.

***

The grand mansion of the Andor Marquisate.

Located in the center of Belbaton, its scale was not as large as that of the Kerthen Count Household.

The buildings had a practical feel rather than focusing on design.

Evan and Rolten were currently entering the grand mansion of the Andor Marquisate.

‘He likes wine and is known to be frugal, wasn’t it?’

Evan recalled some information about him and decided to bring a small, light gift.

“Evan.”

Rolten, walking beside him, spoke.

“That old man won’t be easy. No matter what you do, he’ll avoid being involved in anything. That’s why the Andor Marquisate is eerily quiet compared to its reputation.”

His personality was reflected directly in his territory.

He seemed determined never to take risks.

Rather than developing the land, his tendency was to protect it.

Rolten hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“Ah, forget it. You handle persuading that old man. No matter how I think about it, it’s impossible.”

Evan nodded.

“Don’t worry about that part.”

“Do as you please. I’ll look around the mansion for a while. Call me when you’re done.”

Upon arriving at the mansion entrance, Rolten immediately veered toward the garden.

Only Evan entered the mansion and was greeted by the staff.

“Welcome, young master. The head of the house is waiting for you.”

Following their guidance, Evan entered the mansion.

‘Is this really the lord’s mansion?’

Inside, a large hall came into view.

Other than the star-shaped emblem, the symbol of the family, there was nothing special.

If anything, it felt emptily bare.

‘Are they determined not to waste even this space?’

It was probably left open like this to be used for multiple purposes.

It seemed like a practical design meant to double as a banquet hall.

‘Still, isn’t this a bit too much? I heard the Andor Marquisate has many buried resources and quite a bit of money. It’s almost excessive to be this frugal.’

“This is the room.”

Evan, who had been looking around, arrived at the reception room.

The staff opened the door, revealing a stern-looking middle-aged man seated inside.

‘Andor Adman.’

The current head of the Andor Marquisate, a Magic Swordsman.

But his appearance didn’t match the aura of a Magic Swordsman.

His crimson hair was thinning.

Brown eyes.

Sharp eyes, but a rounded nose and sagging cheeks.

He looked more like a merchant than a magic swordsman.

“Young master. I heard from the Executioner about you. I’m glad you took the initiative to confront the corrupted ones yourself. Truly grateful.”

His first impression seemed to have been favorable.

Evan didn’t miss the opportunity and placed the wine he had brought on the table.

“This is a small gift.”

A subtle smile tugged at Adman’s lips.

“You didn’t have to prepare anything, really. Thank you.”

Adman picked up the wine and smiled at Evan as if pleased.

“No, I couldn’t come empty-handed. I heard you liked wine.”

“Haha, you’re very polite.”

Adman looked at Evan but secretly felt uneasy.

‘Humans only move according to their own interests.’

That was his firm belief.

He had also lived by that value.

Not out of greed, but always acting for greater benefit.

And Evan’s actions so far were significant.

He had confronted the corrupted at the forefront for a place unrelated to him, Belbaton, and even prepared a gift to please him.

‘If he’s this considerate, he must have something to ask of me.’

Above all, the sudden meeting was suspicious.

Although he accepted the request because it was urgent from the Kerthen Count Household, he couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort.

Thinking this, he naturally asked Evan, “Young master, for what reason have you come to see me?”

Evan carefully took out several contract Scrolls rolled up in his hands.

He laid them on the table and slowly spoke.

“Marquess, I won’t beat around the bush. Please help us.”

Adman furrowed his brow at the direct request.

He hadn’t expected someone to ask so openly.

“Hm, tell me then. I’ll listen and decide.”

“I am asking for your cooperation in protecting the kingdom.”

“Protect the kingdom?”

“Yes. The kingdom’s current situation is unstable. We have detected suspicious movements by certain forces. The group that tried to raid this place today is one of them. Our family alone cannot stop these forces.”

“You want me to stand against those forces alongside the Kerthen family?”

“Yes. Not just you, Marquess. If the Four Founding Houses unite their strength, we can oppose their forces sufficiently.”

“Ridiculous nonsense…”

Adman chuckled bitterly.

‘Is he some naive idealist?’

Bringing together the Four Founding Houses was practically impossible.

And even if they resisted together, there was no benefit to be gained.

While thinking this, he asked Evan, “Enough of this long-winded talk. There is only one thing I want to know. What do I get out of this?”

Evan answered as if he had been waiting for the question.

“I will liberate Geumje for you.”

At that moment, Adman’s eyes widened.