The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

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Chapter 348: This is Certain. (1)

The soldiers gazed at Ghislaine and Arel with an overbearing attitude.

“State your identity.”

Ghislaine glanced at Arel. These matters were typically meant to be addressed by a noble’s attendant.

Ghislaine held his chin up, projecting an air of superiority appropriate for a phony noble, looking elsewhere.

Arel, who had only briefly learned etiquette from Claude and Belinda, stuttered nervously.

“I-I’m the Baron Dugly from the East? W-well, we came here to… um, what were those letters again…”

It was comical to see Arel fumbling over a note Claude had written on “how to introduce the lord to soldiers at the castle gate.”

Given his rural background, he clearly had no grasp of such etiquette. He had only started to read since coming to the Territory of Penris, making it difficult to read quickly.

Thus, even if someone taught him etiquette, acting naturally was a tall order.

As the soldiers exchanged suspicious glances and thrust their spears forward, Ghislaine clicked his tongue and stepped forward.

“I am the Baron Dugly from the East. I’ve come to see Count Mobray and discuss certain matters.”

“The Lord, you say?”

“Indeed.”

“May I know the purpose of your visit?”

“Am I required to disclose my purpose to a mere soldier? Especially matters meant for discussion with His Excellency the Count?”

As Ghislaine glared at the soldier with an air of superiority, they gradually lowered their spears.

They attentively checked his identification and other documents before opening the castle gate.

As Ghislaine passed by, one soldier warned him with a serious tone.

“The lord’s nerves are quite frayed these days. You should be cautious.”

“Noted.”

Ghislaine casually replied as he moved along.

The atmosphere inside the castle wasn’t much different from the dreariness outside. The people walking by all wore gloomy expressions.

Arel whispered while observing the crowd.

“Is something bad happening in the territory?”

“Well, it’s not exactly the territory; rather, something bad’s happening to the lord.”

“If it’s the lord’s issue, why do all the people look so down?”

“Because the lord’s nerves are on edge. He’s likely punishing even the smallest infractions without mercy. So everyone must be on guard and careful.”

Having lived in a small village in the North and then moving to Penris, Arel had never had to mind the lord’s moods.

Though the land was harsh and frequently assaulted by barbarians, Ghislaine’s father, Zvalter, never mistreated the territory residents.

“Sounds like this lord is… quite intimidating.”

Not outright declaring him a tyrant, he cautiously phrased it. Ghislaine shook his head in response.

“Not to that extent. It’s just that he’s facing problems he can’t solve, and his frustration is affecting those around him.”

“His frustration affecting those around him…”

“Exactly. A person’s heart is weaker than one thinks. No matter how much one tries to control their anger, bottling it up is not easy. It inevitably affects those nearby.”

“I see.”

Arel nodded, somewhat understanding. Just thinking about the barbarians often ignited a fury within him.

Could he truly conceal the anger dwelling inside from everyone around him?

Anyone harboring deep resentment would unconsciously exude that hostility.

Having understood the situation, Arel suddenly grew concerned.

“Is it really okay to meet such a lord?”

Coming to meet them under the veil of secrecy, it didn’t sound like he was someone they knew well. But now facing someone who harbored much anger made Arel a bit uneasy.

At this moment, only Arel and Ghislaine were present. Plus, he didn’t even know how to properly use mana yet.

If things got heated, he would surely face significant trouble. No matter how strong Ghislaine was, he couldn’t fight an entire territory alone.

Although the lord was known for always concocting strategies, the gloomy atmosphere around the territory made it impossible not to worry.

As if understanding Arel’s thoughts, Ghislaine chuckled softly.

“There’s no need to be too scared. We’re not going to fight; we’re going to resolve the reasons behind his anger.”

“The reasons behind his anger, you say?”

“Correct. And there’s also the matter of gaining new strength.”

At that statement, Arel’s eyes widened.

To Arel, Ghislaine seemed extraordinarily powerful. Yet, to hear he was seeking even more strength? He couldn’t even begin to imagine what that entailed.

“Curious, are we?”

“… Yes.”

Arel slightly nodded. He planned to follow Ghislaine’s lead, but curiosity bubbled within him.

Ghislaine started walking slowly, explaining.

“Duke’s 7-circle Mage Elois is a wizard of the Illusion School.”

“The Illusion… School?”

Wizards of the Illusion School could be more challenging to deal with than those of the Destructive Magic School because they could manipulate the minds of their opponents.

Of course, this wouldn’t work well against skilled mana users. But regular soldiers could never counter high-circle illusion magic.

Especially high-circle wizards could instantly create illusions for numerous people, tricking them en masse.

What would happen if such large-scale magic unfolded on the battlefield? Allies would end up attacking allies, and all plans and commands would crumble to dust.

That’s why illusionists transformed into the most fearsome wizards in wartime.

“But others don’t know he’s a wizard of a different school. Being a 7-circle mage, he’s quite proficient in other magics as well.”

“So you’re saying he’s deliberately deceiving them.”

“Precisely. He saves it for crucial moments. If they encounter it unexpectedly on the battlefield, it could spell disaster.”

“So the new strength…”

“There’s no one in our territory who can counter Elois’s illusion magic. So, we’re seeking to acquire the power to counter it.”

“That power is here?”

“Indeed. Although it may not be achievable all at once. It’ll take some time, so be prepared.”

Ghislaine didn’t reveal what that power was. But the gravity of his tone grew heavier with each passing moment, causing Arel to swallow nervously.

He wanted to ask what that power entailed, but he feared the answer. The kind of strength that could match a 7-circle mage must be attained through tremendous hardship.

‘I need to be his strength.’

The reason the lord brought Arel along must have been to train him, as well as to provide him with experience.

Given the lord’s nature, that endeavor would undoubtedly be perilous. It had always been thus.

Arel steeled his expression, resolving to succeed no matter what.

Ghislaine seemingly sought to lighten the mood, changing the subject.

“Oh, and if I solve the lord’s issues here, there will be other benefits too.”

“What kind of benefits?”

“The lord is rejecting allegiance to anyone. It would be better if he aligned with us, but as long as he doesn’t align with the Duke, it reduces the enemies we have to face. It’s beneficial in many ways.”

Arel nodded, understanding. Indeed, the lord never did anything without reason.

Other people always critiqued Ghislaine’s plans with various concerns, but Arel never did.

‘If the lord says so, it must be true.’

To him, Ghislaine was a divine being. Whatever Ghislaine said was simply correct. Arel followed him as a disciple, different from Dominic in that regard.

Arel trusted Ghislaine completely, the one who saved him and became his mentor. In truth, as a rural boy, he lacked knowledge to question anything.

The two chatted amiably while making their way to the lord’s castle. As they walked, they only saw people enveloped in that gloomy atmosphere.

Upon arriving at the front of the castle, once again they were blocked by knights and soldiers.

“Stop! What business do you have here?”

They were a bit more polite than at the castle gate. Most figures coming to the lord’s castle weren’t commoners.

Ghislaine grinned and said, “I’m the Baron Dugly from the East. I’ve come to resolve the troubles of your lord.”

“Troubles… you say?”

“Indeed. I’m quite the renowned exorcist.”

*

Count Mobray was always in a foul mood.

It wasn’t the situation of his territory. His territory was quite prosperous.

He had been operating smoothly without money issues, and given the strength of his territory, it wasn’t particularly susceptible to invasion by other lords.

His only concern was one: his son.

“How’s Edwin doing?”

“Even though we summoned wizards in secret, he remains the same.”

“What about silencing the issue?”

“We made sure to give strict warnings. If even a whisper of rumors escapes, I’ll mobilize the army and ensure his death.”

“Still, how long can we keep this up without the rumors slipping out?”

Count Mobray took a deep breath, calming his anger.

While rumors hadn’t taken root yet, the issues surrounding his son and heir, Edwin, had been lingering for quite a while.

Since childhood, Mobray had raised him harshly, disliking his delicate nature.

As a result, his son began to distance himself further, making it hard to even catch a glimpse of him.

The more Edwin avoided him, the stricter Mobray became. He controlled his every action, never stopping his reprimands over the smallest mistakes.

— You stupid fool! You can’t even handle this?

— Pathetic wretch! What on earth are you capable of?

— Is this how you can call yourself the heir of a territory?

Every time he berated him, Edwin withdrew even more. This tension led to increasingly frequent mistakes.

As Edwin’s errors multiplied, Count Mobray’s anger only swelled. Not a single aspect of Edwin pleased him.

However, a year ago, Edwin began to exhibit bizarre behaviors, and now he had completely lost his mind.

No, more accurately, it was more fitting to say he was possessed by something.

Muttering curses while exuding a ghastly aura, could this simply be called madness?

At first, Mobray thought Edwin was just pretending to be insane.

He believed it was a stunt fueled by the fear of strict education and reprimands.

But as time passed, the situation escalated, and he truly transformed into something demonic.

Had his son genuinely formed a pact with demons like a dark sorcerer?

Count Mobray shook his head. Not just anyone could form a pact with a demon. His son knew nothing of such matters.

Even in this dire situation, Mobray continued his tirade.

“What a worthless wretch, how weak-minded must you be to fall prey to such evil spirits?”

“It’s because of you. You never treated me like a person. So, I ended up like this. So hurry and let me go…”

Mobray’s heart was relentlessly sliced by Edwin’s repeated words.

After several deep breaths, he managed to speak with difficulty.

“Isn’t it possible for my son to escape this body? If you want, I can provide you with another one.”

Count Mobray, even if facing a demon, was willing to procure a better body if that’s what the creature desired. He could simply use condemned prisoners.

However, the evil spirit tilted its head strangely a few times and replied.

“I cannot leave this body.”