Summoning Genius of Kizen Chapter 50 Finally, Lord Raymond dismissed his soldiers and prostrated himself at Simon's feet. His stomach churned at the sight of himself in such a position before a boy young enough to be his son, but there was nothing he could do against the undead legion. "......Even for Kizen, this kind of use of force is problematic." He hadn't completely submitted yet. Strength returned to the Lord's eyes. "The Dark Alliance firmly recognizes the autonomy of its affiliated nations and territories. This is an area Kizen cannot interfere with! How do you intend to resolve this if it escalates into a diplomatic issue?" Simon, seated in the Lord's chair, offered a faint smile. "Let's get to the point." He pulled out evidence from his pocket and dropped it onto the floor. The broker's contract, the advance payment given to Ellen, and even the torn remnants of an Efnel uniform. "You've been colluding with a Priest from Efnel." Raymond felt the blood drain from his entire body. "And while you had a request pending with Kizen, no less. This could be interpreted as treason, and even inciting a conflict between Necromancers and Priests. Am I wrong?" "......N-no, that's!" Simon's eyes gleamed coldly. "You said my actions could escalate into a diplomatic issue, but by that logic, your actions could escalate into a continent-wide war. Couldn't they?" Raymond's cold sweat dripped onto the floor. The reason he had tried so desperately to keep Simon confined to the castle was precisely to prevent a conflict between Kizen and Efnel due to his double request. But Kizen had already found out. He deliberated. He would die like this. Not just him, but the entire territory would be annihilated. 'I have to do something. At this point, it's do or die......!' Raymond suddenly sprang to his feet. "How dare you!" Then he roared. "A mere nobody with not an ounce of power beyond being affiliated with Kizen! How dare you discuss treason with such flimsy evidence!" Simon chuckled. Now he was practically offering his neck. But he didn't feel bad. With all the cards in his hand, watching his opponent's struggles felt like a rather enjoyable pastime. [Kekekeke! Is your true nature finally showing, boy!] '......You're ringing in my head, Pier. Please be quiet.' Simon glanced back at Pier and nodded. Pier then opened the robe that enveloped his body. "Uh...... wha-what?" Raymond's pupils began to tremble violently. Something was wrong. This was very, very wrong. What emerged from Pier's robe was Ellen, standing blankly with unfocused eyes, her head tilted, drool dripping from her mouth. A magic circle was drawn on her forehead. "We captured an Efnel Priest during the mission." Simon spoke as if delivering a death sentence. "She's temporarily unconscious due to a curse. If we send her to Kizen for interrogation, we'll hear many interesting stories. Don't you think?" Thud. Raymond collapsed onto the floor. * * * The situation was temporarily resolved. Raymond confessed all his sins and begged for his territory to be spared, offering his own life in exchange. And one more thing. What was somewhat unexpected was that Raymond was a highly respected figure among his people. He had staked his entire political career on the development of his territory, personally soliciting investments from merchant guilds. This year, he had even painstakingly arranged a visit from the Crown Prince. However, the disappearance incidents had become a stumbling block. If this became public, there was a risk that all his plans, including the Crown Prince's visit, would be ruined. So, Raymond had joined hands with Erzsébet, who ran the Thieves Guild, to block all information from leaking out (it seemed he had no idea at the time that Erzsébet was the culprit). And secretly, he had requested assistance from various mercenary groups, renowned knights, and Kizen. But Kizen had not responded for three months, and a desperate Raymond eventually contacted a Priest through a broker. However, Simon unexpectedly took on the request that Kizen was about to discard, leading to the current tangled situation. "I have committed a grave sin." Raymond, prostrate on the floor, shed tears. "To be honest, I never trusted the brokers from the start. They said it was an Efnel Priest, but I thought there was no reason for someone of that caliber to go through a broker. I accepted the offer out of desperation, just grasping at straws, but I truly didn't expect an Efnel Priest to actually come...... My thinking was too naive." Simon, who had been sitting with an air of dignity, flinched. At the same time, Ellen, who was lying on the sofa pretending to be unconscious, also flinched. In truth, the magic circle drawn on her forehead was also fake. "This entire affair was solely my decision! You may take my life as you wish! But please, spare this territory at least......!" Simon, feeling a growing pang of conscience, cleared his throat and spoke. "Alright. I understand the circumstances." "......." Raymond remained motionless, his forehead pressed to the floor. His posture indicated he would accept any punishment. "Lord Raymond. Let's make a deal." "......Yes?" "I haven't been here long, but I've grown somewhat fond of this territory. It's a strategic stronghold, a frontline near the Divine Federation. I don't want to see such a vital point, which would have to provide countless soldiers in an all-out war, turn into a wasteland." Raymond raised his head, his face blank. "Of course, if things proceed according to protocol, Kizen will annihilate everything connected to this territory." "Ah......" "But I don't believe you caused this situation with malicious intent. I will cover this up on my end, ensuring minimal damage to the territory." "Y-you would truly do that for me!" "I'll try. However." Simon lowered his voice. "It might cost a bit." Raymond quickly pressed his forehead to the floor and cried out. "I will pay whatever it takes, even if I have to empty all my assets!" Thus, Simon acquired 500 gold, ten times the initial request fee of 50 gold. Simon placed the bulging money pouch into his subspace and exited the reception room, receiving the utmost deference. [What's this, boy? You acted so viciously, but you settled for less than I expected.] "It's fine. I'm satisfied with extracting this much as compensation for the trouble." Simon shrugged. "Honestly, this is all the precious tax money of the territory's people, isn't it? We're not exactly robbing a villain." Pier's lips curled upwards. As the son of the former Legion Commander Richard, Simon had many similar traits, but ultimately, there was something fundamentally different about this boy compared to Richard. "You did well too, Ellen." Ellen, who had been inside Pier's robe, poked her head out. "Hehe! How was my acting? Good, right?" "Wanna wipe the drool from your mouth before you speak?" "Ah, ahh!" Embarrassed, she quickly retreated back into the robe, and Simon chuckled. Feeling relieved that one matter was resolved, they were comfortably leaving the Lord's castle when suddenly, the surroundings became noisy. "Move it, move it!" "Hurry!" Fully armed soldiers were rushing somewhere. "What's going on?" [Looks like someone's attacking.] "Let's go." Simon also ran, following the soldiers. "......!" Looking down from the second floor of the castle, countless corpse spiders were swarming before the castle gate. And in front of them stood a familiar person. Simon quickly turned and ran down the stairs. [Boy! Slow down!] "Kyaaah! It hurts!" Simon arrived at the castle gate faster than the other two. Heavily armed soldiers were already preparing for battle. "What's happening?" At Simon's question, the Guard Captain, wearing a helmet, spotted Simon and quickly saluted. "It's undead! It seems they're trying to attack the Lord's castle. It's dangerous, please get inside......!" "Please open the gate slightly. I'll go take a look." "Y-yes? But that's too dangerous!" Simon grinned and placed a hand on his chest. "Though I'm still learning, I am a Necromancer. Dealing with undead is my job, so please trust me." "Hmm......" Eventually, the Guard Captain opened the gate a little. Simon slipped through, followed by Pier and Ellen, who joined him. Simon turned back and nodded, and the Guard Captain, with a stern expression, also nodded and closed the gate. 'I didn't expect her to be so reckless.' Simon slowly walked forward. In front of the swarm of spiders besieging the castle, a woman in a wine-colored dress was visible. The Madam of the Thieves Guild. And simultaneously, the former Captain of the Legion, Erzsébet. "What's the meaning of this, Erzsébet?" [Simon Pollentia, son of the former Legion Commander, Richard Pollentia.] She knelt on one knee with a graceful movement. [I, Erzsébet, wish to serve you as my master. Therefore, I humbly request the opportunity to join your Legion and undergo your trial.] Pier chuckled and crossed his arms. Simon cleared his throat, maintaining his composure. "Dismiss your subordinates. Let's talk somewhere quiet." * * * Before moving to their lodging, Simon decided to part ways with Ellen. He personally untied the ropes binding her arms. "What happened today is best kept secret for both our sakes, so please keep it that way in the future." "......." She stared intently at Simon's face. "Huh? What's wrong?" "Oh, it's just...... you're a bit different from the rumors I've heard about Necromancers." Pier grinned and raised his greatsword. [If you're talking about turning you into a skeleton to ensure secrecy, I can make that happen right now!] "H-eek!" She gasped in surprise and hid behind Simon's back. Pier burst into laughter, and Erzsébet, watching from a slight distance, bit her lip and glared fiercely at Ellen. "And this." Simon extended a pouch from his subspace. "This is your share of the mission fee I took earlier." "Ah......!" "Take good care of your siblings." Tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes as she clutched the pouch to her chest. "Truly......! Thank you, thank you so much, Simon! I will never forget this kindness!" "Where did you say you were going?" "To a territory called Roharon in the Divine Federation." "Alright, I hope you return safely to the Divine Federation." "Yes! Thank you! I'll never forget you!" As Simon turned to leave, Ellen shouted loudly. "Will we ever meet again someday?" Simon shrugged. "Who knows. Perhaps next time, it'll be on a battlefield?" "Haha......" Ellen thought he really knew how to draw a clear line. "If I ever have business in the Divine Federation, I'll ask for your guidance then." "Yes! Of course!" She seemed genuinely moved, waving enthusiastically until Simon and his group were out of sight. [Not only did you spare a Priest, but you also gave her money and sent her off.] "Yes." [What's the reason?] Simon smiled subtly and crossed his arms. "I thought it would be a good idea to build connections with Priests for when I have to undertake 'Black' missions someday. And giving her money makes her a true accomplice, and she'll genuinely trust me." [Kekekeke! Watching your actions, it's impossible to tell if you're good or evil!] "Is that so?" Simon put his hands in his hood pockets and tilted his head back. "Do we really need to categorize everything so strictly into good and evil?" [.......] "Half of my blood is from a Priest. I have no intention of hating people from the opposing side, nor any reason to. It's the same with letting Ellen go this time, and extracting some money from the territory. There's no need to go to extremes, is there? I just need to secure my own benefits in the middle." Pier's lips curled into a deeper smile. [Indeed, it seems it will take time to fully understand a human like you!] Simon smiled faintly and turned his head. "Erzsébet." [Yes.] "You wouldn't unleash your spider legion to attack Ellen, whom I just safely released, would you?" She flinched internally, but then bowed her head. [......O-of course not, my Lord.] "Good, then." Simon resumed exchanging jokes with Pier. Erzsébet, following behind them, was caught in a strange emotion. Simon's back, when he had taken the Holy Spear for her, still lingered vividly in her mind. After being rejected by Simon once, Erzsébet had resolved herself countless times. Joining the Legion would bring her no benefit, only bind her to a troublesome contract. But. '......In the end, I'm walking back into hell on my own two feet.' She had never once managed to overcome her own emotions. "Erzsébet?" [Ah, yes. I'm coming, my Lord.] Still. Even if she were to regret it, even if she could see the future, even if the end was utterly tragic. She would make the same choice countless times over.
Please login to track progress