Episode 96

“Hello?”

The red-haired man was Berrick. Behind him came the warriors of Cheollyeo—legendary fighters spoken of only in rumors.

The sudden appearance startled the knight, who took a step back. From the bedroom, Dive watched the scene with a furrowed brow, slowly lowering his hand.

“What’s going on?”

Creak.

Dive and the steward pushed the door wide open and peeked into the hallway. There were five Cheollyeo warriors—each reputed to be a one-man army. Lady Rien also looked curious but made no move to rise.

“Berrick has come?”

Romandro tapped the papers in front of him and asked. The steward muttered in a flustered voice.

“No, Lord Romandro. What on earth is this…?”

“It’s nothing serious. Lady Rien was worried about her safety, so we’re offering a little assistance from our side. Preparing for a funeral involves many tasks, and if anything were to happen to her in the meantime, that would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?”

“What do you mean ‘anything happening’ at the mansion…?”

“Something did happen. The count has passed away.”

Romandro answered calmly, slipping the parchment into his inner pocket. The knight, hesitating as he retreated, asked,

“What was that loud noise just now? I had comrades stationed downstairs.”

“Comrades? Ah, yes. They were there.”

“…They were?”

“Lady, did you dismiss all the knights?”

Neither the three knights, Dive, nor the steward could guess Berrick’s meaning. Romandro answered on the lady’s behalf.

“Yes. It was just declared verbally. Those men are no longer affiliated with the Merellof family.”

“Ah, perfect timing.”

Perfect timing? For what?

Then, from afar, two men ascended the stairs. Ian and a warrior, with a familiar body slung over the warrior’s shoulder.

“Kel! Damn it, no way!”

One of Merellof’s three knights. The reason he was only recognizable by his body was clear—his head was a bloody mess, his features completely unidentifiable.

Clang!

Another knight drew his sword in shock, but the atmosphere didn’t shift. If anything, it felt like the desperate thrashing of a dying man—an overwhelming difference in strength.

“No, he kept blocking the way and wouldn’t move. They said they wouldn’t let him in even if he died, so this happened.”

It was over in an instant. Unable to hold back, the Cheollyeo warrior grabbed the head and smashed it against the gate. Whether from carelessness or sheer power, the door was broken with a single blow.

“Ah, he wasn’t careless. I’m just that strong.”

“Yeah, no. I would’ve broken through too.”

“Berrick, the one who got broken through was your belly. Weren’t you and that guy from the Great Desert about equal in skill?”

“Again with that? I’m sick of hearing it. I’ll fight you and prove it!”

“Alright, alright. You sure talk a lot.”

“You don’t believe me, that’s why!”

Boom!

The warrior joking with Berrick dropped the corpse to the floor. Ian quietly scanned the inside of the bedroom, checking on Romandro and Lady Rien.

“No major issues, it seems.”

“Ahhh! Sir Ian! Do you even realize what you’re doing?!”

Dive screamed and fled into the bedroom as the corpse collapsed lifelessly. Cold sweat dripped down the back of the knight who still held his sword.

‘Ian said he wouldn’t intervene directly. Damn it.’

That was the opinion of Poulu, the leader of the three knights. Ian was currently under scrutiny at the imperial palace and was expected to return to the capital soon, so he wouldn’t meddle in Merellof’s internal affairs.

It was a reasonable and widely accepted assumption—but variables always exist.

“Yes, Dive. I know, but I was deeply insulted by those three former knights.”

“Insulted?”

Dive’s voice trembled faintly. He had expected a smooth funeral and succession, but instead, this bloodshed…

“You must have heard it too, steward. When I rushed here worried about the count’s death, they asked if I had an improper relationship with the lady. It was the first time I’d ever been insulted like that in my life. I intend to prove my innocence through their deaths.”

“Usually, isn’t innocence proven with your own life?”

“Usually? Not for me.”

Ian looked at the knight who had drawn his sword.

“Isn’t it true that you have to be alive to confirm your innocence? On the other hand, disrespectful thoughts only disappear when their source is dead. Berrick.”

“Okay.”

Berrick slowly grasped the doorknob with both hands. The steward nearby naturally stepped back, and together with one of the knights who had drawn his sword, the bedroom door was shut completely.

Creak.

“What on earth…”

“You, you lowlife!”

Unlike the overwhelmed steward, Dive quickly assessed the situation. Ian had brought these barbarian warriors for the lady’s safety, hadn’t he?

“You’re trying to ruin the family!”

Dive grabbed a nearby ornament and lunged at the lady. It was definitely an affair. Otherwise, why would Ian help her? The knights had suspected it from the start, and now everything fit together like a puzzle.

“No, Dive.”

“Let go of that! Damn bastards. You’re in cahoots with Ian and that woman, aren’t you? May divine punishment fall upon you!”

“You’d better calm down. Think about what will happen once that door opens if you harm the lady now.”

At that moment, the floor trembled as if it might collapse.

Bang! Crash! Thud!

Clang!

Even without looking, the sounds were unmistakable. A knight’s body was thrown, slammed onto the floor, windows shattered, and the walls were battered continuously.

Dive’s face turned pale, frozen like stone.

“Damn it.”

Then, he shook off Romandro’s hand, dropped to his knees, and began to pray. Muttering incomprehensible words, he begged the underground deity he believed in for mercy.

“Hah, really.”

Romandro had heard of this underground deity religion but had never seen a true believer in action. Half fascinated, half bewildered, he watched Dive’s pitiful state.

“Let him pray. It’s better than him attacking repeatedly. It’s unpleasant to watch, but still better.”

“Shut up! You evil demon!”

“Bullshit.”

Lady Rien, now unrestrained, even flipped the middle finger. Dive bit his lip hard, flushed with humiliation, but chose to focus on his prayers rather than utter curses. He practically collapsed, crying out.

Bang! Crash!

“Ahhh!”

“Hey! Hey! That’s not how it’s done!”

The dull thuds and screams matched the sounds of prayer. This wasn’t an evenly matched fight—it was clear who held the upper hand.

How long had it been?

The commotion gradually died down, then stopped completely.

Everyone except Romandro stared at the firmly closed door. Their eyes were filled with fear—wondering if it would open, and if so, what would come through.

Creak.

A narrow gap appeared as the door slowly opened, revealing the hallway wall. Bloody palm prints. The long trail of blood needed no explanation…

Romandro crunched on a candy and asked,

“Is it over?”

“There’s one knight left, but he doesn’t seem to be in the mansion. I plan to send Berrick after him.”

Of course, some of the Cheollyeo warriors would accompany him. Dive turned his head, terrified at the thought of seeing another corpse.

Ian sat across from the lady and gestured.

“Please, have a seat here. I have something to discuss.”

It felt like being called by one’s parents as a child to hear something important. Reluctant, with no way to escape, and a heart pounding so hard it made his stomach churn.

Dive forced himself to sit calmly.

“First, I apologize for the disturbance. But as you heard, these men are no longer connected to the Merellof family.”

“Do you really think that’s a reasonable explanation?”

“Dive, I’m going to make a few proposals now. I hope you consider them carefully and make a wise choice. Lady Rien, the same goes for you.”

Ian ignored Dive’s protests and pressed on. Lady Rien sipped her now-cold tea with a blank expression.

“It seems neither of you is willing to coexist. Is that correct?”

“Yes. We’re not.”

“Hah, really. Who’s the one talking now!”

The most peaceful solution would have been for Dive to inherit the title as custom dictates, but to delegate all authority to the lady. That way, the matter could be handled without reporting to the imperial palace. But with them like this…

“For the sake of your safety, one of you should leave Merellof—specifically, Bariel. Personally, I hope it’s you, Dive.”

“What kind of trickery is this! Is anyone out there?!”

Dive shouted furiously. The door opened, and two Cheollyeo warriors peeked in.

Creak.

“You called, Lord Ian?”

“No. Just keep things in order.”

No one was there to help the heretical successor who had been praying weakly in the outer mansion.

Bang!

The door slammed shut firmly. Dive squeezed his eyes shut and began muttering an unknown prayer again.

“The cleanest solution would be for all those bearing the Merellof name to disappear. But if that happens, Lady Rien would struggle to manage. The imperial investigators would come down to review the matter, and someone like me would have to be appointed by the emperor with a new title. Proving one’s ability is no easy task.”

Even if he proved his abilities, it was uncertain whether she would be chosen. There was a high chance that Gale or other rival factions would try to place their own people—just like they did with Erika.

“I’ll be heading to the capital around that time, so I won’t be able to assist you actively,” she said.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“The ideal scenario is for Dive to leave the territory for a long, very long time. Since you’re an Underworld Deity, isn’t the Kingdom of Toorun in the Northern Hemisphere your place of origin? Perhaps you could go there on some kind of pilgrimage.”

By ‘pilgrimage,’ she meant he should just go there and stay.

“A thousand gold coins should cover the expenses for such a journey without issue.”

“Do you even realize how far that is?”

“They say it takes three full months on foot.”

It would create a kind of void. If the count died and Dive left before the succession, the lordship would be left completely vacant. But if that happened, the palace wouldn’t have any reason to intervene, and the wife wouldn’t have to go through the complicated process of proving herself and struggling to secure her position.

“But what if the lord leaves, and then Sir Ian takes over, only for Dive to return later? What if he secretly informs the royal family about what’s been going on?”

“Lord? Did you say ‘lord’? Right now?”

Lady Lien didn’t even glance at Dive. He was visibly tense, veins bulging as if ready to collapse backward, but with Ian and Romandro present, he dared not raise his voice.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Do you have a plan in mind?”

“Yes. Though it will require you to spend some money, madam. But I believe that won’t be a problem. The important thing is Dive’s decision.”

Ian smiled gently as he looked at Dive, while Romandro and Lady Lien’s gazes bore down on him. Feeling cornered, Dive bit his dry lips.

It was clear without the Underworld Deity having to say it: if he refused Ian’s proposal, he knew exactly what would happen next.