The aftermath of facing Baron Moncle lasted longer than expected.
His swordsmanship was more exceptional than I anticipated, and the energy I lost during the prolonged battle had yet to recover even after two days.
*Sigh*.
'I need to be more cautious next time.'
Given that I hadn't fully grown and moved hastily, it became clear from this battle that I needed to assess unknown enemies more carefully.
Facing an apostle stronger than Baron Monestiere would have been easier.
I gently stroked the talisman hanging around my neck.
'If it wasn't for this...'
The battle would have been much harder.
Thanks to Darkstar increasing my energy limit, I was able to use enough Aura and mana.
'Well...'
Even without it, I wouldn't have lost, but it would have been a much tougher fight.
*Swish*—
I drew the curtains and looked out the window.
I could see the knights of Strange, busy moving around within the mansion.
Even after the battle had ended, they had to tirelessly clean up the remnants of Marquis Pierre.
Possible assassination attempts to reverse the situation, and various traps that might have been secretly placed when the mansion was infiltrated.
These were the strategies of mercenaries with plenty of battlefield experience.
"We've found the spell formation!"
Spell formations used for curses were found all over the mansion. Although they weren't made by a professional wizard and their effects were minimal, if we had continued fighting here, we wouldn't have been able to fight at full strength.
*Slurp*.
After lightly sipping the tea in my cup, I casually asked Rox,
"How was this battle?"
Rox, who was wolfing down bread on the table, wiped his mouth and answered.
"Wasn't it fun?"
"That's so like you."
"What do you mean, 'so like me'?"
Alfredo, sitting next to him, answered in my stead.
"Simple-minded."
"Simple-minded?"
"Yes, why do you think Verdin is asking about the battle? Of course, he wants to know what you felt, but you try to brush it off with a single word, 'fun.'"
"Then what should I say? I really had fun."
"Explain what you experienced. Talk about the deficiencies you noticed and the areas that need improvement."
"I don't have any."
"None?"
"Yeah, I don't know about others, but I easily resolved everything Verdin mentioned from start to finish."
Indeed, Rox's performance in this battle was perfect. He learned how to read the battlefield in the goblin village and acquired the skill to handle many enemies in the jungle.
Not just increasing the number of marionettes with the power of the artifact, but also maximizing their abilities.
"Well done."
Rox wiped his nose with a satisfied expression.
"Right?"
"Yeah."
"Ha... Getting a compliment from you is this hard."
"Is it necessary?"
"It feels good."
"Why?"
"Because you're strong. The strongest person I know."
Rox wasn't the type to pay attention to others' opinions, but this still felt like flattery.
"By the way, Verdin, what happened to that old man Pierre? From what I heard DiBeri say, it seems he died."
I nodded slightly.
The downfall of Pierre, the head of the Bourbon family. He chose life over honor in his negotiation with my father.
In exchange, all assets of Bourbon were confiscated, and everyone except his direct family and a few servants were executed.
Even in this situation, he was relieved to keep his life, but he couldn't withstand the storm that followed the war and disappeared.
"He's dead."
"Isn't that emperor quite something, letting his family die like that?"
"It's not really family, just sharing the same royal blood. Just because you have demon blood, not all monsters are family, right?"
"Ah…"
"And it wasn't the emperor who dealt with it, but the Holy See."
"Holy See?"
"Since Legion is a neutral area, when incidents like this happen, multiple parties get involved. When things escalate, the Holy See usually manages it."
This indicated the significant influence of clergy on the continent.
"I see. So, Pierre was judged by the Holy See?"
"Yes, the Five Star Generals came to Legion personally."
"Five Star Generals? What's that?"
If I had to explain everything one by one, it would never end.
'But I need someone to inform them.'
I turned my gaze to Cynthia. Noticing my look, she cleared her throat a few times before answering for me.
"The Five Star Generals are powerful individuals selected by the Holy See to maintain the balance of this world."
"To maintain the balance of the world?"
"Yes, if the balance of power is disrupted, wars would break out, threatening the entire continent."
"Oh…"
"This group was formed at the pope's request, following the will of the god to maintain peace."
"So, the god ordered the creation of the Five Star Generals?"
"Yes."
It was a concise yet accurate explanation.
"Are those generals allies or enemies to us?"
"Allies or enemies?"
"Yes, before Verdin came to this city, he clearly said, 'In the battlefield, you should be able to distinguish between allies and enemies.'"
Rox glanced at me cautiously before continuing.
"Enemies are always close, so trust no one. He mentioned how he faced constant assassination attempts from his family since childhood."
"Ah…"
"But Verdin, is it okay to talk about this?"
Is there anything that can't be said? It's just my story and thoughts.
And you've already said everything.
"Do as you like."
Cynthia looked at me with a serious expression.
"Assassination attempts from your family?"
"It's in the past."
"Why?"
"You should know the reason, right? It's not just us; many renowned families go through similar things."
There was only one problem.
The woman who had been after my life was currently staying in this city.
'Well.'
I had come fully aware of this.
'For the day of revenge.'
* * *
The impact of Valentine directly participating in the battlefield was truly astonishing.
Just her appearance caused half of the adventurers in Legion to vacate the area, and even the imperial troops guarding the place made way for her.
"I shall commence the judgment of the traitor Baron Monestiere de Strange."
As a red crow flew up and cried above her head,
- Caw! Caw! Caw!
the black crows perched nearby took flight, swirling in circles in the sky above Legion.
- Caw, caw, caw!
The number of crows was so great that they almost blotted out the sun, casting a shadow over the execution ground.
The three men with their heads on the chopping block cried out in despair.
"P-Please spare my life. I will do anything you ask, just please, I beg you!"
One was an old vassal of Marquis Pierre.
"I won't beg for my life like that man. Just... please don't harm my family. They are innocent!"
Another was the captain of the Bourbon Knights.
Valentine looked down at them and spoke softly.
"Do you have nothing to say?"
She directed her question at Monestiere.
"...No. Kill me."
The conversation was brief.
When Valentine waved her hand in the air, the guillotine's blade fell, beheading the two men.
*Thunk!*
Valentine's dagger then pierced the heart of Baron Monestiere, the remaining man.
*Thud!*
"Guh...!"
"You know well that you cannot die just like this."
"Urgh..."
The treason of the Strange family was no light matter.
If left unchecked, everyone associated with Monestiere would be summoned to Legion and executed.
Not just his family and friends, but even the people who lived in the same village.
The most painful punishment among them was the guillotine execution where one had to personally execute their family members.
"Please, I beg of you. Just kill me."
Monestiere looked up at her with a wretched expression. However, Valentine stared down at him coldly and uttered just two words.
"No way."
A soldier ran over and whispered something into Valentine's ear. She nodded briefly, and the soldiers began to bring another guillotine.
*Creek, creek, creek.*
When the new guillotine arrived in front of Baron Monestiere,
"Please, spare me!"
his parents, bound tightly with ropes, were dragged and tied to the opposite guillotine.
"M-Mother, Father!"
The ensuing actions of the executioners were gruesome.
They made a gag from the execution rope and placed it in Monestiere's mouth.
"Mmph!"
Monestiere wailed with a furious expression.
His parents, terrified, looked up at the blades of the two guillotines and cried out to Valentine.
"M-Miss Valentine, please give us one more chance!"
"Valentine! Your mother and I were very close. You know that, right? We crossed from the west to the east to save your mother. So, please, just this once, show us mercy."
Valentine shook her head firmly.
Her subsequent words froze everyone on the execution platform.
"I am the judge of Strange. There is no mercy for the guilty."
"Valentine!"
"If you have a plea, pray to God. That might ease your suffering."
*Slide, slide, slide.*
The gag started to come loose from Monestiere's mouth.
His parents, anxious and restless, raised their eyes to check above their heads.
They knew they would surely die. They just didn't know when their heads would fall.
As time passed in this terror, their minds gradually broke down.
At first, they pleaded for mercy and salvation.
"You wretched wench!"
"If I die, I will ask God in the afterlife to ensure you and your family suffer!"
Realizing there was no chance, they started hurling curses and oaths.
*Drip.*
Tears fell from Monestiere's eyes onto the ground.
He was in utter despair at the thought of having to kill his own parents.
So, he prayed.
'Oh God, if you truly exist on high, please grant me this one request.'
Just this once, give me a chance to escape this crisis, and I will do anything.
'I swear it.'
The will of God in the face of life and death.
This was a chance to escape the shards of causality that might come once in a hundred years.
A cup of awe sent in the name of the one above.
[The contract is established.]
'...!'
[Worship the one who sent me, for your sake.]
'Worship?'
[The twelfth apostle, Demon King Monestiere, who received the will of God.]