Chapter 116. Things Wriggling Underneath the Feet (2)
“It is raining.”
The damp winter rain was wetting the party’s shoulders.
“It is this house.”
Blanc looked up at the mansion Fabiano’s hand gesture was pointing to.
It was a mansion of the same color as the rain clouds covering the sky.
The two-story mansion made of dark gray bricks gave off a gloomy feeling for some reason, even though it was brightly lit.
“Let’s go in.”
When the Seeker of the Blue Star took the lead, the two Demon-breaking Knights followed him into the mansion.
When they entered and the mansion’s door closed, the sound of thunder tearing the sky was heard along with a flash.
Along with the sound of the damp winter rain.
***
A few days ago.
Blanc was deep in thought while looking at the documents placed on his desk.
“This is the list we succeeded in tracking.”
The names written on the list Fabiano brought.
It started for Berger’s personal revenge, but as they approached the reality, the shadow of Evil was growing larger.
That shadow was quietly permeating the Kingdom of Felix and Baltimere without anyone knowing, and the lists placed in front of Blanc were the proof.
‘I have never heard of this matter in my last life…….’
Blanc was deep in thought looking at the list where the names of several noble families and wealthy merchant families were written.
‘When did it become like this…….’
The Evil that cleverly hid, avoiding the eyes of the Royal Family, the Order, and the Torch Knights, was already embedded deep within Baltimere.
“It was heavenly luck. If Count Blanc had not discovered the Evil that was in Lady Ciella…….”
Fabiano swallowed dryly and could not bear to spit out the words that would follow.
“Our Torch Knights and the Goddess Order judged this situation as a critical crisis. We have already requested limited cooperation from the Felix Royal Family as well.”
“Hmm…….”
Blanc could feel it while listening to Fabiano’s explanation.
That the variable created by his regression had created a wave different from the last life.
If such a secretive and huge Evil was hiding in the world to this extent, it would have surely done something in the last life as well.
However, Blanc had never heard such a story.
In the first place, when the Void was running wild, existences related to Evil had long since disappeared.
‘Was Evil also eaten by the newly appeared calamity, the Void, or perhaps…….’
Blanc shook his head and came out of the thoughts he was falling deeper into.
Because he judged that solving the problem placed in front of his eyes was the priority for now.
“The problem is this woman.”
Blanc looked at the portrait Fabiano handed over.
A woman wearing a black veil was drawn in the portrait.
She was not only beautiful but also had a good aura dwelling in her face, giving the feeling of a faithful priestess.
“Are you saying Evil was discovered in the houses this astrologer visited?”
“That is correct. Count.”
There was a common point not only for the Neudorf family but for all the families written on the list.
The woman drawn in the portrait.
The fact that they had the future of their children divined by the woman who introduced herself as an astrologer.
Calling an astrologer to divine the future of a newborn child was one of the traditions handed down in noble families.
Therefore, the fact that each family called an astrologer was not particularly a suspicious circumstance, but.
“Even 20 years ago, and even now.”
Blanc spread all the portraits the Torch Knights had drawn on the desk.
Portraits drawn from each family by the Torch Knights to identify the astrologer.
The appearance of the woman drawn in dozens of portraits was uniformly beautiful.
And she remained young.
“She has not aged at all.”
Even though a long time had passed, the appearance of the woman who was said to have divined the futures of noble children had not changed.
“It is Evil.”
As Fabiano said, it was clear that something transcending the laws of the world was wrapping around this woman.
Blanc was feeling an eerie feeling just from her appearance of having stopped time.
Under the flickering candles, dozens of portraits were looking at Blanc and smiling.
***
“Oh! Count Blanc Cadmus!”
Rozo Andrew, the owner of the mansion and a merchant known in Baltimere, came out personally to welcome Blanc.
The owner of the mansion was so delighted that he personally brushed off the raindrops on Blanc’s shoulders.
“Lord Rozo, I did not come here today in the capacity of a Count, so there is no need for such undeserved treatment.”
As Blanc said, he was standing here right now in the capacity of a Demon-breaking Knight of the Torch Knights, not a Count of the Kingdom of Felix.
However, the shining reputation Blanc possessed did not let him be seen simply as a Demon-breaking Knight.
“Would I not do even this much for the person who will save my daughter…….”
Looking at Rozo’s pale complexion and trembling pupils, Blanc could tell that he had been suffering from anxiety for a long time.
“I will guide you.”
Following Rozo’s guidance, the three Demon-breaking Knights—Blanc, Fabiano, and Tarania—entered his reception room.
As befitting a wealthy merchant, colorful decorations were placed everywhere, but.
Even so, they could not brighten the dark energy that seemed to stain every corner of the reception room.
Rozo poured tea for the knights.
His hand pouring the tea was trembling minutely.
“It was from about two years ago. That a bewitching atmosphere began to waft from my daughter.”
Rozo, who poured out his story incessantly as soon as he sat down.
“I tried every method I could. I called priests who could perform the Grand Exorcism and Demon-breaking Knights of the Torch Knights, but…….”
However, Blanc was pulling out the information he needed even from his incoherent story.
‘It seems it did not work with a certain level of skill.’
With only the influence possessed by a mere merchant, he wouldn't have been able to call renowned priests or famous Demon-breaking Knights.
Especially quietly and secretly.
“Now there is no method I can do.”
Rozo covered his face with his hands and voiced the deep agony seated inside him.
“Sending my daughter to a monastery to isolate her for life, or else.”
Rozo raised his head soaked in sweat and said.
“There is no choice but to kill my daughter with my own hands…….”
Blanc could understand with what feeling Rozo said these words.
Even the Neudorf family was extremely afraid of making known the fact that Ciella was related to Evil.
That was how taboo matters related to Evil were to the people of the world.
Furthermore, in Rozo’s case, his family’s reputation was one thing, but since he was a merchant based on credit, if this fact became known outside, the Andrew family would receive an irreversible blow.
It wasn't incomprehensible to make up one's mind to kill one's own daughter rather than letting that happen.
A merchant driven to a harsh decision of having to choose one between his family and his daughter.
“Have I not come? Lord Rozo.”
“Ohh…….”
In the midst of that, Rozo couldn't help but feel happy when Blanc, recognized by both the Goddess Order and the Torch Knights, visited.
“Could you give us a moment?”
Blanc decided to have a final strategy meeting with the Demon-breaking Knights before meeting Rozo’s daughter.
“Of course.”
Rozo, who looked ready to give even his liver if Blanc asked, quickly vacated the seat even though it was his office.
“The time?”
As soon as Rozo left the office, Blanc’s eyes became sharp.
“About one hour remains from the promised time.”
Tarania took a pocket watch from her bosom and checked the time.
“Good.”
Blanc stood up from his seat and approached the window of Rozo’s office.
“If it was two years ago as Rozo said, it matches exactly with the time after I removed Ciella’s Evil.”
“The aspect of the Evil his daughter harbors looks similar to Lady Ciella’s time.”
Ciella, who had seduced men without realizing it with dizzying charm.
“Furthermore, since the time Count Blanc removed Lady Ciella’s Evil and the time Rozo’s daughter’s activity became more active coincide.”
Tarania’s Jewel Eyes were shining blue.
“It is certain that it is related to the Evil that dwelt in Lady Ciella’s soul.”
There was a reason Blanc specifically came to Rozo’s mansion.
Because he was certain that the Evil Rozo’s daughter harbored and the Evil Ciella harbored were strongly connected.
It would be natural in a way to entrust a similar mission to Blanc who already had a track record.
Blanc closed one eye and heated up Tiday’s Evil engraved on his shoulder.
If it was similar to Ciella’s time, the energy of Evil coming from Tiday’s Brand would be a great help just like back then.
“Do they say everyone is ready?”
At Blanc’s question, Fabiano took out a paper from his bosom.
Numerous people’s names were written on that paper.
Even while Fabiano was holding the paper, the names written on that paper were slowly burning and disappearing.
“We are the last.”
“Tell them we are ready.”
At Blanc’s instruction, Fabiano nodded and put the paper into the flickering candle flame to burn it.
The room brightened with the light emitted as the paper burned, but after that light disappeared, Rozo’s reception room seemed even darker than before.
“Let’s move.”
***
CREAK.
Along with a creaking sound.
The Demon-breaking Knights going up the darkened stairs relying on a small candle following Rozo’s guidance.
“Th-this is the place.”
When Blanc brought the candle to the place Rozo pointed, a small door began to be seen.
“Hmm…….”
Blanc ended up groaning without realizing it upon seeing that door.
Because numerous iron chains were wrapped around that door.
As if they had to lock up what was inside.
The three Demon-breaking Knights, intuitively feeling that this was the destination, made eye contact with each other and nodded.
“From now on, no matter what commotion occurs, you must not come up here.”
Despite Fabiano’s words, Rozo could not easily take a step away.
“C-Count.”
Although he locked his daughter in a room tightly bound with chains, he was also a father who loved his daughter.
Now, at this moment, the object he believed in and relied on was the shining one closer than the Goddesses.
“I will do my best.”
Blanc reassured Rozo, who didn't know what to do out of anxiety and pity, with reddened eyes.
Knowing that sincerity was contained in Blanc’s blue eyes, Rozo bowed his head one last time and expressed his gratitude to them.
As the candle Rozo held went down the stairs, only the candles held by the three remained in the dark corridor.
WHOO.
Blanc and the Demon-breaking Knights blew out the candles.
Then they lit up their own eyes through Aura so they could see in the dark.
The small lights illuminating the dark corridor disappeared, but there were three knights illuminating the darkness instead of candles.
“It is time. Count.”
Hearing Tarania’s signal, Blanc removed the iron chains blocking the door with a determined expression.
“……I am going in.”
Then he put strength into his hand and turned the handle of the room where Evil would be.
SCREECH.
At that moment.
The handles of numerous doors in Baltimere began to turn simultaneously.
People turning handles with tense expressions in dark places.
Those turning the handles were all people wearing gray cloaks.
And behind them were priests reciting the benediction of the Noble Goddesses.
Noble and holy people sent secretly under the cover of darkness by the Goddess Order and Torch Knights so Evil wouldn't notice.
They decided to thrust the candles held by the Goddesses toward the shadow holding its breath under Baltimere simultaneously.
Thus, intending to reveal its identity and save those tainted by Evil.
The moment the pocket watches held by the Demon-breaking Knights pointed to the same place.
Those revealing Evil, including Blanc’s group, quietly thrust holy candles toward their feet.
“Since the Goddess protects us…….”
Relying on a single line of benediction.
People harboring noble intentions were quietly calling the names of the Goddesses all over Baltimere.
O Goddesses, save us from the darkness.