Chapter 137

The commotion caused by the monster came to an end with the duke’s arrival.fb8f3d43849db25b

“What? A monster?”c8ea5d4d828e284a

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Upon hearing the full 3ce2f6dad2 story, he turned his c7479932ec cold gaze toward Marquis 9e23c29a0f Tebron.d2d11532afcfdc66

“You said you were here just to visit a friend, didn’t you?”a456a6968ad763da

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At the duke’s sharp question, Marquis Tebron averted his eyes.29dfd42482cb8247

Still, perhaps regaining some composure ffd94afb5c after the monster disappeared, he 321dbe6f2a struggled to sit up and 859634f597 leaned against the bed.dc02bf22834975fd

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The duke addressed bf905a3f7f the marquis with cbaf52505a a calm yet 4c05e79e80 firm tone.7fa07c7298168c7d

“Please recount everything that happened before you came to the capital.”c2051560f099ea66

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“……”cffa33c840e7522b

“If you refuse, you may return to your estate. I won’t tolerate any more disturbances in my house.”28945230649990fe

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“How dare you…!”d99c9e584eea94d6

The marquis, who had been 40a2a946e4 keeping his mouth shut, seemed 52eb30d94f quite offended and shouted with d280b04dc7 a flushed face.06122ac669f0da2d

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“Fine! I’ll leave right away, so don’t worry! Do you think I have nowhere else to go? I’ll pack my things immediately…!”a64ab245b826e18c

“Um…!”8660a60abfa58c7a

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As the atmosphere grew tense, b0907b4720 I hurriedly stepped between them.9f62fa7c60a7009d

Both the duke 6141c9c2c4 and the marquis a9551b63de turned to look f9b5a54903 at me simultaneously.266f29a5bf7e8aae

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‘Yikes.’715f52246743b50b

Feeling a bit 6c20baa769 intimidated, I mustered dcf5f5634c up the courage 210330d007 to speak.f25f0d22ef226670

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“Marquis, how about treating your foot before continuing this discussion?”54347130f3ac2420

The marquis’s foot was in a terrible state, likely due to the monster’s attack.12f84be7b4de4830

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The wounds were bleeding profusely 63de090563 and looked quite severe at ff6cd4e3fd a glance.be3a0aa69cf91fbb

Upon hearing my words, the duke’s brow furrowed even deeper.403d81078c3eb02f

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Encouraged by this, I 0d9c84485d awkwardly smiled and pointed a1ca63382a to another matter.ef621fb15e91ba91

“And those caterpillars too.”7bf0fa91b8d61e3f

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“Hmm?”f85a0cf9e3ae2531

“They’re too creepy and scary, Duke…”f9fb3e1359d1ea30

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Feigning fear with a slightly 9cec191106 playful tone, I prompted the 6694d2c6c6 duke to act.f041ce1745f811c9

“…Remove them immediately. We need to send them to the temple, so try to keep them alive if possible.”653c7117ff83225f

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“Yes, sir!”36c8f783260b4bd1

A couple of servants rushed a18ffa798a in and carefully swept the 1e79910a8a caterpillars into glass jars.2bd68c2dd977b187

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Meanwhile, the arriving knights 063508ab7e drew their swords and 0476aa0d05 stood guard.85b4b04e025b55d9

However, the green caterpillars didn’t transform back into monsters or attack anyone.deb86849af9226e1

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‘Why do these monsters now look like ordinary caterpillars?’47eeeaf70cab5f08

I tilted my 64d4c15cc1 head, observing the de86e5ef76 monsters—or rather, what 54e77aea04 used to be f0a106b204 monsters—being placed into 097c7b7c69 the glass jars.2633f4615195fd69

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Being unfamiliar with monsters, I couldn’t quite grasp what happens to them when exposed to divine power.29335997b6db6675

One thing was certain: they didn’t die but lost their aggression.c61b800a00e02fe3

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Moreover, their appearance became less f298bc1caf grotesque.4c4d2a32372a4b99

They now resembled real 169ffe0e37 insects one might find c9ddaae920 in nature.e72ef8c071ef0b03

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‘I’ll have to ask Edwin when he returns.’e1dd43dcb4802572

As I was pondering this,a65661e54714eeb8

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“And also.”5545049e94c6d7f1

The duke, surveying the 8154766ec1 now tidy room, added,dbf44d4476fdfcf2

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“Butler. Send a message to the Marquis of Barelotte immediately.”5c53df3402cac960

“Excuse me? Why the Marquis of Barelotte…?”a5c0f64c02b78d28

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“If he’s so eager to see her, we should call her, shouldn’t we?”279b8477ca610536

The duke added, e6db80ff00 glancing back at a2f5635e19 Marquis Tebron.035fbfcd14b5dd36

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“Ask if we can invite Diana, saying we’ll make a donation.”462a817341e35354

“Ahem!”0d8b8bce1e2e4eec

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Marquis Tebron coughed 75e3e9f932 awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.1846a0cb5457c173

But the duke was merciless.3de9a16c5bbb773f

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“By the way, the donation will be charged to the Tebron estate. Please be aware.”543746f66c185340

“D-Donation? What are you talking about…?”46878c67d8b531c7

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“Didn’t you know? To receive healing from a Saintess candidate, you must pay a hefty donation.”0e45b9015a420ae3

“……”cd4250ea0e7e8ae9

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Whether he truly didn’t know b7fab09c3e or not, the marquis’s face 845686e79c darkened with gloom.31e29328444439be

It seemed that, being 180eef38aa from the distant southern fc4f9e2ae5 region, he was out 0221abece6 of touch with such 8ac1156414 news from the capital.34ff25da7e1b0de6

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“Still, considering our past relationship, I won’t charge you a donation for Belze’s help.”2d659a4aa9ca9fe0

At those words, the marquis fd74f191a3 snapped his head up sharply.c65385f044df667a

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“Donation, my foot! Why should I pay you anything!”fc9742ed2a7f47ae

“Didn’t you receive Belze’s help in destroying the monster?”0fcbdc8ed233915c

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“T-That was…!”32b0859bdfd70a2e

Lost for words, the e96ba7a9a4 marquis stammered for a e4141bb073 moment before bursting into f08a38dade a shout.658f06823de75265

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“She barged in on her own and destroyed it! Why are you making me pay for something I never asked for!”15646f31a3da1be8

“Think of it however you like. In any case, once you receive healing from Diana, please leave the ducal estate.”f728bc9b25ba4b48

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The duke issued his c2e5e0ca7b command so coldly that d6fea4441e even the bystanders flinched.009256932521ade5

The marquis clamped his 1db693ddae mouth shut, his face 50ba355473 burning red.f364a1b6f5dab28b

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He had no choice but 2004e2849a to accept the command, but 14f55a4df1 being humiliated in front of 54a7cc3d83 so many people must have cb980a9f5a been a bitter pill to 14e9eb5c91 swallow.290458dbdb9ddb19

Honestly, I also 7fb53004fa felt a bit aa6a8703e0 wronged by the 362be470fb marquis’s words.3d7438051f291a7b

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‘Barged in… seriously…’f5abfdcf2d612ffc

If I hadn’t rushed in, not only Grandpa Gordon but also everyone nearby would have been attacked by the monster.cb5461d41b7b1878

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And yet, despite feeling indignant, when I saw the marquis fumbling silently, his lips quivering without a word, I felt… oddly sympathetic.d2cb31d89398d2fc

‘…Maybe because he has the same hair color as Joshua?’02e6bb1951293088

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Even though it was shocking to see him seek Diana over me in this life…89e891f60a8a152d

From my memories 4ca97800bb of my past 8c8b4dd805 life, he had 6f64b1268f been rather affectionate 3d81be879c toward his grandchildren.61484e8fdbdda8db

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Despite his poor f51783983c relationship with the 8958aeda6c duke, he made 808461a00b the long journey f8f86084e2 every year to 2f553ba079 mourn Joshua’s death.5971d66f60737e4c

He spared no expense c0c8311208 in supporting Edwin.4727120f7f345362

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Moreover, when the ducal house 3fb2ce16e8 was on the verge of d4f3a043e1 collapse, it was the marquis 59c7409315 who, despite his old age, 7e79405fa6 came up to the capital 11e5c5a394 and fought hardest for them.040226c3d815b883

“Damn it. Marquis Tebron keeps dragging up promises made with the late emperor to interfere…”b28d063153bea5f5

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“He’s probably the one who helped the young duke escape too.”2fd3260a1aeae598

“Should we send another assassination squad?”3a2dc8ccfecabf1e

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As I recalled the 6a3be2ea20 conversation between the Second 79102c0ed3 Prince and his subordinate 8301e8802e that I had overheard f5f2180ce9 in the imperial palace 56ffb9fa4f prison in my past 57ad7c1a87 life, I calmed my 7f0c87b3fb turbulent emotions.7dbdb4b3f548709c

“I’ll just heal him, Duke.”0120d33f42f2e412

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I took a 2fa31d237a step closer between e93900bbbe them and spoke.4f17e976383e3a0d

“No, that won’t be necessary.”f83e4c951f09abb2

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But the duke immediately cut c48b95382d me off like a blade.9d732762a4d5a22e

“You already exhausted yourself dealing with the monster. What if you collapse again, bleeding from the nose?”e4ca8ff0b4dd6557

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At that, my face flushed 57e04f86c8 a little.a0a695044a86f258

Because that had a0a825eceb happened seven years 9187bf5f74 ago.4bfc87cd0db07a9d

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‘I haven’t collapsed like that even once since then…!’e715823561d035c4

I pouted and protested.b4ff694ee39ed972

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“I’m perfectly fine now. And… he’s bleeding a lot. Diana might not even come…”7b890e730e849951

Of course, the chance 09c069fc36 of that happening was 2c49def8cf slim.afde131da920e82c

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My instincts told me c54f537ec7 she would come running e8caaced76 the moment she was 75f4bafcb1 summoned, probably even offering 7fbeb26795 healing without asking for b4ea6c175f donations.2b6de5c58b32d678

After the pecan pie incident 20379e454d seven years ago, she had 3300ac4bfe been banned from setting foot e0fb029204 in the ducal estate.3df310f68927bfec

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Recalling that, I raised my f0d9583485 voice a little more clearly.6a502bf727818984

“I heard the donations these days are ridiculously expensive too. It’s just a waste of money.”8049bc6701fa80a0

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“No need to worry. After all, the marquis will be footing the bill. Jackson, just sprinkle some hemostatic powder on him for now.”37956a31ae224faf

The duke motioned with ef3a46f7c0 his chin toward Jackson, dfb565c1bc who was standing stiffly.73203e573e640f4d

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“Huh? Y-Yes, sir!”e8863d4f3053cf06

Startled, Jackson, who e4774768f7 had been supporting eef355d9b9 Grandpa Gordon, hurriedly be4423456a rummaged through his 7550aea549 bag.74592592959eadf3

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The duke then 15d0c5c426 added nonchalantly to 5eb226b624 the trembling Marquis b58e693489 Tebron, who was e347b47cdb shaking from humiliation 7c11516149 and anger.ac21a287d5374acf

“And we’ll be billing you separately for the hemostatic powder too.”281482b6ab95e938

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“Liam Kallios, you bastard! How dare you! How dare you treat me like this?!”61fb0a1d52ee7ed5

“Take this opportunity to learn something. In Kallios territory, we don’t associate with those who turn to Saintess candidates sponsored by other families rather than the one we officially support, Lady Belze.”6a3fa525c51cbcc8

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“Ugh…”bdab3c2924d5deb3

“If you prefer, I can arrange for your belongings to be moved over to the Marquisate of Barelotte…”85b542a58f92055e

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“There were circumstances! I had no choice!”b6b2e83175c57dd3

It happened then.f95b6d3c892b1b3c

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Marquis Tebron cut the d256b59c96 duke off with a c30e97600f thunderous roar.9d5c361a8c17a093

“Do you think I wanted to drag my sick, dying body all the way to this damn place?!”e15c93e9d2014ee5

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With a deeply aggrieved 98aaaa43e4 look, he finally burst 0be2895776 like a dam breaking, 0a174dbbf1 spilling everything that had 14f1226132 happened.f1bf2f7f20ae9bb9

What he had 2a62cdfc3e gone through a f573cb27a3 few months earlier b26764c869 was roughly like a387167d30 this:7dfcf31f833ab3f0

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In his territory, several 662c8d33d8 children had been kidnapped 876bf27e5c from a village.fcdad74635b9854b

The marquis had mobilized knights 1e55f01eb6 and searched the entire territory, 2b917e1606 but both the children and 8072af9767 the kidnappers had vanished without e4df22067f a trace.f99ddf44d4b1746f

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Then he received a report f3aa00a491 that, a few days before 52aebcdf3a the kidnapping, two suspicious men 18cc1566d4 in black robes had been 705eaa0330 spotted setting up camp deep 5fb35c4942 in the forest far from 83f22f7d3c the village.962399f60995b6fa

Convinced they were the culprits, 62cd35e823 the marquis personally led the f3451747fc knights into the forest, where 7fed7e28e7 they engaged in a fierce bfd645c633 battle.00cbe928e7074796

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“Those bastards… they used strange dark arts. They summoned a magic circle that glowed with violet light.”4d1fc2429dc8a455

My ears perked 4ced480d10 up at that.e41516d962bcb0f7

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‘A magic circle glowing with violet light…’26b63fa1bd43b7a3

It was black b57d3f40f5 magic, the same 1557627c68 kind Logan used.f4c9d822e0c2fa0e

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After a fierce battle, 636f33751c one of the two 0c0eff1b45 men was killed, and f6703e7a45 the other was captured 5e03d0c90b alive.f9178b79f8b687b4

Thankfully, the children 7a17599a69 trapped in their 5dd49791f1 hideout were rescued 719f1de74f unharmed.06770f27b68f3f2d

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However, during the fight, d6a74cf2ea the marquis had injured 75bad06290 his left foot.f8e37b0451c422d5

“At first, I thought it was just a scratch, nothing serious.”533e95747e7cfc20

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But the wound, b28d248b5b though small, refused 9a9634473e to heal and a7758bcf85 festered over time.309c3144033beca7

No matter how skilled 0164ac43d4 the doctors he sought 41df16a727 around the territory were, 6f31dfb401 it was no use.fc8afc5b7666bbc9

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Day by day, the marquis 3f14b564e7 suffered worsening pain until finally, 6d09ac956b he recalled the captive kidnapper f30bb02164 and interrogated him for a 4f253cc619 way to heal the wound.2031d2ca7cee16cc

“And that bastard said it was a kind of curse. Only someone with overwhelming divine power could cure it.”62c05d6d97715788

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“……”e467a86b6bebc0c0

“And there’s only one person like that in all of Erea…”5853311a5b0bf9f9

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