Chapter 82 - Cromwell Staviana (2)

"I will accept all your demands. In return, I ask that you grant me just one favor."

The Count's gaze was calm and steady, his appearance immaculate. Everything about him suggested composure.

His wife had been taken from him. He must have been frantic with anxiety, yet he showed no sign of it. It almost made his love for her seem a lie.

'That's Cromwell for you.'

The Count was a wily old monster who had spent decades in the political arena and ultimately emerged victorious. Naturally, he was better than anyone at keeping a straight face and controlling his emotions. However desperate he became, he would never betray his impatience. That stance was ingrained in him.

Yohan sat opposite him.

"You've forgotten my warning already, it seems. Cromwell, you are in no position to demand anything of me."

The Count brought his tea to his lips, his expression impassive.

"I remember. That is precisely why I called it a favor."

"In other words, I can refuse."

"If you do, there is nothing I can do about it. As I said, this is merely a request."

Yohan considered briefly before replying.

"I'll hear you out, at least."

The Count answered at once.

"Give me back my wife."

Yohan gave an incredulous laugh.

"Impossible."

Yeriyan's remains were the leash that kept the Count under control. He could not simply hand them over.

The Count said, "If you need insurance, take the Heavenly Womb."

The Heavenly Womb was necessary to resurrect Yeriyan.

"A decent offer, but I refuse. Who knows? You might find a way to bring your wife back without it."

The moment he found such a method, the leash binding him would vanish. Yohan had no reason to take that risk.

"I spent decades searching for a way to revive the dead. I scoured countless books, from holy scriptures to forbidden texts. And after all that, I can say with certainty that the Heavenly Womb is the only way to bring Yeriyan back."

Yohan shook his head.

"Your knowledge does not encompass everything in this world. As I said, I will not return Yeriyan."

The Count spoke in a low voice.

"... Then I will serve the thirteenth end. Once I become the Apostle's thrall, I will be unable to betray you."

Yohan clicked his tongue.

"You need to travel to and from the Holy Kingdom and the Empire. Yet you would have a Demon's brand carved into your body? Absurd."

The Holy Kingdom and the Empire had several times as many layers of protection against Demons as the kingdom. A Demon worshipper would inevitably be exposed the moment they entered the imperial capital.

The Count knew that well, which was why he had entered into no contractual relationship with either the Fell God Society or Belzarak. As the kingdom's chancellor, dealings abroad were an indispensable part of his duties. Even fulfilling Yohan's demands required him to keep traveling to the Empire and the Holy Kingdom. Whether as Yohan or Maphel’tan, he absolutely must not form a contract with the Count.

The Count said, "There are any number of ways to evade detection. In fact, several imperial nobles—"

Yohan cut him off.

"That is enough on the subject. If you want Yeriyan back, make me a sovereign duke, as I told you before. The moment I become one, Yeriyan will return to life."

The Count suppressed a groan and took a sip of tea. His aged hand was trembling faintly.

"... Then, her face."

"What?"

"At least let me see her face from time to time."

After a brief moment's consideration, Yohan spoke.

"Very well. I can grant you that much. See Yeriyan before you leave."

The Count needed room to breathe, too. If he broke down, Yohan would be in considerable difficulty.

The Count took a deep breath to steady himself, then spoke.

"Thank you for your kindness. Now, let us turn to business. Is becoming a sovereign duke your ultimate goal?"

The title of sovereign duke was merely a step along the way.

"Well, for now, you could say that."

"Then our relationship will end the moment the Miyatro domain becomes a duchy."

Yeriyan would be resurrected by then, so the Count was right. Nothing would remain to connect them.

Yohan smirked.

"Why? Would you rather have nothing more to do with me?"

"It is not a question of what I want. In the end, we will inevitably become enemies."

Was he revealing a desire for revenge? No. The Count was the sort of man who would conceal his hostility instead. He must have another reason for saying that.

"What are you getting at?"

"Think about it. Yeriyan will be resurrected as an angel, while you share an Apostle's purpose. As an angel, she will naturally side with humanity. For her sake, I too will have no choice but to fight the End. The very nature of our circumstances means we are destined to meet again as enemies."

Yohan said, "What I hear you asking is this: why do I intend to resurrect Yeriyan as an angel rather than a Demon?"

The Count nodded.

"Anyone can see the contradiction. You intend to bring an angel into this world, despite working alongside a Demon. I simply cannot make sense of it."

Corrupting the Heavenly Womb into an accursed object would make it easy to bring Yeriyan back. Countless human lives would have to be sacrificed, but Yohan would not care. He was a blasphemer, after all. Or so the Count thought.

Yohan spoke.

"As I told you before, I have a greater cause. Consider resurrecting Yeriyan as an angel part of it. I will say no more."

The Count replied, "Very well. I will ask no further questions. From now on, I will focus solely on making you a sovereign duke."

Yohan had expected him to probe further by approaching the subject from another angle, but he accepted it more readily than expected.

"Deal with the Church first. If they keep rooting around the south, things will become difficult."

"I have already sent word. There will be no further investigation."

He worked fast. Far too fast.

"Impressive. Not only did you make it from the central region to the south in two days, you even contacted the Church?"

It was physically impossible. Even riding all day, the journey took roughly a week.

"Haha, it was quite an ordeal."

The voice came out of nowhere. Yohan looked up. A man was pinned flat against the drawing-room ceiling. It was Hakain.

Icicles were embedded around his armpits, groin, and the gaps between his neck and shoulders. He had contorted himself to avoid being impaled, leaving him in a thoroughly ridiculous pose.

Ilea sipped her tea, her expression placid. Yohan addressed her.

"Your handiwork?"

"Don't be too hard on me. I showed considerable restraint."

Yohan sighed.

"Let him down now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the icicles melted and dispersed. Hakain landed lightly and looked at him.

"We meet again. Allow me to apologize for my earlier discourtesy."

He had threatened Yohan's life a few days earlier, but Yohan bore him no particular ill will. Targeting an enemy's weakness was only natural.

Yohan said, "It doesn't matter. More importantly, Count, what do you think you're doing?"

The Count had brought Hakain to this domain. By now, he must have learned all about Miyatro's connection to the Apostle. It was a deeply disconcerting development for Yohan.

The Count replied, "I cannot travel alone every time I come to see you. I need at least one person to act as my hands and feet. Without him, I would never have reached this place alive, let alone so quickly. The south proved rather distant and dangerous. Hakain is a safe choice in every respect, so do not worry."

Hakain took out his short pipe and put it between his lips.

"I am discreet. Or rather, I have no choice but to be. What you fear will not happen."

Ilea spoke.

"He can't say anything if he's dead. What shall we do, Yohan?"

The Count said, "Hakain is bound to me by ancient magic. He cannot disobey my orders in any way."

Yohan knew that, of course. He was simply irritated that the Count had acted on his own.

Yohan scowled.

"Cromwell, you should at least have consulted me."

"I will do so next time. I was too distraught with urgency to think clearly. Please understand."

Yohan fell into thought for a moment. Could the Count have some ulterior motive? Unwarranted suspicions rose within him. He could hardly help it when the Count was involved.

Yohan spoke.

"I will keep Hakain here for the time being."

Now that Hakain knew so many secrets, Yohan could not simply send him back. He needed a way to seal the man's lips completely. Depending on the circumstances, he might have to kill him.

The Count said, "You expect me to return to my domain alone?"

That was impossible.

"I'll provide someone."

"Can he carry me on his back for hundreds, even thousands of kilometers in two days?"

Apparently, Hakain had carried the Count on his back all the way to the south.

"No, but he will at least escort you safely home."

The Count looked dissatisfied.

"... Hmm."

"It was your mistake. Live with the consequences."

"Very well."

Hakain scratched his cheek with the end of his pipe.

"Do I get a say?"

Ignoring him, Yohan continued.

"Returning to the subject, you're saying the matter with the Church has been fully settled?"

"There are still loose ends to tie up, but there will be no investigation for the time being."

Yohan nodded.

"Then let us move on. Nominate me to the kingdom's Council as soon as possible."

Yohan intended to use the Council to seize control of the kingdom's legitimate sphere.

"Only someone who represents a house may sit on the Council. You are not yet a head of house."

Had that been part of the setting? Yohan did not know every detail of the kingdom's laws.

"Then I'll need to claim the barony first."

It was a position he could seize whenever he wished.

"Under the kingdom's laws, only a noble who has undergone a coming-of-age ceremony can become a head of house. Even if you assume the barony before then, you will serve only in an acting capacity. Naturally, you cannot sit on the Council."

He would have to wait at least five years for his coming-of-age ceremony. Yohan did not have that kind of time.

He clicked his tongue.

"I need to join the Council now."

"There is no precedent. It is effectively impossible."

"Surely nothing is impossible for you?"

The Count stared at him for a moment before speaking.

"Surely you are not asking me to change the law?"

The corners of Yohan's mouth lifted.

"Change the law, purge those who oppose it—just get me results. I will become the Watcher of the Abyss and take a seat on the Council."

The Count let out a breath of disbelief.

"How can you be so unreasonable?"

"Put some effort into it. The sooner you meet my demands, the sooner your wife will be resurrected."

"You certainly know how to make use of Yeriyan."

"I'll take that as agreement and move on."

Yohan intended to milk the Count for everything he was worth.

"What else?"

Yohan spoke with a calm expression.

"Adopt a girl as your daughter."

"... A daughter?"

Yohan nodded.

"Her name is Ilea. She's very clever, so she'll be a great help to you, too."

Ilea abruptly spat out the tea she had been drinking, drenching the Count seated directly across from her.

Flustered, she looked at Yohan.

"Yohan?"

Her eyes were wavering.